The brother and sister spent two days and nights investigating in the palace. When they left the palace, they both had dark circles under their eyes, felt dizzy, and wished they could just collapse and sleep.
The two yawned as they left the palace gates, and after walking a few steps, they encountered a carriage drawn by six black horses.
Wanwan perked up immediately upon seeing it and quickly found a matching carriage in her mind.
He was the Marquis of Xining.
However, no one got off the carriage. Instead, the coachman jumped down from the horse and came to the two of them with a smile. "The Marquis has heard that you two have been working very hard in the palace recently. He said that it is rare to see such diligent young people. He insists that you two visit the Marquis's residence today."
Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a knowing glance.
He was caught up by the carriage of the Marquis of Xining as soon as he left the palace; it seems he really couldn't wait any longer.
Wan Yuechi chuckled dryly, "You've gone to so much trouble, Lord Marquis. However, my sister and I are of mediocre talent and cannot accept your kindness. Next time, we will definitely take the initiative to visit you."
The coachman persisted, "It's alright. The Marquis specially sent me to bring the carriage. If you two refuse to come after such an invitation, the Marquis will lose face, and I won't be able to explain myself when I go back."
The two looked up at the carriage and realized that the Marquis of Xining himself was not in the carriage; it was a special invitation for them to ride in.
Having said all that, the brother and sister knew that if they still disagreed, they would seem ungrateful, so they had no choice but to bite the bullet and get into the car first.
It must be said, the Marquis's carriage was very comfortable to ride in.
Wan Yuechi was anxious and uneasy. He had long heard that Marquis Xi Ning was gentle on the surface but vicious on the inside, a needle hidden in cotton. This time, his visit was like being a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
He himself is fine, but I'm afraid that Taiwan will also be implicated.
Thinking of this, he tensed up, resisting the fatigue of not sleeping for two days. He was about to turn around and give Wanwan, who had just been nervous, a few words of advice and comfort, when he turned around and found that she was already sleeping soundly and comfortably, even more soundly than at home.
Wan Yuechi felt as if a black crow flew overhead.
The wheels chug along, the road was smooth, and the carriage moved rhythmically. Before they knew it, the brother and sister had fallen asleep in a ball.
After an unknown amount of time, the driver woke the two sleeping people.
Wan Yuechi and Wanwan rubbed their sleepy eyes as they got out of the car. The short rest after the long period of fatigue and tension was even less effective. Their minds were foggy, and the ground felt like cotton under their feet.
"This won't do. We'll be able to get information out of them so easily," they both cried out anxiously in their hearts, but they still couldn't resist the drowsiness that kept creeping over them.
Marquis Xi Ning sat in the hall with a smile on his face, but the smile sent chills down one's spine. His gaze was clearly warm, yet it also made one feel as if a blade was pressed against their throat.
When the brother and sister saw him, they immediately felt as if they had seen a living Yama, the King of Hell.
The drowsiness vanished instantly.
They set foot on the territory of Marquis Xi Ning, like two lost deer who had inadvertently entered a tiger's jungle. Unfamiliar with the terrain, even escaping was a problem.
"Please have a seat, both of you." Marquis Xi Ning smiled and invited the two to sit down.
The brother and sister instinctively sat together; at that moment, only being together made them feel safer.
"I heard that you two have been studying diligently in the palace for two whole days, without eating, drinking, or sleeping. What kind of books have you been studying so hard? I haven't seen such diligent students in a long time. I also heard that the Emperor met with you two. Did he give you any instructions?"
Marquis Xi Ning scrutinized the two men from head to toe, like a hawk examining its prey.
"It's my brother teaching me to read ancient books!"
Wanwan immediately responded crisply, laughing lively and innocently, seemingly oblivious to the ways of the world, but her eyes were also observing the old fox in front of her.
Marquis Xi Ning frowned, as if in doubt, and she continued, "Wanwan wants to learn medicine. Her brother has read some medical books and remembered that there are medical cases in the Ancient Books Room. Wanwan was making a big fuss, so she asked the Emperor for the key to the Ancient Books Room."
As Wanwan spoke eloquently, the doubt in Marquis Xi Ning's eyes gradually dissipated.
He only knew that the two were studying in the palace and had even met the emperor, but he didn't know what they were looking at. He had summoned them here to test whether they would give themselves away.
"Brother is so amazing! He taught Wanwan so many things, such as the record in the ancient book room about a patient who was bitten by a five-step snake..." Wanwan rattled off a string of words, until the originally skeptical Marquis Xining showed a look of disgust and aversion.
He had never read any medical books and could not obtain any evidence, but judging from this noisy little girl, she hadn't given anything away.
Just as he was wondering how to shut her up, the wife of the Marquis of Xining suddenly entered the hall.
She was over thirty, with light makeup on her face, still retaining her charm. She was dressed in fine silk and satin, and wore exquisite jewelry, each piece of which was extremely well-made. Her smile was also calm and composed.
"Master, why didn't you tell me you had guests?" The Marquis's wife entered the room, and the Marquis of Xining glanced at her but did not reply.
"Oh, are these the young master and young lady of the Wan family? They are so beautiful." The Marquis's wife sat down next to the two of them as if they were old friends and started chatting with Wanwan as if no one else was around.
The noisy little girl finally gave up talking to him, and Marquis Xi Ning breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt helpless, because his wife was also talkative and loved to chat.
Now that she's here, not only do I not have a chance to ask the two Wan boys, but I don't even have a chance to interject.
Seeing that his wife and Miss Wan were talking about women's matters, Marquis Xining did not have the patience of Wan Yuechi. After sitting for a while, he made an excuse to leave.
Seeing him leave, the brother and sister felt half relieved. With a few words, Wanwan learned that the Marquis's wife had a fondness for rare and precious treasures. A brilliant idea struck her, and she took the lady's hand affectionately, saying mysteriously, "As the Marquis's wife, you must have seen many rare and precious treasures. However, my family is in the jewelry business, and there is a courtyard in Nanshan that happens to have many rare and precious treasures. If you don't mind, Madam, you can choose a time for Wanwan to take you to see them. Whatever you like, Madam, you can take it."
The Marquis's wife's eyes immediately flashed with two beams of light, as if they were filled with gold, but they were extinguished in an instant.
Having served Marquis Xining for so long, she had received countless treasures from officials who came to pay homage to him. She thought she had seen and heard of every treasure in the world, and nothing could catch her eye anymore.
This little girl looks so young, how could she possibly have any rare treasures?
Thinking of this, the Marquis's wife, though curious, simply nodded calmly, "In that case, Miss Wan, please take me to see it another day. I will still pay the full price. It's getting late, I'll take you both back."
Wanwan knew that the Marquis's wife had her eye on something, so she said nothing more and simply followed her lead, leaving the Marquis's residence with Wan Yuechi.
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