"I wonder what Father thinks?" Nan Xuzong asked Ji Dingbei at this moment.
Ji Dingbei smiled and said, "If you don't mind, please let the Fourth Prince and the Fourth Princess stay for a few days." If the two of them don't have to be separated, that should be fine, right?
☆、271 Another wicked scheme, turmoil in the imperial city!
“Three days, Wushang, how about we stay here for three days? I will definitely find the best medicinal herbs for your grandmother so that she can recover faster.” Nan Xuzong knew that she had this request, so he had no choice but to compromise and discuss it.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Okay." He knew the man would agree. In the next three days, he would make sure everything in the entire manor was in perfect order! No one who owed him anything would get away with it!
"Alright, alright, let's go have lunch together first! Father and Tiankui will be heading to the frontier soon!" Ji Dingbei smiled.
Ji Wushang noticed the bitterness in his eyes and nodded, "Yes."
After lunch, Ji Wushang, Nan Xuzong, Madam Qin, Mo Qiqi and others saw Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui off at the gate of the mansion before returning to the courtyard.
When Madam Qin learned that Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong were staying for three days, she was quite pleased. She immediately hoped that Ji Wushang could help out more and manage the affairs of the courtyard, while she herself was extremely careful to ensure a safe pregnancy.
Ji Wushang agreed. Half a year had passed, which was not a long time, but a lot had happened in that time and environment. Time and environment could change a person. Qin Fu was pregnant again, so naturally she would prioritize the child. As for the affairs in the courtyard, she would just let things slide. It wasn't that she wasn't filial enough to care for the old lady, but she was worried that the diseases would be passed on to her. This could be considered a way to protect herself.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Then you and your sister-in-law should rest well during these three days. I will help look after things in the yard. I will also take good care of Grandmother."
"Good, that's great!" It saves me the trouble of worrying about it! Madam Qin nodded, "I've already taken care of all the shops in the Prince of Jin's mansion that you mentioned last time."
"Thank you, Mother, I know." Ji Wushang smiled. She had definitely followed up on what happened back then. However, she had already left the Prince of Jin's mansion, so she could only go back occasionally to check on things.
However, there is still one thing left to do, which I will keep a close eye on.
Ji Wushang laughed.
The two talked for a while before Ji Wushang returned to Xinyuan.
In Xinyuan Garden, Nan Xuzong remained seated at her original desk, intently reading the letters brought by her bodyguards.
Ji Wushang stepped forward. "Are you very busy? You don't need to pay attention to me, go and do your work."
Nan Xuzong looked at her, moved a stool over, and pulled her to sit down. "I just need to look at some things and take care of them." He turned his head and handed the letter to Ji Wushang. "This is a letter from my third brother. You know these three days are especially important. Prince Lin and the Third Princess Consort are meeting this afternoon. Would you like to go and take a look?"
"Is it okay?" Ji Wushang looked at him, naturally wanting to help him take a look.
“Together.” He smiled. What worried him most was that she would face difficulties alone and he wouldn’t be there for her. So, he preferred to keep her by his side as much as possible.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed. She immediately hugged his neck and kissed his cheek before running away, saying, "I'm going to change my clothes. These clothes are uncomfortable."
Nan Xuzong smiled as he watched her joyful expression, his heart filled with happiness. He touched his face; hmm, it seemed she had just kissed him again. Hehe! Nan Xuzong chuckled foolishly, still smiling when Ji Wushang came out.
Seeing his blank expression, Ji Wushang leaned closer and called out softly, "Nan Xuzong..."
He was taken aback. "Yes!" He looked at her immediately and was surprised to find that she had changed into a light pink trimmed silk skirt and a printed gauze jacket. She was smiling at him.
Nan Xuzong was taken aback. "It's done so quickly?"
“It’s already been more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea,” Ji Wushang said knowingly.
Nan Xuzong was stunned again. He had actually been chuckling to himself for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea? Well, okay, he admitted it. He had been a little absent-minded. After all, every time she took the initiative, he was extremely excited!
Ji Wushang stood up straight and straightened his clothes. "You're being so mysterious. What were you laughing about just now?" he said, glancing at him every now and then.
Nan Xuzong smiled and said, "No."
"Not telling the truth?" Ji Wushang had already straightened his clothes and stepped forward, standing in front of him. He was still sitting in the chair, and seeing Ji Wushang approach, he felt a little scared and leaned back. "Um, well, I, I confess!"
