The Salted Fish’s Political Marriage - Chapter 16

For the many years he had known them, this was the first time everyone had seen Mu Yanzhou looking so serious. He leaned back in his wooden chair with a smile still playing on his lips, speaking slowly.

“Back then, Ah Zhi’s father brought the Sulan delegation to the Central Plains to discuss trade, and he came along to Chongjing. It was the Lantern Festival, and the streets of Chongjing were packed with people. Ah Zhi accidentally became separated from his family while admiring the lanterns. By the time I found him, he had already been snatched up by a human trafficker and taken to a street corner.”

Mu Yanzhou paused at this point. Then, with a dark look in his eyes, he added: “He might have been sold to Zuiying Tower. I have always said that the boss of Zuiying Tower is certainly not a good person.”

You Jian’an muttered to himself: “But Zuiying Tower only has dancing girls.”

Mu Yanzhou opened his eyes and glared at him: “Say less.”

A spring breeze carried falling petals into Huiming Hall. Mu Yanzhou raised his hand to catch one and laughed: “Seeing injustice, I naturally had to step in. I immediately ordered my guards to seize the trafficker and drag him to the magistrate’s office. Then, I took his hand and escorted him to the guesthouse.”

He paused again, looking regretful: “Unfortunately, my beloved consort did not know how to speak the official language well at the time. Although he muttered the whole way, I only understood that he said he was from the Sulan Kingdom.”

You Jian’an nodded blankly: “So the Prince of Qi did not know his name at the time.”

No wonder the two of them are only just now recognizing each other.

Mu Yanzhou replied naturally: “That is right.”

Seeing that Mu Yanzhou stopped there, You Jian’an, who had been listening to half the story, could not help but ask: “So, where did the bell in the Princess Consort’s hand come from?”

“Oh, that,” Mu Yanzhou shook the bell in his hand and smiled. “I just untied it and tied it to him at the time. As long as he wears the bell, he cannot get lost.”

In the Central Plains, there was a custom of tying bells on children. It had the connotation of warding off evil spirits and keeping them safe, and it also allowed one to judge their approximate location by the sound to prevent them from getting lost. Thinking of this, Mu Yanzhou shook his head and laughed: “Look, even now, Ah Zhi makes no sound when he walks.”

The group of dandies usually did nothing but mischief, but they were exceptionally enthusiastic about everything else. Hearing this, someone asked subconsciously: “And then?”

“And then, naturally, my beloved consort has kept me in his heart, missing me for many years. So that we can be together long-term and live in marital bliss, you should all recall the recent major court affairs. Write down as many as you can for me.”

As he spoke, he shoved a brush dripping with ink into his hand: “If you are moved, get to work.”

The ruse was exposed. Everyone groaned in despair. Looking as if they were mourning, they picked up their brushes, sat back in their seats under Mu Yanzhou’s watchful gaze, and racked their brains to remember.

At the hour of the dog, the moon rose over the treetops. Mu Yanzhou finally showed mercy and sent them all home. He then sent someone to Zhuohua Courtyard to bring Song Mingzhi to the study, inviting him to check on the homework completed that day.

Song Mingzhi reached out to touch the door of Huiming Hall. Before he could push it open, he heard a crisp jingle. On the carved lacquer door in front of the hall, someone had hung a golden bell. Since when did the Great Chu have such a custom?

Before Song Mingzhi could be sure, Mu Yanzhou’s voice came from inside: “The biggest event in the court recently is the bribery case in the Ministry of Revenue.”

Song Mingzhi: “!”

He turned around subconsciously to look into the room. On the lotus-patterned tiles in the east room of Huiming Hall, piles of rice paper were stacked like mountains, each sheet densely packed with writing. Mu Yanzhou was leaning against the table, browsing through the papers by the flickering candlelight.

At the same time, he said to Song Mingzhi: “The Emperor seems very angry. He has even forgotten about the upcoming Longevity Festival.”

After speaking, he put down the paper and smiled at Song Mingzhi. Although these dandies were unproductive, none of them were illiterate. Some held idle positions in the court, some were still being forced to enter officialdom, and at worst, they had heard quite a bit about court affairs through their families. Today, they had all coincidentally written about the same event.

Mu Yanzhou pulled out a stool: “Sit.”

Song Mingzhi did not stand on ceremony. After sitting down, he asked: “Is it the matter involving the implication and punishment of Minister Du?”

“Correct,” Mu Yanzhou put down the paper and summarized, “The Emperor is currently thoroughly investigating the Ministry of Personnel bribery case. This matter, judging by what those few say, seems to be a wrongful conviction.”

Song Mingzhi picked up a sheet of paper: “Is that so?”

He then pretended to browse while carefully recalling the past. In history, after Minister Du returned home, he lasted only a few days before his injuries worsened and he died. The treacherous clique immediately pushed their own person to the position of Minister of Revenue and destroyed the evidence, completely suppressing the wrongful case. If Mu Yanzhou had not thoroughly investigated the matter immediately after ascending the throne, it might have been buried in the dust of history forever.

Mu Yanzhou put down the paper and said casually: “Minister Du is truly impressive. Even though his injuries have not healed, he is already rushing back to the Ministry of Revenue to report, saying he must clarify the matter before he can rest easy at home.”

