Chapter 234 – Nothing must happen to him

Inside Yanfu Temple, the door to a certain quiet room quietly opened. Ruan Hongxiao greeted her and held the hand that Noble Consort Wei extended forward.

Wei Guifei stepped over the threshold and let out a long breath.

From the time she entered the quiet room to the time she came out, a whole hour had passed. Ruan Hongxiao did not move to survey her, noticing that she was neatly dressed, her sideburns were not messed up at all, but her eyes were rippling with autumn waves, and her cheeks were flushed with the unfading flushes of spring.

Even though she was experienced, she was not sure whether these two lonely men and women in a dark room had gone to the witch mountain together or not.

She hesitated, and asked in a low voice, “Will Your Highness go to the Great Hall again this time, or return to the palace?”

Wei Guifei inclined her head to look at her, the eagerness that was difficult to quell still swirling under her eyes, even the tone of her voice revealed a wisp of exuberant aftertaste, “What do you think is the most important thing for a woman?”

Ruan Hongxiao guessed along with her mind, “Wish to have a heart, white head and never leave each other?”

Noble Consort Wei shook her head, ”That was just icing on the cake. This Palace has finally figured out why it is necessary to stake one’s life on some man to gamble on a nebulous never changing heart? Even if the other party is the emperor, it is not worth it. If there is any man under the sky who is worthy of this palace’s trust and commitment, then there is only one person today–“

Is it Mr. Crane in the …… house? Ruan Hongxiao eyed the door with his eyes.

Noble Consort Wei shook her head again, “It’s this palace’s own son, Zha’er.”

“Mr. Crane is right, the fish and the bear’s paw cannot have it both ways. If this palace can’t abandon distractions and focus on paving the way for Zhao’er, if there are still many scruples and let-downs in my heart, I will end up empty-handed.” She gazed down at the bright red cardamom on her fingertips, like a slice of unpitying fallen English on her scallion-white fingers, “I didn’t dare to dye such a positive red in the palace because the Empress Dowager likes to use this color.

“What the Empress Dowager likes, no need to command, there are people to go to buy, from thousands of miles to the capital of the agarwood, to the monks and Taoist priests in and out of the palace door. Her son, who is a national priority, has sent a rebuke to this? But I have been so harsh to my mother’s family. In the final analysis, mother and son are truly one hearted people!”

Noble Consort Wei suddenly let out a light laugh, “What is this palace doing saying this to you. You’re a woman who smokes, and I’m afraid you won’t have a son in your life who can go on stage, so you’ll save yourself the planning and effort in this area.”

Ruan Hongjiao’s heart was so bitter that she was sobbing for blood, but on her face, she wore an indifferent look, “Your Highness is right. Slaves like this origin, only seek a lifetime of food and clothing without worry, where still care about what heir, in case pregnant, still have to worry about how to dispose of it.”

Noble Consort Wei smiled and said, “This palace values you because you know what’s right and are in the right place. If you help the Palace accomplish one thing, I will eliminate your pariah status and grant you the status of a noblewoman.”

Ruan Hongjiao seems to be smashed by this unexpected joy dizzy head, shocked: “Niangniang! What virtue and ability does a slave have to receive such a great favor …… will offer my liver and brain in return!”

She obediently knelt down and bowed towards Noble Consort Wei continuously to thank her for her kindness. Noble Consort Wei pressed her shoulders and said, “This Palace’s words are not yet finished.”

Ruan Hongjiao was grateful, “Please show me the way, Your Highness.”

Wei Guifei said, “This matter is difficult to say difficult, not difficult to say …… according to your means, this matter is entrusted to you is no longer appropriate, just to risk a full family, or even the risk of nine clans, do you dare?”

Ruan Hongjiao was first stunned, and then a look of determination surged on her face: “Wealth and riches are in danger. Like slaves such a low status, one day no one to support the old, I’m afraid that even a full meal can not eat. Besides, what kind of family do I have to speak of? My parents sold me before they were born, my brother was exiled for breaking the law, and my clan is ashamed of me, so what do I care about their lives? Might as well let go!”

