The Salted Fish’s Political Marriage - Chapter 6

Song Mingzhi’s resolve was harder than stone.

He turned to put away the light reading material on the shelf and said firmly, “Your Highness is certainly not a good-for-nothing.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the Strategies for Governance. “The Prince of Qi possesses extraordinary bearing and surpassing intelligence. You are certainly not a person of low caliber. If Your Highness does not believe me, why not try to recite a passage?”

He looked at Mu Yanzhou, brimming with expectation.

“How could I possibly memorize this?” Mu Yanzhou said, sounding desperate.

Song Mingzhi was clearly prepared for this.

He produced a piece of paper from nowhere and sincerely suggested, “Reading something a thousand times is not as effective as writing it once.”

Yuan Jiu let out a stifled, “Pfft, cough, cough, cough.”

Mu Yanzhou fell silent.

As the sun slanted westward, wisps of cooking smoke rose in the distance. Mu Yanzhou cast a downward glance at the Strategies for Governance.

After a long while, he attempted a final struggle. “It is already the hour of the dog. How about this? Let us have dinner first, and after we have eaten, we can discuss studying.”

Before Song Mingzhi could react, he turned to Yuan Jiu and commanded, “Go, tell the kitchen to send food.”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Song Mingzhi. “Your Highness, there is no need to trouble them.”

Song Mingzhi had already made preparations for tonight’s meal.

After speaking, he turned and summoned the maidservant who was waiting outside the door. He then bowed respectfully to Mu Yanzhou. “Your Highness, I have already had the chefs from the Zhuohua Courtyard prepare your dinner.”

Mu Yanzhou’s eyes lit up. “Is that so?”

Before his voice had even faded, footsteps sounded outside the Hui Ming Hall.

A maidservant dressed in a moon-white silk dress walked to the table carrying a tray. She bowed to the two men and said, “Your Highness, Your Consort, this is tonight’s late meal.” She then set the items from the tray onto the table.

Seeing the food, Mu Yanzhou became instantly interested. He walked toward the long table, saying, “The Zhuohua Courtyard is staffed by master chefs from the Western Regions. I wonder what they have prepared.”

On the cloud-patterned long table sat a golden bowl.

The bottom of the bowl was engraved with flower branches. At first glance, it looked incredibly luxurious, but that could not change the fact that it contained nothing but watery congee.

The pampered Prince of Qi asked from the bottom of his heart, “What is all this?”

Song Mingzhi explained earnestly, “In reply to Your Highness, this bowl contains water-oat congee. As the saying goes, ‘The people regard food as their heaven, and food is the priority for nourishment.’ Since Your Highness suffers from a stomach ailment, you must be especially careful at all times.”

After ascending the throne, the Prince of Qi had implemented benevolent policies and cared for the people’s welfare, earning him the title of a wise monarch. In Song Mingzhi’s eyes, the only regret of Mu Yanzhou’s reign was his poor health, which led to his premature and sudden death. Because of this, the capital had descended into chaotic coups and power struggles within just three years of his passing.

Although His Highness was currently feigning illness, historical records confirmed that he had indeed suffered from a chronic stomach condition, which seemed to be related to his early death. Therefore, in addition to preparing study materials, Song Mingzhi had specifically instructed the chefs in the Zhuohua Courtyard to prepare meals that would help nourish his spleen and stomach while he studied.

Now that his stomach condition was still mild, there was still hope.

Under Song Mingzhi’s expectant gaze, Mu Yanzhou sat at the table and asked incredulously, “So this is what I am eating tonight? Not even a shred of meat?”

“There is fruit as well,” Song Mingzhi corrected him.

He walked up and brought over the fruit platter from the side of the long table. As a prince, Mu Yanzhou had likely never eaten such a dinner. Song Mingzhi watched as he struggled to pick up the spoon, only to put it back down on the table with difficulty. After a moment, he sighed. “Perhaps I should just go read the Strategies for Governance instead.”

Upon hearing this, Song Mingzhi’s eyes lit up instantly.

“???” Mu Yanzhou looked confused.

Before Song Mingzhi could speak again, he quickly picked up the spoon. “I was only joking.” He finished the meal rapidly, commenting with a numb expression, “Utterly tasteless.”

Seeing this, Song Mingzhi considered the situation and agreed. “Studying is important, but it does not compare to your health. It is fine to look at the books later.”

By this time, night had fallen. The eastern room of the Hui Ming Hall was still piled high with books he had yet to read, and before him were only congee and light side dishes.

Mu Yanzhou could not help but sigh. He finally said, “I am very touched by the Consort’s concern for me. However, perhaps you should just let me continue to rot away in the corner.”

Song Mingzhi did not reply. Instead, he silently called for someone to light the lamps in the study, demonstrating his answer through his actions.

On the other side of the Hui Ming Hall, Yuan Jiu, who had witnessed the entire scene, finally could not help but knit his brows. “It is truly strange.”

What is the Consort’s goal today? Is he taking this opportunity to stay in the Hui Ming Hall to monitor the Prince, or is he waiting to see when the Prince will finally reach his limit and show a flaw? Surely he cannot actually be doing this just to force the Prince to study!

Mu Yanzhou really did read for the entire night.

“Dong, dong, dong.”

Outside the mansion walls, the night watchman walked along the long street, striking his wooden clapper. In the blink of an eye, it was already the third watch.

The attendant saw Song Mingzhi off and returned to the Hui Ming Hall. “Reporting to Your Highness, the Consort has returned to his courtyard. Furthermore, there is one more matter.”

