Chapter 54 Purple Madder

The door curtain suddenly moved, and a pretty girl jumped out. The first thing that came into view was her black hair tied up in a simple bun. It was obvious that her master didn't care, and the ends of her hair were a little frizzy. There were a few greasy marks on her bare hands. Jiang Hengyun frowned slightly.

Did the previous medicine no longer work?

"Tap, tap." It was the sound of the chess piece on the opposite side hitting the chessboard, urging the other side to place the piece. The chess piece in Jiang Hengyun's hand was still in place, and the chessboard was no longer in his sight. In the afterglow, a pure face approached, with a bright smile and faintly visible white teeth.

"It's getting dark, do you want to light a lantern?" Si Li didn't notice someone was watching her, she was calculating the money for the lamp oil, and made a suggestion with bad intentions.

Ah, it is such a happy day when someone pays for my expenses. Thinking of this, the smile on my face became even brighter.

"Thank you." Jiang Hengyun looked back at the chessboard.

"Today is a good day. Everything you wish for will come true..."

The sound of chess pieces falling, mixed with Si Li's off-tune humming of "Good Days", seemed very out of place. Si Li comforted herself that this was something that both the elite and the masses could appreciate, lit the lantern and tiptoed to hang it on the eaves. Just as she was about to go back to the kitchen to make the sweet potato shreds that the customer ordered, she suddenly heard the Prince of Yue behind her ask, "Can you be happy just by being busy every day?"

What kind of life question is this that you only think about when you are full and hungry?

Si Li was a little puzzled and nodded, "Of course."

Although the system is tricky and disappointing, although I am unfamiliar with Daning and far away from my hometown, but seeing that the food I make is liked by others and seeing the people around me living better and better as I promised, do I need any other reason to be happy?

She turned and looked at "Jiang Lang". The young man had a calm expression as usual, with only a hint of doubt revealed in his slightly furrowed brows.

"Your Highness is concerned about the affairs of the court every day. Perhaps he sees things differently from me. He thinks about far-reaching things and worries about the country and the people. I understand."

Si Li made a small joke and continued lightly, "I think the current Daning is very good, it is tolerant and inclusive, those who want to strive for progress can strive for it, and those who want to live a contented life can also live there. You can choose whatever kind of life you want, and there are infinite possibilities in the future. I don't have any big ambitions, Xiao Que wants to eat delicious food every day, Tao Tao wants to pass the imperial examination, and Wang Ting wants to make more money. Look, we are all just ordinary people."

The girl's tone was genuine and joyful, and it was obvious that she really thought so. The candlelight in the lantern reflected in her eyes, and her whole body seemed to be shining.

Jiang Hengyun tapped the chessboard unconsciously, as if thinking about something.

The theory of class solidification that his mother talked about when she accompanied him to school is very similar to what Si Li said about upward mobility. His mother said, "The current class is fluid and upward, and only then will the entire dynasty society be vibrant. We must leave enough space and resources for people of every class to strive for upward mobility, and Daning will get better and better." He has always kept it in mind.

Xiao Qi finished the large portion of ice jelly left for her and followed Si Li to get some more food. Unexpectedly, when she lifted the door curtain, she saw two people looking at each other in the courtyard. She was startled and stepped forward to block them. She looked at Jiang Shizi warily and pulled Si Li to leave, "Xiao Si?"

"I still have meals to prepare, so I can't help the prince with his doubts." Si Li bowed and was obediently pulled into the back kitchen by Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi slammed the window shut, held Si Li's shoulders tightly, and asked in a low voice, "You're not attracted to him, are you? Jiang Lang is famous for loving painting but not people. He's a little brat whose hair hasn't even grown out yet. He's not a good man!" She put her face very close, her phoenix eyes staring at Si Li's eyes, as if she wanted to see any signs of lying in them, which was very oppressive.

?

Si Li slowly typed a question mark, not quite used to Xiao Qi's bold and magnanimous style, and for a moment she had the illusion of dreaming back to her past life as an office lady. If I remember correctly, Daning was still a feudal society, right? How come schoolgirls can start talking about this?

"In my heart, there are only two kinds of people, those who pay, and those who go around." Si Li pulled her hand away and sighed, "Besides, first, I have no interest in getting married before I achieve my goal. Second, I am not even of age yet, so it is too early for me to get married and choose a husband, so why are you worrying about it?"

Having said that, Si Liye had no intention of getting married. She had no idea how the national policy would change after the Ning Dynasty's prince ascended the throne. She didn't want to be in danger of being locked up in the backyard and facing that one-third acre of land in the future.

"You haven't reached marriageable age yet?!" Xiao Qi's voice suddenly rose, and her eyes changed from worried to distressed, "Sister, you have to open your eyes even more!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Si Li cut a piece of steamed potato and stuffed it into Xiao Qi's mouth, "I know what's going on, so don't tell me." Considering the poor sound insulation in the backyard of Wanglaiju, what Xiao Qi said might have been heard by the brothers and sisters of Prince Yue's Mansion.

Talking about others in front of others like you're trying to prevent thieves is not a good thing. However, the Prince of Yue should understand that this is nonsense and won't take it to heart...right? It's embarrassing, too embarrassing. Si Li wished that time could go back a quarter of an hour ago and cover Xiao Qi's mouth before she appeared.

"Mmm." Xiao Qi stuffed food in her mouth and tried to speak. Si Li was cutting sweet potatoes while dealing with Xiao Qi who was standing beside her. She finished the job with some difficulty and walked along the kitchen when she carried the dishes out. She didn't even glance at the Prince of Yue.

