Chapter 15 The Yong'an Marquis's family and my parents were close friends...
Chapter 15
The Yong'an Marquis's Residence.
"Lost them?" He Hansheng was somewhat surprised.
The guards of the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion are all top-notch, and Jiang Yuchu is one of the best among them. She actually managed to lose track of someone on the street.
“I am incompetent,” Jiang Yuchu said, bowing his head. “However, based on my observation, that girl is indeed blind. She disappeared on the street so easily, probably because someone else assisted her.”
He Hansheng fell into deep thought.
That face, coupled with the martial arts skills that allowed him to easily outmaneuver Jiang Yuchu, could it be...?
Jiang Yuchu saw through He Hansheng's thoughts. "My lord, it's not that I'm being presumptuous, but you really shouldn't have—"
"What are you thinking about?" He Hansheng interrupted him, his face showing no sign of anything amiss. "The political situation at court has been turbulent lately, and I'm always worried that someone might harm Mother."
Jiang Yuchu paused, and seeing how calmly He Hansheng spoke, she realized she had been overthinking things. She smiled and said, "I understand. I will send more people to protect the Princess secretly."
He Hansheng hummed in agreement, picked up the guest list he had just prepared and handed it to Jiang Yuchu. “My mother is going to host a banquet at the mansion in a couple of days. This is the list I prepared. Take it and let her take a look. If there are any additions, let her make the decision directly. There’s no need to tell me again.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuchu took the list. “The Princess said that the main purpose of this banquet was to let the Marquis see if there were any suitable daughters among the various families. For this reason, she specially ordered the kitchen to prepare the dishes in advance and also arranged the most popular Jiangnan wine, Qionghua Dew.”
“Several ladies who are close to Mother enjoy drinking, so she will arrange these things. You just need to cooperate,” He Hansheng said. He didn’t know anything about wine, and the Princess always arranged these things, so he was at ease. “By the way, which family’s Qionghua Dew is it?”
“The wine that Princess Chang uses must naturally be the best,” Jiang Yuchu smiled, “Zui Xian Lou.”
...
Zuixianlou is the largest restaurant in Huadu, and its wines are the most exquisite in the capital, especially Huangduchun and Yangzhou Qionghualu.
Shen Suining's usual principle is that if she's going out to eat, she should go to the best place. So she dragged Shen Fengyu and Miao Wei all the way over.
As soon as Shen Fengyu entered the room, sweat began to bead on her forehead. "I heard this is a favorite place for the powerful and wealthy in the capital. Young Master, you must not do anything reckless. If you can't pay the bill, the master will have to come and redeem us."
"What kind of talk is this? Huadu isn't just for rich people; there are also many ordinary people and even poor people. The reason why Zuixianlou is so popular is naturally because it's high-quality and affordable. Ordinary people can afford to eat there, so why can't we?" Shen Suining was unhappy to hear the words "can't afford to eat there."
While it was true most of the time, Shen Suining was just short of money, not brainless. In the Jiangnan region, she could at least use her identity at Shuyu Manor to make money and do other business on credit. But in the unfamiliar capital, Shen Suining naturally had to accept whatever she could get her hands on, and she couldn't bear to lose face like that.
The waiter led the three to their seats, but before he could even announce the dishes, Shen Suining slammed his hand on the table and said, "Bring up two jars each of Imperial Spring Tea and Qionghua Dew!"
Shen Fengyu: "..." Bai gave instructions.
“Sir, you seem to be from out of town. You must try Huangduchun. Of course, Qionghualu is also one of our shop’s specialties. These two wines are the most popular when royalty and noble families entertain their guests,” the waiter said with a beaming smile. “However, we are out of Qionghualu today. If you really want to try it, I’ll try to get you a bowl.”
"Oh, they're sold out so early?" Shen Suining said with a look of regret.
The waiter explained, "Princess Jinling placed the order a few days ago, and the remaining batch of Qionghua Dew is all going to be sent to the Marquis's residence. However, since the princess ordered a lot, I'll go and give you some so you can have a taste."
Since things have come to this, this is the only way. However, Shen Suining was quite optimistic. "Fortunately, it's not that the Imperial Spring Dew is no longer available. At least we can still drink Qionghua Dew in Yangzhou."