Noble Consort Wei nodded with satisfaction and helped her up, fished out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and placed it in her hand.

“What is it?” Ruan Hongxiao asked.

Noble Consort Wei asked rhetorically, “Do you know about the Stonehenge prophecy rumor?”

Ruan Hongjiao said hesitantly, “Nu Jia has heard some rumors in the marketplace …… but don’t worry, Your Highness, this matter is too ridiculous, most of the people won’t believe it.”

What she said is the opposite of the truth, and most of the people are eager to spread rumors and add fuel to the fire, and tell it like it is.

Noble Consort Wei no longer cared at the moment, she had more pressing matters to plan.

“This matter, the Prince is investigating, hum, thieves shouting to catch thieves only. But he must make some achievements to his father to see, for this not hesitate to offend the Ministry of households, review a number of officials involved in the righteousness and goodness bureau. Some officials are weak-minded, trying to find ways to get through the Prince’s joints, the jewelry and beauty secretly sent by the Prince were kept as evidence of bribery, as the saying goes, move a stone to stone their own feet.”

Ruan Hongjiao said, “It seems that although the Crown Prince is young, he is soft and hard.”

Noble Consort Wei said, “There is no such thing as an infallible person, not to mention that he is only fifteen years old. Tonight, the Crown Prince is at the Yi Shan Bureau to consult the information and did not return to the palace, so it is a great opportunity for you.”

“What should a slave do?” Ruan Hongxiao asked.

Noble Consort Wei attached her ear and said, “Tonight, you are the daughter of the official who threw herself into the well, go and privately ask to see the Crown Prince, saying that your father had informed you of the inside story before he died, so you have to find the Crown Prince to seek redress for your father’s grievances. With this reason, the Crown Prince will definitely see you.”

Ruan Hongjiao nodded while listening, “Not only do slaves want to see the crown prince, but they also want to think of ways to be alone with him …… then in this bottle?”

“Snake Poison.” Noble Consort Wei’s words were cold, “As long as you can scratch a wound on his body, this poison will stain it and seal his throat at the sight of blood.”

Ruan Hongjiao’s heart skipped a beat as she listened to this, trying her best to control not to show a different color, and said with a low smile, “Your Highness is right, my slave is indeed the most suitable candidate. Although I am a weak woman, I have scratched and injured many powerful men, and they are still begging for more.”

Noble Consort Wei hooked up the corners of her rosy mouth: ”How is it that this palace doesn’t know about your skills. The Crown Prince is just at the age of blood and vigor, so he is bound to be more easily tricked. After this is accomplished, this palace will send someone to receive you and leave through the secret passage underneath the Yishang Bureau. And then get a young girl’s body next to the Prince, to do for the father’s revenge, the same death arrangement. In this way, that Zhu Helin will not only be killed in the nine springs, but his reputation will also be ruined.”

Ruan Hongjiao interjected, “And the people have more bizarre things to talk about, who else will talk about the matter of the stone pillars at that time!”

Noble Consort Wei held her fingers, “You are truly a confidant of this palace.”

Ruan Hongxiao secretly said: I’m afraid that I’m a know-it-all, once it comes to fruition, I’ll die faster than anyone else.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I will not dishonor my mission.” She put away the bottle and once again held onto Noble Consort Wei’s hand as they walked in the direction of the main hall.

Palace maids and guards saw your consort start driving, without being summoned, they could only follow behind not far away.

Ruan Hongjiao had a decision in her heart, pretending to be worried: “The slave girl suddenly remembered something, when I was young, I had heard people in the countryside say that snake venom is easy to spoil, and the hotter the weather, the less easy it is to preserve. Can the poison in this bottle last until nightfall?”

“This is not clear to this palace, but since it was extracted and modulated by Mr. Crane’s own hands, I’m sure that this must have been taken into consideration as well. When you go back, take a live animal and try it out.”

