Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Zhan Rong's lips moved, a myriad of words flooding his mind in an instant. He hesitated, his lips parting and closing again. Suddenly, the guards outside rushed into the courtyard, relieving the tension: "Your Highness, that young master has arrived at the villa!"

Finally!

Zhan Rong heaved a sigh of relief. Knowing the prince as he did, the prince's foul mood, though not directly linked to the young master, was certainly influenced by some connection or another.

Xiao Nong's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

His bad mood indeed had no direct connection to Zhong Yansheng, but his already unpleasant state of mind had worsened due to Zhong Yansheng's absence.

The headache continued to plague him, like a taut string, throbbing painfully, making him irritable enough to want to kill someone.

That boy's scent might help ease it.

But if he allowed Zhong Yansheng to enter so easily, wouldn't it be a loss of face?

Prince Ding remained as still as a mountain, sitting steadily in his wheelchair. Instead of rushing to bring in the pain-relieving treasure, he crossed his legs and leisurely turned a page of his book, his tone light and casual: "Let him wait."

The consequences of daring to be late.

He would let him stew for an hour; after all, that little sparrow was obedient.

Hearing this, the guard, who was already bowing, lowered his head even further, stammering and hesitating to leave and relay the order.

Xiao Nong raised an eyebrow: "What are you doing? Are you going to plead for him?"

"Your Highness, I dare not," the guard swallowed hard, sensing that speaking up would cause trouble, but knowing he had to, he softly said, "Um, actually, that young master came to the villa earlier, handed over a few items, and then left..."

Xiao Nong: "..."

The rustling sounds in the courtyard ceased, plunging it back into silence.

Zhan Rong bowed his head in suffocation, feeling like life was unbearable.

The heavens were against him.

Xiao Nong slowly repeated: "Handed over a few items and then left?"

The guard pulled out an opened package from behind him, spreading it on the ground. Inside were tools like flower hoes and shovels, clearly not intended for Xiao Nong.

Feeling the gaze above him grow colder, the guard's hand trembled, quickly producing two more boxes.

The larger one was a food box, the smaller one rather exquisite. He presented them with both hands, his head nearly touching the ground: "Would Your Highness like to inspect them personally? They have been checked and found harmless."

Xiao Nong didn't even look, coldly uttering two words: "Throw them away."

Guard: "Yes, Your Highness!"

Just as he turned, he heard: "Bring them here."

The guard had anticipated this command, wanting to laugh but not daring to. He turned back and handed over the two boxes, opening the food box first: "Your Highness, they've been tested for poison."

Xiao Nong hummed, glancing at the food box indifferently.

Inside were exquisitely crafted pine nut lily pastries. Though their appearance had dulled somewhat due to the time, they were still delicate and lovely, with intricate petal designs.

Xiao Nong had little interest in sweets, picking one up to taste. The cold lily pastry surprisingly retained its texture, though it was overly sweet and cloying. He wiped his fingers with the handkerchief Zhan Rong offered, commenting blandly: "A taste only children would enjoy."

To prepare a set of tools for Uncle Wang, but give him just these things?

Xiao Nong glanced at the other sandalwood box: "Open it."

The guard complied, revealing a high-quality field yellow stone seal inside, clear and lustrous like honey.

While such an item would be considered a rarity outside, it was nothing unusual to Xiao Nong. Not only had the imperial family lavished extravagant rewards on the Xiao family in the past, but countless officials and nobles in the capital had also offered countless treasures to meet Prince Ding—though all were rudely rejected by the prince.

Zhan Rong sighed inwardly; to the prince, this was no different from a broken stone by the roadside, unworthy of a second glance.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Xiao Nong naturally take out the seal and examine it, his eyebrow suddenly raising: "What is inscribed on it?"

Zhan Rong, quick-witted, immediately went inside to fetch paper and ink.

Xiao Nong, in a relaxed posture, pressed the seal onto the paper. A gentle evening breeze stirred the white paper, and in the fading light, the characters on the paper fluttered but remained clearly visible.

—"Clear Wind and Bright Moon."