Before the door curtain was opened, Meng Taotao lifted the curtain first and met Xiao Qi, who was following Si Li closely. "Miss Xiao, someone from your family is looking for you."

Xiao Qi was stunned for a moment, and stopped pestering Si Li, "I'll be right there."

The person waiting in the front hall was the servant of the Xiao family. Xiao Qi spoke to him for a few words, then turned to tell Si Li that her mother asked her to go home, then hurriedly mounted her horse and left.

Si Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was really strange that Xiao Qi was too enthusiastic and treated her like a baby and was on guard against the prince of Yue. Jiang Lang didn't know how to look at her. She was a little embarrassed to go to the backyard. She had nothing to do in the front hall, so she took over Meng Taotao's work, forced her to read books, and asked her to sell things herself.

After the new guests ordered their dishes, Si Li had to return to the backyard with her mission. The courtyard was empty. The brothers and sisters from Prince Yue's Mansion had already left. Only the slightly swaying lantern and the chessboard that had not been put away were still there.

---

Xiao Qi rode all the way home. When she entered the study, someone was already waiting for her. The light of the small candle flickered, casting a mottled and fierce shadow on the face of Xiao's mother who was holding a scroll. Xiao Qi slowed down her steps and knocked on the door. "Mother, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Aqi, sit down." Xiao Qian put down the book, her brows furrowed, her expression very serious, "The Crown Prince sent someone to tell me about the shocking incident a few days ago."

The tone didn't sound like an accident. Xiao Qi's heart sank. "Who did it?"

"Liu Wuling. She was your classmate in the Qunying Academy. I wonder if you are familiar with her. It is said that she was resentful because you had let her down, so she bribed the servants in the mansion to mix purple madder into the fodder she prepared when she left the house that day."

Purple madder is poisonous and hallucinogenic. It can make people or animals hyperactive. After drying, it is similar in color to horse grass. If eaten by mistake, the horse's temperament will change drastically and become irritable. When Xiao Qi was in the northwest, he would hear the supply officers in various places admonish the new soldiers every spring and autumn to be careful to distinguish. Because of the teachings every year, the northwest had never encountered a horse ingesting purple madder and being frightened. Unexpectedly, the first time he saw it happened was around him.

Xiao Qi was a little bit unbelievable, "So she wants me dead? She's crazy!" She was targeting Si Tang and Si Tang's followers, but it was just like what Si Tang had done to her before, embarrassing and gossiping. In her opinion, it would never come to this.

"Mr. Liu Ge is old, and Liu Wuling, as an old woman, is a little coquettish." Xiao Qian mentioned lightly, "Fortunately, no big trouble has been caused. The prince does not intend to intervene, and handed the information he found to me. Liu Wuling is now imprisoned in the family temple. Mr. Liu Ge will bring her to apologize, and the compensation for your friend will also be sent to her. But before that, mother wants to ask you what you think."

Being locked up in the family temple basically meant saying goodbye to the two paths of imperial examination and marriage. Liu Wuling's future was ruined. Even if she was asked to take revenge, she probably couldn't be so cruel. But Xiao Qi always felt that something was strange when she heard her mother's words.

"I don't quite understand." Xiao Qi's heart was beating fast. She vaguely understood something, but didn't want to think about it too much.

She saw her mother smile slightly, and the deep wrinkles on her face smoothed a little, and she could vaguely see the bright glow of her youth. Her mother's eyes seemed to see through her, and she carefully broke down the whole story and explained it to her.

"I mean, her father will retire this year or next year, and it's natural for her to be afraid of future generations. In the end, it was your mother who implicated you. Liu Wuling has already paid the price, and it's up to you to choose whether to continue to fight back. However, I suggest you accept her apology. Mr. Liu has prepared a generous gift, which should also satisfy your new friends."

She understood the meaning of each word, but when they were put together, she was a little confused. Xiao Qi took a step back and looked at the middle-aged woman sitting behind the desk in the study, as if she was meeting her mother for the first time. She felt a chill all over her body.

If this incident was not directed at her, if the protagonist of this incident was just an ordinary merchant girl, if there was no accident and the incident did not come to the attention of the prince for him to investigate... Xiao Qi did not dare to think about the consequences. A life was almost lost, but her mother could still calmly mention what benefits this incident could bring. What does satisfaction mean? Can forgiveness or not forgiveness also be measured by interests?

A breeze blew by, and the shadow cast by the candlelight swayed. The familiar face looked a little scary under the mottled shadow.

"I don't want it." Xiao Qi said hoarsely, "She should apologize if she should apologize. As for where she should go next, Xiao Si and I will decide after we meet her. I can't forgive others without any reason."

She took another step back and opened the study door. "I'll take my leave, kid."

"Young man." A sigh drifted into Xiao Qi's ears as the door opened, and she walked faster. Maybe the decision she made was wrong, maybe this was not the most beneficial, but she still chose to move forward.

Xiao Qian watched her daughter leave without stopping her. The back of the girl in red seemed to blend with her memories. Once upon a time, she was young, frivolous, proud and outspoken.

When Xiao Qi left, a gust of wind blew in through the gap in the door, which was not closed tightly. The candlelight flickered and then went out. Xiao Qian sat in the shadow silently, as if swallowed by the darkness.

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The author has something to say:

I compiled the effects of purple madder.