Chapter 466 Surprise (Second Update)
Princess Xinyang finally boarded the first luxurious and stylish carriage with a dark expression.
Marquis Xuanping also boarded the carriage and tossed the whip in his hand into Chang Jing's arms: "Be steady, the princess doesn't like bumpy rides."
"Oh." Chang Jing took the whip, and with one lash, the carriage jolted and lurched!
Marquis Xuanping: "..."
The couple sat down in the carriage. Marquis Xuanping looked at Princess Xinyang with a leisurely air and said with a half-smile, "I went to Fengdu Mountain to find you, but you refused to see me. Instead, you ran back to the capital. What? Are you hiding from me?"
"Why should I need to avoid you?" Princess Xinyang said calmly.
Marquis Xuanping twitched his lips, revealing a roguish smile: "Come on, Qin Fengwan, you've been avoiding me ever since Xiao Heng died. Sometimes I even suspect that you set that fire. You're simply too ashamed to face me."
Princess Xinyang turned her face away and said, "Heh."
Marquis Xuanping glanced at the roof of the carriage and said casually, "Alright, have your 'someone' bring Xiao Heng down. Flying around in the sky, he's not tired, but I'm tired for my own son."
After Xiao Heng was rescued by Long Yi, or more precisely, after the Marquis of Xuanping appeared, Xiao Heng had Long Yi take him away.
However, what seemed like a casual remark from Marquis Xuanping contained many important points.
First, he knew Long Yi.
Second, he had already decided that Xiao Liulang was Xiao Heng.
Long Yi was originally a secret guard in the princess's mansion. It was only after he went to Fengdu Mountain that he gradually came into the open. During this period, Long Yi never met with Marquis Xuanping.
In other words, Marquis Xuanping knew of Long Yi's existence long before the fire at the Imperial Academy. Since he knew even the most powerful Long Yi, he must have known about the other Dragon Shadow Guards as well.
It is impossible to know exactly when he found out; perhaps four years ago, or perhaps even earlier.
As for the second thing.
Judging from the situation in the capital, Princess Xinyang could roughly guess that Marquis Xuanping went to Fengdu Mountain to invite her back to identify Xiao Heng.
Now that she and Xiao Heng are in the same carriage, he already knows the answer without her having to tell him herself.
Marquis Xuanping said, "Chang Jing, go and catch those two flying in the sky."
Chang Jing, who was driving, leaped into the air!
A while later, Chang Jing returned to the carriage with a bruised and swollen face.
"We can't beat them."
Chang Jing felt wronged, but he didn't say anything.
Marquis Xuanping snorted, "Serves you right, this will teach you a lesson for driving recklessly next time."
Chang Jing's face darkened. So you were just getting revenge for the bumpy ride off the carriage!
Chang Jing was in a bad mood and really wanted to drive the carriage as fast as he could, but he couldn't outmaneuver the old fox, Marquis Xuanping. It was a very sad story.
Inside the carriage, Marquis Xuanping leaned lazily against the wall, with a soft and thick cushion behind him. His long legs were crossed, one hand resting on the armrest beside him, and the other hand gently resting on his leg, his slender fingertips tapping his knee.
Princess Xinyang sat opposite him, her expression indifferent, without uttering a word.
Marquis Xuanping smiled calmly: "Qin Fengwan, will you tell me yourself, or will I ask you question by question?"
Princess Xinyang asked, "What do you want me to say?"
Marquis Xuanping said, "All."
Princess Xinyang looked at him and said, "Why don't you tell me what happened with the mad horse just now?"
Marquis Xuanping said, "What? You suspect that I did it? I'm not that bored."
Princess Xinyang remained silent.
Marquis Xuanping narrowed his eyes at her: "Wait, are you suspecting someone is trying to assassinate you or Xiao Heng?"
Princess Xinyang exhaled slowly, looking at him intently, and said, "Before I answer all your questions, why don't you answer one of mine first? Who exactly was that female slave from Yan back then?"
After sending Xiao Heng back to Biyue Hutong, Long Yi left immediately. Before leaving, he ran into Xiao Jingkong and exchanged a little fistfist with him.
"Mukuro!"
Just as Xiao Heng was about to enter the house, he heard someone call him from behind. He turned around and said politely, "Aunt He, is there something you need?"
Aunt He handed him a jar with a smile: "These are some pickled vegetables I just made. Here you go."
"No need, I haven't finished the ones you gave me last time," Xiao Heng declined.
Aunt He shoved the jar into his arms, brooking no refusal, saying, "Take it, take it! There are so many of you in your family, you'll finish it in no time! Besides, it's just a jar of pickles, it's not worth much!"
