Chapter 21 On the Way, He Opened His Legs to Serve People

Guli Mountain is the highest mountain in the Gyeonggi region. Facing north, it is often covered in spring colors before the flowers in the city have fully bloomed.

It's not close to Chong'anfang, and even if you manage to pick it from such a long distance, you probably can't guarantee it will be fresh.

Judging from the color of the flowers, which still seem to be covered with morning dew, it must have taken a lot of manpower.

"It was picked from the yard," Lin Shutang said nonchalantly. "If you like it, I'll send someone to cut a branch and deliver it to your residence. Perhaps it will bloom next year."

"Picking it from the yard?" Zhao Mingzhu was somewhat surprised, never expecting it to be a crabapple from the Duke's mansion.

However, the begonias here shouldn't be blooming so beautifully right now.

But then she remembered what Ji Huaiyi had whispered in her ear when he was pursuing her: that the young master was possessed by some evil spirit, running to the flower shop every day and planting flowers in the Imperial Training Ground. He was so obsessed that he would stare at his flowers all day long, getting himself covered in mud.

Zhao Mingzhu connected the dots and instantly understood.

He wasn't bewitched; he took on the work of a gardener, tending to the early-maturing crabapple trees, running around everywhere—all of this was simply to win a smile from the beauty.

Zhao Mingzhu gently curled the corners of her lips, and couldn't help but glance at Lin Shutang again.

"Madam looks much better than before."

Caught off guard by Lin Shutang's gaze, Zhao Mingzhu couldn't look away in time. But she didn't panic at being caught, and nodded with a slight smile, smoothly bringing up a new topic.

"On the day of the grandson's 100-day celebration, I intended to pay my respects, but Madam disappeared in the time it takes to drink a cup of wine, so I did not come to disturb you. Does Madam forgive me?"

Now that the topic had been brought up, Lin Shutang had no reason not to accept it.

Otherwise, the car would be too quiet, and the atmosphere would become too cold, making one feel extremely uncomfortable.

Lin Shutang chuckled and shook his head, "How could that be?"

She was about to say something more when suddenly the carriage lurched, and Lin Shutang nearly fell out, but Zhao Mingzhu caught her.

"What happened?" Lin Shutang looked at Zhao Mingzhu gratefully, then opened the car door and asked.

"Your Highness's wife!" Upon seeing the carriage door open, the old woman, who was prostrate in the middle of the carriage, immediately brightened her cloudy eyes and kowtowed several times to Lin Shutang.

Her voice was hoarse as she wailed, "Lady of the Heir Apparent, please save Er Ya! She's still so young, she can't be..."

"Madam, it's windy outside, please go inside. I'll handle it."

Before the old woman could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Green Willow's steady voice.

It sounded reassuring, but Lin Shutang couldn't bear to look at the red marks on the old woman's aged skin.

The driver quickly came to his senses, terrified by the sudden appearance of the old woman. He was filled with anxiety and fear; if anything happened to the woman, he would lose his life.

He quickly added, "Madam, this servant doesn't know where this woman came from. This servant will send her away immediately."

As he spoke, he was about to get off the bus.

Green Willow held Lin Shutang's hand, intending to help her inside.

When the old woman saw the coachman dismount, she knew he was trying to get rid of her. She immediately became reckless, and her sobbing voice was almost a desperate shout.

It was as if they were grasping at the last straw.

"Your Highness's Wife, Er Ya has served you for so long, please save her!"

Lin Shutang stopped and looked back.

"Madam, let me handle this." A hint of panic flashed in Green Willow's eyes.

Lin Shutang keenly sensed that something was wrong.

She brushed Green Willow's hand away, got off the carriage, and walked up to the old woman. "You said that Er Ya has been serving me for a long time?"

Do you know what her name is in the household?

"Qingdai! Call her Qingdai!" the old woman said immediately, as if she had just remembered something.

Lin Shutang's breath hitched.

What's wrong with her?

