Chapter 791 Half Treasure Map
The Nanzheng delegation entered the capital.
Emperor Jiazheng summoned the Nanzheng delegation to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Xingxing heard that the process seemed quite pleasant.
Officials of the Nanzheng delegation scolded the sinister people of Xiyi in the main hall, and said that the friendship between them and Daxia was indestructible and could not be provoked by those despicable and cunning people of Xiyi.
As for the previous friction at the border?
Those were all misunderstandings. They were temporarily deceived by the despicable, shameless and cunning people of Xiyi.
In order to express their apology to Daxia, they, Nanzheng, were willing to offer many treasures and their most beautiful pearls to show their sincerity.
——Of course, the most beautiful pearl in Nanzheng naturally refers to the princess Youluo, who is held in the palm of the King of Nanzheng's hand.
Nan Zheng's intention was naturally to let Youluo enter the harem of Emperor Jiazheng.
However, Emperor Jiazheng politely declined, saying that his sons and nephews were all talented people and would be a better match for Princess Youluo.
The members of the Nanzheng delegation were obviously still a little unhappy, but Emperor Jiazheng had made up his mind and didn't care whether they were happy or not.
This is the temporary settlement.
Princess Youluo's arrival in Beijing was like a drop of water falling into a boiling oil pan.
Those families who were watching the royal children who were about to get married felt a chill on the back of their necks.
They all think that the royal children they like are the best.
Wouldn't that mean he would be the unlucky one who married Princess Youluo? !
For a time, people were in a panic and accelerated the pace of marriage with the prince.
The Fourth Prince Wei Shibu had been engaged to Yu Mingzhu a long time ago, so he was not involved in such a storm - after all, they couldn't let Princess Nan Zheng become a concubine for one of their princes, right?
But apart from these, several royal children of appropriate age were almost all involved in this turmoil.
…
In the Nanzheng Embassy.
Princess Youluo was wearing a dress with Nanzheng characteristics. The ornate and complicated silver ornaments on her chest sparkled. She sat on the Nanzheng-style round chair and swung her legs, looking bored. "I want to go out and play."
The accompanying female official advised Princess Youluo with a serious face: "Princess, you come to Daxia to represent our Nanzheng..."
Youluo's ears were already numb from hearing so much.
"Yes, yes, yes." Youluo responded and rolled her eyes.
The female official looked serious and asked again: "Princess, what do you think of the Crown Prince of Daxia?"
You Luo heard the hidden meaning of the female official and was so shocked that her legs stopped shaking: "You mean to let me marry the prince? The prince already has a princess!"
The female official disagreed and said coldly: "So what? The prince is the next emperor of Daxia. If you marry the prince, you can continue the friendship between Nanzheng and Daxia for a few more decades."
Youluo jumped down from the throne: "It's fine for me to be a concubine of the Emperor of Daxia. The Crown Prince is not the Emperor yet. If I marry him, wouldn't that mean I will become someone else's concubine? Now you don't worry about me embarrassing Nan Zheng?"
Female officer: "How can this be the same?"
Youluo was confused and said, "Why is this different?"
She had been supported by the people of Nanzheng for more than ten years. For the sake of the people of Nanzheng, she was willing to travel thousands of miles away from her hometown to marry in Daxia.
But now we clearly have the choice of not being someone else's mistress, so why should we rush to be someone else's mistress?
You Luo thought of something, and her tone was also a little sarcastic: "Moreover... in this Great Xia, can I marry whoever I want? You think our situation is too good!"
The female official concluded the conversation.
…
"Grandmother just wants to ask you one question, Prince Cong, do you want to get married?" The old Concubine Dowager Prince Cheng hugged Princess Daiyue and asked softly.
Princess Daiyue blushed, but finally nodded slightly under the gaze of her grandmother.
But after she nodded, she remembered something and blushed and said, "...Grandma, but last time, His Royal Highness Prince Cong didn't even look at me. Will he agree to marry me?"
The old Consort of Prince Cheng embraced Princess Daiyue and said, "Silly Yueyue, Prince Cong grew up in the mountains. If we really talk about the wealth he has, he may not have even half as much as you... He just has a superior birth and is favored by your Majesty. He won't marry you? Then he will have to marry that barbarian Princess Nanzheng!... If he really marries Princess Nanman, it will completely end his hope of ascending to the supreme position in the future."
Princess Daiyue seemed to understand but not quite.
The old Concubine Dowager of Prince Cheng felt that she had won the case: "...Why was His Royal Highness Prince Cong welcomed back at this critical moment? And was he crowned a king again? Don't you understand yet? It is very likely that His Majesty wanted to throw him out and marry the Nanman Princess!...Our Yueyue is of noble blood. If he has any brains, he will choose you!"
