Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 75

The following evening, Xue Xiangyang and several officials from the Ministry of Justice gradually emerged from the residence on Yunli Street. “Congratulations, Lord Huai,” they offered. Lord Lu’s face was flushed, swaying as he walked, clearly having had a few drinks.

Lord Zeng quickly extended his hand to congratulate Su Huai’an, “Congratulations, Lord Huai, on your move.”

Su Huai’an respectfully replied, “I am grateful for the kind words, esteemed sirs.”

Xue Xiangyang smiled and commented, “Siba, your alcohol tolerance is quite good.”

The fine rain continued, permeating the air with moisture. Servants from various households were escorting carriages, holding oiled paper umbrellas, heading toward the front gate of the residence.

As the masters said their farewells, they noticed a carriage approaching with rhythmic sounds, stopping right in front of them. The luxurious carriage was adorned with lanterns and accompanied by over a dozen guards. As it halted, a gong rang out. 

Such a display indicated that the grand princess, who lived across the street, had returned to her residence.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice involuntarily glanced back at Su Huai’an, their eyes containing a hint of envy and teasing. This is an imperial princess ah.

The attention of the crowd involuntarily shifted to the curtains of the carriage.

However, the first person to step out of the carriage was a man in a dark blue robe. He unfurled an oiled paper umbrella, resting it against the carriage awning, and said, “The road is slippery today, be careful, Your Highness.”

After a moment, Xiao Lianyu bent down from the carriage. A pearl and jade hairpin adorned her head, and she held a six-petal silk fan. She wore a trailing vermillion skirt, elegant and ethereal. With delicate eyebrows and a light touch, she lightly rested her hand on the guard’s arm, saying, “Xun lang, I don’t want you to get wet. Come closer.”

The guard softly replied, “Your Highness, it’s inappropriate.”

Xiao Lianyu looked at him and smiled, saying, “Since when have we ever been proper?” Her voice was neither loud nor soft, carrying just the right weight. If one paid attention, they could certainly hear.

With the wind blowing again, Lord Lu’s intoxication seemed to clear. Could he be the lover of the grand princess?

Su Huai’an looked at the opposite side without a change in expression, his fingers showing a tinge of white, yet he remained silent.

A servant from the Xue residence stepped forward, leaned close to Xue Xiangyang, and muttered a few words in his ear. Xue Xiangyang’s face drastically changed, and he turned to Huai Jing, saying, “Siba, there’s an urgent matter at my residence. I’ll go ahead.”

With Xue Xiangyang setting the example, several colleagues from the Ministry of Justice quickly found excuses and left.

In a matter of moments, the crowd dispersed with the people and carriages.

Su Huai’an watched as the grand princess’ mansion gates slowly closed. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, saying each word deliberately, “I have urgent matters to discuss with the grand princess.”

No one responded.

The gate was not yet fully closed, leaving a crack. Su Huai’an pushed the door open.

Creak.

The guards within the residence unsheathed their swords.

Xiao Lianyu remained standing with one of the guards. Not only did she not turn around, but she also dismantled the pearl and jade hairpin from her head ornament and leisurely inserted it into the guard’s hair bun, smiling languidly and carefree, “Looks good.”

The guard helplessly said, “Princess.”

Su Huai’an clenched his fist and whispered, “I have urgent matters to discuss with the princess.”

Xiao Lianyu stood by the turning umbrella, casually saying, “Is Lord Huai seeking an audience? From your demeanor, I thought the Ministry of Justice was here to arrest me.”

Su Huai’an said, “I have something to discuss with the princess.”

Xiao Lianyu looked at him and said, “What standing do you have for me to listen?”

Su Huai’an said, “Your future husband.”

Future husband. 

Xiao Lianyu suddenly chuckled, lifted her umbrella, and walked towards him in the rain. Tilting her head, she said, “According to Great Zhou’s rites, when a future husband meets the princess, he must perform ceremonial bows and wait for her summons before speaking. Today, consider it an exception. If this happens again, I’ll ask my imperial brother to inquire about your transgressions.”

“Guards, escort the guest.”

Su Huai’an grabbed her wrist and said, “Princess, are you disregarding even the decorum of breaking the promise of marriage?”

In a flash, the guards behind Xiao Lianyu drew daggers from their waists, pressing them against Su Huai’an’s neck.

Xiao Lianyu smirked, “But I don’t really care about formalities. I’ll be with whomever I like.”

In truth, Su Huai’an knew she didn’t care. If she did, she wouldn’t have chased and blocked him at the Ministry of Justice back then.

He looked at her motionless, then at the guard. He couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “How long?”

The rain intensified, making a pattering sound against the umbrella.

