Chapter 21
Yue Mingming had a fever on and off for two days. During this time, only Anian brought soup and medicine. Jiang Huan never showed up once. No one knew what was going on.
By the evening of the third day, the fever finally subsided.
Yue Mingming got out of bed with unsteady steps, gulped down a pot of cold tea, and felt alive again.
With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Anian appeared on time with a lunch box, bringing out a bowl of porridge and two plates of side dishes.
It was exactly the same as Zhao Congyun’s dinner in the mansion.
...Is it that Jiang Huan knows Zhao Congyun's taste too well, or is it that Zhao Congyun asked the small kitchen to make it according to the custom of Yaoyue Tower?
Yue Mingming couldn't help but let her thoughts run wild. Anian came over and touched her forehead.
Yue Mingming smiled: "What did Doctor Anian diagnose?"
Ah Nian blushed: "You're not hot anymore, you don't have to take the medicine tonight."
Yue Mingming teased her deliberately: "Then go tell your aunt to come see me, otherwise I will run away!"
Ah Nian took it seriously and hesitated, "But Auntie has guests right now and doesn't have time to see you... Can you wait?"
Yue Mingming's eyes flashed, and he asked casually, "Oh? Who is the guest?"
Everyone in the capital knows that Jiang Huan is Zhao Congyun's person. Apart from him, what other guests can she receive?
Ah Nian was probably afraid that Yue Mingming would really leave, so she patiently explained, "There's a handsome young man who often comes to see me. Every time he comes, I'm always busy!"
…………
Yue Mingming was speechless.
It turned out to be that heartless bastard Zhao Congyun!
She'd been missing for three days, and he was still thinking about dating someone... couldn't he even think of hurrying up? Was she really that unimportant?!
There was a sudden emptiness somewhere in my heart.
Yue Mingming was so angry that he pushed the bowl of porridge away and said, "Save him to the end... Doctor Anian, can you give me some meat?"
Ah Nian said seriously, "But Auntie said you're sick and need to eat lighter food."
Yue Mingming felt inexplicably upset when he heard the word "aunt": "Your aunt was talking about when she was sick, but I'm fine now! You can't just listen to her. You have to have your own opinions!"
The four or five-year-old Ah Nian obviously had trouble understanding the word "independent opinion," but was also intimidated by Yue Mingming's violent mental state. She said with embarrassment, "...then what do you want to eat?"
"Sweet and sour spare ribs, boiled fish, crispy pork, stir-fried prawns... just anything you want!"
A Nian: “…………”
"Okay, you wait here and don't run. I'll be back soon!" After she said that, she slipped out like a loach.
After Anian left, the ferocious girl suddenly quieted down, with a rare hint of sadness and melancholy on her face.
In fact, she didn't really want to eat those things, she just wanted to satisfy her craving and vent the anger in her heart.
I silently scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it into my mouth. The aroma of rice spread between my lips and tongue. The texture was soft but not mushy, and the ratio of water to rice was just right. It was obvious that a lot of effort was put into making it.
No wonder some people drink it every day...
Yue Mingming smacked his lips and thought sarcastically: If she is so talented, why does she want to be a dancer? Why doesn’t she open a porridge shop?
*
When Jiang Huan entered the house, Uncle Dong was reporting to Zhao Congyun about the follow-up situation of the dock bombing.
She glanced at the untouched lunch on the desk, silently cleared it away, and replaced it with a steaming hot dinner.
Uncle Dong said tactfully, "Your Highness, please have your meal first."
"No problem, continue." Zhao Congyun lowered his head and took a sip of tea, his voice a little hoarse: "How is the matter with Yue Zhaofeng going?"
"It's basically been investigated. Besides corruption, he's also involved in the Yuhu assassination and the dock explosion... His accomplices have confessed to every single one of these things."
Uncle Dong glanced hesitantly at his own prince and continued, "Also, on the day Lady Yue got married, it was indeed her father who hired sedan chair bearers and planned to kill someone on the way to silence them."
Zhao Congyun said "hmm" lightly.
He had been sleepless these past few days, busy with the dock explosion and subsequent disaster relief efforts. Even Uncle Dong couldn't understand whether he had regained his composure or was deliberately suppressing himself.
Zhao Congyun never mentioned the search for Yue Mingming again. If Uncle Dong didn't mention it, he would just forget about it and not ask about it anymore.
Uncle Dong felt vaguely uneasy, so he volunteered, "We're still looking for her... According to Yue Zhaofeng's men, they kidnapped Madam Yue and put her on a boat, which has been confirmed to be the same boat that sank near the dock."
Zhao Congyun's hand holding the pen trembled uncontrollably.
Uncle Dong said hurriedly, "The bodies of Yue Zhaofeng and Yue Chen have been found, but Madam Yue is missing. I think this is good news. Maybe Madam Yue escaped or was rescued... There are so many mysteries surrounding her, she might have escaped death!"
Zhao Congyun remained silent, closed a newly drafted memorial, and instructed, "Submit it to the Tongjin Division early tomorrow morning."
Uncle Dong nodded and took it. He opened it and glanced at it out of habit, then was immediately shocked: "Your Highness... Absolutely not! This memorial cannot be handed over!"
Zhao Congyun quietly wrote a complaint accusing Li Pingru of setting fire in the mansion and murdering his concubines!
The memorial also tells the story of how Yue Wan, the daughter of Yue Zhaofeng, was dissatisfied with her father's evil deeds, stole the grain transport records, and was killed and disappeared.
