Chapter 58 Tokens of Love
In the end, Zhou Chuanxing still left Tang Xinuan's boudoir.
However, this happened after the little girl had fallen asleep.
The first light of dawn appeared in the east.
He covered Tang Xinuan with the blanket and tiptoed back to his room.
Although it's time for him to get up every day, as long as he goes back to his own bed, even if he only lies there for fifteen minutes, he still sleeps in his own room.
At this hour, he was not sleepy at all.
My mind was filled with the little girl's every smile and gesture, how she held his head to stop him from crying out in pain, how she flashed him two rows of white teeth, how she pinned him down to teach him a lesson...
How can there be such a cute and mischievous little girl in the world?
Just thinking of her, even the slightest bit, fills his heart to the brim.
It's wonderful that God sent him to his side at such an auspicious time.
Tang Xinuan slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky, and then, the sky fell.
Lian Qiao broke into the Marquis's residence last night but was caught by Chu Yannuo.
When Zisu worried that her younger sister had gone there, the Marquis's mansion was brightly lit, and her sister was found bound hand and foot and sent to the woodshed.
The woodshed was heavily guarded, and she couldn't possibly rescue it by herself.
The sisters hadn't even handled such a small matter entrusted to them by Miss Tang, so they didn't dare to bother her at all.
Currently, Zisu is waiting outside the Marquis's residence for an opportunity.
Tang Xinuan heard it from Baihe.
“Miss Tang, I knew Lian Qiao’s martial arts skills were lacking and her impulsive nature made her unsuitable for handling tasks. If you entrust this matter to me, I will definitely handle it properly for you.”
Tang Xinuan has gradually been able to analyze the psychology behind Baihe's behavior.
Lily was unhappy because she always brought forsythia with her when she went out.
Recalling the day when Caiyue Tower helped Prince Rui fabricate a story, Baihe entangled Prince Rui's bodyguards outside, causing Prince Rui to lose face.
Despite such a great achievement, she has yet to reward lilies.
"Xiaoqian, give Baihe and Huangqi twenty taels of silver."
Lily panicked, "Miss Tang, you don't want to send me away, do you? I didn't mean to complain about Lianqiao. I just wanted you to take me with you when you go out."
Tang Xinuan smiled and said, "I'm not trying to get rid of you, I'm thanking you for stopping Prince Rui's bodyguard that day."
Lily breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Miss Tang. It's what my sister and I should do."
Tang Xinuan has received a lot of care from Lian Qiao these days, and since she was trapped in the Marquis's mansion, she has an obligation to rescue her.
But if she were to go to her cousin's house to argue with him, she wouldn't be able to win the argument.
Furthermore, she didn't want to see her cousin.
To avoid recalling past events and suddenly developing a hatred for him.
Considering that the Hou family raised her, she didn't want to become mortal enemies with her cousin.
Now that things have come to this, she decides to look forward.
"I'll write a note. Go to the Marquis's residence and find Prince Chu, then give it to him."
The inkstone belonged to her maternal grandfather, and she could have rightfully taken it back. Why should she sneak around and let him lead her by the nose?
Baihe accepted the order and went directly to the Marquis's residence with the note.
Yesterday, Chu Yannuo received an order from the Regent to go to Jiangnan as soon as possible to secretly investigate a local rebellion.
He had finally gotten news of his cousin, how could he possibly be willing to leave?
Unable to find the person himself, he forced his sister to bring him back.
Otherwise, he would marry her off to the young master in half a month.
Of course, he only had this one sister, so he couldn't bear to do it. But his sister was too disobedient. If she didn't learn a lesson, she wouldn't even respect him as her older brother.
He could not disobey the king's command; he had to leave the capital today and head to Jiangnan.
The mission involves treason and is dangerous, but if the task is handled well, being given an important position by the prince is just around the corner.
However, with the Grand Tutor's faction suppressing him, it will be no easy task for him to be promoted.
My maternal grandfather's family was murdered by the Grand Tutor's faction back then, and this blood feud has yet to be avenged.
The Left Prime Minister was ordered to go to Jiangnan to investigate a corruption case. Instead of clarifying the corruption case, he uncovered a case of two thousand people plotting a rebellion.
It's so funny it's almost laughable.
Even the Left Chancellor dared to do that.
And he happened to be one of the Grand Tutor's men.
If we start with the Left Chancellor, we won't have to worry about not being able to avenge my grandfather's death.
