When they returned to the princess residence, Jing Chen sent Shui Yun back to the courtyard. He stood by the window and didn't leave. The servants sensed that the atmosphere wasn't right, so they silently brought in hot tea and hot water.
The two maids were about to help Shui Yun wash up. They had just wrung out a handkerchief when they heard Jing Chen's cold voice, "All of you go out of the courtyard. No one is allowed to stay."
Soon, only the two of them were left in the room. It was so quiet outside that not even a cat could be heard.
"What do you want to do now?"
Jing Chen turned his head and coldly glanced at Shui Yun. He didn't plan on taking her to the banquet today, but he didn't know who told Liu Tan that someone from the prince's residence would come early in the morning. In order to prevent her from scheming behind his back, he could only take her with him and watch over her.
He knew that Shui Yun had the Bigan Heart Orifice, so he didn't say a word to Yu Shu the whole night. He was afraid that she would see the clues and hide it from him.
Shui Yun wasn't angry at his questioning and asked him back, "Senior Martial Brother, what do you think I want to do? I just want to invite Miss Yu to come over and talk to me to relieve my boredom. I'm not familiar with the people in the capital. Other than you and Zhongyun, she's the only girl I know. "
Of course, Jing Chen didn't believe her words. He looked at the weak and helpless young girl in front of him who had been tortured by her disability. He didn't know when she had become a stranger. He didn't understand why his previously naive and lively junior martial sister would harm others and herself without a guilty conscience.
Shui Yun didn't care about the way he looked at her and sighed, "It's a pity that Miss Yu still seems to hate me."
"You wanted to kill her, so how can she not hate you?"
Only then did Shui Yun raise her head to look at him. Her hands drooped weakly on her knees. "Senior Martial Brother, have you forgotten that I was the one who lost my arms and legs and can't walk? Not her …" Jing Chen saw her actions and instantly felt guilty. No matter what, Uncle-Master let her go down the mountain. The letter had instructed him to protect her from the disaster, but he hadn't done it.
Shui Yun didn't miss the slightest expression on his face. She smiled and softly said, "Senior Martial Brother, think about it calmly. Miss Yu's good fortune today was also because of me. If I hadn't been injured to this extent, I wouldn't have recommended her to sit at Heavy Cloud's banquet. How did she become famous in the Twin Suns Gathering? If I had not forced you to sever your ties with her, how could she have escaped the death of two people from the Taishi Library because of her closeness to you? "
Just because she was recuperating in the Princess Residence, she really did not know that someone had mysteriously died in Taishi Library. Others did not know the details, but she could guess a thing or two. Someone was trying to kill the person beside Jing Chen.
Hearing her last sentence, Jing Chen's eyes flashed with sharpness. It was so fast that even Shui Yun did not notice it. She only heard him ask in a low voice, "Who told you that someone died in the Taishi Library?"
It had already been a month since he had moved her out of the Eldest Princess' residence and changed out the maids and guards that had been keeping an eye on him and reporting back to her. Zhan Xueyuan had only died a few days ago, so how would she know?
Shui Yun smiled. She was well aware of Jing Chen's thoughts. She looked at Jing Chen with a gentle expression. Just like many years ago, she looked at the little shixiong who was always far away from the others of the same sect, but whose eyes were filled with envy.
He probably did not know that even though he had not been happy or sad these years. But those were pure thoughts. They were all imprinted in that pair of eyes that were as clear as a stream.
Only she, could understand his thoughts. Shixiong. So silly that it made one's heart ache.
"You think that just because people see me, I can only obediently recuperate and wait for you to send me back to the mountain?" Shui Yun shook her head, saying, "Only by staying by your side, and waiting for you to lose your life, can I be at ease."
As she said this, she lowered her head to look at her soft and powerless hands and said, "There is another reason why I went down the mountain this time. It is to help the Celestial Commissioner sort out the ancient Taoist books. Although I can't lift my hands right now, it's not a problem to go out. Today, I showed up at Prince Jing's residence. It is expected that the Celestial Commissioner will send someone to greet me in a few days. Tell me, should I go or not?"
Jing Chen naturally did not want her to go. He and Yu Shu were both at the Celestial Commissioner's side. If she got involved, it would be difficult to guarantee that it would not be a bad thing.
"I know that Shixiong doesn't want me to go," Shui Yun said softly, "But I am really lonely at home. Why don't we make a deal? You invite Miss Yu over and talk to me. I promise you that I won't go out. Otherwise, Shixiong will not be able to make the decision for me."
Jing Chen stared at her, pursed his lips, and turned to leave without saying a word.
Shui Yun looked at his lonely back and a trace of sadness appeared on her pale face. She silently said, "Silly Shixiong, I am doing this for your own good ah … In the second half of the month, the Kunling Bureau became busy. The marriage of the officials became secondary. At the end of the month, they had to submit the schedule for the next month's imperial concubines.
Today, Yu Shu came very early. From the clock tower to the entrance of the bureau, she smiled and returned greetings to the people who greeted her. Anyone could see that she was in a good mood.
