Chapter 68 068 Little Li'er, Long Time No See
Everything was meticulously planned and executed, leaving Qingli with no room for error. She had only one question: "Who stole the questions?"
When Meng Qingshan heard her ask this question, his heart was instantly stirred. They had all considered the key points, but they had overlooked this one. It seemed that he was just a servant who was just following orders, but he was able to take things out of the Second Prince's inescapable trap so easily and quietly. This made people think deeply.
Some time ago, a group of bandits were cornered by the Imperial Guards, but in an instant they vanished without a trace, like mud sinking into the sea. Their methods were quite clever. His men pursued them closely and managed to find some traces in the capital, but they stopped there. However, when she asked him a question, he had a flash of inspiration and couldn't help but connect the dots to those bandits.
Qingli noticed that his gaze lingered for a moment before turning intensely to her. His light-colored pupils, like flowing silver light in the sky, inexplicably stirred feelings of timidity and panic in her.
She looked away, her throat tightening as if something was wrong, and after a moment she managed to ask, "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"
"You're quite clever for your little head."
Qingli: ...
Her words were light and not at all frivolous, but even such a casual remark made her ears turn red. Qingli thought to herself, "How did this person become like this? He's started using such glib tricks."
As the sun moved southward outside, beams of light shone down from the window, landing precisely on the cluster of red blushes. Meng Qingshan was in high spirits and spoke in a coaxing tone, "The examination won't cause any major trouble, but we should still be wary of petty thieves. Just stay at home these days."
"good."
"I'm too busy to come every day."
"Um."
"If you're suffering from heatstroke, use the ice chest early, but don't overindulge in cold things..."
Qingli stared straight outside, her ears filled with his low murmurs. Her hands, hidden under her wide sleeves, were clasped together. In the past, when he spoke loudly and clearly, she could refute him word by word. But now, his humble manner left her at a loss for words. Especially under the thick sycamore tree in the front yard, Ling Shuyao and Lu Yunye were excitedly pressed together, which made her feel hot all over.
Qingli felt a cool breeze from the side and then heard, "It's only early summer, and you're already so hot."
His voice was deep. He stood up and leaned forward, his arm's length away from her. A gentle breeze carried a tingling sensation that brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Qingli snatched the silk fan away and glared at him angrily.
Seeing that he had succeeded, Meng Qingshan laughed twice, strode out the door, and carried Lu Yunye out of the mansion.
Ling Shuyao grumbled as she stormed in, kicking the stool Meng Qingshan had been sitting on to the side. Seeing Jiang Zhao and the others making a move to help him up, she said with exasperation, "Don't help him! What is Meng Qingshan? What are you afraid of? If you continue to indulge him like this, he'll start throwing his weight around in the mansion!"
Qingli nodded in agreement. Indeed, she had moved out of the Meng residence to draw a line between herself and him. However, he came here every day, and his food, clothing, and daily necessities were all arranged in advance, leaving her no room to manage them. Moreover, Jiang Zhao and the others in the courtyard were like mice before a cat when they saw him, only thinking about how to please him and not daring to resist at all.
Ling Shuyao thought of how Meng Qingshan had broken up the couple and forcibly dragged Lu Yunye away, yet Lu Yunye dared not utter a sound. Seeing Qingli's submissive attitude, her anger surged. "He's just a cousin, what's so great about him? If you two continue to be so incompetent, one day even your young lady will have to pay him back."
Qing Li was speechless. How did this involve her?
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yue should both be there.
Ling Shuyao's throat was dry with anger. "Have Granny Huaying make some pastries and a pot of good tea."
Jiang Zhao looked at her, Qing Li nodded, and Jiang Zhao quickly left the room.
When the hot tea was served, the white porcelain teacup held the tea soup, which was bright orange-red and had a rich honey aroma. Ling Shuyao took a sip, let out a satisfied sigh, picked up the teacup to examine it closely, and saw that the bottom was marked with the Chuzhou Kiln. She sighed, "That thief Meng Qingshan really knows how to pick things. The Chuzhou Kiln has declined in the last two years. Although the porcelain it produces can't be considered tribute, it is still very valuable."
