Chapter 77
Under the guise of delivering a parrot to Xu Xuan, the eunuch handed the letter to Shen Yao.
"His Highness said that the young lady has read it and should reply as soon as possible."
She was so frightened by the thought of having to reply that Shen Yao's soul seemed to float in mid-air.
"Your Excellency, the Shen family is a large and influential family, and it's not good to waste time. Why don't you go back first, and I will personally go to the palace tomorrow to explain to His Highness?"
Shen Yao's considerations were thorough and her words were extremely reasonable, but Wei Luo was not an easy person to talk to, leaving the eunuch in a difficult position.
Just as the stalemate was at hand, Madam Shen, who had been busy all day, returned. Seeing that there was no room for maneuver, the eunuch had no choice but to leave in a hurry.
Madam Shen asked, "Were those people from the palace who came just now?"
"It was a palace eunuch who delivered the parrot to Xu Xuan."
Shen Yao spoke the truth.
Madam Shen looked at the parrot and asked in confusion, "When did Xu Xuan become on good terms with the Crown Prince?"
Shen Yao hurriedly stepped forward and explained, "Ziwei was chosen as the Crown Prince's study companion. I suppose the Eastern Palace sent the parrot here to curry favor with him in advance."
Madam Shen glanced at Shen Yao in surprise, and the two made eye contact. Feeling guilty, Shen Yao quickly looked away and pointed at the parrot, saying, "Can this guy speak human language?"
Madam Shen replied, "How can a beast speak human language?"
"……Well."
She always felt that her mother was making veiled criticisms.
So he decided to tease the parrot.
In the unfamiliar environment, the parrot was very reserved, huddled in its cage and didn't move for a long time. It was only when Shen Yao lured it with food that the parrot started jumping around.
Madam Shen said, "Since it was sent by the Crown Prince, take good care of it. If it dies, we will hold them accountable."
He then turned and left.
Shen Yao replied, "I understand."
The words had barely left its mouth when the parrot chirped, "Okay, okay~"
The loud voice startled Shen Yao, and Madam Shen also turned around, exclaiming in surprise, "She really can speak human language."
"..."
The two carried the parrot back into the house. Biluo looked after it while Chenyao busied herself opening letters.
Upon seeing this, my eyelids twitched instantly.
Aside from a couple of words of comfort at the beginning, expressing how much they missed her, the rest of the text was full of questions about why Xu Xuan was living in the Shen family's house. You could almost smell the sour resentment through the paper.
After reading it, she casually placed the letter on a candle and set it on fire, thus destroying the evidence.
Then, turning the screen around, she asked Biluo, "Has Xu Xuan not returned yet?"
Biluo shook her head. "Perhaps she's out socializing."
At this time, it was just getting dark. According to normal times, Xu Xuan should have already gone home, but he hadn't returned yet, probably because he was drinking with his colleagues.
Shen Yao said, "Then let's ignore him."
It was cold outside, so Shen Yao sealed the doors and windows tightly and added some bamboo charcoal to the stove.
While helping, Biluo asked, "What did His Highness write in the letter?"
"Let me kick Xu Xuan out as soon as possible."
Biluo's eyes widened suddenly. "This is far too domineering."
Shen Yao nodded vigorously, grabbed her wrist and wailed, "Yes, this is just making things difficult for people. Besides, it's not like I let Xu Xuan stay here."
"It's all the master's fault."
Biluo casually picked up the conversation.
Shen Yao looked at her, and the two of them couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Men are such a hassle.
Both of them thought so.
Biluo said, "If all else fails, Miss, you can move to the south of the city. That way, you'll be separated."
"no."
Shen Yao categorically denied it, "The people over there have seen His Highness. Miao Niang even mistook His Highness for Xu Xuan. If I live in the South City, and Xu Xuan comes looking for me one day, the truth will be revealed immediately."
The risk was too great; Shen Yao was timid and didn't even dare to think about it.
The two discussed it for a long time, but couldn't come up with a good idea.
Biluo said, "Why don't you wash up and go to sleep? Maybe the Bodhisattva will appear in the night and the idea will come to you on its own."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch," Shen Yao chuckled, resting her chin on her hand as she stared blankly at the charcoal fire.
