Chapter 61: An Apology Gift for the Young Lady
Marquis Jingning was publicly reprimanded by the emperor in the Golden Palace for three consecutive days, and was even bullied by officials from the Ministry of Revenue after leaving the court. His life was truly miserable.
Marquis Jingning felt that he had been brought to justice, having been implicated by the Third Prince. However, the thunder and rain were all graces from the Emperor, and for now he could only try to please the Emperor and try to understand his intentions.
Otherwise, who knows, one day the emperor might dismiss him from his post in anger due to the instigation of those people in the Ministry of Revenue.
"Those people in the Ministry of Revenue are also worried about the money. Your Majesty might as well donate some money from your own pocket. This will not only show your benevolence, but also please His Majesty." Aunt Liu leaned weakly in the arms of Marquis Jingning, her white and tender fingers gently stroked his lips, her voice charming.
"I have saved some money over the years, originally intending to give it to Mingyi as a dowry, but now that the Marquis is in trouble, I am willing to use it to help him relieve his worries."
Marquis Jingning's anger and frustration were completely dissipated by Concubine Liu's gentle and considerate care. He held Concubine Liu's hand and kissed it, sighing, "Since I got into trouble, no one in the mansion dared to approach me, let alone share my worries. Only you have treated me with the same devotion that you have shown for ten years."
Ji Jinglan often said that he favored his concubine over his wife, bringing shame to her as the legal wife. She didn't even think about whether she had given him any advice during the days when she was depressed, or even poured him a glass of water or asked about his well-being.
If it weren't for his son Yunlan, he would have divorced her and made Concubine Liu his wife long ago.
Thinking of this, Marquis Jingning looked at Aunt Liu's belly, as if thinking about something.
Concubine Liu had been with Marquis Jingning for many years, so she could tell what he was thinking. She took his hand and placed it on her belly, then whispered, "Yesterday I sent for the famous Doctor Qi in the capital to take my pulse, and Doctor Qi also said that this time I'm pregnant with a boy."
"If I can really give birth to a son for the Marquis, it will be my great fortune. When I get married in the future, I will have a younger brother to support me."
Hearing what Aunt Liu said, Marquis Jingning felt a little excited in his heart, because this was the child of him and his beloved.
"Just take good care of your pregnancy. I don't need to touch your personal money." Marquis Jingning waved his hand and called the servant to go to the warehouse to check the accounts, pick out some treasures in the warehouse and sell them in exchange for cash.
Thinking of the story last night when her personal maid came to report that she had seen Chu Xinrou sneak into the storehouse several times and move a lot of treasures to sell, Aunt Liu curled her lips slightly and suddenly spoke.
"My Lord, tell them not to touch the sunken wooden boxes in the storeroom. They contain the tokens of love that you gave me."
Marquis Jingning didn't expect that after so many years she still kept the token of their love from their youth, and he was overwhelmed with emotions.
Listening to the soft and gentle words of Marquis Jingning, Aunt Liu lowered her eyes and hid the calculation in her eyes.
She hasn't found out yet what Chu Xinrou is going to do with those treasures, but she can't be discovered so soon. She has to keep this handle to plan something bigger. It would be even better if she can take advantage of this to drag Ji Jinglan into the water.
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Xun Xiao looked at a young man in an indigo-colored brocade gown, his face as handsome as a delicate orchid and a jade tree, sitting on a simple wooden table. He was concentrating on carving a piece of wood. When he raised his hand, the low-key and luxurious dark gold pattern on his cuffs sparkled in the sunlight.
Xun Xiao's eyelids twitched, and he bowed his head respectfully. "Prince, Chengfeng sent a letter saying that the Crown Prince will hold a banquet at his residence in three days, and he specially invites you to attend."
Zhao Yun paused, and the carving knife accidentally went half an inch too deep, cutting off one of the rabbit ears he had just carved.
A rabbit ear the size of a fingertip fell into his hand and mixed with the pile of sawdust.
Zhao Yun's expression remained calm as he twirled the rabbit's ears. "You're so naughty."
Same as Miss.
Xun Xiao didn't know whether his master had heard him or not, so he lowered his head and said nothing more.
Zhao Yun threw the defective rabbit in his hand into the nest next to him and stayed with dozens of other defective rabbits. He lowered his head, picked up another piece of wood, skillfully picked up the pen to outline the shape, and began to carve.
Just when Xun Xiao's head was about to ache, he finally heard his precious master speak, "Why aren't you serving the young lady?"
Xun Xiao, who had originally thought that he would ask about the details of the prince's banquet and had prepared a perfect answer, "..."
He was silent for a moment, “Miss Shen kicked me out.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yun chuckled softly but said nothing. Xun Xiao didn't know what his attitude was.
So he stood there like a wooden stake for another hour, until Zhao Yun finally carved a perfect rabbit, and then pinched its ears to look at it carefully.
"Tell the prince that I will be there in three days."
Xun Xiao took the order and went out. He always felt like he had forgotten something, but he couldn't remember it.
Xun Xiao's entanglement continued until the Prince's flower-viewing banquet three days later. When he saw Chen Shuwei at the banquet, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten something. It turned out that he forgot to tell his master that Miss Shen would also be present, and asked him to be careful not to reveal his identity.
Zhao Yun rubbed the rabbit's head with satisfaction, then personally mixed the paint and painted the rabbit.
When Shen Shuwei received the wooden carved rabbit, he was in the kitchen watching the cook making ginseng soup for Shen Heng.
The autumn examination is approaching, and Chen Heng's food, clothing, housing and transportation cannot be neglected at all. Chen Shuwei is in charge of everything throughout the process.
"No need to add sugar, big brother has a light palate and can't handle something too sweet."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a low cough behind her. She turned her head and saw Zhao Yun standing there, looking at her with gentle eyes.
Shen Shuwei glanced at him, then looked away and tried to leave.
His wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone. Shen Shu frowned slightly as he looked at the slender jade-like hand on his wrist. Several blue blood vessels protruded under the porcelain-white skin, and he felt inexplicably astringent.
"Miss, are you still angry with me?" The voice was as soft as a mountain spring, which could easily calm people's hearts.
But Shen Shuwei knew that he was having another attack, so he pulled his wrist away and looked up at him, "What's the matter? Did you buy groceries and bring someone back?"
Zhao Yun pulled out the carved wooden rabbit from his sleeve, carelessly revealing the wound he had cut. "This is an apology gift for the young lady."
Shen Shuwei's gaze inevitably fell on the narrow wound on his right index finger. Because the owner had not treated it properly, the wound was still bleeding.
Zhao Yun saw Shen Shuwei's eyes fall on her index finger, and passed the handkerchief to Shen Shuwei through the rabbit wood carving, "Miss, don't worry, your gift is not dirty."
Shen Shuwei looked at the wooden carved rabbit without moving.
Zhao Yun took half a step closer, and the two were only a fist's distance apart. The sound of each other's breathing could be clearly heard in each other's eardrums.
"Miss, are you still angry? Then can I carve another one for you out of white jade?" He lowered his head slightly and breathed softly in her ear.
He once secretly lay on the courtyard wall and watched his mother carve a piece of wood into the shape of a rabbit, gave it to his younger brother lying in her arms, and gently kissed his forehead.
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