Chapter 19 Paying

Chapter Nineteen

The capital city is shrouded in mist in the early morning.

The steaming heat of breakfast enveloped the entire capital, and shouts filled the streets and alleys. Shen Panyan got up early in the morning.

After putting on her jacket and skirt and having breakfast, Shen Panyan got into the carriage and headed towards the Dali Temple.

Now that she knows who is plotting against her, and she is unwilling to marry into the General's family, she has no choice but to find out the truth herself and show it to her father.

But this leads to another dead end: the key witness, Qiu Shuang, has escaped and her whereabouts are unknown. To find her, we still have to rely on the government.

Inside the Dali Temple, upon hearing from his subordinates that Princess Mingyue had arrived and specifically requested to see him, the Dali Temple Minister, filled with doubt, hurriedly went out to greet her.

"Your humble servant greets Princess Mingyue." He bowed respectfully.

"Lord Fu." Shen Panyan bowed in return.

Her voice was gentle, which only deepened the doubts in the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

He remembered that Princess Mingyue was recuperating at the royal villa. Why had she returned to the capital today? And why had she come to his Dali Temple?

"What brings the princess to the Dali Temple?"

"It's like this, one of my maids went missing a few days ago, so I would like to ask Lord Fu to help me find her."

Missing?

Does a missing maid warrant such a large-scale trip to the Dali Temple by Princess Mingyue?

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review keenly sensed that something was amiss, but since Princess Mingyue didn't say anything, he pretended not to know.

"That's easy to do."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nodded. “I wonder what the princess’s maid looks like? Could the princess draw a portrait for me so that my servants can use it to find her?”

“Alright.” Shen Panyan nodded, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review quickly sent someone to bring over writing brush and ink, which were then spread out in front of Shen Panyan.

Shen Panyan was an excellent painter; with just a few strokes, she captured the essence of autumn frost.

In no time, a portrait was completed.

Qiu Shuang left in a hurry and without a travel permit. Now that the heavy snow has blocked the roads, she can't go anywhere else. She can either stay with the local people in the mountains or return to the capital. No matter where she is now, she will eventually return to the capital.

Qiu Shuang took away many of her own jewelry pieces, many of which were gifts from her.

She was alone far from home, and when she ran out of money, she would always exchange her jewelry for money. As long as you are determined, you will find her.

Shen Panyan drew several more patterns for hairpins and handed them all to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

"If Lord Fu finds any clues, please inform me in time." She told the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review where she was currently living.

"However, I ask Lord Fu to keep this a secret for me and not let my father and mother know about it."

After the princess finished explaining, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nodded, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I understand."

"Thank you, Lord Fu."

Shen Panyan bowed again, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review returned the bow, saying, "Your Highness is too kind to this humble subject."

He sent the cigarettes to Shen Panyan outside the Dali Temple.

"Lord Fu, please stop." Shen Panyan boarded the carriage and said softly, "I will trouble you with this matter, Lord Fu."

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost." The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review bowed and said, "Princess, please take your time."

As the carriage wheels turned, it slowly left Dali Temple and headed towards the main street.

Listening to the noise outside the window, Shen Panyan lifted the car curtain and saw people coming and going on the street. Many children were chasing and playing, and some of the more mischievous ones were sitting in front of the snowdrifts making snowmen. Even though their hands were red from the cold, their faces still had bright smiles.

With such a bustling street scene, it would be a pity to go back now.

Shen Panyan took her hat and put it on. "Mu Ying, you go back with the driver first. I want to go for a walk."

Is the princess wandering around the capital alone?

"How can this be?" Mu Ying exclaimed anxiously. "Princess, you're all alone..."

Shen Panyan shook her head. "No, there's also Lin Xiao."

Shen Panyan pointed to Lin Xiao, who was following outside the carriage.

Although Mu Ying was diligent and loyal to her, when it came to personal relationships, she still favored Lin Xiao.

Since you're just strolling around, don't bring too many people with you.

Mu Ying knew that her position in the princess's heart could not compare with Lin Xiao's, so she could only sigh and say, "Yes, princess."

Before leaving, Mu Ying looked at Lin Xiao and carefully instructed him, "Take good care of the princess. There are many people on the street, so don't let anyone bump into her."

Lin Xiao paused for a moment, then nodded.

He never expected that the princess would keep him and send his personal maid back.

"Princess."

Lin Xiao extended his arm, and Shen Panyan glanced at him, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents. She placed her slender, soft hand on his arm, lifted the hem of her skirt, and stepped off the carriage.

"Shh! Lin Xiao, I don't want my identity to be discovered yet, otherwise if the news gets back to the palace, I'll have to go back." Shen Panyan put a finger to her lips and smiled at him. "I don't want to go back to the palace yet. For now, you can call me Miss outside!"

"Yes." Lin Xiao lowered his eyelashes, not looking at her. "Miss."

"let's go."

As the carriage drove away, Shen Panyan walked leisurely through the streets of the capital, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at the surrounding scenery.

Every now and then, she would reach out and point to the side, saying, "Lin Xiao, look, there's a place over there selling rouge."

"Would you like to go and take a look, Miss?"

"good!"

Shen Panyan rarely has the opportunity to walk openly on the street.