Song Mingzhi’s hand paused. The scene he had seen at Zuiying Tower that day surfaced in his mind. No wonder Feng Ronggui was in such a rush to pull strings. His sense of crisis had not been wrong. The treacherous clique had indeed prepared everything to discard him once his usefulness was exhausted.

In history, when Mu Yanzhou investigated this matter after ascending the throne, they not only placed all the blame on Feng Ronggui alone but even attempted to assassinate him to make it look like he committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

Moonlight shone through the window onto Song Mingzhi’s face, illuminating his misty blue eyes and his slightly furrowed brows as he thought. Mu Yanzhou discovered that compared to observing him, Song Mingzhi, this suspected spy, seemed even more concerned about court affairs today.

He tapped his fingers on the table twice and suddenly said: “Court affairs are indeed very complicated.” Then, he leaned close to Song Mingzhi and sighed: “So, it is better to just lie at home and get less involved. Do you agree?”

Such words could no longer stimulate him. Song Mingzhi lowered his head, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. After a few seconds, he actually agreed: “Your Highness is correct.”

Mu Yanzhou was incredulous: “You say it is correct?”

He stood up immediately and snatched the paper from Song Mingzhi’s hand: “Song Mingzhi, why have you stopped caring about me so quickly? Why, do you also think I have no hope?”

Song Mingzhi looked up. Moonlight fell into his eyes, and a circle of ripples appeared in his blue lake-like gaze: “It seems Your Highness is no longer repulsed by understanding court affairs. Then tonight, instead of sitting idle, why not think about what would happen next if this really is a wrongful conviction?”

As he spoke, he stood up from his chair.

Mu Yanzhou widened his eyes: “Oh, I understand. This is an agitation tactic, right?”

Song Mingzhi evaded the question and refused to look Mu Yanzhou in the eye: “Your Highness, it is getting late.”

At this time, the bright moon was already hanging high. Song Mingzhi did not want to waste any more of Mu Yanzhou’s time. After finishing the business, he prepared to bow and exit Huiming Hall. Unexpectedly, before he could speak, a crisp jingling sound rang in his ears. Although it disappeared in an instant, it did not escape Song Mingzhi’s ears.

What sound is that?

Song Mingzhi frowned subconsciously and looked toward the door. The moonlight illuminated the silk window, and a black shadow flashed past the moment he turned around. The person’s movements were extremely nimble. Although they were not a first-class master, they were no different from an ordinary secret guard.

As a secret guard, Song Mingzhi could not have more experience with this. In a split second, he realized someone had been outside the door trying to eavesdrop on what he and the Prince of Qi were saying. But that person obviously did not expect Mu Yanzhou to have hung a bell on the door today. Although they discovered it in time, they still accidentally touched it.

Mu Yanzhou’s eyes dimmed: “What is wrong?”

Before he could finish, Song Mingzhi had already reached the door. The person had disappeared without a trace, clearly very familiar with the layout of the Prince’s manor. Did the Prince of Qi not hear the noise outside?

Seeing this, Song Mingzhi did not want to alert the enemy: “I suddenly heard a bell sound.” He took his hand off the door frame and looked up at the top of the door, trying to change the subject: “Your Highness, why did you hang a bell here?”

“Oh, it was probably the wind.”

Mu Yanzhou raised his hand and shook the bell on the door. Accompanied by the tinkling sound, he said: “I discovered that I seemed quite smart when I was young.”

Song Mingzhi did not understand: “Smart?”

Mu Yanzhou laughed: “Who told you to walk without any sound? With a bell, if you come to find me, I will be able to hear you.”

Just then, a night breeze blew, ringing the bell on the door. Before Mu Yanzhou’s words had faded, with another jingling sound, he pulled a small bell from who knows where and held it between his fingers: “The previous bell is old. I had someone make this one specifically for you today.”

The golden bell was tied with a red rope. A slight shake would produce a soft, clear sound. It was neither harsh nor too quiet, but perfectly served as a reminder. Song Mingzhi unconsciously stepped back. However, before he could move out of the door, his wrist was captured in Mu Yanzhou’s palm: “This is very suitable for a person like my beloved consort who walks without a sound.”

As he spoke, he gently tied the bell to Song Mingzhi’s wrist.

“How about it? This gift is not bad, right?”

Song Mingzhi shook his wrist, wanting to say something but stopping. How could a small bell like this prevent me from moving silently? He could just stuff some cotton in it after returning to Zhuohua Courtyard.

Song Mingzhi replied calmly: “Thank you for the gift, Your Highness. I will keep it well.”

He then prepared to bow and exit Huiming Hall. Mu Yanzhou saw what he wanted to do: “Wait, do not rush.”

Song Mingzhi did not understand: “Your Highness?”

Mu Yanzhou still did not let go. He held Song Mingzhi’s wrist gently, looked into his eyes, and said with a touch of helplessness: “You are not as polite as you were when you were little.”

Song Mingzhi paused: “Polite?”

Had he not just thanked the Prince? Did he need to return a gift?

A night breeze blew down a peach blossom, which landed on Song Mingzhi’s eyelashes. Before he could figure out how to thank him, Mu Yanzhou sighed and looked down into his eyes: “Why are you not like you were when you were little.”

“Saying thank you, brother?”

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