Chapter 134 The fabric was soaked and clung tightly.
A few days ago, the water level in Sizhou rose sharply, eventually breaching the stone dike outside the city. The floodwaters rushed in, causing the people in the city to be displaced and starving to death everywhere.
Enraged, Emperor Xuanzhao issued an edict during the morning court session, ordering the execution of the officials responsible for building the dikes and asking who was willing to go south to provide disaster relief.
Originally, the Emperor did not intend to let Shen Ci'an attend his wedding, which was imminent.
However, unable to resist the strong recommendation of the Crown Prince and other officials, Shen Ci'an also stepped forward to request permission to go south.
Only then did the emperor issue an imperial edict.
Jiang Zhi asked him, "How long will your journey south take, Master?"
“By water, it would take at least a month, and at worst two or three months,” Shen Ci’an said apologetically. “I will try my best to get back before the wedding. If the disaster is too severe and delays me further…”
He paused, then said, "I hope you won't blame me, Miss. Please wait for me for a few days. When I return, I will definitely apologize with a thorn in my side."
“The disaster is of utmost importance, how could I blame you for this?” Jiang Zhi frowned. “But chaos is bound to ensue in the face of disaster. You are powerless, how will you protect yourself if you encounter danger?”
Seeing her concerned expression, Shen Ci'an felt a warmth in his heart. "Don't worry, Miss. His Majesty has sent the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to accompany me south to protect me closely. There will be no trouble."
Jiang Zhi was slightly relieved. "That's good. Please be careful on the way, Master. Remember to change the dressing on your back every day. Please be careful."
"Yes, there are people at home waiting for me to come back and get married. I will definitely take good care of myself and not let you worry." His voice was full of tenderness.
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but sigh.
She absolutely did not believe that Shen Ci'an went to the south to provide disaster relief without Xiao Xuanyou's behind-the-scenes support.
But would Xiao Xuanyou really take Shen Ci'an's life?
It shouldn't be that bad.
Shen Ci'an is carrying out an imperial decree, and so many people in Sizhou are waiting for disaster relief grain. As the crown prince, Xiao Xuanyou is not so heartless as to be so depraved.
Even so, she couldn't help but be worried.
She gave a detailed explanation and was about to take her leave when Shen Ci'an suddenly called her back.
Jiang Zhi turned around and was pulled into a slender and strong embrace.
He smelled very nice, with a faint scent of ink, not at all aggressive, not pungent or scorching, but exuding a gentle and refined fragrance.
"Take good care of yourself in Kyoto." He gave you a light hug and then let go, just like his restrained and aloof nature, but the blush creeping up his ears betrayed him.
Jiang Zhi buried her face in his chest and mumbled her agreement.
*
In the past few days, Jiang Zhi took some time to finish copying the remaining scriptures with her still intact right hand, and sent someone to arrange a meeting with Xiao Yunheng at a teahouse.
To accommodate Xiao Yunheng's leg injury, she specifically chose a private room on the first floor.
Xiao Yunheng was pushed in a wheelchair by a guard from the door of the private room. When he saw Jiang Zhi sitting there waiting, he raised his eyebrows.
Jiang Zhi looked like she had dressed up specially today. She wore light makeup and lip rouge, and her clothes were not as elegant and simple as usual. She wore a soft silk jacket in a smoky color, a shawl, and a pleated skirt embroidered with lotus patterns in silver thread. She looked exquisite and elegant.
However, his left hand was secured with a suspension strap, which looked somewhat out of place.
"Indeed, it's a joyous occasion. After the news of Princess Qinghe's marriage to Lord Shen spread, her attire has become much more radiant than usual," he said with a smile.
Jiang Zhi pursed her lips and smiled as well, "I'm sorry to have made the Prince of Xiang's son laugh."
She pushed the copied scriptures and the original scriptures on the table to him together, saying, "I have successfully completed my mission, and the original scriptures have been returned intact. I hope Your Highness will check whether there is any damage."
Xiao Yunheng took it, opened the sutra she had copied, and saw that the handwriting was neat, resilient, clear and elegant, even better than that of ordinary men.
"Many thanks to Princess Qinghe for her help. I am deeply grateful and will definitely visit my mother in person to express my gratitude after I return home."
