Chapter 42: Prince, it’s time to take medicine (3rd update)
Zhao Shiqing didn't have time to argue with him, so she called Ling Bo and bought a bag of tea before leaving.
After returning to Youxiyingmen, Zhao Shiqing called the nine people together for a small meeting.
After the meeting, the troops split into three groups and set off immediately.
......
Capital city, Prince Liang’s Mansion.
"Prince, it's time to take your medicine."
The room had low curtains and was filled with sandalwood, but it still couldn't cover up the smell of medicine.
A few coughs were heard from inside the tent, and then a pale, thin hand stretched out. Its bony fingers tapped the small table beside it: "Put it here."
"Sir, let me help you administer the medicine."
Another violent coughing fit came, tearing his lungs apart, and it seemed as if he would die in the next moment.
The coughing finally stopped, and the person in the tent said weakly: "No need to serve... Go... lest you pass on the disease..."
"Oh? The prince dismissed all the servants just because he was worried about the disease? The prince is quite kind-hearted."
The man in the tent obviously didn't expect this new maid to be so unreasonable. He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly became angry: "This prince said you don't need to serve me, so you don't need to serve me. Get out, get out!"
The next moment, he heard footsteps, but they were not far away, but getting closer and closer. Then, the tent was pulled open from the outside, and the person inside was completely exposed.
The boy was fair and thin, the kind of fair skin that rarely sees sunlight, with a hint of sickness between his brows.
"How dare you! Get out! Get out!" the young man roared, but his voice was not loud and it was obvious that he was enduring it.
At this moment, he also saw clearly the extremely bold maid in front of him.
She was about fourteen or fifteen years old, and although she was dressed like a maid, her facial expression did not have the usual docility of maids. On the contrary, her cherry lips were slightly raised, and her smile was a bit free and unrestrained.
This is definitely not a smile that a maid who is burdened with various rules can have.
"Who are you?" the young man asked in a deep voice.
Zhao Shiqing raised her eyebrows slightly. The boy's tone seemed calm, but she felt guilty.
Yes, I feel guilty.
This young man feels guilty!
She sat down sideways on the bed, without any hesitation. If someone broke in now, they would be shocked. The prince was already seriously ill and was about to die, yet a maid actually climbed onto his bed.
"What are you going to do?" The boy's voice was trembling. Was he really here to climb into bed? But this girl really didn't look like a maid.
Zhao Shiqing suddenly turned around and faced him straight in the face: "You don't know who I am, but I do know that you are not the prince. Where is Zhao Tinghan? Let him come out!"
"Nonsense, I don't know what you are talking about." The young man growled, and clenched his hands into fists under the quilt.
Zhao Shiqing sneered: "Are you going to get up by yourself, or do you want me to pick you up and throw you out? If I'm not mistaken, there's a secret passage under this bed. Did Zhao Tinghan go out to play?"
"Nonsense, that's not true, my son..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhao Shiqing had already stood up and was about to take action. "I guess there are quite a few spies in this palace. If I throw you out of here, can Zhao Tinghan still keep his secret?"
"Who are you?" the boy asked in a trembling voice.
Zhao Shiqing reached out and pulled out a jade Buddha tied with a red string from his collar: "There are two of these jade Buddhas. I begged them from Wanfu Temple in Beijing in the autumn five years ago.
By the way, although Wanfu Temple is in the capital, because the retired emperor attained enlightenment, all the people in the court and the country flocked to worship Laozi. The front of Wanfu Temple was deserted, and even the incense had disappeared. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were about to starve.
But since five years ago, Wanfu Temple has suddenly become wealthy. Not only did they repair the leaky roof, they even rebuilt the statue. I heard that when Prince Liang passed away, Wanfo Temple paid out of its own pocket to hold a ritual to help him pass away. It seems Wanfo Temple is quite grateful.
The moment he saw the jade Buddha, the young man's expression changed. Every time Zhao Shiqing spoke, his face grew paler. Finally, he climbed out of bed and asked, "Excuse me, young lady, were you sent by the eldest princess?"
Zhao Shiqing said angrily, "Yes, don't waste time. The people outside have been sent away temporarily, but they will be back soon."
The boy wanted to say something, but hesitated: "How can I trust you just based on this?"
Zhao Shiqing asked, "Are you the wick or the flower?"
The boy choked for a moment, and now he completely believed it: "The small one is the lamp flower."
Dengxin and Denghua are brothers. They followed Zhao Tinghan to Beijing. Five years ago, Zhao Tinghan wrote a letter to Zhao Yunnuan, asking for the indentures of the two. Afterwards, the two were released from the country and have been missing ever since. The servants in the palace have been replaced one after another, even the chief secretary has been replaced, and no one knows the names of the two brothers anymore.
The girl in front of him immediately said his name, and Denghua no longer had any doubts.
"Excuse me, which sister is this young lady?"
"I'm Zhao Shiqing."
Denghua was stunned for a moment and was about to get out of bed and kowtow, but Zhao Shiqing stopped him.
"So it's the Second Miss. I was blind and didn't recognize you. Please forgive me, Second Miss."
Zhao Shiqing looked outside. Through the window paper, he could only see the shadows of trees not far away. Xiaoguai, who was standing guard, did not come to report the news.
"Stop talking nonsense, where is my elder brother?"
Deng Hua hurriedly said, "Second Miss, the Young Master is in Wanfu Temple. There is indeed a secret passage under this bed that leads directly to the outside of the mansion. Every day at noon, the Young Master goes to Wanfu Temple and doesn't come back until noon. When the Young Master is not here, I will stay here to lie down. If you are not in a hurry, the Young Master will be back in an hour."
Zhao Shiqing nodded. Before leaving Liangdi, Zhao Yunnuan showed her all the letters that Zhao Tinghan had sent back in the past few years. She memorized the three types of handwriting that Zhao Tinghan often used, including Zhao Tinghan's own handwriting and the handwriting of the clerks in the palace. At the same time, she also saw the name Wanfu Temple in the letters.
On that occasion, Zhao Tinghan sent back two peace amulets, two jade Buddhas and a Guanyin along with the letter. He only mentioned in the letter that these were consecrated by the abbot of Wanfu Temple.
Because Zhao Tinghan was worried that his letters would be intercepted by the Jinyiwei, his letters home were mostly about casual conversations, such as his studies in the capital. Therefore, Zhao Shiqing was deeply impressed by the name Wanfu Temple, which was the only place Zhao Tinghan mentioned besides the palace and the Imperial College.
She sent people to Wanfu Temple to investigate, but apart from the fact that Wanfu Temple had performed rituals for King Liang, she did not find any place related to Zhao Tinghan, and of course she did not see Zhao Tinghan either.
But Zhao Shiqing felt that the sudden wealth of Wanfu Temple must be related to Zhao Tinghan. She didn't expect that it was Zhao Tinghan's residence.
The reason why Zhao Shiqing was able to determine that the Zhao Tinghan lying on the sickbed was fake was thanks to Xiao Yao.
Zhao Tinghan also has a cat named Taxue, a black cat with snow-white hooves. At this moment, Taxue and Xiao Yao are basking in the sun on the roof.
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