Chapter 180: Twin Carp Jade Pendant, Peaceful Verses
"Xiao Qingxu, have Shen Lanlu bring the account books to see me."
Xiao Qingxu had a premonition that something was wrong and held Shang Yuwan tightly.
"Wanwan, Wanwan! Calm down! Now is not the best time!"
"......?" Shang Yuwan's brows twitched slightly, and his heart was trembling deeply.
"Am I, am I not calm enough? Xiao Qingxu?"
Xiao Qingxu's hand, which was clutching Shang Yuwan, froze. Ji Suxian, who was about to reach out to hold her, was also stunned. Yao Lao remained silent, pretending to take something out of his arms, but was interrupted by Shang Yuwan's words.
"Ever since I met Xiao Qinggu...was there ever a day when I wasn't calm?!"
Yao Lao's eyebrows moved, and his hand that was taking out something paused.
Xiao Qinggu, who happened to be released by Emperor Chengming, hurried over: "..."
She stood stiffly outside the door, staring straight at Shang Yuwan, whose face was ferocious and full of rage.
Today she wore a long dress with stripes of green and white, and a jade pendant with two carps hanging around her waist. This was the first day Shang Yuwan returned to Kyoto. He secretly sent someone to Jinfu Temple, the most popular temple in Kyoto, and donated a lot of money. He asked the most respected Master Shanhe in Jinfu Temple to carve it by hand amid the chanting of scriptures.
There are scriptures engraved around the outer circle of the two carps in the jade pendant. If someone who is familiar with Buddhist scriptures takes a closer look, they will understand that they are the eight verses of peace from the "Medicine Buddha Sutra".
The veins on Shang Yuwan's forehead and neck bulged. "They hunted me down, spied on me, hurt the people I care about—I greeted my enemies with a smile, knelt and groveled, bowed my head, and when was there ever a time when I wasn't calm!!!"
Xiao Qingxu looked at her with a dazed look in his eyes, feeling distressed and filled with endless self-blame.
He had never seen Shang Yuwan like this before.
Her whole body was shaking, but she still suppressed her violent anger and was reluctant to say more harsh words.
Shang Yuwan's expression suddenly softened, and he looked like he was about to collapse.
"sorry."
"I, I know I shouldn't blame you. I shouldn't blame you... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper at you."
Gradually, a grayish color appeared in her eyes.
"You guys go out first."
"I want to stay with Vice General Yang for a while longer."
Xiao Qingxu was speechless for a moment, and finally said, "Okay."
He released the hand that was holding Shang Yuwan, and Shang Yuwan turned and walked towards Twelve.
"You go back and recuperate first."
Twelve's eyes were filled with tears and he shook his head.
The Zhenxi Army of Yanmen had no idea what had happened; they were completely kept in the dark. Although some officers and soldiers did not believe Shang Junhu was a traitor, they were too small and powerless to testify in his favor. After Shang Junhu's death, those loyal officers and soldiers were secretly transferred to other places by Xiao Qingji, and even Baijialou was unable to help them escape.
Yang Qianmo was Shang Junhu's deputy general, and he must have known something about that incident, otherwise Zhang Jiuquan would not have been forced to release the news of Yang Qianmo's death while secretly looking for his whereabouts.
But now he’s dead! Dead! The witness who could overturn the Shang family’s case is dead!!!
Shang Yuwan couldn't even muster a comforting smile now, "Be obedient and don't make me worry about you, okay?"
"......" Twelve's vision was blurred and his eyes were sore, but he stared at Shang Yuwan for a long time without blinking, and finally nodded.
After everyone left, Shang Yuwan finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell down with a thud.
Yao Lao personally took Twelve's arm and walked him back to the house. Because of the intense stimulation, Twelve screamed "Deputy General Yang" at the top of his lungs, and the wound on his tongue, which had only recently healed, had almost burst open.
Xiao Qingxu and Ji Suxian lay at the door and eavesdropped on the movements inside.
As for Xiao Qinggu, she seemed to have left quietly the moment Shang Yuwan said sorry. The guest in the dark watched her come and go, feeling complicated for a moment.
