Chapter 13 Target
Meng Lanxi carefully observed her mental state and said, "I diagnosed the county lady last night. I think you didn't sleep well before. This won't work in the long run. I'll come up with a detailed treatment plan for the county lady when I get back."
Qian Deng looked at the faint blue marks under his eyes and said, "You stayed by my side all night last night. I'm sorry, Mr. Meng. You should go back and rest early and catch up on some sleep first..."
Before she could finish her words, a few "clattering" sounds came from the side, interrupting her.
Qiandeng turned around and saw Jintang standing at the steps staring at them blankly, with all the pages in his hands falling to the ground.
His brocade robe, embroidered with gold and silver threads, shone brightly, but his expression was gloomy. He stared at them blankly, mumbling, "Yesterday...Meng Lanxi stayed the night here?"
Qian Deng knew he had misunderstood something when he saw his expression. Just as he was about to explain, he heard Meng Lanxi say, "I hope Brother Jin won't make my presence known, lest it arouse the suspicions of the gentlemen in the backyard."
Jin Tang jumped up suddenly as if struck by lightning, shouting angrily, "I don't believe it! How could you, a poor wretch whose parents died and who was driven out by your clan, be favored by the county lady? It must be you... You drugged the county lady and had bad intentions!"
Qiandeng frowned slightly, feeling quite helpless.
Liuli beside him quickly said, "Jin Langjun, there's no need to overthink things. Meng Langjun is only here to treat the county lady."
"Yes, Brother Jin, the county lady has been very kind to me. I respect and love her from the bottom of my heart. How could I dare to offend her and damage her reputation?" Meng Lanxi sighed softly. Her usually clear and peaceful eyes were now filled with a sense of grievance and anger. "How could you possibly be so suspicious of me and the county lady?"
Jin Tang's face suddenly turned red and he looked at Qian Deng helplessly.
Qian Deng knew that this foolish son of the richest man was no match for Meng Lanxi. Just as she was about to explain, she looked up and saw Ling Tianshui coming in from the doorway. He greeted her, "County Lady, was Meng Lanxi's service to you considerate last night?"
Qian Deng's words only fueled the ambiguity. Anger mixed with confusion, she glared at him and was about to speak, but when she saw Ling Tianshui looking at her with a deep meaning, her heart moved slightly. She turned around and whispered to Liu Li, "Wasn't Doctor Jiang at the mansion last night?"
"Dr. Jiang tripped and fell unconscious last night and was unable to see patients. Fortunately, he woke up this morning and is fine."
Qian Deng glanced at Ling Tianshui thoughtfully, then decided not to pursue the matter. He picked up the book on the ground and asked Jin Tang, "What is this?"
Jin Tang said aggrievedly, "This is the warehouse renovation plan, please review it, County Master."
After the rebellion, the mansion was in a mess. Jin Tang led a group of craftsmen from the Jin family to repair the backyard and were about to renovate the warehouse.
Qiandeng agreed on the design with him, thanked him for his hard work over the past few days, and reminded him not to be too busy and to take care of his health.
Seeing the county lady caring for him so gently and meticulously, Jin Tang felt better. He put the album away, glared at Meng Lanxi, and left depressed.
After Meng Lanxi packed her medicine box and left, Qian Deng asked Ling Tianshui, "Why are you here so early in the morning?"
Ling Tianshui looked at Meng Lanxi's back and said, "Yesterday, I discussed with Cui Shaoqing that we could set up a target so that the people behind the scenes can have a clearer target."
Qian Deng was not aware of the private confrontation he had with Cui Fufeng yesterday regarding this matter, nor did he know that the target issue was proposed by Cui Fufeng, but he just used it as an excuse.
After a moment's thought, she immediately understood what he meant: "But Meng Lanxi is a weak scholar, is she suitable?"
"I have my own way of dealing with this matter. You don't have to worry about it." Ling Tianshui looked down at her and said, "It's just to make sure the plan works. I hope you can... spend more time with Meng Lanxi on a daily basis."
"Yes, I will." Qian Deng looked up to meet his gaze and said calmly and frankly, "After all, he can really help me. I slept well last night."
"That's good." Ling Tianshui looked away. For some reason, he didn't want to meet her bright and dazzling eyes in the sunlight.
Qian Deng had already turned and walked out, telling the maids, "Go to the backyard and gather the gentlemen. I have something to tell everyone."
Traditionally, the Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year. There are seven days of holidays before and after the Winter Solstice. The court is closed for holidays, the academy is closed for classes, and the young men stay at home.
Qiandeng finished her breakfast and went to the back hall where everyone was already there. Following the order in which they usually studied palace training, they sat down in order, quietly waiting for her.
