Princess Xi Wen brought Ji Xingxuan out of the Reception Hall. On the way to the East Pavilion, Xi Wen suddenly turned her head and asked: "Lianfang Gongzi, is it the female guest that my Rui biaoge brought to the Dingbo Pavilion a few months ago?"
Ji Xingxuan nodded her head and said: "She is also the one that won me in the wine bet."
Xi Wen chuckled: "She does have some ability."
Ji Xingxuan did not say anything more. The two of them arrived at the East Pavilion. Because Xi Wen was accompanying them, there was one less layer of security and they directly entered the building.
Prince Xiang had just woken up and was lying on his side behind the bamboo curtain. Xi Wen accompanied Ji Xingxuan and sat on a chair. Separated by the curtain, she chatted with her father for a while before turning to business. Previously, she had brought Ji Xingxuan here so there was no need for introductions. After coming and going, Ji Xingxuan asked what she wanted to know so she bowed and said her goodbyes. Xi Wen suddenly stood up and ran behind the bamboo curtain. Ji Xingxuan stood there and quietly listened to the conversation between father and daughter.
"Father, this child has a favor to ask of you."
Prince Xiang yawned and said: "Say it, what do you want?"
"Rui ge will be bringing people over later for this year's Dayan Examination. Don't answer him seriously and try to fool him." Xi Wen knelt in front of the bed and massaged Prince Xiang's legs.
Prince Xiang said with a smile, "How did Xue Rui offend you? You've been praising him all day long, yet now you're trying to trip him up behind his back?"
"I am not trying to trip him up. It is not like he wants to take the examination. Father, please agree. Please agree." Xi Wen shook Prince Xiang's legs and acted like a little girl.
Prince Xiang could not stand her pestering and waved his hand: "I know. Go and play." "Hee hee, Father is the best. Then Xi Wen will leave. I will come and see you tomorrow."
Not long after, Xi Wen walked out from behind the curtain with a smile on her face. She waved at Ji Xingxuan and the two of them walked out. Before long, Ji Xingxuan asked, "Your Highness, aren't you —"
"Isn't that what?" Xi Wen interrupted her words, turned her head and winked at her, saying mischievously, "Didn't she win against you last time? This time, I won't even give her a chance to win, isn't that great?"
Ji Xingxuan looked at Xi Wen's blushing face and smiled quietly, not saying anything.
Royal Princess Xi Wen sent a servant to the Incense Grinding Hall to inform Xue Rui. She didn't show herself in front of Xue Rui and left with Ji Xingxuan.
On the way to the east pavilion to see Prince Xiang, Xue Rui said to Yu Shu, "His Royal Highness is a kind person, there's no need for you to be too reserved when you speak. With me around, you can ask whatever you want to ask openly, there's no need to worry about offending him. If you really say something wrong, I'll help you smooth things over."
Being about to meet a distinguished person like His Highness, Yu Shu wasn't very nervous. Part of the reason was that Xue Rui was present and part of the reason was that she had already finished worrying about everything on the way here. Now, she was holding on to the thought that things will eventually sort themselves out and there was nothing to be afraid of.
The East pavilion was right in front of them. It had three floors and there wasn't a plaque outside. A quiet looking servant girl stood in front of the door and waited for the servant inside to respond before inviting them in.
As soon as Yu Shu entered the pavilion, her whole body warmed up. She first smelled the faint scent of sandalwood and then her eyes became dazed. She saw that there were three exquisite screens set up inside the pavilion. One was the Full Moon Flying Immortal, the second was the Immortal Crane Offering Birthday, and the third was the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. A three-legged incense burner squatted in the middle and smoke curled up in spirals. There was a thick crimson silk curtain that separated the two. After entering the second door, she saw a pair of boys with their hair combed into a bun, red lips and white teeth. They held a horsetail whisk in their hands and stood under a green bamboo curtain. It gave her the illusion that the people who came in to pay their respects were not His Highness but some family's immortal guests.
"Xue Rui and his friends pay their respects to His Highness." Xue Rui bowed and saluted. Yu Shu followed behind him and bent her waist ninety degrees. She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the silhouette behind the curtain, but it was a pity that the curtain was too tightly covered, so she couldn't see anything.
"Commoner Yu Shu pays her respects to Prince Xiang. Long live His Highness."
Prince Xiang laid down behind the curtain and used his arm as a pillow to size up the person behind the curtain. After a while, he called out, "Sit."
Hearing his voice, it didn't sound strict. Yu Shu saw that Xue Rui had sat down and didn't decline and sat down as well.
Xue Rui said, "Yesterday I sent a letter to His Highness, recommending a friend who can help His Highness solve your problems and find the lost item. That friend is the one beside you."
When Yu Shu heard her mentioned, she hurriedly stood up and clasped her hands in greeting towards the curtain.
Prince Xiang gave a light 'heng' sound behind the curtain and said, "It's obvious that you are the one who has something to ask of me and still dare to act obedient in front of me. It's not easy for the Celestial Commissioner to find the painting that I lost, otherwise I wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to create an examination question to make things difficult for this year's Dayan examinee. This junior that you brought along must be for this year's examinations and you still want to deceive me."
Yu Shu could hear the displeasure in Prince Xiang's words and her heart was beating fast. She was worried that Xue Rui would overreach himself and make this Prince unhappy. However, Xue Rui's expression didn't change and said, "His Highness is perceptive. Since you already know everything, then please do me a favor."
Hearing that, Prince Xiang blew his beard behind the curtain. He could tell that this kid was purposely trying to get information from him and save him the trouble of explaining. He was instantly angry and happy. His hand pinched the string of incense and twirled the beads on it. He squinted his eyes and said, "If you have something to say, quickly say it. If you have fart, quickly say it. Once done, scram."
