Chapter 44: "Sheng Sheng, can you come with me?"
Xiao Xu left behind these startling words, then got up and left, saying he was going to his study to work.
Yun Sheng stood there for a long time, her round eyes trembling. She gradually began to think that Shen Yuewan had sent Liu Xian the tonics because she had been worried about Lan Ge'er these past two days, and that the tonics were to replenish her qi and blood and energy. But Shen Yuewan didn't know about Xiao Xu's injuries, and they were both fine. Perhaps the tonics Shen Yuewan sent really were...
Yun Sheng snapped out of her daze and quickly called over the servants: "What kind of soup were you stewing just now?"
The servants looked at each other, bewildered; they had no idea either.
After all, it was sent by the princess, and it was different from other supplements sold on the market. This was a formula that the princess researched and formulated herself. It had no packaging or label, and people who did not study it in depth could not tell its type and efficacy at a glance.
Cuizhu said, "Your Highness, when I was tidying up just now, I found that the tonics sent by the Princess Consort all contained the same ingredients. If you take out a new one and examine it carefully, you can probably guess its effects."
Yun Sheng quickly gave the instructions.
The servants quickly brought over an unopened set of tonics and spread them out on the table covered with plain silk.
Yun Sheng sat down at the table and leaned closer to take a closer look. There were slices of angelica, slices of astragalus, as well as plump red dates and golden longan pulp.
She felt a little relieved; wasn't this just a prescription for strengthening the body and replenishing blood?
But as he looked further down, his brows furrowed.
Several dark purple, withered vine-like things with snake-scale-like patterns on their surface, felt dry and rough to the touch; she didn't recognize them.
She curiously poked a few pieces of black, charcoal-like, and stone-like flakes with her fingertip, but they didn't budge, which only increased her confusion.
There was also a small bag in the corner, I don't know if it was internal organs or something else.
Yun Sheng hesitated and gently picked up a shriveled, blackened little fruit with two fingers. The fruit had an indescribable feel to it, as if she had touched a small, long-dried heart.
"Ah!" Yun Sheng shuddered and threw the fruit back onto the table. She grabbed a handkerchief and frantically wiped her fingertips, the strange sensation still seemingly sticking to her skin.
"Take it away, take it away, I don't want to look at it anymore."
Yun Sheng waved her hands repeatedly, her disgust barely concealed, and she gradually realized that Xiao Xu had done it on purpose.
A man as shrewd as him, if these were harmful substances, would he really put them in his mouth? He just said that to scare her because he found them disgusting.
hateful.
"That's too much," Yun Sheng muttered angrily.
He drank it anyway. If it replenishes his qi and blood, that's fine. If not... well, then he deserves it. She won't tolerate him today.
That night, Xiao Xu returned to the house as usual.
After giving him a wary look, Yun Sheng remained calm, just like him.
Xiao Xu observed for a while, then chuckled softly.
This laugh immediately broke Yun Sheng's composure, and she turned to glare at him: "If you keep making fun of me like this, I'll make you drink that tonic soup again tonight."
Xiao Xu stopped smiling, seemingly remembering the taste of the tonic soup. A look of disgust appeared on his face as he took his clothes and medicine box to the bathing room with a sullen expression.
*
Seven days later, the matter of Lan Ge'er being kidnapped by thieves came to a conclusion.
Zhou Rui, the steward in charge of carriage dispatch and travel arrangements at the outer courtyard, confessed that he had been bribed by Zhao Si, the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the outskirts of Beijing, because he owed gambling debts. He then leaked the Second Young Master's family's itinerary of staying in the outskirts of Beijing on the night of Qixi Festival.
That night, two of Zhao Si's men disguised themselves as couriers and, while everyone was resting, sneaked into the room, drugged the guards at the door, and kidnapped Lan Ge'er.
The bandit Zhao Si was killed during the pursuit. His remaining followers confessed that their original plan was to take the child to the north to demand a huge ransom, but they were exposed before they could take action because the Prince's Palace was investigating too closely.
The case was jointly tried by the Prince's Palace and the government. Zhou Rui, who betrayed his master for money, was severely punished and exiled to the border army as a slave. The already dead bandit leader Zhao Si was beheaded and his head displayed to the public. The other accomplices were all sentenced to exile.
The case file concluded that this vicious attempted kidnapping case, in which a servant colluded with foreign thieves out of greed, was now closed.
Liu Xian's worries of the past few days finally subsided, and she looked more energetic.
That afternoon, she brought Lan Ge'er with her, and her maidservants carried several boxes of fine bird's nest and silk to the east courtyard.
