The palace had just issued an edict ordering adult princes to go to Huguo Temple to pray for the Crown Prince when Zhao Shu received the news. With Emperor Mingde's encouragement, the news spread throughout the capital in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and it was still spreading outwards.
"Princess, Lord Liu of the Jingzhao Prefecture has sent over Green Ivy and Xinwei," said Xiao Guozi.
"Lord Liu, you've worked hard. Please go and thank him for me, and have the two of them come to see me." Zhao Shu's eyes darted around as she placed the purple-gold crown into the brocade box and closed it.
After these actions were completed, Green Ivy and Xinwei were brought over. Both of them had bathed and changed clothes before meeting Zhao Shu, and their hair was not yet completely dry.
As soon as Green Ivy saw Zhao Shu, she cried out, "Princess, I thought I would never see you again, waah, I was so scared." She threw herself at Zhao Shu's feet.
Xinwei was much quieter; after bowing, he stood respectfully to one side.
Zhao Shu gestured for Xiao Guozi to help Luoluo up and asked, "Do you know who arrested you?"
Green Ivy nodded. "They were two big men. Humph, if I ever see them again, I'll make them pay!"
Zhao Shu scoffed, "Is that all the ambition you have? Don't you want revenge?"
"Yes!" Green Ivy raised her head, her gaze firm. Although she sometimes didn't understand what the princess meant by those words or what the princess's actions were, she knew that she had no grudges against anyone and that the people who captured her were definitely trying to deal with the princess!
She held her head high and her expression seemed to say, "Princess, don't be afraid, I will protect you!"
Zhao Shu looked at Xin Wei, "Xin Wei, what about you? Did you see the people who arrested you?"
Xinwei shook her head, looking completely bewildered. "This servant didn't see it."
Green Ivy hurriedly said, "Princess, Sister Xinwei was put in a black bag and thrown in front of me."
Zhao Shu stopped talking about the topic, her mind racing with countless guesses. If he failed once, he would try again. She wanted to see what this person was up to.
"Are you injured?" she asked gently.
Green Ivy shook her head. "This servant is not injured, but Sister Xinwei hurt her leg in the fall. Her clothes were torn and she can't walk properly."
Zhao Shu looked at Xin Wei and saw that she was standing with her head down, which was indeed a bit strange. "Go see a doctor, don't bear it."
Xinwei knelt down with a thud, still keeping her head down. "This servant thanks the princess. My knee is bruised, but it's nothing serious. I'll just apply some egg to it when I get back."
As if to prove she was really okay, she even moved her legs.
Zhao Shu stopped speaking.
Xiao Guozi arrived at the front hall with a piece of ink and several bolts of brocade bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Liu Ren'an was leisurely drinking tea. This was his first time visiting the Yongwang Mansion. Rumor had it that the Yongwang Mansion was extremely luxurious, like a nouveau riche who wished he could replace all the houses with gold. Now that he saw it for himself, he felt that the rumors were truly terrifying.
After the tea was changed several times, Xiao Guozi finally led his men over, carrying a box. "Lord Liu, you've worked hard. On behalf of the princess, I thank you, Lord Liu. Without you, we might never have been able to find those two maids."
Liu Ren'an hurriedly put down his teacup and stood up. Xiao Guozi called himself a miscellaneous scholar and had a effeminate appearance, so he was obviously a eunuch. Judging from his clothes, he was not an ordinary eunuch, so he must be a chief steward. As far as Liu Ren'an knew, only princesses were qualified to have eunuch servants, while county princesses did not have any.
It is evident that the Prince Yong's residence enjoys great favor.
When he learned yesterday that the young princess before him was the infamous, spoiled princess who was known throughout the capital, he was genuinely surprised. Wasn't she supposed to be uncouth and vulgar? Yet, beneath her calm demeanor lay a sense of authority. This was hardly the air of a vulgar person.
In a flash, several thoughts raced through his mind. When Xiao Guozi walked in, he had already put on a friendly smile. "Not at all. It is my duty to share the people's burdens. You are too kind, Princess and Eunuch."
"This is just a small token of my appreciation, a thank-you gift from the household. I hope you won't find it offensive, sir." After he finished speaking, his two subordinates, Tang Gang and Wu Feng, handed him the box. "Please accept it, sir. Otherwise, we will not be able to explain it to the princess."
Liu Ren'an inwardly scoffed, "Who said that Princess Jun of the Yong Prince's Mansion was stupid? She's clearly even more cunning than me!" On the surface, he laughed and said, "I dare not accept such praise. I wonder if Your Highness is at home? I have not yet paid my respects to Your Highness. My manners have been lacking."
A knowing glint flashed in Xiao Guozi's eyes, and he already knew what was going on. "The Prince is not at home today, but the Prince's residence will certainly welcome you when you visit in the future. The Princess said that the criminal who arrested the man has not yet been apprehended, and we will have to ask you to take good care of this matter."
Liu Ren'an wanted to hear those words: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my utmost to capture the criminal."
Tang Gang and Wu Feng, who had listened to the whole thing, were completely bewildered. Manager Guo was really talking a lot of nonsense.
It's not their fault; it's just that Xiao Guozi and Liu Ren'an spoke very cryptically. They are both straightforward people, so who would have thought that there were such roundabout ways in their speech?
In their back-and-forth exchange, only the two of them understood that the meaning was already quite clear: as long as Liu Ren'an follows our princess, he is guaranteed to have meat to eat.
It must be said that he is a man who has been in officialdom for decades, and he is very adept at dealing with people.
After seeing Liu Ren'an off, Xiao Guozi was passing by the plum garden on his way to Qionghua Courtyard when a servant suddenly tripped and fell in front of him. He didn't cry out in pain, got up, and walked away.
Tang Gang ran over and saw a small bamboo tube where the servant had fallen. He looked around and, seeing no one, quickly picked it up and handed it to Xiao Guozi.
Back at Qionghua Courtyard, she reported, "Princess, about Lord Hu..." She couldn't bring herself to say it. Although Hu Lin seemed easy to talk to, he hadn't come to the Prince's residence in person this time, which meant he didn't want to get close to the Prince's residence.
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