Uncle Dong said anxiously, "I know you want to speak up for Madam Yue... but submitting this memorial is equivalent to confessing that we interfered with the grain transport, which is a taboo for the Emperor!"
Zhao Congyun said calmly, "It has nothing to do with her. I'm just stating the facts."
He chuckled. "The worst-case scenario is imprisonment, exile, or a glass of poisoned wine... I've been acting for so many years, and I'm tired. If I let Li Pingru go unpunished, I won't have to go back to that palace."
Uncle Dong clutched the memorial tightly, trying to persuade him again. Zhao Congyun stood up and rubbed his sore eyes. "I know you want to use the people to pressure me again, but the grain transport is under the control of Lord Li, and the disaster in Jiangzhou has eased. I have nothing to worry about..."
"Now that I'm this old, please allow me to be selfish for once."
Uncle Dong was choked by these words, his throat was rolling, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.
At this time, Jiang Huan suddenly stepped forward, took the memorial from Dong Shu's hand with her jade fingers, and began to read it without any hesitation.
Zhao Congyun frowned slightly, but did not stop him.
Over the years, Jiang Huan has been by his side, half like a friend, half like an ally. They each have their own calculations, but they respect each other and maintain a tacit understanding.
This is the first time I've gotten involved in his affairs without permission!
After reading the memorial, Jiang Huan smiled and commented, "Your Highness, this is a 'hurt the enemy a thousand times and hurt yourself eight hundred' approach. I don't think it's a good idea."
"Uncle Dong can't stop it, so why don't I give it a try?"
Her eyes flickered, "Your Highness, do you think that my status, which is not worthy of your consideration, is not worthy of your consideration at all?"
“…”
Zhao Congyun was slightly surprised, but patiently said, "No matter what I do, Yaoyue Tower will be fine... This promise is valid in the past and will remain valid in the future. You can rest assured."
"But if something happens to you, what guarantee will you give?"
Jiang Huan lowered his eyes and sighed, "It often only takes a moment for a building to collapse. Your Highness is now revered and glorious, but once this memorial is submitted, that may no longer be the case. By then, you might not even be able to protect yourself, let alone your promise to me."
Uncle Dong's face changed when he heard these words directly, and there was anger in his eyes: "Why would Miss Jiang be like this!"
Zhao Congyun looked at her deeply, and suddenly understood: "So it's that thing you're thinking about!"
Seeing that he understood her riddle, Jiang Huan nodded: "I am a weak woman from my family. It is not easy to make a living in the capital. I have many people to support. In everything, self-preservation comes first. I hope Your Highness understands."
Zhao Congyun said slowly, "Let me think about this... If that day ever comes, Uncle Dong has the kung fu, and Su Dingrou has her grandfather... Of the few people around me, you're the only one who can use it."
"These past few years... without your and Yaoyuelou's help, many of the things I've done wouldn't have gone so smoothly. I might not even have a safe place to sleep." Zhao Congyun smiled self-deprecatingly, "I will repay this kindness."
Jiang Huan bowed deeply in thanks and continued, "Actually, I'm very curious! What is it about that Miss Yue that makes you want to burn yourself to death?"
Zhao Congyun's eyelashes trembled slightly: "I said, it has nothing to do with her."
"Yeah?"
Jiang Huan raised his eyebrows, raised his hand and threw the memorial into the incense burner. The fire suddenly jumped up and swallowed up the paper and ink.
Zhao Congyun was stunned and said, "...Do you think this can stop me? If you burn this one, I can write another one."
"I'm afraid you won't be able to use it." Jiang Huan smiled mysteriously: "Your Highness, please follow me."
*
Zhao Congyun has his own bedroom and study in Yaoyue Tower. He is a quiet person and it is impossible for him to wander around with nothing to do, so he is not familiar with Yaoyue Tower.
Jiang Huan had never taken him on a tour for all these years, so Zhao Congyun and Uncle Dong were both surprised by the sudden invitation today.
Jiang Huan led the way, and the two followed closely behind. They went down several flights of stairs, passed through a long corridor with golden lights and jade curtains, and finally arrived at the room at the end.
"Your Majesty, please."
Jiang Huanyu pointed with her finger, then slowly took a few steps back, leaned against the window on the corridor, and cast her eyes on the rippling green waves outside the window.
Uncle Dong looked nervous. Zhao Congyun glanced at her, sneered softly, and pushed open the door as if nothing had happened.
And then…his breath caught in his throat.
Familiar faces, familiar smiles, familiar voices...even the ridiculous behavior seemed particularly familiar.
Yue Mingming was puffing out his lips and trying to snatch a roast chicken from a four or five-year-old kid!
The door suddenly opened, and Ah Nian subconsciously stopped. Yue Mingming instantly gained the upper hand, savagely ripping off a chicken leg and laughing, "I win! I'll save you from eating!"
A Nian:…………
Uncle Dong: …………
Yue Mingming smiled and turned her head, and was caught off guard by a pair of eyes as deep as a pool. She was very familiar with that cold look that seemed to hide infinite thoughts!
The chicken leg that she had finally managed to grab fell into the bowl with a plop, splashing porridge all over her.
"Um...you're here! Ahem...long time no see!"
She tried to smile and greet him as usual, but as she spoke, her voice became weaker and became faintly tearful.
The fear of escaping death, the joy of seeing old friends, and many emotions that Yue Mingming could not distinguish, all flooded into her mind, and her eyes suddenly turned red.
Does he know...how much he has been wronged?!
Zhao Congyun seemed to have woken up from a big dream. He let out a long breath, stood stiffly in front of Yue Mingming, and took her hand without saying anything: "Let's go home."
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