"Then why do you insist on drinking here?"
"You don't understand. Different regions produce different wines. What's wrong with me trying them all?"
Shen Suining was so self-righteous that Shen Fengyu didn't even bother to pay her any attention.
A short while later, the waiter brought the wine up.
The wine jar was on the table, unopened, but Shen Suining could already smell the aroma. Her eyes lit up immediately. Shen Fengyu couldn't help but remind her from the side, "Drink less. It's so far from the inn, I can't carry you."
"You're such a spoilsport, you'll die if you don't spoil the fun!" Shen Suining rolled her eyes, picked up the wine the waiter had just filled, and exclaimed, "Sister Miao, would you like to try some?"
Miao Wei shook her head, "You guys can drink."
A moment later, the waiter brought over a small bowl. "Sir, this is Qionghua Dew. Please enjoy."
As the saying goes, things are valued for their rarity. Shen Suining stared wide-eyed at the half bowl of Qionghua Dew.
She picked it up and smelled it. "It's a little different from the ones in Yangzhou."
As she spoke, she gave half of her bowl to Shen Fengyu and was about to pick up the bowl to drink the rest.
Miao Wei suddenly grabbed her hand, "Ningning, don't drink it."
"What's wrong?"
Miao Wei didn't answer immediately. She reached her finger down Shen Suining's arm into the bowl, took a little wine, tasted it, and said with a serious expression, "This wine is poisoned."
When the waiter came to serve the dishes again, only Miao Wei was sitting there.
He was taken aback. "Why is the young lady here all alone? Where are the two young masters?"
"They heard there was a variety show at the brothel across the street, so they went to watch the fun."
The waiter understood and asked, "Why don't you come along? That acrobat is incredibly skilled; he can lift eighteen girls with a single bamboo pole."
Miao Wei didn't speak, only maintaining a faint smile.
The waiter found it strange and took another look at her, only to discover that the woman sitting there had lifeless eyes and was blind.
Realizing he had misspoke, the waiter quickly explained, "I'm sorry, sir, I... I didn't mean that."
"It's alright, don't worry about it," Miao Wei picked up her chopsticks and struggled to pick up the food. She had no choice but to ask the waiter for help, "Waiter, could you help me?"
Overwhelmed with guilt, the waiter immediately served Miao Wei several dishes and placed them on the plate in front of her.
Miao Wei sniffed the air secretly, not noticing anything unusual, and nodded with a smile, "Thank you."
A short while later, Shen Suining and Shen Fengyu returned one after another. They looked at each other, shook their heads, and indicated that they had not found anything amiss.
This trip to the capital was a secret one, accompanying Shen Yan. We didn't make a fuss about it, so we figured no enemies would come after Shuyu Manor to poison us. Even Miao Wei said, "The shop assistants who have been serving us just now didn't have any poison on them, so they're probably unrelated people. Besides, I tasted it, and the poison isn't strong; it won't kill us."
Shen Fengyu: "I just went to the wine cellar. The wine to be delivered to the Marquis's residence was neatly arranged in front of the door. It should be used in the next two days. The earthenware seals have been broken, and only wooden stoppers are used to seal them. When no one was looking, I took some out of one of the jars."
Shen Fengyu poured the wine she had brought into Miao Wei's palm.
Miao Wei lowered her head and sniffed, then confirmed, "The poison was put in the jar."
The expressions of the three of them became somewhat complicated at the same time.
“The waiter probably saw that we were from out of town and didn’t want us to leave disappointed, so he scooped some out of someone else’s wine,” Shen Suining said with a serious expression. “Now we don’t know if the poison was put in all the wines, or if Feng Yu and the waiter just happened to get the poisoned jar.”
“Young Master, this is the capital city,” Shen Fengyu reminded him. “As long as they are not coming for us, even if they discover something unusual, we cannot interfere.”
"I know, no need to remind me."
Shen Fengyu was finally relieved.
When the three returned to the inn from Zuixianlou, Xun Zong was still supporting the unconscious Shen Yan and had not yet entered the room.
"How did Father get so drunk?" Shen Suining was shocked. In her memory, although her father's alcohol tolerance was not bad, he always only drank a little and never drank to the point where he needed help to walk.
