Xiao Nanhui stared at the cloth bag on the table, then looked at Yao Yi.
"This is......"
Yao Yi didn't look at her, and his voice revealed a sense of disgust towards himself.
"Sixteen years ago, when Marquis Qinghuai built his mansion, he asked Zeng Rongji in the west of the city to make keys. According to the records, he made fourteen copper keys, three silver keys, and one iron key. They are all here."
Xiao Nanhui picked up the cloth bag and held it in his palm, feeling its heavy weight, and his vision suddenly became a little blurry.
It was not easy for her to have a few sincere friends in her life. Others who did not know Yao Yi's character might think this was nothing. But she knew it.
Growing up in Wangchenlou, a place with complicated human relationships and often criticized as low-class and vulgar, Yao Yi was actually a very selfish person. Even the slightest bit of warmth in this selfishness was rare and precious, and she had no merit in always being cared for by him.
Seeing that the person in front of him was about to burst into tears for some unknown reason, Yao Yi's expression changed instantly, and he turned towards the wall behind him like a twisted knot.
"Don't act like that in front of me. It makes people feel upset."
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Nanhui wiped back the snot that was already flowing out.
Yao Yi calmed down and spoke awkwardly.
"Since you're investigating the Xiao Mansion, why don't you ask Xiao Zhun directly? Even though you two are having a falling out..."
Because Xiao Zhun didn't know what Bai Yun had said to her. If he knew, the relationship between Qinghuai Hou Mansion and the emperor would become tense and delicate overnight.
Xiao Nanhui sighed sadly: "You don't understand."
Seeing the familiar, lustful expression on the face of the person in front of him, Yao Yi's inexplicable anger surfaced again, and there was a hint of sneer in his voice.
"Is it me who doesn't understand, or you? A wise person should know what to understand and what to pretend to be ignorant of. A year ago, when you asked me about the secret seal, I warned you that some things cannot be accomplished by you alone. Be careful not to make things worse and get yourself into trouble for nothing."
Xiao Nanhui stuffed the bag containing the keys into a mess and stood up with a smile.
"I've never been a smart person, you know that. But I'm lucky. I've come this far over the years, so this one won't make a difference."
Yao Yi stared at the woman's face, as if he wanted to crack her brain open to see what was going on.
"You're so stupid. You'll regret it one day."
Before she finished her words, the woman had already patted her butt and walked out the door, humming a tune with a changed tone.
The footsteps gradually faded away, and Yao Yi looked out the window.
Night falls and the new moon appears.
Something flashed in the darkness, as if it was a night owl that had slept all day and was preparing to hunt.
Yao Yi withdrew his gaze, stood up and closed the window facing the backyard.
The warm lights came on, and the sound of abacus clacking could be heard again from the side room in the backyard of Wangchen Tower.
With the lights on and the warm voices whispered, the night on Yanfu Street is just beginning to boil.
The palace walls a dozen streets away were silent and cold, with layers of rammed earth and iron armor guarding the invisible throne. The hundred-step-long bright corridor stretched as far as the eye could see, and the Yuanming Hall, which was crowded with officials during the day, was now empty.
Behind the main hall, only one palace lantern was moving.
The eunuch came running silently, with his head lowered, as he walked through the long and deep palace corridor and slipped in front of the Yuanhe Hall.
The flickering candlelight cast a dancing shadow on the tall palace door through the layers of gauze, and the young emperor's figure was half bright and half dim in it.
"His Majesty."
The eunuch called softly, and the figure behind the gauze screen paused and raised his head.
"The person has left?"
The eunuch nodded.
"I just left the building at about 3:30 PM."
After answering this question, the hall fell into a brief silence.
The eunuch was obviously accustomed to this kind of scene and was replacing the charcoal in the copper incense burner in the room.
The man behind the screen never left his desk, a simple table piled high with scrolls. He reviewed one volume before opening another, his left hand gripping the pen without a moment's hesitation as he reviewed each.
After a while, the emperor seemed to remember something and asked again.
"Has Qu Mo not arrived yet?"
"Your Majesty, the post station just received news the other day that the old head of the Qu family has come in person. The old head is now nearly 100 years old and hasn't left Wancheng in ten years. His carriage is much slower than usual. I estimate he should arrive in ten days."
Su Wei didn't say anything for a while, and picked up the document in the jade box beside him and looked through it.
That was the latest detailed arrangement of the spring hunting submitted by the ceremonial officer, including the departure date and many arrangements after arriving in Yu'an.
Shan Jiangfei observed his expression and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, would you like to postpone your departure until the Qu family arrives?"
"No need, everything will remain the same."
Su Wei put the document back into the jade box and picked up the red seal again.
"One more thing..."
"speak."
"The report from Shaofengguan Pass says that Mr. Zong passed through the border and headed for Quecheng three days ago."
The hand holding the red-ink writing paper paused, and the cinnabar from the tip of the pen dripped onto the desk, leaving a glaring dot like blood.
"What is he doing here?"
"It is said that the Xuanyuan Palace has just welcomed a little prince, and they are going to hold a full-moon banquet."
"That's a good excuse." He chuckled, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Since my father left for the west, he has been away from Que City for a full nineteen years, yet he chose this very moment to return."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean...?"
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