The Salted Fish’s Political Marriage - Chapter 15

A-Lang murmured, “So that is how it is.”

He suddenly turned to look at Song Mingzhi.

He had been saying that something felt a bit off. Although the Young Master’s wealth and glory were tied to the Prince of Qi, after arriving at the Prince’s residence, the Young Master had been overly concerned about the Prince. Not only did he refuse to let him say bad things about the Prince, but he even spent his mental energy worrying about the Prince’s health.

Thinking of this, A-Lang couldn’t help but realize, “Young Master, I understand now!”

At this moment, Song Mingzhi had not yet recovered from the news, but A-Lang had already spoken a step ahead, “Young Master, could it be that after arriving in Chongjing, you vaguely remembered something? No wonder on the night of your wedding, you said those words to me.”

The Young Master had always respected the person who saved him years ago and had kept that bell until today, even hesitating during his escape from the marriage because of it. If he were the real Young Master Zhi, he indeed would not want to believe that his benefactor from years ago had turned into a “decayed wood” known throughout the world.

No wonder.

The maid serving tea on the side was already teary-eyed.

A-Lang turned around excitedly and said to Song Mingzhi, “Young Master, look, am I right?”

Song Mingzhi did not have the original owner’s memories, let alone remember anything. Moreover, the reason the original owner fled the marriage was because he did not associate that “Young Master” from years ago with the Prince of Qi.

But Song Mingzhi could not tell the truth.

He had realized that if the Prince of Qi was truly biding his time, then the words he said on their wedding night were undoubtedly exposing the Prince’s bottom line.

How could it be like this!

Song Mingzhi raised his hand, brushed away the fallen flower petals on his eyelashes, and answered with difficulty, “Yes.”

As things stood, he seemed to have no choice but to admit it. Unlike Mu Yanzhou, Song Mingzhi had not told many lies in his two lifetimes. “In all these years in Shulan, I have always kept that Young Master from back then in my heart. Now that we have met again, I just did not want to see him continue to be so passive and lazy.”

His tone was slightly strange.

Song Mingzhi closed his eyes and said, “That is why I hoped Your Highness would read books and strive for progress.”

Today’s sunlight seemed exceptionally hot.

Before staying in the courtyard for long, Song Mingzhi’s cheeks were burned by the sun. Song Mingzhi could only say this much of a lie. He walked toward the room while speaking, “Alright, these are all small matters; you do not need to ask anymore.”

After his voice fell, he returned to his room.

In Zhuohua Courtyard, A-Lang was still standing on the spot, continuously realizing things.

The maid picked up the tea tray and looked far toward the direction of Huiming Hall. The world said that the Prince’s marriage was a haphazard arrangement, but who would have thought that the two of them were actually deeply in love?

It probably would not be long. Once the two of them opened up to each other, they would be able to spend time under the flowers and moon, being deeply affectionate.

Hehehe.

Mu Yanzhou held a silk handkerchief.

He wiped the thin layer of dust on the rose leaves. Behind him, the guard from Zhuohua Courtyard had run all the way here.

After finishing the salute, he recounted everything he had just heard, as well as everything he had learned about that bell in the past few days, word for word. At the same time, he did not forget to add fuel to the fire, “Apart from the above, the subordinate clearly saw that when the Princess Consort returned to the room, his face was obviously quite red!”

He concluded, “It looked like he was a bit embarrassed.”

Mu Yanzhou’s movements paused.

Before he could say anything, Yuan Jiu on the side couldn’t help but say, “A bell?”

He was just about to question it, but heard Mu Yanzhou say in a calm tone, “There was indeed such an event that year.”

On the Lantern Festival eleven years ago, he had indeed picked up a child from the Western Regions in Chongjing, sent him back to the post house on his way, and untied a gold bell for him.

Yuan Jiu: “!!!”

Could it be that the Princess Consort was truly because of this, and that was why he was like this toward the Prince?

Mu Yanzhou frowned slowly, put down the silk handkerchief in his hand, and laughed, “Stupid.”

The thin leaves of the rose were trembling in the light.

Mu Yanzhou broke off a withered branch and said casually, “Beauties are naturally born knowing how to confuse people.”

Yuan Jiu broke out in a cold sweat.