"I don't know what crime our Er Ya committed to be sold off by the young master!" The old woman spread her hands, prostrated herself on the ground, and cried uncontrollably. "The slave traders are greedy for money, who knows where they'll sell our Er Ya! What if... what if she's sold to a brothel... how will our Er Ya live?"

Lin Shutang stared at the woman beside him, a buzzing sound filling his ears.

I remember the last time I saw Qingdai was on Wuyin Mountain, and she fell ill after we returned.

Later, Green Willow told her that Qingdai's elderly relative was dying, and Qingdai needed to rush back to fulfill her filial duties.

Lin Shutang turned his head to look at Lvwu behind him, who immediately lowered her head and knelt down on the ground, trembling with fear, "This servant knows her crime!"

"Madam, you must save my Er Ya!" The old woman began to reach out and cling to Lin Shutang's legs.

Lin Shutang bent down to help her up, feeling a tightness in his chest. "Don't worry, I'll send someone to find Qingdai."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's eyelashes fluttered. "Well... I'll go find them. I know the routes used by human traffickers! Madam, you just need to give me some money so I can make some arrangements along the way."

"I promise, once I find Qingdai, I won't come back! I will absolutely not be an eyesore to the young master and his wife!"

The old woman's eyes gleamed, and she quickly held up three fingers.

Lin Shutang stared at her, stunned for a moment. The buzzing in her ears seemed to get worse, and a wave of nausea rose from her stomach for no reason.

Green Willow quickly helped her up.

"Give her the money." Lin Shutang said stiffly and hurriedly got into the carriage.

Zhao Mingzhu looked up at her and pushed the prepared tea towards Lin Shutang.

"Selling servants is a common occurrence. Qingdai is, after all, from the Duke's mansion, so the servants won't be too harsh on her. Even if she's sold to a local area, she's qualified to be a head maidservant to the wives of officials."

Zhao Mingzhu comforted her.

She glanced through the car window at the old woman who was walking away with a heavy silver bag. "That woman was walking unsteadily, with dark circles under her eyes, and she was heading in the direction of a famous gambling den in Yujing."

The rest is self-explanatory.

Lin Shutang swallowed his tea and nodded slightly.

She was somewhat dazed, thinking of the personal maids who, like Qingdai, had left her side over the years.

For the first time, she wondered, where did they go?

The carriage arrived at Princess Changning's residence, and Lin Shutang dismounted with the help of Lvwu.

Green Willow knew she had lied to her master, and she was filled with fear and trepidation the whole way.

Even though it was the prince's order, Green Willow was still inexplicably afraid when she saw Lin Shutang's expressionless face.

It would be better for you to punish her directly, Madam.

The servants of the princess's residence led them to the backyard.

Passing through the vermilion corner gate and stepping onto the winding bridge flanked by green jade railings, and parting a patch of green covering, the scene before your eyes suddenly opens up.

This is a peninsula in the middle of the lake, surrounded by the lake on three sides, with a winding bluestone path leading to the dougong-style pavilion at the far end.

The clear green lake water reflects the towering Taihu stone rockery stacked on the shore. In a small spring carved out of the mountaintop, the spring water slides down the stone ridges, knocking a few pale purple dianthus flowers clinging to the crevices into the lake surface, scattering the white clouds that are stirred up.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the drooping willow tips to sway lightly on the lake's surface. The pink petals of peach blossoms fluttered down, carrying a refreshing, damp fragrance.

Lin Shutang walked in, stepping on the fallen pale yellow forsythia petals. The ground felt soft and fluffy, as if even the soles of her shoes smelled sweet.

On both sides, there were a dozen or so wisteria-covered tables, each covered with a soft, green satin tablecloth, and white jade plates filled with candied cherries, pine nut cakes, rose pastries, and other treats.

Steaming hot, the sweet aroma wafts straight into your nose.

By this time, many women had arrived, and they were gathered in small groups, some standing by the lakeside table, others sitting at the wisteria-covered table, their laughter and chatter filling the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

"My cousin-in-law is here." Princess Changning and her entourage stood in the pavilion at the farthest point and greeted Lin Shutang as soon as they saw her.

Lin Shutang entered, bowed, and said, "Princess."

