Upon hearing the news from the capital, Xiao Jingzhao picked up a bucket of water and poured it over his head, then grabbed a cotton handkerchief, wrapped it around his waist, and strode out.
Xiang Song took the letter from the guard and handed it to Xiao Jingzhao.
Xiao Jingzhao quickly tore open the seal and pulled out a stack of white paper.
Xiang Song watched as his master placed the letter on the desk, then picked up a portrait inside and began to look at it.
Seeing the smile in his master's eyes as he looked at the portrait, Xiang Song curiously stole a glance.
On the paper was a portrait of Sui Sui, who was grinning like a money-scattering boy in a New Year's painting.
"The brat is laughing so happily; he must really enjoy life in the capital."
Xiao Jingzhao ignored the water droplets dripping from his hair down his muscular chest and pulled out the portrait below to continue looking at it.
As the smile faded, the air in the room seemed to cool down.
Xiang Song saw that his master's expression was like the weather in June, changing in an instant.
Looking up, I saw my master frowning as he stared at the painting, his thin lips pressed into a straight line as he quickly flipped through the remaining paintings.
Xiang Song mustered his courage and asked, "Master, is there a problem with the painting?"
"There's nothing wrong with Sui Sui, it's this guy who's the problem."
The portraits were laid out in a row on the desk.
Sui Sui rode on the shoulders of a handsome man, pointing at two fighting roosters.
Looking closer, Sui Sui was holding a string of candied hawthorns in one hand and the man's hand in the other; the two were as close as father and son.
There is also a scene of two people sitting in the study reading together.
“Master, I know this person. He is a disciple of the Black Dragon Pool Valley Master, named Nangong Zeyue. He is a Robin Hood-like figure who helps the poor and is charitable. He also helped refugees in Yannan. I remember I have already reported this to you.”
Xiao Jingzhao's face was ashen, and he glanced at Xiang Song, "When did you say he was so close to Sui Sui?"
Xiang Song lowered his head, realizing it was all his oversight. He only knew that Nangong Zeyue was known as a master thief and that he had run errands for Miss Jiang, but he hadn't realized that Young Master Sui Sui was so dependent on him.
"Master, don't worry about him. This man is close to Miss Jiang, so it's fine for him to treat Sui Sui a little better. Quickly take a look at what important things Miss Jiang wrote in her letter."
Looking at the eyesore Nangong Zeyue, Xiao Jingzhao felt a mix of emotions, unable to describe the feeling.
Especially Xiang Song's phrase "we should get along" sounded jarring no matter how you looked at it.
He picked up the letter and glanced at it quickly.
Seeing that the content was too important, he read it carefully again.
He pulled out three prescriptions from under the letter, his expression slightly somber.
How could she be so sure that an epidemic was about to break out?
Remembering what she said to me before she left, that a long drought is followed by a long flood, and what follows would easily lead to an epidemic, wouldn't it?
"Xiang Song, quickly, give the order to have someone purchase medicinal herbs."
"Master, is war about to break out on the border?" Xiang Song was startled. Further south of Yannan was the Liang Kingdom.
If the Liang Kingdom were to invade at this time, the capital would certainly not send a large force to support them, and Yan Nan's hard-earned resources would be completely depleted.
"No, we have to deal with the epidemic."
After grinding ink for Xiang Song, Xiao Jingzhao returned indoors to dry himself and get dressed.
To ensure there were no mistakes, Xiao Jingzhao personally copied more than ten prescriptions.
He handed the copied prescription to Xiang Song, "to distribute it to the county governments and have them prepare the medicine for any eventuality."
Watching Xiang Song accept the order and leave, Xiao Jingzhao breathed a long sigh of relief.
If an epidemic were to occur, he would spare no effort to save the people; the people can support a boat, but they can also capsize it.
He needed to go to the capital as soon as possible to reunite with his son; he couldn't let that bastard continue to take his precious son to play with cats and dogs.
"My lord, the princess is waiting for you in the flower hall for lunch," Xiangyang relayed the message from outside.
The gloom in Xiao Jingzhao's eyes dissipated as he recalled the flowers and plants he had sent back to the Prince's mansion.
They even moved lunch to the flower hall; it seems the Empress Dowager likes the flowers and plants he sent back.
After carefully putting away the letter and portrait, Xiao Jingzhao strode towards the flower hall.
"What, what's going on?"
As Xiao Jingzhao walked into the covered walkway, he heard the voices of girls, and it seemed there were more than a few.
"I just had someone deliver a message to the Princess at the Chuihua Gate," Xiang Yang quickly clarified, claiming he knew nothing about it.
Xiao Jingzhao walked a little further and looked up. He saw the gauze curtains of the flower hall being blown by the wind, and inside, shadowy figures could be vaguely seen amidst the red flowers and green willows.
"Your Majesty, please go ahead. I will not go in." Xiang Yang wisely stopped in his tracks.
Xiao Jingzhao turned and glared at Xiang Yang. "You knew all along that there were guests in the manor?"
"No, I really don't know anything," Xiang Yang said guiltily, shrinking back.
He denies it.
The maidservants serving at the entrance of the flower hall had already informed the princess of the prince's arrival.
Upon hearing that her second son had returned, the princess said to Aunt Cai, "Go out and check quickly, lest he turn back and slip away."
Just as Xiao Jingzhao was pondering whether to retreat, Aunt Cai came out to greet him with a beaming smile.
"Please come in, Your Highness. The Princess Consort has been waiting for you for quite some time."
“Aunt, the flower hall is full of young ladies, it’s not appropriate for me to go there.” Xiao Jing hesitated, not because he was afraid of seeing young ladies, but because he felt it was really inappropriate for him to go in.
"Why is it inappropriate? The ladies' banquet is in the left hall, while the princess has a separate table on the right, separated by a screen!"
The flower hall of the Prince's Mansion was very large. Xiao Jingzhao turned to Xiangyang and said, "Go back to Qinghui Courtyard."
Xiang Yang felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. As soon as his master entered the flower hall, he turned and ran away.
Xiao Jingzhao walked into the flower hall, and the girls who were chatting and laughing just a moment ago fell silent the next.
The man who entered was tall and slender, with stunningly handsome features, black hair, and a sharply defined face that was as graceful as a startled swan. His dark, deep eyes revealed a hint of coldness and gave people a sense of distance that could only be admired from afar.
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