Chapter 27 Soothing Mushroom: "Because I don't have a monthly allowance."
Spring has arrived in the blink of an eye, and half a month has passed. Yao Ruyi has been learning swordsmanship from Thirteen for nearly a month.
Whenever he felt he had trained well enough, Thirteen would challenge him to a match. Yao Ruyi would silently observe the gap between himself and Thirteen, and then become even more diligent in the following training sessions.
Early in the morning, Yao Ruyi got up to practice his sword while the emperor was attending court. His strength had improved considerably, and he didn't rest until the sun was high in the sky. He poured himself a cup of water and sat in the courtyard.
Springtime in Yun Palace is vastly different from wintertime. In winter, snow used to pile up at the foot of the walls, from which winter plum blossoms would grow, making Yun Palace look like a fairy palace. Now, the snow has melted into water and disappeared, and the palace servants have planted many peach blossoms. The pond has also been filled with water. Whenever she has free time, Yao Ruyi squats on the bank to watch the koi fish swimming around in the pond.
"nineteen!"
Yao Ruyi turned his head. The sweat on his body had dried. After wiping himself with a soft handkerchief, he leaned lazily against the platform by the corridor, holding a scroll of poems in his hand. "Didn't His Majesty come back with us?"
Thirteen shook his head helplessly, "Every time you ask His Majesty, he goes straight to the Imperial Study after court. Fourteen is over there." He beckoned to Yao Ruyi, "Come on, let's go out and play with your brother today."
Going out for fun?
But he still had to memorize his lessons today. His teacher had finally given him a day off, and he was hoping to catch up on the lessons he hadn't memorized, but…
Where to?
Thirteen came over and pulled him along, saying, "I'm taking you to see Twelve today; he's quite curious about you."
twelve?
“That guy gathers intelligence in the brothel and stays there all day.” He turned to Yao Ruyi and said, “A letter just arrived from Jiangnan today and went to his place. I’m going to get it, you come with me.”
"Okay, is there anything we need to prepare?"
"No need, just follow me."
Yao Ruyi never had to worry when working with Thirteen; he was just like a little brother by her side.
Sure enough, Yao Ruyi followed Thirteen out of the palace through a remote little gate. The world inside and outside the gate was completely different. The high walls inside the gate blocked out the sun, and the narrow alley was dark and damp, as if the rain from a few days ago had not yet dried.
Rats scurried around on the ground.
Yao Ruyi pursed her lips and dodged away, while Thirteen muttered along, "This kind of thing is disgusting no matter when."
As he led Yao Ruyi out of the alley on horseback, they turned onto a small path and walked for more than half an hour before entering a building through a small door.
Thirteen smiled and said, "We've arrived."
Yao Ruyi raised an eyebrow, "Here?"
He looked around. The small door they had come through earlier must have been the back door of the house. Servants and maids were busy in the courtyard, and pink and green silks and satins were drying on bamboo poles. They were so thin that light could pass through from behind.
"Hey, has your daughter taken a fancy to a young master lately?"
"Of course! The young master is handsome and kind to my young lady. He even said he would help her redeem herself in a few days. The young lady said she could take me with her!"
"Take you with me? Hahahaha!"
"What are you dreaming about? Why won't Mother let anyone take two of us away at once?" The little maid scoffed. "We may not be as pretty as the girls, but if they want to take us away, they'll have to redeem us."
"Are you telling the truth?"
The servant carrying vegetables listened to their conversation for a while, then sneered, "Don't be naive. Let your young lady listen and that's it. Do you think our guests will buy you freedom?"
Yao Ruyi withdrew his gaze and saw that there was another door at the top of the stairs, and Thirteen had already walked in that direction.
"Thirteen, they just let us in like that?"
Thirteen nodded, "Yes, they all know me."
"I didn't expect you to be a regular customer."
Thirteen paused on the stairs, his expression conflicted. "It's not what you think."
The two walked silently up to the third floor. Before they could even knock, the window next to the door was pushed open, and a fragrance of plum blossoms wafted out. Yao Ruyi subconsciously looked over.
A woman dressed in red silk—or perhaps a man—was looking at him with a mocking gaze, scrutinizing him from head to toe, but her voice was firm and decisive: “Come in.”
Thirteen sighed deeply without saying a word, "Let's go."
The room was filled with plum blossom branches. Even though it was already spring, I really didn't know where he got so many plum blossoms.
Yao Ruyi smelled this one, then that one.
