Chapter 43: The traveler’s wife ran away and he suddenly fell seriously ill.
Cong Ying went to see Madam Xie and asked politely if she could take her to the Wang family residence.
She knew this request was awkward. Even if she fabricated a more plausible excuse, the Wang family would know she was going to investigate Ah He's whereabouts. The Wang and Xie families were both prominent Yunjing families, and Prime Minister Xie and Grand Marshal Wang had intertwined interests in the officialdom, so it was unwise to jeopardize their relationship.
So Cong Ying had only given it a try without holding out hope. Unexpectedly, Madam Xie agreed so readily: "Yesterday, a batch of Yaohong peonies were just delivered from the farm south of the city. Let's pick a few pots. You come with me to visit Madam Wang."
As Xie Xuanzhi spoke, Meng, Xie Xuanzhi's wife, was also present. While Mrs. Xie was changing, she whispered, "After all, they're not related at all. It's already a favor for her mother-in-law to help her find someone. Is it worth offending Wang for her?"
Madam Xie said, "Otherwise, how can we become close friends if we're not even related? This Fourth Lady Jiang is someone who values friendships extremely highly and doesn't easily owe favors to anyone. It's a rare opportunity for me to help her, and she'll definitely remember it forever. As the saying goes, a gentleman's friendship lasts long, while a villain's interests are fleeting. It's worth offending the Wang family for her."
Thinking of the personal guards of Prince Jin who accompanied Congying, Madam Xie couldn't help but sigh, "Besides, with Fourth Lady Jiang being such a distinguished figure, it's not just Sanlang who has discernment. If I don't lend a hand, this fool might not be able to protect this priceless jade on his own."
Mrs. Xie and Cong Ying rode in the same carriage, and only handed over the visiting card when they arrived at Wang's door.
While the guards were reporting inside, Cong Ying whispered to Madam Xie, "If Madam Wang is avoiding seeing me, there's no need to force my way in. I'm only here to confirm whether Ah He is at the Wang residence. We'll have to make other plans for how to get her."
Madam Xie said, "You have to do the whole play."
Mrs. Wang quickly came out of the house and asked someone to take the pots of Yaohong peonies, praising them repeatedly.
She warmly invited Madam Xie and Cong Ying inside, her attitude generous and open, not even waiting for others to mention it, and took the initiative to say, "The flowers are blooming everywhere in my house. If you don't mind, please feel free to look at them. However, my master has ordered wine and food before going to the morning court, and I must go and prepare them myself. I hope you will forgive my absence."
Madam Xie pretended to be polite to her, but when she saw that she had really walked away, she exchanged glances with Cong Ying and shook her head slightly, "Madam Wang, you really don't feel guilty and aren't afraid of being searched."
Cong Ying: "Ah He is not here, but she obviously knows why we are here. Ah He's whereabouts are closely related to the Wang family."
Madam Xie asked, "What are your plans next? Wang's Ninth Lady and Seventeenth Lady are still at Congshan Academy. Do you want to..."
"No." Cong Ying refused without hesitation, "We don't have any evidence. If we rashly question them, we'll end up giving them a handle."
General Wang plays an important role in the court, and Wang Silang has returned to the capital with a great victory. The Wang family is not a soft persimmon that can be manipulated at will, and even the Xie family has to be cautious.
Cong Ying thought for a moment and said, "The maid accompanying Madam today is about the same size as me. I'd like to borrow her clothes."
The two of them pretended to walk around the Wang family mansion, and then left in disappointment.
After getting on the carriage, Aying quickly changed clothes with Madam Xie's maid, found a suitable opportunity, slipped away from the surveillance of the Wang family, and ran quickly towards the city gate.
She was not good at horse riding and wanted to stop a car to rent an ox cart. But when she heard that it was going to Guikuizhang, she ran away shaking her head and swaying her tail.
Ah Ying had no choice but to hesitate whether to ride alone when a carriage with a simple and deliberately old appearance stopped in front of her.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a hand as delicate as jade. The Prince of Jin, who was sitting in the carriage, had not even had time to change out of his court robes. The red pearls on his crown made his eyebrows and eyes look dignified, and he looked like a secular god statue about to be carried in a parade.
She opened her mouth and turned around to see that the guards from Prince Jin's Mansion hadn't caught up with her. So how could he...
Jin Wang stretched out his hand to her and led her into the carriage. For a moment, he almost hugged her in his arms, but he restrained himself and let her go.
God knows he almost didn't catch up again...
The anxiety in his heart gradually subsided. The corners of Prince Jin's eyes smiled, but his tone was not very happy: "Those who say you are cautious and careful are really blind. You dare to break into the bandit's nest alone. I think you are very brave."
Cong Ying opened her eyes wide in shock: "How did Your Highness know?"
Prince Jin: "I guessed it. I'm good at calculating. You won't suffer any loss if you take me with you."
From Ying: "..."
