spoiled brat

Chapter 146, Section 145: The Sun Flame (Part 5)

In the stillness of the courtyard late at night, Zhao Zhao unlocked the door with a click, using the moonlight.

The door opened a crack, and the little dog's head, as fluffy as a cotton ball, poked out. Unlike usual, it didn't shake its head and wag its tail; instead, it barked timidly twice into the room.

The door was wide open, and the room was dark and deep.

Zhao Zhao glanced at the door lock; there were no signs of forced entry. The mansion was heavily guarded, so there was no possibility of a thief breaking in.

Looking at the moon in the sky again, it is round and bright; today is the fifteenth.

Thinking of this, she released her grip on the hilt of the knife and stepped inside.

The room was dark, but she didn't turn on the light. She went straight to the table, poured herself a glass of cold tea, and drank it slowly.

She put down her cup and, relying on her memory, fumbled for the pipe on the table.

Empty.

In the dim light, Zhao Zhao seemed to be saying to someone, "Give me back my things."

no respond.

Only the sound of flint striking.

Beside the tea table, an oil lamp glowed dimly.

It was so faint that a pipe had to be held close to the flame to catch the light as the tobacco was lit, and the white smoke curled gracefully upwards.

Zhao Zhao could tell that these were Hui goods, tributes from foreign lands, exclusively for the imperial court.

It smells good.

Bathed in the soft light, Xiu Yi raised his gun and took a drag, intentionally or unintentionally mimicking Zhao Zhao's action of exhaling smoke: "I thought you weren't coming back."

"If I don't come back, will you keep waiting?"

"No, not at all," Xiu Yi said. "I will tell Xiu Ning that we can prepare a dowry for you."

Zhao Zhao chuckled: "You're really that kind?"

Xiu Yi didn't deny it, but simply handed her the pipe in his hand: "Try it."

Zhao Zhao took a sip and said disdainfully, "It's too bland. I like it strong."

"You're used to inferior goods, so you can't tell what's good."

Zhao Zhao sat down sideways, opened the silver box containing tobacco leaves, and played with them one by one: "I came back late not because I went to the official school, but because the farm in Yunzhou harvested the spring wheat and sent silver to the capital. Now that I'm in charge of the manor, I have to find a way to make money work for me."

"You're so diligent," Xiu Yi said indifferently. "A busy person like you makes a fortune."

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. Don't forget my hard work when the time comes, and remember to add a little more to my dowry."

"Do you really want to get married?"

"Yes, I dream about it," Zhao Zhao said with a laugh, spouting nonsense.

She enjoyed seeing the ripples on his dignified and composed expression, like a mischievous child throwing pebbles into a tranquil lake, experiencing a kind of unrestrained pleasure.

Unfortunately, Xiu Yi didn't take it seriously and casually brought up the important matter: "In a few days, Minister Jiang will have his birthday banquet. Xiu Ning will avoid noisy places and you will come with me to offer your congratulations."

Zhao Zhao paused for a moment, and Xiu Yi noticed the brief hesitation.

"You don't want to go," he said softly, "or is there someone you don't want to see?"

Ever since that day in the military tent when Zhao Zhao overheard him talking to Li Qingwen, her gaze towards him has become more guarded and distant, as if there were an insurmountable chasm between them.

Considering the massacre of Zhao Zhao's family and her strange insistence on entering the mansion, Xiu Yi suspected that she might have some kind of entanglement with Li Qingwen.

He sent someone to investigate, but Li Qingwen had a poor and innocent past, and there was nothing wrong with him. He had no connection with Zhaozhao.

"There are indeed people I don't want to see."

Zhao Zhao composed herself. "On the day of the first imperial edict, Old Man Jiang made me kneel for half a day without even asking what happened, wanting me to add to his banquet. How could I possibly agree to that?"

Seemingly feeling that this reason was not enough, she brought up Xie Xiaoqing's invitation: "If he sees me by your side, he'll probably—" "What a coincidence."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiu Yi said coldly, "Then you have to go."

-

Unfortunately, the weather turned against him; on the day of Minister Jiang's birthday, torrential rain poured down and thunder rumbled.

The sky was overcast and gloomy, and the whole capital was shrouded in gloom. Only the street in front of Jiangfu was filled with red lanterns, and the candles shone faintly through the damp oil paper.

This is an ominous sign.

Xie Xiaoqing sighed.