"Sheng Sheng, thank you for thinking of me these past few days and coming to visit me." As soon as Liu Xian saw Yun Sheng, she took her hand, her tone relaxed and cheerful.
Following instructions, Lan Ge'er clasped his hands in a childish voice and bowed, saying, "Lan'er greets Auntie! Thank you for the pine nut candy, Auntie!"
Yun Sheng was both amused and exasperated; she hadn't given him any pine nut candy yet today.
She touched Lan Ge'er's little face: "Auntie didn't prepare any pine nut candy today, but I happen to have some delicious pastries. I brought some for Lan Ge'er to try before. Would you like to try some more today?"
This morning, Xiao Xu sent someone to the Five Flavors Shop again to buy back the shop's new products. She just tasted two pieces and found them to be very delicious.
Lan Ge'er naturally liked it too: "I want to eat! I want to eat!"
Yun Sheng asked Cui Zhu to fetch some snacks, and then welcomed Liu Xian into the house.
Lan Ge'er happily ate pastries and played in the courtyard, while the two sat down at the table inside the house to drink tea.
"This matter is finally resolved, and I can finally get a good night's sleep." Liu Xian breathed a long sigh of relief.
"That thief actually set his sights on the child. Now he has gotten his just deserts, which is very gratifying."
Liu Xian said, "After this incident, Erlang has thoroughly examined everyone around him, and the rules for going out in the future have become even stricter. But thinking of Zhou Rui, who has been in the manor for more than ten years and usually seems to be quite dutiful, it is truly disheartening that he could do such a disloyal thing."
"You can't see into someone's heart. What wouldn't they do for money?" Yun Sheng was young and had a more direct view on this matter. "My mother often said that when employing people, you should be lenient but also have rules to discipline them. You should also give the people in your own courtyard a nudge from time to time and not let them have their way too much."
That makes sense, Liu Xian nodded in agreement.
After discussing this heavy matter, the atmosphere gradually became more lively.
Liu Xian took out a delicate little square box: "By the way, I also brought the perfume I mentioned before today."
She opened the brocade box, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air. Inside the box were several small, crystal-clear glass bottles, each no more than two fingers tall, exquisite and charming. At first glance, she couldn't tell what each one smelled like.
Liu Xian took out a bottle, uncorked it, and a sweet and rich floral fragrance carrying the scent of morning dew wafted out: "This is osmanthus. Smell it, isn't it more vibrant than the fragrance of artificially scented flowers?"
Yun Sheng curiously leaned closer, took a gentle sniff, and her eyes revealed surprise: "Indeed, this fragrance is both pure and wonderful, like freshly picked flower petals."
Seeing that she liked it, Liu Xian continued, "There are other scents here too. Besides floral, there are fruity scents, and there are also unnamed scents that I tried to blend myself. I'll bring them all for you to try."
Yun Sheng sniffed the fragrances in the bottles one by one. The scents were all different, and after sniffing them one after another, she could hardly distinguish them anymore.
Liu Xian smiled and said, "I've heard that those particular ladies and young women in the south will add a drop or two to the warm water they use to wash their faces, saying that it can moisturize their skin, or pat it all over their bodies after bathing, so that they feel fragrant and refreshed."
As she spoke, she took Yun Sheng's hand and gently placed a tiny drop on the back of her hand: "Try it, spread it and feel it."
Yun Sheng spread the drop of crystal-clear dew evenly with her fingertips. At first, her skin felt a slight coolness, followed by a delicate, moisturizing sensation. The elegant fragrance seemed to seep into her skin, emanating subtly with the slightest movement of her wrist, fitting her more naturally and comfortably than any sachet or scented cake she wore.
Yun Sheng looked at the back of her hand, then raised her hand to smell her wrist, and sincerely praised, "It smells so good, Ah Xian, thank you, I like it very much."
"I'm glad you like it." Liu Xian sealed the bottle in her hand and pushed it, along with the brocade box, in front of Yun Sheng. "I have other flavors here. I'll bring you some next time."
The two of them huddled together for a while, studying the other fragrances: the elegance of lotus and the coldness of winter plum, each with its own merits.
The conversation shifted from the fragrance of dew to the patterns of clothing fabrics and jewelry from the south, making the atmosphere in the room increasingly relaxed and pleasant.
After sitting for a while, Liu Xian saw that it was almost time to leave, so she got up to say goodbye.
Yun Sheng had Cui Zhu give the wrapped pastries to Lan Ge'er's wet nurse.