"This flower-viewing banquet has been held for three years. My cousin-in-law is finally willing to give us some face now?" Changning said with a smile, seemingly reproachful.

These words, on the surface, seemed to elevate Lin Shutang to a high position, but in reality, they were merely a sarcastic remark that she spent her days hiding in her mansion and was someone who couldn't be brought to the table.

After all, only concubines would stay inside the palace and not have to think about anything but serving their masters with their legs spread wide.

The group of women following behind her naturally understood Changning's implied meaning and immediately chuckled softly, covering their faces with their handkerchiefs.

Lin Shutang looked over upon hearing the sound, and the one laughing the loudest was the one who had admonished Changning beside him at Huguo Temple that day.

When she met Lin Shutang's indifferent gaze, the woman panicked for a moment. Remembering that Princess Changning was behind her, she immediately straightened her back and looked back at him calmly.

"Hmm." Lin Shutang calmly withdrew her gaze and nodded slightly, seemingly oblivious to the hidden meaning in those words or the malice of this group of people.

Changning stared at her calm and expressionless face, momentarily stunned, and the smile on her lips vanished.

It felt like punching cotton.

It's incredibly boring.

Changning released her arm from Lin Shutang's and turned to look at Zhao Mingzhu. "Why did Madam Ji come with my cousin-in-law today? I remember that the Duke's Mansion and the Ji Residence are not in the same place."

Zhao Mingzhu slightly curtsied, "Your Highness, my carriage broke down on the way. Fortunately, I met the Crown Prince's wife, who gave me a ride, so I was able to attend the banquet in time."

"I think today's flower-viewing banquet is even more innovative than last year's. If I had not been able to attend and enjoy the spring scenery, I would have regretted it for a long time."

"Madam Ji's words are as eloquent as ever, and I am delighted to hear them." Princess Changning smiled again. "Sister-in-law and Madam, please go and stroll around for a while. We can chat more after the banquet begins."

Leaving the pavilion, Lin Shutang said, "Thank you."

Zhao Mingzhu shook her head and smiled, "I didn't do anything."

"It is because Madam doesn't care about what they say that I am able to do my part for her."

Lin Shutang glanced at the group of women gathered below the pavilion, sipping tea and listening to music, their laughter carried on the breeze. Kites were slowly released into the air, gradually rising higher and higher, drawing even more commotion.

Almost everyone in the park was drawn to it.

Lin Shutang's eyelids drooped slightly, lost in thought. He turned his head, his face expressionless.

The two took their seats.

Lin Shutang poured himself a cup of warm tea and was about to put it in his mouth when he suddenly heard whispers coming from the wisteria-covered table next to him.

"Have you heard? A few days ago, the Sixth Prince's precious horse suddenly fell ill with a strange disease. They searched for doctors everywhere, but no one knew the cause. Just last night, it finally couldn't hold on and died!"

"What!"

These words immediately drew gasps of surprise.

"That can't be right. My maternal grandfather worked in the Imperial Pharmacy, and he never heard of anything happening to the Sixth Prince's horse."

"You don't understand. That Akhal-Teke horse was a birthday gift from His Majesty to the Sixth Prince. If something happens to a gift from the Emperor, the Sixth Prince has no choice but to keep it a secret."

"..."

Zhao Mingzhu calmly withdrew her gaze from that spot, chuckled, and shook her head. "Who in the capital doesn't know that the Sixth Prince cherishes that horse terribly, riding it around town every day. Now that the horse is in trouble, the Sixth Prince must be heartbroken."

The way those words were said had a rather gratifying quality to it.

Lin Shutang turned her head to look at her and, sure enough, saw Zhao Mingzhu and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She leaned her upper body slightly to one side, and Lin Shutang also turned slightly to the side.

Hearing her grind her back teeth, she whispered, "The sixth prince almost trampled my husband while riding his horse earlier."

I see.

Lin Shutang looked up at her, looking quite serious, "Then it's a case of 'evil begets evil.'"

The two slowly sat up straight and exchanged a knowing smile.

A note from the author:

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