Only Xue Xiyang was waiting in the corridor. When he saw her coming, he came forward and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.
Qian Deng motioned him to come to the side and asked, "I heard that Master Xue was waiting for me for a long time yesterday. I wonder what that was about?"
Xue Xiyang sat down in front of her, his eyes drooping as he spoke mournfully, "County Lady, I was locked up in Pingkangfang for a whole night. The night was long and starry, the wind and dew were cold, and I was so worried about you that I couldn't sit still. It was an agonizing night, and I don't know how I got through it..."
Qian Deng was in no mood to listen to him pour out his heart, so she poured him a cup of tea and said, "Mr. Xue, please speak."
Xue Xiyang held the tea in his palm and lowered his voice, but asked in a riddle: "Yesterday I went to Cuiyu Tower in Pingkangfang. County Lady, guess who I met?"
Qiandeng frowned: "Cui Yu Tower?"
Xue Xiyang explained softly, "Don't worry, County Lady. I'm only here to look for Feng Shancai. She's seventy-three years old this year. Fifty years ago, she was the leading pipa player in the Liyuan Music Club. Later, during the An-Shi Rebellion, she became a wanderer among the common people. Now she teaches pipa to the girls in Pingkangfang. I'm here to ask her to compile some of her lost ancient music."
"Xue Lecheng went there on official business. I wonder who he met there?"
Could it be that he caught some young man sleeping with other women over there, so he came here to complain?
Before Qian Deng could think about it, Xue Xiyang had already approached him and said in a low voice, "I met someone from the Prince's Mansion."
Qiandeng sipped tea silently, not wanting to ask about the people in the East Palace visiting prostitutes.
"Although people from the Eastern Palace can naturally go to Cuiyu Tower for entertainment and socializing, I saw that person discussing something with another person there. That person..." Xue Xiyang's voice was low and drawn out, with a hint of mystery and weirdness. "There were two whip marks on his face, blood scabs on his forehead, and a scratch on his chin. His whole face was almost horrible..."
Qiandeng paused holding the teacup, and blurted out subconsciously: "Yang Huaijiang?"
"Yes, I was in the building at the time. I didn't know who he was. I just noticed that the people from the Prince's Mansion were talking to him about the county lady, so I listened carefully."
He naturally wouldn't mention the foul language Yang Huaijiang had used to her. He only tactfully recounted the events, adding, "I had intended to inquire more closely about his background, but he got drunk and stayed at the Cuiyu Tower, forcing me to stay home due to curfew. I just heard about Yang Huaijiang when I returned to the palace. It turns out he's the county lord's cousin, and because of his rude remarks, he was reprimanded by the county lord upon entering the palace."
"This man has bad behavior, and I have indeed taught him a lesson twice. However, his mother is my aunt after all, so I can't just kick him out. I can only tolerate him staying in the palace for the time being." Qian Deng was currently preoccupied with other important matters and was too lazy to devote too much energy to Yang Huaijiang. "If he still refuses to behave himself and makes any unusual moves in the future, then my Changhua Palace will definitely not let him go."
Xue Xiyang propped his chin up and looked at her, his eyes shimmering with confusion. "But, hasn't he always been in Guozhou? Even the county lady isn't familiar with him. Why, as soon as he arrived in Chang'an, would someone from the Eastern Palace come to him in a brothel and even say they can help him fulfill his wish... I wonder what wish he wants to fulfill?"
Qian Deng pondered for a moment and said, "I believe that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will not harm me."
"That's for sure. But Yang Huaijiang has evil intentions and seems to have received secret support. The county lady must pay close attention and be wary of him."
"Okay, thank you for your advice. I'll take note. But he lives with his aunt in the West Courtyard, and I live in the East Courtyard. There are high walls and thick gates between us. If I don't want to see him, I believe he won't be able to come to my place..."
Before he finished speaking, hurried footsteps were suddenly heard outside.
Immediately, there were two light knocks on the door, and Aunt Xuanji's anxious voice rang out: "County Lady, someone from the Inner Palace Bureau is here."
Seeing Aunt Xuanji's hasty arrival, Qiandeng gestured to Xue Xiyang, telling him to make his own way. Then, he hurried to the main hall to see the palace envoy, asking Aunt Xuanji, "Why did the Inner Palace Bureau suddenly send someone here? What's the matter?"
"They... sent another young man, saying he was the one the Emperor and Empress had just chosen, bringing together ten candidates for the County Lady's backyard."
Qiandeng paused, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart. She took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice: "Who is it?"
"He is... the only son of the fourth branch of the Hongnong Yang family in Guozhou, and your cousin, Yang Huaijiang."
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