Chapter 11 The Old House Catches Fire

Zhang Zhiheng smiled and said, "Yes, we'll see each other next year."

The two continued walking, chatting all the way back to Xiyuan, and then said their goodbyes.

The next morning, just as Xie Yunyu woke up, Gu Yu came in and said:

“Miss, Madam Sun sent someone to say that the annual poetry competition in Wu County will be held at Wangshan Tower in three days, and asked if you would like to join in the fun.”

"A poetry competition?" Xie Yunyu wondered.

During the meal, Xie Yunyu asked Old Master Xie about the poetry competition.

Grandpa Xie smiled and said, "This poetry competition is held every three years and is very lively. It has a long history."

It can be said that everyone in the entire Jiangnan region knows the name of this poetry competition.

The winner of the annual poetry competition can study at Qingya Academy in Jiangnan Prefecture.

Xie Yunyu was surprised and said, "Qingya Academy! Grandfather, didn't you study there too?"

Grandpa Xie nodded.

Qingya Academy was as famous as Bailu Academy in Henan Province and Nanshan Academy in the capital, and was one of the three great academies of Dayong.

"This poetry gathering sounds quite appealing. Did you attend it back in the day, Grandfather?"

Xie Yunyu placed a piece of yam on Master Xie's plate and asked.

Grandpa Xie laughed and said, "Of course, that old man Zhang and I both participated back then."

I only came in third place, while Old Man Zhang didn't even make the list.

Xie Yunyu asked in confusion, "You only got third place, so how did you get to study at Qingya Academy?"

"Although I only came in third place, I caught the eye of a great Confucian scholar who was in charge of judging at the time."

That was my mentor, Feng Zongwen.

He was sent by Qingya Academy at the time, and he greatly appreciated me, so he wrote a letter of introduction.

I took the letter to Qingya Academy, passed the examination smoothly, and began my studies there.

Xie Yunyu asked, "Then, Grandfather, are you also going to join in the fun the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes. Old Zhang and I will probably be sitting with the state government officials."

You will go with them, along with the young maids of the Zhang household.

Xie Yunyu nodded in agreement.

"Such a grand event, I must go and witness it."

Now let's talk about the capital city.

Xiao Ling had just received the imperial decree and was thinking of going down the mountain after a while, but he was obsessed with what happened that night.

The Heart-Cleansing Mantra is completely useless.

The scriptures that used to calm my mind now make me lose focus as soon as I open them, and sometimes I can even see Xie Yunyu's face in the pages.

In short, I can't forget her, and my heart is filled with longing...

It's somewhat like an old house catching fire.

After several days of worry, he finally sent someone back to his residence to summon Qingchen.

As soon as Qingchen arrived, he knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "My lord, spare my life! It was my fault for not protecting you properly and I fell into someone's trap."

This gives others the opportunity to get close to your beloved, thus putting you in a dangerous situation.

Please punish me, my lord.

Xiao Ling remained silent, staring at the scripture in his hand, letting Qing Chen kneel on her own.

After a cup of tea, Xiao Ling's cold voice rang out: "Get up."

Qingchen quickly stood up: "Thank you, sir."

"I called you here to do something for you. If you do it well, you'll make up for your mistakes and I'll spare your life."

If you mess this up again, you're not staying with me anymore. Go back to where you came from.

Upon hearing this, Qingchen involuntarily shuddered.

He and Qingfeng were specially transferred by the emperor from the secret guards to protect Xiao Ling.

If Xiao Ling doesn't want him anymore, he can only go back to the Dark Guard. Compared to Xiao Ling's place, it's like heaven and hell.

"I will do my utmost to fulfill your orders, my lord."

Xiao Ling nodded.

"Go to Jiangnan Road and follow Grand Tutor Xie. Report his granddaughter Xie Yunyu's every move to you without concealing anything."

"yes."

You should clean the dust.

After Xiao Ling rested, Qingfeng and Qingchen came out together.

Qingchen thought for a moment and asked, "How precise does each and every movement need to be?"

Qingfeng thought for a moment and replied, "The prince was poisoned with aphrodisiac that night, but he was later cured. Who do you think helped him get rid of it?"

Upon hearing this, Qingchen was suddenly startled: "Could it be that..."

Qingfeng smiled and nodded.

Qingchen thought for a moment, then frowned and asked, "How did you know? You weren't there that night?"

