Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 28

Did not know how to value feelings just yet.

Two days later, they secretly went to Suzhou.

Su Ling leaned against the side of the carriage window and raised her slender fair arm to lift the curtain to look at the scenery outside. The official road they were travelling on spans all the way to the south. It was winter on the 11th month, the leaves were red-colored and withered, causing the greenery of the misty forest to be reduced. There were no wild geese in the clouds, and the bejeweled palace was gradually replaced by range upon range of mountains.

Noone knew how long it took before she put down the curtain to rub her neck and shoulders.

Her shoulders were sore, not because the scenery outside was too captivating, but because of the man next to her, who had actually driven Fu Ying out to the accompanying carriage and sat in this carriage by himself.

They didn’t speak the whole way, and the atmosphere was extraordinarily awkward.

The sound of hooves beat, and Fan Cheng pulled the reins tightly. He turned over and dismounted to go to the side of the carriage: “Your Highness, before us is Mount Zhang.” After crossing Mount Zhang, they would arrive at Zhuo County, where they would be able to cross the river south.

Xiao Yu: “Speed up and cross the mountain before dark.”

“As you ordered!”

In the evening, they arrived near the Cao River.

Since this trip was an undercover investigation, there were no officials on the pier who came to flatter them. There were only boatmen who were bowing and tugging on the rope.

As the treasure ship got closer, the river surface rippled before the ship slowed to a halt before them.

At this time, the clock rang, and the chilling wind blew the giant sail, making a fluttering sound. Xiao Yu assisted Su Ling to step on the deck and whispered: “It will get colder once the sun sets. We should go to the cabin.”

Su Ling nodded her head and gave a “mm”.

This ship was built by Emperor Jiaxuan three years ago when he was visiting Jiangnan along with many of his Imperial concubines. There were not many cabins on the upper part of the ship, and Xiao Yu chose one on this floor because he was afraid that she’d get seasick.

It gradually became darker. After the ship set sail, the candlelights swayed, making the surroundings look particularly gloomy and cramped.

Su Ling was sitting on the bed, her breathing became hurried. She was looking for something with one hand against the side of the table, causing the jeweled buyao on her head to shake.

“What are you looking for?” Xiao Yu suddenly asked.

Su Ling’s face was pale: “Candles. I want more lights.”

Xiao Yu looked at her, with his brows slightly raised, he did not seem to expect this: “Are you so afraid of the dark?”

The two had quarreled back and forth so many times. In Xiao Yu’s heart, it was really difficult to connect Su Ling with the words ‘timid and fearful of the dark’.

Su Ling nodded and gave an empty “mm”.

Xiao Yu shouted toward the door: “Fan Cheng, raise a torch.”

Soon, the fire light passed through the curtain, and the cabin was instantly bright as day.

Xiao Yu looked back at her with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, “Is it better?”

Su Ling flushed at his teasing gaze: “Don’t look at me like that.”

After that, she added another sentence: “There’s a reason why I’m afraid of the dark.”

At this time, Xiao Yu didn’t take it seriously.

He only regarded that the young lady wanted to save her face, so he nodded along with her and responded with a perfunctory “oh”.

However, unexpectedly, this inattentive attitude raised Su Ling’s desire to explain.

Su Ling was about to open her mouth when Xiao Yu sat next to her.

The two shoulders were immediately pressed together, and he held her cold fingertips, “Would the princess explain the reason?”

Su Ling met his caring gaze, a little speechless for a while.

But thinking that the person before her was her husband after all, that some things have been said, and they’d still meet every day, after considering for a while, she said.

“It was about eight years ago… When I was 9 years old.” 

Xiao Yu was actually not so curious about the thoughts of a girl, but this princess consort of his was rarely willing to speak, so he naturally would not show impatience.

Su Ling looked at the burning torch out of the door, as if really looking back to that time.

“There was torrential rain, the thunder kept coming. My dad hadn’t returned from training the army, so I sneaked into my mum’s room to sleep. After so long, I have forgotten many things. I only vaguely remember that Mum went to bed particularly early, and at that time I didn’t feel there was anything wrong. So I lay down beside her and slept, completely unaware of why her arms were harder and colder than usual.”

Hearing these, Xiao Yu’s gaze became tense at once.

He had naturally checked the Su family’s daughter before their marriage.

Eight years ago, wouldn’t that be…

She said in a whisper: “After the day brightened, no matter how hard I called Mum, she wouldn’t answer. I only realized there was something wrong when I smelled a strange odor…”

Xiao Yu had already guessed what happened next.