Something felt off. A look of shock crossed Mushroom's eyes. Yao Ruyi touched the petals more carefully and realized they were fake. Now, the fragrance of plum blossoms even had a hint of incense.
"They say they come from Jiangnan, but not all of them are from Jiangnan."
Twelve handed the letter to Thirteen, and the two nodded to each other, already understanding the rest of the meaning.
Let's go.
Thirteen stood up, but was stopped by someone. "You've only come to my place once in the last two months. How can you just leave like this?" Twelve frowned. He was androgynous, with eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and the upturned corners of his mouth seemed to be asking, "Are you willing to let me go?"
Thirteen rolled her eyes. "I think you've been marinated in this brothel."
With a soft chuckle, "Hahahahahahaha." Twelve let go in disgust. "You hang out with a bunch of men all day long, I'd feel disgusted if I touched you." He turned to look at Yao Ruyi, who was sitting obediently at the table, his eyes filled with intense interest.
He asked, "Is this our nineteenth?"
"Would you like to come with me to deliver messages in the brothel? It's much more carefree than practicing swordsmanship with Thirteen."
Yao Ruyi smiled. He couldn't stay in this brothel. "No, I still prefer practicing swordsmanship."
"What's so great about practicing swordsmanship?" he persisted. "Look at your hands, long and fair, and your face is absolutely gorgeous. It's a shame, those calluses on your hands are from recent practice, aren't they?"
It's true that it just started to appear recently, on the web between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. Yao Ruyi thinks it's quite good; he used to always feel pain when he held a sword, but now that calluses have formed, it's much better.
I don't feel anything anymore.
"Take it."
Twelve got up and took a porcelain bottle from a cabinet and handed it to Yao Ruyi. "Use it a few more times, and it will disappear in a month or two." Twelve plopped down opposite Yao Ruyi. He quite liked this younger brother. He had heard that His Majesty kept him by his side because he knew how to cure diseases, but he didn't think so.
He's been in the brothel for twelve years, doesn't he understand what those men are thinking?
His smile was meaningful. Even if a burly, dark-faced man with a short neck could revive the dead and heal the bones, His Majesty would not keep him in the Cloud Palace.
Look how beautiful she is! She could be the top courtesan in a brothel. She's even prettier than Xu Yi from before.
"Is there anything else?"
"immediately."
Thirteen and Yao Ruyi exchanged a glance and sat down quietly. Seeing Twelve's teasing look, Yao Ruyi curiously followed his gaze to the wall to the side.
There was nothing there.
But Twelve suddenly became excited, "They're here!"
It was the noise from next door.
The three of them quietly stood by the wall, and Twelve had somehow acquired a plate of pastries.
He placed it on the small wooden table between the three of them and ate it with relish.
"Oh! Young master, you've finally arrived! I thought you'd forgotten about me!" The woman's charming voice was extremely clear, and Yao Ruyi suspected that Twelve had also tampered with the wall.
Thirteen suddenly stood up and stammered in a breathy voice, "You! You're going to make me listen to this?!"
Yao Ruyi looked up between the two, but Twelve pressed her head down again, and Twelve gestured for Thirteen to be quiet.
"How could that be? Who in the capital can compare to Miss Ning Yuan?"
The voice sounded melancholy, deep and resonant. Yao Ruyi's eyes lit up; it was Baili Wenhan.
Noon.
What is Baili Wenhan doing at the brothel? Hasn't he already...?
The three continued listening.
"Why is it taking you so long to see me, young master? I haven't seen you for almost a month. I almost thought I had offended you with something I said."
A crisp crack, "Snap!"
Ning Yuan immediately cried out in surprise, "Ah—"
"Young master, are you hurt? This is some tea that I just brewed!"
Another gasp rang out, accompanied by the creaking of the bed.
"Why are you in such a hurry, young master? Let me take a look at your hands, hmm—"
Then came a woman's playful, panting breaths, and the three exchanged bewildered glances. But less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, another exclamation rang out.
"ah--"
The sound of teacups shattering on the ground reached the ears of the three, while Twelve happily ate his snacks.
"Damn it! What the hell!"
"roll--"
"roll!"
Curses and shouts filled the air with despair and violence, followed by a woman's scream and the sound of a porcelain bottle shattering.
Twelve was thinking about that half-person-high vase in Ning Yuan's room. What a pity, it was quite beautiful.
"Was it exciting?"
Thirteen couldn't help but laugh, "It's their own fault."
Returning to his original table and sitting down, Yao Ruyi rubbed his legs, which had gone numb from squatting. He laughed, "I was furious."
