Chapter 107 See what's going on
The morning of the second day.
Most of the Si hour has passed.
At Xiao Hong's reminder, Mei Cheng'an raised his head from the documents, glanced at the clepsydra, confirmed that the time was almost up, and stood up and stretched.
Today is a good day, and all the ripe melons can be eaten~
There are a lot more variables, I am looking forward to eating some different melons today.
After thinking about it, Mei Cheng'an bent over and put the documents on the desk in order, then said hello to Xin Qiwu and left the Honglu Temple.
Mei Cheng'an took a carriage back home, took off his official uniform and washed up. Hongshu helped him comb his hair and change his hair tie, and then helped him put on a black suit with narrow sleeves.
Just as Mei Cheng'an was admiring his own handsomeness in the mirror, Fan Xian and the other two had already set off from the Fan Mansion in the same carriage.
at the same time.
Ye Ling'er, the daughter of the Kyoto garrison, was dressed in red and riding a fast horse into the city, with a man on her back. The man was carrying all kinds of food in his hands, on his back, and around his neck.
The two walked all the way to the royal villa, dismounted and entered the palace.
As soon as Ye Ling'er entered the yard, she excitedly shouted towards a room on the second floor.
"Wan'er, I'll treat you to chicken legs today!"
Lin Wan'er, who had just finished drinking a bowl of bitter medicine soup in the bedroom on the second floor and was frowning because of the bitterness, became anxious when she heard the words, and got up and ran out the door.
The maid didn't react in time, but when she did, she quickly grabbed her cloak and followed.
"Miss, please slow down. Be careful of the wind."
Lin Wan'er rushed to the door and opened it violently. She was blown by the wind and coughed several times. Lin Wan'er covered her mouth with a handkerchief, rushed to the fence, and shouted to Ye Ling'er downstairs.
"Didn't you promise me that you would keep it a secret? Why are you eager to let everyone know as soon as you get here?"
Ye Ling'er was accompanying a man who was handing over food ingredients to a maid in the mansion. When she heard the words, she turned around and called out.
"Oh, you don't have to keep it a secret anymore. Chicken legs or pork knuckles, whatever you want, just eat it if you want."
After saying that, he turned and looked at the maid.
"What are you still standing there for? Come on, take him to the kitchen and prepare some food for him. Go quickly."
The man who was traveling with them immediately took the food and went with the maid.
A moment later, Ye Ling'er sat in a pavilion hung with gauze curtains, picking vegetables while waiting for Lin Wan'er.
Lin Wan'er came downstairs and spoke before she entered the pavilion.
"Lady Ye, what new things do you have today?"
Ye Ling'er kept moving her hands and smiled when she heard that.
"Yesterday I went out of town to watch people show off their knives, and I heard there's a chef in the country who can make all kinds of meat dishes out of grains, vegetables, and beans, and not only are they delicious, but they look like anything. I brought this over to satisfy your craving."
Lin Wan'er was both happy and touched.
"You are still considerate."
Ye Ling'er looked proud.
"That's right! If you want something delicious in the future, I can bring him over anytime."
Lin Wan'er coughed twice and sighed.
"I really have the body of a lady and the fate of a maid. It's so difficult for me to even eat some meat."
After saying that, he coughed even more violently.
Ye Ling'er came over worriedly.
"How's it going? It's okay."
I got anxious when I saw the bloodstains on the handkerchief.
"Why are you vomiting blood again? Did you catch a cold when you went to the Qing Temple yesterday?"
Lin Wan'er felt embarrassed and tried to comfort her.
"It's okay. I'm really fine."
Ye Ling'er sighed and sat back.
Lin Wan'er remembered what the man said when she met him in Qing Temple by chance, and smiled.
"Tell me, will there come a day when you get used to vomiting?"
Ye Ling'er widened her eyes.
"Get used to it, what the hell? When I go out of town again someday, I will definitely find you a famous doctor who can cure you."
Lin Wan'er had a trace of worry on her face.
"In this situation, I can't be happy even if I am cured."
Ye Ling'er thought about it.
"Are you still thinking about the arranged marriage?"
"I know my body well enough that I could die at any time, so why would I involve the engagement?"
Ye Ling'er became anxious.
"Don't talk nonsense. You don't have to say that about yourself just for a bastard."
Lin Wan'er said seriously.
"He is a bastard, and I am also a bastard. What's the difference?"
Ye Ling'er choked and tried to make excuses.
"You...are a princess, so different from him."
Lin Wan'er smiled bitterly, stood up, and walked a few steps towards the gauze curtain beside her.
"I grew up in secrecy all my life. My so-called princess identity was all lies. Even if I am a princess, so what? I can't make the decision by myself if I want to find someone who shares my mind."
Ye Ling'er threw the vegetables into the wooden basin and stood up.
"If someone makes you unhappy, I can beat him up to vent your anger, but this matter..."
Lin Wan'er smiled.
"Although I am weak, my heart is stubborn. If you want to marry me, you can't rely on the emperor's decree, or use me to seize the royal family's financial power. The person I want to marry has only one condition."
"What conditions?"
