Wang Chenghai felt warm in his heart. Meng Qi's genuine concern for her servants and her never condescending attitude were one of the reasons why he followed her wholeheartedly.
"Thank you, Princess. I won't be polite then."
Meng Qi was delighted. "Have you ever been polite to them? I heard them calling me 'Brother Wang' all the time, which was quite cordial."
Wang Chenghai chuckled, "It's because the princess has trained me so tenderly and treats me like one of her own family. She makes me feel like I'm home when I enter Jing'an Garden."
Meng Qi sat on the chaise longue, and San Ya came in with a tray with two crystal glasses on it.
Yuan Dong smiled and handed one cup to Meng Qi, then picked up another cup and gave it to Wang Chenghai.
Wang Chenghai took it and asked, "How about Sister Yuandong eat first?"
Yuan Dong rolled his eyes at him. "Even food can't stop you from talking. Princess, you're kind-hearted. Don't think I don't know. You must have heard the freshly shaved smoothie running in."
Wang Chenghai bent down and said, "Hey, Sister Yuandong, please leave me some space."
"Stay? Why do you want to stay? You think the princess doesn't know." Yuan Dong smiled and lifted the gauze curtain and walked out of the house.
Meng Qi listened to the two bickering with a smile on her face, gently stirring the mung bean smoothie in her bowl, "What else did you discover?"
Wang Chenghai placed the crystal glass on the table, stood up straight, and said respectfully, "Xiao Songzi seems to have a very good relationship with Cheng Dianyi."
"Cheng Qian?" Meng Qi frowned.
Cheng Qian is the ceremonial officer of Prince Rui's Palace. He is not valued by Song Chengze. Although he lives in the outer courtyard, he cannot easily enter Song Chengze's outer courtyard, let alone his study.
He was in charge of the palace's daily ceremonial activities, though there wasn't much ritual involved in the palace on a normal day. His wedding to Meng Qi at the beginning of the year was organized by the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites, so he was only needed during important festivals. Before the palace had no princess, he was still somewhat useful, but with Meng Qi, whether he was needed or not was a completely different matter.
In her previous life, the number of interactions, or rather meetings, between Meng Qi and him could be counted on one hand in a year.
Cheng Qian was an awkward presence within the Rui Palace. He held an official position and was dependent on the palace, but he had no place to use his talents. He too was married and had children, coming home in the morning and leaving in the evening. However, his family lived in the south of the city, unlike Song Lu, Old Lu, and Chu Yong, whose families all lived in the back streets, making it easier for them to come to the palace for meetings.
Wang Chenghai hummed, "This little Songzi was just an errand boy in the outer courtyard. It was another person who went to Huamu Garden two years ago. I don't know what he did wrong, but Cheng Dianyi didn't value him."
"Are you saying that the person who delivered the letter and ran errands for Xiao Lin before was also Cheng Qian's subordinate? Where is he now?" Meng Qi asked.
Wang Chenghai nodded and said, "Two years ago, it was said that his nephew came and took him home."
"Home?"
"Yes, would you like me to arrange for someone to check it out?"
Meng Qi waved her hand. "It's not convenient for you to ask about this. I'll let someone else do it. Go on."
"Yes, Xiao Songzi usually works as an errand boy for Cheng Dianyi, and sometimes he handles unimportant matters within the inner chambers. However, he always spends a longer time at Huamu Garden, and Concubine Lin even sent Liunian to look for him separately."
Meng Qi nodded. "I remember Yuan Dong also paid attention to this person. It seems that he was the one who brought the news of the prince returning to the palace and entering the inner quarters several times."
Wang Chenghai didn't know this. After a moment's thought, he said, "Most of those in the outer courtyard are also responsible for keeping watch, especially to see if the prince has returned. You know, sometimes it's more convenient to block the prince at the inner courtyard's hanging flower gate than to go to the Bibo Hall to ask for an audience."
Meng Qi naturally knew that Song Chengze rarely went into the inner courtyard, and Bi Bo Tang did not allow them to go there casually. Even if they went there, they might not be able to get in, so blocking them on the road was the most effective way, especially Xiao Lin and Wu, who were very skilled at it.
This is nothing, as every family has people with such ulterior motives. However, it would be interesting if Xiao Lin had any connection with Cheng Qian through Xiao Songzi.
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