Mu Yanzhou set down his brush and casually picked up a wine cup. “What matter?”

The attendant lowered his voice. “Lord Kang from the Ministry of Rites intends to send the second daughter of his household to the Prince’s mansion as a secondary consort.”

A Prince’s primary consort is always chosen by the Emperor. Seeing that the Prince of Qi had married a man and would likely have no heirs, those in the court quickly began to harbor other schemes.

Mu Yanzhou paused, his fingers stilling, and signaled for the attendant to withdraw.

Yuan Jiu walked forward to tidy the desk. With a pained expression, he asked, “Your Highness, shall we continue copying the Strategies for Governance tomorrow?”

“No more copying.”

Mu Yanzhou slowly closed his eyes. Then, with a low chuckle, he said, “Tomorrow, we go out to visit friends.”

Yuan Jiu was stunned. “As you command, Your Highness.”

The Prince’s friends were all dissolute nobles in the capital. Every time he met with them, it was with a purpose to spread a specific message through them across the city. What was it this time?

The next morning, spring rain drizzled, soaking the trees and grass. A thin mist of rain turned the pavilions and waterside structures into a wash of ink painting.

Because the two of them had stayed up until late last night in the Hui Ming Hall, breakfast was delayed by an hour. In the Great Chu Dynasty, a consort was not required to dine with the prince every day, so by the hour of the dragon, Song Mingzhi sent a servant from the Zhuohua Courtyard to deliver breakfast to the Hui Ming Hall.

He walked into the courtyard alone, holding an umbrella.

At this time, the open space beneath the eaves was piled high with wine jars. Seeing him arrive, the servants stopped what they were doing and bowed. “Reporting to the Consort, all the wine in the Prince’s mansion has been cleared out! Should we lock it in the cellar, or keep it elsewhere?” He hesitated, looking at Song Mingzhi.

To recover from illness, the Prince of Qi should avoid spicy and stimulating items. As for alcohol, he should not even touch it. Therefore, first thing this morning, Song Mingzhi had ordered the servants to collect all the alcohol in the mansion.

Song Mingzhi closed his umbrella and walked under the eaves. “Locking it in the cellar is fine.”

“Yes, Your Consort!” the servant replied immediately.

He could not help but steal a glance at Song Mingzhi. It was rumored that last night, the Consort had stayed in the Hui Ming Hall until late into the night. And the Prince of Qi, who was usually good for nothing, had actually spent the better part of the night in the study. It seemed the Prince had indeed fallen in love at first sight. Hehehe.

Song Mingzhi sighed. A fish rots from the head down. The servants in the Prince of Qi’s mansion were all gifts from that old tyrant, the late Emperor. If the tyrant himself was not upright, it was no wonder his underlings were all crooked, spending their days lost in wild thoughts. Such low-class interests. Song Mingzhi felt deeply pained.

He cleared his throat. “Are you not going to clear these jars away?”

The servant snapped out of it. “Yes, yes!” He pushed the cart toward the courtyard, looking overjoyed.

Absurd, Song Mingzhi thought.

News of last night had spread through the mansion inexplicably. Everyone in the Zhuohua Courtyard was full of energy. Seeing the wine had been cleared away, Song Mingzhi opened his umbrella and was about to leave when a clamor suddenly rang out in his ears.

Cries penetrated the screen of rain. “Consort, something has happened.”

What was going on?

He frowned and looked toward the courtyard gate. The servant who had gone to deliver breakfast to the Prince of Qi ran in, looking anxious. “Consort, the Prince, the Prince has…”

The Zhuohua Courtyard fell silent as everyone turned to look. Song Mingzhi was startled by the commotion and hurriedly asked, “What happened to the Prince?”

The soaked servant stopped, gasping for air. “The Prince, the Prince has run away!”

Song Mingzhi was bewildered. “Run away?” He could not understand what the servant meant.

The servant, still holding the food box, acted it out vividly. “In reply to the Consort, I had just arrived at the Hui Ming Hall, and the Prince asked what was in the box. After I told him there was wheat congee, herb paste, and some fruit, the Prince, he just ran off.”

Song Mingzhi asked, “Did he say anything when he left?”

The servant paused and hurried to reply. “Yes, he did! The Prince said he knew the Consort was doing this for his own good, but he truly could not stand it anymore.” The servant pressed his fingers against his forehead to imitate him. “The Prince also said he had a headache and ringing in his ears, and that he could not take in a single word.”

“!” Song Mingzhi opened his umbrella and turned to head out of the courtyard.

A-Lang, who had never seen such a scene before, could not help but follow and ask, “Young Master, what should we do?”

Song Mingzhi looked back at the gasping servant. “Do you know where the Prince went?”

The servant paused, then rushed forward to say, “The Prince seems to have gone to the Liao mansion in the East City! He said he wanted to stay there for a few days. Liao Wenbai, the second young master of the Liao family, is a friend of the Prince in the capital.” His voice trailed off, sounding somewhat guilty.

Hiding out at the home of a bad influence, A-Lang thought to himself.

Song Mingzhi nodded. “Very well, I understand.”

By the time he finished speaking, he had already left the Zhuohua Courtyard and was heading toward the back of the mansion.

The servant asked, “Consort, why are you going to the back courtyard?”

Song Mingzhi’s steps faltered for a moment. He gave a faint smile and replied naturally, “Naturally, I am going to the Liao mansion to find the Prince. Prepare the carriage.”

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