Su Ling couldn’t help but close her eyes, “Afterwards, the coroner came to perform an autopsy. He said that my mother had a heart attack, and she was already gone a long time ago.”

That is to say, the 9-year-old Su Ling laid next to her dead mother, sleeping throughout the night.

No wonder she was so afraid of the dark.

Su Ling continued: “I still remember what Dad looked like when he returned home. He knelt by my mother’s side for several nights, and even now, he still looked at her portrait and mumbled to himself, always asking why.”

“I often think that, if I were smarter and called the physician earlier, would everything be alright?”

Xiao Yu’s grip on her hands tightened.

“There is always no sign of heart attack. Princess doesn’t need to blame yourself too much. You’ve grown up.”

Xiao Yu didn’t coax the lady either. Seeing that her eyebrows were drooping from thinking about the time when her mother passed away, he stretched out his arms and rubbed her shoulders.

His hands were rough, and it was slightly painful.

But Su Ling knew that this person was comforting her.

“Eight years have passed, I’m already fine since a long time ago,” And thinking that in the future she’d spend time with him day and night, she said directly: “It’s just that I have always lit the lamp to sleep in these years and I’m used to it, if Your Highness does mind…”

Xiao Yu interrupted her and slowly said, “I don’t mind.”

On this night, he kept a small candle lit up the whole night.

That year, she was 17, and he was 20.

They did not know how to value feelings just yet.

They travelled day and night, and after half a month, they finally arrived in Suzhou.

The night was humid, and there were a few retching noises from the cabin.

Xiao Yu said to the pale-faced Su Ling, “We will arrive soon. Let me help you go to the deck to get some fresh air.”

Su Ling was originally not seasick. Until a few days ago, due to the unfavorable weather, the wind and the raging waves were turbulent. Even a few seven-foot-tall guards couldn’t stand it, let alone a noble lady who had never suffered.

The listless-looking Su Ling used both hands to cover her face, not wanting to see him. These few days she had vomited a dozen times and felt that she had lost her whole face.

[T/N: Not literally losing face. Losing face is used to describe ‘ashamed’ or ‘losing one’s dignity’]

Xiao Yu was unable to restrain a smile when he glanced at her. Shortly after, he half embraced and half carried her to the deck and said from behind: “You can open your eyes now.”

As the wind blew, Su Ling’s whole body seemed to be filled with fresh air, and her spirit gradually returned.

Suddenly, there were a pair of warm hands placed on her waist.

Her back was leaning against his chest, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The fog was thick, and the moon was lost in the sky. From a distance, one could see a faint halo.

She lifted her chin, looked up to him, and asked softly: “Can we arrive in half an hour? I really can’t stand it anymore.”

He lowered his head and smiled: “We can.”

Xiao Yu could feel that she had finally dropped her guard a little.

Seeing this scene, a few guards who were sitting in the corner, stealing drinks, had their jaws drop.

Guard A, who was blunt, said incredulously with raised thick eyebrows: “The one who is smiling is our Highness?”

Guard B murmured: “Is it you or is it me who saw things wrong?”

After a long time of silence, the blunt man said in a low voice: “Which one of us whose eyes had gone bad and said that our prince and princess consort were at odds?”

Guard C pushed his head and replied: “Do you not have eyes yourself? Are you just going to stay around and wait for your death after you witness things? Let’s leave quickly!”

After half an hour, the ship gradually came to the shore.

Su Ling was like a dying dish that had regained water, her eyes were lit.

But as soon as her feet hit the ground, she staggered.

Xiao Yu held her with one hand and couldn’t help smiling and said: “Slow down.”

Immediately after, a rustling footsteps came from behind them,

Xiao Yu looked at the sound and found some uniformly dressed officers. Supposing he did not guess wrong, the person who was in the lead should be the chief ambassador of Suzhou—Jin Guang.

All of them bowed to Xiao Yu: “Greetings to His Highness Prince Jin.”

Even though the person before him bowed his body, the burn marks on his arm confirmed Xiao Yu’s guess. He frowned and said: “I did not expect Lord Jin to be so well-informed.”

Suzhou was thousands of miles away from the capital. The matter of him coming to Suzhou to investigate things should not be known by an official like him.

“This humble official was very worried when I heard that Your Highness had encountered the storm. I’ve been waiting since early in the morning. Fortunately, there was no mishap,” Jin Guang raised his head and smiled: “It is late, and the yamen is already closed. Under this humble official’s own initiative, I’ve prepared a resting place. What does Your Highness think?”

[T/N: yamen—government office in feudal China]

Xiao Yu said in a low voice: “Lead the way.”

