Chapter 35: Antidote 3 "Your Highness is a precious treasure, how can you fight with a reckless person like you...
Zhu Song hurriedly finished his meal and sent Zhu Lingye away, then quickly returned to the office.
Wen Fengxuan sat in his previous seat, his head lowered as he read the ledger. His slender, white fingers rested on the yellowed pages, making their whiteness stand out even more. The sunlight streamed in through the window, but as if to avoid disturbing him, it only dared to fall at his feet.
Perhaps hearing the voice, Wen Fengxuan looked up. The bright, scorching sun beside him softened his originally distant expression. He called out, "Sir."
He was about to stand up when Zhu Song quickly stopped him, "Your Highness, please sit down and don't lose your train of thought. I'll have someone bring another table over."
Wen Fengxuan nodded without saying anything, returning to his account book. Zhu Song turned and went out, calling for a yamen runner to bring in the window table and place it side by side with Wen Fengxuan's, leaving enough space between them for easy movement.
After the table was set up, Zhu Song also sat down and looked at the account book carefully.
After drinking two glasses of water, his eyes felt a little sore. Zhu Song looked up and saw Wen Fengxuan's serious profile. He lowered his eyes, looking at the account book and counting on the abacus, his eyes focused and bright. Maybe because he had just drunk some water, the tip of his upturned nose was covered with water droplets, and his lips were more moist than usual.
Zhu Song unconsciously pursed his lips, and suddenly a gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and saw Xue Caining, dressed in a light green dress, standing awkwardly at the door with a plate of cakes in her hand.
Zhu Song was unhappy in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He called out in a businesslike manner, "Come in."
Xue Caining's eyebrows lit up when she heard that. She walked into the house and bowed, "Sir, I made some new lotus cakes today. Please try them."
Zhu Song said bluntly, "I don't like lotus cakes. Don't bother with them in the future."
Xue Caining pursed her lips, looking a little aggrieved, but continued, "This is something I've improved upon. It's different from the previous recipe, and the taste is quite different. You might like it if you try it, sir."
Zhu Song felt a gaze drifting towards him, and he turned his head to look at Wen Fengxuan, but he saw that he was still looking at the account book. Xue Caining thought Zhu Song was reminding her, so she quickly said, "Your Highness, please try it too. It's freshly made today, and they all said it's delicious." After that, she placed it on Zhu Song's table and said, "I won't disturb you, sir."
Xue Caining turned and left. Zhu Song looked at the lotus cake on the table, stood up and handed it to Wen Fengxuan, "Your Highness, would you like to try some?"
Wen Fengxuan then raised his eyes and glanced at him, but after responding with a "hmm", he withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at him, continuing to look at the account book.
Zhu Song thought that Wen Fengxuan probably didn't like lotus pastry very much, but he liked drinking tea very much. He drank seven or eight cups of tea in the afternoon, but didn't eat a single lotus pastry.
It wasn't until midnight that all the account books were finished. Zhu Song closed them first, leaning back in his chair and looking up at Wen Fengxuan. Wen Fengxuan's fingers were swiftly fiddling with the abacus beads, their movements so nimble they looked like a dance. Suddenly, there was a crisp "pop," and the dance ended. Wen Fengxuan raised his eyes and met Zhu Song's.
"There's no problem with the account, everything matches."
Zhu Song replied, "Mine too."
Wen Fengxuan asked, "Where should we investigate next?"
Zhu Song said: "We will go to the scene for investigation tomorrow."
"good."
It sounded like Wen Fengxuan was going too, so Zhu Song quickly stopped him, saying, "I'll take Ling Ye with me tomorrow. Your Highness has been tired all day, so rest well tomorrow."
Wen Fengxuan glanced at the lotus cakes on the table and said in a slightly cold tone, "No need." Wen Fengxuan stood up and left without saying anything else. Zhu Song frowned slightly at his tall figure. It would be better if he was a little fatter.
The moment Wen Fengxuan left, Zhu Song also stood up. He walked to Wen Fengxuan's desk and took the lotus cake out. During this period, the office was a strategic location and was strictly guarded. No one was allowed to enter without permission.