Princess Daiyue blushed and nodded in the arms of the old Concubine Dowager Prince Cheng.
The old Consort Dowager of Prince Cheng gently stroked Princess Daiyue's back, her eyes somewhat distant.
Princess Daiyue came out from the old Concubine Dowager of Prince Cheng. She was so excited that she couldn't hide her feelings. She turned around and went to the side courtyard where Yu Mingzhu lived.
Yu Mingzhu was about to go out when she saw Princess Daiyue coming over with a girlish look on her face. She hid the annoyance in her eyes and replaced it with an apologetic look: "Princess, you want to see me?... But unfortunately, I have an appointment with my former best friend and have already informed the princess, so I am about to go out shopping."
Princess Daiyue's face was still filled with shyness when she thought about marrying Prince Cong.
She smiled shyly: "Then go ahead, I'll come find you when I have time."
Yu Mingzhu's heart was slightly moved, and she said jokingly: "I think the princess seems to be in love, is good news coming soon?"
It stands to reason that such things, which have not yet been decided, especially when they concern the reputation of a daughter's family, should not be spoken carelessly.
But Princess Daiyue was really too happy at the moment. In addition, Yu Mingzhu was engaged to the Fourth Prince Wei Shibu, and was also her grandmother's godson. Princess Daiyue instinctively classified Yu Mingzhu as one of her own.
Now that her "own person" Yu Mingzhu was teasing her in such an intimate and teasing tone, Princess Daiyue's temples suddenly turned red and her face became so red that it seemed like steam was coming out of her.
Princess Daiyue covered her cheeks with her hands: "...Don't make fun of me, I haven't even started yet."
Yu Mingzhu suppressed her disgust and smiled gently, "I am not making fun of you. I am just happy for you. You just came from the Concubine Dowager, right? I think it was the Concubine Dowager who told you... The Concubine Dowager has a far-sighted vision and excellent judgment. The person she has chosen must be excellent."
Princess Daiyue was even happier after hearing this. She covered her cheeks and revealed a name: "...Yes, it's His Royal Highness Prince Cong."
As soon as the name came out, Yu Mingzhu could hardly keep the smile on her face, and almost showed some cunning look!
Fortunately, Princess Daiyue was feeling shy, with her hands covering her cheeks, so she didn't see Yu Mingzhu's distorted expression at that moment.
Yu Mingzhu pinched her palms with her nails and forced a smile, looking a bit happy for Princess Daiyue: "...Prince Cong? Well, this is really a good match."
Princess Daiyue believed this. She approached Yu Mingzhu and said softly, "Don't tell anyone else. This matter has not been decided yet. Grandmother will make plans for me."
Yu Mingzhu smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else until the dust settles." After a pause, Yu Mingzhu looked at the sky again and said apologetically, "Princess, the time I have an appointment with my best friend is coming soon..."
Princess Daiyue cried out "Aiya" and covered her red face: "I'm so happy that I dragged you along for a long time... Go quickly, I'll tell you when there's definite good news!"
With a gentle smile, Yu Mingzhu said goodbye to Princess Daiyue and went out with only a maid. She chose an ordinary and inconspicuous carriage without the seal of Prince Cheng's Palace.
The concierge of Prince Cheng's mansion watched the simple carriage leave from the side door and sighed, "This Miss Yu is really low-key."
The carriage that Yu Mingzhu was riding in stopped in front of an ordinary and inconspicuous silver shop.
After entering the jewelry store, Yu Mingzhu asked the shopkeeper with a smile, "Do you have a jade hairpin made of Qinghe jade as thin as a cicada's wing? The head of the hairpin should be carved into a nine-petal lotus. I have an appointment with a friend to give her as a gift, and it must be of the best quality."
The shopkeeper raised his head and glanced at the maid beside Yu Mingzhu: "Miss, you came at an unfortunate time. We don't have it here. However, our other branch does have what you want. But I can't leave right now. How about asking your maid to take my souvenirs and go to the branch to get them back?"
Yu Mingzhu nodded and gave a few instructions to the maid beside her.
The maid hesitated for a moment: "Miss, once this servant leaves, there will be no one to serve you..."
Yu Mingzhu smiled and said, "That's fine. I'll just wait for you in this silver shop while drinking tea."
The maid then took the gift from the shopkeeper and went to the shop he mentioned.
The shopkeeper looked at Yu Mingzhu and said, "Miss, you have to wait anyway. Why don't you go to the private room in the backyard and wait for a while?"
