Chapter 11 Jiang Huai and Shen Zhiwei wanted to put the person in their pocket and take him away...
Sailing on the canal was a long journey. The days that followed were as Xie Mingxu had said, moving extremely slowly, the days growing longer and then shortening.
The wind and waves gradually subsided, the water surface became much calmer, but the river view became more monotonous.
The muddy, grayish-yellow river flanked its banks, dotted with withered reeds and bare embankments. The world was a bleak earthy yellow. Only the scattered black-tiled, white-walled buildings and towering lookout piers on both sides signaled their gradual approach to the prosperous Jiangnan region.
Xiao Wangqing's leg injury was struggling with repeated pus oozing and high fever.
The imperial physician examined him three times a day, and his cleaning and dressing changes were almost harsh. The pain, like scraping bones and removing decay, became the eternal background of his waking life.
Shen Zhiwei felt a pang of pain in her teeth just watching him, but she only saw him biting the cloth, straining every inch of his muscles to endure, his clothes soaked with sweat, but he didn't say a word.
He was as obedient as a decoration. Most of the time, Xiao Wangqing just lay silently, facing the small cabin window, watching the monotonous water reflections flowing outside.
Shen Zhiwei would come over to check on his injuries every day, or flip through a book across a low table, or discuss river engineering matters with Xie Mingxu in a low voice. When his eyes fell on him, they were calm as he examined his wounds, without the waves of that day.
Xie Mingxu was unusually active. With his pretty face, he stayed close to Shen Zhiwei and tried various ways to show his courtesy to her.
The best silver charcoal was supplied every day, and the small gilded stove in the corner of the cabin was always warm; fresh fruits and exquisite snacks bought from the major docks along the way were delivered in like flowing water; they even got a velvet-covered wheelchair, saying that it would be convenient for Shen Zhiwei to travel in Huai'an, completely ignoring the fact that there were other people who actually needed the wheelchair.
"Master Shen, look, this section of the canal is seriously silted up! With all this mud and sand coming in from upstream, the riverbed is about to reach the embankment."
Xie Mingxu pointed at the scroll of the Ministry of Works spread out on the low table, and leaned close to Shen Zhiwei, his fingers almost touching her cuffs. His deliberately raised tone always carried an unpleasant energy.
The unpleasant person specifically refers to Xiao Wangqing.
"In this prince's humble opinion, the embezzlement of disaster relief funds is one of the problems. The more important thing is that the supervision of the dam repair project is non-existent. Local officials and river foremen are in cahoots with each other, passing inferior products as good ones and cutting corners, which has led to the current disaster." He talked incessantly, as if showing off, and did not hide his flattery for Shen Zhiwei. He was also very clingy.
Chen Zhiwei placed his fingertips on a dangerous section of embankment marked on the scroll and pondered for a moment. "Your Highness is right. 'It's useless' is probably an understatement. Before we dock tomorrow, Your Highness, take your men and gather the names of those who have been responsible for repairing this section of embankment over the past three years. Remember, both the visible and the invisible."
"Understood," Xie Mingxu said with a beaming expression, then curled his lips, "It's just that the water is a bit too muddy. I haven't seen many boats along the way. It's so dead and silent."
Shen Zhiwei didn't answer. After a major disaster, the canal's decline was commonplace.
After sailing for over half a month, the hills on both sides finally began to take on a hazy green hue. The fleet slowly entered a much wider stretch of the river. The docks on both sides gradually became bustling with activity, with sails standing in rows and the sound of people, a stark contrast to the dull silence along the way.
Official robes of various colors fluttered in the damp and cold wind of early spring. The officials in the lead, dressed in red and purple robes, looked respectful and eager, their eyes fixed on the bow of the slowly approaching ship.
On the bank stood a striking plaque: "Welcome His Majesty the Third Prince, the Prince of Xiang, and Lord Shen, the Inspector, to Huai'an to supervise the river works."
The handwriting was outlined in gold, and against the gray sky it made Shen Zhi squint his eyes.
Shen Zhiwei stood by the side of the boat, wearing a plain green robe and a black fox fur coat with a snow-white velvet edge, his face as gloomy as water.
Xie Mingxu stood beside her, directing the servants to push the brand-new wheelchair over. He glanced at the shore, the smile in his peach-colored eyes fading a little. "Tsk, it's quite lively. Look at the scale of this welcoming ceremony. Those who know will think we're here to check the accounts, while those who don't will think it's some governor returning in triumph."
The cabin curtain was carefully lifted by the eunuch.