After seeing her off at the gate, Liu Xian said, "I'll come and talk to you another day when I have time."
Lan Ge'er, led by his mother, looked up and waved vigorously at Yun Sheng: "Goodbye, Auntie! Lan Ge'er will come again next time to eat cakes!"
*
Inside the side room, Mu Shan presented a briefing document.
"Your Highness, the reports from the imperial mausoleum construction site are all normal. The procurement and labor numbers are all within the regulations, and there have been no specially approved large withdrawals recently."
Xiao Xu pondered for a moment and said, "So Zhang's faction has made no move at all during the nearly half-month that they have been busy at the Prince Zhao's residence?"
Mu Shan knew that Xiao Xu's question meant he did not agree with this.
Although the case of the young master's kidnapping has been closed, there are still some suspicious points.
Mu Shan paused briefly before continuing, "There is indeed a strange little matter. Three days ago, Zhao Wenkang, the Assistant Minister of Works in charge of the records of the imperial mausoleum's stone materials, had his elderly mother suddenly fall seriously ill. When Chief Minister Zhang heard of this, he specially requested the palace to grant him an imperial favor and sent two highly skilled imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital, along with ten taels of the finest ginseng, to the Zhao family."
"I have investigated and found that Zhao Wenkang has no personal relationship with Chief Minister Zhang, and has never received such consideration before. Moreover, according to rumors, Zhao's mother's illness is not an acute one. I am verifying this matter, but there is no need to falsify it."
Xiao Xu said, "The fact that the mother of a fifth-rank official fell ill, and that the current Grand Secretary personally dispatched a royal physician, is an excessive favor. It seems suspicious, as Zhang Huai-ren never does business without risk."
"What does Your Highness mean?"
Xiao Xu raised his eyes, his gaze calm: "Carefully examine Zhao Wenkang's accounts and dealings with relatives and friends over the past six months, especially his contact with stone merchants. Also, investigate those two imperial physicians to see if they were really there to treat patients or if they had other instructions."
"Does Your Highness suspect that the imperial physician went to deliver a message rather than to examine patients?"
"Perhaps it's a combination of both. If Zhao's mother doesn't have an acute illness, then this fuss is just for show. Who is it for? Either to reassure Zhao Wenkang and make him more devoted, or to let others see the Chief Minister Zhang's compassion, so that if something happens to Zhao Wenkang in the future, no one will suspect him."
"Yes, Your Highness, I understand."
Mu Shan bowed slightly and then said, "The folding fan that Your Highness asked me to investigate has been confirmed. It was indeed made by Mr. Lin Quan. According to our investigation, more than ten years ago, Mr. Lin Quan passed through Mingjiang County and gave the fan to a beautiful and pitiful lady. Judging from the description, this lady should be the mother of the young master, Madam Yang."
After reporting the matter, Xiao Xu's expression did not change much.
The facts, once verified, were largely as he had originally predicted.
Mingjiang County is located more than 50 miles south of Ganzhou, the hometown of Shen Yuewan and Yang. That year, after Yang left the capital, she did not return to Ganzhou for unknown reasons, but went directly to Mingjiang County and settled down.
It was said that Yang's husband was from Mingjiang County. A year after their marriage, Yang Qinhuai was born in Mingjiang County. Until Yang's death, they lived in Mingjiang County and never returned to Ganzhou. Previously, Xiao Xu had asked Mushan to investigate Yang's past in Ganzhou, but he did not find many useful clues.
Xiao Xu said, "There is no need to investigate Yang's past in Mingjiang County. Instead, investigate Yang Qinhuai's whereabouts in the years between leaving Mingjiang County and staying at the Prince's Mansion, including who he associated with, where his money came from, and where it was invested."
Mu Shan immediately understood: "Does Your Highness believe that Young Master Biao is not simply seeking refuge with relatives, but rather has some other backing or ulterior motive?"
“It’s not impossible. Investigate secretly, without alerting the rest of the Prince’s Mansion.” Xiao Xu then said, “There’s another matter. Prepare two ordinary merchant-style carriages without any Prince’s Mansion markings. All travel documents should be handled under aliases.”
Mu Shan hesitated and asked, "Does Your Highness intend to go to Mingjiang County in person?"
Xiao Xu did not answer directly: "Jiangnan is prosperous, with thriving commerce and a gathering place for all kinds of goods. It is also a place where money and grain from various forces flow. It wouldn't hurt to take a look along the way."
When does Your Highness plan to depart?
"Let's wait until after the Mid-Autumn Festival. All matters in the manor need to be settled first."