He wiped the fine sweat from his nose, clutching a folding fan that cost twenty taels a piece, reluctant to use it. He lifted the small curtain and asked the porters carrying the sedan chair outside, "Could you squeeze forward a little?"

There were so many people coming to offer birthday wishes that the street in front of the Jiang residence was completely blocked.

The rain was noisy, and the voices of people were also loud. Li Fu, standing in the downpour, could not hear Xie Xiaoqing speaking.

Finally taking his words to heart, the porters rolled their eyes: "Young master, even those important figures ahead of us are too embarrassed to push, what's the rush for us little fish and shrimps?"

But then the muffled sound of rain was broken by the sound of horses' hooves. The porters turned around, looked over, and hurriedly lifted the sedan chair to make way.

The servants of each household did the same, obediently making way, and the previously congested path instantly became clear.

Two rows of guards led a luxurious carriage past. In the short time it passed by, Xie Xiaoqing saw that Xiuyi and Zhaozhao were sitting inside. The two sat side by side, with no distinction between superiors and inferiors.

A faint dampness spread through Xie Xiaoqing's heart.

After the Ning Prince's entourage passed by, carriages and horses from various families followed in droves, crowding into the Jiang residence like ants.

Xie Xiaoqing got out of the sedan chair. The gatekeeper saw that he had no attendants behind him and that his birthday gift was just a small box he was holding. He was quite disdainful.

The gatekeeper lazily accepted the invitation, but upon seeing his name, he instantly became respectful, gesturing for him to enter the inner courtyard.

Xie Xiaoqing was flattered. He was an outsider who could not be born again. At most, he could send a gift, attend a banquet, or offer a congratulatory greeting in the outer courtyard. Why should he be allowed to enter the inner courtyard?

The gatekeeper smiled meaningfully and said, "If you were truly an outsider, why would the master have specifically instructed me to do this?"

Xie Xiaoqing didn't want to go. He was afraid of seeing Xiu Yi and Zhao Zhao in the inner courtyard. They were the pride of heaven, surrounded by stars, while he was just a grain of sand in the mortal world. Zhao Zhao wouldn't even be able to see him.

However, Minister Jiang's hospitality was too much to refuse, so he had no choice but to follow behind the gatekeeper, walking through the corridors and around the eaves, and entering the inner courtyard through the moon gate.

The courtyard is decorated in a festive style, but it is not extravagant or grand. With shallow ponds, deep trees, secluded flowers and fragrant grasses, it is serene and quiet, and even the noisy rain sounds become softer.

Under the eaves, two rows of officials in red and purple robes waited respectfully, anticipating the opening of the tightly closed door.

The gatekeeper led Xie Xiaoqing to the back of the street. The officials all looked over, their eyes not very friendly. Someone called out to the gatekeeper, who was about to turn and leave, "Did you lead me to the wrong place?"

Those who could enter the inner courtyard were all Jiang Shangshu's confidants, and since they were all part of the same faction, it was not surprising that no one had ever seen Xie Xiaoqing before.

The gatekeeper simply said it was the master's order and quickly withdrew.

As soon as he left, everyone's eyes turned to Xie Xiaoqing. His Suzhou embroidery was not cheap, but how could he be worthy of standing with a group of officials of the fifth rank or above?
Xie Xiaoqing lowered his head awkwardly. Fortunately, these important figures were too lazy to pay attention to him and chatted quietly about entering the palace to meet the emperor. One said that the emperor was ill and refused to see him; the other said that the crown prince was attending to the emperor in the palace and had only sent a close minister to offer congratulations today.

With a creak, the hall door slowly opened, and Li Qingwen, dressed casually, stepped out, cupping his hands and saying, "It's wet and cold in the rain, and my leg ailment flared up, so it took me a while to get up. I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting."

Under the eaves were Jiang Shangshu's students and old friends, who all came forward to inquire about his well-being. Li Qingwen responded to each of them and led them inside.

Xie Xiaoqing followed behind when a long, cold hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. He looked up and met Li Qingwen's smiling eyes.

"Young Master Xie, you are usually frugal. This outfit was a gift from Miss Yuan, wasn't it?"

The character "袁" was bitten off particularly hard.

Li Qingwen was meticulous in his actions throughout his life, preferring to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free. He cleansed the path of his people, leaving them pure and spotless, without a trace of filth.

The only oversight was that Zhao Zhao and Xie Xiaoqing were not eliminated.

It now seems that these two who escaped the net are of one mind and determined to take his life.