"Hmm, the word 'nineteen' is used well."
"Haven't there been rumors lately that the Baili family is recruiting famous and miraculous doctors? Judging from this, it seems to be having no effect."
Twelve chuckled coldly, "They are indeed recruiting renowned physicians, but it's uncertain for whom these physicians are being sought." He asked Yao Ruyi, "Nineteen, do you know that the Baili family has an eldest son?"
The eldest son? "I don't know."
"The eldest son of the Baili family, Baili Qingxiao, is now thirty-two years old. More than ten years ago, he rode his horse in the street with Baili Wenhan. However, the horse went out of control, and Baili Qingxiao broke his leg. Since then, he has been confined to a wheelchair."
"He was a renowned scholar in the capital back then. If it weren't for this incident, he would definitely have been among the top three in the imperial examinations. It's a pity that many people haven't seen him since then. Some even say he's dead, which is utterly absurd."
Twelve said, "Bai Liyi is unwilling to let his only son with a brain die like this. This time, he may be using the pretext of seeking medical treatment for the second young master to treat the eldest young master."
Yao Ruyi nodded. "Why wasn't it treated back then?"
“Some people said that the Baili family was in decline at the time, and was just an unfavored small family in front of the late emperor. No one in the court cared about making friends with them. Originally, Baili Qingxiao had a bright future and a few friends,” he said with a smile, “but one day he fell from his horse and startled a flock of birds.”
"Seeking medical help was fruitless, and even the imperial physicians were powerless to help. So it has remained so until now."
"Alright, we've seen enough excitement, I'm off."
Twelve wanted to say something more, but then he thought about how this was the Nineteenth Prince whom His Majesty had left in the room. If he really came down, he wouldn't be able to work anymore. "Well, let's go, let's go. Leave me here alone."
"Smack—"
The door closed.
As soon as Twelve stood up, he got a nose full of dust.
This time, instead of going through the small gate in the backyard, the two used another gate and went out directly from the side of the brothel.
"Thirteen, aren't we going back to the palace?"
Thirteen shook his head mysteriously, weighing the money bag in his hand. "Your thirteenth brother received his monthly pay yesterday and took you to get a new set of clothes."
Thirteen put his arm around Yao Ruyi's shoulder and turned away after he finished speaking. He had specifically checked the ledger when he went to collect the money yesterday, and there was indeed no name for Nineteen on it.
He asked repeatedly, and in the end, there really wasn't one.
His Majesty is really something. Even if he promised something else, he should at least give a small reward as a token of appreciation.
"Thank you, but I don't need any more clothes."
Thirteen felt sorry for him, "Don't be so polite with your brother, I can afford to buy you a piece of clothing."
The two smiled.
Upon hearing this, Yao Ruyi repeated in his heart his promise to help him heal when he was injured in the future. It wasn't that he was disobeying His Majesty; they were just friends.
Finally, Yao Ruyi walked out of the tailor shop wearing a robe of moonlight brocade, looking like a rich young master. On the contrary, Thirteen followed beside him like a guard or servant.
Thirteen looked at her with satisfaction, "Hmm, Nineteen really does look good in anything."
Yao Ruyi also felt that the fabric of this outfit was almost identical to the one he had originally conjured, but the style was quite different. It had dark patterns embroidered with silver threads and was also decorated with blue silk threads.
Exquisite in every detail.
A silver-gray belt accentuated his waistline; if a pendant were added to it, it would be the standard attire for a noble young master in the capital.
Thirteen was thinking this when he turned his head and saw a young master holding a folding fan and swaying it leisurely. "As the saying goes..."
He quickly turned his head, still looking at his nineteen-year-old son, Shuxin.
Why are there so many people over there?
Thirteen heard Yao Ruyi ask and followed to see. Near the city gate, a huge crowd gathered there, as if something big had happened.
"Young master, you may not know this, but isn't General Han and Princess Xiao Guojia getting married? Miss Han rushed back from Jiangnan, and today General Han went outside the city to welcome her. That's why everyone wants to see this great general."
Miss Han should indeed come back to see her younger brother's wedding. Yao Ruyi smiled sweetly, "Thank you, thank you, Auntie."
The old woman was nearly fifty years old and sold steamed buns on the street every day. In recent years, people no longer called her "auntie" but instead called her "grandma".
The word "aunt" from Yao Ruyi touched her heart. She quickly took out three or four large steamed buns from the steamer, wrapped them in cardboard, and stuffed them into Yao Ruyi's arms.