"Hmm?" She looked at him and immediately chuckled, but then her face hardened. "Hurry up and tell me. If you don't tell me the truth, I, I, I..." Ji Wushang looked him up and down, trying to come up with something harsh, but he just couldn't find the words.
"How will you punish me?" he asked, looking at her with a smile. He had almost completely won over this young woman!
"You'll sleep in the study tonight!" Ji Wushang blurted out for some reason.
Uh. Nan Xuzong was taken aback. If he slept in the study, he would definitely sneak into her bed in the middle of the night! But, he should probably avoid provoking his wife for now.
“I confess!” Nan Xuzong sat up straight. “What I was laughing at just now was…”
"What?" she pouted.
“You kissed me first.” He looked at Ji Wushang with amusement and pointed to his handsome face.
Ji Wushang blushed. "Um, um, we should get going." He turned and walked out immediately.
Nan Xuzong smiled, quickly gathered the letters on the desk and put them in his pocket. He strode forward to catch up with Ji Wushang, and placed one hand on her waist. "Hehe!" He chuckled as he looked at her blushing face.
The servants around them were stunned to see Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang walking arm in arm, especially when they saw Nan Xuzong's handsome smile. Ji Wushang looked on and immediately glared at the servants, who then scattered to get back to their work.
"Stop laughing." Ji Wushang turned to look at him immediately. He could only laugh for himself; how could he laugh in front of so many people?
"Hmm?" He stopped smiling and looked at her.
"Don't laugh!" Ji Wushang pouted.
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore," Nan Xuzong replied, but a smile still lingered on his lips. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I, Nan Xuzong, have married a wonderful wife who's quite jealous!"
Ji Wushang's face paled, and she reached out and punched him hard in the chest. "Hurry up, there's no time!"
"Okay, okay!" He took her small fist and held it in his hand.
The two men immediately sent someone to inform Madam Qin that they had business to attend to outside the mansion, and then took a carriage to the street.
Ji Wushang, who was sitting next to him in the carriage, lifted the curtain and asked, "Where did they meet?"
“I’ll take you to the Ten Fragrances Pavilion in the Clouds,” Nan Xuzong said, looking down outside.
Nan Xuzong nodded.
Ji Wushang looked at the people buying and selling on both sides of the street, but there wasn't anything particularly interesting to see, so he was about to lower the curtain. But in that instant, he saw a disheveled beggar in the corner of the wall. His face was dirty, his left eye was blind, his right eye was swollen, one ear was missing, and one leg was useless. He was sitting on the cold ground, his clothes were tattered, one arm was twisted and hadn't healed, and was hanging down. His other hand could barely hold a broken bowl, but upon closer inspection, it could be seen that his thumb was flattened and ruined.
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes.
Nan Xuzong sensed something was amiss, so he looked down and followed Ji Wushang's gaze. Ji Wushang then said, "It's Aunt Liu."
Nan Xuzong only recognized the pitiful beggar's appearance after listening to her. He could vaguely make out that it was Liu Yanyan. He never expected that she would become like this and be begging in the capital!
Just then, some ordinary people who were buying things passed by, and a farmer and a woman led a little boy by the hand.
As the little boy passed by Liu Yanyan, he dropped a copper coin, then skipped back to the farmer and woman, who immediately took the little boy's hand and left.
Liu Yanyan watched the little boy walk away with a determined gaze, stretched out her hand, and muttered, "My good son... my good son..."
Ji Wushang looked at the little boy who had just jumped away. That was indeed Nan Qinghao, whom he had sent to be adopted.
Liu Yanyan suddenly collapsed to the ground, crying, "Good boy, good boy..."
Ji Wushang looked at Liu Yanyan expressionlessly. Just as he had thought, Liu Yanyan had become a beggar and was wandering the streets. What he hadn't expected was that his own son would pass by and throw down a coin... Could she feel such heartache?
However, she should thank herself, because if she hadn't sent Nan Qinghao away, Nan Qinghao would definitely have been begging on this street with her, which would have ruined Nan Qinghao even more!
Ji Wushang frowned slightly.
At this moment, some soldiers rushed towards Liu Yanyan, shouting, "You beggar! Get out of the city right now! Get out!" As they spoke, one of the soldiers kicked over Liu Yanyan's bowl, sending the only copper coin Nan Qinghao had given her flying!