Ling Shuyao's eyes were mocking, but Qing Li ignored her and picked up her teacup as well. Among the porcelain from Chuzhou kiln, the green kiln is the best. The green color is like dew staining the deep green leaves of autumn, with a rich emerald hue, yet it is as thin and translucent as paper under the light. The white kiln is the next best. Now that you mention it, it's true that we haven't heard of any new products from Chuzhou kiln for a long time.
"I do value you quite a bit."
Qingli's heart skipped a beat, and the words circled back to her.
Just as Jiang Yue brought out the glutinous rice cakes that Granny Hua Ying had just made, Qing Li pushed them towards Ling Shuyao, thinking of silencing this gossip.
Ling Shuyao didn't hesitate at all. Before she had even swallowed a bite, she continued, "Have Granny Huaying make some more pea flour cakes. I want to take them back to the palace."
The previous discussion about Meng Qingshan's domineering behavior is not an exaggeration when applied to Ling Shuyao.
"Hua Ying's skills are so good. It reminds me of a maid in the palace. When I was young, I was in Yaohua Palace. She would often make pastries to amuse me. Unfortunately, I was too young and she was assigned to another place. After that, I don't know where she went."
Consort Mu's early days in the palace were not easy. Although she was granted the title of consort, she was always confined to the palace and not allowed to go out. The servants below her had to be obedient to her and were often negligent in their dealings with Consort Mu, the Fourth Prince, and the Second Princess.
The atmosphere became somber for a moment. Qingli watched Ling Shuyao fiddling with the cold rice cake and coaxed her, "Come anytime if you want some."
Ling Shuyao nodded emphatically and said, "It will be more convenient after I get married."
Ling Shuyao's wedding is on June 16th, a month away. All the wedding items have been prepared by the palace and sent to the princess's residence. However, the eldest princess will be married off at the end of May. Although she has received a reward from the emperor, she is thousands of miles away from the capital. This matter is shrouded in gloom and cannot bring joy.
Ling Shuyao instructed her servants, "Make preparations as needed, but do not make a big fuss."
The eldest princess has brought this upon herself. She had initially thought she would blame the second princess for this, but the fact that they didn't take advantage of her misfortune is already a great kindness.
"It has nothing to do with us."
That's the truth, but these words of comfort still couldn't dispel the pervasive gloom. The eldest princess was domineering and arrogant, but the thought of never seeing each other again, living amidst endless yellow sand, was like a flower about to bloom, about to blossom in its full glory, but a gust of sandstorm scattered the buds. Yet, if someone simply raised their hand, it wouldn't have to be like this.
It's a pity, a regret, and something that lingers in one's mind.
Qing Li's heart sank. Emperor Ming Kang claimed to be a wise ruler, yet he concealed his true intentions behind the scenes, stirring up trouble and pursuing the title of a sage for all time. It was truly absurd and laughable!
Inside the council hall, Emperor Mingkang, with a ruddy complexion and wearing a bright yellow brocade robe embroidered with gold dragons, sat calmly on a high chair, listening to the report from the second prince below him. He nodded in satisfaction and praised, "Well done, excellent! Excellent!"
The officials below the hall echoed his sentiments, and the atmosphere became lively. Emperor Kang of Ming was pleased, saying, "Selecting virtuous people for the country is a benevolent act."
The second prince bowed his head and said, "Your subject will certainly not fail in his mission."
After the court meeting ended, many officials surrounded the Second Prince, with the Fourth Prince being the last to arrive. Today, he needed to discuss with the Second Prince the matter of securing the examination venue. When it was finally over, the Second Prince showed no remorse, patted his arm hard, and said, "Fourth Brother, I've kept you waiting."
The two rode in the carriage together in silence. The examination hall had long been surrounded by three layers of guards, making it impossible to cheat. At the entrance, the Second Prince, full of pride, said, "Fourth Brother, you've worked hard. Once the task is completed, I will definitely report to Father and reward you handsomely."
The fourth prince, always composed and showing no sign of anything amiss, clasped his hands in farewell.
The second prince snorted. So what if his grandfather was Huang Pu? He was just a stepping stone for Huang Pu.
The carriage clattered back to the Second Prince's residence. Duan Heng was still guarding the gate, and the Second Prince, for the first time ever, summoned him into the residence.
The examination was conducted in a tense and highly anticipated atmosphere. Tang Shuqing couldn't sit still at home, so she came to Qingli Mansion to sit and direct Jiang Zhao to run around in circles. Sometimes he was thirsty, sometimes he was hot. She held a black silk embroidered bird bamboo-handled fan in her hand, which made a panting sound.
