Qu Dubian said, "Come on, let's go stall them for a bit."
The vegetable basket was delivered by Xiao Chun. If it was discovered, it would be hard to explain. At worst, he might even become the scapegoat.
Xia Fuyang asked, "You have a plan?"
Qu Dubian smiled slightly, grabbed his arm, and bit down.
Xia Fuyang shrieked, "Ow—!!"
The servant and steward about to enter through the arched gate only saw two figures, one tall and one short, seemingly 'wrestling' with each other as they ran over from the backyard.
"You actually bit me! If I don't bite you back today, I won't be surnamed Xia!"
The one running swiftly ahead looked back and stuck out his tongue, "Then take my surname. I'll have my old man adopt you as his godson."
The steward and the female official's eyelids twitched violently in shock, exclaiming, "Seventh Highness? Young Master Xia??"
Good heavens!
What were both of them doing here?
Tears welled up in Qu Dubian's eyes as he indignantly tugged at the female official's sleeve, "He stole my pastry!"
Xia Fuyang retorted, "What nonsense! You were the one who stole mine, and you bit me. I haven't even settled that with you yet."
"You two, you two, please don't argue. What pastry, Your Highness? We can just have someone make another portion."
The steward and female official were unwillingly dragged into the children's dispute, patiently trying to mediate.
The Seventh Prince was deeply favored by His Majesty, and Young Master Xia's father was an important minister in His Majesty's eyes. Neither could be dealt with casually.
For the time being, the backyard was left unattended.
-
In front of the vegetable basket.
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "His Highness and Young Master Xia have gone to stall people. What about this? If it's discovered, you'll be implicated. It'll be impossible to explain, and you'll most likely be killed."
"This is clearly someone trying to frame you. Do you know who it is?"
Wen Xiaochun replied, "I have a rough idea."
He rolled up his sleeves, grabbed the corpse from the vegetable basket, and dragged it out. "I'll handle this. Brother Xiaoyuan, you clean the blood from the basket."
The bloodstains in the basket were scattered like stars, some even dripping down the cabbage leaves. He didn't understand these things and couldn't tell how long the person had been dead.
Ye Xiaoyuan nodded, "Leave it to me."
Outside the arched gate.
Qu Dubian and Xia Fuyang put on their act, stalling for a full ten minutes. When they really couldn't keep it up any longer, they pretended to part ways.
Xia Fuyang feigned anger. After walking some distance away, he glanced back with a hint of worry.
Qu Dubian, being coaxed along by the steward who held his hand, walked towards the backyard kitchen. "Your Highness, don't stoop to his level. What is your status compared to his? Whatever you want to eat, come on, I'll have someone make it right now, and make plenty."
In the backyard.
Splash—
A basin of water was poured into the vegetable basket.
Ye Xiaoyuan put down the basin. In one hand he held a half-slaughtered chicken, still dripping blood, and in the other, a kitchen knife.
"Huh? Your Highness, didn't you just leave? Why are you back with the steward?"
Qu Dubian said, "Ran into an annoying pest."
The steward smiled, "The young prince wanted something to eat, so I told the kitchen to make it fresh. Eunuch Ye, you are...?" His gaze swept over the dripping wet vegetable basket and the dead chicken in Ye Xiaoyuan's hand.
Ye Xiaoyuan said helplessly, "His Highness wanted chicken soup and asked me to make it personally, so I borrowed some tools. I accidentally splattered blood on the side of the basket while slaughtering the chicken, so I just rinsed it with water. My apologies."
"Not a problem, not a problem!" The steward waved his hands repeatedly. "Please continue, don't let us delay you. We're just here to look for someone."
Ye Xiaoyuan expressed surprise, "Look for someone? In the backyard?"
The steward smiled wryly, "I also know that Young Master Shu couldn't possibly be in the backyard. But it's the master's order. The whole mansion is being searched; we must check every corner."
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "I see. Then you should search quickly. It's just the kitchen area that has more people here."
They began searching the backyard, checking all the storage rooms, wandering through the kitchen, and even looking around the rockeries, stones, and pondside.
After dutifully searching, they finally left the backyard.
The steward said, "Sigh, he's not here either. Eunuch Xiaoyuan, should I take the Seventh Prince to the front hall or leave him with you?"
Ye Xiaoyuan was the personal eunuch who had followed the Seventh Prince since the Ju'an Palace. Their closeness and his status were naturally exceptional. Because the Seventh Prince was doted on by His Majesty, even people in the palace spoke to Ye Xiaoyuan with respect.
