Chapter 122: Draw a clear line with Chuwu
After arriving at the Xingshi Building, Ruan Yunsheng placed the jade token and silver bills on the table and pushed them in front of the shopkeeper.
"Please tell Chuwu that this princess did save his life, but he has done a lot for this princess over the years, and we have already made amends."
"So, please pass this jade token to him for me. I won't look for him again."
"And a few days ago, he passed by the Marquis' Mansion and helped deal with the assassin. This banknote is his reward. Give it to him as well."
The shopkeeper looked embarrassed, as if what he had in front of him was not a banknote but a hot potato.
If he dared to accept these two things, wouldn't the prince slap him to death?
He smiled apologetically and said, "My Lady, what are you talking about? As the saying goes, a life-saving favor should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. I owe you my life on the fifth day of the fifth month, and I will never be able to repay it in this lifetime."
"It is true that I said I would leave the capital before the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, but before I left, I also instructed that if the princess has any errands, as long as you have the green jade token, someone will naturally serve you wholeheartedly."
Ruan Yunsheng smiled slightly, but his attitude was very firm: "If this princess needs help in the future, I will naturally find other ways. I also want him to stop 'passing by' the Marquis' Mansion in the future."
The shopkeeper said cautiously, "Princess, how about this? I'll tell Chuwu what you said and have him tell you personally."
"No need. This princess has nothing to say to him." Ruan Yunsheng said and left the Xingshi Tower directly.
The shopkeeper was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, but he didn't dare to stop them.
He looked at the things on the table, then at Ruan Yunsheng's back as he left, and sighed with a sad face.
Two quarters of an hour later, the jade tablet and the silver note were delivered to Prince Xuan's mansion.
Xie Yan's pupils trembled as he looked at the two things the shopkeeper brought him.
The shopkeeper whispered, "The princess left after leaving a message. I didn't dare to stop her, so I could only deliver the things to the prince."
Xie Yan closed his eyes, and Shengsheng knew that it was the fifth day of the New Year!
But she said nothing, and just silently sent the things and banknotes to Xingshilou to "Chuwu".
Does this mean that you want to draw a clear line between you and him?
He was suddenly filled with endless regret.
I was too impatient. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have revealed that he was the fifth day of the New Year!
He had anticipated countless of her reactions, but he never expected her to be so calm.
He would rather she beat and scold him, or even stab him, than to draw a clear line with him...
After the shopkeeper left, Xie Yan still stared at the jade plate motionlessly.
This jade token has been in Shengsheng's hands for so many years, but now, she doesn't want it anymore.
Xie Yan felt a pang of sadness in his heart, as if it was not the jade token that was thrown away, but himself.
Mo Ying looked at his prince's distraught expression and said soothingly, "Your Highness, don't worry too much. I didn't think the princess seemed angry before she left last time. She even smiled and called you Fifth Brother."
Xie Yan said hoarsely, "I'm not afraid of her getting angry. What I'm afraid of is that she won't trust me anymore."
The last time Shengsheng came out of the palace, he took the marquis's carriage to pick her up, and Shengsheng was able to fall asleep on his shoulder without any precautions.
At that time, Shengsheng must have really trusted him and relied on him like a brother, and even said with a smile, "Fifth brother, let's never quarrel again."
But he lied to her for so many years.
Xie Yan stood up suddenly and almost knocked over the chair behind him.
"I'm going to the Marquis' Mansion!"
He had to meet Shengsheng in person, apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness.
Mo Ying glanced at the sky outside and said, "It's broad daylight now. How about you go at night, Your Highness?"
Although the emperor only verbally warned the prince to confine himself to reflect on his mistakes and did not send guards or palace servants to watch over him, this move was even more of a test for the prince. If the emperor found out that the prince went out during the confinement period, he would probably become even more furious.
By then, it won't be as simple as a verbal warning.
Xie Yan said in a deep voice: "I can't care about that anymore."
Half an hour later, an inconspicuous carriage stopped quietly at the side door of the Marquis's mansion.
Ruan Yunbo was very surprised to learn that Xie Yan had come, and quickly invited him into Lantingxuan.
He whispered, "The Emperor has ordered you to remain in the palace. If there's anything, just have the guards pass on the message. Why did you come here in person?"
Xie Yan pulled the corner of his lips, "I heard that big brother is back, so I came to visit him."
Ruan Yunbo sighed softly, "We're all family, why are there so many formalities? And you didn't even send someone to tell me you were coming? Big Brother isn't at home right now, so you've made a wasted trip!"
Xie Yan nodded, "I didn't think it through."
He asked casually, "By the way, is Shengsheng in the mansion?"
"Yes," Ruan Yunbo said with a smile, "She brought a parrot back from your house a while ago. She loves it very much. I guess she's playing with it in Yuehua Courtyard."
As he spoke, he turned and instructed Tingsong: "Go to Yuehua Courtyard and tell them that the prince has arrived. Ask the princess if she wants to come."
"Yes, sir." Tingsong accepted the order and immediately walked towards Yuehua Courtyard.
Xie Yan breathed a sigh of relief quietly, his eyes fixed on the door, with a hint of nervousness hidden in his eyes.
Not long after, Tingsong came back quickly and bowed, saying, "Sir, the princess said she felt a little tired in the afternoon and wanted to take a short rest, so she won't be coming."
Ruan Yunbo didn't think much of it. She just smiled and said to Xie Yan, "You came at an unfortunate time today. But it doesn't matter. You weren't here to look for her anyway. My sister is a sleepyhead, so it's normal for her to take a nap at this time."
He said in a relaxed tone, "Next month will be the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. The Emperor will definitely release you from your confinement by then. You and Big Brother will have plenty of opportunities to meet, so there's no need to rush."
Xie Yan suddenly tightened his fingers at his sides, trying to make his voice sound natural. "Anyway, I have nothing to do back home now. I finally managed to get out of the way, so why not... I'll just wait here for Big Brother to come back."
Seeing him like this, Ruan Yunbo couldn't help but tease, "Are you still worried that Big Brother will be angry with you? To be honest, he doesn't blame you anymore, so there's no need to be so nervous."
Xie Yan forced a smile, but his tone was very insistent: "Since I'm here, I'd better wait."
Seeing that he was so determined, Ruan Yunbo didn't want to persuade him anymore, so he said, "Brother is on duty at the Hanlin Academy. I guess he won't be back until after his shift is over, so it will take some time. How about I ask someone to bring a chessboard, and we can play a few games to kill time?"
Xie Yan shamelessly stayed here in order to find an opportunity to meet Ruan Yunsheng. He had no intention of playing chess with him.
He coughed lightly, "Third brother, just go and take care of your own things. You don't have to accompany me. I'm a little tired too, so I'll go back to Guanlan Courtyard to rest for a while. When eldest brother comes back, third brother will send someone to call me."
Ruan Yunbo didn't really like playing chess, so he nodded and said, "Okay, then you go and rest. I'll go back to the study and check the account books."
Xie Yan said that he wanted to go to Guanlan Courtyard to rest, but before he had gone far, he turned around and headed straight towards Yuehua Courtyard.
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