Chapter 340 Slap in the Face (Fifth Update)
In mid-June, a torrential rainstorm hit the capital, lasting for five days. Many farmlands and houses were flooded, and the Ministry of Works was busy clearing the capital's sewers. Even the construction of Empress Dowager Zhuang's residence was temporarily suspended. Lord Gu was summoned back to take on a critical mission.
The Ministry of Revenue was busy helping the people resume farming.
Some Hanlin officials who were knowledgeable in agronomy were also transferred to the countryside, and Xiao Liulang was among those conscripted.
The day before his departure, he went to Renshou Palace to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
While reading the memorials in her study, Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted and said, "It's not like I'm going anywhere far, just a day's journey. Why bother coming to say goodbye?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Eunuch Qin walked in carrying a bundle: "Xiao Xiuzhuan, please put away the things for you. They were all personally selected by the Empress Dowager. This servant was just about to send them to Biyue Alley when you happened to come by yourself!"
Xiao Liulang looked at the two large bags full of things, then looked at his aunt.
Oh, what happened to the promise not to say goodbye?
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared fiercely at Eunuch Qin!
Eunuch Qin rubbed his nose sheepishly: "Oh dear, I just remembered I still have a few accounts to read! I'll be going now!"
After saying that, he ran away in a flash!
"When will we depart?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.
"First thing tomorrow morning," Xiao Liulang said.
Empress Dowager Zhuang asked, "Besides you, who else is there?"
Xiao Liulang said, "Wang Xiuzhuan, Li Xiuzhuan, and Yang Shidu."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly, "Someone come here."
Eunuch Qin stepped inside: "Empress Dowager, what are your orders?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "I have several volumes of scriptures here that need to be copied. Go to the Hanlin Academy and have Yang Shidu copy them."
"No need, Auntie," Xiao Liulang said. "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? I can handle it."
Empress Dowager Zhuang thought about it and realized that she couldn't be overprotective. Giving this kid some small fry to practice on was a blessing for him.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked Eunuch Qin.
Eunuch Qin hurriedly said with a smile, "We've been waiting for Your Majesty to serve the meal!"
Xiao Liulang had dinner with Empress Dowager Zhuang at Renshou Palace, and then planned to leave.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, "I've been sitting here all day, so I might as well go out for a walk."
Xiao Liulang's lips curled slightly: "Okay."
The grandfather and grandson left Renshou Palace.
A torrential rain not only flooded a large part of the capital city, but also flooded a lot of the palace grounds. Fortunately, Renshou Palace was the most powerful palace, and all the floodwaters were drained and the roads were filled in, so that travel was unimpeded all the way to the main gate of the palace.
The Huaqing Palace was also open to the public.
The sunset was beautiful and the weather was cool. Consort Jing sat in a sedan chair supported by a splendid canopy, dressed in nun's robes and hat, which seemed out of place in the magnificent sedan chair.
Since Consort Jing was injured, she has been recuperating in Huaqing Palace. After several days of torrential rain, the imperial physician said that she could not stay in her palace all the time and should go out for some fresh air.
So the emperor had her carried out in a sedan chair.
Empress Dowager Zhuang did not ride in her own phoenix carriage in order to accompany Xiao Liulang on his journey.
The two groups met unexpectedly, but Consort Jing was high and mighty.
"big--"
Eunuch Qin was about to rebuke her for not getting out of her sedan chair when she saw the Empress Dowager.
Xiao Liulang spoke first, performing the greeting one would give to a nun, and said, "Master Jing'an."
The palace servants around Consort Jing's side changed their expressions instantly.
What, Abbess Jing'an? This is Consort Jing!
Even His Majesty calls her "Mother Consort"!
Consort Jing remained unmoved.
Xiao Liulang introduced, "The Consort Jing has been away from the palace for too long and has become a nun. She must have forgotten her past in the secular world. This is the Empress Dowager."
Having said all that, no one could refuse to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
"Alight from the sedan chair." Consort Jing raised her hand and looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was also looking at her.
Both of them had incredibly calm eyes, and no one could guess what they were thinking.
Granny Cai reached out and helped Consort Jing up.
Consort Jing was still in pain, mainly because the injury was in an inappropriate location, making it both embarrassing and slow to heal.
Supported by Granny Cai, Consort Jing slowly approached Empress Dowager Zhuang and performed a Buddhist salute: "This humble nun..."
Before she could finish speaking, Empress Dowager Zhuang left without looking back.
Consort Jing froze as she bowed, and all the palace servants saw her momentary embarrassment and awkwardness.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's aura was undoubtedly powerful and awe-inspiring. She didn't need to deliberately look down on anyone; she was born with an aura that said, "I am the best in the world."
"Your Highness..." A young palace maid stepped forward to support her.