Mu Yanzhou threw down the withered branch. While carefully examining the rose in front of him, he said casually, “Send someone down to investigate that matter from back then clearly. See if he is impersonating someone. If it is true, it is not too late to talk about what happens next.”

Yuan Jiu immediately saluted and said, “As you command, Your Highness!”

That was true. The Prince only helped casually back then and did not hide it from anyone. If someone wanted to make a fuss about this, it was not impossible. Now that the truth was not yet verified, he indeed should not be too concerned about it and delay doing other things.

As expected of the Prince.

Yuan Jiu and the guard withdrew from Huiming Hall.

Mu Yanzhou closed his eyes slightly, sat by the window, and recalled carefully.

Eleven years ago, Chongjing, the Lantern Festival.

Noon of the next day.

The gentle wind rang the flower-protecting bells under the eaves.

Swallows returned south, carrying mud to build nests, occasionally making two or three crisp cries. Inside the Prince of Qi’s residence, the fragrance of medicine still lingered.

After lunch, Song Mingzhi sat in Zhuohua Courtyard, staring at Mu Yanzhou until he finished his medicine. Just as he was about to stand up, Mu Yanzhou suddenly raised his hand and gently gripped his wrist. Finally, he asked seriously, “My beloved consort, why do you remember the events of eleven years ago so firmly?”

Song Mingzhi’s wrist paused.

He had already thought of the answer: “Since it was the first time I left Shulan in my life, I naturally remember it clearly.”

Mu Yanzhou lowered his eyes and smiled: “Alright, but you must not hold any strange expectations of me just because I once saved you. This can only prove that I am a good person, but it cannot prove that I am a man of talent.”

Under the peach tree, Song Mingzhi’s eyes suddenly had a few more colors.

He shook his head gently at Mu Yanzhou.

He then looked at the other person very seriously, “But the world today lacks good people.”

Mu Yanzhou: “…”

He seemed suddenly able to do it.

Mu Yanzhou suddenly stood up, gently patted Song Mingzhi’s shoulder, and said, “Alright, with that praise from my beloved consort, I will go and listen to the affairs of the court now.”

Several carriages passed through the market and drove into the Prince of Qi’s residence. Soon after, servants walked quickly forward to welcome the people in the carriages: “Young Masters, this way please. The Prince of Qi invites you all to Huiming Hall!”

You Jian’an, walking at the very front, shook the flower-and-bird folding fan in his hand. He lowered his voice and said to the companions beside him: “You say why did the Prince of Qi suddenly call us to the residence today? If I remember correctly, the last time the Prince called us to the residence to drink was over a month ago. Doesn’t the Princess Consort not let him drink? Why today…”

Liao Wenbo also leaned in and said, “Could it be that the Prince has finally awakened!”

As soon as he spoke, everyone stopped walking.

“That makes sense!” You Jian’an nodded repeatedly and said in a low voice toward him, “Who would want to be controlled by others all day long? Even if he is a fairy, I can only endure it for three or two days, and I can’t take it anymore. Moreover, how could the Prince not care about the matter at Zuiying Pavilion a few days ago?”

The two looked at each other and immediately reached a consensus. The Prince of Qi must be frustrated in love and was looking for close friends to drink and relieve his gloom.

This was simple!

As they spoke, they had walked into Huiming Hall.

Then they were arranged by Yuan Jiu to sit at the long table, and at the same time, a whole set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were presented.

Finally, someone realized that something was wrong: “Wait, what is this?”

You Jian’an also picked up a brush, shook it, and said to Yuan Jiu, “What do you mean by this? Why don’t you pour us wine, but bring these things over instead?”

He pointed to the brush and ink on the table.

Hearing this, Yuan Jiu immediately walked forward and saluted: “Replying to the Young Masters, these are all specially prepared by the Prince of Qi for you.” He smiled and explained carefully, “The Princess Consort asked the Prince to understand more about the court affairs yesterday, but it is truly difficult for the Prince to find anyone around him or in the residence to ask. So the Prince thought, let the Young Masters come over, pick some useful things you hear your fathers and brothers say at home, and write them on paper for him to see.”

Drinking buddies: “…”

The Prince gathered everyone to the residence just to do this kind of thing?