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "Your Highness, please return to the front hall for now. The smell of blood is strong here."
He subtly shook his head at Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian had no choice but to say, "Then be careful when handling the chicken, companion."
He hadn't seen the situation inside the basket, but he could vaguely guess what it must look like.
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "I'll be careful when handling it. Steward, may I trouble you to escort His Highness to the front hall?"
The steward nodded and smiled, "The Seventh Prince truly cares for you, even reminding you to be careful when handling a chicken."
Ye Xiaoyuan smiled but did not respond.
The servants who had come to search the backyard all followed the steward out, and the place suddenly became quiet.
Ye Xiaoyuan carried the chicken and walked to the pondside.
Not long after, there was a splash from the pond. Wen Xiaochun, dripping wet, dragged the corpse step by step out of the water. He looked up at Ye Xiaoyuan on the bank.
Ye Xiaoyuan asked, "What do you need me to do?"
Wen Xiaochun fished out a flying bird jade pendant from his robe, rubbed it for a moment, and then tossed it to him.
"Take this to the Xue Family Grain Store. Tell them the shopkeeper is entrusted with transporting something."
Ye Xiaoyuan asked, "Transport it where?"
Wen Xiaochun patted the corpse. "He's about to become a tribute item."
-
In the city.
Xue Family Grain Store.
People coming and going were all discussing the news of the Grand Prince's mansion hosting a banquet.
A person wearing a bamboo hat and women's clothing walked into the grain store.
Shopkeeper: "Buying grain?"
Ye Xiaoyuan softened his voice and pressed the jade pendant onto the counter. "Exchanging grain."
The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, and he invited him to the inner room. "Miss, where is the grain to be exchanged?"
Ye Xiaoyuan handed over a small note.
-
In an elegant and tastefully furnished room.
Behind a screen, a young man in purple robe burned the note to ashes and stretched lazily.
"Aiyo, just returned to the capital from Baojiang Workshop, and it's already a tough job."
He stood up and picked up the fan on the table.
"A life of toil."
He opened the fan. On it were written four characters:
Heaven's Mandate, Unrestrained.
-
The Grand Prince's mansion was bustling with people. Carriages came and went hurriedly at the back gate, and vegetable baskets and garbage were promptly carted away.
Qu Dubian wandered around the front hall for a while, then went to find Zhiyi.
He was still young, so it wasn't inappropriate for him to stroll around the women's quarters.
Zhiyi and Yuan Jie'er were talking to Shu Wenxin, and they seemed to be getting along quite well.
As she would marry into the Grand Prince's mansion in the future, they could barely be considered family. Shu Wenxin's conversation and knowledge were both remarkable. When she spoke with people, she gave a very comfortable feeling.
Qu Dubian came over to greet them.
"Sister, Sister Yuan."
Shu Wenxin said, "Greetings, Seventh Highness."
Zhiyi whispered, "This is your future eldest sister-in-law."
Qu Dubian was taken aback, "Huh?"
Shu Wenxin said, "We are not yet married. That form of address is not appropriate. Please just call me by my name."
Qu Dubian said, "Sister Shu."
Shu Wenxin smiled, seeming somewhat embarrassed.
She rose and said, "I was waiting for news of my elder brother, and just got into conversation with Her Highness the Princess. Although Her Highness and Miss Xie are young, their knowledge and insight are truly remarkable. I lost track of time chatting. I must go now and inquire whether my brother has been found."
She gave a slight nod and left with her maid.
Qu Dubian couldn't help but sigh.
Yuan Jie'er: "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, why are you sighing?"
"It's nothing."
He just wanted to say, although he didn't know exactly how Xiao Chun and Xiao Yuan had handled it,
Miss Shu was destined not to see her brother again.
Qu Dubian climbed onto the pavilion and leaned against the wooden railing. In one garden, ladies laughed and conversed; in another, male guests toasted and drank. Both scenes were lively, peaceful, and splendid.
Beneath the surface of these scenes, he was not involved, merely an observer.
Catching just a glimpse of the underlying turbulence and intrigue was enough to fill the air with the scent of blood.
-
The banquet at the First Prince's residence concluded.
Qu Dubian returned to the palace with Zhiyi.
Ye Xiaoyuan was already waiting by the carriage and gave Qu Dubian a reassuring smile.
Qu Dubian felt relieved, took Zhiyi's hand, and boarded the carriage.