He didn't want to miss his first Mid-Autumn Festival with Yun Sheng.
After giving his instructions, Xiao Xu raised his hand, signaling Mu Shan to step down.
However, Mu Shan remained standing in the same spot with his head down after responding.
Xiao Xu waited for a while, then calmly raised his eyes and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"..."
Reporting the first two matters was no problem for Mu Shan, but he wished someone else could take over this last task for him.
Thinking of the cold stares he would inevitably receive, Mu Shan took a deep breath before saying, "Your Highness, it's about the Third Young Master. News has come that... they've lost track of him. Before they lost track of him, it seems that the Third Young Master fled in the north, perhaps heading back to the capital."
The air suddenly froze. Mu Shan chose not to look up, so he wouldn't see Xiao Xu's expression.
After a long silence, Xiao Xu asked in a deep voice, "How long have we been missing them?"
"Including the time it takes to send the message, it has been about ten days."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Shan lowered his head and heard the suppressed sound of the paper being crumpled, and then Xiao Xu fell silent again.
Xiao Xu understood Xiao Ling's temperament. Regardless of the initial reason, once he had fled, the more his family chased after him, the more he wanted to escape.
Therefore, when Xiao Qingchuan wanted to take over the matter, Xiao Xu did not resist. Xiao Qingchuan's pursuit would only make Xiao Ling escape further and further away, which suited his wishes. He only needed to send someone to keep an eye on him to prevent Xiao Ling from being caught by Xiao Qingchuan's people.
However, Xiao Xu's men have been lost.
"Is there any news from Father?"
"No, the prince was furious about it. The third young master didn't know how to cover his tracks, and the people the prince sent out completely lost his trail."
Counting the days, it has been almost two months since Xiao Ling left the capital.
Given Xiao Ling's personality, he wouldn't intend to wander outside for long. The fact that he's hiding his tracks like this probably means he's heading back.
He not only had to return to the capital, but also had to evade all the pursuit from his family before suddenly appearing in front of everyone to show that his family could not do anything to him or force him to do anything.
Xiao Xu could guess his childish and arrogant thoughts, and initially disdained him.
But it just so happens to be this time.
There are still more than half a month until the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it will take him at least a month to travel to and from Mingjiang County.
The room remained silent, and Mu Shan sighed inwardly.
At first, he thought it was because His Highness admired the Crown Princess and cared about the Third Prince's status as her former fiancé, and was worried that his marriage would be affected.
But then he realized how absurd it was. The Crown Prince was a man of strong character, so why should he care that his status and power were no match for his younger brother?
Looking back now, it seems that the only person His Highness cared about was his wife.
At this moment, Xiao Xu finally spoke: "Arrange the trip as soon as possible, and have everything ready within three days."
Mu Shan was taken aback and looked up: "Your Highness, are you planning to depart in three days?"
"Go and do it."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
*
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and countless stars fill the heavens.
Yun Sheng nestled on the chaise longue with her legs bent, her toes in white socks tapping lightly on the cushions as she hummed a tuneless little melody. In her hand, she held an embroidery hoop, on which a fully formed orchid had already taken shape, its stitches neat and lifelike.
Xiao Xu had already heard the soft sounds coming from inside the house from the doorway.
He paused slightly as he opened the door, listened carefully for a moment, and only when the melody stopped playing did he gently push the door open.
Yun Sheng always had trouble noticing his movements. She would only notice him when he was almost upon her, and then she would hurriedly and frantically hide the embroidery hoop and needles and thread in the drawer.
She looked up and saw Xiao Xu standing a few steps away, quietly watching her.
Yun Sheng frowned: "Even if you walk silently, can't you knock before entering the house?"
Xiao Xu chuckled: "Do I need to knock and ask permission to go back to my own room?"
"Then may I ask permission, Madam, to come in?"
"..."
Yun Sheng was speechless.
But she noticed that although Xiao Xu was smiling, his expression was unmistakably somber.
Before she could think any further, Xiao Xu had already approached her, and the orchid embroidery pattern he had drawn earlier had not yet been hidden away.
Xiao Xu asked, "Why are you in such a hurry to hide?"
Anyone who didn't know better would think she was reading some absurd storybook and was afraid he would confiscate it.
Yun Sheng said irritably, "This cannot be seen before it is completed, otherwise it will be bad luck."
Normally, other husbands wouldn't have the chance to see the sachet their wives embroidered for them before marriage, but their situation was special. Yun Sheng thought to herself, "This man got married in such a hurry, he really doesn't even know this custom."