After my maternal grandfather and uncle were exonerated, even if my cousin was still angry that he married someone else, she would still appreciate his sincerity.
At that time, she still won't take the initiative to come back to him.
"Young Master, there is a young lady outside looking for you."
Chu Yannuo had just packed his bags.
The capture of the thief who broke into the Marquis's residence last night took some time; otherwise, he would have already left the capital.
"Bring it in."
This wasn't the first time Baihe had met Prince Chu, but it was the first time they had met face-to-face.
Chu Yannuo didn't recognize her. "You are...?"
Lily gave him the note.
Chu Yannuo recognized his cousin's handwriting at a glance. His fingers trembled uncontrollably, and he struggled to breathe, at one point even feeling suffocated and unable to breathe.
"My cousin...where is she?"
Lily wasn't there to reminisce with him. "Miss Tang said that when the young master sees the note, he will let me take away a person and an item."
The person in question refers to the thief from last night.
Chu Yannuo can release the person; he recognized the thief last night as the guard who followed his cousin.
Otherwise, he would have already subjected them to severe torture.
But what does my cousin need an inkstone for?
He vaguely remembered that when his uncle sent the man to the Marquis's mansion, he mentioned that the inkstone belonged to his maternal grandfather.
Once my cousin got engaged, the inkstone was given to her fiancé as a gift.
When my uncle brought my cousin over, he also brought a box of jewelry and 20,000 taels of silver notes.
It's for my cousin to use as a backup.
Those things have been sitting in the warehouse.
If my cousin has been pretending to be stupid, then she must know everything that my uncle left in the Marquis's mansion.
Why would you choose an inkstone over so many jewels and silver notes?
So, my cousin is getting engaged to someone else.
They're engaged...
Realizing that her cousin was getting engaged to someone else, Chu Yannuo felt dizzy and almost lost her balance.
"Are you from the Prince Duan's residence?"
Lily didn't want to reply to him: "Miss Tang only told me to take the forsythia and inkstone back with me, she didn't tell me anything else."
"You can take the person with you, but the inkstone is lost. I will bring it to my cousin when I find it."
Chu Yannuo ordered someone to release Lianqiao, and then he didn't dare to linger for a moment, heading straight for Jiangnan.
He needs to avenge his maternal grandfather's family as soon as possible.
At this point, this is the only thing that can move my cousin.
Lianqiao was locked in the woodshed for a night, but she didn't suffer any real torment. However, she was resentful.
Sooner or later, I'll get my money back from Chu Yannuo.
Seeing Lily, he was somewhat taken aback: "What are you doing here?"
Lily said smugly, "I saved you, so you should thank me. If it weren't for me, you don't know how long you would have been locked up."
Lian Qiao snorted: "Who would believe you're so kind? It must have been Miss Tang who sent you."
The two bickered all the way back to report.
When Tang Xinuan heard that the inkstone was missing, she didn't want to guess her cousin's intentions, but she felt a little regretful.
That was the token of love she had decided to give to Erlang, but now it's lost. What should she give him in return...?
Chu Yannuo naturally had to inform the Lady of the Marquis when he went to Jiangnan on official business.
Lady Hou was worried about her son, but she was also worried about her only niece.
After he left, he instructed his daughter to send a letter to Tang Xinuan, inviting her to meet him at the Marquis's residence.
When Tang Xinuan heard that Chu Yannuo had gone out today, she couldn't help but regret that she shouldn't have sent Lian Qiao to break into the Marquis's mansion at night yesterday.
Today she could rightfully retrieve the inkstone.
"Miss, Miss, someone from the manor has arrived."
Xiaoqian had just gone to the small kitchen when she overheard people talking that the Grand Tutor had brought his daughter to the Prince's Mansion to admire the flowers.
She rushed back to tell the young lady.
Tang Xinuan was doing her makeup when she said, "Why are you running around in such a panic? Hurry up and change your clothes, I need to go back to the Marquis's residence."
Xiaoqian was taken aback: "You're going back to the Marquis's residence?"
Tang Xinuan nodded: "Yes, my cousin just sent a message saying that my cousin went to Jiangnan today, and I'm going back to visit my aunt."
Xiaoqian absentmindedly gave an "oh" and whispered, "Miss, Miss Wang just entered the manor. The Prince is chatting with Miss Wang. Aren't you worried?"
Tang Xinuan asked blankly, "What am I worried about?"