Consort Jing's eyelashes trembled slightly: "I'm fine."
Empress Dowager Zhuang accompanied Xiao Liulang all the way to the Imperial Garden. Xiao Liulang stopped and said to her, "Auntie, please go back. It's getting late."
"Hmm." Empress Dowager Zhuang responded faintly, looking into his eyes and admonishing him, "Be careful in everything."
"I understand." Xiao Liulang nodded, glanced in the direction of Huaqing Palace, and said, "Please entrust Jiaojiao to your great-aunt's care."
Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes: "My darling, I will take care of her myself, do you need to tell me?"
Xiao Liulang chuckled, "Then I'll be going now."
"Hmm." Empress Dowager Zhuang watched Xiao Liulang disappear at the end of the path before turning to return to Renshou Palace. She noticed that Eunuch Qin was lost in thought and glared at him, saying, "What are you daydreaming about! Let's go!"
"Xiao Xiuzhuan's smile is... very handsome..." Eunuch Qin remarked.
Empress Dowager Zhuang thought to herself, "Of course he's handsome. How could the young marquis who was already the most outstanding in Zhaodu at the age of thirteen not be good-looking?"
This child just doesn't like to smile.
That doesn't seem quite right either. He used to love to laugh; when he was little, his giggles filled the entire Imperial Garden.
It was the great fire at the Imperial College that burned away his smile.
Was that fire really an accident?
If Xiao Heng survived, then who was the charred corpse that died in the fire?
The next day, when Xiao Liulang got up, Gu Jiao had already packed his luggage. This was not his first time traveling far from home; before, it was to take the imperial examination, but now it was to go on official business.
"Mosquito coils are in this bundle, mosquito repellent, diarrhea medicine, and motion sickness medicine are in this sachet, along with some fruits and dry food for the journey."
Gu Jiao knew that he didn't have much money; what he earned was either rent or household expenses for her.
Gu Jiao had put a hundred taels of silver notes, along with a bag of loose silver and copper coins inside.
Xiao Liulang took the bundle: "I can be back in half a month at the earliest, and no later than next month."
"Take care." Gu Jiao saw him onto the carriage.
Liu Quan first sent him to the Hanlin Academy, and all the Hanlin officials traveled to the countryside by horse-drawn carriage.
Xiao Jingkong went to school and missed the farewell ceremony.
After Xiao Liulang left, Gu Jiao went to the clinic and stayed there for the morning. Afterwards, she changed into men's clothing, put on a mask, and went to the Tai'an Martial Arts School.
I've been very busy lately and haven't been here for a long time.
She needs to recover her strength as soon as possible; she doesn't want to run away again the next time she sees that assassin!
She's going to put him in a sack!
Having not encountered any particularly difficult opponents today, Gu Jiao lost interest after a few matches.
She rubbed her wrist and walked back.
Because some streets in the city were still flooded, she didn't take her usual route but instead took a long detour. On her way back, she unexpectedly encountered the same beggar who had set up the chessboard last time.
The beggar still covered his face with the book, as if he were asleep.
The chessboard in front of him was different from the one he had played last time.
Gu Jiao glanced at it curiously. This game was clearly more difficult, and she didn't solve it as quickly as last time.
She began to mentally deduce the game. There were more than ten possible moves in this game, and each move would generate dozens of possible board positions. Ordinary people simply could not perform such a massive mental deduction.
About fifteen minutes later, Gu Jiao opened her eyes, picked up a chess piece, and placed it on the chessboard.
Just as she was about to leave, a withered, old hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
It was that old beggar.
She was so engrossed in deducing the chess game that she didn't realize the other person had woken up.
The old beggar grabbed her wrist and said, "Hey? You think you can just leave after you've taken my chess pieces? Didn't you see what this sign says?"
It was the same broken wooden sign Gu Jiao had seen before, with the words "ten taels per game" written on it.
"Oh." Gu Jiao extended her hand.
The old beggar stared at his empty hands, startled: "What are you doing?"
"Weren't you going to give me silver?" Gu Jiao pointed to the wooden plaque. "Ten taels."
The old beggar gasped: "You gave me ten taels!"
Wait, judging from the voice... this little baby is a girl?
Oh, so you weren't asking someone to solve a chess puzzle.
Gu Jiao misunderstood. She thought for a moment and said strangely, "But is this kind of broken chess game really worth ten taels?"
The old beggar nearly choked to death. He pointed at the chessboard on the ground: "You...you...you...what did you say? A broken chessboard? You call this...a broken chessboard?"
Gu Jiao said innocently, "Ten taels of silver is the living expenses of a family of ten in the countryside for two years. If you're charging such a high price, you should at least make it a bit more difficult, right?"
(End of this chapter)
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