Lin Wan'er looked at Ye Ling'er and smiled.
"As long as I like it."
Ye Ling'er's eyes lit up.
"Wan'er, what you said is very good. Yes, I like him. I will also find someone I like in the future."
Lin Wan'er sighed.
"Unfortunately, no matter how much we say, it's all just talk."
Ye Ling'er frowned.
"It's not difficult, just follow me."
After saying that, he grabbed Lin Wan'er's hand and led her out of the pavilion.
Lin Wan'er was a little panicked.
"Wait, where are you going?"
Ye Ling'er stopped.
"He's just Fan Xian. Let's go talk to him face to face and let him consider his own weight and ask the Emperor to cancel the engagement."
Before Lin Wan'er could say anything, her personal maid chased after her, holding a cloak.
"Hey, miss, where are you going? You can't be exposed to the wind again."
Ye Ling'er said loudly.
"Go and break off the engagement with your young lady!"
……
Imperial Palace, terrace of the Imperial Study.
Eunuch Hou is reporting the news to His Majesty.
"Your Majesty, Fan Xian and Si Nanbo's eldest son have left the palace together. They should be heading to Yishiju."
Emperor Qing tilted his head and listened without saying anything.
Eunuch Hou grabbed a handful of fish food from the food box in his hand and threw it into the pond, then continued his report.
"Also, there are people on the Crown Prince's side who are keeping an eye on Fan Xian's whereabouts. In addition, the Second Prince's retainers are also following him in secret. Fan Xian has no official position, so do you think he should be protected? After all, he is going to take over the inner treasury, and he is also a talent chosen by you."
Emperor Qing did not respond when he heard this. He looked at the pool below the terrace and asked back.
“How many fish are there in this pond?”
Eunuch Hou was stunned for a moment, stretched his head to look at the pool below, and answered with a wry smile.
"This, this... this is hard to tell."
Emperor Qing stared at the pool.
"The water is too deep! You can't see it, right?"
After saying that, he took the food box from Eunuch Hou, poured all the fish food in the box into the pool, and handed the box back.
"now what?"
Eunuch Hou looked at the fish below swarming around fighting for food and immediately understood.
"The bait in your Majesty's hand is Fan Xian, and this pool of deep water is Kyoto City. The fish..."
Emperor Qing took over.
"It's just the common people."
……
East Palace.
"Meet His Highness the Crown Prince."
Guo Baokun bowed respectfully to the prince.
The prince looked at Guo Baokun in front of him and helped him up with a smile.
"Get up quickly, we are old acquaintances, no need to be polite."
Guo Baokun's face was filled with excitement.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The prince smiled and patted his shoulder.
"I called you here this time because I want you to help me do something."
Logically speaking, the prince actually looked down on Guo Baokun. He was too naive, arrogant and flamboyant. If it weren't for the fact that his father, the Minister of Rites, was his aunt's man and therefore from his own lineage, and that he had been his study companion for several months, he would never have accepted him as his disciple.
Now that they have been collected, they cannot be left lying there to waste. Different people have different uses for them. Today's matter is just right for a reckless man like him. This is called making the best use of things!
There was a hint of excitement on Guo Baokun's face. He had been the Crown Prince's disciple for so long. Was His Royal Highness finally going to employ him?
"Just give your orders, Your Highness!"
The prince patted his shoulder and smiled.
"Haha, relax. What I want you to do is not a big deal. It is easy for you. This matter is related to a person and a book. After the whereabouts of that person are determined, you will follow him, and then do this and that... this and that..."
Guo Baokun felt sick after hearing this. The prince actually asked him to target Fan Xian and Dream of the Red Chamber. He loved reading this book very much. Jia Baoyu in the book was his confidant. Why did the prince target him?
"Did you remember everything I told you?"
A hint of hesitation flashed across Guo Baokun's face, and he asked cautiously.
"Your Highness, may I ask why we do this?" The prince smiled.
"That's natural!"
So he briefly explained to Guo Baokun the interests involved in Fan Xian, the granted marriage, the inner treasury, the eldest princess, and himself.
After listening to this, Guo Baokun understood. He did like reading that book, The Dream of the Red Chamber, and he admired Fan Xian very much, but since he was the prince's disciple, and had affected the interests of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he could only apologize.
The prince asked with a smile after he finished speaking.
"Still have any questions?"
Guo Baokun shook his head without hesitation.
Just at this moment, a eunuch came in to report the news.
"Your Highness, Fan Xian's carriage has stopped at Yishiju."
After hearing this, the prince smiled and looked at Guo Baokun.
Guo Baokun bowed.
"I'll be right there."
……
Under the East Gate Archway, there is a stone in front of the gate.
Fan Xian turned around and spoke to Teng Zijing who was sitting in the driver's seat of the carriage.
"Go park the car first, we'll wait for you upstairs."
"it is good."
Teng Zijing responded and drove away.
Just as Fan Xian turned around, Fan Ruoruo beside him spoke in surprise.
"Brother, Brother Mei hasn't arrived yet, shouldn't we wait for him?"
Fan Xian smiled.
