Chapter 189 Little Dumpling
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.
A middle-aged woman dressed in blue cloth, carrying a bamboo pole, ran over quickly.
Just now, the young master's kite flew to the willow tree over here, so Liu Ma borrowed a bamboo pole from the boatman, intending to knock the kite down.
But in the blink of an eye, the young master disappeared, which made her very anxious.
Seeing his young master being held in the arms of a strange man, he felt nervous again.
She quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master Nuonuo, what brings you here?"
After saying that, she curtsied to Xie Yanzhi again: "Sir, could you please put my young master down?"
Xie Yanzhi nodded and gently placed the little dumpling on the ground.
"Aunt Liu, how come you can't even outrun a two- or three-year-old?" Shen Nuonuo giggled after being put down.
Then, with its short legs, it skipped and hopped to Liu's mother's side.
Aunt Liu quickly took Chen Nuonuo's hand and carefully checked him over to see if he had bumped or hurt himself.
She thought to herself, "If the young master gets injured, I won't be able to explain it to Madam Su when we get back."
Seeing the fine beads of sweat on Liu Ma's forehead, Shen Nuonuo reached into her sleeve and pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with a little tiger. She stood on tiptoe and wiped Liu Ma's face with it, saying, "Liu Ma, don't worry, Nuonuo won't get lost."
Aunt Liu felt a warmth in her heart and rubbed his little head: "I know our young master Nuonuo is the best."
“We should go back now. Your mother must be worried after being away for so long.”
Shen Nuonuo nodded obediently, turned around and waved her little hand at Xie Yanzhi: "Uncle, I'll come to play with you again next time!"
Xie Yanzhi looked at him and the corners of his mouth curved up again.
But when he turned around, he caught a glimpse of Yuan Qing's meaningful gaze.
The smile on his face vanished instantly, and he returned to his usual taciturn self.
I only helped out because the child seemed kind to me.
Seeing Xie Yanzhi lift his foot and walk forward, Yuan Qing quickly followed and couldn't help but say, "Master, I think this child looks a bit like you when you were a child."
Unlike the cold and indifferent master, the little dumpling exuded a warm and cozy aura.
"Is that so?" Xie Yanzhi paused slightly and looked back at the small figure.
Yuan Qing nodded. The little dumpling was indeed extremely beautiful, just as good-looking as his grandfather was when he was a child.
"Yuan Qing".
After walking a few more steps, Xie Yanzhi suddenly called out to him.
"Master, what are your orders?" Yuan Qing replied quickly.
"If you and Ling'er have some free time, have a child soon, and he can be my godson."
"Huh?" Yuan Qing was puzzled as to why his master suddenly brought this up.
His ears turned bright red instantly.
He and Ling'er have only been married for less than half a year, how could they have a child so soon?
Seeing his embarrassed appearance, Xie Yanzhi didn't say anything more, lifted the carriage curtain and got in.
The carriage slowly drove towards Governor He's residence.
Upon arriving at Governor He's residence, Governor He Xinghong was already waiting at the entrance.
Seeing the carriage stop, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands and bowed: "Your humble servant He Xinghong welcomes the young master."
"Prefect He, there's no need for such formalities." Xie Yanzhi stepped down from the carriage and raised his hand.
The two arrived together in the main hall. After the maids poured tea for them, Governor He respectfully said:
"Your Highness, in accordance with your previous petition, the corvée labor in the Suzhou area has been reduced by 30%."
"The taxes on the shops run by women have been reduced by another 20%, and now the merchants are all grateful for your kindness."
Since Xie Shizi petitioned the Emperor to improve water conservancy, reduce corvée labor, and collect taxes according to different categories of people, Suzhou's economy has flourished in the past two years, and the people have lived in peace and contentment, praising him highly.
Having witnessed it in person today, I am even more impressed by his profound insights into governing the world and benefiting the people, despite his young age. My respect for him has deepened even further.
Xie Yanzhi nodded.
Today on the street, he saw that the people were indeed living in peace and happiness, and there were quite a few women running shops.
"By the way," He Xinghong added, "the Prefect and Magistrate of Hangzhou have prepared a small banquet at Xianhelou and would like to invite the Prince to attend and offer his guidance on local affairs."
Xie Yanzhi did not refuse and went to the banquet with He Xinghong.
That night, after several rounds of drinks, Yuan Qing drove Xie Yanzhi back to the inn in a carriage.
Xie Yanzhi suddenly lifted the curtain: "Yuan Qing, stop the car."
"I want to get down and walk around."
Suzhou at night is different from Suzhou during the day.
The streets were filled with vendors, and lanterns and candles were hung everywhere, making the whole street look warm and inviting.