Just then, for some unknown reason, the parrot started screeching "Your Highness, Your Highness" at the top of its lungs.
Both of them were startled.
Shen Yao looked at Bi Luo, "Did you just mention His Highness? What if Xu Xuan heard that?"
"Why can't I say 'Your Highness'?"
Biluo was puzzled. "Miss, you're just feeling guilty. This parrot came from the East Palace, so it's perfectly normal for it to talk about His Highness."
Hmm, that seems to make sense.
Indeed, if you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear.
She thought to herself.
We need to resolve Xu Xuan's background issue as soon as possible. Once he returns to live with the Xu family, everything will be fine.
Thinking this way, they tried hard to come up with a solution. The two of them lay on the bed for a long time, but couldn't come up with a good idea.
Instead, my eyelids are drooping, and I'm getting sleepier and sleepier.
A night of sorrowful dreams.
When I opened my eyes the next day, it was already bright.
Shen Yao was woken up by Bi Luo.
"Get up."
"I'm going to sleep a little longer."
Just as he was about to fall asleep after pulling the covers over his head, the parrot called out "Your Highness!" and he was jolted awake from his deathbed.
I was wide awake.
Biluo said with a grin, "Your Highness is indeed very capable."
Instantly, Shen Yao threw a pillow at him.
Is that how Your Highness uses it?
*
Starting today, the men of the Shen family will no longer be on duty, and the wonderful New Year holiday begins.
Xu Xuan naturally stayed at home as well.
After breakfast, Xu Xuan found Shen Yao and asked her to accompany him back to the Xu family home to visit his father.
Shen Yao said, "Okay, wait a moment, I'll change into some plain clothes."
Wearing white would make me feel like I was going back to a funeral, while red would be too festive. In the end, I wore a light-colored floral cotton-padded jacket with a blue cape over it.
Shen Yao asked him, "Is it okay to wear this?"
"It looks great."
After that, the parrot in the cage also shouted loudly, "Beautiful, beautiful!"
The two of them looked over at the same time.
Shen Yao patted the cage and said angrily, "This damn bird, it just loves to mimic what it hears."
Xu Xuan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Is this what the Crown Prince sent?"
"Yeah, it's so noisy. It often talks to itself and it's quite startling."
"That's true for parrots. If you don't like it, you can put it somewhere else."
"No. Mother said we must take good care of it; it would be a problem if it died."
"It's mainly you who's causing trouble."
She added another sentence.
Xu Xuan touched his nose and asked, "Is it that serious?"
"Yes, after all, it was sent by the Crown Prince, and you're to serve him like an ancestor."
Shen Yao looked up at him, her eyes full of smiles.
Xu Xuan's gaze was originally on the parrot, but upon hearing this, he shifted to Shen Yao and said nonchalantly, "There's no need to be so alarmed. If it bothers you again, just find a rope and tie its beak shut."
"Ah, this... I think poisoning to make someone mute would be more convenient."
Shen Yao said very seriously.
Xu Xuan: "..."
After a long pause, he finally uttered a sentence: "It is not advisable to commit murder during the Spring Festival."
Shen Yao chuckled softly.
*
After the two finished tidying up, the servant had already prepared the carriage and horses. A charcoal fire was burning inside the carriage, which made it much warmer.
As soon as she entered, Shen Yao couldn't help but shudder.
She said to Xu Xuan, "Come in quickly, it's freezing outside."
"I don't feel cold."
As she entered, Xu Xuan muttered something under her breath.
"That's because you're not afraid of the cold; I'm practically frozen solid."
She couldn't resist adding a few more pieces of charcoal to the brazier, and then she bent down and blew on them.
Upon seeing this, Xu Xuan frowned and said, "Adding so much, if the brazier tipes over, you'll be in big trouble."
"Don't curse me. The road is so flat, I won't fall over."
Xu Xuan shook his head helplessly.
The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage sped off, merging into the bustling main road of the capital.
People come and go, cars and horses move about, and the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits.
A vendor carrying a tree full of candied hawthorns came along, and the bright red fruit instantly attracted Shen Yao. She hurriedly said, "I want to eat that. Stop the car, stop the car quickly."
