Song Chengze sat up. What was going on? Why was he here? Could it be that he realized that the person just now was him?
That's impossible. The two of them have been chasing each other, and he never faced him head-on from beginning to end. How did he guess it?
Song Chengze didn't have time to think about it. "Hold him back and ask him to wait for me in the banquet room. Ask Hu Changsheng to come in."
Hu Changsheng brought Song Chengze a cotton robe. Song Chengze took a look and shook his head.
"Change to one with wider sleeves."
Song Chengze was putting on his clothes while thinking about his strategy. Prince Duan must have come for a purpose. What should he do? If he saw the wound on his arm, how would he explain it? What would happen next?
This would be too disadvantageous for me. Now is not the time to turn against Prince Duan. If Prince Duan really confirms that it was me tonight, not only would he start plotting against me from then on, but the South City Iron Shop would also be exposed. The loss would be too great.
Song Chengze let Hu Changsheng button his robe for him. He looked at the red lanterns outside the window and squinted his eyes. "Go to Jing'an Garden and invite the princess. Tell her this... Go quickly."
――――――
Meng Qi held the list of Jing'an Garden servants in her hand and listened as Madam Liu explained each one of them. "This is all I have learned recently. I need to find out more about the specific relationships and hidden secrets among them."
"No rush. With all you guys, there's not much information you can get, and I can't guarantee its accuracy. We still need to check on the people in the mansion. Xiaoman is diligent and likable. Ask her to walk around the mansion when she's free, pack some candy, and get some more copper coins."
Mama Liu said, "Yes, I will let Xiaoman go tomorrow."
"And there's the one from Hong Jin's family. She's an elder in the palace. You should talk to her more and have a chat when you have nothing to do."
"I've been talking to her a lot these past few days, but she's a very careful person. I don't know what she's worried about, so she always tells me half the truth and keeps the other half to herself. But don't worry, Princess. I'll slowly guide her and eventually she'll understand what kind of person you are."
Meng Qi nodded. This Hong Jin family member was an old man from when Song Chengze founded the mansion. When Lin was the princess, she served in Jing'an Garden. Because she made delicious soups, she was very popular with Lin. After Lin passed away, she was transferred to the main kitchen for a while. However, she was not very talkative and did not know how to please others, so her work was so-so.
Later, Gong came into the family and finally got pregnant with Song Bairan. She was very picky and heard that she was good at making soup, so she was transferred to Jinmoju. At one point, everyone thought she would stay in Jinmoju and be the housekeeper of the second young master, but after Gong left, she asked to go to the garden to trim the flowers and trees.
The reason Meng Qi understood her so well was because she had been waiting by her side during the two years she lay in the Rui Palace. She had told a "waste" like her many things she had never heard before, including those about Lin and Gong.
It was also because she heard those secrets that she had the confidence to tell Song Chengze that night that she would use her own methods to help him manage the inner house.
"Don't worry, take your time. Let her work in the small kitchen first. Wait for the cook that mother is looking for to come, and then assign her other tasks."
As the two were talking, Yuan Dong said from outside, "Princess, Hu Changsheng wants to see you."
Meng Qi looked at the sky outside and thought about how Hu Changsheng had just come in an hour ago to say that Song Chengze would be back late and there was no need to wait for him, so why was he here again now?
Hu Changsheng entered the room and saw Mama Liu and Yuan Dong standing there, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
Meng Qi waved her hand. Seeing the two of them leave, Hu Changsheng said hurriedly, "Princess, please go to the study in the outer courtyard."
Meng Qi sat in the warm sedan, thinking about what Song Chengze had just said to her by Hu Changsheng. She asked him to find a way to drive Prince Duan away. His right arm was injured, and Prince Duan must not be able to see it.
What was she going to do? Since Song Chengze had someone come to call her over, it proved that Prince Duan's arrival was too sudden, leaving him with no better plan to deal with it.
Also, was Song Chengze injured because of Prince Duan? How could she prevent Prince Duan from examining Song Chengze's arm? Could it be that Prince Duan insisted on examining it, and she would try to stop him?
Meng Qi's head was like a mess. She didn't care about it for the time being. She would just deal with it as it came. If she could delay it a little longer, maybe Song Chengze would have some time to come up with a solution.
This was the first time Meng Qi had entered Song Chengze's study in the outer courtyard. Zhang Decheng saw her come in and hurriedly went to greet her, "Princess, have you come up with a good idea? The prince is almost unable to hold on. Prince Duan just deliberately spilled water on his sleeve."
Meng Qi stopped, the tea had spilled, spilled...
"Is there any wine?"
"Wine? Yes, I do."
Hu Changsheng hurriedly went to get it, "There is also a sword, bring the sword that the prince often dances with." Zhang Decheng didn't dare to ask more questions, and hurriedly turned back to get the sword.
Meng Qi took the sword, which was quite heavy. She then signaled Hu Changsheng to open the wine jar. She leaned over, first poured some of the wine on herself, then took a big sip, poured some out and smeared it on her face. Then, she picked up the sword and walked up the steps quickly like a warrior. She raised her foot and kicked the main door of the study open with a "clang".
――――――
Prince Duan sat for a long time before he saw Song Chengze lift the curtain and come in.
"Second brother, why are you at my house so late?" Song Chengze said as he endured the pain, raised his right hand to cover his mouth and yawned.
Prince Duan narrowed his eyes and glanced at Song Chengze's right arm, then chuckled, "I was a little aggressive with Sixth Brother today. It wasn't directed at you, but I was just angry somewhere else, and Sixth Brother got hurt. After I went back, I felt uneasy no matter how I thought about it. If I don't clarify this misunderstanding today, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep well."
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