Lu Hong and Xu Qing, one on the left and one on the right, followed closely behind her. One was a wily old fox, one was a rash youth. Both of them were secretly rejoicing in their hearts. Previously, they were still somewhat envious of their bodyguard team and laughed at them for following a female official. Now, look, in just a few days, this young female daren of theirs seemed to have stepped on a blue cloud under her feet, leaping up another level.
Yu Shu passed by the corridor. From the window, she saw Wen Shao 'an who was immersed in copying words in the Great Study. Seeing his diligence early in the morning, she was very satisfied. She admired this kind of person who was willing to work hard.
Entering the study, Wen Shao 'an rose to greet her: "Good morning, daren."
Last night, Yu Shu had caught a glimpse of him at Jing Wang Fu's banquet. He was sitting in an inconspicuous corner and didn't fawn over Liu Tan like the others. This made her feel that she was dutiful.
He had already become her person. How could he still think of hugging Jing Wang Fu's thigh?
"You don't have to be so reserved in private. Do your work." Yu Shu casually said. Wen Shao 'an didn't take it seriously. He put down the desk and took the tea that he had prepared ahead of time to put it in front of her before returning to his work.
Yu Shu blew on the tea flowers and leaned against the window to look at the Persian chrysanthemums in full bloom along the corridor. She enjoyed the bright morning sun and felt very comfortable.
In the end, it was because of the good news that Xue Rui told her last night — — the marriage between the Xue family and the count's fu had fallen through.
She admitted that she was narrow-minded and didn't want Xue Rui to have an unclear relationship with other women. When she heard about this from Rui Zizhu at the Hibiscus Banquet, it wasn't that she didn't feel disgusted, but when she thought that she had no choice, she could empathize with Xue Rui.
Xue Rui didn't disappoint her understanding in vain. He silently solved this problem, and he didn't drag it on just because he cherished the brotherhood between him and Ruilin, nor did he care about the pressure from Old Minister Xue.
How could she not be happy with this?
Yu Shu pondered. Xue Rui had performed so well, she should give him some reward. But what did he lack? It seemed that he didn't lack anything. She only gave him a Mu Jiang fan. She didn't have anything better on hand.
She started to worry again. She felt like there was a pine ball in her heart. If she didn't give him something, she wouldn't feel good. When he collected his thoughts, he saw the two guards standing in the corridor as door guards and called them over.
"I have been working in the building for the past two days. Have you been standing outside like this?" She frowned and asked.
Lu Hong was shocked and worried that she was dissatisfied. Xu Qing answered foolishly, "Yes, Your Excellency."
Lu Hong hurriedly added, "I didn't dare to leave my post without permission. I am at your command at any time."
Yu Shu felt that it was a waste of these two strong workers. It was okay to go out at ordinary times. She cherished her life and wouldn't let them go far away. But Kunling Bureau was very safe. There was Jing Chen upstairs. Who could break in and strangle her in the daytime?
"In the future, when you come in the morning, you don't have to stand guard at the door. Just walk around the Celestial Commissioner's Office. If you see or hear anything new, come back in the afternoon and tell me. Don't wander around."
There was only Wen Shao 'an in the room. Yu Shu didn't hide her words from him. Wen Shao' an didn't raise his head and just talked to the stacks of files on the table.
Xu Qing scratched his head. When he was about to ask what was new, he was pulled by his arm by Lu Hong. He said, "I know. I will go and do my work now."
Yu Shu nodded secretly. This Lu Hong was someone who knew what he was doing. As for the other one, he was a little dazed. It wasn't a bad thing.
After sending the two of them out, Yu Shu didn't bother about what kind of reward she should give Xue Rui. She collected her thoughts and sat back at the desk. She picked up the secret booklet that was sent over from the palace yesterday and compared it with the records in the Kun Ling Bureau. The booklet recorded the future of the Kui Water of the ladies of the One Moon Palace, their physical conditions, and so on.
This secret book wasn't directly sent to her by Shang Gong Bureau. It had passed through several people. She was new and had to guard against people scheming against her.
As expected, after this check, she found several inconspicuous errors. They seemed insignificant, and it was just a matter of who had one more or one less day. But if one strand was touched, it could affect the bedding arrangements for an entire month.
She circled them with a red brush and guessed that this was a method used by the women in the palace to fight for favor.
The current Emperor's harem was full. Empress Rui shi held the Phoenix seal and had no children. Her position was high but empty. Next to her was Noble Consort Xue. This beauty who had long been known as the most beautiful in the harem had only given birth to one imperial son.
In addition, there were four consorts. Shu Consort Yin shi was the daughter of the most prominent official, the Yin family. Ning Wang was her son. Xian Consort Lu shi was Liu Yi's birth mother. She had been reprimanded by the Emperor because the imperial envoy had no head. Although she didn't demote her position, she didn't have long to live.
There were also a few concubines, a few nobles, and a few beauties. Those who had raised princes and princesses were conferred titles. These were all listed in the secret book. Generally speaking, they could have one day in a month. But if the concubines of a higher rank had their periods delayed by one or two days, then some people had to wait until the next month.
"Interesting." Yu Shu found something fishy. She wasn't afraid to waste time. She made a table and arranged the number of times the women in the harem had bedding and "waiting for time". Using modern mathematics to calculate the frequency, she got an interesting result.
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