The black-clad guards quickly disappeared at the end of the road and also disappeared from Jiang Rao's sight.
Jiang Rao saw them walk through the red gate at the end of the palace road and head east. Even though their figures disappeared and the sound of their footsteps faded away, the people watching the excitement by the palace gate were still not satisfied and showed no sign of dispersing. The voices of discussion and speculation continued.
Jiang Rao turned around and quietly left the crowd.
She took Ming Shao to a place where they could avoid being seen and ordered, "Go to Shuxiang Palace and ask my aunt for help. Ask her to arrange a palace maid to go to Chonghua Palace to inquire about the situation of the Seventeenth Prince and the Ninth Prince."
Passing through the palace gate and heading east is Emperor Zhaowu’s Chonghua Palace, an important place in the imperial city.
She couldn't find a way to get in, so she could only count on her aunt for help.
Hu Tang waited until Jiang Rao had finished her instructions to Ming Shao before slowly walking up to Jiang Rao. She had just stood there watching for a long time. When the Seventeenth Prince passed by, he glared at her fiercely, for no apparent reason.
Hu Tang recalled the glare that the Seventeenth Prince had given her just now, and the palm of her hand holding the whip began to itch.
But she did not forget that Jiang Rao was beside her, so she stopped swinging the whip. She came close to Jiang Rao and said with emotion: "The Seventeenth Prince's forehead is swollen so high, and it is obvious that he was seriously injured. The person who beat him must have been ruthless. I didn't expect that the Ninth Prince, who is in a wheelchair, would have such ability..."
Jiang Rao lowered her head and asked, "Do you think it was the Ninth Prince who beat the person?"
"Don't other people say that?"
"But he's in a wheelchair..."
"Being in a wheelchair doesn't necessarily mean you can't fight." Hu Tang looked very experienced. He sat on the chair, crossed his legs, stretched out his hand, grabbed his maid's arm and twisted it behind her back, pressed his elbow on the maid's back, and in the blink of an eye he pinned her down on the table, making her unable to move.
She raised her head and looked at Jiang Rao. "Look, as long as the person I want to hit is close to me, even if I can't move my legs, that person will fall into my hands easily."
Jiang Rao watched Hu Tang's series of smooth movements.
Her brows were slightly furrowed.
There were indeed many scars and wounds on the palms and backs of Rong Ting's hands. Before he was injured, he did look like someone who had wielded a knife or a sword. But now his leg injury has not healed yet, and he would get sick from pulling a bow or shooting an arrow. He is so frail, how could he be compared with Hu Tang?
Empress Jiahe is very good at confusing right and wrong. Now people around are talking about the fact that the seventeenth prince was beaten, but is it possible that the person who was beaten was Rong Ting?
She took two steps to Hu Tang, her movements showing a bit of anxiety, "Did you see any injuries on the Ninth Prince?"
Since Hu Tang practices martial arts, his eyesight might be better than hers. He is also taller than her, so his vision is not easily blocked by others.
She was squeezed in the crowd and could only vaguely see Rong Ting's figure, but could not see his face at all.
Hu Tang shook his head, "I didn't see any injuries on His Highness the Ninth Prince's face."
Jiang Rao paced back and forth anxiously.
Yes, yes, if she were the seventeenth prince, she would definitely not hit someone in a place where others could see it.
According to what she had dreamt about, the scars and wounds on Rong Ting's chest and back would be much more numerous and deeper than those on his hands and neck. Perhaps they were left there at a time like this.
"Hu Tang, I can't accompany you for now. I have to go to Shuxiang Palace."
Jiang Rao felt that it was not enough to just ask Ming Shao to go to Shuxiang Palace to find a replacement. She began to worry about this and that. She said something to Hu Tang and went to Shuxiang Palace in person.
Hu Tang let go of his maid, looked at Jiang Rao's hurriedly leaving back, and muttered: "Why are you so worried about the Ninth Prince?"
Her face was almost scratched by a cat just now, but I've never seen her so nervous.
…
In the Shuxiang Palace, Jiang Rao was waiting for the palace maid who went to the Chonghua Palace to inquire about the news. Her drooping eyelashes still couldn't hide the anxiety on her face. Concubine Yun handed the pomegranate in her arms to the palace maid and came over to hold Jiang Rao's shoulders, "Don't worry, the one who went to inquire will be back soon."
As soon as there was any movement in the yard, Jiang Rao stood up immediately.
But the person who came was not the palace maid who was sent out, but the eunuch Li Ren who was beside Emperor Zhaowu.
Li Ren came over with a mutton-fat jade bracelet and found Jiang Rao. "This is a gift from the emperor to you, young lady. He is apologizing to you on behalf of the Seventeenth Prince. The pet raised by the Seventeenth Prince almost bumped into the young lady, and the emperor has punished him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors."
Li Ren handed over the mutton-fat bracelet and was about to leave. When Concubine Yun saw that Jiang Rao had something to ask, she tapped her shoulder and said, "Eunuch Li is one of us. Just ask whatever you want to ask."