Yuan Qing led the carriage, slowly following beside Xie Yanzhi.
Seeing a stone arch bridge ahead, Xie Yanzhi walked onto the bridge.
Looking out from the railing, I saw candlelight flickering on both banks of the river, and lanterns drifting slowly away with the current.
A light boat is moored on the bank under the bridge. A fisherwoman is tidying up her fish basket, while children play and frolic on both sides of the riverbank, carrying fish lanterns and flower lanterns.
He then saw lanterns floating downstream in the river beneath the stone arch bridge.
The girls on the pleasure boat saw Xie Yanzhi standing tall and straight on the stone bridge, and they waved their silk handkerchiefs and said softly, "Young master, would you like to come aboard and have a seat?"
Xie Yanzhi simply stood with his hands behind his back, and after a moment he turned and walked down the stone bridge.
The women on the pleasure boat watched his retreating figure, then could only put away their handkerchiefs and secretly regret their loss.
Yuan Qing took a cloak from the carriage and draped it over Xie Yanzhi, saying, "Master, it's chilly at night."
Xie Yanzhi suddenly saw a figure in front of him that looked somewhat like the person in his memory, and his heart tightened.
Before Yuan Qing could even fasten the cloak, he quickly gave chase.
"Shen Qingnian!"
The woman in front of him turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Yuan Qing quickly stepped forward and said, "Miss, I'm sorry, my master has been drinking and has mistaken you for someone else."
When Xie Yanzhi saw the woman turn around, it wasn't the face he remembered. The surprise in his eyes vanished in an instant, leaving only desolation.
Yuan Qing sighed inwardly as he looked at Xie Yanzhi.
You must have mistaken that person for Miss Qing.
A gentle night breeze blew by, and Xie Yanzhi sobered up considerably.
For a moment, he really thought she had come back.
Xie Yanzhi took a purse from his waist and looked at it in his hand.
That was the only thing she embroidered for him.
Yuan Qing felt a pang of sadness when he saw Xie Yanzhi holding the purse and looking at it again.
The auspicious cloud pattern on the purse was not yet finished, but the man wore it on his waist all day long, completely disregarding the opinions of others.
The old lady had also said that she wanted to hire the best embroiderers in the capital to finish it, so as not to damage his status as the heir apparent, but the prince did not agree.
The streets remained bustling, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter.
The two continued walking forward until they saw the small figure ahead, at which point Xie Yanzhi stopped.
"Little dumpling!"
Shen Nuonuo was playing in front of the shop with a fish lantern when she suddenly heard someone calling for Xiao Tuanzi.
He turned around, grinned, and wobbled over to Xie Yanzhi, looking up and calling out, "Uncle!"
"Is this your shop?" Xie Yanzhi glanced at the sign: Su's Spice Shop.
It is only one character different from her previous Su's Fragrant Pearl Shop.
Shen Nuonuo nodded hurriedly, took Xie Yanzhi's hand, and walked inside.
Xie Yanzhi saw that the shop was full of spices, including agarwood, sandalwood, and pine resin.
The shop is neatly and elegantly arranged, and looks like it's run by a woman.
"Uncle, my mother said that one should be grateful..."
Shen Nuonuo touched her little head and thought for a moment: "Repay kindness!"
He released Xie Yanzhi's hand, stood on tiptoe, and took out a small empty sachet from a small drawer at his waist.
Then he ran to the jar of cedar resin, grabbed a handful and stuffed it into the sachet.
He handed it to Xie Yanzhi, saying, "Here you go, Uncle."
"My family's spices are the best on this street."
He added, "This sachet was hand-embroidered by my mother. It was originally for me, but I'm giving it to you!"
Xie Yanzhi took the sachet, smiled and patted his head, then carefully tied the sachet around his waist.
"Young Master Nuonuo, it's time to rest." Liu Ma's voice came from the inner room.
Shen Nuonuo waved to Xie Yanzhi: "Uncle, Aunt Liu is calling me, I'm going in now!"
Xie Yanzhi watched the little dumpling enter the house, then turned and got into the carriage.
The following day, Xie Yanzhi and Yuan Qing boarded a ship and left Suzhou.
The scenery on both sides of the river kept receding into the distance. Xie Yanzhi stood at the bow of the boat, gazing in the direction of Chengxi.
He's going to see her again.
Thinking of this, Xie Yanzhi picked up the purse from his waist, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the small sachet at his waist.
When he got to her place, he was determined to show her the sachet.
Xie Yanzhi took the purse and sachet in his hands and examined them. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he said to Yuan Qing, "Turn around! Go back to Suzhou!"
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