Chapter 128

For the next few days, Su Zhelan was almost nowhere to be seen. He was either in Xiao Qiyun's study, discussing something in hushed tones with Xiao Qiyun, with various documents and maps spread out in front of him; or he would rush to the military camp to meet with Sheng Chi, staying for most of the day; occasionally he would also go to the bamboo hut to have a long private talk with Master Su Yan and Uncle Gu Linzhao.

Sheng Xuan was strictly confined to the manor by Sheng Chi's orders. Although he was filled with resentment, he had no choice but to comply. He could only move around within the limited area of ​​the manor, pacing anxiously like a caged beast. He tried several times to go to Su Zhelan's courtyard to find him, or to wait for him in Xiao Qiyun's study, but each time he was politely but firmly told by the servants: "Young Master Su Zhelan has gone out on business and is not in the manor." or "His Highness the Crown Prince is discussing matters with Young Master Su Zhelan and it is inconvenient to disturb him."

Each failed attempt to enter only deepened Sheng Xuan's suspicions and unease. He keenly sensed the unusual tension within the manor, especially the frequent interactions between Su Zhelan, Sheng Chi, and Xiao Qiyun. What had happened? Why was everyone keeping it from him? Could it be… another cult? After the border tragedy, had something new taken place? Was Su Zhelan once again risking her life alone?

This feeling of being excluded filled Sheng Xuan with both anger and resentment. He felt like an outsider, a useless person who was protected but unable to do anything!

That evening, Sheng Xuan listlessly poked at the food in his bowl in the dining room, unable to taste it. He was just wondering whether he should try his luck at Su Zhelan's courtyard again when he suddenly heard familiar footsteps outside the door!

Sheng Xuan looked up abruptly and, sure enough, saw Su Zhelan's figure appear at the entrance of the dining room! Su Zhelan seemed to have just returned from outside, with a hint of fatigue on her face, and was about to cross the dining room to return to her own courtyard.

"Su Zhelan!" Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up, like a cheetah spotting its prey. He sprang up from his chair and rushed over, his tall figure blocking the entrance to the dining room and cutting off Su Zhelan's path!

Caught off guard, Su Zhelan nearly bumped into Sheng Xuan. He looked up and saw Sheng Xuan's face, which was filled with excitement and dissatisfaction, as if saying, "Finally caught you!" His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Shengxuan? Is something the matter?" Su Zhelan's voice carried a hint of weariness and estrangement, and he subconsciously wanted to bypass Shengxuan.

"Of course something's wrong!" Sheng Xuan put his hands on his hips and glared fiercely at Su Zhelan. "You've been acting all mysterious these past few days, never seen again! You're either with Sheng Chi or Xiao Qiyun! What are you two up to? Have those bastards from the Burning Heart Sect caused trouble again? Has something happened at the border again? Tell me!"

Sheng Xuan's voice was urgent and rapid, carrying a sense of frustration and worry from being kept in the dark.

Su Zhelan looked at Sheng Xuan's anxious yet somewhat aggrieved expression, and a sense of helplessness swept through him. He didn't want to involve Sheng Xuan, and he didn't want Sheng Xuan to take any more risks for him. He took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and tried to make his voice sound calm: "It's nothing serious. I'm just dealing with some... matters concerning the Gu poison in my body. I need General Sheng Chi and His Highness the Crown Prince's help."

"Gu poison?" Sheng Xuan was taken aback, then stared at Su Zhelan suspiciously. "Really? Just Gu poison? Then why all the secrecy? And why are you always disappearing? At the border..."

“General Sheng Chi is handling things on the border; we don’t need to worry about it.” Su Zhelan interrupted him, her tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness. “Sheng Xuan, don’t concern yourself with this matter. Stay in the manor and don’t wander off.”

"I can't interfere?" Sheng Xuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with deep dissatisfaction and hurt. "Why can't I interfere? Are you hiding something from me again?..."

"Sheng Xuan!" Su Zhelan's voice also turned cold, carrying a hint of warning, "I told you, don't get involved in this! I don't want you to get involved!"