Xun Zong explained, "The master was so happy to see his old friend that he became like this."
"..." Shen Suining was speechless for a moment. She stepped forward to help support Shen Yan and then instructed Shen Fengyu: "Fengyu, you and Sister Miao go back to your room and get some hangover medicine."
Shen Suining and Xun Zong carried Shen Yan back into the house, one on each side.
Exhausted, Shen Suining sat on the ground and muttered, "If Mother finds out, you'll get scolded again."
"Don't...don't let...know..." Shen Yan was so drunk that he was out of his mind, and he subconsciously responded after hearing this.
"So drunk, yet you still know fear." Shen Suining laughed in exasperation.
Not long after, Shen Fengyu brought some hangover soup to Shen Yan. Shen Yan vomited twice more before finally feeling a little better, but he was still not fully conscious and lay on the bed talking incoherently in his sleep.
"Ningning...no..."
"Brother He Nian... Brother He Nian... I'm sorry... I've let you down..."
“Ayu…Ayu…”
The few words that were spoken clearly were clearly uttered, and Shen Suining heard them distinctly.
...
Shen Yan slept until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Shen Suining sitting in the room. "Ningning?"
"You're awake," Shen Suining said upon hearing the voice, pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it to her. "This is tea that Sister Miao brought. Drink it."
Shen Yan sat up, took the cup, let out a soft breath, and asked somewhat nervously, "Yesterday... Father didn't lose his composure, did he?"
"You slept very soundly. You were even talking in your sleep when Uncle Xun carried you back." Shen Suining didn't say anything nice and made a few sarcastic remarks.
Shen Yan smiled and took a few sips of hot tea. "What did they talk about?"
“It’s nothing more than missing my mother, thinking about me, and…” Shen Suining paused, looking at him with some uncertainty, “Brother He Nian?”
Shen Yan's expression froze instantly, and his lips stiffened.
"Father, this Brother He you're talking about, could it be He Changxin, the consort of Princess Jinling and Marquis of Yong'an?"
"You..." Shen Yan tried to compose himself and forced a smile. "How did you know?"
"I went out to inquire this morning when I had nothing to do. He Changxin, courtesy name Jingchuan, is a founding hero, a first-rank military marquis, and the consort of Princess Jinling. Who in the capital doesn't know his name? Just grab anyone and ask them," Shen Suining said dismissively. "However, I heard that Marquis Yong'an passed away three years ago, and his title was inherited by his son with the princess, Marquis He Hansheng."
Shen Yan's expression clearly betrayed his unease, and his hands unconsciously clenched his clothes. "You saw the young marquis?"
"Why would I want to see him for no reason?" Shen Suining asked, somewhat puzzled. "But why did your expression suddenly turn so pale? Who are they to you?"
"Lord He..." Shen Yan closed his eyes and sighed softly, "Back then, Brother He Nian and I took the imperial examination in the same year. We met on the street and became sworn brothers. Later, due to the chaos of war and the instability of the country, we both joined the army one after the other. We supported each other, fought side by side, and risked our lives together. Until the emperor ascended the throne, he married a princess and was granted the title of First-Rank Military Marquis, while my father resigned his official position to marry your mother. After that, I had no contact with him anymore."
"Have you done anything to offend them?"
“…You don’t need to know that,” Shen Yan smiled gently and affectionately patted Shen Suining’s head. “You just need to know that the Yong’an Marquis’s family and your parents are close friends. Your parents will take care of everything else.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Suining immediately stood up, stepped aside, and knelt down on one knee.
"Ningning? Why are you bowing so formally?" Shen Yan quickly tried to get Shen Suining up.
“Since you are my parents’ closest friend, there is something I dare not lie about,” Shen Suining said, unusually serious, enunciating each word clearly: “Yesterday at Zuixianlou, we discovered that the wine to be sent to the Yong’an Marquis’s residence had been poisoned. This matter will inevitably involve the court, and there are the ironclad rules of the manor. I cannot make a decision on my own and can only listen to your opinion, Father.”
Shen Yan was shocked and exclaimed, "W-What did you say?!"
“Father, whether to help or not, please give me a straight answer,” Shen Suining raised her head, “Your decision will also be Mother’s decision.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com