Xiao Nong didn't realize his lips had curved slightly.

Gazing at those four characters, his restless heart seemed to be caressed by the breeze, gradually calming down.

Zhong Yansheng hurriedly left a few return gifts and ran off.

When he handed over the boxes, he repeated to himself, the red one was blank, the yellow one had the inscription.

Yes, that was right.

Meng Qiping and his group couldn't stay quiet for long. After playing around at Jiuxiang Building, they wanted to wander down the street opposite. Zhong Yansheng used the excuse of strict family rules and the threat of being scolded for coming home late to slip away—Marquis Huai'an's stern reputation was well-known, and no one doubted him.

Meeting up with Yuncheng, who had been waiting outside, the sky was indeed getting dark. Zhong Yansheng hesitated for a moment but decided to keep his promise. Together with Yuncheng, they fetched the return gift for Uncle Wang and rushed to Changliu Villa, hurriedly delivering the gifts.

In the Imperial City, the evening drum was struck at the fifth watch of the dog hour, after which the city gates were strictly closed until the morning drum at the fifth watch of the tiger hour the next day. Missing the timing meant being locked outside for the night.

Being locked outside wasn't scary; what was terrifying was the consequence of being discovered by Marquis Huai'an and Lady Huai'an.

Yuncheng's heart was in his throat, hurrying as fast as they could, they made it to the city gate just in time and were let in.

As the carriage slowly passed through the city gate, Yuncheng's heart was still pounding, wiping sweat profusely: "Phew, phew, if we hadn't made it into the city today, my head would have been hanging up there tomorrow."

Zhong Yansheng clung to the carriage, finally heaving a sigh of relief as he handed a handkerchief to Yuncheng: "Good Yuncheng, thanks to you we made it!"

Yuncheng pouted: "Young Master, I don't feel good at all. Can we avoid such unlucky events next time? What if Lady Marquis finds out..."

"It's fine," Zhong Yansheng reassured him with a pat on the chest, "I'll take full responsibility. The worst the Marquis will do is make me kneel in the ancestral hall and copy the family precepts for a night. If they dare touch you, I'll write to Grandmother and cry."

Others didn't know, but the stern and upright Marquis Huai'an was most afraid of his mother and wife.

Yuncheng: "..."

The plan was quite foolish, but it seemed somewhat reliable.

It was already dark, and Zhong Yansheng had never returned home this late before. Though he spoke confidently about crying to his grandmother if something went wrong, he felt a bit uneasy inside.

After leaving the carriage at an inn, the two of them sprinted back to the Marquis' residence.

The closer they got to his courtyard, the faster Zhong Yansheng's eyelids twitched, and his sense of foreboding grew stronger.

Sure enough, as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw someone standing by the pond with his hands behind his back.

It was Marquis Huai'an.

Zhong Yansheng took light steps, silently retreating to seek shelter from Lady Marquis.

But after just two steps, a stern voice called out: "Come here."

Zhong Yansheng's heart skipped three beats.

Faced with danger, he remembered his promise and gave Yuncheng a look that said, "You run first," before slowly moving toward the courtyard.

All the servants had been cleared from the courtyard, and facing Marquis Huai'an alone, Zhong Yansheng's toes tightened with nervousness. He forced a dry laugh: "Father, you're back early today."

"I'm not back early," Marquis Huai'an turned around with a serious face, "you're back late."

Zhong Yansheng's back tingled, and without a word, he tugged at Marquis Huai'an's sleeve, pleading pitifully: "Father, I'm sorry, I really know I was wrong, it won't happen again... please don't make me kneel and copy the family precepts, okay?"

His act of coquettish pleading was exactly like when he used to whine about not wanting to take medicine as a child. Marquis Huai'an, seeing this, kept his face stern: "I heard you were drinking with the third young master of Duke Pei's household today?"

A group of people causing a commotion on a bustling street, and these few being particularly noticeable in the Imperial City, it was no surprise that the news reached Marquis Huai'an's ears.

Zhong Yansheng raised his hand to swear: "Father, I didn't drink. If you don't believe me, smell me; I have no alcohol on me."

