Chapter 116 An Encounter
When Meng Guanqi entered Zhiyu Tower with his classmates, he did not see Li Xiaoxiao. Instead, he observed the famous storytelling building in the capital without changing his expression.
Although he grew up in the capital, he was only fourteen years old when he left. Moreover, he had always been well-behaved and obedient in the manor, going home after school and rarely lingering outside. Therefore, he had only heard of this place and had never been there.
The building was bustling with all sorts of sounds, and a familiar voice faintly drifted from behind: "Young Master~"
But the address was too ordinary, and he didn't know who it was referring to, so he ignored it.
He took a few more steps forward, and that familiar voice rang out again: "Young Master? Meng Guanqi!"
Meng Guanqi turned around in surprise, her eyes widening in shock.
He couldn't believe it, so he rubbed his eyes hard, then rubbed them again to make sure she hadn't disappeared. Only then did he run straight towards her with a look of surprise and delight.
He bumped into two classmates as he ran towards her, apologizing profusely, but his steps didn't falter until he stood before her, exclaiming with delight, "Xiaoxiao! It's you? What are you doing here?"
Li Xiaoxiao retorted, "I should be asking you that, what are you doing here?"
Meng Guanqi grabbed her hand and was about to speak when all his classmates looked over, so he quickly let go.
One of them asked, "Guanqi, have you met a friend?"
Meng Guanqi clasped his hands and said, "Brother Fang, fellow students, this is a family member of mine. My father must have sent her to the capital on some business. I didn't expect to run into her here. I won't eat here with you all. I will return to Jixian Hall before curfew. Please pass on my message to the headmaster."
Meng Guanqi's classmates looked at Li Xiaoxiao curiously. Li Xiaoxiao bowed to them, and they quickly returned the bow, saying, "In that case, please make yourself at home. We will help you talk to the headmaster."
"Yes, you haven't been home for more than two years. You must have a lot to ask your family when you see them now."
"Don't worry about us, we'll just have a meal here and then go back."
Meng Guanqi thanked his classmates, then grabbed Li Xiaoxiao and ran off.
One of the scholars, surnamed Fang, joked, "It's rare to see someone so lively while watching chess, like a child."
"Exactly, he's not even eighteen yet, isn't he still a child?"
"It's been almost three years since I've been home. How can I not be happy to see my family? Let him be happy for a few days."
"Alright, alright, let's go in. Just remember to tell the headmaster when we get back. He's from the capital, so he's much more familiar with the city than we out-of-towners are. Plus, he has family with him, so there's no need to worry about his safety."
...
Meng Guanqi pulled Li Xiaoxiao forward and ran until they reached a deserted alleyway. He then stopped and carefully examined her, his eyes practically overflowing with surprise.
Seeing how happy he was, Li Xiaoxiao snorted inwardly and forgave him for breaking his promise.
It had been more than two years since he last saw her. She hadn't grown much taller, and her appearance was no different from what he remembered, except that she seemed a little more composed.
Meng Guanqi was overjoyed and couldn't help but reach out and tightly grasp her hand.
He was observing Li Xiaoxiao, and Li Xiaoxiao was also observing him. After more than two years apart, he had changed a lot. He was taller, probably from climbing mountains a lot, and looked more muscular. He had lost much of his youthful immaturity, and there were even light stubble marks on his chin. His facial features were sharper, and he had grown into a more handsome young man.
Li Xiaoxiao couldn't help but sigh. If he really passed the imperial examination and stood in the court with that face, what would anyone else have to do with it? Everyone would be watching him.
The two spoke almost simultaneously: "What are you doing here?"
Li Xiaoxiao looked around. This wasn't the place to talk, and besides, she was dressed as a man, and Meng Guanqi was too conspicuous. It wouldn't be good to hold hands with someone on the street and be seen by others. "Come back to the inn with me."
Meng Guanqi readily agreed and immediately followed her to the inn where she was staying.
Li Xiaoxiao closed the door behind her, and Meng Guanqi couldn't wait to pull her down to sit, carefully examining her.
This was the first time Li Xiaoxiao had seen him look at her so intensely, and she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Meng Guanqi said, "We haven't seen each other for more than two years, can't we look at each other a little longer?"
Li Xiaoxiao chuckled: "Alright, then you see. I don't think I've changed much in the past two years. On the contrary, you've grown a lot taller." She can only barely reach his chin now. You know, when she first came, the two of them were almost the same height. So, it seems that only he has grown taller over the years.
Meng Guanqi liked her generous and unpretentious manner. Even if the two of them spent a long time together, they would never feel uncomfortable.
