Chapter 200 Offering Incense
Li's mother acted quickly, and with a flick of her wrist, she pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into Xiao Min's mouth. Afraid that it wouldn't be sealed properly, she took a plum the size of a baby's fist from the fruit plate next to her and put it in as well, completely blocking Xiao Min's mouth, making him stare in horror as he choked.
With the family rules in hand, and knowing that Xiao Min wouldn't be going to the academy anymore, Lin Hui showed no mercy, whipping Xiao Min until he screamed like a banshee. Unfortunately, his mouth was gagged, so he could only make pitiful whimpering sounds.
Tired from hitting, Lin Hui tossed aside the sturdy rattan cane in her hand and waved it while panting:
"Tie it to this rattan and send it to the Princess's residence together."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Min's pain turned into confusion. So his mother was using this as a ruse? He was beaten at home, but if he went to the Princess's residence, they wouldn't beat him anymore. Brilliant!
His mother hit him too hard, and he tried to speak, but the pain made him gasp for breath.
Xiao Min, disheveled and with his hair in disarray, was thrown at the entrance of the Princess's residence. The guards and gatekeeper initially mistook him for a troublemaking beggar. Only when they saw the expensive fabric of his clothes did they realize he was the Second Young Master Xiao.
The guard stood motionless, his tone slightly mocking: "Young Master Xiao, what a fine mood you're in today. What are you up to now?"
Xiao Min was bound and unable to move, but the gag in his mouth had been removed. Already in pain, and seeing the guard's rude attitude, he frowned, about to lash out.
"That snobbish person..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked in the back, the force of which lurched him forward. Then, someone grabbed him by the collar from behind and lifted him up.
He turned around angrily, only to see someone he hadn't expected.
Xiao Jin, who rushed over, clasped his hands in greeting. The young boy's back was so thin that it bulged out, and the baby fat on his face had completely disappeared. He had grown so fast that he looked like a skeleton covered with a layer of skin.
"You dare kick your second brother?!"
Xiao Jin gave him a warning look, then apologized in a hoarse voice: "Brother Guard, my second brother is young and impetuous. He was inappropriate yesterday and offended us. Today he has sincerely repented. I hope that you will consider my father and brother's loyalty to the Qi Kingdom over the years and inform the Princess and the Princess to give us a chance to admit our mistakes and apologize in person."
The guard looked at the face that resembled Princess Chang Le, and seeing that he was at least polite, he did not make things difficult for him.
"The Princess and the Princess have ordered that the doors be closed to guests today, and no one will be seen."
Xiao Jin understood.
He bowed again, preparing to take Xiao Min back.
"Then all that beating I took was for nothing?!"
Xiao Min was anxious. He was genuinely afraid now. He didn't care about Qi Yuxuan, but he didn't want to offend the Princess.
He has to return to the capital in two and a half years to study and take the imperial examinations! What if the Princess secretly plots against him and prevents him from passing?!
Xiao Jin didn't speak, but simply had the servants of the Xiao family lead Xiao Min to the carriage first.
The entrance to the Princess's residence was not a place to talk. He had always thought his second brother was incredibly stupid, but he hadn't expected him to be even more stupid these past two days. He couldn't distinguish right from wrong, and he didn't know what was important or urgent. If he weren't his own second brother, he really wouldn't want to get involved.
Biluquan also arrived at the Xiao family at this time.
Under Xiao Su's gaze, he took a leisurely sip of tea before slowly saying:
"I have come to your esteemed residence for no other reason than that your second young master is exceptionally handsome and extraordinary, and even His Majesty has heard of him. He specially sent me to admire his demeanor."
Hearing this, Xiao Su broke out in a cold sweat.
The emperor, far away in the palace, somehow already knew about this...
“Eunuch Bi, this is truly a misunderstanding. It is also my fault for failing to properly educate my son. My son was young and ignorant when he suddenly heard the news of his grandmother's death, which led him to offend Princess Chang Le. I have already sent him to the Princess's residence to apologize. When he returns, I will make him copy the family precepts ten times as a warning to others.”
Eunuch Bi gave a cryptic chuckle.
Upon hearing that the two young masters of the Xiao family had left, and that the Emperor had even sent eunuchs to the Xiao family to reprimand them, Qi Yuxuan looked at Bi Sui in surprise.
"I'm curious what you said to Xiao Min yesterday that made him so angry that he actually threw the things out."
Bi Sui was both smug and embarrassed: "I kept the princess's instructions in mind, so I made a special trip to ask if the second young master Xiao was there. I only dared to use the provocation method after finding him. If it were the third young master Xiao or another member of the Xiao family, I wouldn't be so sure."
Xiao Min was indeed the most useful member of the Xiao family. Bi Sui handled the matter well, and Qi Yuxuan generously rewarded her with a jade bracelet.
"You did a good job. The jade looks good on you. Here, you can wear this to play with."
Bi Sui didn't hesitate and accepted it with a smile.
The other head maids were all a little envious.
Having served Princess Chang Le for a long time, they all discovered that the princess, like the eldest princess, was an extremely easy master to serve. As long as they were loyal and considerate and did a good job of the assigned tasks, the princess treated them very generously.
However, the princess was fair in her favors, asking this person to do something today and that person to do something tomorrow, never troubling anyone in particular, and always rewarding whoever she asked.
Originally, Lanxin volunteered to go, but Bihui was familiar with the Xiao family and thought it would be more appropriate for her to go. Qi Yuxuan noticed that Lanxin was a little disappointed and was afraid that she would be unhappy, so she asked her to take charge of the luggage for the trip to Lancheng.
Qi Yuxuan had already promised Uncle Lin that she would set off for Lancheng on June 20th to visit Lin's maternal grandmother. The Princess had also given her permission, on the condition that she bring enough guards.
While the Xiao family's affairs were being talked about, a new piece of news spread from the palace.
The Prince Duan's mansion kept alchemists, who, out of greed, sold their elixirs with the promise of longevity. The Zou family, seeing an opportunity for profit, added them to their medicinal wine, leading to this farcical situation.
All those sorcerers were imprisoned, and Prince Duan himself was fined a year's salary and confined to his residence for a month to reflect on his mistakes.
For a time, the few wealthy families in the capital who had some contact with sorcerers were all on edge, fearing that their own families would also be investigated.
After the punishment, there was no further investigation into sorcerers, alchemists, or anything like that.
The people continued their lives as usual and quickly forgot about the incident.
That day, Qi Yuxuan invited Zheng Yanling, Dai Cheng, and Zhao Mei to Jici Temple to offer incense. The girls chatted and laughed all the way to the temple to offer incense and pray for blessings. While resting in their guest room, a cute little novice monk suddenly approached Qi Yuxuan and said that Abbot Shikong had invited her.
"Abbot Shikong?" Qi Yuxuan was puzzled, as she had never had any interaction with this abbot before.
"Then lead the way."
Jici Temple is not a royal temple, but it is popular with worshippers and its wishes are believed to be granted, making it the first choice for many people in Beijing to offer incense and pray for blessings.
Although it wasn't a day off, the place was bustling with worshippers coming and going, all with devout expressions.
Qi Yuxuan had no suspicions and led Qin Yuan to follow the little monk to the back mountain.
The further she walked, the fewer people she saw, and the more secluded the place became. She stopped, and as soon as she turned around, a handkerchief was presented to her, covering her face.
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