Chapter 120
The oxcart moved slowly but steadily. Sitting alone in the carriage, Lingding pulled his gaze back from the front curtain and finally couldn't help but say, "Young lady, you are kind-hearted, but what can a little boy do for you?"
Qin Sang had gotten up too early this morning and was finally feeling sleepy. She closed her eyes and pretended to doze off: "We need manpower right now, the more the better. Since we've met, it must be fate. It's no big deal, just one more mouth to feed. Who knows, it might be very useful in the future, no rush."
After they returned to the Xie residence's side gate by the same route, Qin Sang whispered something to Qin Baoyun. Lingding knocked on the door and distracted the doorman. Qin Sang quietly entered the gate and hurriedly walked towards a secluded spot in the garden.
The servants were busy going back and forth in the early morning. She took off her hood, exhaled softly, and felt a slight pain in her lungs. Just as she was clutching her chest, grimacing and about to curse, she suddenly heard the crunching sound of gravel being trampled beside her.
Qin Sang looked over intently and saw Xie Xiao staring at her with a cold face and a resentful expression.
Qin Sang looked around suspiciously, then heard Xie Xiao say, "No need to look anymore. Only I know that you secretly slipped out of the mansion."
Qin Sang: "??"
Xie Xiao crossed her arms and slightly raised her chin: "Tell me, who did you go out and fool around with? Honesty will be treated leniently, and lies will be punished severely!"
This little girl is truly born arrogant and disdainful of everyone, completely oblivious to the principles of respecting elders and caring for the young. But this same arrogant attitude she displayed before was directed at that concubine from the second wife's side. How come, in such a short time, what have I done to offend this young lady?
Qin Sang smiled at her in a friendly manner: "Excuse me... young lady, what brings you here?"
Xie Xiao, with a youthful face that hadn't fully blossomed yet, said, "Thanks to you, I'm now the Fifth Sister."
"Oh? Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"And you even stole my husband."
The moment the little girl uttered the word "husband," Qin Sang almost choked.
"Your what??" She seemed not to have heard him clearly.
Xie Xiao frowned, clearly displeased with Qin Sang's tone and expression. She lowered her hands, folded them behind her back, turned to the side, and said calmly, "I'm already thirteen, and I can get married. If you hadn't appeared out of nowhere, I would be the one being betrothed to Prince Ning'an today. I am the rightful fourth daughter of the Xie family!"
Qin Sang was still clutching her chest; it had been her lungs aching, but now it was her heart aching: "Do you...do you know how old he is?...Have you ever met him? Why do you suddenly want to marry him?"
Xie Xiao turned around: "I'm only two years younger than you, and you can get married, so why can't I?"
"..." Qin Sang felt a mouthful of blood stuck in her chest.
Well, if we consider the actual age, the original owner wasn't that old.
But now is not the time to dwell on that. From the day she entered the house, she knew that Xie Xiao was a precocious little girl, or as some might say, precocious. If she thought about it carefully, if one day she accidentally bumped into the Prince of Ning'an, fell in love at first sight, and then, after careful consideration in the quiet of the night, discovered that this person was actually someone she had some kind of destiny with, but whose identity had been taken by some wild girl who appeared out of nowhere, then indeed, well, it would be a little unfair.
She nodded and pursed her lips in sympathy.
but!
"Does your mother know about this? You want to marry Prince Ning'an."
Xie Xiao glanced at her disdainfully, a smirk playing on one side of his mouth, his eyes suddenly turning sharp and cold. Qin Sang felt a chill run down her spine.
Sure enough, the other party said in a chilling tone, "Once I get rid of you, it will all fall into place. Whether my mother agrees or not is irrelevant..."
“Little sister, can’t you calm down?” Qin Sang said, her teeth aching. “Do you know why your grandfather arranged this marriage for you? It was to protect you all, so you could marry whomever you wanted…” She suddenly remembered that the young girl wanted to marry that old man who had lost two wives. She clicked her tongue helplessly. “How can I explain it to you? Well, you’re still young, and many things aren’t as simple as you think… There are many intricacies involved… Don’t do anything foolish…”
"My second brother likes you, doesn't he?" the little girl interrupted her expressionlessly.
Qin Sang: "??"
Waving his hand: "No..."
Xie Xiao sneered, "I saw it all. He secretly climbed over the wall into your yard and didn't come out until much later. When he came out, he was grinning so hard his teeth were almost showing, and he even greeted me. Do you really think I'm a child who doesn't understand anything?"
"When did this happen?" Qin Sang feigned ignorance with a sincere expression.
Xie Xiao rolled her eyes and muttered something Qin Sang didn't quite catch, but she continued patiently explaining, "It's like this, you know Prince Ning'an, right? He's... sick, always coughing. Last time I even saw him cough up blood, oh... it was really serious. After marrying him, I'll have to serve him day and night. I can bear my misfortune, but your Xie family has been so kind to me," Qin Sang choked up slightly, feigning deep emotion, "...you've been incredibly kind to me. If it weren't for repaying the Prime Minister, why would I willingly get involved in this mess..."
Xie Xiao looked over with disdain, her expression complicated. After a long while, she asked, "Isn't he trying to fight for the throne? How can someone who's sick fight for it? He's probably just faking it... Waaah!"