After so long apart, he was alone with her in a room, yet there was no awkwardness between them. It was as if they had returned to the days when they met every day, so natural and harmonious.
It was as if the two had never been apart.
He couldn't help but grasp her hand, and with a slight pressure, he could feel the thin calluses on her fingertips that were slightly prickly.
He also had thin calluses on the index and middle fingers of his right hand, which came from holding a pen. The thin calluses on her fingers came from doing what she loved.
Holding her hand in his, he felt his heart swell with joy at their unexpected reunion. He felt he had so much to say to her, enough to talk for three days and three nights without sleep.
But looking at her pretty face so close to his, he suddenly couldn't say a word. As if possessed, he slowly moved closer, his heart pounding, wanting only to get closer and closer to her, until he unconsciously pulled her into his arms.
Li Xiaoxiao blushed and her heart raced under his gaze. Now that he was holding her in his arms, her heart fluttered slightly and she felt a little dizzy.
This feeling came without warning, like the unspoken understanding between lovers. When they were in the same space, they couldn't help but want to get closer to each other, touch each other, and hug each other.
She has always been the type to do whatever she wants, and without hesitation, she reached out and hugged him tightly.
Meng Guanqi couldn't help but tighten her arms, and her entire body, from her neck to her forehead, was red.
It was her, it was her! He had seen her a thousand times in his dreams, and now she stood right in front of him, in his arms. He felt that the world was complete.
When lovers reunite, some actions are almost instinctive. He quickly became dissatisfied with the embrace and, blushing, lowered his head, gently approaching her forehead, her eyes, her nose, her face, and finally their lips met, awkwardly lingering.
Li Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. This guy was practically a ripe shrimp, yet he still remembered to kiss her.
She wasn't the type to be shy or hesitant, and this was her first time kissing someone, so she tentatively began to return his soft, warm kisses.
Meng Guanqi's heart pounded like a drum, his mind went blank, and all that remained was the instinctive urge to take. She was so strong, but her lips were so soft and delicate that he couldn't help but tighten his arms around her waist.
After a passionate kiss, both of them were panting. Their eyes met, but they blushed and turned their heads away in embarrassment.
Li Xiaoxiao was the first to come to her senses and lightly punched him: "Not a single letter in over two years, and you even broke your promise. You took advantage of me as soon as we met. Meng Guanqi, you have such a big face!"
Meng Guanqi immediately apologized: "Breaking the promise was my fault. I didn't expect such a big change to happen. Otherwise, I really planned to go on a study tour this year."
Li Xiaoxiao said, "But didn't you say in your letter that you would study at the academy for another six months? Only three months have passed, how come you're already in the capital?"
When it came to serious matters, Meng Guanqi's expression gradually became serious. He straightened his expression and said, "This is a long story. Not only have all the candidates from our academy who will participate in the imperial examination next year come, but even our headmaster has come. Moreover, it's not just our Wanshan Academy. The candidates from Baiyun Academy in Jinzhou, Jiakang Academy in Qingzhou, and eight other famous private schools in the other five prefectures will also be arriving in the capital in the next few days."
Li Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "The imperial examination is next February. Even if you want to participate in the imperial examination, you shouldn't be coming to the capital so early. Is there something wrong?"
Meng Guanqi glanced at the tightly closed door and whispered, "This matter is related to the Crown Prince. The headmaster received a secret decree from the Emperor, requiring him to bring the candidates who will participate in the imperial examinations next year to the capital to attend a gathering to oppose the court officials' idea of deposing the Crown Prince and establishing a new heir."
Li Xiaoxiao was shocked: "What? How did it get to such a serious situation as deposing the crown prince?"
Remembering the rumor the storyteller had mentioned earlier, she immediately told Meng Guanqi what she had just heard: "How credible do you think the rumor is?"
Meng Guanqi's expression was solemn, his brows furrowed slightly, and he gently shook his head: "I'm afraid it's about 70 or 80 percent true. The Crown Prince hasn't attended court for a long time, and you may not know, but the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace passed away a month ago. It's a secret in the palace, and there are rumors that the Crown Prince went mad after hearing the news, and the Emperor and Empress were helpless... But this rumor only confirms the ominous rumors about the Crown Prince. The fate of the heir apparent is related to the fate of the country. The imperial relatives in charge of the ancestral temple are crying for the late Emperor in the Fengling Hall every day, demanding that the Crown Prince be deposed and a new emperor be established. His Majesty can hardly bear the pressure alone, so he secretly summoned all the scholars in the country to hold a gathering to resist the pressure from the court officials and the imperial relatives. You should know that before the Crown Prince's incident, he was a wise man who introduced a series of new policies that benefited scholars and achieved great success. He had a very high status among scholars."
