Part 2
Wu Mao replied, “We found some things, but they are all minor. Added together, they don’t amount to much. Because the investigation isn’t finished, we haven’t reported to Bixia yet.”
Gu Zhen sneered and reached out to press the center of his brow. “Then hand it over to Uncle to investigate.”
Wu Mao was suddenly startled. With this move, did Bixia intend to let the He family expose their own faults? He was stunned for a long while before realizing the meaning of Gu Zhen’s words.
Family members exposing their own family’s faults was the fastest and most convenient method.
“Yes, this servant will hand down the instructions immediately. Is there anything else to instruct Prime Minister He?”
Gu Zhen turned the black jade thumb ring on his hand, his voice indifferent. “No need. Just let Uncle investigate directly. Uncle has been guarding against the second branch all these years. Since We gave him this opportunity, he must grasp it well.”
“After all, such a good opportunity doesn’t come often.”
The Emperor’s voice was like ethereal mist. By the banks of the Wei River where waves crashed and howled, the voice seemed even more faint. The sparkling water surface was reflected into the relay station room, with small boats occasionally gliding across or fish leaping out.
Wu Mao was somewhat puzzled and looked at the Emperor in confusion. But having followed the Emperor for many years and reached the high position of Director of the Palace Domestic Service, he always knew what to ask and what not to ask.
“Right.” Gu Zhen suddenly took out a small brocade box, a smile on his face. “Send someone to deliver this to the Empress. She likes to add a little when eating dim sum.”
Wu Mao recognized that brocade box.
It was from a few days ago when Bixia finished inspecting the Ever-Normal Granary and rode through the streets, seeing someone selling almonds by the roadside.
Each one was full and round, suitable for making soup or tea.
Bixia bought a basket, stayed up all night, and personally selected this box of the best ones.
Zhao Yiyi stayed overnight at Changling. After returning from Changling, she moved directly into Shangyang Palace.
Long before the Empress arrived, the palace servants had already cleaned Xiangsi Hall and arranged it to look like Jiao Fang Palace in Luoyang. Even the surrounding halls around the Dragon Pool had been tidied up.
Prince of Yan had thought she wouldn’t want to stay in Xiangsi Hall.
Unexpectedly, she had no other reaction, simply saying a faint “I know” before moving in.
While relieved, Prince of Yan also had some hidden worries.
It felt somewhat ominous.
However, over the past few days, Zhao Yiyi showed no abnormalities, simply going out to play every day. Today she went to the West Market to buy fabric and rouge; tomorrow she would go to the East Market to look at spices and horses.
She took a fancy to a horse in the East Market. According to the seller, this horse was a fine steed from Dayuan, worth a fortune.
Now, it was being sold at a low price.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t have her own horse. After hearing the shopkeeper praise it, she enthusiastically wanted to pay, only to find she hadn’t brought enough money.
The shopkeeper’s face changed immediately. “I say, little lady, you didn’t even bring enough money, yet you talked to me for so long just now? If you don’t buy it, fine, but I have other business. Can you afford to compensate for this delay?”
Zhao Yiyi blushed. Knowing she was in the wrong, she thought she would just let him say a few words and didn’t want to argue.
But unexpectedly, he got more and more carried away. Her face darkened, and she said angrily, “Who would bring so much money out at once? I’ll just have the steward from my manor send it to you. Why be so aggressive?”
Seeing her uncommon dress and the expensive attire of the maid beside her, the shopkeeper knew she must be from a wealthy family. But at her age, how could her family be willing to spend this money? He waved his hand: “Alright, alright, little lady, hurry along. If you really want to buy, looking at other horses is fine too.”
Zhao Yiyi left in a huff.
Prince of Yan was originally waiting for her at a tea shop. Seeing her return empty-handed and looking unhappy, with her eyelids drooping, he couldn’t help asking with a smile, “Sister-in-law, what happened? Was there nothing you liked?”
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips and asked him, “Did you bring money?”
“Does Sister-in-law want to buy something?” Prince of Yan was stunned, not reacting immediately.
Zhao Yiyi nodded. “Mm, I don’t have enough money.”
The Empress of a country saying she didn’t have enough money.
Not to mention Prince of Yan, even the guards escorting them were dazed for a moment, showing strange expressions on their faces.
“Whatever Sister-in-law wants to buy, take me there directly.” Prince of Yan put down his tea cup and stood up, acting as if he would go with her to buy the item.
“Boss.” A guard dressed in white pulled at Xin Cheng’an’s sleeve and whispered, “Do you think our… our Master is really that stingy? The Madam doesn’t even have enough money to spend when going out?”
Xin Cheng’an pulled his sleeve back, glared at the man fiercely, and said in a deep voice, “Stop spouting nonsense!”
Pausing for a moment, he added, “Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what the Madam said? Madam just didn’t bring enough, when did it become not having money to spend?”
The guard smacked his lips, feeling something was indescribably wrong. But under Xin Cheng’an’s intimidation and the Emperor’s pressure, he ultimately dared not ask further.
Prince of Yan followed Zhao Yiyi straight to the horse-selling shop.
He could tell at a glance that although this horse was decent, it was not the fine Dayuan steed the shopkeeper claimed.
“Dayuan fine steed?” Prince of Yan looked at the shopkeeper, smiling yet not smiling.
Seeing the little lady return with someone, the shopkeeper knew she brought someone to buy the horse. He immediately resumed his initial attentiveness, even tenfold more.
Busily pouring tea, he nodded arrogantly, “Naturally, it is a Dayuan fine steed!”
Prince of Yan calmly took a sip of tea and asked softly, “Do you know the crime for privately raising and selling such horses?”
