In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wang Runchao's group of disaster victims had all received porridge and food. Although the guards had been changed to distribute the porridge, which accelerated the process, Chen Jingshu had caused a significant delay, and many disaster victims were still waiting behind.
"Everyone, those from the sixth to the eighth wave, come here with your porridge tickets to collect your porridge."
Wang Runchao ordered his men to bring the disaster victims to his side, saying, "Go and distribute some of the remaining porridge to me."
"It's all my fault. I've made Lord Wang clean up the mess I left behind."
"Your Highness, what are you saying? Your Highness's personal presence here to help with the porridge distribution is something many women cannot do, so how can you call it a mess?"
Wang Runchao was practically cursing under his breath. This woman wasn't content to be a proper imperial concubine in the palace; she had to come here and cause trouble. It could have ended much earlier, but she insisted on wasting so much time here. If it had ended normally, he could have gone home to his wife, children, and a warm bed, since his home was closer.
Because some of the workload was shared, the porridge distribution work for the day was completed in less than an hour.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. I had the maid prepare a room for you early. I'm sorry to inconvenience you, so please let the maid take you there. Your meal will be delivered to you by the East Kitchen shortly."
Throughout the day, Chen Jingshu, like the others, only drank one bowl of porridge. Her stomach was already growling with hunger, but since they were still distributing porridge, she just kept waiting.
"Lord Wang is very thoughtful. Thank you for your help."
Wang Runchao summoned a maid, saying, "This is Consort Chen. Serve her well and do not neglect her."
"This servant understands."
"This servant greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort."
"No need for formalities, please take me there."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The maid led Chen Jingshu to the backyard of the porridge shop. Although it hadn't been renovated in a long time, it was still clear how luxurious it had once been.
After the maid led Chen Jingshu to the room.
"You may leave now. Qiu'er will take care of things here. I will speak to Lord Wang myself. You may leave now."
"It is Your Majesty."
The maidservant breathed a sigh of relief and hurried away. After all, as a maidservant, she naturally knew that working for such an important person meant that one could easily commit a capital offense if one was not careful.
Chen Jingshu waited and waited in the room, not knowing whether Yan Shaoheng would come back today, since how he would get back was also a problem.
This is, after all, a porridge restaurant, with tens of thousands of grains stored here. Naturally, it is heavily guarded. If someone were to barge in so recklessly, they would probably be mistaken for an assassin.
Yan Shaoheng had been waiting for a long time when Cheng Ying finally arrived. "How was it?"
"Reporting to my master, I have gone to the Ministry of Revenue, and they have granted me a pass. Furthermore, you are permitted to go fishing during your stay in the Moon Kingdom."
"Alright, come fishing with me."
Yan Shaoheng strode out of the room, his steps steady and powerful. His proud figure exuded undisguised passion, his brows radiated boundless joy, and his bright eyes sparkled with ecstatic elation.
Cheng Ying followed Yan Shaoheng northward, somewhat surprised. He had witnessed his master's special concern for Consort Chen of Yue Kingdom these past few days, and he knew that the emotion in his master's eyes was love.
Moreover, ever since Consort Chen left the palace today, my master has been asking me to pay extra attention to her. Now she wants to go fishing, and I can't understand what my master is thinking.
"Master, shall we go to the porridge shop?"
Cheng Ying is not usually a talkative person, but at this moment she still asked what was on her mind.
"What? You think I should go to the porridge shop?"
"Your subordinate..."
"Cheng Ying, you've been by my side for a while now. What can you discern about my arrangements these past few days?"
Cheng Ying stammered and dared not continue.
"It's alright, speak freely, I will forgive you."
Cheng Ying glanced at Yan Shaoheng and said, "These past few days, Master has been giving me special instructions to pay attention to Consort Chen, and he is also very saddened by her passing, so... so..."
"Oh? Cheng Ying, are you implying that I have taken a liking to Consort Chen?"
Cheng Ying immediately knelt on the ground, "This subordinate wouldn't dare, this subordinate was too talkative."
"Get up."
It has to be said that Cheng Ying is quite simple. Yan Shaoheng can make him talk as he pleases. One second he can say you are innocent, and the next second he can kill you to silence you.
"Now that you've figured it out, you know what to do. Since you're following me, you should have the necessary awareness."
"Yes, Master."
Cheng Ying didn't know whether her master's talk of absolute enlightenment meant not betrayal or being killed.
"Let's go fishing in the moat."
"Yes." Cheng Ying still didn't know why they went to the moat, but he wouldn't ask anymore.
The master and servant arrived at the moat, found a secluded corner, put down their fishing gear, and had Cheng Ying set up a tent.
Yan Shaoheng took out his fishing gear, created a fishing spot, and cast the hook a few times to test it out. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was really there to fish.
In the darkness, a dark figure quietly left. Yan Shaoheng seemed to sense something, and a disdainful smile appeared on his lips.
"Reporting to Lord Zhang, I secretly followed the Second Prince of Yan to the moat. He and his subordinate, master and servant, did go to the moat and even set up camp there. Before I came here, the Second Prince of Yan was fishing there."
"Didn't find you?"
"Not found."
"Okay, go down."
Since the Second Prince of Yan arrived in Yue, the Emperor has ordered him to keep an eye on him. He had already lost track of him several times during the hunting competition, and today he was followed again. Perhaps it was because of the dark night that he was not discovered.
"Looks like they really did go fishing."
This Mr. Zhang is Zhang Yaoyuan, the current Minister of Revenue. He is the father of Liu Youlin's first wife, Zhang, who is also the mother of Liu Ruyan. At that time, Zhang Yaoyuan was Liu Youlin's teacher, teaching him how to conduct himself in society. He even betrothed his daughter to him. In the end, the position of Minister that should have belonged to Wang Runchao was given to Liu Youlin because of Zhang Yaoyuan's recommendation.
After Liu Youlin became Minister, he transferred all of Zhang Yaoyuan's connections in the court to his own hands, completely sidelining Zhang Yaoyuan. Although he was very unhappy, he didn't say anything more because he thought that his precious daughter would be the one to benefit in the end.
Zhang Yaoyuan probably never imagined that the good apprentice he had trained would kill his daughter, kill his granddaughter, and even help the rebels to usurp the throne.
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