"Leaving already?" Zhao Douan asked in surprise, as their departure was truly sudden.
Young Tributor Song Jinxi replied with an "Mm," explaining:
"Their injuries aren't severe, and perhaps because they lost, they don't want to stay any longer. So, after a brief recovery, they packed their things and prepared to leave, politely refusing even the farewell arrangents we set up. Didn't you want to keep watch and notify you when they were ready to leave?"
Zhao Douan took a deep breath and asked, "Where are they now?"
On the main road leading to the gates of the Imperial City, a carriage rolled along, its wheels grinding over the stone pavent. Chai Keqiao personally acted as the coachman, holding the reins, one leg dangling, his straw sandals swinging to and fro.
Seeing the city gates approach, he turned his head, lifted the curtain, and asked Xiao Ran in the carriage, "Are you really leaving now? You're not going to see your aunt? The Empress should permit it."
Xiao Ran sat in the carriage with a small bundle on her lap, Qi Ye seated cross-legged on the opposite side.
She appeared listless, filled with both the discontent of losing to Zhao Douan and the desolation of leaving this heart-wounding city: "No need. Aunt no longer rembers . If I go, I'll only bring her trouble."
Chai Keqiao pursed his lips, refraining from further persuasion. As the carriage neared the city gates, the sound of hooves suddenly ca from behind.
Zhao Douan advanced alone on horseback: "Wait a mont."
Chai Keqiao narrowed his eyes, stopping the carriage, and bowed: "Junior Guardian Zhao, do you have further guidance?"
Zhao Douan, atop his horse, reined in without responding to him, and simply addressed the carriage, saying, "Miss Xiao, I have a farewell gift for you. Please accept it."
Xiao Ran lifted the curtain, stared coldly at him, and suddenly raised her hand to catch a jewelry box Zhao Douan unexpectedly tossed.
She raised an eyebrow, only to hear Zhao Douan say blandly, "Don't misunderstand. This was seized from the residence of Noble Princess Consort Xiao during the investigation. It was an item she prepared as a New Year's gift for many younger mbers of her family. This one was ant for you, with your na on it."
Xiao Ran was stunned, finding it hard to believe that he could be so kind.
Zhao Douan added, "By the way, those unruly female officials at the Imperial Food Bureau have already been dealt with by Mo Zhaorong."
Leaving these words, he unexpectedly turned and galloped away.
Only the Qingshan trio remained, dumbfoundedly watching his departing figure on horseback.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Ran looked complexed as she placed the jewelry box on the bundle on her lap, only to find an old note stuck in the box's crevice, with her childhood na written in elegant handwriting. Opening the box, she found a jade-green ice flower bracelet nestled on a red silk cloth.
Xiao Ran pursed her lips and suddenly choked up.
...
...
Afternoon, at the Zhao family residence.
Upon returning to the mansion, Zhao Douan was imdiately subjected to a flurry of questions from his aunt and younger sister.
You Jinhua was concerned if he was injured, while Zhao Pan was especially curious about the "Peach Blossom Sword" widely rumored in the official realm.
Zhao Douan, finding it both amusing and exasperating, perford a silent demonstration of slicing a peach blossom with a twig at ho, which elicited cheers and exclamations from the two won.
He returned to the study.
Zhao Douan bypassed the frad portrait of the Empress hanging on the wall, sat at his desk, and began writing a list detailing the preparations for the southern Sealing affair.
"Though we have Princess Lu as an insider, we cannot be careless. My enemies are not only the overt Prince Jing and the patriarchal forces on Jiancheng Road."
"We must bring enough manpower."
Zhao Douan wrote several nas on the paper:
"Eunuch Hai has agreed to accompany south, bringing along the majority of the court tribute. It seems excessive just for my protection; their main purpose is to prepare for Zhenbao's Sealing, clearing obstacles in advance."
"Lang Shiba and Ji Yue must be included, along with trusted confidants from Lihua Hall. They are reliably smooth in action... As for Haitang and the others, they are unnecessary."
"It's unfortunate that Gongshu Tianyuan and Jin Jian once again left the Capital for training and cannot temporarily draw on the power of the Heavenly Master Mansion... However, I can write to them before departure and try to trick them into coming to Jiancheng Road..."
Zhao Douan contemplated, feeling it still insufficiently secure when suddenly a dog's barking sounded within the residence.
A house servant rushed to the door: "Master, soone outside seeks an audience. It seems to be... a woman who has visited the ho before."
A strange woman who has been in the house? Could it be Zhenbao? It shouldn't be at this ti... Or is it Mo Chou? Zhao Douan frowned, opened the door, and went outside with doubts, only to see a woman draped in a cloak standing at the gate.
Upon seeing him, she gently extended her jade hand, lifted the cloak's cover, revealing a voluptuous figure and a familiar face, her lips curving up: "Benefactor, we et again."
Zhao Douan's pupils contracted, instinctively covering his waist: "Bodhi Bodhisattva?!"
...
...
Jiancheng Road.
Unlike the more northerly Capital, Jiancheng Road, though not as perpetually spring-like as Lingnan, also enjoys a pleasant climate.
With the arrival of the Spring God, the earth turns green, and flowers and plants sprout vigorously. In Jiancheng Road, literati gather in groups, embarking on spring excursions.
On this day, the Prince Jing Mansion went on a grand outing.
With a gentle deanor, white at the temples, and a visage sowhat resembling the late Emperor's, Prince Jing donned luxurious attire, standing under a tree's shade, gazing at his young sons and daughters playing boisterously in the distant stream.
Beads of various colors were coiled around his right arm, radiant yet not vulgar.
"Father, the secret spies have delivered the latest intelligence from the Kuangfu Society." The Princely Heir, Xu Jinglong, pulled up behind him, bowing respectfully.
"Speak."
"After Zhuang Xiaocheng was executed in the Capital, the court dispatched Shadow Guards to spread private scandals about Zhuang Xiaocheng in various regions, which has been quite effective. Though the ti has been short, even within Jiancheng Road, there is much talk among the townsfolk, and the reputation of the Kuangfu Society has plumted to the bottom."
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