Chapter 47 The one who suffers the consequences must be the future princess
The next day, Dali Temple.
"What does Lord Liu mean?" Song Yutai looked at the brocade box in front of him, not understanding what his colleague Lord Liu of the Jinwu Guard was doing. For a court official, accepting gifts privately was a big taboo. Could it be that Lord Liu wanted to report him to the emperor?
"Sir Song, to be honest, I have been in the mansion recently..." Sir Liu didn't know how to start. Everyone in the court knew that he favored his concubine over his wife. His wife, Liu Zhang, ran away from home every month and almost reported the matter to the emperor several times. If Sir Song Yutai had not happened to meet his wife during his inspection, he would have reported her to the authorities again.
Some time ago, after a quarrel with a concubine, Lady Liu Zhang fled the capital with their son, Liu Chang. Lord Liu initially assumed that Lady Liu Zhang had simply returned to her parents' home with her son, but after sending for help, he discovered that his wife and son had not returned. Nearly twenty days had passed, and there had been no news of the two, who had vanished without explanation.
"Yutai, I have never asked anyone for help in my life. Please accept this brocade box. It is also a token of my gratitude." Lord Liu's words had hidden meaning, implying that after Song Yutai accepted the brocade box, he would definitely help him find his missing wife and children.
Seeing this, Song Yutai sighed softly and raised his hand to push the brocade box back. He sympathetically said, "I also understand Lord Liu's distress. The disappearance of his wife and children is a major event in the capital. Regardless of whether Lord Liu sends the brocade box today, as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, I will not sit idly by and watch this disappearance happen."
"Then I'll trouble you, Lord Song." Lord Liu bowed to Song Yutai, then turned and left the hall.
After hearing what Lord Liu said, Song Yutai also felt a headache. As a Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, how could he handle these trivial family matters every day?
Besides, Liu Zhang was just having an unpleasant experience with someone in the Liu Mansion and was leaving the house with her son for a few days. Where else could a married woman and a playboy go? It was estimated that in a few days, when Liu Zhang and Liu Chang had spent all their money, they would probably run back in disgrace.
I've heard that Master Liu's son, Liu Chang, is a notorious womanizer in the capital, spending his days in prostitutes and nights in brothels without blinking an eye. Furthermore, this young Master Liu has another hobby: drinking. He spends days in taverns, consuming more alcohol than he's ever eaten in his entire life.
His mother, Liu Zhang, was also a spendthrift. She loved to buy all kinds of novel fabrics and dress herself up gorgeously all day long. The neighbors jokingly called her "the official actress."
How could such a costly mother and son be willing to abandon their wealth and glory and hide among the people?
Song Yutai couldn't figure it out, so he simply put the thought aside and picked up a scroll of bamboo slips to study carefully. He still had hundreds of cases to solve, and this family matter of Master Liu... he would talk about it in a few days.
*
Luo Mansion.
Aunt Zhao rushed into the room early in the morning, not even caring about the boiling hot teapot in her hand. She suddenly stopped in front of the table, pointed outside and said to Luo Qingling who was having a meal.
"Madam, why...how come Prince Rong'an is here?" Aunt Zhao was a little frightened and looked nervous.
Although General Luo and his family had moved to the frontier years ago, the Luo Mansion was once bustling with visitors during its heyday. Even so, Aunt Zhao, a servant in the Luo Mansion, had never seen a member of the royal family. Suddenly, seeing a golden carriage with the word "Qin" emblazoned on it parked at the main gate, she worried that someone might not know that the occupant was the wealthy and powerful.
Acting so ostentatiously, could it be that my young lady accidentally offended His Highness Qin?
Seeing Aunt Zhao's ever-changing expression, Luo Qingling suddenly laughed out loud. She comforted Aunt Zhao, "Don't be afraid, Aunt Zhao. The young prince is not as cunning as the rumors say. He is easy to get along with."
"This...this..." Aunt Zhao scratched her forehead, not knowing how to answer.
Although the lady went out every day after returning to the capital, and even slept outside at night for a few days, as a servant, she could only obey the lady's orders and guard the Luo Mansion. How could she dare to gossip about the master's family? Now it seems that the lady might have been hooking up with the young prince for a long time, and she doesn't know to what extent the relationship between the two has developed.
Aunt Zhao was really worried, fearing that Luo Qingling would be deceived by someone if she was not careful, even if that person was the most talked about person in the capital after dinner - Prince Rong'an, who held a high position but remained a chaste man.
There were even rumors that Prince Rong'an had recently refused a portrait of a young noblewoman of marriageable age in the capital simply because he already had a lover. Otherwise, why would he be so chaste and avoid women? His Highness must already have a favorite young lady. Who knows which noblewoman is so blessed?
Thinking of this, Aunt Zhao glanced at Luo Qingling discreetly. Her wife was a beauty so stunning she could captivate the eyes of fish and geese. If she hadn't grown up in the frontier, she would undoubtedly be the most beautiful woman in the capital. How could Prince Rong An not be attracted to such a lovely young lady after spending so much time with her? She just didn't know what that prince's intentions were in coming to her so brazenly today.
Could it be that he is going to publicly propose marriage? Aunt Zhao took a deep breath, and the more she thought about it, the more she thought about it. She carefully checked Luo Qingling's words: "My wife and that Prince Rong'an..."
"It's nothing. I just borrowed a sword from him some time ago. After I return it, I will definitely have no contact with the young prince." Luo Qingling didn't dare to say it clearly and could only say a few perfunctory words.