Zhu Song handed the lotus cake to the guard at the door and said, "It's taken care of."
"yes."
After a day of calculating accounts, Zhu Song felt dizzy and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow after returning to his room. He woke up early the next morning. He thought he was early, but when he went to the public kitchen to eat, Wen Fengxuan was already sitting there eating.
It was still dark at this time, with only a little white mist and the air was still cold. Wen Fengxuan coughed twice, but he stopped quickly. It seemed that he was deliberately suppressing the sound.
Zhu Song walked over quickly and asked, "Your Highness, did you not sleep well? Why did you get up so early?"
Wen Fengxuan looked up at him, his voice a little hoarse from the coughing he had just done. He replied, "I'm fine. I forgot to close the window when I went to bed last night, and the wind was a bit cold this morning, so I woke up."
Zhu Song frowned slightly, "Where's Xie Ningyuan?"
Wen Fengxuan explained, "It's none of his business. I told him not to keep watch. He's been working with Doctor Su to make medicine for me all this time, and he's exhausted."
Although Zhu Song was dissatisfied, he didn't say much. Wen Fengxuan didn't talk much, and Zhu Song didn't talk much to him either. The two of them ate in silence. Wen Fengxuan ate very slowly, chewing his food so slowly that Zhu Song thought he was chewing air.
Zhu Song discovered that Wen Fengxuan was very focused in everything he did, even when he was eating. He would look down at the bowl with his eyes and could maintain the same sitting posture for half an hour. His movements when picking up food were very gentle and he was strangely polite.
Perhaps noticing Zhu Song's gaze, Wen Fengxuan looked up at him. He didn't say anything, but just closed his head slightly, as if asking Zhu Song what was the matter.
The Confucian way is to not talk while eating or sleeping, but the Zhu family has never been particular about these things. However, it seems that Wen Fengxuan does, so Zhu Song did not say anything, but just waved his hand to indicate that he was fine.
Even though Zhu Song was eating very slowly, he was still much faster than Wen Fengxuan. Seeing that it was already dawn, Zhu Song did not wait any longer, put down his chopsticks and said, "Your Highness, eat slowly. I have something to do, so I'll leave first."
After Zhu Song finished speaking, he stood up and was about to leave without waiting for Wen Fengxuan to speak. After taking two steps, he realized that there was someone behind him, and Wen Fengxuan followed him.
Zhu Song turned around and looked at him and advised, "There was a flood earlier, and the site is extremely muddy. Your Highness is not feeling well, so you should rest more and don't go."
Wen Fengxuan said lightly, "Life and death are determined by fate. I have been resting for the past eighteen years, doing nothing, and I feel useless. Now I finally have something to do, so please don't try to persuade me, sir."
Although Zhu Song still disapproved of him going, after hearing what he said, he really didn't know how to refuse him. He felt that Wen Fengxuan looked like a soft bun, but was as hard as a rock inside.
Mm, buns stuffed with stones.
Since Zhu Song didn't say anything, Wen Fengxuan assumed he agreed and urged him, "Are you leaving now?"
After much hesitation, Zhu Song finally compromised and said, "Let's go."
The matter had been settled yesterday. Zhu Song left the kitchen but hadn't seen Zhu Lingye yet. He was about to send someone to call him when he saw him running over hurriedly. "You're late. I'll go get two buns. I'll be right back."
After saying that, he hurried to the public kitchen. Zhu Song looked at his anxious look and wanted to ask him to calm down, but when he saw Wen Fengxuan also kept looking at him, he changed his words and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness."
A longing smile appeared in Wen Fengxuan's eyes, "Young people should look young."
Young? Zhu Song looked at Wen Fengxuan saying this without changing his expression and thought, in terms of age, he is five years older than you.
Zhu Lingye returned quickly, two buns in each hand and one in his mouth. He was already anxious, but when he saw Wen Fengxuan, his eyes widened and he looked even more stunned. He turned his head to look at Zhu Song, his confusion obvious, but Zhu Song ignored him, "Hurry up and finish your meal."