Xiao Heng was not good at refusing such simple kindness, so he accepted it shyly: "Thank you, Aunt He."
As soon as Aunt He left, Uncle Zhao from next door came over, called him "Sixth Brother," and gave him a basket of eggs. He said that Gu Jiao had made salted duck eggs last time and had given some to the neighbors. He didn't have anything to give in return, so these were eggs from his own chickens.
Indeed, after Xiao Jingkong persisted in raising chickens for a year, Bishui Hutong also gradually started raising poultry.
"Mukuro--"
Yao called to him from inside.
"They're here!"
Xiao Heng carried the jar and basket into the house.
No one in his family changed how they addressed Xiao Heng, and Xiao Heng thought it was fine this way. He didn't have a courtesy name, so from now on, Liu Lang would be his courtesy name. He was Xiao Heng, and he was also Xiao Liu Lang.
He completed the life that Xiao Liulang didn't finish.
He showed Xiao Liulang the scenery he had never seen.
Xiao Heng's clothes were too small, so Yao bought him new ones. The cuffs were a bit narrow when he tried them on last time, so Yao altered them.
Xiao Heng tried it on again, and it fit perfectly.
He thanked Yao and told her about Aunt He and Uncle Zhao coming to deliver the things.
"Oh dear, they're too kind." Madam Yao was both amused and exasperated, and told Yuya to put the things away.
Xiao Heng returned to the west room. Xiao Jingkong had gotten out of school early today and was currently sticking his little bottom out, diving headfirst into his big box, throwing out the things inside with a whoosh, probably searching for some treasure.
Xiao Heng had a terrible headache.
He had cleaned it up for him just the day before yesterday.
Xiao Heng poked someone's little bottom with his cane: "What are you doing?"
Xiao Jingkong stopped rummaging through the things, pulled his little head out of the box, turned around and looked at Xiao Heng breathlessly, saying disappointedly, "I knew it was a bad brother-in-law!"
Jiaojiao would never poke his little bottom!
Why is it so messy again?
"I'm looking for something! Jiaojiao's birthday is coming up soon, and I want to give her a surprise!"
Gu Jiao's birthday is next month, which is less than forty days away.
Looking at the little guy covered in sweat, Xiao Heng suddenly said with a mischievous grin, "What a coincidence, I also want to give Jiao Jiao a surprise."
Little Jingkong patted his chest and said, "Then my surprise will definitely be bigger than yours!"
Xiao Heng raised an eyebrow: "That's not necessarily true."
Little Jingkong, hands on hips and stamping his feet, exclaimed, "Jiaojiao loves me the most!"
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "But she'll definitely love the surprise I give her the most."
Xiao Jingkong's eyes widened: "You...you...what's your surprise?!"
The little guy immediately tensed up.
Princess Xinyang was right. Xiao Jingkong and Xiao Heng were indeed very similar when they were young. For example, their strong competitive spirit was almost identical.
Xiao Heng bent down to look him in the eye, mimicking his usual manner, and proudly shook his little head: "I won't tell you, hehehe."
I'm so annoyed!
Xiao Jingkong clenched his little fists tightly.
He won't lose to his bad brother-in-law!
The biggest surprise must be what he gave Jiaojiao!
As the saying goes in military strategy, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle." He must know the surprise of his bad brother-in-law in order to defeat him!
Where did my naughty brother-in-law hide the surprise?
He, he, he will definitely find it!
...
Inside the carriage, Princess Xinyang recounted the entire truth.
Marquis Xuanping's face was extremely cold. He was not a person who often got angry, but at this moment he was a little unable to hold back.
He forced himself to calm down; he wasn't used to getting angry at women: "Qin Fengwan, do you think I'm particularly incompetent? I can't even protect my own son? How do you know I can't beat him without even a fight?"
Princess Xinyang said, "See, see, I knew you'd react this way. If you hadn't met them, no matter how much I said, you'd just think I was exaggerating. Fine, just assume I hated Aheng and didn't want to see her, so I deliberately sent her away!"
Marquis Xuanping frowned and said, "What do you mean by 'I will accept it'? If it is, it is! If it isn't, it isn't! You scholars love to beat around the bush, saying seven or eight different things in one sentence. I don't understand."
Princess Xinyang turned her face away and said, "If you don't understand, then so be it. Anyway, you were the one who brought that woman back with you. You ruined Aheng's life and also caused the death of my son."
“I will not defend Xiao Heng’s matter, but the death of your son…” Marquis Xuanping paused, seemingly realizing that the way he addressed him was inappropriate. After pondering for a moment, he said, “You and my son were not killed by me. I’m afraid this debt cannot be placed on my head.”
(End of this chapter)
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