Shortly after, Ziye brought the food, placing it one by one on the table, Zhou Gu picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. Ziye, standing by, whispered, "The Grand Princess sent someone to ask three times, and the Duchess herself came once. She stood in the courtyard for a while, looking at the grape trellis, then she told me to have the kitchen keep your food warm before she left."
Zhou Gu simply answered, "Hmm."
Ziye fell silent.
Zhou Gu put down his chopsticks after only eating a bit, then turned to Ziye and asked, "How is the investigation into the assassination of Princess Qingping going?"
Ziye hurriedly replied, "Sir Lee, the Prefect of Jingzhao, by royal order, is leading a house-to-house search. The men from Dali Temple are cooperating fully; many residences have been searched. If the culprit is not caught by tomorrow, I’m afraid our Duke Residence will be searched as well."
Zhou Gu nodded, instructing, "You take some men and check discreetly. Since Su Rong arrived in the Capital City, any suspicious individuals who have also entered the city during this period should not be overlooked."
Ziye blinked in surprise, "Young Master, you’re intending to meddle in this case?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "I simply want to know who wanted to kill Su Rong."
"Kill Miss Su?" Ziye was shocked.
"Just do it," Zhou Gu dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
Ziye opened his mouth as if to say something, nodded, and then turned to leave.
That night, because the Government Office was energetically searching for the assassin, every household in Capital City closed its doors. Even the Red Building tavern was closed for business to cooperate with the comprehensive investigation.
Within Princess Qingping’s Residence, Su Rong had had a peaceful sleep. After breakfast, the housekeeper came to Cangjiao Pavilion to report to Princess Duanhua, "Your Highness, the Shen Residence has sent a carriage to pick up Miss Su. It was brought by Mr. Su himself. He said the city is currently in chaos due to the search for the assassin. He’s not inviting Your Highness to Shen Residence today."
Duanhua pouted, "Alright then."
She stood up, telling Su Rong, "I’ll see you off."
"Okay." Su Rong nodded.
Duanhua instructed her servants to load all of Su Rong’s belongings onto the carriage. Su Rong blushed in embarrassment; she had entered the Princess Residence with nothing more than a small bundle. Now after staying for a few days, she was departing with a carriage full of belongings.
Outside the residence, Su Xingze was waiting. Seeing Su Rong and Duanhua walking out hand in hand, and the housekeeper leading a carriage full of goods, he could not help but be bemused.
The Princess’s son-in-law had already left for the Government Office. When Princess Qingping learned that Su Rong was leaving, she personally came to bid her farewell, bags under her eyes, clearly having not slept well the previous night. She summoned up the energy to stand, adjusting Su Rong’s hairpin with a loving touch, and told her, "Be careful. If anything happens, send someone to inform me at the Princess Residence, you must not be shy."
Su Rong nodded, "Rest assured, Princess, I’ll remember."
Princess Qingping then turned to Su Xingze, "The capital is currently in chaos, you should try to stay indoors if possible. Besides, with your talents, just patiently wait for the official exam results, there’s no need for unnecessary socializing."
Su Xingze bowed in acknowledgement, "Princess, you are correct. I will keep your words in mind."
Princess Qingping waved her hand, "You may leave."
Duanhua held Su Rong’s hand tightly, "I don’t know if the birthday banquet at the Duke Residence for that little gal will still be held. If it is, are you going?"
"Yes."
"If you go, I will too." Duanhua immediately declared, "If it’s not held, I’ll visit you once the assassin is caught."
"Deal."
After they reached a decision, Duanhua finally let go of Su Rong’s hand, reluctantly letting her leave.
Once Su Rong got into the carriage, Su Xingze also climbed in, and slowly, the carriage of Shen Residence left the Princess Residence.
In the carriage, Su Xingze looked at Su Rong, both amused and exasperated, "You truly...How did you manage to charm Princess Qingping and Princess Duanhua? You’ve lived with them for such a long time, and you’re not even leaving the capital, just moving to the Shen Residence. Yet they’re giving you tender instructions and regretful farewells."
Su Rong giggled, "I guess people just like me."
Su Xingze shook his head, smiling, "Prepare yourself. After arriving in the Shen Residence, Uncle Shen is going to question you. Ponder over what you’re going to say." His laughter ceased and his voice lowered, "After seeing you, Aunt Shen has been asking me about your mother. At Rui’an King’s banquet, many older matrons saw you. You stand out too much; I’m afraid it won’t be long until your identity is revealed."
Su Rong nodded. Since she had come to the Capital City, she had never intended to hide her identity anyway.