Horses were military supplies. Even ordinary families or low-ranking officials couldn’t use horses to pull carriages. Trading ordinary horses among common folk was fine, but Dayuan horses were needed by the army; even generals might not have one. Each one was registered and private sale was forbidden.
The shopkeeper’s face changed drastically, and he said angrily, “This gentleman is so unreasonable! If you don’t want to buy, fine, but saying such things to scare me!”
Prince of Yan said, “Since you say so, it seems you feel this horse of yours is undoubtedly a Dayuan fine steed?”
The person before him looked difficult to provoke. After being questioned repeatedly, the shopkeeper’s voice gradually weakened.
After a stalemate, he gave in first. “Gentleman misunderstands. This horse is indeed not a Dayuan horse. It’s just exceptionally outstanding and can compete with Dayuan horses, so I falsely claimed it was a Dayuan horse.”
Saying so, the shopkeeper voluntarily lowered the price, cutting off twenty percent.
Given the horse’s value, even with twenty percent off the quoted price, it was still a huge profit. Prince of Yan couldn’t be bothered to pursue it further and had someone pay.
Zhao Yiyi stood dazed on the side.
After recovering, she said angrily, “I sincerely wanted to buy your horse and confirmed with you several times. How could you lie?”
After leaving, Zhao Yiyi was still somewhat unhappy. Even though she bought the horse, she couldn’t lift her spirits.
“Ah-Qi, why did you buy it?” She pursed her lips, glanced at Prince of Yan beside her, and huffed, “Lying like that, he shouldn’t be able to sell his horse.”
Prince of Yan said indifferently, “Didn’t Sister-in-law want it just now? If we didn’t buy it, Qi feared Sister-in-law would think about it until late at night, and might even climb up in the middle of the night to buy this horse back.”
It was just past noon, and the sun hung brightly in the sky. Zhao Yiyi wore a veil hat, the light-colored gauze hanging down to her collarbone, swaying gently with the wind.
Her temper always went away quickly. In just a moment, she had forgotten the unhappiness of buying the horse and asked Prince of Yan how to raise it.
“You have to lead it out for a run every day to avoid it getting lazy. Otherwise, it won’t be able to run later,” Prince of Yan laughed. “If Sister-in-law wants to understand thoroughly, you can ask the stable keeper.”
He thought for a moment and added, “If Sister-in-law wants to get close to this horse, you can groom it daily.”
Zhao Yiyi nodded thoughtfully, reached out to touch the black steed she just bought, felt it was nice to the touch, and couldn’t help touching it a couple more times.
Suddenly, an attendant came close and whispered in Prince of Yan’s ear.
Prince of Yan’s expression changed suddenly. He walked quickly to Zhao Yiyi and whispered, “Sister-in-law, there are urgent palace affairs that need to be dealt with, I…”
Zhao Yiyi waved her hand. “Then go quickly. I happen to want to go back to the ancestral residence to have a look today. I want to stroll around the East Market for half a day first, then go to the ancestral residence in the evening. I’ll go back after I finish looking.”
“Right.” She instructed again, “Can you take my horse back with you?”
Prince of Yan originally wanted to say she should leave with him.
But before the words could leave his mouth, they were blocked in his throat by her words.
Stuck there, he couldn’t speak for a moment.
After a long while, under Zhao Yiyi’s expectant gaze, he nodded. “Fine. Then Sister-in-law remember to go back early.” Saying so, he waved to Xin Cheng’an and ordered in a deep voice, “Remember to protect Sister-in-law well.”
After speaking, Prince of Yan led his group away. As soon as he exited the East Market gate, he mounted his horse and galloped away along the main street.
Prince of Yan sped all the way out of Chang’an City, stopping only ten miles into the suburbs. After reining in his horse and waiting for a moment, he finally saw a column of men and horses approaching from the distance.
Horse hooves tread lightly, kicking up countless grains of yellow sand.
They carried no banners or titles, but he recognized them at a glance and hurriedly dismounted to wait by the roadside.
When the column approached, he bowed and said solemnly, “This subject-brother respectfully welcomes Royal Brother.”
Gu Zhen didn’t dismount. His gaze swept lightly around the surroundings as he asked in a deep voice, “Where is the Empress?”
Prince of Yan replied, “Royal Sister-in-law is in the East Market.”
Gu Zhen cracked his whip and galloped away. In an instant, his figure had leaped several zhang away, leaving only a sentence: “To the East Market.”
Jinmantang was the largest restaurant in the East Market.
Gu Zhen sat by the window, looking down at the scene below.
The East Market was bustling as usual, with pedestrians weaving through and carriages unending.
Holding a cup, he drank tea for a moment, then narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, slowly straightening his body to gaze at a figure in the market.
Although she wore a veil hat, he recognized her at a glance.
That person was her.
It was his Yiyi.
“Quite a coincidence,” Gu Zhen hooked the corners of his lips slightly and said with a smile.
This showed that the fate between him and Yiyi could not be severed no matter what.
Prince of Yan didn’t know where he was looking and couldn’t help asking, “Royal Brother, what is coincidental?”
Gu Zhen didn’t answer him, just stared below.
He watched the figure stop in front of a shop selling zither strings, chat with the shopkeeper for a few sentences, and then walk in slowly.
But turning his gaze slightly to the side, Gu Zhen’s eyes suddenly sank. The hand holding the cup tightened slightly, his voice carrying a hint of sinister coldness. “Who is that person?”
Following his line of sight, Prince of Yan looked down and saw a vaguely familiar figure in green.
Instantly, Prince of Yan’s scalp went numb, and he replied in a low voice, “It… it is Royal Sister-in-law’s cousin.”
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