Li Xiaoxiao was taken aback: "The Crown Prince has passed away? Who said that?"
Meng Guanqi said, "The fact that the palace is keeping it a secret is naturally just hearsay, but the source of the information is quite credible. Even His Majesty has issued an edict to confine the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace, actually because he is afraid that the Crown Prince will lose his temper in front of others, making it even more difficult for His Majesty to protect him."
Li Xiaoxiao spat and said, "Nonsense, the young master is clearly in our house."
Meng Guanqi continued, “The Crown Prince was originally feared by His Majesty because of the rumor of ‘the aura of a true dragon,’ but unexpectedly, after the ominous rumors came out, His Majesty sided with him instead. However, the Crown Prince’s decline is already evident, and the princes who are eager to vie for the throne will definitely spare no effort to spread rumors—” He suddenly froze, and it took him a long time to react: “What did you say?”
Li Xiaoxiao said, "I was saying that the Crown Prince Li Ke is currently in our house. If nothing unexpected happens, he's playing in the mud with Rui Rui right now."
Meng Guanqi felt a chill run down his spine and stood up abruptly: "In our house?! What, what are you talking about?"
Li Xiaoxiao rested her chin on her hand and yawned: "This all started about two weeks ago..."
She recounted in detail how she accidentally met Aunt Qing and Hang Wei, and how she unexpectedly rescued Li Ke and brought him home.
Meng Guanqi's face turned pale, and he was so shocked that he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
He asked urgently, "Since you saved the prince, why didn't you send the news back to the palace?"
He suddenly realized: "So that's why you're in the capital, right? You came here to deliver a message?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded: "That's right. The reason I didn't bring the young master back with me was because I was worried about encountering pursuers on the way. But strangely, not only did we not encounter any pursuers, but we didn't even see anyone looking for the young master..."
Meng Guanqi frowned and pondered for a long time, pacing around the room more than ten times before clapping his hands and saying, "I understand!"
Li smiled and said, "What do you understand?"
Meng Guanqi exclaimed in amazement: "The cunning of the person who devised this plan is chilling!"
His expression turned serious: "Since it is true that the Crown Prince was assassinated, the Crown Prince's Palace and the Empress would have known about it in time. However, the Crown Prince's escape was something that the Crown Prince's Palace and the Empress would not have known. This explains why the Crown Prince went mad and why the Empress did not send anyone to find the Crown Prince but instead imprisoned him. Because in their hearts, the Crown Prince's death was a foregone conclusion."
He quickened his pace: "I don't know how the person who did it managed to do it, but they must have created the illusion that the Crown Prince and the Empress were dead, so they wouldn't continue investigating his whereabouts. But the Crown Prince is already the Crown Prince's only son. If this news were to spread, it would only further solidify the claim that the Crown Prince is cursed. It would be difficult to explain to either the court or the imperial family. In order to protect the Crown Prince, the Empress is doing everything she can to conceal the fact that the Crown Prince is 'dead,' and will try to delay the matter, not announcing the news of the Crown Prince's death unless absolutely necessary..."
He took a deep breath, sat down, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it in one gulp. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the teacup. "So His Majesty knows that the Crown Prince was framed, and those who plotted against him are challenging imperial authority. If the Crown Prince were deposed under such circumstances, it would be tantamount to sentencing him to death, further demonstrating the incompetence of imperial power. He will certainly not allow such a situation to occur, so he will do everything in his power to protect the Crown Prince's position."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoxiao suddenly said, "So this must be something that the person behind the scenes didn't expect, right? The emperor has sided with the crown prince, which is definitely not the result he wanted to see."
Meng Guanqi said, "This only means that it's not the result he wants for now, but what if the Crown Prince can't break this deadlock? What if the court officials and the imperial family keep pressuring His Majesty? What if the Crown Prince never recovers? His Majesty can't just send a crown prince who's on the verge of going insane to the throne based on his own personal feelings. He can't bear the impeachments from the censors alone..."
He suddenly stood up and solemnly bowed to Li Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, I want to thank you. Please accept my bow."
Li Xiaoxiao stared blankly at him.
After Meng Guanqi finished bowing, he took her hand and said, "The Crown Prince is the aspiration of all scholars in the world, and you are the key to breaking the deadlock for the Crown Prince. The Heir Apparent is the elixir that brings the Crown Prince back to life. Your appearance is very likely to completely turn this situation around. You are truly a lucky general."