There were coachmen from the Shen Residence leading the carriage, and so the siblings spoke only a few words to each other before falling silent.
The carriage smoothly returned to the Shen Residence. Su Xingze got off first and turned back to reach out a hand to assist Su Rong, only to find that she had already jumped off the carriage from the other side.
He withdrew his hand with a blank expression. As expected of someone who, while at the Rui’an King’s Residence, acts purely for show. Now, with no one watching, she was still the same capricious troublemaker.
The housekeeper of the Shen Residence had been waiting at the gate. Seeing that Su Xingze had brought someone back, he hurried forward with a welcoming smile, "Seventh Miss, you have finally come. The master stayed home from the Government Office today especially to wait for you."
Su Rong was taken aback by the warm reception, "Uncle Shen is too kind!"
The housekeeper noticed a carriage from the Princess Residence parked behind the Shen Residence’s carriage, filled to the brim with items. He quickly asked, "This carriage is..."
"These are things bought for me by the princess and the other ladies during my stay at the Princess Residence. I couldn’t refuse them." Su Rong sighed, "Could you please help unload everything?"
The housekeeper immediately agreed, "Your room has already been prepared. After these items are unloaded, I will have them delivered to your room."
Su Rong nodded.
The housekeeper ordered the unloaders and then accompanied the siblings inside.
"The master and madam are waiting for you in the Main Courtyard. They said you are a family member, so there’s no need for you to go to the Reception Room. You can go straight to the Main Courtyard," the housekeeper explained.
Su Rong nodded again.
The Shen Residence, unlike the Princess Residence, was not opulent. But it was simple and elegant. Passing through the second gate to reach the backyard, another different ambiance could be felt. The backyard was more elegant than the front, with every house, courtyard, tree, bridge, and walkway radiating a sense of comfort.
Su Rong mused that the madam of the Shen Residence must be someone who knows how to live well, with every part of the residence well-managed, radiating comfort.
At the entrance of the Main Courtyard stood a middle-aged couple. Su Rong had seen the madam of the Shen family before, and the stern-faced man standing next to her was naturally Shen Xian, the Minister of Personnel.
Though Su Xingze suspected that the two people probably had doubts about Su Rong’s identity, seeing how they didn’t wait inside but came out to greet them at the gate confirmed his suspicions. He leaned towards Su Rong and whispered, "That’s Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen."
Su Rong nodded and sped up to approach them, smiling and offering her greetings, "Uncle Shen, Aunt Shen."
The madam of the Shen family also stepped forward, smiling and taking Su Rong’s hand, "There’s no need to be so formal, child. I heard from Xingze that you don’t like being restrained at home. So feel at home when you are in the Shen Residence."
Su Rong grinned, "So, my brother has already set up my reputation. Since Aunt Shen has said as much, I will not be so formal."
"There’s no need for any formalities." The madam of the Shen family laughed.
An almost imperceptible smile appeared on the stern face of Shen Xian, who said with his hands behind his back, "Let’s go inside for a talk."
The group entered the Main Courtyard.
Once settled in the Drawing Room with some fruit and tea, the madam of the Shen family signaled for the servants to leave.
Shen Xian looked at Su Rong. He had also seen Princess Zhenmin before. The year that Zhenmin had saved the country by agreeing to marry into Dawei, all the civil and military officials had gone to the city gate to send her off, and he had been among them. He was told the day before by his wife that Su Rong bore a striking resemblance to Princess Zhenmin. Now that he was seeing her in person, he found it to be indeed true.
The madam of the Shen family was also sizing up Su Rong, she asked, "Were you frightened by the assassination attempt on the princess yesterday? I must say, that rogue is really audacious, daring to do such a thing in broad daylight."
Su Rong shook her head, "I am also fearless, and thus was not scared."
The madam of the Shen family exclaimed, "You child, that was an assassin! They said that the arrow was very sharp and fast. If it had not been deflected, it would surely have caused severe injury or death."
Shen Xian took over the conversation, "That arrow was intended for her. Even if Princess Qingping and Duanhua Princess were scared, she would not be. In this kind of situation, if my suspicion is correct, she has likely experienced it hundreds if not thousands of times." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
The madam of the Shen family paused, looking at Shen Xian in surprise, her confusion and astonishment being clear. It seemed they had not discussed this the day before.
Su Rong smiled and admitted outright, "Uncle Shen is indeed impressive, no wonder you hold such a high-ranking position. I grew up in this kind of situation, so indeed, I wouldn’t be scared easily."
Since he had addressed it directly, she had no need to deny it, just like when Princess Qingping and the prince consort had questioned her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