"Don't want me involved?" Sheng Xuan repeated, his eyes instantly brimming with grievance and anger! He suddenly grabbed Su Zhelan's wrist, the force so strong that Su Zhelan frowned slightly. "Su Zhelan! What do you mean?! Do you think I'm useless? Do you think I'll only hold you back?! You've been avoiding me these past few days, is it because you think I'm in your way?!"

Sheng Xuan's voice trembled slightly, and her usually vibrant eyes were now filled with hurt and disappointment: "I... I just wanted to help you! But you... you always push me away! Do you know... that you make me feel so useless! So... superfluous!"

The last few words were almost uttered through gritted teeth by Sheng Xuan, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a deep sense of grievance and helplessness.

Su Zhelan looked into Sheng Xuan's wounded eyes and listened to his tearful accusations, and his heart clenched! He hadn't expected Sheng Xuan to think this way, and he hadn't expected that his avoidance would cause Sheng Xuan so much harm.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Seeing Su Zhelan's silence, Sheng Xuan's hurt deepened. He loosened his grip on Su Zhelan's wrist slightly, his voice tinged with self-mockery and bitterness: "Heh... I knew it... you..."

"No!" Su Zhelan interrupted him abruptly, her voice tinged with urgency. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his mind racing. He couldn't tell Sheng Xuan the truth; that would only embolden him to impulsively drag himself into danger.

He needed a reason, a reason that could appease Sheng Xuan and temporarily get him away.

In a flash, a thought crossed her mind. Su Zhelan looked at Sheng Xuan, her eyes flickering, her tone softening, carrying a hint of deliberate ease and... a barely perceptible embarrassment: "Sheng Xuan... you're overthinking it. I'm not avoiding you, nor do I think you're useless. It's just... it's just that I've been quite busy lately with some things to take care of."

He paused, looking at Sheng Xuan's still suspicious gaze, and added with a forced smile, "Besides... isn't it your birthday soon? How can you be sure... everyone isn't busy preparing a surprise for you?"

"Birthday? Surprise?" Sheng Xuan was stunned for a moment, his eyes widening instantly! The grievance and anger on his face receded quickly like a tide, replaced by an unbelievable surprise and... a bit of silly expectation!

"Really?!" Sheng Xuan's voice suddenly rose, filled with excitement. "You...you're preparing a surprise for me?! What surprise?! Tell me quickly!"

He unconsciously loosened his grip on Su Zhelan's wrist, then excitedly grabbed her shoulders and shook her, a bright smile spreading across his face like a child who had just received candy: "Isn't that right! Isn't that right! I knew it! You two have been so secretive these past few days, you must have been preparing a birthday present for me! Right?! Su Zhelan! You promised me! You would grant me any wish on my birthday! You haven't forgotten, have you?!"

Su Zhelan felt a little dizzy from being shaken by Sheng Xuan. Seeing Sheng Xuan's sudden change from gloomy to cheerful, he felt a mix of amusement, helplessness, and mostly relief. He nodded hurriedly, wanting to get away as quickly as possible: "I haven't forgotten! Of course I haven't forgotten! But..."

He tried to break free from Shengxuan's grasp. "A surprise isn't a surprise if you tell it! So... let go of me now, I have things to take care of! You'll find out on my birthday!"

"No, no! Just tell me a little bit first!" Sheng Xuan persisted, grabbing Su Zhelan's shoulders and refusing to let go, his face full of curiosity and excitement. "Just a little bit! Just a little bit is enough! I promise I won't tell anyone!"

"No!" Su Zhelan shook her head firmly, trying to pry Sheng Xuan's hands off. "I told you it was a surprise! What's the point of telling you now? Let go of me! I really have something urgent to attend to!"

"Oh! Su Zhelan! Just tell me! Just a little bit!" Sheng Xuan persisted, his face full of undisguised expectation and a cheeky smile.

