Chapter 27 The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Prince's mansion...
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Prince's mansion. The guards had just picked up the still unconscious Yuan Liang and were about to take him to the Yuan mansion next door when they heard a loud scream from a man.
The guard was startled and nearly dropped the person he was holding. He turned his head and saw Chu Jingqi covering his mouth in fear with a folding fan in his hand, staring unblinkingly at the man on his shoulder.
Just as he was about to bow, Chu Jingqi grabbed him and pressed him to the side of the carriage, sandwiching him between the gate of the Prince's Mansion and the carriage. He looked around blankly as Chu Jingqi looked him over and over again, then, like a thief, ordered him, "Stand here and don't move."
Then, with a flick of his robe, he climbed onto the carriage, leaving only the guard standing there, staring at Chu Jingqi's attendant, Mo Song, unsure whether he should listen to the princess and hurry to send the person away, or listen to the young marquis and wait here.
Inside the carriage, Feng Mian was about to get off when Chu Jingqi suddenly leaped in and pushed her back into her seat.
"Ninth Brother? What brings you here?"
Chu Jingqi stared at Feng Mian seriously, "Are you confused!"
Sealing sleep: ?
Feng Mian was completely bewildered: "What's wrong?"
Chu Jingqi was heartbroken: "If you dislike Baili Xunzhou, you could move to the Princess's residence after the wedding, so neither of you would bother the other. You could even keep male concubines, and no one could say anything about it. But how could you..."
As he spoke, he raised his chin and pointed outwards, his tone filled with disappointment: "How could you knock someone unconscious and bring them to the front of the Prince's mansion before the wedding? What will people say if they see this? You've really been spoiled rotten in the palace!"
Feng Mian then realized what he was talking about and burst into laughter. Chu Jingqi, in a panic, smacked her shoulder twice with his folding fan: "You're still laughing! No matter how open the customs are in the Northern Frontier, women can't escape the traditional virtues of obedience, gentleness, respect, frugality, and virtue. You don't know how long you'll be living in the Northern Frontier in the future. These rumors and moral judgments will either kill you or make you suffer."
“Take a good look at that man outside. Even if I were to choose male concubines, would I be interested in him?”
While Feng Mian found it amusing, she also felt a warmth in her heart from Chu Jingqi's thoughtful concern. In the past, they could only see each other about once a year and barely exchange a few words, but in this unfamiliar northern frontier, he was her closest blood relative, and his genuine concern for her truly moved her.
Seeing that he was about to jump up and down in anxiety, Feng Mian hurriedly explained the reason, and finally smoothed out the wrinkles between Chu Jingqi's eyebrows.
"However, he lay on the carriage shaft the whole way back, and everyone on the road saw him. Did it have a big impact?"
Chu Jingqi, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly felt dizzy: "People love to make a fuss about pictures, and rumors are probably already spreading outside."
He blinked, slapped his folding fan in his palm, and an idea popped into his head.
"You stay in the car and don't get out. I'm going to take someone there!"
Before Chu Jingqi could finish speaking, he had already jumped out of the carriage. Feng Mian curiously lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.
Chu Jingqi, accompanied by Feng Mian's guards, made a grand entrance to the Yuan residence.
His attendant, Mo Song, borrowed a gong from somewhere and banged it twice at the entrance of the Yuan residence, attracting a large crowd of passersby.
The servants of the Yuan family opened the door in a daze, only to be greeted by their young master returning home.
Chu Jingqi shouted loudly, "Your young master fainted outside, and my sister and I kindly brought him back. You can check him yourselves; he's perfectly fine and has no problems. If anything happens to him later, don't blame us!"
Mo Song sauntered past the onlookers, banging a gong and saying, "Dear neighbors, listen carefully! My young master and princess kindly brought the unconscious young master Yuan back to his residence. Young master Yuan arrived home safely and unharmed!"
The onlookers whispered amongst themselves, clearly having taken the conversation to heart.
"Isn't this what they call 'preemptive strike', young lord?" Liu Ying exclaimed, squeezing next to Feng Mian and watching intently. "Now, even if someone spreads rumors about you, it won't overshadow the commotion he's caused. Everyone will think that you and the young lord brought him back together."
Feng Mian looked at Chu Jingqi, who was instructing the servants of the Yuan family to check Yuan Liang for any external injuries, and couldn't help but chuckle: "With his big boasting, all the rumors can be dispelled."
Her ninth brother was used to eating, drinking, and having fun. Her uncle always felt a headache when he mentioned him because he was a good-for-nothing. But now it seems that her ninth brother also has some strengths.
Chu Jingqi had successfully completed the handover with the servant of the Yuan family. He swaggered back to the carriage with his men, lifted the curtain with his folding fan, and smiled smugly at Feng Mian, "Little cousin, the matter is settled. Please return to the manor."
"So why did you come here today, Ninth Brother?" Feng Mian brought Chu Jingqi back to Xueyue Residence and, to express his gratitude, personally brewed him a pot of tea.
Chu Jingqi slumped back in his chair with a nonchalant air, taking a sip of the tea Feng Mian offered. Upon hearing this, he put down his teacup, pulled out a wad of silver notes from his pocket, and slammed them onto the table. "I heard you're going to start a soup noodle workshop. I'd like to partner with you. What do you say?"