Tang Shuqing got up and paced back and forth in the corridor, occasionally saying impatiently, "Is it already this hot before summer even starts?"
Qingli sighed helplessly, "A calm mind brings coolness."
"I won't get cold." Tang Shuqing looked at Qingli and the Second Princess who were staring at her speechlessly, and sat down dejectedly. "My brother is taking the college entrance exam, and my mother is praying to Buddha at home every day. Even the chirping of birds can make my mother angry. I guess I'm a little nervous too."
"Slightly nervous?" Ling Shuyao raised her voice and teased, "Look at the teacups on the table in front of you. This morning, they've been either too bland or too strong. It's only because Qingli is so wealthy that even I can't stand your antics."
Qingli chuckled, "How did this involve me again?"
Before Ling Shuyao could explain, Tang Shuqing finally found a way to ease the tension. He lifted her sleeve and said, "Fine silks and satins, fine clothes and delicacies. If I wasn't worried about upsetting you, your cousin would probably pave your courtyard with gold bricks."
Qingli withdrew her hand, and seeing the two of them looking at her with smiles in their eyes, her cheeks flushed. She said reproachfully, "When your brother passes the imperial examination, you will also be able to live a life of luxury and comfort."
Tang Shuqing rested her chin on her hands, her eyes full of longing. "I don't ask for much, I just hope that my brother will pass the imperial examination and my mother will be happy and give me more pocket money."
"Anyway, my mother doesn't care about me, so I'm going to stay here with you."
Jiang Zhao bent down and said, "Miss Tang, the private room is ready."
Tang Shuqing cheered and leaned on Qingli's shoulder, acting coquettishly, "How did you know I was going to stay here?"
Qingli smiled gently. The bundle the maid was carrying was so large that everyone could see it clearly.
Time flew by, and on the morning of the third day, Tang Shuqing got up and pulled Qingli to pick up her brother. She couldn't resist and nodded in agreement. Before leaving, Qingli called Meng Qingshan's two guards.
When they arrived, they couldn't even get into the alleyway outside. The carriages were lined up on one side, waiting for the students to come out so they could have a place to rest. Seeing Tang Shuqing's anxiety, Qingli advised, "Put the carriages here first, and we'll go in."
Upon hearing this, Tang Shuqing nodded repeatedly, "It's my fault, I was just thinking about it one day at a time."
With carriages swarming in from behind, their carriage was trapped in the middle, unable to move, and it was impossible for them to back out.
Everyone stood on tiptoe to look around and walked forward. She said, "Since we're here, let's go over there too."
They had guards protecting them, so they didn't get into any collisions. But within just a few dozen meters, several groups of people had already started arguing over who would bump into them. As the sun rose higher and the scorching sun hung overhead, the tense atmosphere became even more suffocating.
Three sharp gongs rang out, and the air fell silent instantly. The heavy wooden door was slowly pulled open, and everyone rushed forward. Qingli stumbled as she looked at the dense crowd behind her, her palms sweating. This couldn't go on. She said to Tang Shuqing, "Let's wait under that big tree over there."
Tang Shuqing was feeling regretful after someone stepped on her foot when she heard this and nodded. They were escorted over by the guards. There was a large tree surrounded by a circle of low stones, and they stood on them, which gave them a good view of the entrance.
Some students emerged, looking pale and thin, listless, as if they had just recovered from a serious illness. Some even fainted as they left the house, causing another wave of panic.
"There! I see it!" Tang Shuqing shouted excitedly, making a move to rush over.
Looking at the dense crowd, Qingli was somewhat worried and instructed, "Protect Miss Tang well."
The two guards were ordered to protect Qingli and did not move for a moment. Qingli continued, "I will stand here and not move. You take Miss Tang to the Tang family and come back quickly."
The guards clasped their hands in a fist salute and left. Qingli looked into the distance and saw that although Tang Yanqing's face was pale, his eyes were firm and resolute. She was happy for Tang Shuqing. After going through many trials, the Tang family had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
The sound of light, cat-like footsteps behind her made Qingli tense up instantly, even though she didn't move. She was all too familiar with this sound; the quiet rustling was enough to send chills down her spine.
"Little Li'er, it's been a long time."
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