Chapter 198
Chapter 198
The gray-robed youth watched his master sneeze three times in succession.
“Master, someone is thinking of you,” he said.
The other servants: “…”
As a servant, should he not step forward to show concern and drape a cloak over her shoulders?!
Zhiyu Jiang nodded without much reaction.
The steward of the State Preceptor’s Residence stepped forward. “Master, everything is packed.”
Zhiyu nodded and took one step forward, then paused. “Did you bring the wind chime?”
The steward’s heart dropped.
He had forgotten it.
Just as panic seized him, the gray-robed youth behind the State Preceptor spoke. “We did. Look.”
He drew an exquisite wooden box from his sleeve and showed it to Zhiyu. At her slightly surprised expression, a smile tugged across his handsome face.
Zhiyu ignored it without expression.
“Oh.”
The gray-robed youth: “…”
Who was it that claimed the female lead was innocent, easy to coax, soft, adorable, and obsessed with food?
It was one thing that she barely ate a few bites at each meal. Her temperament was also nothing like it had been in Deep Mountain.
Away from Shengsheng Zhou, she became a completely different person.
Looking at the figure ahead, noticeably slighter than an ordinary man’s, Xiaosui rolled his eyes in boredom and pressed his lips downward.
A drought…
If she failed to bring rain, would she still be able to keep her position as State Preceptor?
Zhiyu stopped again and abruptly turned, catching Xiaosui off guard.
“Did you bring my pickle jar?”
Xiaosui had not fully hidden his expression when she suddenly questioned him. Startled, he nodded. “Mm… I brought it.”
Zhiyu had not expected her servant to be fairly considerate in certain respects.
She took his hand and placed a piece of candy in his palm.
When leaving the palace, Shengsheng had stuffed a purse into her hands. The candy inside could not be found outside the palace, so Zhiyu usually counted every piece she ate.
Now she gave him one as a reward.
Ah, she was such a good master. She would write this in her little notebook tonight. Shengsheng would surely praise her.
Xiaosui stared blankly at the candy in his palm, then slowly closed his fingers around it.
Mm. Another gift.
With his long legs, he caught up to Zhiyu’s retreating figure in two or three strides. He thought he might as well let her keep doing this a while longer.
…
“Sixth Sister, you and Fifth Sister should go have fun. There’s no need to worry about me,” the Second Princess said with a dry laugh.
The Fifth Princess stayed close to Shengsheng, licking a stick of candied hawthorn, entirely unconcerned with their destination.
Candied hawthorn was delicious.
Shengsheng shook her head. “How could we abandon you, Second Sister?”
*Nice try. Let’s see what you worked so hard to leave the palace for!*
The Second Princess nearly ground her teeth to powder at Shengsheng’s impervious expression.
She looked at the silent Fifth Princess, then at Shengsheng’s flower-bright smile.
Gritting her teeth, she said, “Sixth Sister, I’m only telling you because you’re my own sister. You must promise never to tell anyone.”
Shengsheng’s eyes lit up. With practiced decisiveness, she raised four fingers. “I swear to Heaven. If I tell, may lightning strike me dead!”
Only then did the Second Princess nod and lean close to whisper something in her ear.
She drew back and watched Shengsheng nervously, afraid of seeing disgust on her face.
Shengsheng frowned.
The Second Princess’s heart dropped.
“Oh, Second Sister! How could you wait until now to tell me about something this wonderful?!”
“Hurry! Let’s go!” Golden light shining in her eyes, Shengsheng hooked an arm around the Second Princess’s neck, grabbed the Fifth Princess, and set off.
The Second Princess: “…Yay?”
“You don’t find it disgusting or unacceptable?” she asked in confusion.
Shengsheng Zhou naturally countered, “What’s disgusting about it?”
The Second Princess fell silent.
For an exalted princess to behave so wantonly–if word spread, people would point at her spine and curse her to death.
Looking at Shengsheng’s excitement and eagerness, the Second Princess glanced at the Fifth Princess, still wholly immersed in eating candied hawthorn.
Mm. Suddenly, she understood why Little Fifth liked staying beside Shengsheng so much.
…
“Oh, my young master! It has been far too long since your last visit.”
The moment the Second Princess entered, the madam welcomed her enthusiastically.
Qingfeng House’s madam was a man in brilliant clothes and heavy makeup.
The Second Princess nodded. The madam stepped closer and whispered in her ear, “Everything is ready. Go straight to the second floor. Your usual room.”
The Second Princess handed him a bulging purse, instantly making him beam.
Judging by her practiced manner, Shengsheng guessed this was not her first visit.
Before ascending, Shengsheng apologized guiltily to Fusheng Duan inside her heart. Then she stroked her mustache, clasped her hands behind her back, and went upstairs.
At the same time, Weiqing Song held a newly delivered letter.
A cold smile hung from his lips.
Very good, Shengsheng Zhou.
He had wondered why she so kindly offered to buy his storybook. So she could visit a place like this for entertainment?
“Prepare the carriage. I am leaving the palace,” he ordered coldly.
He would personally deal with this disgrace to the family.
…
“I’d never heard of this place before.” Shengsheng took a sip of tea and looked at the Second Princess.
Mm. It was good tea. It could not compare with the palace’s, but it possessed a distinctive flavor.
“It used to be an obscure brothel. Some time ago, its former owner, Prince Pi’s heir, died unexpectedly. Someone else bought the establishment and converted it into a brothel specializing in male courtesans. Only then did it become popular.”
Shengsheng paused.
Prince Pi’s heir?
Why did that sound familiar?
“Was he the one with a butt on his chin?” Shengsheng asked.
The Second Princess nodded. “Yes. He attended the banquet Imperial Father held to celebrate your recovery.”
The same man who tried to molest her, only for her to punch him into the water?
“He died?” Shengsheng asked in shock.
The Second Princess nodded. “Yes. No one knows whom he offended, but I hear he died horribly. Prince Pi reported directly to Imperial Father, claiming someone murdered his son. Imperial Father was unwell then and handed the case to Crown Prince Brother. After that, for some unknown reason, the matter simply disappeared.”
“But I hear Prince Pi has been close to the Fourth Prince ever since. You should know that he originally supported the Crown Prince.”
Complexity flashed through Shengsheng’s eyes. “Second Sister certainly knows a great deal.”
The Second Princess lifted her chin. “Naturally. There is nothing in court or harem that this princess does not know.”
“Oh, right.” Her voice suddenly dropped.
“I hear Prince Pi also colludes with the barbarians. Didn’t the barbarians lose their war with the Zhu Kingdom? The High Priest remains missing to this day, yet Prince Pi actually advised giving aid to the barbarian tribes. Absolutely absurd.”
Shengsheng yawned and nodded without interest.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened.
A pleasant orchid fragrance drifted in.
Shengsheng clearly saw the newcomer’s face.
Holy shit???!!!???!!!