Xiao Lianyu calmly said, “Three years. He has been by my side all this time.”

Three years. 

When Su Huai’an was lost in thought, her fair wrist slipped from his grasp.

***

Xue Residence.

There had been a commotion in front of the grand princess’ mansion. Officials from the Ministry of Justice assumed that Lord Xue had left early to save face for the prospective prince consort, but in reality, something was amiss at the Xue residence.

The night dew was heavy, and Xue Xiangyang had a stern expression as he headed straight to Chunhua Garden.

Chunhua Garden was the residence of the second branch of the Xue family, where Second Master Xue, Xue Xiangrui, resided.

Xue Xiangyang lifted the bamboo curtain and saw that his younger brother was still eating. Angered, he grabbed his clothes and pinned him against the wall.

Xue Xiangrui was Xue Xiangyang’s biological sibling. Though they had different appearances, their fate only differed by half an hour.

“Brother.”

Xue Xiangyang’s eyes were ablaze with anger as he gritted his teeth, “Where have you been these days?”

Xue Xiangrui glanced around nervously and said, “Brother, let go first, I can’t breathe…”

Xue Xiangyang sternly demanded, “I’ll ask you again, where have you been? What did you deliver to Mount Li?”

Gasping for breath, Xue Xiangrui explained, “Brother, things are not as you think. Let me explain. Will you listen?”

“Speak.”

Xue Xiangrui spoke lowly, “A few days ago, someone threatened me with the accounts from twelve years ago. It was the ledger from selling military weapons back then. If I didn’t comply, the person would print out the ledger, so I had no choice! But he said, as long as I delivered what he wanted to Mount Li, the ledger would be mine.”

Xue Xiangyang didn’t believe him and sneered, “The ledgers in the hands of the family were destroyed long ago. Only Su Jingbei had a copy left. With Su Huai’an having the original, are you trying to tell me that the person threatening you is Su Huai’an?” Xue Xiangyang believed Su Huai’an had a copy because “Su Jingbei” was the buyer.

Xue Xiangrui explained, “It’s not Su Huai’an, but the ledger is real and has official seals.”

Xue Xiangyang frowned at him, “Who approached you?”

“It was the Mongolian translator from the Foreign Bureau,” Xue Xiangrui’s voice grew weaker, “But when I went to find him the next day, the Foreign Bureau claimed there was no such person! I suspect he infiltrated the Foreign Bureau to approach me!”

Xue Xiangyang’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Xue Xiangrui continued, “Brother, rest assured, I was cautious. I won’t let that evidence become a liability for our Xue family. Once I get the ledger, I’ll destroy it, and I’ve taken care of the person…”

“You fool, do you realize what you’ve done?” Xue Xiangyang punched him in the face, saying, “The Mongolians are here for diplomatic relations between the two countries! Yet you are working for the Qi State! I went to great lengths to transfer you from the Ministry of War to the Ministry of Rites to keep you in check, but what have you done?”

Xue Xiangrui covered his bleeding lip, “Brother!”

“All these years, I relentlessly pursued Su Huai’an to find the truth. For whom did Father abdicate his power? Have you thought about the Xue family, about our third sister?” Xue Xiangyang’s face was filled with anguish. “Diplomatic relations are no small matter. If trouble arises, I won’t be able to protect you…”

Xue Xiangrui shouted, “Twelve years ago, you blamed me for selling military weapons, tarnishing the Xue family’s reputation. But the money I made back then was used to fill the Xue family’s deficits! Where would the Xue family stand today without that gold mine that fills our coffers? What I’m doing today is to get my hands on the ledger as soon as possible!”

Xue Xiangyang said, “Have you considered the consequences of this scheme?”

A shadow darted from the Xue residence.

***

Lu Ze compiled and presented the intelligence gathered from the Xue family, showing it to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu remarked, “So, it’s true that Dantai Yi has a ledger.”

“Dantai Yi is a cunning man. If it weren’t for the leak from the Xue residence, the Imperial Bodyguards would have had no idea about his connection with the Xue family,” Lu Ze then furrowed his brows. “I’m afraid Dantai Yi used Xue Xiangrui’s shipments as a diversion, with other intentions in the background.”

“Dantai Yi is preparing for a covert operation, and so are we,” Xiao Yu took out a map of Mount Li and continued, “Twenty thousand troops of the Yuzhou Iron Cavalry are stationed outside the mountain, and the Jinwu Guards are inside. Each hunting ground has its own command post to prevent any unforeseen events. Additionally, the troops in Qingzhou are on high alert.”

“Rest assured, I’ll send a secret message to Qingzhou tomorrow.”

… …

At this moment, there were only three days left until the hunting event at Mount Li.