He indeed had no alcohol on him, but what Marquis Huai'an cared about was clearly something else. His frown deepened: "Father knows you find staying in the Marquis' residence boring and want to make friends, but you must choose your friends wisely. The third young master of Duke Pei's household..."

Marquis Huai'an left the sentence unfinished.

Unexpectedly, his tone was very serious, but he did not harshly reprimand Zhong Yansheng for coming home late.

Zhong Yansheng's tension eased considerably. Understanding his father's meaning, he thought for a moment and nodded obediently: "Are you telling me to stay away from Meng Qiping? Father, don't worry, I don't like him and won't be friends with him."

Zhong Yansheng was always well-behaved, and upon hearing this, Marquis Huai'an's expression softened slightly. He grunted: "Let it go for today, but don't come home so late next time."

Zhong Yansheng happily nodded: "Father is the best!"

Marquis Huai'an's face remained serious, showing no intention of saying more. He lifted his foot to leave.

Seeing him about to go, Zhong Yansheng quickly pulled out a small sandalwood box from his sleeve and offered it proudly: "Father, a gift for you!"

Marquis Huai'an was taken aback, looking at his son's bright eyes, he reached out to take the box and opened it to see the seal inside. It was too dark to see the details, but even in the dim light, the fine and smooth texture was evident.

Zhong Yansheng eagerly awaited a response, gazing at him expectantly: "Father, do you like it?"

Marquis Huai'an, known for his stern and solemn demeanor, rarely smiled. Holding the unexpected gift from his youngest son, he couldn't help but show a hint of a smile, which he quickly suppressed, clearing his throat: "It's acceptable."

Knowing Marquis Huai'an's quirks, Zhong Yansheng understood that "acceptable" meant he liked it a lot. He smiled with delight, feeling proud of himself for doing a good job.

The brother at Changliu Villa should have seen the seal too. I wonder what he will engrave on it.

That night passed without incident.

Reflecting on the close call, Zhong Yansheng decided to leave early and return early, and to visit Changliu Villa to apologize. The next day, he woke up unusually early, still drowsy, and dragged Yuncheng out of the house with determination.

Seeing the young master staggering as he walked, almost falling off the carriage, yet insisting on going out of the city to Changliu Villa, Yuncheng hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up: "Young Master, are the people you met at the villa really relatives of the Marquis' family?"

Zhong Yansheng, who was dozing off in the carriage, suddenly perked up at this question, hitting his head on the top of the carriage and stifling a groan of pain. He rubbed his forehead discreetly, his face twisted in discomfort: "Of course they are."

How could a true young master not be part of the family?

His voice, trembling from the pain, sounded hesitant to Yuncheng, making him even more suspicious.

The young master usually didn't move much, doing everything slowly, and his favorite pastime was lounging on the swing in the courtyard, basking in the sun and dozing off. He never kept secrets from his family.

This behavior was highly unusual.

As Yuncheng pondered, a chill ran down his spine.

Could it be that the villa wasn't home to any relatives at all, but rather some kind of enchantress, and the young master was secretly meeting her every day?

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became of this theory.

Waking up early every day to leave the city, preparing gifts diligently, and risking missing the city gates last night to deliver something...

Most importantly, he didn't want Yuncheng to tell the Marquis or Lady Marquis.

Could there be something wrong with the woman's identity?

The young master, raised in a secluded mansion, was innocent and naive, and might have been deceived.

Yuncheng struggled for a long time, knowing his position didn't allow him to say much, but he gently advised: "Young Master, you must be cautious and discerning."

Wipe your eyes and recognize who? Could he possibly mistake the real young master?

Zhong Yansheng responded with a puzzled "Oh": "Got it, Yuncheng, why are you so naggy today?"

They set out early today, arriving at Changliu Villa much earlier than usual. Yuncheng was pulled out of bed early in the morning, his eyes drooping from sleep, planning to catch up on some rest in the carriage while waiting for Zhong Yansheng.

He also intended to lurk around to see which little vixen would see Zhong Yansheng off.

