Chapter 104 A bamboo weaving leaning against the courtyard...

Chapter 104 A bamboo weaving leaning against the courtyard...

Leaning back in a bamboo recliner in the courtyard, I lazily gaze at the square sky outlined by the eaves, watching the sunset slowly sink below the reddish clouds.

After leaving the palace, Xiao Yan returned to her residence and washed up briefly, then slept for most of the rest of the afternoon. When she woke up, she still felt deep in thought and confused. She walked a few steps to the courtyard and sat on the recliner for a while, her eyes watching the sunset, but her mind was still blank.

Then Zhu Yue came forward to report: "Master, Sijiao is outside requesting an audience."

"Hmm..." He gave an almost meaningless reply, but his eyes remained fixed on the sky.

"How about I have him come again tomorrow?" Seeing that her mistress was still a little dazed, Zhu Yue squatted down, picked up the fan that was placed aside, and slowly waved it for Xiao Yanhui, while making the suggestion.

Xiao Yan seemed to have just come to her senses. She slowly patted her cheeks and then said slowly, "No need, let him in."

Zhu Yue waved to the other maids serving nearby to summon the servants, while she remained squatting to one side, gently fanning herself.

It wasn't to cool myself down, but because it was getting dark and small flying insects were starting to appear around, so I fanned myself to scare them away.

Normally, Zhu Yue would have already advised her mistress to go back to her room, but today, seeing that her mistress looked very tired after returning from the palace, and that even a good night's sleep hadn't fully restored her energy, Zhu Yue felt that going outside to enjoy the breeze, look at the sky, the clouds, and watch the sunset would probably help her mistress recover more quickly.

"Help me up, I'm so weak from lying down. Let Sijiao come to my study."

Watching the sky and the sunset didn't refresh Xiao Yan, but the fact that Sijiao might have brought her news of Su Jinyue quickly cheered her up.

Two days ago, Sijiao found Su Jinyue's previous place of residence, and today, following the directions of the old woman who introduced the rental, they went to her current residence.

"Sijiao, did you find anyone today?" Xiao Yan asked impatiently as soon as Sijiao entered the study.

Unfortunately, the four corners did not bring good news.

"You mean she moved out in a hurry the day before yesterday?" Upon hearing this answer, Xiao Yan frowned deeply: "What a coincidence!"

"It is my fault for being incompetent." Sijiao quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"I'm not blaming you, and judging from the timeline, even if she left in a hurry for some reason, it shouldn't be related to your investigation."

Xiao Yanhui had no idea that Su Jinyue's hasty departure was indeed unrelated to the investigation at Sijiao, but rather because Su Jinyue had assumed Xiao Yanhui and her group were the Second Prince's men at the brokerage. Although they hadn't been found at the time, she was undoubtedly shocked. After returning home, she hurriedly grabbed only the most important items and fled that very night.

"When I went there today, there was no one in that courtyard, but many daily necessities were left behind, which clearly showed that the person left in a hurry. I asked the neighbors and found out that the person renting there was a widow named Li Niangzi. The neighbors remembered her as an ordinary-looking, dark-skinned, and thin woman."

However, when the servants asked what this person looked like, almost everyone said that she used to be shy about her status as a widow, and was quite timid in her speech and behavior, always keeping her head down when meeting people, so they couldn't remember her appearance very clearly. Only a little girl next door said that although Madam Li was a bit dark-skinned, she was pretty.

These statements were indeed what their master had said, and this person was likely concealing their true identity; their appearance matched. Although they had missed the person they were looking for this time, Sijiao still carefully reported all the information back.

"Since this person has always made a living through embroidery, although we didn't find her this time, we might still be able to continue investigating the clue of her embroidery." Although she gave these instructions, Xiao Yan Hui didn't really have much hope of finding Su Jin Yue.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan returned to Zhu Yue and instructed her: "Zhu Yue, tomorrow you should send someone to the silk shop and tell the shopkeeper to spread the word that someone... a noble person is looking for a high-value silk embroidery. Of course, it would be even better if an embroiderer who knows this technique could recommend herself. As long as the skill is good, you can ask for whatever conditions and treatment you want."

I learned the name of the "through-gauze embroidery" technique from Granny Wang, even though her performance in the palace today was only so-so. But this old nanny, who had lived her whole life in the palace, had seen countless ups and downs and kept many secrets in her heart. When she used it correctly, she did have her own unique skills.

"Yes," Zhu Yue nodded in agreement. Seeing that the conversation had come to an end, and glancing at the sky outside where it was almost completely dark, she asked, "Would you like to prepare a meal, Master?"