The two were struggling at the entrance of the dining room. Su Zhelan was anxious and helpless, while Sheng Xuan was immersed in the excitement of "surprise" and completely forgot the grievances and anger she had just felt.

Finally, taking advantage of Sheng Xuan's momentary lapse in attention, Su Zhelan forcefully broke free from his grasp, quickly took two steps back, and created distance.

He straightened his clothes, which Sheng Xuan had crumpled, and seeing Sheng Xuan's lingering desire to pounce on him, he quickly said, "Alright! Stop fooling around! I really have to go! Remember! Don't bother me before my birthday! And don't ask any questions! Otherwise... the surprise will be ruined!"

After saying that, Su Zhelan turned around and left the dining room quickly without waiting for Sheng Xuan's reaction. Her figure soon disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Sheng Xuan stood there, watching Su Zhelan's hurried departure, a silly smile still on his face. He scratched his head and muttered to himself, "Hehe... a surprise... what could it be?"

He had long since forgotten his earlier grievances and anger, his mind now filled with anticipation for the birthday surprise. Humming a little tune, he turned and walked back to the dining table, his appetite seemingly returning.

Su Zhelan, who had hurriedly left, finally let out a long sigh of relief after turning the corner of the corridor. He leaned against the wall and wearily rubbed his temples. For now... he had managed to get away with it. But Sheng Xuan's birthday... that "surprise"... how was he supposed to handle that?

In a corner of the mansion, Sheng Xuan, like a bird released from its cage, wandered around carefree all day. He hummed a little tune, a silly smile on his face, and would subtly probe every servant who might know the inside story of the "surprise," or talk to himself in the garden, guessing what gifts he would receive on his birthday.

Su Zhelan's promise of "any wish" took root in his heart like a sweet seed, allowing him to temporarily forget his previous grievances and the tense atmosphere permeating the mansion. He was immersed in the fantasy of the upcoming "surprise," his steps light as if he were walking on clouds.

However, in other corners of the mansion, the atmosphere was as heavy as the calm before a storm.

In the study of Shuyu Academy, the doors and windows were tightly closed. Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan sat facing each other, a huge border map spread out before them, densely marked with symbols and lines in vermilion and ink. Next to them were thick files, recording suspicious clues, personnel movements, and material flows from various places.

The two spoke in hushed tones, their voices barely audible, broken only by the occasional crackling of the candlelight. Xiao Qiyun's fingers moved slowly across the map, his eyes sharp as an eagle, analyzing the cult's possible hiding places and transportation routes.

Su Zhelan listened attentively, occasionally adding information and deductions she had obtained from her master Su Yan and Uncle Gu Linzhao, her eyes burning with a cold flame of revenge and an urgent desire to rescue the children.

Back at the military camp, Sheng Chi was even busier than usual. Scouts were dispatched and returned in a constant stream, bringing back scattered news, some true and some false. The army patrolled the border day and night, blocking every possible passage, creating a tense atmosphere. Sheng Chi sat in the central command post, his brow furrowed, processing a massive amount of military intelligence, trying to unravel the complex clues and find the cult's trail.

He occasionally returned to the manor, but always in a hurry. He would have a brief private talk with Xiao Qiyun and Su Zhelan in the study, and then immediately return to the military camp. The solemnity between his brows grew deeper day by day.

Inside the bamboo hut, Master Su Yan and Uncle Gu Linzhao were also working tirelessly. Uncle Gu Linzhao appeared and disappeared unpredictably, sometimes vanishing, sometimes returning with confidential information, discussing things in hushed tones with Master Su Yan. They, too, were weaving their own web against the cult.

Everyone was on edge, like a fully drawn bowstring, awaiting the signal for the fatal blow. Only Shengxuan remained immersed in his own small, expectant world of "surprise."

After lunch that day, Sheng Xuan wandered aimlessly around the mansion, eventually ending up near the kitchen. Just as he was wondering whether he should sneak into the kitchen to grab something good to eat, he heard the anxious voices of the cook and the purchasing manager inside.