Jiang Rao chased after him, "Eunuch Li."
She stood in front of him and bowed, "Do you know what caused the Seventeenth Prince's injury?"
She didn't ask about Rong Ting directly, but she pricked up her ears quietly, waiting for Li Ren to mention Rong Ting's name.
Li Ren looked past her and glanced at Concubine Yun, saying, "The Seventeenth Prince's cat almost hurt the girl, but he didn't apologize to her. The Ninth Prince happened to see it and disciplined the Seventeenth Prince."
Hearing this news, Jiang Rao was stunned for a moment. She followed Li Ren's words and asked, "How is His Highness the Ninth Prince now?"
Li Ren was silent for a while.
Concubine Yun held the silk cape on her shoulders, walked down the steps slowly, and said to Li Ren, "Speak directly, eunuch. There will be no one who talks nonsense here."
Li Ren then spoke boldly, "Your Highness the Ninth Prince had good intentions in disciplining his younger brother, but his methods were inappropriate and he resorted to physical violence. The Emperor... was not very happy, and the Empress shed tears, so he originally planned to confine Your Highness the Ninth Prince as well, but..."
Li Ren had been with Emperor Zhaowu for too long, so he spoke slowly and had to think several times in his mind before speaking.
He spoke about Rong Ting's punishment in such a slow tone that Jiang Rao became anxious, "But?"
Li Ren whispered, "Your Highness has requested to go out of the capital with Lord Chen to Yunling Mountain outside the capital to supervise the construction of the plank road for a month. The emperor has already agreed and is drafting an imperial edict."
After Li Ren left.
Concubine Yun looked at Jiang Rao, "The Seventeenth Prince's cat almost hurt you, but you were saved by General Hu's little daughter, so you were unharmed. The Ninth Prince happened to see this incident, so he helped you teach the Seventeenth Prince a lesson?"
Jiang Rao was thinking about supervision and nodded absentmindedly.
"Hu Tang and Rong Ting are good people." Concubine Yun frowned, "What a little boy, Seventeen, he actually bullied me. What's the point of confinement? He should be thrown to Yunling Mountain to suffer."
Jiang Rao was already worried that what Li Ren mentioned about Rong Ting going to Yunling Mountain with Chen Bing to supervise the construction would come true. After hearing what Concubine Yun said, her face became even uglier.
She sighed a little dully and gently tugged at Concubine Yun's sleeve, "Aunt."
Concubine Yun glanced at Jiang Rao sideways.
Looking at her rosy, flawless and beautiful face, and thinking about how her face was almost scratched by a cat, she angrily asked the palace maid to bring Shi Liu back. She was furious at this lazy cat, hating it for not being the bully of Jinling, which allowed other people's cats to act so arrogantly and uselessly.
Jiang Rao blinked her almond-shaped eyes gently and begged her softly, "Auntie, can you please say a few words to the Emperor to help the Ninth Prince not go to Yunling Mountain? Is that okay?"
As she spoke, she became a little depressed. "His leg injury hasn't healed yet, how could he run to the mountains?"
Concubine Yun always responded to her requests, but today's incident made her
He was in a dilemma. "The imperial edict has already been written, and this matter will not change. If you really care about him, you might as well give him more silver. The local people think that the construction of the plank road will disturb their ancestors' feng shui, and there are many protests. In the end, it is likely that it will not be completed. If he goes there, he may be troubled by the unruly people. It will not hurt to let him take more silver."
After the palace banquet, Jiang Rao went back to the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion with a small purse in her hand, and quietly went to look for Rong Ting.
She thought she was doing it secretly, but Fourth Master Jiang knew her every move clearly.
He wanted to stop her, but he had heard a little about what happened in the palace today. He hesitated for two steps, and finally stopped trying to stop her. He called Jiang Ping and ordered him half-compromisingly: "Follow the girl, don't let her take too long to come back."
…
After Rong Ting returned home, he locked himself in the study.
Two hours passed in a blink of an eye, the sky outside gradually darkened, and the wind started to blow under the eaves.
Huai Qing and Wu Que were on duty outside together. Although their master was punished, they did not look depressed or sad.
Because both of them knew it clearly in their hearts, they were only punished openly.
Building a plank road is a laborious and time-consuming task that is prone to problems and will ultimately lead to a bad outcome. Lord Chen Bing from the Ministry of Works has been unable to find a capable helper, so he has come to the door again and again recently, wanting to ask the Ninth Prince to go to Yunling with him, and the Ninth Prince has already agreed.
This time he volunteered to supervise the work. Rather than being punished, it was more like finding an excuse to go to Yunling, eliminating the obstacles that were blocking him.
Huai Qing was filled with emotion and asked Wu Que, "Whose Kung Fu is better, His Highness the Ninth or you?"
Wu Que's face turned pale, but he had to admit it reluctantly, "Your Highness."
Although the Seventeenth Prince is young, he has been taught martial arts by a master since he was a child. Even if he is not very talented, he has practiced for several years and should not be underestimated. However, Rong Ting did not even give him a chance to change hands.
