"Popsicles and candied haws~"
"Fine rouge and powder, please take a look, young lady..."
"Freshly baked meat buns, fragrant meat buns."
...
At the market, the cries of vendors from all walks of life are heard continuously.
Su Man walked in front, followed by Guihua who was carrying a basket.
This morning, when she got up, she found a note on the ground. Someone had slipped it through the crack in the door.
There are only three words on it: "Morning Market"
It goes without saying that this must have been sent by Jing Chengyu.
He must have learned that she had regained favor in the palace and wanted her to continue helping him.
But now that Qingluan was gone, it was much harder for Jing Chengyu to see her than before. She was a concubine after all, so it was not right for her to sneak out of the mansion alone.
If he doesn't even bring a maid, it's obvious that something is wrong.
Jing Chengyu must have guessed all this.
Su Man wondered how Jing Chengyu would appear.
With the experience in the temple last time, Su Man carefully observed the vendors to avoid missing any NPCs who were guiding the way.
Don’t you dare say, Su Man actually saw through the trick.
In the corner stall, there was a scholar selling calligraphy and paintings.
Everyone who came to the market today was here to buy new things. No one wanted to buy the calligraphy and paintings of an unknown scholar, so there was no one in front of his stall.
Su Man walked over, and the scholar exchanged a glance with her briefly before saying, "Madam, would you like to buy some calligraphy?"
Su Man glanced at the calligraphy on the stall and said calmly, "Can you write anything?"
The scholar looked at Su Man meaningfully and said, "Just don't ask me to write anything about the royal court. I'm just a poor scholar and I dare not offend an important person."
Su Man understood that this scholar was most likely Jing Chengyu's man.
She glanced at Guihua behind her and was about to find a reason to get rid of her when she noticed that she was standing on tiptoe to watch the acrobatics not far away.
There are many people there, it's much more lively than here.
Guihua usually stays at home all day, and now that she finally gets out, she naturally wants to go wherever there is excitement.
Su Man understood and called out.
"Osmanthus fragrans."
"ah?"
Guihua came back to her senses, "Auntie, what's wrong?"
Su Man smiled and said, "I want to ask this scholar to write a calligraphy and painting. Since you are bored, go shopping."
Guihua's eyes lit up, but she felt something was not right, so she said hesitantly, "I can't leave my aunt here alone."
Su Man smiled warmly, "There are not many people here, I will be fine."
She raised her hand and handed Guihua a piece of silver. "Also, my watercolor is almost used up. You can go to the shop in front and buy some more. My feet are sore from walking and I don't want to move anymore."
Guihua's eyes lit up when she saw the silver. She knew that she couldn't use up all the gouache, and the rest would all be hers.
She happily took it, "Then rest here, Auntie. I'll go buy some gouache for you."
"Go ahead."
After Guihua left, Su Man looked at the scholar, "Where is he?"
The scholar stepped aside and pointed to the back of the stall.
The scholar's stall was right in front of a small alley, which was quite narrow and had a dead end inside. His stall was not very noticeable when it was blocking the way.
Su Man took a look inside and just after taking a few steps, a shabby wooden door opened and someone grabbed Su Man's arm and pulled her in.
"Your Highness?"
Jing Chengyu behind him smiled and said, "It's me."
Su Man turned around, and Jing Chengyu stroked her cheek, "With Qingluan gone, it's getting harder to see you."
His tone was ambiguous, as if he was meeting her not for any mission, but simply to steal her beauty.
Su Man paused briefly, then patted his chest shyly, "Your Highness."
Jing Chengyu smiled, held her hand, and pulled her to sit down.
"Haha, I haven't seen you for a few days. Did you miss me?"
His hand holding hers was slightly cold, and although he was saying sweet words, there was no affection in his eyes.
Su Man's lips curled up in a mocking arc, and then immediately turned into joy. She hit him with a silk handkerchief, "Your Highness."
Jing Chengyu smiled and patted his knees, "Come here, let me shake you up, is it lighter?"
Su Man sat on it shyly, cursing in her heart.
Is this ever going to end? You really think you are a love saint.
Jing Chengyu joked a few more times before getting down to business.
"I heard that you have regained Jing Chengyan's favor."
He smiled meaningfully, "Man'er really impressed me. She can turn things around even in such a desperate situation."
Su Man wasn't sure if his words were a test or a compliment, so she simply acted like she was in love, "It's all for Your Highness. As long as I can help Your Highness, I'm willing to die."
Jing Chengyu paused for two seconds and gently rebuked, "Don't talk nonsense."
He placed his big hand on her back and stroked it twice with a gentle force, but his eyes were full of calculation.
"You are so favored by Jing Chengyan, no wonder the Sixth Prince couldn't sit still and asked the old general to go and cause trouble for you."
Su Man was startled. "Was the old general invited by the Sixth Prince?"
Jing Chengyu smiled and pinched the tip of her nose. "What do you think? The old general is usually very busy with official duties. If no one had reported it to him, how would he know about these things in the backyard and personally come to you, his concubine?"
She thought about it for a moment and agreed.
Ever since Jing Chengyan said in front of the Sixth Princess that he would live and die with her, they could no longer take action, whether for Jing Chengyan himself or for the sake of his brotherhood with the Sixth Prince.
But the old general is different. He is a decisive general. If he stands up for the princess, he has a legitimate reason. He is also the elder and can restrain Jing Chengyan.
Su Man understood what was going on, but the Sixth Prince and Princess would never have thought that the old general not only did not hurt her, but instead taught the princess a lesson.
"What are you thinking about?"
The deep voice exploded in her ears, and Su Man immediately came back to her senses. She leaned on his shoulder and said aggrievedly, "I was wondering what to do if the old general really wants to kill me."
Jing Chengyu frowned slightly, but immediately relaxed into a gentle expression, "Don't be afraid, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Su Man cooperated and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. With Your Highness here, I am not afraid of anything."
Jing Chengyu smiled and touched her head, a dark glint in his eyes. "However, I'm also surprised that you were able to escape unscathed after the old general came to visit me this time."
"Maner, how did you persuade the old general to let you go? I'm very curious."
He was clearly smiling, but that smile made Su Man feel cold.
Yes, now that Qingluan was gone, his only spies in the Ninth Prince's Palace were a few marginal figures. And after the old general arrived that day, he had been staying in the princess's courtyard. Jing Chengyu had no idea what was going on there.
In Jing Chengyu's opinion, since the old general came personally to ask for accountability, Su Man would be skinned alive even if he didn't die.
But according to the informant, Su Man was fine when she returned, not even a scratch on her skin.
This chess piece was so powerful that it made him wary.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