Li Xiaoxiao looked at him without saying a word.
Meng Guanqi gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled warmly, "What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Li Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. The two of them were already in the same boat. What difference was there between what she did and what he did? Her expression was complicated: "Actually, I didn't tell you the real purpose of coming to the capital."
Meng Guanqi was taken aback: "Didn't you come to the capital to tell the Crown Prince that you saved the Heir Apparent? Is there anything else?"
Li smiled and said, "I may have discovered the truth behind the successive deaths of the Crown Prince's children."
Like a thunderclap exploding in his ears, Meng Guanqi exclaimed, "How is this possible?"
How could this be? The Crown Prince's children have died one after another. The Emperor and Empress have searched almost the entire Eastern Palace and the Imperial Palace thoroughly. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital have had their ancestors traced back to the eighteenth generation, but they still couldn't find anything. That's why they attributed it all to fate. That's why they were helpless against the rumors circulating among the people that the Crown Prince was an omen of misfortune. If they could find out that the young prince and princesses were murdered, how could they let it go!
His face was pale, and he asked anxiously, "What did you find?" Even the Emperor, Empress and the Imperial Physician couldn't find it, but Li Xiaoxiao actually found it?
Li Xiaoxiao took out a small, square box from her backpack and opened it in front of Meng Guanqi. Upon closer inspection, Meng Guanqi saw a dark, iron-like stone inside.
Curious, he reached out and picked it up. To his surprise, the fist-sized rock weighed two or three pounds. He exclaimed, "What is this?"
Li Xiaoxiao said, "These are lead blocks. I bought them in Biyang County. They are extracted from lead ore. The powder that noblewomen use to apply to their faces contains white lead. This is ordinary lead, but both types are toxic." However, lead has an even more important role in later generations: radiation protection.
Security screening machines, such as those used in subway and high-speed rail stations, are most accessible to ordinary people. They have two thick black curtains at the front and back, called lead curtains. These curtains contain a very high amount of lead and are used to prevent X-rays from leaking out of the security screening machine.
Meng Guanqi knew that lead was poisonous, but what did this dark block of lead have to do with the deaths of the young prince and princesses?
Li Xiaoxiao reached out and took the lead block, opened the piston on top, and poured out a crystal-clear sapphire.
She held the gem in her palm: "This is the gem I found on the Crown Prince. If I'm not mistaken, all the deceased princes and princesses had a gem that was exactly the same or similar on them. That's what killed them."
A gemstone could actually kill someone? Meng Guanqi couldn't believe it: "How is this possible? This... isn't this a sapphire?"
Li Xiaoxiao shook her head: "This stone is called fluorite. Long-term contact with the human body can cause the organs to slowly fail, but you can't tell from the pulse. You'll find that people who come into contact with this stone gradually become weaker, sleep-deprived, lack energy and strength, and eventually die from organ failure. It's a slow-acting poison that can take two or three years or even longer to take effect. If you don't know the details, people around you will only think that the person's health is slowly deteriorating and that they may eventually die from a minor cold or cough. They would never suspect that they have been poisoned."
Meng Guanqi was shocked. He thought of the Crown Prince's third son. He had heard that the boy had gradually become thin and weak from being a chubby child, and eventually died from a minor cold. Could it really be because of this fluorite?
Looking at Meng Guanqi's pale face, Li Xiaoxiao slowly said, "Similar minerals include orpiment, also known as cockscomb stone. It is red like a cockscomb and bright like the morning glow. It is extremely beautiful, but people who are in contact with it for a long time will gradually become irritable. In severe cases, they will lose their rationality and become like they have gone mad, not recognizing their close friends and family. There is also copper mica, which is similar to jade, and red thallium ore, which is similar to ruby. The light emitted by these minerals is toxic, and people should not be in contact with them for a long time."
Meng Guanqi looked at her in surprise: "How did you know?" He had never seen or even heard of these stones before. Moreover, he felt that not only did he not recognize them, but the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital probably did not recognize them either, otherwise how could they not have identified them?
Li smiled and said, "Have you forgotten? I used to work in a mine, I was a miner. Every old mine knows all kinds of ores, which ones are good and which ones are bad. That's experience and memory passed down from generation to generation..."
Meng Guanqi murmured, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is." Such beautiful "gems" were carved by people with ulterior motives and sent to the palace. Since there were no lowly miners in the palace, naturally no one would recognize that these "gems" were actually poisonous stones.
Li Xiaoxiao dropped an even more bombshell: "And do you know what? Aze told me that this 'gem' was a gift from the Empress."