Jiang Zhi repeatedly said no need, "The Crown Prince of Xiang saved my life, it's just a trivial matter."
She nodded to Qingxing, who then went out and brought in the prepared tea.
Jiang Zhi personally handed it to him with one hand, saying, "Although the pre-rain pine lily tea from Shuyu Tower cannot compare to the tea bestowed by the Prince of Xiang, it has a rustic charm. If Your Highness does not mind, please try it."
Before Xiao Yunheng could speak, the guard beside him said coldly, "My young master never eats or drinks filthy food from outside. Princess Qinghe, please take it back."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Yunheng rebuked her, "Don't be rude! How could Princess Qinghe possibly poison me?"
He then apologized to Jiang Zhi, saying, "When I was young, I was poisoned because I was greedy and ate outside. My mother strictly forbade anyone around me from touching any food outside. I hope Princess Qinghe will not take offense."
“I have overstepped my bounds,” Jiang Zhi said with a look of shame. “I was only thinking of thanking the young master for his help, and I had no other intentions.”
He was about to put the tea he was holding back when he said that.
Seeing that the tea was scalding hot, and that her fingertips were red from being burned while holding the teacup with one hand, Xiao Yunheng stopped her, saying, "I naturally want to savor the tea recommended by Princess Qinghe. Let's leave it for now."
Jiang Zhi paused for a moment, then handed the teacup to the guard. "Then why don't you ask this gentleman to check if it's poisoned first?"
"this……"
Xiao Yunheng knew that Jiang Zhi was blaming her own guards.
It seems he's still the type who doesn't like to suffer losses. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Princess Qinghe asked you to investigate, so go ahead and investigate. It'll save you from complaining to your mother again."
The guard looked embarrassed, but still reached out to take the tea that Jiang Zhi offered.
However, for some reason, the teacup slipped from his hand and fell down the moment his fingertips touched it.
"Watch out!!" A startled cry rang in my ears.
The scalding hot tea spilled out, some of it landing on the back of Jiang Zhi's hand, and most of it spilling directly onto Xiao Yunheng's legs, who was sitting in a wheelchair!
"Hiss—" Jiang Zhi cried out in pain and withdrew her hand.
Qingxing immediately rushed out to fetch cold water.
Ignoring the pain in her hand, Jiang Zhi looked down at Xiao Yunheng.
But then he saw that most of the tea had spilled onto his knees, which were covered by a moon-white brocade robe. The fabric was soaked and clung to his knees. The teacup rolled on his knees and then fell to the ground and shattered.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Jiang Zhi asked, her face showing panic. The guard was also startled and immediately tried to wipe her face.
However, Xiao Yunheng seemed oblivious, merely glancing down at the wet marks without even furrowing his brow, and raised his hand to stop the guard's actions.
"It's alright, fetch me an outer robe." His voice was completely calm.
"Your subordinate deserves to die!" The guard immediately turned around and ordered the people guarding outside to fetch it.
"It was my fault for not serving the teacup properly. I beg Your Highness to punish me." Jiang Zhi immediately knelt down to apologize.
When he looked down, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.
She deliberately had Qingxing serve the hottest tea, just to test whether Xiao Yunheng's leg injury was fake.
Although Xiao Yunheng appeared indifferent to fame and fortune, she always felt that he harbored many secrets.
If these secrets had nothing to do with her, then so be it.
But she always felt that Xiao Yunheng was subtly probing her, as if he wanted to know something from her.
Then don't blame her for testing him too.
But judging from his current behavior, is his leg really crippled? He didn't react at all when such hot tea was poured on him.
She looked at her right hand, which was positioned in front of her because of her kneeling posture.
The surface was covered in bright red blood, and a burning pain that was impossible to ignore was emanating from it.
“I’ve already said it’s alright, get up quickly,” Xiao Yunheng reached out to help her up. “You’re not steady holding the tea with one hand, it was my guard who didn’t catch it properly. Anyway, I don’t feel any pain in my legs, so Princess Qinghe, there’s no need to panic.”
He sat there, his back ramrod straight, his gaze calmly fixed on her face, as if it were just a trivial little accident.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