"One." Yu Shu knew that her expression must be very strange right now and hurriedly lowered her head.
Xue Rui smiled and turned his head to Yu Shu and said, "His Highness is right here. If you have anything to ask, just ask." Shu swallowed her saliva and cleared her throat slightly. She took out a pen and paper to record and opened her mouth to ask about Prince Xiang's birth and eight characters. Prince Xiang was still cooperative and told her the truth. Yu Shu hurriedly noted it down and confirmed it twice before continuing to put on a respectful attitude and asked, "May I ask His Highness, when did you discover that the painting was lost."
"On the way back."
"Do you remember which days it was exactly?"
"I can't say for sure. Ever since the painting was obtained, Ben Wang kept it under the horse carriage. Other than staying overnight, Ben Wang would take it out a few times to admire it on the way. It was only when we were about to reach An Ling did we discover that it was missing." When Prince Xiang said these words, his voice had a tinge of annoyance. It was obvious that he was very unhappy about losing the painting.
Yu Shu asked again, "Has anyone else seen that painting before?"
Prince Xiang replied with certainty, "No, it only passed through Ben Wang's hands." He paused before continuing, "Ben Wang also suspected that it was stolen by someone but after interrogating the entourage and searching their bodies, there was nothing. It seems that it was Ben Wang who was careless."
Yu Shu secretly nodded her head. It was best that it was not stolen.
"Your Highness, where did you get the painting that you lost?" This question was asked by Xue Rui.
There was a moment of silence behind the curtains. This time Prince Xiang did not reply so readily. Yu Shu secretly praised Xue Rui for asking a good question. She also wanted to ask this question but she was afraid that it would provoke Prince Xiang's taboo. Think about it, a painting that was neither expensive nor valuable and was still kept by his side. If there was no secret, who would believe it.
"… Ben Wang is tired. If there is nothing else, you can leave."
Who knew that Prince Xiang did not reply and actually chased them away.
Yu Shu was secretly disappointed. She saw Xue Rui shaking his head gently at her and using his eyes to ask if there was anything else she wanted to ask. She nodded her head and secretly showed him a finger. Xue Rui understood and said, "There is one more thing. Will Your Highness hold it for a moment.
"What is it?"
Yu Shu said, "Would like to request for Your Highness to write a word for me."
Behind the curtains, no one spoke for a long time but there was the sound of clothes being worn. Not long after, a child was summoned into the room and came out with a piece of paper. He presented it to Yu Shu and on it was the word 'worry' written in ink. Yu Shu blew the ink dry and kept it in her bosom.
After asking everything that should be asked, Xue Rui then brought her up and bade farewell to Prince Xiang, "We dare not disturb Your Highness' rest. We will take our leave now."
"En, go. When you have time, make a trip to Prince Xiang's residence to visit your aunt. There is no need for ben wang to waste my saliva on you today."
Xue Rui complied and bade farewell to Yu Shu before following the maid outside the door out of the East pavilion.
Once they left, Prince Xiang sat up from the couch and twirled the string of beads in his hands. He sighed and muttered to himself, "The things that I have lost, you guys can go and find them. Why do I need to deceive anyone?"
After a while, a report came from outside the door, "Your Highness, there is a message from the Palace. His Majesty has given an order to invite you to the Imperial Study to meet with the Emperor."
Prince Xiang frowned and laid back down. He tilted his neck and said, "Go and tell him that ben wang is ill and is afraid that I have offended the dragon's body. It is not convenient for me to enter the Palace for the time being."
Back to Yu Shu. Xue Rui did not speak a word the entire journey. Only when they reached the entrance of Ding Bo Hall did Yu Shu open her mouth and thanked Xue Rui, "Thank you for accompanying me on this trip."
Xue Rui did not reply to her words and said, "How was it? Just now when you saw Your Highness, did you have an idea?"
Yu Shu sighed, "I thought about it a few times, but it was not on the right track."
Xue Rui said, "There is no rush. It is only noon now. Why don't we find a place to have a meal first. You can think of a solution later."
"No — —" The words of rejection were at the tip of Yu Shu's tongue but she did not say it out. Did he think that she was so heartless? Not to mention whether Xue Rui still had that kind of feelings for her, just the fact that he was running around everywhere for her was enough to give him face. Moreover, there was still the matter of finding Jing Chen that she needed to trouble him. This was the main point.
Thinking of Jing Chen, Yu Shu was slightly distracted. She reached out her hand and touched the amulet hanging on her chest. She did not know that Xue Rui saw her expression and guessed what she was thinking. He felt a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart. He drank a mouthful of cold tea to suppress it and said, "If you do not want to go somewhere else, I will send you home."
Yu Shu came back to her senses and thought for a moment, then said, "I still have a place to go, but that place is chaotic and not quiet. Are you willing to go with me? We can have a meal together, I will treat you."
Xue Rui happily said, "Where to?"
"To Peiren Hall." She wanted to find someone.
Xue Rui did not ask much and directly told the driver: "To Peiren Hall."
The carriage started to move. Yu Shu was thinking about something. On the way, she slapped her thigh and whispered, "I remember!"
Xue Rui looked at her startled expression and was puzzled, "What do you remember?"
"Today's Princess Xi Wen, I remember where I saw her." She said that such a beautiful little girl, she seemed to have seen her somewhere.
Xue Rui was about to ask her where she saw her, but he suddenly remembered that Yu Shu used to set up a stall in the tavern outside. Xi Wen often went there, so he said, "I know, you saw her at Sun Ji Tavern."
"En, en, it was that time when I smashed your head with my money bag. So you still remember."
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