Zhong Yansheng, oblivious to Yuncheng's worried and overly protective demeanor, walked briskly to the gate of Changliu Villa. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door opened.

It opened hastily, as if in great anticipation.

Zhong Yansheng's hand froze mid-air, hesitantly greeting: "Guard Zhan...?"

After seeing that seal last night, the Prince seemed somewhat cheered up, and Zhan Rong managed to avoid a scolding. His respect for Zhong Yansheng deepened even further: "Please come in."

For some reason, Zhong Yansheng felt that Zhan Rong was unusually gentle and kind to him today.

Though Zhan Rong's face remained expressionless.

Changliu Villa was exceptionally large. The place they were visiting today was different from the two places they had been to before. Along the way, pavilions and terraces were deeply nestled, with lush spring flowers, artificial hills, and ponds, creating a picturesque scene.

Zhong Yansheng's heart skipped a beat, and he finally couldn't help but worry.

Was his father embezzling? Otherwise, how could he have such a grand private residence? If the censors from the Censorate discovered this, a memorial could be submitted to the imperial court, and the Marquis' estate might be confiscated again.

...No, he must go back and advise the Marquis Huai'an to serve diligently, love the people, and remain incorruptible.

With these chaotic thoughts, Zhong Yansheng followed Zhan Rong through the moon gate and into the room, only to realize it was a study.

Zhan Rong, as usual, stopped outside the door. Recalling his previous experience, Zhong Yansheng's scalp tingled slightly, and he cautiously entered the room, trying not to be startled again.

Xiao Nong, propping his elbow on the desk by the window, was flipping through documents presented by his subordinates, completely ignoring Zhong Yansheng, who had sneaked in looking somewhat suspicious.

His features were sharply defined, the lines cold, and the slight curve at the corner of his mouth, which usually gave an impression of warmth, vanished. The light from outside fell on his face, partially obscured by a thin curtain, creating a half-lit, half-shadowed effect. In the interplay of light and shadow, he appeared incomparably handsome and aloof.

Zhong Yansheng stole a few glances and quietly noticed that his brother seemed a bit angry.

After all, this true young master brother always changed his mood inexplicably, being unpredictable. Zhong Yansheng had adapted well to this. Seeing that Xiao Nong seemed engrossed in reading and hadn't noticed his arrival, he didn't disturb him and began to examine the room's decor.

What he saw left him greatly astonished.

Famous paintings from several dynasties, calligraphy by renowned masters, a precious Ru kiln celadon pen washer, a priceless jade landscape sculpture, a red coral potted plant from the East Sea, and a jade ornament from the Western Regions. On the bookshelf, there was even a rare edition that his father had once mentioned wanting but was said to have been lost long ago!

Father, how much have you embezzled!

Zhong Yansheng suddenly felt dizzy, barely managing to steady himself by holding onto the bookshelf and examining each item.

Xiao Nong's intention was to let Zhong Yansheng stew for a while. He expected that when Zhong Yansheng couldn't take it anymore, he would come over obediently, cooing and apologizing for not coming on time yesterday.

But after waiting for a long time, Xiao Nong still didn't hear Zhong Yansheng speak. Glancing over, he saw Zhong Yansheng staring wide-eyed, looking around the study in shock.

His eyebrows twitched, and he put down his brush, leaning back casually.

The little thing actually knew good stuff.

Most of the items in this room came from the Xiao family's treasury. In the past, the royal family favored the Xiao family, and rewards were often bestowed in batches. Naturally, none of these items were ordinary. Xiao Wenlan had visited Changliu Villa a few times, each time with greedy eyes, shamelessly begging Xiao Nong to give him one or two pieces.

Xiao Nong habitually waited for Zhong Yansheng to ask for a reward, but after another long wait, Zhong Yansheng still didn't say a word.

Xiao Nong, losing patience, spoke unhappily: "What are you doing?"

Zhong Yansheng looked at Xiao Nong in despair.

He was sentencing the Marquis Huai'an.

Author's note:

Marquis Huai'an: 6

A filial son