"...What are we going to do? The pine nut candy, the finest glutinous rice flour, and those rare dried fruits on the list...the storeroom is empty! These are for preparing snacks for the masters! Especially...especially in a few days..."

The cook lowered his voice, but Sheng Xuan still keenly caught the words "snacks" and "in a few days"!

In a few days? Isn't that his birthday?! Snacks?! Could this be... part of the surprise?!

Sheng Xuan's heart jumped! He pricked up his ears and continued to listen.

The purchasing manager's voice was tinged with helplessness: "Sigh! I know it's urgent! But Xiao Liu, who's in charge of purchasing, took leave today! We can't find a suitable replacement right away! Several items on this list can only be bought from the old shops in the West Market, and we have to go early, or they'll be sold out!"

Chance!

Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up instantly! He leaped out from behind the pillar where he was hiding, dashed into the kitchen, and shouted, "I'll go! I'll go buy it!"

The cook and the manager in the kitchen were all startled by him!

"Sheng Xuan... Second Young Master?" The steward looked at Sheng Xuan, who had suddenly appeared, and was somewhat at a loss.

Sheng Xuan snatched the densely packed purchase list from the manager's hand, patted his chest, and confidently declared:

"Leave it to me! I guarantee I'll get the job done! It's just buying things! I know it like the back of my hand! I know which shops in the West Market have good stuff and which owners are honest!"

As he spoke, he quickly glanced at the list and, sure enough, saw pine nut candy, glutinous rice flour, and several rare dried fruits that he loved! This was definitely a birthday treat prepared for him!

Sheng Xuan was overjoyed, but he tried his best to maintain a serious expression: "Don't worry! I'll go right away! I promise I'll buy everything! And..."

He rolled his eyes and added, "My reason is legitimate! I was helping the manor with procurement! If General Shengchi asks, just say that I volunteered to go out and run errands! He can't keep locking me up, can he?"

Before the cook and the steward could react, Sheng Xuan shoved the list into her arms, turned around, and rushed out of the kitchen like a gust of wind, leaving only the words, "Wait for me to come back!"

"Hey! Young Master! Wait! This..." The steward chased after him to the door, but Sheng Xuan's figure had already disappeared around the corner of the corridor. He stamped his feet anxiously, "This...this won't do! How can Young Master Sheng Xuan go out! What will happen if the General finds out!"

However, Sheng Xuan had already run far away and couldn't hear any of this. Like a wild horse, he excitedly rushed towards the gate. The guards at the gate recognized him and, seeing him rushing towards them, instinctively tried to stop him.

"Make way! Make way!" Sheng Xuan waved the list in his hand and shouted righteously, "I was ordered by the steward to go out and purchase urgently needed supplies for the manor! Can you take responsibility for delaying the masters' important business?!"

The guards looked at each other, glancing at the list in Sheng Xuan's hand stamped with the kitchen's purchasing seal. They hesitated, remembering that Sheng Xuan was, after all, the general's younger brother.

Taking advantage of their moment of hesitation, Sheng Xuan slipped through their midst like an eel and dashed out of the mansion gate!

"Whew—!" Standing on the main street outside the manor, Sheng Xuan took a deep breath of the free air, feeling completely refreshed! He glanced back at the heavily guarded manor gate, proudly waved the list in his hand, and grinned: "Hehe! I can finally go out!"

Shengxuan, like a bird finally freed from its cage, plunged headlong into the bustling West Market.

The sun was shining brightly, and the streets were bustling with people, a vibrant sea of ​​voices—hawkers' cries, haggling, and the sounds of carriages and horses. Sheng Xuan felt completely relaxed, as if even the air itself carried the scent of freedom! He clutched the shopping list in his hand, but had no intention of buying everything on it.

"Pine nut candy? Buy it! Buy a lot! I love it!" He squeezed into a long-established candy shop, pointed at the dazzling array of candies on the shelves, and waved his hand, "This! This! And that! Wrap them all up for me! I want the big ones!"