Zhu Lingye ate the fist-sized buns one at a time and finished them in just a few bites. He then took a big gulp of water. His movements were so fast that it only took a few blinks of an eye.
Seeing that he had finished eating, Zhu Song said, "Let's go."
Zhu Lingye held Zhu Song in his arms, and smiled awkwardly at Wen Fengxuan's gaze, "Your Highness, please go first."
After Wen Fengxuan left, Zhu Lingye asked anxiously in a low voice, "What do you mean? Why is he here too?"
Zhu Song asked him in return, "Why can't he be here?"
Zhu Lingye was a little confused, "No, he should be here, right?"
Seeing Wen Fengxuan had walked away, Zhu Song became anxious, "He shouldn't be here. Go and persuade him."
"Me?" Zhu Lingye pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Anyway, I couldn't persuade you. If you think you can do it, then go ahead." After saying that, Zhu Song broke free from his hand and quickly chased after him.
Zhu Lingye looked at Zhu Song's hurried back and fell into deep thought. Oh, no, no, his brother thought the prince was ugly, and it was his father who was unreliable. He should trust his brother, after all, his brother has always been reliable.
After figuring out the key, Zhu Lingye's mood instantly improved and he chased after him with high morale.
When they arrived at the gate of the government office, there were only two horses. The horses were prepared by Zhu Lingye. He had not known that the prince would also be going, so he prepared only two horses for him and Zhu Song.
Zhu Song didn't want Wen Fengxuan to go, so he said, "Your Highness, please take the carriage."
After hearing what Zhu Song said, Zhu Lingye became even more convinced that Zhu Song had no feelings for Wen Fengxuan at all. After all, riding on the same horse was a great blessing for a lustful person.
Wen Fengxuan didn't refuse him, but simply said, "Ning Yuan once said that riding a horse makes people feel free. I probably won't be free in this lifetime with my body."
Wen Fengxuan looked at the tall horse hide, his lips slightly raised, but his eyes were deep, as if he was crying. Zhu Lingye had never seen anyone so pitiful, and immediately felt sad, "Brother, it's not like we don't have horses. If His Highness wants to ride, just let him ride."
Zhu Song turned his head to look at him with a serious expression, "Your Highness doesn't know how to ride a horse at all. What if he falls?"
"Then you go with him." Zhu Lingye blurted out without thinking.
"Shut your mouth." Zhu Song whispered to him.
Zhu Lingye knew he had spoken out of turn, and was about to say something to make amends when Wen Fengxuan spoke first. He lowered his eyes, no longer looking at the horse, and his long eyelashes were filled with loneliness, which reflected on his face. The sunlight magnified his expression infinitely. "Forget it, I won't trouble Master Zhu anymore. I'll take the carriage."
"Brother." The boundaries in Zhu Lingye's heart completely disappeared. He looked at Wen Fengxuan's lonely face, as if he saw a homeless kitten on a rainy day. He was so anxious that he wanted to jump up and down. "If you don't want to take His Highness with you, I will."
Zhu Song frowned, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if he couldn't believe he could say such a thing. "Your Highness is a wealthy man, how can you ride with a reckless man like you?"
Zhu Lingye said of him, "You are not a reckless man, but you have a heart of stone."
While the two were arguing, Wen Fengxuan sighed softly, turned around and told Xie Ningyuan, "Go prepare a carriage."
Xie Ningyuan responded neatly, "Yes."
Zhu Lingye scolded him as well, "He's also a heart of stone."
"I told you to shut up." Zhu Song glanced at him, "Get on the horse."
Although Zhu Lingye disagreed with his approach, he still didn't dare to go against him. He angrily mounted his horse. Zhu Song followed closely behind him and sat on the tall horse. He said to Wen Fengxuan, "Your Highness, please wait. We will go first."
It’s better not to come.
After saying that, he flicked his whip and rode away. Zhu Lingye looked at Zhu Song's receding back, sighed helplessly, and chased after him.
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