The young master's appearance suited her perfectly. "Eat it while it's hot, your aunt will be pleased to see you like it."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback; he had no money.
Staring blankly at the steamed bun in his hand, he shook his head and reached out to return it, saying, "Auntie, I can't take it."
He had barely moved when the old woman stuffed the steamed bun back into her arms. "It's alright, it's alright, Auntie won't take your money. Look how thin you are, hurry up and eat more!"
She had a fierce and shrewish appearance.
Thirteen patted Yao Ruyi on the shoulder, "Alright, let's go back."
He smiled at the old woman as he turned around, and placed the few copper coins in his hand on the stall when neither of them was paying attention. The old woman could see them when she looked down after they had walked away.
"Thank you, Auntie."
"Hey, eat it while it's hot."
Yao Ruyi smiled with his eyes narrowed. He had become more and more familiar with the food lately, and had eaten dinner with Thirteen and the others many times. He could eat a lot when he was tired from practicing swordsmanship.
He held the steamed bun and looked down at his own frame. He was half a head shorter than the emperor, but he was about the same height as the thirteenth emperor. If you looked closely, he was only slightly shorter by a finger. Moreover, he had been practicing swordsmanship a lot recently, and his strength had increased considerably.
Even the lines on his waist and abdomen have become clearer and smoother. Perhaps with a few more days of training, he can have a chest as bulging as His Majesty's and the Thirteenth Prince's.
"Why aren't you eating? It'll get cold soon."
Yao Ruyi nodded, took out one for herself, and gave one to Thirteen. The two of them finished all four buns by the time they returned to the palace. Thirteen had other business to attend to and left halfway, leaving Yao Ruyi to return to Yun Palace alone.
He still has books to memorize, which the teacher will check tomorrow.
"The Nineteenth Prince is back." Cui Xiangzhu greeted Yao Ruyi from afar, then stepped forward with a smile. "His Majesty seems to be in a bad mood today. Could the Nineteenth Prince help him persuade him?"
Bad mood?
"What's wrong?"
Cui Xiangzhu stepped forward and stood beside Yao Ruyi, saying as they walked, "It's a matter of food. It's not so obvious in the capital yet, but in more remote prefectures and counties, they won't last long without the imperial relief grain."
"It's been over a month, and the morning court still hasn't come up with a solution. Those officials are only thinking about their own meager savings, and they're not using their brains properly! The Emperor doesn't show it on his face, but he's seething inside."
Yao Ruyi nodded. He knew about this matter, but he never expected that there was still no good solution. If the people could not get enough food for a long time, the court would be the one in trouble in the end.
"The local magistrates are submitting more and more memorials, and His Majesty hasn't seemed to be getting much rest these past few days." He hesitated, then continued, "If you, the Nineteenth Minister, could help appease them, it would be a way for this old servant to take care of His Majesty. What do you think?"
How can I appease them?
Oh dear! How could an outsider like him possibly bring up such a thing! Cui Xiangzhu rubbed his hands, "It's just about spending more time with His Majesty, this old servant can tell. His Majesty is very fond of you, sir!"
"Then I'll give it a try."
"Thank you, sir!"
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was much more oppressive than usual. Yao Ruyi could feel it from a distance. Even the eunuchs serving tea and water outside the door were trembling with fear, afraid that they might offend the emperor if they were not careful.
"roll--"
The door opened and closed again, and a minister hurriedly came out. When he saw Yao Ruyi, he forced a smile, then took his memorial and turned to leave.
Instead of trying to appease the emperor now, Cui Xiangzhu would rather wait until the emperor is asleep tonight and then help him clear his mind of his troubles.
Yao Ruyi let out a sigh of relief, having finally agreed. He took two steps forward, and the eunuchs on either side stepped back when they saw him. He knocked on the door, "Your Majesty."
No one answered. Didn't you hear me?
"His Majesty."
"Come in."
Yao Ruyi pushed open the door, and the room was filled with the same sandalwood incense she had seen in the temple. Only one window in the study was open, and the strong scent of incense lingered, with even the air carrying a light gray mist.
"They've left the palace?"
"Yes, go with Thirteen to get information from Twelve."
A cold snort followed. "You seem to have a good relationship with them."
The emperor, his brows furrowed with weariness, looked Yao Ruyi up and down. Her moon-colored brocade robe exuded nobility, making the mushroom appear even more precious.
"What's up?"
Yao Ruyi choked, but he was alright.
"Come grind the ink."
"good."