"It's the same as waiting up there. According to the rules of the underworld, whoever gets there first gets to go in and take up his place."
Fan Ruoruo nodded and said nothing, but Fan Sizhe next to her asked curiously.
"Does Jianghu still have such rules?"
Just as Fan Xian was about to answer, Fan Ruoruo spoke first.
"If my brother says yes, then yes. Why do you have so many questions?"
Fan Xian touched his nose awkwardly, wanting to say that it was not necessary, but this would be tantamount to stabbing his sister in the back and undermining his prestige in front of Versace, so he kept his mouth shut and just looked at Versace with sympathy.
Versace muttered quietly.
"What are you doing, sister? I didn't ask anything."
Fan Ruoruo glared at him.
Versace curled his lips and stopped talking.
Fan Ruoruo turned around and looked at Fan Xian with a smile on her face.
"Brother, let's go in."
"Uh, okay."
Unexpectedly, before the three of them had taken a few steps, they were stopped by a woman holding a baby.
The woman asked as soon as she opened her mouth.
"Do you want a book?"
Fan Xian didn't hear clearly for a moment.
"what?"
"You want a book? A banned book!"
Fan Xian showed surprise on his face.
"Hey, that sounds very kind. Are you still selling?"
The woman couldn't understand what the man in front of her was saying.
"What plates are you selling? I sell books."
As he spoke, he took out a pink-covered thread-bound book from the cradle.
Fan Xian just reached out to take it and see what book it was.
The woman dodged.
"Do you want it?"
Fan Xian was helpless.
"I have to see what it is."
The woman thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she handed the book to Fan Xian.
When he took the book in his hand and saw the title, Fan Xian's eyes widened and he subconsciously looked at Fan Ruoruo.
"Red, Red Mansion?"
Fan Ruoruo was also surprised when she took a look.
"Indeed!"
The woman introduced it promptly.
"This Red Mansion is a truly rare book. It has just been circulated among the people. I will not bargain for it at all."
Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo didn't react yet, but Fan Sizhe couldn't help it when he heard it.
"How much? Eight taels per roll?"
As he said this, he reached out to snatch the red house from the woman's hand.
The woman took the book back immediately with a wary look on her face.
"Do you want it?"
Fan Xian really wanted to know who was behind this deal. Only by following the vine could he find the melon. He had to make this elder sister feel at ease first, he thought for a moment.
"What if I want a lot? I don't think you can hide more than a few on you."
The woman relaxed a little.
"If you really want it, follow me to the back alley."
Fan Xian looked at his sister without hesitation.
"You two go up and wait for me."
Versace couldn't believe it. This deal seemed like a scam to anyone, and he didn't understand it.
"Are you really going?"
Fan Xian spoke with actions and looked directly at the woman.
"Please lead the way."
When the lady heard this, she immediately led the way, and Fan Xian followed closely behind.
Fan Ruoruo also felt that Fan Xian's action was a bit hasty, and shouted at his back.
"elder brother!"
Unfortunately, Fan Xian did not respond to her. Fan Ruoruo stared at Fan Xian's departing back with a hint of worry in her eyes.
Versace touched Fan Ruoruo's arm, pointed in that direction, and spoke with disdain.
"Sister, look at him, how disgraceful!"
Fan Ruoruo looked at Versace.
"What do you know?"
Then he whispered.
"That book was written by my brother."
Versace's eyes widened and his voice unconsciously became louder.
“He wrote it!”
Fan Ruoruo subconsciously looked around and then glared at Versace.
"Keep your voice down! What are you shouting about? I won't let anyone tell anyone about this."
Versace's voice became much quieter.
"No, sister, is this book really written by him?"
Fan Ruoruo nodded.
"Absolutely true!"
Versace's mind began to spin wildly, and he smelled money.
After Versace's interruption, Fan Ruoruo felt less worried about Fan Xian and spoke to Versace.
"Let's go up first."
Just as the two were about to turn around and enter the building, they saw a carriage with the Mei Mansion logo slowly brake and stop in front of the gate of Yishiju.
Mei Chengan got off the carriage, and Qingniao drove away directly and found a place to park.
When the brother and sister saw Mei Chengan looking at them, they immediately greeted him.
"Brother Mei."
"Boss An."
Mei Chengan smiled at the two of them.
"Sister Ruoruo, Sizhe, hello, I'm not late for long, am I?"
Fan Ruoruo replied with a smile.
"No, we just arrived too."
Mei Chengan nodded and looked around.
"Why are there only two of you? Where is Fan Xian?"
Fan Ruoruo didn't know what to say, it always felt weird to say it directly.
"Um...Brother is going..."
Seeing how hard she was trying to speak, Versace took over the conversation and pointed in a certain direction.
"Boss An, he went to the back alley over there to buy some books."
Upon hearing this, Mei Cheng'an pretended to be surprised and looked at Fan Ruoruo.
"Buying books?"
Fan Ruoruo nodded helplessly.
Mei Cheng'an said.
"Oh, you guys go up first and find a seat by the window. I'll go over there and see what's going on."
……
There is not enough time to code two chapters, so I put them together to form one big chapter.
(End of this chapter)