"Children speak without thinking, children speak without thinking," Qin Sang covered Xie Xiao's mouth, looked around, and clicked her tongue, "Do you know what you're saying? How can you say something like that so casually? It could bring about your own death and implicate the entire Xie family!"
Xie Xiao pried Qin Sang apart, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand in disgust, and said angrily, "Now everyone in the teahouses and taverns outside is saying that if I say one word, I'll be killed. Wouldn't all those people outside be killed?"
"Oh? Everyone's spreading it?"
Xie Xiao didn't answer her, but said angrily, "How about we make a deal?"
"What transaction?"
"I'll help you and your second brother get together. I'll ride in your bridal sedan chair!"
Good heavens!
How could there be such a shameless young girl in this world? Cen Biyun looks so refined and gentle, how come the children she raised are all so audacious?
In fact, if it were anyone else who had discussed this deal with her, Qin Sang would have happily started planning. But the person standing in front of her was a girl who had just turned thirteen. Although she appeared like a timely rain, wasn't this just a disaster?
"Well, this isn't something I can't rule out," Qin Sang said, dodging the question. "But you need to allow me to go back and think it over carefully. After all, this is a crime of deceiving the emperor, which could cost you your head. You don't want the entire Xie family, who are known for their loyalty, to be executed because of your own selfish desires, do you?"
These words were a bit harsh, and the little girl was indeed taken aback, frowning deeply as she pondered.
Qin Sang straightened her cloak, hissed, clutched her stomach, and ran off: "Go back and take your medicine, we'll talk about it later!"
Xie Xiao was left standing there, bewildered: "Hey!"
Trembling with fear, she made her way back to her courtyard. The old woman Wang Huiwen had sent to serve and monitor her had just brought in a pot of sweet porridge. She was taken aback when she saw her: "Miss, you're awake?" she asked, glancing curiously towards the room.
Who else could be pretending to be asleep inside but Ying'er? Qin Sang untied her cloak and coughed lightly: "Hmm, just came out for some fresh air... We had millet and yam porridge again this morning? What kind of medicinal herbs were added? It smells strange."
The old woman, her attention successfully diverted, proudly began to introduce the product: "It contains astragalus, codonopsis, longan, and ginseng! They all replenish qi and blood..."
Qin Sang clicked her tongue in amazement, sat down and drank a bowl of soup. Then, using the excuse that she was too weak to sit for long, she climbed back into bed for a nap. There was still a battle to fight in the afternoon. She sighed, wrapped in the blanket, "Troublesome!"
***
The Ning'an Prince's Mansion was located in an area of the capital where imperial relatives and nobles gathered. The streets here were wide, with grand mansions on both sides. The streets were so open that ordinary people dared not stroll around here unless they had something to do.
Therefore, any carriage that passes by is very conspicuous.
Xie Sui'an did not choose to go through the main gate. After handing over his shift at dawn, he took advantage of his position to explore the area and found that the servants who worked for Prince Ning'an often used the side gate. He delivered the invitation as soon as the sun rose above the roof.
Before long, someone came to lead the way.
“Young Master Xie, there’s no need to use this side gate. Just let us know, and the servants at the front gate know the proper etiquette.” The steward, who was leading the way, was very attentive and respectful to Xie Sui’an.
Indeed, the two families are on good terms now. After all, Xie Zhongxu has been in power for many years, and the court's strength is deeply rooted. The Ning'an Prince's Mansion still needs to rely on the Xie family, so naturally they dare not neglect them.
Xie Sui'an entered through the side gate, not wanting to be discovered. After all, whether his plans would succeed was still uncertain, and he couldn't act openly for the time being.
Unlike the Xie residence with its charming bridges, flowing water, and beautiful gardens, the Ning'an Prince's Mansion, apart from a few courtyards with towering trees, was mostly paved with bricks and lacked any floral or plant decorations. It exuded a solemn and somber atmosphere.
The butler led Xie Sui'an directly to the backyard, asked him to wait in the corridor, and went to ask for instructions.
After briefly looking around, Xie Sui'an sniffed and smelled a distinct Chinese medicine aroma.
He frowned slightly, looking worried.
The butler quickly came out and gestured for him to come in: "Second Young Master Xie, please."
The outer hall of the Ning'an Prince's Mansion is simply and unpretentiously furnished, with two high-backed armchairs above and two low-backed bamboo chairs on each side. Several calligraphy and paintings on the walls are in a graceful and elegant style, exuding the air of a master and a scholar.
In a corner, a short pine tree, about half a person's height, was planted in a porcelain basin. It was well-trimmed, green, and neat.
Prince Ning'an emerged from his study, supported by a maid. His face was deathly pale, and he walked with unsteady steps.
But he was neatly dressed and behaved elegantly, so it was impossible to tell how serious his illness or injury really was. Besides, he always gave off such a sickly vibe, so it was hard to tell whether he was faking it or genuinely feeling it.
He felt a little guilty about what he had come to say, but still greeted the prince with a "Greetings, Your Highness."
The young prince smiled, glanced at Xie Sui'an, and beckoned him to sit down.
Xie Sui'an was too embarrassed to sit down.
Zhao Kun ignored him, sat down, coughed lightly twice while covering his lips with a handkerchief, and asked, "What do you want with me?"
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