"I've been following you around these past few days, and I guessed it from your behavior," Qingfeng replied arrogantly.

After saying that, he turned to Qingchen and said, "The Prince didn't mention this matter, so I don't know, and neither do you. What will you say when the Princess asks?"

"I don't know," Qingchen shook her head.

"That's right. I just didn't know you'd finally be smart for once."

Go, protect her well, and don't let your husband worry.

The next morning, Qingchen left the capital with a carrier pigeon.

Qingchen set off late, but traveled non-stop and arrived in Wu County at almost the same time as Xie Yunyu and the others.

Xie Yunyu and the others moved directly into the prefect's mansion, and Qingchen secretly sneaked in, found Xie Yunyu's residence, and carefully monitored it.

Hearing Xie Yunyu and Gu Yu's conversation confirmed his and Qingfeng's suspicions, and also revealed the Zhang family's plans.

I saw the two of them stargazing under the moon again that night, and something felt off.

That very night, he sent a message to Xiao Ling by carrier pigeon.

Three days later, Xiao Ling received a message by carrier pigeon. Upon seeing the message about Zhang Zhiheng, the veins on his forehead throbbed.

Then she saw Xie Yunyu say that she found Zhang Zhiheng rather pleasing to the eye, and that the two of them had even stargazed together at night, which set off alarm bells in her mind.

The Zhang family, the family of a fifth-rank prefect, dare to make a move on her.

Xiao Ling thought for a moment, then sat down at the table and wrote a letter to Qing Chen, which he then had Qing Feng deliver by hawk.

Hawks fly much faster than pigeons; a pigeon takes three days, while a hawk only needs one and a half days.

That night, Xiao Ling dreamt of Xie Yunyu and Zhang Zhiheng getting married, and woke up with a start.

After that, I couldn't fall asleep anymore. I sat on the tatami mat and meditated, hoping to calm myself down.

But it was no use; as soon as I closed my eyes, all I could see was Xie Yunyu's face.

Xiao Ling was extremely frustrated. Could it really be her inner demon?

The next morning, Xiao Ling led Qingfeng down the mountain and returned to Princess Jinyang's residence.

When the princess saw her son return, she rushed over to see him.

Seeing that her son looked fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ling'er, I have already dealt with Gu Lianfei. Don't worry, she won't be hanging around you anymore."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling suddenly turned around and stared at Princess Jinyang:

"You killed her?"

Princess Jinyang was taken aback: "She is your aunt's daughter, not our servant. How can I kill her at will?"

Even with our own servants, I don't have the habit of beating or killing them at will.

As she spoke, the princess suddenly became somewhat angry, her face darkening as she complained:

"What's wrong with you, child?"

"Now you always think the worst of your mother?"

Xiao Ling said expressionlessly, "Isn't it because you've been unreliable these past two years, Mother? Look at how many foolish things you've done to get me married?"

When the princess was criticized for her shortcomings, she immediately lost her temper.

After glancing at Xiao Ling's expression, she stammered, "I...I wasn't...I was just worried about you, wasn't I?"

"Worried about me?"

Then they forced me to do things I didn't like, giving others an opportunity to hurt me?

"Mom, think about it yourself. Aren't all the harm I've suffered in the last two years indirectly caused by you?"

The eldest princess was filled with shame: "Ling'er, I... Mother was wrong, okay?"

This time I promise, I swear, I'll never care about you again, even if you really like one of the maids in our household, I won't care."

When Xiao Ling heard the Princess mention the little maid, he knew that the Crown Prince, with his big mouth, had told everyone what had happened.

However, it's better to let it out, as having a feint in front to distract the princess will actually keep Xie Yunyu safe.

Xiao Ling remained silent, sat down, slowly poured himself a glass of water, and took a sip.

"I will report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow."

The eldest princess stepped forward and sat down in the seat next to Xiao Ling:

"Actually, there's no need to rush. You can rest at home for a couple of days before going."

The eldest princess's gaze lingered on Xiao Ling's face for a long time, and after much hesitation, she finally couldn't help but ask:

"The Crown Prince said you like a little maid. Which little maid?"

"Wenmo or Wenlan?"

Xiao Ling was always served by servants from a young age, and never had any maids. The only maids she had contact with on a daily basis were the second-class maids around the Princess.

Among them, Wenlan and Wenmo were the two maids with whom he had the most contact.

Xiao Ling glanced at his mother and said, "You believe the Crown Prince's words? Ignore him."