Xu Xuan quickly stopped her, scolding, "You just finished eating, why are you still hungry?"
With her sleeve tugged, Shen Yao couldn't get down. She simply said, "I want to eat candied hawthorns. What does that have to do with whether I'm hungry or not?"
He still wouldn't let go, and Shen Yao said helplessly, "Fine, I'm craving something, you can let me go now."
Xu Xuan immediately said "Oh" and got up as well. He pressed Shen Yao back into the chair and said, "If you're afraid of the cold, then stay put. I'll go buy it for you."
Wow, you've really changed your ways.
Shen Yao lifted the curtain and looked outside. She saw that Xu Xuan had walked to the vendor. Perhaps sensing something, he also looked out the car window. The two looked at each other across the distance. Shen Yao smiled and then held up two fingers.
No, you should buy three strings, so it becomes three fingers.
In the distance, Xu Xuan shook his head repeatedly. When he returned, all he had in his hand was a string of candied hawthorns.
Shen Yao immediately became dissatisfied and asked, "Why is there only one string?"
Xu Xuan handed it to her, saying, "Of all things that nourish health, none should be more important than the mouth and teeth. Eating sweet and greasy foods can easily lead to insect infestation."
He leaned closer and chuckled, "You can eat as much sweet and greasy food as you want. You'll suffer when you get cavities."
"……you?"
Shen Yao angrily stuffed the candied hawthorn into her mouth, puffed out her cheeks, and mumbled, "Since you love lecturing so much, you should become a tutor. Oh, and by the way, you should be a study companion in the East Palace~"
This is really like bringing up a sore spot; Shen Yao wished she could slap herself.
She gave an awkward laugh and quickly turned her head to the window to admire the street view.
Xu Xuan, on the other hand, was still confused. He didn't know why Shen Yao stopped halfway through her sentence. After thinking about it, he could only conclude that the Crown Prince and the Shen family were sworn enemies.
However, he became close to the Crown Prince at this time, which made her resentful.
This feeling was surprisingly unpleasant for a while.
After thinking it over, Xu Xuan decided to explain to her, "Actually, going to the Eastern Palace to be a study companion was not my original intention..."
He had said this to Master Shen a few days ago, and now he was repeating it to Shen Yao verbatim.
The Shen family was like a nemesis to them.
After Xu Xuan finished explaining, Shen Yao finished eating her candied hawthorn. At the same time, the Xu family's gate was right in front of them.
Shen Yao said, "Actually, I know this has nothing to do with you."
Xu Xuan felt guilty, as did Shen Yao, but they couldn't express it aloud.
After a moment of silence, the driver's voice pierced the somber atmosphere like a sharp sword.
"We've arrived at the Xu family's residence. Young lady and gentleman, you may get off the carriage now."
Xu Xuan got out of the car first. When Shen Yao came out, he went to help her, but Shen Yao was quick and jumped down first.
Xu Xuan looked embarrassed and coughed a few times with his eyes lowered.
The two took the tonics, including Ganoderma lucidum, and stepped through the gate.
Xu's mother continued to worship Buddha. When she heard that her son had returned home, she only gave a faint "hmm" and then there was no further news.
Their dislike for them is already out in the open.
Shen Yao suddenly felt some sympathy for Xu Xuan, Xu Ziwei, Xu Tanhua, and Xu Zhushi.
Despite all these titles, I couldn't even get a warm greeting from my mother.
At this moment, to some extent, she suddenly understood Xu Xuan; perhaps he was just a man who lacked love.
If he had married Liu Ru back then, he would have been able to receive the love of both a wife and a mother.
But it was Shen Yao who suddenly barged into his world, bringing him misfortune.
So, he probably still hates Shen Yao and himself in his heart.
Shen Yao stared at him blankly.
He, however, simply drank his tea in silence.
Shen Yao then drank tea as well, and picked up a pastry from the plate and chewed on it.
The crisp sound caught Xu Xuan's attention, and he couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you eat breakfast?"
"have eaten."
Under his shocked gaze, Shen Yao picked up another pastry, praising it as she ate, "I didn't expect your pastries to be so good. You don't mind if I take some home when I leave, do you?"
"mind."
Xu Xuan lifted his foot and walked away.
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