When they usually came to the residence, Mu Yanzhou was in Huiming Hall. Today, however, they had not seen his figure. A bad premonition suddenly flooded Liao Wenbo’s mind. He couldn’t help but ask, “Then what has the Prince gone to do?”

Yuan Jiu smiled and explained, “The Prince of Qi has gone to Zhuohua Courtyard to have lunch with the Princess Consort; he will return later.”

Huiming Hall was filled with wailing.

“This is clearly the Prince’s task!”

“Why does he accompany the Princess Consort himself, and let us write these things? Let us go!”

“I still have elders and wife and children to take care of at home, let me go home!”

“Or maybe we should call my father to come…”

However, before the words fell, the guards had closed the courtyard gate, locking the people who wanted to escape in the room.

Damn it, using power to oppress people!

An incense stick of time later.

Spring has come to the land of Chongjing City.

In Huiming Hall, everyone resisted without success and was currently looking distressed and writing hard.

I don’t know how long it had been when a crisp “ding-ling, ding-ling” sound finally reached their ears.

What is this sound again…

You Jian’an, sitting at the doorway, involuntarily raised his head and looked into the courtyard.

The Prince of Qi in green clothes, he did not know when he had walked outside Huiming Hall. At this time, he was leaning against the peach tree at the entrance, casually shaking a bell.

At the moment their eyes met, Mu Yanzhou finally stood up straight, walked slowly toward Huiming Hall, and asked everyone, “Have you finished writing?”

Accompanying his footsteps was a crisp “clanging” sound.

“Prince!”

“Prince of Qi, you have finally come!”

This group of playboys did not like to do serious things on weekdays.

They had let the words their fathers and brothers said at the dinner table go in one ear and out the other. After thinking for a long time, it had almost exhausted everyone’s energy. At this moment, they just wanted to find something else to do.

You Jian’an’s gaze couldn’t help but follow that clanging sound and fall onto Mu Yanzhou’s fingers.

At this time, he was casually shaking a bell.

The bell seemed to be gold-plated copper, and it looked like the most common kind in Chongjing city, a ringing bell worn on a child’s wrist. The pattern on the bell had been worn away for a long time, and it looked like it had been around for some years.

What is the Prince doing with a bell?

You Jian’an had always been outspoken, and as soon as he thought of this, he asked subconsciously: “What is the Prince holding in his hand?”

Mu Yanzhou sat down slowly at the table.

Seeing that they were writing with distressed expressions, he finally showed mercy: “Are you all tired from writing?”

“Tired, tired!”

“Prince, look, why don’t we just write this much?”

“Yes, yes, that’s enough.”

Mu Yanzhou glanced at the paper casually.

He shook his head and said, “Only a few lines, write more in a while.”

Then, he lowered his eyes and looked at everyone: “Now, let’s move around first, let’s talk about something else.”

Everyone’s eyes lit up: “Talk about what?”

Mu Yanzhou sat at the table, casually poured himself a cup of hot tea, and waved his hand, signaling everyone to lean in: “Do you know what I have in my hand?”

You Jian’an said blankly: “A bell!”

Mu Yanzhou took a sip of tea: “This bell was a gift I received when I celebrated my ninth birthday. It was originally a pair. You guess, besides this one in my hand, where is the other one now?”

As he said this, he raised his hand and shook it gently twice.

You Jian’an still didn’t understand: “Where is it?”

While he was speaking, he raised his hand, trying to shake the bell.

But the bad premonition in Liao Wenbo’s heart fell into reality at this moment.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t, could it be with the Princess Consort?”

“Guessed right.”

Mu Yanzhou’s eyes suddenly lit up.

He slapped away You Jian’an’s palm: “Don’t touch it indiscriminately.”

Yuan Jiu walked up and presented tea cups to everyone.

Mu Yanzhou did not mean to ask if they were interested at all. He shook the bell in his hand gently, narrowed his eyes, and said to himself: “Are you curious about how that bell ended up in the Princess Consort’s hands?”

Liao Wenbo struggled, “No.”

As he said that, he was about to get up and escape from this place.

Mu Yanzhou laughed, and pressed the person back down without changing his expression.

Then, he closed his eyes and said softly: “Since you are curious, then I will start from the beginning. It was exactly eleven years ago, the Lantern Festival in Chongjing.”

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