Chapter Twenty-Three:Anger
“Junwang Ye, you have returned?” Houshiwas embroidering a pouch by the window. Seeing Yan Bo Yi come in, she put down what she had in her hands and took in front of Yan Bo Yi the cup of tea a servant girl had poured. Seeing that his expression was unhappy, she asked considerately, “Is there something that is not going well?”
“Nothing.” Yan Bo Yi took the teacup and had a sip. He waved for the servants in the room to leave before he said, “This case is connected to many people. In the next few days, if anyone comes to thefuto ask for details, just pretend to not know.”
Because Yan Bo Yi rarely talked about affairs of the outside with Houshiof his own accord, Houshirejoiced when she saw he was willing to mention this matter to her. She then said worriedly, “Is the culprit someone from a prestigious family?”
Yan Bo Yi shook his head and didn’t want to speak about it. “Have the servants send up the meal.”
Seeing this, Houshiknew that he would not continue to discuss outside matters with her. She was slightly disappointed, but she still sent someone to arrange the evening meal and helped Yan Bo Yi change out of his outer robe.
The two silently finished eating. When Houshisaw Yan Bo Yi remaining seated rather than leave, she hesitated and then said, “Junwang Ye, the day is still early. Why don’t we go for a walk in the garden. I heard the servants say that the lilies in the garden are both fragrant and beautiful…”
“Let’s speak of this tomorrow. Later, I have to go back to the Judicial Office to work on this case.” Yan Bo Yi stood up from his seat and spoke with an indifferent expression. “I’ll have to trouble you to spend more effort on thefu.”
“What are you saying?” Houshiwarmly put an insect-repelling pouch on his waist. “I am yourjunwang fei—it is my duty to manage thewang fu. There is no trouble to speak of. Although it is early summer, the night is still cold. Take care not to get cold.”
Yan Bo Yi made a sound of acknowledgement. After the pouch was securely tied, he walked out of the room.
Houshilooked at the empty room and her smile slowly faded. She looked dazedly outside. She thought of the Crown Prince’sFuwith its numerousqieandtongfang. She then thought of the twotongfangin herfuwho were not favored, and the sense of emptiness inside her instantly disappeared without a trace.
In XianJunwang Fu, Mu Tong had the servants secretly scoop out the goldfish that had died due to overfeeding byJunwang YeandJunwang Fei. He then had people switch them out for lively goldfish before he released a breath. It really was not not easy to find in two to four hours so many goldfish with such bright scales and that were energetic. ButJunwang Yehad ordered them to conceal fromJunwang Feiwhat had happened to the goldfish. It had really worried him.
“Chief Steward Mu, what to do with these goldfish?” The young manservant looked at the bucket half-full of fish and didn’t know what to do.
“Of course they are to be buried. Do you need me to teach you about such a small matter?” Mu Tong waved his hand impatiently. “All right, take care of this as soon as possible. Do not letJunwang Feifind out.”
“Yes.” The little manservant didn’t dare to dawdle and hurriedly lifted the bucket of fish with another manservant and hurried off.
Mu Tong patted at the two droplets of water on his outer robe. He took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands as he said to the other servants, “Work hard. If someone gossips, you do not need to speak in the future.”
“Yes.” The servants shook and wanted to shrink their heads back into their necks.
Mu Tong glanced at them and was very satisfied with their obedient attitude before he turned and hurried towards the main yard. When he entered the main yard, he sawJunwang Yewas sitting withJunwang Feiat the stone table in the yard. One person was drawing, the other was holding a plate of fruit and nuts as she admired the drawing.
Everyone in Jing knew that XianJunwangwas very skilled at drawing. Many people felt it was a great honor to obtain a work fromJunwang Ye. It was a pity that XianJunwangrarely made works for others. Even if the drawings piled up in thefuand filled the entire room, there were rarely any that were floating outside thefu.
Hua Xi Wan saw that Yan Jin Qiu had drawn a narcissus with a few strokes. After she examined it for a while, she shoved a sour and sweet piece of dried fruit into Yan Jin Qiu’s mouth. “In the past, I heard that Jin Qiu was skilled at drawing. I had assumed that those people said so to gain favor with you. It seems that the rumors are substantiated.”
Yan Jin Qiu did not like sour and sweet things. After hurriedly swallowing, he put down the pen. “But the rumors outside about you are not matching at all.”
Hua Xi Wan gave a carefree smile and shoved another piece of fruit into his mouth. She put down the plate of fruit and nuts. “Therefore sometimes, what people say is the real truth, and sometimes it is not. Truth and lies, they depend on how people listen and judge.”
Mu Tong sawJunwang Feishove two piece of dried fruit intoJunwang Ye’s mouth and couldn’t help but inhale inside. He had followedJunwang Yefor many years and knew that the other never touched anything sweet and sour. Today, he had managed to swallow it without changing expression. It could be seen how much weightJunwang Feicarried withJunwang Ye.
After she finished admiring the drawing, the sky darkened. Hua Xi Wan looked at the moon that had already risen and suddenly said, “ShengJunwang’s words today were slightly strange.”
Yan Jin Qiu’s eyebrows shifted slightly; his face held a smile. “Oh?”
Hua Xi Wan had the same smile on her face. “You are ajunwang. His questions… They seemed pointed, but they really avoided the matter.” Yan Jin Qiu was ajunwang. If he secretly kidnapped Master Zhang, why did he have to prove what he was doing at the time? Did he have to personally go to capture the person?
ShengJunwanghad come with such pomp and circumstance to XianJunwang Futo ask questions, and made outsiders feel that he was just. Even if XianJunwanghad the smallest bit of likelihood that he was involved, while ShengJunwangcame to ask questions in person, he did not really pull Yan Jin Qiu into this, and he would not offend the entire XianJunwang Fu.