Xiao Wangqing was practically carried out by two sturdy eunuchs. He changed into a dark blue brocade robe and tied a jade belt given by the emperor around his waist. He was still too thin to support his noble appearance, and his face was as cold and pale as jade in the damp and cold early spring.
The injured leg was carefully covered by the corner of his robe. When he landed on the ground, his brows frowned quickly, and then he forced himself to stand up straight.
Shen Zhiwei saw everything clearly. It made her head hurt, and she waved to the boy pushing the wheelchair.
The servant glanced at Xie Mingxu, then trotted over to Xiao Wangqing and helped him onto the wheelchair.
Drums and music blared, gangplanks were lowered from official ships, and the clamor on both sides of the river threatened to stir up the water in the canal.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and Lord Shen are all greeted!"
A large number of people knelt down on the shore.
The leading Huai'an prefect, Zhou Maonian, was a wealthy middle-aged man with rosy cheeks and a friendly smile. He stepped forward and spoke loudly.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and Lord Shen have all been exhausted from the journey. I have prepared some wine and a welcoming banquet for you at the government office. I hope you will come and report the details of the river works to us."
Shen Zhiwei walked slowly, her black fox fur coat making her figure look even thinner. Her eyes swept over the layers of heads piled up in front of her, the ceremonial processions with the roar of gongs and drums, and the plaques painted in gold and embroidered in red.
She seemed to smell a strange smell mixed with mud and water.
"Prefect Zhou is thoughtful." Shen Zhiwei looked at Zhou Maonian's smiling face and spoke in a low voice.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is concerned about the flooding in the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, and has specially ordered His Royal Highness the Third Prince and me to conduct an inspection tour, supervise river repairs, and provide relief to the victims. This is our top priority. We will meet you and greet you after this official business, and we will discuss this matter further."
As soon as the words fell, Shen Zhiwei saw with some amusement that the smile on Zhou Maonian's face froze. His rich and rosy face looked like it was smeared with lard, sticky in the damp and cold wind of early spring. The several red and purple figures behind him tensed their shoulders.
"Lord Shen works diligently for the country and cares about the victims. I admire you deeply!" In just a few breaths, Zhou Maonian bent his waist even deeper, his voice full of fear and respect.
"But... I dare to say that Your Highnesses and Your Excellency have come a long way, exhausted and tired. Furthermore, Your Highness is in poor health, so how could he discuss important matters in such a cold and dewy place? I have prepared hot tea and snacks in the warm room of the government office, as well as the records of river works and relief funds from previous years."
Seeing Shen Zhiwei frown, he bowed again: "Even if you are not afraid of hard work, you should also consider His Highness's injuries and your precious health. First, drink some soup and rest for a while, and then listen to our report of the details. Wouldn't it be more appropriate?"
Shen Zhiwei listened expressionlessly, vaguely remembering that his father, who had died ten years earlier, also spoke to others in this way.
On the surface, he was sympathetic, but secretly he accused her of being unkind and disregarding the prince's health; he then brought out the account books and food lists to show that he had no intention of shirking his responsibility; and he even kicked the right of choice back to her, how open and aboveboard.
"appropriate?"
Just as Shen Zhiwei was about to speak, she saw Xie Mingxu sneer and stride to her side. His tall figure made the crimson official uniform of the prince look flamboyant and dazzling.
He picked up an orange that had been peeled at some point with his fingertips, put a slice into his mouth, and smiled incoherently.
"Sir Zhou, you're just saying this, 'OK,' but I'm afraid you're just trying to pin the three of us down on the couch and wait for those secretaries who can actually handle the account books to smooth out what needs to be smoothed out and hide what needs to be hidden, and then you can come up with some stuff that looks OK to fool us?"
Xie Mingxu's voice was clear and domineering. Shen Zhiwei glanced to the side and suddenly realized that except for the first time they met, she had never seen him like this before.
The officials on the shore all turned pale.
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words!" Zhou Maonian's worry instantly turned to shock and anger, and his voice deepened. "River works and relief are of fundamental importance to the court. How dare we, your humble servants..."
"Since you don't dare, why are you standing here waiting for the northwest wind?" Xie Mingxu spat out a few orange seeds, and the golden fruit juice splashed on the surface of his luxurious boots. He didn't even wipe it off, but just glanced at Zhou Maonian.
"The prefectural government office is only a hundred steps away. Is there no place to put your feet? Or were all the chairs in the warm room scared away by what Lord Shen just said?"