It’s too precious, and I’m a little worried that the air in the bandit’s den will choke him.
However, just as she did not refuse Madam Xie's help, Prince Jin's kindness made it even more difficult for her to refuse.
She was willing to risk her life to save her younger sister, but she still felt panic when traveling alone. Until she met King Jin just now, she admitted that she felt at ease and surprised at first, and then various worries arose out of her rationality.
What should we do now?
Today is not a good day.
The mountain road was filled with rain and fog, and there were no pedestrians in sight. Apart from the guards driving the carriage and the horses, in this quiet and humid world, only Cong Ying and King Jin were sitting opposite each other.
In order to prevent her from feeling uncomfortable, Prince Jin read the book, turning the page only when he remembered to do so. His reading was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and he was obviously absent-minded.
In the end, he simply stopped pretending, put down the book, and just stared at Cong Ying.
Cong Ying had no choice but to say, "I remember the first time I traveled with His Highness, and it was also in this weather."
At that time, she had felt uneasy because she didn't know the Prince of Jin's intentions. Now, despite the uncertainty of the future, the Prince of Jin's presence made her feel at ease. This feeling of peace, like the one she had when she met the Third Young Master before, now shared with another person, made her feel a little embarrassed.
Her mixed emotions were written all over her face. Fearing he would say something that would embarrass her further, she quickly changed the subject: "Did Your Highness see the General of the Cavalry at the court this morning? I heard he's quite young."
"Yes," said the King of Jin, "although he is young, he is nothing special."
Cong Ying: "But I heard that he is going to be promoted to a higher rank. Being a marquis at the age of thirty is rare in this dynasty."
Prince Jin chuckled softly, "If Xie San had gone to the northwest back then, how could Wang Si be the one wearing a crown today? Unfortunately... Xie San was too young at the time, and couldn't persuade Prime Minister Xie. Furthermore, since his surname is Xie, the Emperor wouldn't allow the Xie family to produce another general."
Then he added, "But as the saying goes, a blessing in disguise. If he had gone to the northwest, he wouldn't have met you."
Cong Ying: "Your Highness is so familiar with the Third Young Master."
He was so familiar with the matter that it seemed as if he had written his daily notes while lying on the wall of the Xie family's house.
The King of Jin's eyelashes fell, and he smiled in a half-hearted way: "Perhaps I once ate, lived, and grew up with him, but you only saw him, not me."
From Ying: "...Your Highness really has some brilliant ideas."
She just thought that he had asked about a secret, and King Jin didn't want to answer, so she made a joke to get by without thinking deeply about it.
Prince Jin didn't explain and continued, "However, Xie San took your advice to heart and realized that the bandits on Guikuzhang were up to something. This morning at court, when Wang Zhaoshen requested permission to go up the mountain to suppress the bandits, Xie San, despite Prince Huai's objections, stood up and challenged Wang Zhaoshen."
"Did he fight for it?"
"No."
From Ying: "..."
Just as Prince Jin was about to explain the reason, the carriage suddenly stopped. Cong Ying was concentrating and was not on guard, and fell into Prince Jin's arms.
Although the Prince of Jin looked frail, his hands were strong. He held her firmly and smiled calmly, "We've arrived at the Ghost Crying Peak. Let me change my clothes."
When I walked past Ying, I heard rustling sounds behind me. About an incense stick later, I looked at the clothes that Prince Jin had changed into and my eyes widened.
＊
It is said that this morning, after Xie Xuanlan made some arrangements in the West Camp, he went directly to the city gate to welcome General Wang Zhao to enter the capital.
Emperor Fengqi gave Wang Zhaoshen great respect, opened the Chengtian Gate, and ordered Princess Chun'an to lead civil and military officials to welcome him in person.
However, Wang Zhaoshen seemed to be angered by Princess Chun'an's decision to throw his wife's seal into the lake. He deliberately refused to dismount in front of Princess Chun'an and said with a condescending attitude, "Princess, thank you for welcoming me, a woman. Where are the good men of our dynasty?"
The provocative words made the Princess Party indignant and the Aristocratic Family Party gloating.
This wasn't Xie Xuanlan's business. He was only responsible for taking charge of Wang Zhaoshen's troops. After counting the number of men, he found that there were four thousand fewer than he had seen last night. He couldn't help but laugh in anger: "What a gutless brat! Hiding so many heavily armored soldiers in the capital? Are you planning a rebellion?"
He couldn't bear to see Wang Zhaoshen succeed, so he picked up the Shenbi bow on the city wall, used a thin drumstick as an arrow, stretched the bow like a full moon, and shot Wang Zhaoshen's horse's front knee with one hammer from a distance of several feet.
The horse's legs bent, and Wang Zhaoshen suddenly rolled off, his gorgeous golden helmet hitting the ground first. With a "clang", he kowtowed to Princess Chun'an.
Xie Xuanlan's high-pitched mockery came to his ears: "Good men of our dynasty have really loud heads!"