After returning to Shunning Palace and greeting Consort Xuan, he pulled Ye Xiaoyuan into his own quarters. "Is Xiao Chun alright?"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, rest assured, everything is arranged. The vegetable basket has been entrusted to someone and sent out."
Qu Dubian: "Entrusted to whom? Sent where?"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "I don't know. Xiao Chun didn't say. Probably his own connections? Anyway, it's within the capital."
Who knew if it was safe or not... Qu Dubian stroked his chin. "Liuliu, did you see? Where was it sent?"
Yi Shier jumped down from the roof beam. "No. I was guarding you. Without orders, I do not go elsewhere."
Qu Dubian: "Keep today's matter confidential. No one is to mention it again."
Ye Xiaoyuan and Yi Shier nodded.
Yi Shier: "What about Xia Fuyang?"
Qu Dubian: "Leave him be."
Xia Fuyang understood the situation perfectly well and wouldn't actively seek trouble for himself. This matter might even blow up, and getting involved would bring no benefit.
But until there was definite news, or until this matter was officially addressed, he'd better not go out.
Qu Dubian lay on the small hammock in his quarters, his cheek squished against the fabric, and let out a long, quiet sigh.
What a mess all this was.
Yi Shier hadn't left. He stood before the hammock, watching Qu Dubian for quite a while.
The gaze was truly impossible to ignore. Qu Dubian: "Liuliu, what is it?" He wasn't thinking of silencing Xia Fuyang, was he?
Yi Shier: "Your Highness, you gave the books I copied to Young Master Xia."
Qu Dubian: "Hmm, yes, I did."
Yi Shier was quiet for a moment. "I wrote them for a long time."
After a few seconds, he added emphatically, "And I liked those books very much too."
Qu Dubian: "..."
He looked up and saw a trace of accusation in Liuliu's eyes.
Qu Dubian: "I'll tell you an extra new chapter tomorrow."
Yi Shier didn't move.
Qu Dubian: "Two chapters!"
"...Alright."
-
Inspection and Transport Office.
Wen Xiaochun drove the donkey cart back.
Chief Ren saw him and glanced at the empty cart bed, his expression pausing subtly. "You're back?"
Wen Xiaochun: "Yes, I came back after delivering the vegetables. Bought some pastries on the way, which delayed me a bit." He smiled and handed over a package of flower cakes wrapped in oiled paper. "I got you a portion. They're not expensive, please take them and try."
Chief Ren took it. "Oh, thank you. No trouble on the road? And the vegetables were fresh?"
Wen Xiaochun said, puzzled, "Of course not. That batch was freshly picked by the farmers, how could it not be fresh?"
"Chief, I'll go rest now. Carrying heavy things back and forth is quite tiring. The rear courtyard of the First Prince's residence was very busy, washing vegetables and splashing water, got me all dirty. Still need to change clothes when I get back."
His tone carried a hint of complaint. "The important people are all in the front hall, they'd never come to the rear courtyard. This assignment was truly hard work."
Chief Ren: "Then you should go rest quickly, go on."
Frowning deeply, he circled the donkey cart once before hurrying away.
Two days later.
News of the disappearance of the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue spread rapidly. Some sensed something amiss, while others dismissed it, thinking the young master was carousing in pleasure quarters and too afraid to return home.
Another day passed.
Several carriages stopped at the Inspection and Transport Office at the North City Gate.
Several heavy, large boxes exuding cold air were all unloaded from the carriages, ready for inspection.
The delivery person said, "These are all tribute river delicacies from the Wuchen River area: specially cultivated black crabs, palm-pattern shrimp, and silver-scaled fish. Transported by boat all the way. Look at this ice, it needs to be replaced fresh every day."
Chief Ren: "Tributary goods are precious, we cannot be careless. Open them for inspection."
The Inspection Office personnel pried open the boxes. Unexpectedly, when they reached the second one, the man suddenly cried out in alarm, his face turning deathly pale, pointing inside the box. "Ch-Ch-Chief...!"
Chief Ren: "What is it?"
He stepped forward impatiently for a look and was greatly horrified.
"It's a dead body! It's a dead body!"
"There's a corpse among the tribute goods!"
Crouched inside the box was a corpse, unmistakably the missing elder brother of the future First Princess Consort, Young Master Shu.
The chill from the ice blocks had slowly frozen his limbs.
Chief Ren instinctively turned his head.
Wen Xiaochun stood not far away, exclaiming in surprise, "Heavens, it's actually a corpse."