The moment he heard the sound of a fall, Xiao Qingxu almost couldn't control himself and rushed in. If Ji Suxian hadn't pinched him, the door would have been kicked open by him.
Shang Yuwan knelt beside the bed, tremblingly pulled up Yang Qianmo's cold hand, and gently placed it on her lowered head.
Just like when she was a child, Yang Qianmo gently rubbed her little head after Shang Junhu scolded her like a new recruit.
“…”
“…”
The room was silent for a long time, and many vague memories about Yang Qianmo flashed through Shang Yuwan's mind.
"Miss? If you're too tired, take a break. You're still young, you don't need to work yourself to death. I'll go talk to the general. You can't keep going like this; your body will collapse. I've showered, so I don't smell like sweat. I'll carry you back."
[Look, Miss, this is some sweet osmanthus candy I brought you. Don't eat too much, or you'll get cavities and it'll be painful. This is for Little Twelve, so please make sure you give it to her. Little Twelve doesn't like to smile.]
[Miss, these are lychees the general gave me as a reward. They're rare in Yanmen. I'll get some ice to freeze for you and Little Twelve. They'll taste better after being frozen.]
"Brother Zhang, the young lady and the mistress are leaving. Why did you give them a big hammer? It's too heavy. And why didn't you bring the little wooden knife you carved for her a few days ago? Did you hide it in the box?"
[Miss, I don't know when we'll meet again after this separation. Please take good care of yourself...]
【Miss......】
[I just want to hear from you, young lady, what are your plans for your future?]
Shang Yuwan's teeth chattered as he whispered, "Go home."
Xiao Qingxu and Ji Suxian, who were lying on the door, were both stunned.
Shang Yuwan's ten fingers tightly clenched the cold and rough hand.
"When the Shang family's injustice is redressed, I will definitely take you home."
Outside the house, Xiao Qingxu pursed his lips tightly, and Ji Suxian frowned with mixed feelings.
On the other side, Emperor Chengming was about to go to appreciate the lotus, but he heard someone say that Xiao Qinggu had returned.
Emperor Chengming still doesn't know what happened in Prince Qi's Mansion. Confused, he asked the palace servants to bring Xiao Qinggu to Luwangtai.
Xiao Qinggu followed the palace maid to the Luwang Tower. With half-closed eyes, he saw Emperor Chengming standing by the railing admiring the white lotus in the pond below the tower.
The weather in Kyoto warmed up earlier, and the white lotus flowers of early May were already blooming. Although there were only a few flowers, Emperor Chengming still found them pleasing to the eye.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to your father."
Xiao Qinggu's voice was calm as he bowed respectfully.
Emperor Chengming looked back and saw that the aura around the child seemed to have changed drastically for some reason.
His eyes darkened and he waved his hand to signal all the palace people around him to leave. Ever since he had reminded Eunuch Kang last time, he had left much faster than before.
"Get up, there are no outsiders here, so don't worry about those empty formalities."
Emperor Chengming walked up to Xiao Qinggu and raised his hand to help him up.
Xiao Qinggu didn't avoid his hand, but politely declined: "Whether there's someone here or not, etiquette can't be abandoned."
A hint of deep thought flashed in Emperor Chengming's eyes.
While Lang Jiang was discussing with his officials in Qinghe Hall, he asked Xiao Qinggu to play chess with him. Although Xiao Qinggu was stubborn, he was still timid about him and deliberately lost a game.
He originally said that this child was brought up under protection, and it was difficult for him to accept his high level of praise and favor for a while, so he asked Xiao Qinggu to go back first, and then "inadvertently" revealed his concern for Qinghe Palace, and deliberately asked Xiao Qinggu to go to Qi Wang Mansion to find Shang Yuwan and others to relieve the pressure in his heart.
Now what is happening...something happened in Prince Qi's Mansion?
Emperor Chengming led Xiao Qinggu to the railing of Luwangtai to admire the lotus, while he calmly put his hands behind his back and gestured to the secret guards in the dark.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