Meng Guanqi was completely stunned. The Empress gave it to Aze? How could it be the Empress? She was Aze's own grandmother. What reason would she have to harm her own grandson and granddaughter like this?
Meng Guanqi subconsciously shook his head and said, "Impossible. Why would the Empress do such a thing? The Crown Prince is her own son! And even if he was sent away through her hands, it might not have been intentional. It could have been a setup by someone with ulterior motives. The Crown Prince and the Empress have always had a good relationship. After the Crown Prince's incident, the Empress and His Majesty investigated the murderer together many times. If it really was her doing, what benefit would it bring her? This doesn't make sense."
Li Xiaoxiao said, "I also think the Empress has no reason to do this. She's not a stepmother, how could she possibly do such a thing to her own son and grandson? But we don't need to worry about this. I just need to tell the Crown Prince about the gemstone and let him investigate."
She sighed: "This is definitely a huge breakthrough. If the Crown Prince still can't find anything by this point, I think you don't need to attend this gathering anymore, and the Emperor doesn't need to protect the Crown Prince anymore. Just replace him."
After she finished speaking, she glanced up and realized that it was already dark. She quickly stood up and said, "Oh dear, it's getting dark, curfew is approaching. I'll take you home."
Meng Guanqi was surprised that time had passed so quickly. After a long separation, he and Li Xiaoxiao reunited, but they barely exchanged a few heartfelt words before discussing the Crown Prince's affairs.
There were still many things to sort out about this matter. He really wanted to just book another room at the inn to sleep, but then he remembered that he had told his classmates that he would go back that night, and he was afraid that the headmaster would worry. So he had no choice but to stand up and follow Li Xiaoxiao out.
Li Xiaoxiao went to the stable to fetch a horse, helped Meng Guanqi onto it, and immediately whipped it and galloped towards the Jixian Hall.
Fortunately, the two places were not far apart, and we finally arrived after a short while.
Li Xiaoxiao helped Meng Guanqi off his horse and said in a deep voice, "When I came here, I didn't know that the Crown Prince's situation was already so pessimistic. In that case, it's better to tell the Crown Prince about this sooner rather than later. I have to go find Pang Shi immediately."
Meng Guanqi was startled: "The curfew is coming soon, how are you going to get there?"
Li Xiaoxiao smiled slightly: "I always think I can find a way to get out."
That meant they would have to break in at night. Although he knew she was very skilled and ordinary people couldn't do anything to her, he was still worried: "Today is too rushed. How about we go a little later? We can discuss a plan together tomorrow, or I can go to the East Palace with you..."
Li Xiaoxiao pushed him away: "No, you can't be exposed. Although there are some clues in this case, it's still a case of the enemy being in the dark while we are in the light. I even kept it a secret from the adults when I came out, so I can't drag you into this. Don't worry, I'm not someone who doesn't know what's important. If there's any danger, I always have a way to get out of it."
Meng Guanqi was still holding her hand, wanting to say more, when a senior brother came out of Jixianju: "Guanqi? You're back? The headmaster is asking you. If you hadn't come back, the headmaster would have sent us out to look for someone..."
Li Xiaoxiao didn't want his fellow disciples to see the two of them arguing, so she pushed him and said, "Go inside quickly, I'm leaving."
Meng Guanqi asked anxiously, "Then where shall we meet tomorrow? I'll wait for you at the inn?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded: "I don't know if I can come out tomorrow. You can go over in the afternoon. If I haven't returned by 5 pm, just leave a message and don't wait."
What?! She might not be back tomorrow? How can that be? Can't she just deliver the message to Pang Shi? Does she have to go to the palace?
What if the Crown Prince detains her and refuses to let her go?
In his haste, he tried to pull her back, but Li Xiaoxiao had already leaped onto her horse, turned it around, and rode away.
Meng Guanqi watched as she rode away on horseback, disappearing swiftly into the twilight, and felt extremely anxious.
His classmate walked over and, seeing him staring at the night sky, asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"
Meng Guanqi forced a smile: "It's nothing. My family brought me back. I was worried that she might have trouble dealing with the officials when she went back..."
My classmate laughed and said, "You call yourself a local from the capital? There's still almost half an hour before curfew, and you're already on your way back. Even if you run into the constables, you can just explain it to them..."
Suppressing her unease, Meng Guanqi followed her classmate inside.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I didn't get to the list I wanted, I got the most difficult one instead, sob sob sob, I want to cry, I can't beat it, I can't beat it! [crying][crying][crying]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com