Although Rong Ting, who was in a wheelchair, might not be able to beat him, but Rong Ting was still able to do so even though his legs were confined to the wheelchair. If he could stand up, he might not take him seriously.
The gatekeeper came to announce, "Miss Jiang Si is here to visit."
At this moment, the door of the study was opened by someone inside. Rong Ting walked out and handed a letter to Wu Que, "Send it to Lord Chen."
After Wu Que left, Rong Ting looked at Huai Qing again, "Go find some ointment to remove the bruises, and bring it back in three quarters of an hour."
Jiang Rao followed the servant to the guest room.
Rong Ting lowered his eyes, holding a cup of warm tea in his hand. The mist from the tea enveloped his long eyelashes. His face was a little pale and he looked depressed.
Well, who can be happy after being scolded?
Jiang Rao walked into the room, feeling distressed but with a stern face, she threw the small money bag on the table, "Did you really cause the wound on the Seventeenth Prince's head?"
Even though everyone believed that he was the one who hurt people, she was still stubborn in her heart.
Rong Ting lowered his eyes, "His cat almost scratched you."
Is it really him?
"So that's how you beat him?"
Rong Ting's long eyelashes drooped, and his clear eyes flickered, appearing gentle and harmless.
Inside, ugly and dark emotions were fermenting like a swamp.
Does her tone show sympathy for his seventeenth brother...
He curled his fingers, his eyes hidden by his long eyelashes turned a little cold for a moment, he said: "It's not that I hit too hard, it's my Seventeenth Brother who wanted to cause trouble for me and said that he was seriously injured."
This is just as she guessed.
Rong Ting glanced at Jiang Rao quietly, trying to tell from her expression whether she believed what he said or not, but the girl in front of him took his hand, pulled it in front of her, and pried open his fingers, "Does your hand hurt?"
Her fingertips were warm, evenly white, and soft as clouds, in stark contrast to his scarred fingers. Rong Ting's throat felt a little choked up and his finger bones tensed.
He shook his head, his movements slow and gentle.
Jiang Rao breathed a sigh of relief, but then she remembered something and her gentle expression changed, then suddenly became a little fierce again.
"If you were confined for a few days, you would have eaten and slept well. Why did you ask for permission to go to Yunling Mountain to supervise the work? Can you endure the hardships there?"
If she hadn't seen that he had an argument with the Seventeenth Prince today and hadn't been exhausted and looked sick, she would have wanted to poke him on the forehead and give him a scolding so that he would remember this lesson.
Rong Ting lowered his head and took the scolding obediently, just like a young wife who had been scolded, without refutating a single word.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Rao couldn't continue scolding him.
The matter is done, and there is nothing that can be changed anyway. She pushed the bulging bag of money in front of him and said, "You went to Yunling Mountain for me. Here, this is the share of all my profits from the three shops this year. I give it all to you. Don't let yourself suffer, otherwise..."
She thought and thought, but couldn't think of anything harsh to say, so she said angrily, "Otherwise I will be angry with you."
Three quarters of an hour had passed. Huai Qing knocked on the door and came in with a box of ointment in his hand. "Your Highness, your medicine."
Rong Ting frowned, "You go out first."
Huai Qing didn't know why his master suddenly
But he changed his mind and stopped.
Jiang Rao saw the ointment in Huai Qing's hand and narrowed her eyes, "Huai Qing, stay."
Huai Qing weighed in his mind who to listen to.
He stayed.
Jiang Rao walked forward, took the small round box of medicine from Huai Qing's hand, and pursed her lips slightly.
What do you mean you didn’t get beaten? I've already taken medicine, so doesn't this mean I'm injured?
If she hadn't run into Huai Qing delivering the medicine, she would have been kept in the dark by him.
She turned around and glanced at Rong Ting angrily. Rong Ting coughed and said in a hoarse voice, "It's inconvenient for me to apply medicine myself. The injury is not serious, so I think medicine is useless. Since it doesn't hurt that much, just bear it and let it heal on its own."
Be patient, be patient, the pain won’t kill him.
Jiang Rao gritted her teeth and said, "Then I'll help you."
The water in the white porcelain teacup shook violently, and the cup fell back onto the table.
The teacup fell back, and the person holding the teacup did not lift his fingers up immediately. Instead, he pressed his fingers against the cup body and clenched them tightly. Blue veins were crisscrossed under the scars, and the lines of the finger bones were beautiful and sharp. The skin color looked colder than the white porcelain surface.
The surprise in his eyes flashed across his face for a moment, then quickly sank into the bottom of his eyes, his gaze as deep as a pool. He stroked the porcelain of the teacup with his fingertips, looking at her and asking, "Do you really want to help me?"
The tone of his rhetorical question was hoarse and deep, and his burning gaze made the people he stared at unconsciously have a sense of fate that they were about to be plundered.
Jiang Rao tightened her grip on the small medicine box and said "hmm".
Rong Ting looked at her changing expression and said slowly and with a smile in his voice, "The injury is on the back."
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