Yu Mingzhu nodded: "Okay."
"This way, please."
She followed the shopkeeper into the backyard with brisk steps.
Yu Mingzhu's heart was pounding until she stopped in front of a house.
The door of the room was closed. The shopkeeper made a "please" gesture and left silently.
Yu Mingzhu calmed herself down, reached out and pushed open the door.
There was a man sitting inside. He was as gentle as jade and was looking at Yu Mingzhu with a smile.
Yu Mingzhu closed the door with a complicated expression.
The man's eyes were full of concern: "Mingzhu, we finally meet again... Are you doing well?"
Yu Mingzhu stared at the man for a long time, tears welling up in her eyes, and she choked up and said, "If you hadn't been thinking about me, I'm afraid no one in the whole capital would care about me..."
The two of them talked to each other. Yu Mingzhu took out a piece of thin paper folded several times from the sachet in her arms and pushed it to the man.
The man's pupils dilated slightly.
"This is what you asked me to find in the study when I wrote back to the Duke's Mansion to visit my parents. I can only remember this from memory." Yu Mingzhu said softly, "Although I don't understand what's above, it would be great if it can help you."
The man concealed the excitement in his eyes and looked at Yu Mingzhu affectionately: "Mingzhu, I want to thank you very much--"
Yu Mingzhu shook her head softly: "Why should we thank each other? ... In the past, you asked Qi Huang to come to my side to help me. Although you later transferred her away, I am also very grateful to you. Now it's just a return of favor."
When it comes to Qihuang, the man's expression becomes somewhat uncertain.
Yu Mingzhu was very concerned and asked, "What's wrong?"
The man sighed: "...Qi Huang, she has been missing for some time. No one has seen her alive or dead. If she died outside, it would be fine, but if she is alive..."
Yu Mingzhu's face turned pale.
Qihuang knows too many of her secrets!
At this moment, she and the man were hoping for the same thing.
It would be best if Qihuang died outside!
…
When Xingxing was free, she went to see Fan Pingfang.
When she returned to Nantuo Village this time, Fan Pingfang's parents heard about it and came to see her specially to ask about the recent situation of Fan Pingfang and Ling Jie'er.
Xingxing told the truth, and when Fan Pingfang's parents heard that Fan Pingfang was living very well in the capital, had opened a shop and was living a happy life, they shed tears of relief and said that they would wait until the weather got cooler before setting off to the capital to visit Fan Pingfang and her granddaughter.
This is good news for Fan Pingfang.
Fan Pingfang turned around and cried for a while, and when she turned back, she was smiling.
An Ningxin, who has been living in the same courtyard with Fan Pingfang, seems to have something to say to Xingxing, but seems to be hesitant to speak.
Xingxing asked her what was wrong. An Ningxin hesitated for a long time, pulled Xingxing into her room, and began to take off her clothes.
Xing Xing was startled.
An Ningxin whispered: "...Princess, you have been helping me in the past two years, and I have always thought of your kindness. But I recently discovered something, related to..."
An Ningxin's face turned pale and her voice trembled, "It's about Sister Cheng's father who was a bandit and has been executed..."
An Ningxin was once kidnapped by bandits, but luckily she escaped and gave birth to Cheng Jie'er.
Later, she became Qin Anbo's mistress, but the bandit came to her house by chance and killed Qin Anbo. Fortunately, the bandit was finally executed, and An Ningxin lived a peaceful life with her two children.
That memory was obviously not a very pleasant one. An Ningxin took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, then took off her clothes, revealing half of her shoulders.
An Ningxin picked up a small dish of white vinegar on the table and splashed it on her back.
After An Ningxin's back was splashed with white vinegar, some patterns gradually emerged!
An Ningxin turned her back to Xingxing, her voice trembling, "... Two days ago, Cheng Jie'er and the others were playing and accidentally spilled vinegar on my back. When I tried to clean it, Cheng Jie'er found it... I thought about it for a long time before I remembered that once when I was captured in the mountain village, that person drugged me and it seemed, it seemed like he carved something on my back. But when I woke up, my back was just a little red and swollen, there were no other marks, so I forgot about it."
Xing Xing took a breath and looked carefully at the pattern emerging on An Ning Xin's back.
It turned out to be half a map!
To be precise, it was half a treasure map!
After getting An Ningxin's consent, Xingxing copied half of the treasure map.
An Ningxin was getting dressed, feeling somewhat uneasy: "...Can these on my back be removed?"
Xing Xing considered and said, "It's hard to say. This should be painted with a special potion, but after so many years, the potion has already seeped into the skin and flesh. If you want to remove it, I'm afraid you will suffer a lot."