The scene was so funny that both the Princess Party and the Aristocratic Family Party burst into laughter. However, the Aristocratic Family Party members covered their mouths and restrained their laughter. When Wang Zhaoshen glared at them, they quickly straightened their faces and together accused Xie Xuanlan of being indecent.
Gan Jiu whispered to Princess Chun'an, "Your Highness, what does Xie San mean by this?"
Princess Chun'an was neither happy nor angry: "It's just dog biting dog."
Wang Zhaoshen really wanted to jump onto the city wall and beat up Xie San, but he had other important matters to attend to, so he had to hold his breath, change his clothes and go to the court.
He soon regretted not beating Xie San.
According to the arrangement of Wang and Prince Huai, at this time, Guikuzhang, 20 miles away from Yunjing City, was flooded with bandits, killing and robbing, causing harm to the people of Yunjing and causing great public resentment.
Xie Xuanlan's elder brother Xie Xuanzhi once sent people up the mountain to suppress the rebellion, but because the Prince of Huai leaked the information, there was no result.
Rumors circulated within and outside the court that the Xie family was colluding with bandits, and that every time they dispatched troops to suppress the bandits, they embezzled imperial rations and collected tributes from the bandits, earning at least 200,000 taels. Xie Xuanzhi was furious, and to preserve the Xie family's reputation, he offered to resign from the bandit suppression mission. Taiwei Wang naturally granted his approval, freeing him from the important task of suppressing the bandits.
Today, Wang Zhao went deep into the court and after receiving commendation from Emperor Fengqi, he immediately proposed to go to Guikuzhang to suppress the bandits.
He spoke with sincerity, "I have returned to the capital with three thousand brave soldiers. How can I bear to see the emperor worry about his fate and the people of the capital in danger? If there is no one in the court who can take on this important task, I will immediately go up the mountain to suppress the bandits. I will not be promoted until the evil spirits are eradicated!"
This speech, which had been polished by the staff, was indeed powerful, and the court officials nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, Xie Xuanlan also jumped out and said, "Me too, I want to go too!"
Wang Zhaoshen's eyelids twitched violently: "Why are you joining in the fun?"
Xie Xuanlan: "The capital is originally under the jurisdiction of the Twenty-Four Guards. My brother doesn't want to do it, so it's naturally my turn. General Wang is here to join in the fun."
Wang Zhaoshen sneered, "I heard the Xie family is building a private residence in Guikuizhang. I think your intention to suppress the bandits is fake, and your real intention is to make money."
Xie Xuanlan: "Then I have to ask His Royal Highness the Prince of Huai, who on earth wants to live in this unlucky place with ghosts howling and wolves howling?"
The Prince of Huai, who was named, had to stand up and say, "Xie's renovation of the house may not be related to the suppression of bandits."
He was offering water in front of Wang and Xie, who were arguing with each other. Emperor Fengqi turned to ask Princess Chun'an, "Chun'an, what do you think?"
Princess Chun'an said, "I have another suitable candidate."
"Tell me about it."
"My son's consort is Xuan Xiangling."
Prince Consort Xuan had long been stripped of his official title and salary due to the Spring Examination paper manipulation incident, and was now a useless person kept in the Princess's residence. Everyone objected, but Xie Xuanlan agreed, saying, "If Prince Consort Xuan were to take command of the army, I would be willing to serve as his deputy general."
Although Xie and your master are enemies, they tacitly ostracize Wang Zhaoshen in the matter of suppressing bandits.
The faces of the Wang family members in the court turned black, even General Wang could hardly stand and coughed a few times suggestively towards Prince Huai.
Prince Huai was extremely anxious. He knew that he couldn't let Xie San go in this matter. This scoundrel was going back on his word. He had clearly promised him when they were drinking a few days ago that he would not interfere in the suppression of bandits in Guikuzhang!
In a state of desperation, Prince Huai suddenly thought of something. Although he didn't know whether it would be useful or not, he decided to try it out.
He leaned close to Xie Xuanlan and whispered, "Your fiancée's sister is missing. Last night, she brought the little girl you just begged away and was causing trouble at the Xie family school. The backyard was on fire, but you didn't do anything about it. Why are you getting involved in suppressing bandits?"
The smile on Xie Xuanlan's face slowly disappeared: "What did you say?"
Prince Huai: "If you don't believe me, go ask my eldest cousin."
Xie Xuanlan ignored the court etiquette of not talking to each other and squeezed next to Xie Xuanzhi to ask if this was true. Xie Xuanzhi nodded: "I heard your sister-in-law mention it this morning, and it seems to be true."
Xie Xuanlan took a deep breath and stepped forward to apologize to Emperor Fengqi, saying, "I will not go to suppress the bandits. I have an unbearable stomachache, so I will step aside for now."
After saying this, without waiting for Emperor Fengqi to wave his hand, he strode out of the court.
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