“In case it is tried and found to be ineffective, where will my slave find the same snake venom again? Can we go directly to Mr. Crane?”

Wei Guifei thought for a moment and said, “Of course look for him. When you ask, this palace suddenly remembered that the little rat …… that was begged away by Mr. Crane turned out to be so, not to release, but to kill ah.”

She covered her mouth and laughed, “亏得还是个居士，如此行径 ……倒更有趣了。 Also, if he is really a clean discipline, and how will –” the latter half of the sentence swallowed back not to mention.

“Little rats?” A light flashed through Ruan Hongjiao’s mind, “Mr. Crane keeps snakes? What kind of snake and where is it kept?”

“He doesn’t go out much, maybe he’s kept in the Marquis’ guest room, you went to look for him, didn’t you see him?”

Ruan Hongxiao shook her head, “Unseen. Slaves are afraid of snakes, so it’s better not to see them.”

Wei Guifei said: “What is terrible. When I was a child, the boundary wall child drilled over a snake, I gave to grab the tail of a shake, the bones on the frame, the thief numbness ……” She was shocked to realize that the loss of speech, busy coughing, graceful into the Maharajah’s treasure hall.

–

As soon as she stepped into the boudoir, Ruan Hongxiao instructed her maidservant, “Make me a pot of tea.”

The maidservant immediately set up a small red clay stove and placed the pot full of water on the stove to boil.

While waiting for the water to boil, she asked her servant girl to go to the backyard to catch two chickens, and first cut the neck of one of the roosters, took out the porcelain bottle from her bosom, and carefully smeared the yellowish liquid with foam inside the bottle. The rooster screamed a few times and died of convulsions not long after.

The water bubbled, and Ruan Hong Banana dropped the porcelain vase into the pot and gurgled and boiled it for a while before using chopsticks to clip it out.

She did the same with another hen. The hen, frightened, flapped her wings and scurried around half-heartedly.

Sure enough, it is snake venom, boiling it will be ineffective. Ruan Hongjiao lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, and called her personal servant girl, telling her to wait for darkness to sneak out and go find Lord Su to pass a message.

He himself re-dressed, took that porcelain vase with him, and rode the carriage to Marquis Xian’an’s residence.

Mr. Crane dared to instigate Wei Guifei to plot against His Highness the Crown Prince, this person was definitely more than just a Marquis gatekeeper. Ruan Hongjiao suspected that not only were there snakes and a courtship token privately sent by Wei Guifei in his room, but he feared that there were also few things that could reveal his true identity. As long as he could find such things, even if it was just a note to pass on a message with an accomplice, he could be convicted.

Things should not be delayed, if it is delayed to the time agreed with Wei Guifei tonight, she has not yet set off as planned to see the Prince of Yi Shan Bureau, the other side will certainly suspect. If she lost her life, it would be a big deal if the crown prince was killed.

The carriage in which Ruan Hongxiao was riding disappeared into the gradually descending twilight.

–

As darkness falls, a lamp burns in the courtyard, illuminating a side of barbecue under an old peach tree.

Su Yan was pounding away at the homemade barbecue sauce, reminding Kyo every now and then to flip the lamb chops on the rack so they wouldn’t burn.

“Why isn’t Brother Xiao Bei back yet? If we keep dawdling like this, the lamb chops will be cooked and not yet flavored!” Su Xiaojing muttered in dissatisfaction.

The courtyard door was opened, and Su Xiaobei walked in with quick steps, followed by a small, hastily-footed cargo man.

“Asked you to buy pepper, why did you bring back all the cargo man? Hurry up hurry up, give me pepper …… ay little cargo man, where is your stretcher?”

Su Xiaobei pulled Su Yan towards the hall. That cargo man actually followed closely up the steps.

Su Xiaojing shouted behind them at the top of her voice, “What is doing This is …… where is the pepper I want?”

“Shut up you.” Su Xiaobei pulled out an oil paper bag and threw it back.