Liu Yanyan was startled and immediately lay down on the ground, crying out, "My, my copper coin, Hao'er, Hao'er gave me my copper coin!" She then crawled towards the copper coin that had been kicked away and fallen to the ground.
The officer was truly enraged. "Kill him! Drag him out and bury him!" Upon hearing the officer's order, several soldiers immediately stepped forward and gave Liu Yanyan a severe beating, until she was spitting blood and her body was covered in sores.
Those around them kept their distance. Occasionally, there were whispers among themselves.
The soldier glared angrily, seeing Liu Yanyan barely breathing, and immediately waved his hand, "Drag her away and bury her!"
"Yes, sir!" Several soldiers immediately stepped forward and pushed a cart from somewhere. On it were some homeless people or beggars, all barely alive. Without saying a word, the men threw Liu Yanyan into the cart.
The leading officer shouted at the crowd, "Make way! Make way!"
After the people made way, several people pushed the cart away.
Liu Yanyan's eyes remained fixed on the copper coin on the ground. Even as the car turned the corner and drove away, her gaze on the coin never wavered.
Ji Wushang glanced coldly at the copper coin on the ground, which was gradually buried by the dust kicked up by the people walking by. Ji Wushang lowered the carriage curtain, while Nan Xuzong silently watched her expression.
"Do you know who that leading officer is?" Ji Wushang asked, looking straight ahead.
“She should be a member of the Ma family army, probably a captain under the vanguard,” Nan Xuzong replied. Looking at her, he felt a little worried. Her environment had changed too much, and her emotions had also changed drastically. He needed to understand and love her.
“Can’t you just tell him to get lost?” she asked, looking at him. “The city does need to deal with those homeless beggars, but they should be sent to different places to be appeased through other means, not by killing people in this way. It’s no different from killing innocent civilians.”
Nan Xuzong nodded. Although some people ended up wandering around because their families had fallen on hard times, there were also some innocent people who should be sent back to their hometowns. Alternatively, it would be acceptable to use the national treasury to provide relief.
"Alright, I will send someone to say so, and I will also implore Father to handle this matter properly."
Ji Wushang smiled and leaned against him, and he gently embraced her.
Liu Yanyan's fate... she brought this upon herself, and she couldn't escape it! So be it! She had already foreseen this outcome!
Upon arriving at the side entrance of Yunli Shixiang Pavilion, Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong alighted from the carriage and quickly slipped inside.
Nan Xuzong led Ji Wushang directly into the secret room. Ji Wushang was extremely surprised. Everything in this imperial city, except for the imperial palace, seemed to belong to Nan Xuzong. He could go wherever he wanted!
Nan Xuzong entered the secret room with Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang stared at him for a long time, while Nan Xuzong observed everything in the restaurant outside through a hidden hole.
After being stared at by Ji Wushang for a long time, Nan Xuzong turned to look at her and asked, "Wushang, what's wrong?"
“You seem quite capable; you can move freely throughout the entire imperial city.” Ji Wushang stepped forward and looked at him.
Nan Xuzong smiled and said, "Yes, your husband is omnipotent." He smiled and pulled her to his side, then gestured for Ji Wushang to look in the direction he was looking. Ji Wushang looked and saw someone dressed in white clothes and wearing a bamboo hat coming in. This was the attire of a martial arts practitioner.
“That’s Prince Lin,” Nan Xuzong said softly.
"Prince Lin? No way, he's dressed like a woman! How could he be a man!"
"The Third Imperial Consort is coming soon." Nan Xuzong looked outside.
Feng Rulin, dressed in white, had already gone upstairs and slipped into a side room.
And indeed, a woman with a captivating figure entered, dressed entirely in black with a black veil covering her face. She was beautiful, with delicate features, and one look at her eyes revealed her to be Ma Ruyi.
Ma Ruyi waved the waiter away and went upstairs.
"Let's move to another place to check," Nan Xuzong said, but Ji Wushang pulled him back, "There are still people!"
"Hmm?" Nan Xuzong frowned. How could there be someone else?
Turning around, she saw a woman in yellow enter the Yunli Shixiang Pavilion. She smiled and went upstairs with the waiter. After walking around a few times, she dismissed the waiter and immediately slipped into the room where Feng Rulin and Ma Ruyi were.
"This person looks unfamiliar. I wonder who he is?" Ji Wushang turned to look at Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong took her hand and walked towards the secret passage. "You'll see when you get there. Watch my eyes and actions later, and don't make a sound."
"Yes," Ji Wushang replied.