"Really? I have conditions." Feng Mian was somewhat tempted. After all, Chu Jingqi's father was in charge of the Shuobei Road Transport Commissioner. If she wanted to promote the instant soup noodles as military rations, she would have to negotiate a cooperation. She didn't expect Chu Jingqi to come to her door.
"I know without you saying it. It's just a matter of supplying military supplies at low prices. I understand that. Don't worry, I'll talk to my father! As for His Majesty...?" Chu Jingqi was still a little intimidated by his imperial uncle, but such a big matter had to be reported to the emperor.
"I will write that in my letter home," Feng Mian said with a smile. After the wedding, she would send someone to deliver the letter back to the capital at full speed, "to try to open workshops all over the border as soon as possible."
Chu Jingqi was overjoyed: "That's what I was thinking too! Don't worry about running errands, leave it all to me, Ninth Brother!"
Feng Mian was relieved to have this peace of mind, picked up the silver notes on the table, and said, "Then let's talk about the contract..."
"No rush, I have something else to tell you!" Chu Jingqi suddenly sat up straight, waved his hand to dismiss those around him, and looked like he had something important to say.
"What's happened this time?" He's put on this serious expression twice today.
"Do you know that Baili Xunzhou has gone out of the city again?" Chu Jingqi asked in a low voice, as if afraid that someone in the palace might be overheard.
Feng Mian nodded. A shop assistant had informed her before she left early that morning. At dawn, Baili Xunzhou led several hundred members of the Swift Feather Camp out of the city gates.
"You know this and you're still not worried?" Chu Jingqi's eyes widened. His features were all rounded and blunt, giving him a handsome appearance that was completely harmless. "I heard that the crows in the north have lit the beacon fires. What if he goes and doesn't make it back in time to marry you?"
"But I can't stop him from going to the battlefield just to get married, can I?" Feng Mian said helplessly. That could no longer be considered unreasonable; it could be considered disrupting military affairs.
Chu Jingqi choked. He was purely considering the pros and cons of Feng Mian, completely missing that crucial detail in his mind. He muttered to himself, "If this marriage doesn't go through, and Baili has some problems, you'll be in real trouble."
"Do you know that your theory of being destined to be alone and bring misfortune to your family has already spread to the northern frontier?"
Feng Mian was taken aback: "Where did this come from?"
She had not heard of this news.
Chu Jingqi said casually, "In a brothel. It's normal that news from such a place won't reach you immediately, but brothels are a mixed bag, and the speed and scope of news spreading can be uncontrollable."
Feng Mian was immediately puzzled. Emperor Jiayu naturally understood that if her theories about fate were to spread, it would be detrimental to her in every way. Therefore, after bestowing the marriage, he immediately issued a gag order. Moreover, apart from some people in the palace, none of the attendants who accompanied her to the northern frontier should know about this matter.
What good would it do to spread these messages in northern Xinjiang?
“If the people of the northern frontier hear this, and if anything happens to Baili Xunzhou again, you won’t be able to explain yourself. Whether your marriage can go through will be in jeopardy.”
Yes, if the rumors spread to the point that they unsettle the public, it might be able to prevent her from marrying Baili Xunzhou.
Feng Mian suddenly thought of the robbery that targeted her at Wolf Bone Ridge. Could it be that someone really wanted to sabotage this marriage?
The thought flashed through his mind, and when he looked up again, Feng Mian had already composed himself. "I will pay attention to this matter. Thank you for reminding me, Ninth Brother."
"Let's talk about the contract first..."
"Just draft it yourself and send it to me." Chu Jingqi couldn't sit still any longer. His schedule was tight, and if he wasted half a day at the Prince's residence, he would be too late for the appointment. "I have to go see the new opera excerpt; if I'm any later, I'll miss the opening. I'm off!"
He trusted his little cousin completely; before the last word of his name was even out of his mouth, he had already vanished in a flash. Feng Mian was left sitting there, holding a stack of silver notes, staring blankly as he left.
Shaking his head, Feng Mian put away the silver notes, called Liu Ying over, and asked her to pass on a message to Lu Mingzhu.
"Me?"
In a corner of the blacksmith's shop, Lu Mingzhu, his face covered in coal dust from watching the blacksmith blow air, pointed incredulously at himself, looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, and then whispered, "The princess asked me to... to go to the brothel to inquire about information?"
Wu Liu nodded. "The princess said that she only trusts you. Lord Lu, you are bold and meticulous, and you often have extraordinary encounters. Perhaps you can find the source of the message and resolve the princess's doubts."
Lu Mingzhu felt embarrassed and hurriedly agreed.
He will do everything in his power to find out who is spreading rumors behind the scenes!
Wu Liu added with a smile, "The princess said there's no need to rush this matter. Lord Lu should focus on his current tasks first, and we can investigate after the princess and the crown prince's wedding."
Lu Mingzhu was startled, only then remembering that the princess and the prince's wedding was imminent. For some reason, he felt as if his stomach was stuffed with a wet cloth, heavy, damp, and somewhat uncomfortable.
Thinking of Baili Xunzhou's indifferent attitude towards the princess, he felt that he must be indignant on behalf of the princess. How could such a good girl like the princess marry a prince who did not know how to cherish and love her?
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