If Aunt Zhao knew that she and Qin Yanheng were "cuddling" in the mansion last night - although it was just because she sprained her ankle, but with Aunt Zhao's personality, she would definitely get to the bottom of it.
Luo Qingling took a sip of tea, then stood up and walked outside the mansion. Looking at the familiar carriage in front of the door, she walked over without thinking.
Before she could figure out how to speak, she saw a pair of slender white hands reaching out from inside, just enough to lift the car curtain, and Qin Yanheng's face appeared before her.
After seeing Luo Qingling, Qin Yanheng's eyes darkened. He raised his chin and said, "Come up, let's go to the theater with me to find out what's going on."
According to previous experience, there must be something fishy about the actor who suddenly appeared in Luo Mansion last night. It might be another tragedy.
In order to save some effort, Qin Yanheng went to the Dali Temple early this morning to check if there were any unjust deaths in the capital in recent times. However, after listening to Song Yutai, he turned around and pointed at the file as tall as a person and said something like "Brother Heng, all the people who came to report to the authorities recently were thieves and cheaters. There are no deaths at all."
Just when Song Yutai thought that Qin Yanheng was going to show mercy and help him solve the case, Qin Yanheng turned around and left without saying a word, pretending not to see the look of help on Song Yutai's face.
He deserved it. He had said long ago that the position of Shaoqing of Dali Temple was not a good one, but Song Yutai still insisted on letting him take this position. Now he is in trouble.
When he came to his senses, Luo Qingling was already sitting across from him. Qin Yanheng put down his hand that had been lifting the carriage curtain and poured tea for Luo Qingling. As he handed the teacup to her, he said, "The Golden Dragon Sword in your possession is likely to attract evil spirits, and you don't know any Taoist magic. Now, apart from asking you to stay by my side, there is no other solution."
"Your Highness means..." Luo Qingling only half understood. Since they met, the two of them had been together almost every day, so Qin Yanheng's sudden words made Luo Qingling a little confused.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yanheng did not rush to answer. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and chuckled, looking at her straight with an unclear expression in his eyes.
After a while, he couldn't help but speak, his expression slightly dissatisfied: "Madam Luo said a few days ago that she would go south with me to find the truth and clear General Luo's name. Now you can't remember this. Could it be that you were scared by the actors last night?"
Yes, that was indeed the case. Luo Qingling hadn't forgotten her father's affairs, but what connection did the Southern Tour have with Qin Yanheng's action of blocking her at the main gate of the Luo Mansion early this morning?
Perhaps because Luo Qingling's expression was too bewildered, Qin Yanheng let out an "Oh" and continued, "Lady Luo said last night that the brocade she received was made of the same fabric as the actor's costume, and she suspected the evil spirit was connected to the fabric. And now, she can sleep peacefully until noon instead of coming to me to find the truth. Aren't you afraid that the actor will suddenly come looking for you again tonight?"
Why does this person speak so strangely? Luo Qingling curled his lips and replied, "Your Highness, do you mean to help me resolve the matter of the opera singer?"
"How can you go on your southern tour with peace of mind if you don't seek justice for the actors?" Qin Yanheng looked resigned.
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingling's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood what Qin Yanheng meant: "Your Highness, are you saying that you want to take me with you on the southern tour?"
Qin Yanheng glanced at her lightly and said, "When have I ever refused you about the Southern Tour?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Qingling couldn't suppress the smile on her face. Since Qin Yanheng agreed to take her south, did that mean he would help her find out the truth about Aye's injustice?
Luo Qingling felt a warmth in his heart and couldn't help but sit up straight.
Seeing Luo Qingling sitting upright with a serious expression, Qin Yanheng couldn't help but lower his head and smile softly. He had accepted that as long as the shackles of the Golden Dragon Sword were not undone, he could not leave Luo Qingling for more than ten miles. Of course, this was a literal meaning.
The carriage swayed and within a stick of incense it stopped at the theater.
"Meet Prince Rong An."
The theater owner troupe troupe came trotting forward to greet the distinguished guest, bowing and not daring to look up. A moment later, a pair of gouache-embroidered shoes appeared before his eyes. The owner was stunned for a moment, realizing with a start that this person was not Prince Rong An—after all, no man would wear shoes like that.
"Master, you should know why I came here today."
The boy's voice was clear, a little cold, and full of distance, which made people shiver.
However, the class owner, who had not yet stood up, was a little confused and thought: This is indeed the voice of Prince Rong'an, but why is there a woman's foot in front of him? Could it be... Could it be that Prince Rong'an has a habit of wearing women's clothes?
"What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and welcome Prince Rong'an and... Madam Luo into the theater." The coachman of the palace suddenly reminded the troupe owner who was standing there in a daze.
He really didn't know how to address Luo Qingling. Calling her Princess was a bit too early, but if he called her Young Lady, he was afraid that His Highness would blame him for being too distant. It was obvious that His Highness treated this Young Lady Luo very specially, but he always pretended to be unfamiliar with her in front of outsiders. It was really awkward!
The driver lifted the curtain for the young prince, observing his expression. Nothing unusual happened, indicating he had called out correctly.
"Prince Rong'an and Madam Luo, please follow me."
The troupe leader raised his hand and turned sideways to welcome the two distinguished guests into the yard.
The two nobles in front of him gradually walked away. The troupe leader couldn't help but feel curious. He looked up silently, wanting to take a look at the lady following the young prince Qin. Unexpectedly, his eyes met with the young prince. The latter glanced at him coldly, then raised his hand to let down the white gauze on Madam Luo's veil, covering her face completely.
She is so well protected, she must be the future princess, the troupe owner thought.
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