Mushroom responded and stepped forward to help Gu Huizhou grind the ink. There were stacks of memorials piled on the table, many of which the emperor had casually placed aside. Yao Ruyi glanced around and already knew that those were the useless ones that Gu Huizhou had read.
Just like the minister who was just ousted.
Do you know what he said?
"Huh?" asked the minister who had just spoken.
Gu Huizhou closed his eyes, concealing the murderous intent within them. "My beloved minister told me to relocate the border people to uncultivable land, and then sell several border cities to the Xiao Kingdom in order to buy grain from them."
His hands stopped moving.
Even though he hasn't learned much yet, he knows that this minister's method is extremely foolish.
Once it happens, it will happen again. If the Xiao Kingdom gets a taste of success, it will continue to use this to blackmail the Yun Kingdom, and then the Yun Kingdom will truly become a vassal state of the Xiao Kingdom.
This victory is meaningless.
Mushroom Head glanced at the emperor with his eyes lowered. Could it be that His Majesty has only heard of such methods in court lately?
"So, what are Your Majesty's plans?"
His voice was soft and gentle, not at all abrupt in the quiet. Gu Huizhou stared at the Yao Ruyi being ground and asked, "What do you think the court should do?"
"Find a way to alleviate the soil's inability to produce seeds, or cultivate more land. Distribute the imperial relief grain and silver in an orderly manner..."
That's all he could think of.
Gu Huizhou remained silent; even a mushroom could make such a fuss.
"Wuhua Mountain, Qinghua Mountain, Lianyuan Mountain..."
Gu Huizhou tapped the table lightly. "The terrain is relatively flat and there was no cultivation before. It's feasible."
Yao Ruyi heard Qinghua Mountain suddenly raise its head, "Qinghua Mountain is not allowed."
Why?
The emperor opened his eyes wide, his gaze toward Yao Ruyi filled with inquiry and questioning.
"Because I lived there, and the soil was poisonous."
They looked at each other in silence. Gu Huizhou laughed and stood up. His height, which was already taller than Yao Ruyi, became even more obvious when they were close together. "You're poisonous. Why don't you go and poison them to death for me?"
"While many ministers have died tragically, I can still gather the scholars in court and bring in a fresh batch of minds."
"I don't."
Gu Huizhou reached out and placed his hand on Yao Ruyi's neck, stroking it back and forth. He placed his thumb on Yao Ruyi's Adam's apple and pushed it back and forth.
"Um--"
It feels great to the touch, just like the original cap of a mushroom.
"Your Majesty, do—" What to do.
Gu Huizhou stared at him with his dark eyes for a while, then lowered his hand and glanced at the red marks on Yao Ruyi's neck. "Come and massage them for me."
"good."
The emperor sat back on the dragon throne, with Yao Ruyi standing behind him. Gu Huizhou had his eyes closed, but his forehead was still slightly furrowed, as if he had an unresolved bitterness.
Yao Ruyi looked down from her own angle and saw that the emperor's eyebrows were raised and his eyelashes were thick but not curled, unlike the Twelfth Emperor's.
Twelve is an eyelash that curls upwards, making her look like a girl.
Yao Ruyi placed her cool fingers on the emperor's forehead and gently massaged it, the skin she touched feeling warm. He was bored standing there, his gaze moving from the emperor's eyebrows to the corner of his lips.
There's also a slightly protruding cupid's bow.
He always looked at this person with a cold gaze, and Yao Ruyi noticed for the first time how beautiful this person's lips were. He tightened his fingers, and a wisp of bluish-white light flowed from his fingertips into his temple, smoothing out the furrow on Gu Huizhou's forehead in a short while.
"Where did the clothes come from?"
"You weren't asleep?" Yao Ruyi pursed her lips. "Thirteen bought it."
Why are you twisting it again?
Why did he buy it for you?
"Because I don't get a monthly allowance."
Tighten it even more.
As soon as Yao Ruyi saw Gu Huizhou open his eyes, the emperor sat up straight and tapped the table lightly. Mushroom stood in front of him knowingly.
"I'll buy it myself later."
"..." He didn't receive a monthly allowance.
"Thud." The metal-backed cloth bag landed on the table, even the bag was embroidered with gold thread patterns.
Mushroom's eyes lit up. "Is it my monthly allowance?"
Yao Ruyi took the bag and looked inside. It contained countless pieces of silver and a stack of gold paper shaped like book pages.
The emperor's expression was complex, and he uttered a few words over and over again, "Yes."
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