He took a step forward with an air of being the best in the world, his smile growing wider: "Or does Lord Zhou feel that the Third Prince, Little Lord Shen, and this prince, combined, are not worthy enough to enter your warm room?
"Do we have to wait here until everyone who's supposed to arrive has arrived and we've put on a grand show? That'll make it seem like we've been wronged, and that you, the Huai'an Prefecture, are reluctantly accepting us according to your orders?"
"I dare not!" Zhou Maonian and several officials behind him who were wearing official robes of various colors knelt down hastily, their foreheads almost touching the cold stone slabs. The cold sweat on Zhou Maonian's back soaked the patches on his official uniforms.
"That's good," Xie Mingxu drawled out his tone, lazily stroking his sleeves, and stepped aside. When he looked at Shen Zhiwei, the mole at the corner of his eye had a hint of asking for credit. "Little Master Shen, what do you think? Should we stand in the river breeze to review the account books, or go to the warm room of Governor Zhou to warm our hands?"
She didn't need to say anything. Xie Mingxu sang the same tune and forced Zhou Maonian and others into a corner with no room for maneuver.
It was so useful that Shen Zhiwei wanted to put it in his pocket and take it out next time he needed to do something.
Her eyes swept across the terrified faces and finally stopped on Xie Mingxu.
The dandy prince was rubbing the orange stains on his sleeve with the back of his hand. When he noticed her gaze, the domineering smile on the corner of his lips faded a little and he raised his eyebrows at her.
"Get up." Shen Zhiwei suppressed the corner of his lips that was about to rise and coughed twice. "Lead the way, and discuss matters in the government office."
"As you command! Your humble servant obeys!" Zhou Maonian, as if granted amnesty, quickly stood up, wiping the sweat off his face with his sleeve while waving his hand to dismiss the officials who were still kneeling. "Quick! Clear the way for His Highness, the Crown Prince, and Lord Shen! Prepare the stove in the warm room and serve hot tea!"
He bowed and took several steps back, clearing the path behind him. The officials behind him made way for him like reeds blown by the wind.
Two eunuchs carefully pushed the wheelchair in front, and Xiao Wangqing sat upright on it, his dark blue robe covering most of his body. Xie Mingxu and Shen Zhiwei followed behind him side by side.
The government office's warm room truly lived up to its reputation. As soon as I stepped inside, the pungent charcoal smell, mingled with the cloying aroma of incense, assaulted my face. The heat was a world away from the damp, chilly spring weather outside.
The hall was decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and was furnished with gorgeous furnishings. A scarlet carpet stretched all the way, and huge brass heaters in the four corners burned red, filling the entire hall with a warm spring-like atmosphere.
The low table was already filled with a dazzling array of dishes: seasonal spring bamboo shoots and fresh vegetables, crystal braised pork, braised crab meat and lion's head, green snail shrimp... all of which were exquisite Huaiyang cuisine dishes. In the middle was a squirrel mandarin fish the color of agate, sizzling with hot oil and fragrant. Next to it was warming Shaoxing old wine and Longjing tea from an unknown year.
Xie Mingxu sat down at the head of the main seat with his arms folded. He casually picked up a piece of lotus seed paste pastry shaped like a plum blossom and put it into his mouth, mumbling, "Wow, Prefect Zhou, you really know how to live. I've been eating so much on the boat that I'm almost done. It looks good."
Zhou Maonian smiled and stepped forward with the pot in his hand: "Your Highness, you are joking. These are just some crude food. I hope Your Highness, Your Highness, and Lord Shen will not mind." He skillfully poured warm rice wine for Xie Mingxu first, then turned to Xiao Wangqing and Shen Zhiwei.
"Your Highness, Lord Shen, would you please try some Huaiyang cuisine? Warm wine to dispel the dampness and cold?"
Xiao Wangqing didn't even raise his eyelids, his voice as cold as the unmelted spring ice outside the eaves: "No need."
"Thank you, Lord Zhou," Shen Zhiwei nodded gently, but her fingertips pressed on the rim of her celadon cup. "I'm busy with official duties, and I'm so anxious that it's hard to swallow. But this warm room is great, and everyone is here. Why don't we get started now?"
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Before leaving, Jingshu packed a lot of pickled meat, preserved fruits and candied fruits for Shen Zhiwei.
Shen Zhiwei was still thinking about it, but he didn't expect that Xie Mingxu was too attentive and kept talking all the way. He didn't eat a single bite of the food he brought.
Xie Mingxu: Win
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