Su Xiaojing rushed to catch it and wanted to complain some more when she suddenly smelled a hint of burnt flavor: “Ouch my lamb chops!”

In the living room, the cargo girl took off her headscarf, revealing a clear young girl’s face. She said apprehensively, “Lord Su, Nu is Miss Ruan’s maidservant, and the first two times the note was handed to this little brother by Nu. This time, the girl told Nu to come to you and make sure to bring her words to your face–“

–

“Quickly! Xiao Bei, go gather all the guards left behind by King Yu and stand by at the back door!” Su Yan hurriedly rushed down the steps, rushing to the stables while ordering, “Ah Chui! Ah Chui!”

Su Xiaobei reminded him, “Brother Chase has already left, my lord ……”

Su Yan’s footsteps halted for a moment, the color of pain flashed across his face, then he changed his words, “You tell Xiao Jing to notify the guards to gather, and then immediately go to the Shen Mansion and tell Shen Qi–“

Before the words left his mouth, he heard a voice from above call out, “Lord Su! If you’re looking for Lord Shen, just call my humble servant.”

Su Yan looked up to see that Gao Shuo was lying on the eaves of his neighbor’s house – no, now that the deed was in his hands, it was considered his house – and was probing his head to look this way.

“Gosaku? Why are you still lying on the roof of my room …… Forget it, it’s not the time to talk about this. I’m really short of manpower, and you’re just in time.”

Seeing that Su Yan did not blame him, Gao Shuo was busy leaping down from the roof, “If there’s anything, your honor, just order.”

Su Yan quickly sized him up, “How is your martial arts?”

“Your Excellency this question, Shaanxi along the way you have not seen it with your own eyes, when has my humble servant ever disgraced Lord Shen? To put it modestly, at least it’s not worse than Chu Yuan that black charcoal head.” Gao Shuo replied.

Su Yan did not know martial arts, and could not distinguish between the first and second class in Jing Hongchou’s mouth, since Qilang was able to fight with Ah Chou, he thought that his beloved scout’s martial arts skills must not be bad either, so he said, “Well then, you do one thing for me. Ruan Hongjiao from Rouge Alley, do you recognize her?”

Gao Shuo laughed, “Flower Kui ah, of course I recognize her. I have been to Rouge Alley a few times in order to hear her sing …… not, I have been to Rouge Alley in order to gather intelligence.”

“Good, then I’ll ask you to sneak into Marquis Xian’an’s residence, find Ruan Hongjiao, and bring her here safely.”

“Does Your Excellency have more accurate information about the large marquis?”

Su Yan said: ”There is a Mr. Crane among the Houfu’s gatekeepers, Ruan Hongxiao should have gone to meet him, you can start by looking for the room where this person is staying. The matter is urgent, be quick! Otherwise I’m afraid Ruan Hongjiao’s life is in danger.”

Gao Shuo nodded and said, “Don’t worry, my lord, I will do my best to complete the mission.”

Su Yan urged, “Be careful. This Mr. Crane is not an ordinary character, see if you can find some helpers.”

Gao Shuo said, “Don’t worry, Your Excellency, there are still two more Jinyiwei scouts in the vicinity, I’ll greet them and go with them. On Lord Shen’s side, I will also send someone to inform him.”

Su Xiaobei ran over panting, “My lord, the guards are assembled.”

“Let’s go, let’s go to the Righteousness and Goodness Bureau.” Su Yan exited the back door and rolled onto his horse, “Regardless of whether Mr. Crane is that ‘game player’ or not, we have to be prepared for the other party’s multi-pronged approach. I’m afraid that Ruan Hongjiao is just one of the chess paths, he has another backhand.”

“Something must not happen to the Crown Prince!” He raised his whip and urged his horse, galloping away with a team of guards in the sound of the whistling wind.

Su Xiaojing heard the commotion and chased after him to the back door, holding up the long sign in his hand, “What about me, my lord, what can I do?”

Lord Su was already far away. Xiao Bei glanced at him, “You? Keep grilling your lamb chops.”