Chapter 31: Suffering from Others' Schemes (Part 1)

  Two days and two nights had passed, but Pu Jiayuan had yet to return to the mansion.

  Rumors from outside say that there is an urgent illness in the palace, and dozens of people have died.

  Plague! This was Qing Sang's first reaction upon hearing this rumor.

  This plague is most urgent to find a cure, what's the use of sending my father who doesn't understand medicine at all? Although today's weather is gloomy and seems to be raining, Qing Sang still sneaked out to investigate and gather more news to judge whether the rumors are true or false. Unfortunately, after going to Fu Mansion and Liu Mansion, I couldn't find the person I wanted to find, and it was said that they had all entered the palace, so I didn't get any useful news and had to return to the mansion.

  The plague is not something to be taken lightly. If the palace really has a plague, Father will be in great danger, and Brother Jingyu, who is studying with the Eighth Prince, is also in a precarious situation. Thinking of Jingyu, Qing Sang suddenly wondered if the Emperor's sudden summons for Father to enter the palace might mean that Jingyu had also contracted the disease. At this thought, Qing Sang was anxious and worried, but there was nothing he could do, and for a moment, he was at a loss.

  Just as I was feeling depressed and melancholy, I heard someone outside the door asking to see me.

  Qing Sang led the person into the gatehouse, but the gatehouse said that the person wanted to invite her outside for a meeting.

  Out of curiosity and some vigilance, but thinking that it should be safe near his own home, he went to the government office.

  The newcomer was a young man dressed as a small servant, with a clean face and a moderate figure, looking quite pleasing to the eye.

  "Who are you?" Qing Sang saw that he didn't recognize him, but his clothes were decent, probably a servant of some wealthy family.

  "Miss Pu is well, I have come at the behest of our young master to invite Miss to our manor for a cup of tea." The visitor said with lowered eyebrows and eyes, bowing his body.

  "Who is the master of your house?" Qing Sang asked in surprise

  The young lady went and knew the way

  Qing Sang looked at his head and thought it was funny. He didn't even report his name and wanted to invite her over, this person was a bit too arrogant.

  "Go back and tell your master that I don't know him at all, it's not suitable for him to bother me." After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.

  "Miss, please wait, my master has something to say to you." The newcomer said

  "Speak!" said Qing Sang

  "The master said that today, he has also invited Pu Gongzi to the mansion to engage in a martial arts contest. With knives and swords flying about, it's inevitable that someone will get hurt." The newcomer spoke in a gentle tone, but Qing Xun's flesh trembled with fear.

  Is he implying that Qing Sang has detained Jing Yu in his palace? But Jing Yu had already entered the palace to study with the Eighth Prince, how could he be easily detained by someone?

  Qing Sang thought for a moment and said, "My younger brother has been favored by the emperor and went to the palace a few days ago to study with the eighth prince. May I ask if your master is the eighth prince?"

  The newcomer shook his head, knowing that Qing Sang didn't believe that Rong Yu was in the master's hands. He took out a brocade pouch and presented it to Qing Sang.

  Qing Sang took a look and indeed it was a treasure. This brocade pouch was made by Qing Shu's own hands, embroidered with a tiger pattern. Xing Yu saw it and liked it very much, every day carrying it to hold some miscellaneous trinkets.

  Jingyu's personal belongings are in this person's hands, Qing Sang is somewhat convinced but also does not rule out that someone deliberately tried every means to obtain Jingyu's personal belongings to deceive her.

  When the visitor saw Qing Sang, he was still half-believing and half-doubting, so he said: "Pu Gongzi asked me to bring a message to the young lady, saying that the chef in your esteemed mansion made delicious lion's head and almond tofu, would you please take some with you when you go, for the master to try?"

  This sounds like what Jingyu would say. It seems that Jingyu is indeed in the hands of the master who was just mentioned, and he has mixed feelings about it. He's happy because if this is true, then Jingyu shouldn't have been tainted by evil. But he's worried because Jingyu doesn't know whose hands he's in. However, based on what the newcomer said, Jingyu seems to be safe for now. The person holding onto Jingyu just wants him to go there himself, it looks like he can't avoid going this time.

  Father is not around, no one to discuss with. This person also took the opportunity to invite other family members, if told them, it would only add trouble, so it's better to go and see first, and adapt to the situation accordingly.

  Thinking of this, he ordered the doorman to report back to his mother that he was going to the Qian Mansion to visit Zi Yue. He also took the opportunity to go to the kitchen to fetch a lion's head and almond tofu, and instructed Xue Pen: "If an hour has passed and I still haven't returned to the mansion, you should report it to my mother and inform the authorities. Along the way, I will leave marks for myself."

  Xue Pen was frightened upon hearing the words, and begged to go together, but was refused by Qing Sang. Xue Pen had no choice but to anxiously wait in the mansion.