There were never truly just people in the Imperial House. If there were, no one would like them. They would be isolated and ignored by all the imperial clansmen. They wouldn’t be like ShengJunwang. He didn’t just have a good reputation outside, he was also doing very well at court.
Yan Jin Qiu’s gaze had been on Hua Xi Wan’s body this whole time. When she finished speaking, his smile became slightly complex. “Why has Xi Wan thought to ask about this?”
Hua Xi Wan’s smile did not change. “We are husband and wife—what can we not talk about?”
“There naturally isn’t anything we cannot talk about.” Yan Jin Qiu walked next to her and slightly pinched the lobe of her ear. The red mark behind her ear from last night had faded slightly. He said in a hoarse and deep voice, “The time is late. Why don’t we rest early?”
The servants heard this and silently took a few steps back. When Mu Tong saw this, he also followed. As servants, they first had to learn to be perceptive. Otherwise, it was useless no matter how smart or capable they were.
After the night passed, many people in Jing knew that ShengJunwanghad gone to XianJunwang Futo ask about the details of the case. Even though some praised ShengJunwangfor being a methodical person, almost everyone felt that XianJunwangwas innocent. How could such a noble person do such a cruel thing? Also, Master Zhang had offended many people in Jing. Not many of those offended would be as generous as XianJunwang.
The news passed to thefuof Hua Xi Wan’s second uncle, Hua Zhi Ming. Hearing this, Zhangshiinstantly felt anxious. She found out that people from XianJunwang Fuhad gone last morning to the Judicial Office to ask about the case. Immediately after, ShengJunwangstarted to suspect XianJunwang. Were these two events connected?
She knew that no one in Jing dared to touch this matter. XianJunwanghad sent someone to inquire because of Hua Xi Wan, but now this had caused XianJunwangto become a suspect. Would XianJunwangbe angry and dislike theirfubecause of this?
When Hua Zhi Ming came back from the Ministry of Revenues, he saw Zhangshi’s anxious expression and asked about it. After he listened to the cause of the events, he was so furious he smashed a tea set.
“Aren’t you throwing our second niece into the pit?” Hua Zhi Ming’s face was completely red as he said, “How can anyone interfere in this matter? Now even XianJunwanghas been pulled in. Would he blame Second Niece?”
Zhangshicovered her mouth and sobbed. She said, “But what can I do? My Zhang Family has been honest and good for generations, but we never participate in matters of governance. Now that my brother has died, am I supposed to let him die without the culprit being caught?!”
“You only remember your Zhang Family, but do you remember that Xi Wan is my niece?!” In these years, Zhangshihad always favored her paternal family. Hua Zhi Ming had not borne to criticize her due to their marital relationship, but now that he saw how she had pulled his innocent niece into this matter for the Zhang Family, his anger that had been suppressed for many years finally erupted. “Xi Wan has married into the Imperial Family and needs to be careful and plan at each step. You are a good aunt—you want to make trouble for Xi Wan. Do you think that she doesn’t have enough matters already? If you find Xi Wan again for matters like this, do not blame me for being ruthless!”
Zhangshiwas angry, regretful and scared. She wiped her tears and said, “XianJunwangis kind and virtuous. He would not blame Second Niece because of this matter. Also… also, Second Niece is of outstanding beauty. XianJunwangwould not bear…”
“Shut your mouth now.” Hua Zhi Ming looked with tiredness at hisdiwife. He wanted to say that while one could see the face, they could not see the heart. He also wanted to say that using one’s beauty never ended well, but in the end, it all turned into a sigh. He rubbed his brow and said, “Think thoroughly. I will not argue with you.” Finishing, he turned and left the room.
“Miss.” The servant girl behind Hua Yi Liu watched asLaoye[1] hurried out ofTaitai’s room. She looked worriedly at Hua Yi Liu who had an ashen face, and reached out to support her.
“I’m all right.” Hua Yi Liu pushed aside the servant girl and straightened. “Let’s return.”
The servant girl wanted to say thatTaitaiwould not be in a good mood after just fighting withLaoye, and if Miss were to go comfortTaitai, she would feel better. But when she saw how ugly Miss’ face was, she did not dare to speak up.
At this time, Hua Yi Liu could not care about what her servant girl thought. Her mind was full of what her parents had said when they fought, the respectful attitudes of the servants at XianJunwang Futowards Hua Xi Wan, and the jewelry Hua Xi Wan wore on her body that was worth cities.
If XianJunwangreally blamed Hua Xi Wan…
She stumbled but she could not stop thinking. If she really was blamed… that would be great.
In XianJunwang Fu, Hua Xi Wan idly played with a cat’s eye stone and threw it onto the table. “Yesterday afternoon, Mu Tong had the servants switch out all the goldfish in the pond that died from overeating?”
Zi Shan smiled and nodded. She said, “Yes, this servant heard thatJunwang Yesaid to not let you know.”
Not let her know, then how did it pass into the ears of her personal servant girl?
Hua Xi Wan laughed lightly and touched the jade bangle on her wrist. She said coolly, “Since that is the case, then pretend to be ignorant. I did not hear anything from you.”
Someone was willing to give her what appeared to be deep emotion, so she would contentedly watch. As to whether it was true emotion or acting, that was not important. What was important was how long this deep emotion would last.
Zi Shan sawJunwang Fei’s expression was calm and that she did not seem to be moved by this event. Her thoughts of discussing this halted. She was not as smart asJunwang Fei, so she would do asJunwang Feisaid.
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