Since he was prepared for a long time, it could not be called an unannounced visit. At dawn of the next day, Xiao Yu took over the Suzhou’s yamen.

Jin Guang was humble and cooperated with the investigation accordingly.

He ordered someone to carry a box in front of Xiao Yu and said unhurriedly: “This box contains the expenditure account books of Suzhou, as well as the case files under the jurisdiction of the county magistrates and the chiefs.”

“Your Highness, if you need anything else, just let this official know.”

Jin Guang’s act of magnanimity was like offering his head under Prince Jin’s sword, just enough.

In addition to his personal bodyguard Fan Cheng, Xiao Yu only brought Zheng Hu, an official of the Ministry of Revenue, Treasury Division. Due to excessive case files, even though they did not sleep through the night, they could not finish reconciling the expenditure books.

As a result, after two days, Su Ling was pulled to do the accounts.

Although accounting housekeeping was a must for highborn family noblewomen, Zheng Hu, Fan Cheng, and even Xiao Yu did not think she would be able to help much.

Until Su Ling put her fingers on the abacus, the several mel looked over in unison.

The crackling sound was faster than any of them.

Seeing this, Zheng Hu suddenly recalled a certain young official of the Supreme Court, who won top marks in the Imperial examinations.

This was indeed the blood of the Su family.

The next day, after sorting out the account books, Zheng Hu shook his head and said: “No wonder this Lord Jin dared to hand over the account books. They have been long prepared. The official tax account is written very clearly, excluding the annual that must be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue, the rest are used in the epidemic and floods. There is no mistake at all.”

At this time, Fan Cheng ran in from outside and reported: “Your Highness, I have sent people to inquire. Lord Jin has a good reputation in Suzhou, and the officers in the yamen also admire him.”

Zheng Hu looked at the account books and said in a low voice: “Could it be that he’s fooling us with fake accounts?”

Xiao Yu replied: “They’re not fake.”

“Every year when the court sells the official positions, the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Appointments for approval, the Ministry of Revenue for screening, and finally handed over to the cabinet for decision. There are so many complicated steps and none can be wrong. No matter how long can Jin Guang’s hand stretched, it should not be able to reach the capital. Since the number of people paying tribute is right, the account is not fake.”

“The key is how much money is the official position in Suzhou sold for.”

After Xiao Yu finished, Su Ling pointed to the book and continued: “And the flood. We also cannot know how much money they actually used to subsidize the people. If they exaggerate the disaster only to swallow some of the funds privately, the money should not be a small amount.”

Fan Cheng frowned and said: “But opening the warehouse to distribute food is not a sale. The records are not clear.”

Xiao Yu said: “You first gather the beggars on the roadside, ask them about the disaster, the official tax, and their daily needs such as clothing and food. Pay them 20 coins for each news. As long as the news is not repeated, give them more.”

Fan Cheng’s eyes lit up, and he clasped his fists.

Perhaps Jin Guang could bribe the bailiff of the yamen, or even the common people. But he shouldn’t be able to bribe the beggars who ran all over the place.

Fan Cheng thought that one really can do anything with money, so this assignment should be easy. However, after being tossed here and there for a whole day, he could only ask some trivial things about the disaster, for example: Last year’s flood, the beggars ate the congee distributed by the government. They also received steamed buns.

In addition, he did not get any news about official tax. The reason was simple. Beggars were only concerned about food and clothing, not official-related matters.

Indeed, why should how much money need to be spent to buy a fifth-rank official position have anything to do with them?

Fan Cheng took the list of the tax paid of the years and said: “I will go check from door to door tomorrow, ask them how much money they’ve spent to purchase their official position and where did they buy it from. I don’t believe there isn’t any flaws.”

At this time, Su Ling, who was sitting at the side drinking tea, spoke in a low voice: “I have an idea, I don’t know if it is appropriate.”

Xiao Yu said: “Say and let us hear it.”

“The beggars have congee to drink, the common people have official positions to buy. Even if there is something fishy, as long as they have benefited from Jin Guang, they are people in the same boat. If the old things are re-investigated, I’m afraid there is no way for Your Highness to hear the trust. Therefore, why not ask those who have grievances against the authorities of Suzhou?”

“For example, those who failed to become officials.”

Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows and looked somewhat surprised, “Continue.”

“Although the court has set up a lot of empty official positions for those wealthy buyers, qie remembers that, if after buying a position, someone in the family ancestors were found guilty of a crime, even if the money was already paid, they will not be able to sit in the official position.”

After hearing this, Xiao Yu smiled in understanding and said to Fan Cheng: “Go check the list of officials of Suzhou in recent years immediately.”