"Top-quality glutinous rice flour? Hmm... This looks good! I'll buy it!" He went into another rice shop, looking at the white glutinous rice flour and imagining how it would look when made into soft and chewy desserts. His mouth was practically watering.

"Rare dried fruit?" His eyes lit up when he saw a shop specializing in dried goods from both the north and south, filled with all sorts of dried fruits and candied fruits. "This apricot! This peach! And this... I've never seen this before, I'll try some too!" He completely forgot what he specifically wanted on his list and just picked out whatever looked good to him and tasted delicious.

He carried large and small bags, weaving through the bustling crowd like a happy-go-lucky spender. Seeing a vendor selling candied hawthorns by the roadside, he bought a skewer! Seeing freshly baked sesame seed cakes, he bought two! Seeing the fragrant braised meat stall, he couldn't resist cutting off a pound!

A shopping list? What's that? He'd completely forgotten about it! His mind was now filled with thoughts like, "This is delicious!" "I want to eat that too!" "Buy it for Su Zhelan to try!"

As he passed a general store, his eyes were drawn to a row of earthenware jars displayed at the entrance. Red paper was pasted on the jars, which read "Superior Syrup".

Syrup? Sheng Xuan stopped in his tracks. He remembered that Su Zhelan seemed to have made pastries before, and they tasted especially good. At the time, Su Zhelan had even asked him with a smile if they were delicious... Although Su Zhelan rarely cooked afterward, Sheng Xuan always remembered that taste.

"I should buy some..." Sheng Xuan thought to himself, "Maybe... Su Zhelan will be in a good mood one day and be willing to make them again? Or... I can learn to make them myself?" He imagined the surprise or... smile that Su Zhelan might show when she ate the desserts he made? This thought made him itchy.

"Boss! Give me a big jar of this syrup!" Sheng Xuan shouted without hesitation, pointing to the largest earthenware jar.

The shopkeeper chuckled and carried it down for him. Sheng Xuan paid and stuffed the heavy syrup jar into his arms as well. Now he was carrying even more things, almost blocking his view.

As the sun gradually set, golden rays bathed the streets. Sheng Xuan, finally satisfied, clutched his mountain of spoils, humming a little tune, and swayed back home. He felt like a triumphant general, laden with his "trophies."

Upon returning to the mansion's entrance, the guards were stunned by his appearance. Sheng Xuan proudly raised his chin and swaggered inside.

He went straight to the kitchen and dumped the huge pile of things he was carrying onto the kitchen counter with a "whoosh." Pine nut candy, glutinous rice flour, various dried fruits, candied hawthorn, sesame cakes, braised meat... a dazzling array.

The cook and the steward stared dumbfounded at the pile of things, then looked at Sheng Xuan's face, which was full of "praise me!", and didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Look! I bought it!" Sheng Xuan clapped his hands, looking proud. "Pine nut candy, glutinous rice flour, candied fruit... it's all here! And these..." He pointed to the sesame seed cakes and braised meat, "...to give everyone a treat! It's on me!"

The steward picked up the crumpled list that Sheng Xuan had been crumpling, then looked at the items on the counter that didn't match up at all, and his lips twitched: "Young Master Sheng Xuan... this... the 'golden thread dates' and 'snow mountain plum preserves' on this list..."

"Oh! Those!" Sheng Xuan waved his hand dismissively. "I don't think that shop has any! They're all dried fruit anyway! The ones I bought are even tastier! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" He was completely unaware of the problem.

The cooks looked at the pile of food, hesitant to speak.

Sheng Xuan didn't care about any of that. He spotted his precious syrup and immediately pulled it out of the pile of junk, holding it tightly in his arms.

"This is mine!" he announced, a hint of childlike pride and anticipation on his face. "Alright! Everything's delivered! Mission accomplished! Let's go!"

After saying that, he ignored the cook and the steward's expressions of being both amused and speechless, grabbed the heavy jar of syrup, turned around and slipped out of the kitchen, running back to his yard like a gust of wind.