Xiaoqian was worried about having such a slow-witted mistress. "The Empress has decided to arrange a marriage between the two of them. They met today, so they will most likely set a date."
Tang Xinuan had already heard Erlang explain it to her.
Furthermore, the two of them got engaged last night.
She believed in Erlang.
"I understand, hurry up and change your clothes."
Even if the young lady isn't in a hurry, there's nothing Xiaoqian can do about it.
"Then this servant will go change my clothes."
This is the first time Tang Xinuan has returned to the Marquis's residence since she left.
She brought not only Xiaoqian, but also lilies and astragalus.
Lian Qiao usually went out with him, but this time she was tricked by Chu Yannuo and suspected that Tang Xinuan disliked her, which made her even angrier.
Baihe was overjoyed to finally have the chance to go out openly with Tang Xinuan.
"Miss Tang, please rest assured, my eyes are sharper than those of an eagle in the sky. No talent or danger can escape my sight."
The maids and guards that Zhou Chuanxing gave her were all very capable, and Tang Xinuan liked them all.
"Okay, you're the best."
Lily said happily, "Then you must take me out often, young lady."
Lady Hou hadn't seen her niece for nearly two months. Upon seeing her again, her eyes welled up with tears, and they streamed down her face.
"Nuan Nuan, your aunt is so sorry."
She held the person in her arms, her heart filled with endless regret.
When her son was little, he was well-behaved and sensible. He could easily charm her with his words, promising to treat his cousin well and taking the initiative to take care of her.
At that time, the Marquis suddenly fell seriously ill, and even the imperial physicians could not find the cause. She was busy taking care of the Marquis all day long and neglected her niece.
By the time she realized it, her son had already grown up, and as the daughter of a disgraced official, she was powerless to help him.
Upon suddenly seeing her relatives, Tang Xinuan's feelings were complicated. She hugged Madam Hou back and comforted her while holding back her sobs, "Aunt, Nuannuan is doing very well. You don't need to worry about Nuannuan."
She released Lady Hou and gestured for everyone to leave.
Only she, her aunt, and her cousin remained in the house.
Astragalus and lily stood guard at the door, forbidding anyone from approaching.
"Aunt, I've found my brother."
Lady Hou: "..."
She simply couldn't believe it. "You said you found A-Ye?"
Tang Xinuan nodded, "It was the prince who helped me find it."
The Lady of the Marquis felt an unbearable pang of sorrow.
My father's entire family was executed back then, including my nephew who was less than ten years old.
Only my five-year-old niece, who has mental health issues, escaped unharmed.
He had always thought that his wife's family line had ended, but unexpectedly, God had eyes and spared her only nephew.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lady Hou knelt down to thank God.
Chu Yanqing knelt down with her mother.
Tang Xinuan followed the example of the two people and knelt down, repeating each sentence spoken by the Lady Hou.
After Lady Hou finished expressing her gratitude, the group stood up and continued talking.
"Nuan Nuan, tell your aunt, have you been living in the Prince's mansion ever since you left the Marquis's mansion? Is the Prince good to you?"
Tang Xinuan replied truthfully, "After Xiaoqian and I left, we stayed in the palace with the prince for a while." She did not mention her illness. "Later, I moved into the prince's mansion and have been there ever since. The prince has been very good to me, allowing me to come and go freely. He has also assigned me guards."
Lady Hou carefully examined her little niece. She was much plumper than when she was in the Hou residence. She had a smile on her face, looked energetic, and her big eyes were full of spirit.
They seem to have grown a lot.
Just by looking at their appearance, you can tell they live a better life than those in the Marquis's mansion.
"As long as he's good to you, that's enough. By the way, where is your brother now? How is he doing?"
Tang Xinuan didn't want to reveal her brother's specific information, as she was also worried that someone might overhear her.
"Aunt, he's doing well, better than I expected."
Lady Hou didn't press further. "What is the prince's attitude towards you? Has he ever considered marrying you?"
When the topic of marriage came up, Tang Xinuan blushed and seemed a little embarrassed, "Aunt..."
Although Lady Hou was confined to the inner quarters, she was not entirely unaware of what was happening outside: "My aunt heard that he is getting engaged to the Grand Tutor's daughter. Will she tolerate you? The Prince... wants you to be his concubine..."
Is it possible that the daughters of the Tang family are destined to be concubines?
Tang Xinuan shook her head, her expression earnest and firm: "Aunt, I will not become a concubine."
Lady Hou: "Then you two... you can't keep following him like this without any official status."
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