  Having arranged everything, he then said to the person outside the door: "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

  The newcomer saw Qing Sang nodding in response, with a faint smile on his face, revealing a hint of complacency, and then resumed his usual expression, leading Qing into the sedan chair that had been prepared long ago.

  After getting on the sedan, Qing Sang felt a little scared and regretful. If she had encountered bad people, not only would she have failed to rescue Xing Yu, but she would also have fallen into their clutches. Now it was too late for regrets.

  Lift the curtain of the carriage window, look out, it seems to be heading south, along the way, taking advantage of people's unpreparedness, Qing Sai quietly threw the agate beads he brought with him on the ground, although I don't know if they will be picked up by others, but it's better than not throwing them.

  After a while, the sedan chair suddenly stopped. The person who came to invite Qing Sang lifted the curtain and asked her to get off the sedan chair.

  He looked around in all directions from his sedan chair and saw an ordinary house that appeared somewhat old and worn out.

  Entering the house, the interior is very simple, even a bit cold and uninviting.

  "Where is your master? Where is my brother?"

  "Miss, no need to hurry, my master and your brother are waiting for you in the back hall. As soon as you go, you will be able to see them." The newcomer bowed his head, his voice seemed different from before, and it sounded even sharper.

  "Are you the eunuch in the palace?" Qing asked cautiously

  "This humble one is a small virtuous child by the side of the Seventh Highness." The man replied in a soft voice.

  Qing Sang was indeed correct, and at the same time felt a bit regretful. Since Jing Yu had accompanied the Eighth Prince to study, only someone from the imperial family could take him away, and she hadn't thought of this possibility at that time.

  "Did you just use a fake tone?" Qing Sang heard that he was beside Tong Xun, and couldn't help but think of the miserable death of Lu Sheng, his tone also became softer.

  "The young lady of the mansion is aware that she is from the palace and does not want to meet, so she specially instructed me to speak in a normal person's tone." Little Dezi lowered his head, seemingly respectfully responding, but with a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

  "What about those seven princes?" Qing Sang asked

  "Miss, just go inside," said Xiao Dezi with a smile.

  Qing Sang looked at him with a puzzled expression and said: "Sir, don't you know the way?"

  Xiao Dezi lowered his head even further, but his voice remained loud and clear: "We slaves are just following orders, Your Highness has not given permission, we dare not enter"

  Qing Shao felt something was off, thought for a moment, and asked: "When did you start serving the Seventh Prince? Originally, didn't you serve Little Mingzi in the prince's mansion?" The so-called Little Mingzi was a name Qing Sang casually came up with, intending to test whether this little Dezi was true or false.

  Xiao Dezi remained with his head bowed and replied, "This humble servant only had the good fortune to serve Your Highness after Gonggong Lu Sheng left. Originally, I was serving beside Chen Xianfei, and as this humble servant has served Your Highness for a short time, I did not know that there was another Gonggong in the mansion called Xiaomingzi."

  Xiao Dezi spoke without leaving out a single detail, which made Qing Sang unable to guess what was going on.

  Qing Sang said, "Really? Maybe I remembered it wrong. Can you please inform him that we can meet in the outer hall?" Qing Sang felt that this matter was very suspicious. If Tong Xun wanted to see her, according to his personality, he wouldn't be so roundabout and troublesome. He would either send someone with a letter or directly climb over the wall and enter through the window. Why would he need to send someone to bring her here? Moreover, he even used Jing Yu to threaten her. The Tong Xun she knew wouldn't do such a thing. Now that she was in this situation, she could only blame herself. If she hadn't rushed over as soon as she heard that Jing Yu was in the hands of Xiaodezi's so-called master, she wouldn't be in this predicament now.

  Hesitating for a moment, Xiao Dezi urged again. Qing Sang gritted her teeth and decided to enter the inner hall. Since she had come all this way, there was no point in lingering outside. Summoning up her courage, Qing Sha walked towards the inner hall.

  The interior decoration is still simple, although there are fewer people, but the table and chairs are set up without a single speck of dust, looking at it, it's not like no one lives here, at least someone has swept specifically.

  Still no one in sight inside the hall, hesitating and thinking of turning around to leave, it seemed like there were footsteps coming from the inner courtyard again. Taking a deep breath, I quietly walked over.

  The empty courtyard was filled with a cool breeze, and the sky that could be seen at a glance was gray and overcast, with signs of wind and rain to come.

  Under a pagoda tree, stood a tall and handsome white figure with bright and gorgeous brocade on his body, his long hair flowed like water and was neatly combed back, he slightly raised his head, looking at the clusters of flowers above him, densely packed among the green leaves, so white they were dazzling, so dense they were lively.

  Who else could this familiar figure be? It was Tong Xuan, who had once made Qing Sang's heart ache.

  There's still another episode tonight, don't forget to watch it~~ The next plot will be very exciting oh)