"Send this to His Highness."

In the west room of the main house in the courtyard where the Prince and Princess lived, a table was filled with a variety of dishes, some plentiful and some light. It was clear that the dishes were prepared with the tastes of the two masters in mind, as well as the fact that the Prince was still recovering from his injuries and needed to avoid certain foods.

The servants serving Prince Cheng knew that the prince and princess did not need to be served when they ate, so they all withdrew after setting out the meal, leaving only Prince Cheng's personal attendant Qin Xi and Princess's attendant Zhu Yue in the room.

"Hey, be careful. Why are you still in so much pain after resting for so many days? Should we call the imperial physician to come and take a look again tomorrow?" Through the window, one could vaguely hear the distressed voice of the Prince of Cheng, and could vaguely see her half-supporting Prince Cheng as he sat down by the candlelight.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'll be better in a couple more days."

This couple truly lives up to their reputation as a loving couple. Just look at how considerate and hands-on the princess is, and how the prince's voice softens considerably when he speaks to her. They are the envy of everyone.

However, if someone could see into the hall, they would discover that the person dining at the same table with Princess Xiao Yan was not Qin Ji at all, but a strange man dressed in Qin Ji's clothes and with a figure extremely similar to him.

The silhouettes of the two figures, supporting each other, were reflected on the window, but from inside the room, they were actually more than a foot apart. The "Prince Cheng," whose words sounded extremely tender, kept his eyes downcast, not daring to look at the Princess Consort even once, for fear of doing anything presumptuous that might displease the Prince and Princess.

Indeed, what appeared to be a tender moment of dinner shared by the couple was actually a solitary affair for Xiao Yan Hui; Qin Ji, who was supposed to be with her, was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, in a courtyard house in the east of the city that looked unremarkable from the outside but was full of winding paths and secluded spots inside, Qin Ji was drinking a very fragrant tea.

Sitting opposite him was Su Mingyue, someone who seemed to have almost no connection with him.

“Back in Jiangzuo, I never imagined we would have such a time to drink together. It’s a pity Your Highness is not fit to drink now, otherwise we should have raised a large cup.” Su Mingyue raised her teacup to Qin Ji: “I will offer Your Highness a cup of tea in place of wine.”

"There's no need for that. I imagine we'll have plenty of opportunities to drink together in the future, so let's share a cup of tea today."

After they shared a sip of tea, Qin Ji said, "When you were in Jiangzuo, did you really not imagine that you would be sitting at the same table and drinking with me?"

Su Mingyue gave a somewhat helpless smile: "Your Highness, it is the way of a gentleman to see through things but not say them out loud!"

"Unfortunately, I've always disliked ambiguity." Qin Ji put down his teacup and looked at Su Mingyue: "I thought you asked to see me today because you know me to some extent. If you asked to meet me just to thank me for sending someone to save you on your way back to the capital, then you've let me down after coming all this way injured."

Although Qin Ji still had a smile on his face, there was a sense of pressure in his eyes.

"Your Highness is too kind. I would never trouble Your Highness to go out at such a time for such a matter. I have important information to tell Your Highness today."

"Oh? So your meeting with me tonight is the intention of the entire Su family? I remember that my second brother's concubine is a daughter of the Su family! Now you say you have important information to tell me, should I believe it or not?" Qin Ji asked with a smile.

"Perhaps Your Highness can listen to this for now. As for whether you believe it or not, wait and see, and perhaps Your Highness will be able to see whether I am trustworthy or not." This kind of back-and-forth was naturally within Su Mingyue's expectations. After all, they had chosen sides in the past, and now the Second Prince was thinking of jumping ship. Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe what he said the moment he opened his mouth.

In their assessment, this Sixth Prince was not simply someone with brains.

"Oh, then tell me about it!"

"I heard that Your Highness intends to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue. Is this news true or false?" Su Mingyue asked this question instead of revealing the nature of the news.

This wasn't exactly a closely guarded secret, so Qin Ji nodded naturally: "To be precise, it's His Majesty who has this intention. But judging from what you're saying, I guess I won't be able to take the position in the Ministry of Revenue?"

“That’s right, the Second Prince’s faction is determined to get the position of Vice Minister of Revenue.” Su Mingyue nodded.

"At any cost. But if Your Highness is interested, there is another position that would be very suitable for you."

"Judging from your words, it doesn't sound like you've come to surrender to me, but rather to act as an intermediary for Second Brother." Qin Ji looked at Su Mingyue, his smile gradually fading.