Chapter 142
"Young sir, I'm sorry to trouble you. My aunt felt she spoke too harshly to my cousin today and feared it might harm their rapport. That's why she asked me to bring this soup to him, as a gesture of apology." Seeing the servant's hesitation, Zheng Qiaoshu added.
"Miss Cousin, I'll go and try then. Please wait here a moment." The servant thought for a moment and entered the study.
"Your Highness, the Dowager Princess has sent Miss Cousin to bring you some soup. What would you..." The servant looked at Xu Heming with a respectful and cautious expression.
Xu Heming frowned, initially wanting to refuse. But remembering how angry the Dowager Princess had been earlier, he sighed. He never really liked drinking soups and such, but it was, after all, his mother's kind intention. He could reluctantly accept it.
"Let her in!" Xu Heming said coldly.
"Yes, sir!" Upon hearing this, the servant happily went out to share the good news with Zheng Qiaoshu.
A short while later, Zheng Qiaoshu walked in carrying a food box.
"Greetings, Cousin." Zheng Qiaoshu said softly, keeping her head down.
"Thank you for making the trip, Cousin." Xu Heming's head remained bent over the memorials sent to him, not looking at Zheng Qiaoshu at all.
"It is my honor to serve my aunt. Cousin, my aunt is concerned that you are working so late into the night on official business. She specifically asked me to bring you this soup to fill your stomach. After all, you need your strength to work, don't you?" Zheng Qiaoshu said meekly, looking at Xu Heming.
Looking at Xu Heming's cold and stern demeanor, Zheng Qiaoshu's heart pounded like thunder. Although she was following her mistress's orders to get close to Prince An...
...a handsome man like Prince An was someone Zheng Qiaoshu was willing to approach of her own accord as well.
However, this Prince An was even more oblivious to romance than she had imagined. Moreover, despite living in the same mansion, getting an audience with Prince An was truly difficult.
Today, Prince An had finally returned to the mansion early. How could she not seize this chance to make an impression in front of him?
Later, it would also help her successfully win over Prince An.
"Hmm, leave the things there. You may go back first." Xu Heming nodded but said nothing more.
"Then, Cousin, please remember to drink it later." Zheng Qiaoshu looked at the soup in the food box. This was her first time delivering soup, and she honestly didn't think Xu Heming would drink it.
"Hmm!"
Xu Heming remained as taciturn as ever.
Zheng Qiaoshu obediently did not overstay her welcome. After all, if she insisted on staying, it would only leave a bad impression on Xu Heming.
Better to leave gracefully.
After Zheng Qiaoshu left, Qingsong quickly opened the food box and brought the soup inside to Xu Heming's desk.
"Your Highness, since this is the Dowager Princess's kind thought, perhaps you should drink it while it's still warm?" Qingsong urged, holding the soup.
Xu Heming rubbed his temples, took the soup, and was about to drink when he noticed the lotus seeds floating on top.
"You can have this soup!" Xu Heming directly shoved the soup into Qingsong's arms.
His face darkened. He was allergic to lotus seeds. Others might not know, but his mother certainly did.
Today, the one who delivered the soup was Zheng Qiaoshu. Clearly, this was her own doing, not the Dowager Princess's intention.
Thinking of this, Xu Heming said to the servant, "From now on, no one is to enter the study without my permission."
Li'an County
"I am a court-appointed official of Li'an County! What right do you have to arrest me?" Cao Yunpeng struggled violently. Unfortunately, the imperial guard restraining him was immensely strong, rendering Cao Yunpeng completely immobile.
"Court-appointed official? You look like a corrupt official to me, actually leading the charge to abduct commoners' daughters!" Li Zhiwei stepped forward angrily and kicked Cao Yunpeng.
The thought that this disgusting creature had even dared to consider taking her as a secondary wife made her even angrier.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. This man is not a concern. We just need to deliver him to the Shuntian Court, and he will receive the punishment he deserves," the imperial guard quickly said to Li Zhiwei.
"Take him back. Let Xu Heming deal with him thoroughly." After saying this, Li Zhiwei gave another displeased kick to Cao Yunpeng on the ground.
"You wretch! Just you wait! I will surely have the Emperor punish you for your crimes!" Cao Yunpeng howled in pain before crying out again.
"Qingyue, tell him what happened to the last person who tried to kidnap me?" Li Zhiwei lightly blew dust off her hand, looking at Cao Yunpeng with a cold, mocking tone.
After all, Leng Qi, the last one who kidnapped her, hadn't come to a good end.
And the Luo family, who had harmed her, hadn't fared well either either.
"Last time, the brother of the former Imperial Consort, Consort Leng, kidnapped my lady. In the end, not only was Consort Leng's brother's family property confiscated, but he was also sentenced to exile! And the Luo family, who harmed my lady and the young master—now they are exiled, dead, or injured. Would you like to try the same fate?" Qingyue said mockingly to Cao Yunpeng.
"Enough, Li Zhiwei! Stop trying to fool me, your lord. If you serve me well, I won't treat you badly either. Tell them to release me now, and I won't hold today's assault against you." Held firmly by the imperial guard and seeing he couldn't break free, Cao Yunpeng could only try to negotiate.
Unfortunately, he had no idea he had offended someone he shouldn't have.
Li Zhiwei was also far beyond his reach.
"Slap his mouth!" Li Zhiwei glared fiercely at Cao Yunpeng. This man truly wouldn't yield until he saw his own coffin.
"Li Zhiwei! I am a court-appointed official! Your father is just some nobody who managed to secure an official post by who-knows-what means. You're merely his daughter! What right do you have to order someone to hit me?" Seeing that Li Zhiwei actually wanted someone to strike him, Cao Yunpeng protested indignantly.
"Then let me tell you whether my lady has the right to hit you or not. My lady is the Princess An, personally bestowed by the Emperor! Do you think my lady has the right to hit you?" After saying this, Qingyue directly slapped Cao Yunpeng several times across the face.
"Impossible!" Even while being struck, Cao Yunpeng refused to believe that Li Zhiwei could be Princess An.
He knew full well what the Li family's background was. What qualifications did Li Zhiwei have to become Princess An?
She was just an ordinary merchant's daughter. Even being Prince An's concubine would be an elevation for Li Zhiwei, in his opinion.
"How is it impossible? I am the Princess An, personally enfeoffed by the Emperor. Do you still think I lack the authority to deal with you?" Li Zhiwei looked at Cao Yunpeng with a face full of ridicule.
Cao Yunpeng's heart was now in turmoil. He thought of the imperial guards by Li Zhiwei's side.
In his heart, he actually believed Li Zhiwei's words.
Yet, he still clung to a sliver of hope. What if what Li Zhiwei said was false?
Prince An's Mansion
"Your Highness, Yang Zuo requests an audience." Qingsong approached Xu Heming and said quietly.
"Yang Zuo? Isn't he in Li'an County?" Xu Heming frowned, not understanding why Yang Zuo would return at this time.
Li Tianyou, who had been idly listening nearby, immediately perked up at the mention of Li'an County and looked at Xu Heming expectantly.
Thinking to himself, it must be a message from his daughter.