In the past, even if she stayed a little longer, Qiu Shuang would tell her that as a noble lady of the royal family, she should not show her face in public. Therefore, no matter how much she longed to stay, she could only lower the carriage curtain and return with regret.

Now, free from constraints, Shen Panyan was filled with joy.

Along the way, there were vendors selling sachets, rouge, and jewelry, and Shen Panyan watched them with rapt attention.

Everything was new and exciting to her.

Huh!

Suddenly, she saw a stall displaying many beautiful little porcelain figures and hurried over.

Seeing a customer arrive, the stall owner enthusiastically introduced the items, "Young lady, are you looking to buy a small porcelain figurine? These figurines of mine are all made with the finest glaze, and I guarantee they won't fade even after ten or fifteen years..."

These little porcelain figures include a lady playing a zither, a girl smelling the fragrance of plum blossoms, and a young lady looking back with a round fan in her hand... Each one is lifelike, exquisite, and very beautiful.

"It looks good..."

Shen Panyan hesitated. She really liked them, but she didn't dare to pick them up, afraid of bumping or breaking them. The stall owner smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, young lady. These porcelain figures aren't that fragile. Feel free to pick them up and look at them."

Shen Panyan carefully picked up the small porcelain figure she had chosen. It was a small porcelain figure holding flowers, with a round face and two buns, very cute. She turned to Lin Xiao and asked, "Lin Xiao, look, isn't it pretty?"

"nice."

"This is it then." Shen Panyan handed the small porcelain figure to the stall owner. "Could you please wrap it up for me?"

"Alright." The stall owner reached out and took it, picked up a wooden box and put it inside, smiling broadly, "Cheng Hui, three taels of silver."

Shen Panyan subconsciously reached for her waist, only to realize upon finding it empty that she hadn't brought her purse.

She didn't have the habit of carrying a purse; in the past, if she wanted something when she went out, her maids would pay for it.

Without money, how can I buy it... Shen Panyan's face flushed red instantly.

She stammered, "I'm sorry, I... I don't have any money, so I... I don't want it."

However, before she could finish speaking, a slender hand reached past her, placed silver on the stall, and took the wooden box.

Shen Panyan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at him.

"Lin Xiao".

"Hmm." Lin Xiao took the wooden box. "Miss, don't worry, I have enough money."

Shen Panyan bit her lip, feeling very embarrassed, "I'm sorry to have troubled you to spend so much."

"I'll return it to you when I get back!!"

"No need," Lin Xiao shook his head.

He doesn't lack that little bit of money.

The two left the stall and walked into the crowd. Shen Panyan asked him curiously, her voice barely audible, "Lin Xiao, how much salary do you receive each month from Father?"

He's a bodyguard, so his salary probably isn't very high, right?

He paid for the medicine last time, and he also paid for the porcelain doll this time. He probably doesn't have much money left... Shen Panyan clenched the hem of her clothes, feeling increasingly embarrassed.

Lin Xiao felt that the princess seemed to have some misunderstanding about him.

His voice sounded somewhat helpless, "Princess, don't worry, my salary is quite high."

The salaries of the secret guards in the secret guard camp are calculated according to their ranking. He is ranked ninth and is mainly responsible for intelligence and the safety of the emperor. His monthly salary is eighty taels.

Moreover, he had no hobbies and nowhere to spend money, so he spent less than an ounce of silver a year.

After hearing what he said, Shen Panyan covered her lips in surprise and looked at him.

She muttered to herself, "Is Father really not stingy?"

Her monthly allowance wasn't high either, only a hundred taels more than Lin Xiao's. Moreover, she spent more money, and she might not even have as much money as Lin Xiao.

She was a princess with a title, and by all accounts, she shouldn't be so poor. However, all the estates and villas under her control were taken away by the Empress. She could only receive a sum of money at the end of the year, and the rest of the time, she could only receive the monthly allowance from the Imperial Household Department.

Lin Xiao: "......."

Suddenly, Lin Xiao reached out and handed his purse to Shen Panyan, saying, "If the princess likes anything, please feel free to take it and buy it."

Now, Shen Panyan was even more embarrassed and dared not accept his purse. "No, thank you!"

"I... I don't have anything I want to buy right now, you should keep it for yourself!"

Seeing that the princess refused to accept it, Lin Xiao did not insist.

If the princess takes a fancy to something, he only needs to pay for it.

As she strolled along, Shen Panyan didn't find anything she liked. She already had all the clothes, cosmetics, and jewelry she needed; the palace products were far more exquisite than those sold outside, so there was no need for her to buy anything else.

Walking from one end of the street to the other, Chen Panyan was also a little tired.

"Lin Xiao, let's find a place to rest!"

"good."

Seeing a theater ahead, Shen Panyan went inside, asked the waiter for a private room, and also ordered a pot of tea and pastries. She took off her hat and gestured for Lin Xiao to sit down as well.

Lin Xiao hesitated.

Shen Panyan looked at him with a smile, "You paid for today, so I'll take it as your treat. In that case, there's no need for so many formalities. Sit down, Lin Xiao."

Lin Xiao then sat down.

At this moment, gongs and drums resounded downstairs, and a song began to play, drawing cheers from the guests.

Chen Panyan sipped his tea and snacks while watching the play with great interest.

You can't see such interesting plays when you're in the palace.

However, after watching for only a short while, Shen Panyan's expression turned strange.

An acquaintance has arrived.