Xiao Xu truly didn't understand; he hadn't experienced the period of preparation and waiting before his wedding.
Upon hearing Yun Sheng say it was unlucky, he replied, "I didn't see anything."
Yun Sheng was amused by his words and reached for the blueprint to put it away.
She had just leaned out, her fingers grasping the Xuan paper, her black hair sweeping across her shoulder.
Xiao Xu suddenly stepped forward, bent down, and got closer.
Suddenly, Yun Sheng heard an undisguised breath in her ear. The breath was long and distinct, making the side of her body that had been smelled instantly feel hot.
She turned her head in surprise, leaning back, and was about to fall backward when Xiao Xu reached out and protected her lower back.
"Why are you hiding?"
"What are you smelling?"
Xiao Xu stared at her intently, but Yun Sheng could see out of the corner of her eye that his chest rose and fell again.
"You smell so good."
Yun Sheng's face flushed instantly. She tried to push him away, but he hugged her tightly instead.
Xiao Xu no longer had the same obvious breathing sound as before, but since he was nearby, he could still smell it with normal breathing.
Yun Sheng twisted shyly, but finding she couldn't break free, she simply gave up and whispered, "It's the perfume that Ah Xian brought me when she came to the courtyard today. I found it novel, so I applied some after my bath."
It was really just a little bit; she herself didn't find the fragrance particularly strong, but rather light and gentle, just right.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Xu, who had been holding back his breathing, started again.
Yun Sheng couldn't stand the sound. Her eyelashes trembled. The perfectly good dew was made to look like something improper by him.
But Xiao Xu commented in a serious tone: "It smells very good, it's osmanthus."
Yun Sheng pushed him again, finally managing to push away his towering, mountain-like body a little, and changed the subject, asking, "How's your wound today? Did you experience any discomfort after the gauze was removed?"
Xiao Xu sat down close to her on the chaise longue and said slowly, "Don't you know what it's like to remove the gauze?"
"..."
Yun Sheng was unaware that Xiao Xu had not wrapped himself in gauze after taking a bath last night, but she noticed that his clothes had shifted slightly when he lay down.
In about ten days, the originally hideous wound had healed considerably, but the wound was still there. Yun Sheng was worried that wearing clothes would rub against the wound and cause it to become serious again.
Xiao Xu tried to explain, but she didn't really listen. She just stuck to her own reasoning and got up again to re-wrap the bandages around the person who was already lying down.
Later, Xiao Xu stopped explaining and simply took off his shirt and put it on her body, demonstrating to her that he no longer needed the gauze.
During this time, Yun Sheng's nightgown came loose and was about to slip off due to the strong jolts. Xiao Xu carefully tied it back on and helped her put her clothes back on while he was fastening the nightgown.
He made her bend down, her clothes neatly pressed against his naked body, and continued to bounce her around.
After all this, Xiao Xu's wounds were completely healed, but Yun Sheng, on the other hand, went from being limp with her body while still clothed the first time, to being stripped naked and flipped over the next time.
Thinking about this, Yun Sheng decided not to ask anymore.
She lowered her legs to put on her embroidered shoes, and Xiao Xu reached out and lifted both her legs onto his own lap. As he took her embroidered shoes and helped her put them on, he said, "Sheng Sheng, would you like to go to the Jiangnan area for a visit?"
Xiao Xu's question came as abruptly as Yun Sheng was taken aback before replying, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"
“I’m going to Jiangnan, and it will take some time to go there and back. If you’d like, I’d like you to come with me.”
"Are you going to work? It wouldn't be appropriate for me to come along, would it?"
"It's not entirely for official business. This trip will take me through my mother's hometown, Ganzhou. My mother gave birth to my second brother in Ganzhou and lived there with him for a while. Later, my mother also took my third brother back to visit relatives. I've never been there before, so I want to go and see it."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng's heart tightened.
It's difficult for outsiders to judge the right and wrong of the previous generation's past, but the only thing that is clear is that Xiao Xu suffered the most in the initial unhappy marriage between King Zhao and his queen.
But apart from initially telling her about it, Xiao Xu never mentioned it again.
At this moment, Yun Sheng felt a pang of sadness: "When do you plan to set off?"
"Three days later."
Xiao Xu helped Yun Sheng put on the last shoe, gently lowered her legs, and looked up to meet her clearly surprised eyes: "Sheng Sheng, can you come with me?"
————————!!————————
[Shrugs] I'm going on a long trip. Who will I run into? It's so hard to guess!
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