Song Shixue, who was practicing archery in the martial arts field, saw Lanxi returning from outside with a bamboo hat in his hand. She looked up at the sky in confusion.
"Lanxi, it's cloudy today. Why are you carrying a bamboo hat?"
"Ah!"
Lost in his own thoughts, Lanxi was startled by Song Shixue's sudden voice. He trembled all over, dropping the hat to the ground. When he looked up, the fright in his eyes had not yet faded.
Song Shixue paused slightly, a hint of bewilderment showing on her brows.
"What's wrong with you? You look like you've done something guilty."
Recovering his senses, Lanxi subconsciously lowered his eyelids. His pale blue eyes darted around helplessly as his mind frantically searched for an excuse.
He spoke extremely fast: "The perfume shop's business has been so good lately that we are almost out of stock. I was wondering if we should buy another estate, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't see you, Second Miss."
"I was worried it might rain today, so I brought the hat when I went out. Who knew it wouldn't rain."
Seeing him so guilty, Song Shixue narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Usually, he would refer to himself as "this servant" or "this lowly one" in front of her. Even when she told him he didn't need to, he never changed. But just now, he used "I."
This showed he was so flustered that his thoughts were in chaos, completely forgetting the rules.
There was definitely something going on.
"So that's how it is. Be careful when you walk from now on. It's easy to trip when you're too lost in thought."
Song Shixue chose not to expose Lanxi's lie.
Since he didn't want to tell her, asking would be useless, and he might just tell another lie.
"This lowly one will take his leave." Lanxi held his breath and bypassed Song Shixue, his figure quickly disappearing around the corner.
Song Shixue raised the bow in her hand and stood sideways, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
After aiming, she released her fingers. The sharp feathered arrow shot out like a streak of silver light and hit the bullseye dead center.
How dare he lie to me. When I catch him, he's going to pay for it!
Not long after Song Jinzhao returned from outside, Lanxi walked up to the study and knocked on the door.
"County Princess, this lowly one has something to report."
"Come in."
Standing in front of Song Jinzhao, he was even more nervous than when he had faced Song Shixue earlier.
"County Princess, more than half of the first batch of perfumes and essential oils produced this year have been sold. As we enter October, the temperature will drop, and greenhouses need to be built in the flower fields immediately. This lowly one plans to stay at the Daohua Estate for the next period of time to keep an eye on things, and return once the work is done."
Recalling the impressive account books of the perfume shop, Song Jinzhao nodded in agreement.
"It's indeed inconvenient to run back and forth frequently when the weather gets cold. There aren't many things to do in the manor, so you can stay at the estate."
Lanxi let out a sigh of relief, lowered his head, and said, "Thank you, County Princess. This lowly one will take his leave."
Song Jinzhao watched him walk out of the room and turn to close the door.
He seemed to speak with extra caution today. Did he really need to thank her for staying at the estate to work?
He was acting a bit too humble.
Just as Song Jinzhao was about to lower her head and continue reading, the study door was pushed open from the outside again.
"Sister, I saw Lanxi here just now. What did he say to you?"
After closing the door, Song Shixue walked over, pulled out the chair opposite Song Jinzhao, and sat down.
Song Jinzhao placed a bookmark between the pages of her book, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked at her.
"He didn't say much. The weather is getting cold, and warm greenhouses need to be built in the flower fields. It will be very busy, so Lanxi will stay at the estate for a while. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Song Shixue rested her hands on the table.
"When he came back from outside this afternoon, he was holding a bamboo hat, saying he brought it specifically because he was worried it might rain."
"But there was still some sun this morning, and the sky only started to turn cloudy at noon. He went out in the morning; how could he have been worried about rain back then?"
"The most important thing is that he was completely out of sorts when he returned. I called out to him normally, but he was so startled that he dropped what was in his hands."
"I asked him what was wrong, and when he lied to brush me off, his face was full of guilt. It's obvious he's hiding something from me."
Recalling Lanxi's cautious attitude just now, Song Jinzhao grew suspicious.
"What do you think it is?"
Song Shixue shook her head and explained, "I came to you precisely because I don't know. His attitude was very strange today, as if he was afraid of something. I just feel like it's nothing good."
Recalling his blinded eye, broken arm and leg bones, and the injuries all over his body when they bought him.
Could it be that he ran into the people who tried to kill him back then? He already knew martial arts now, yet he still felt the need to hide at the estate. How powerful must the other party be?
Lanxi's unusually pale blue pupils appeared in Song Jinzhao's mind. A flash of inspiration hit her, and she suddenly remembered that the diplomatic mission from the Shuobei Kingdom was entering the capital today. Could there be a connection between the two?
If the person who wanted to kill him was in the diplomatic mission, and Lanxi happened to see them on the street, that would explain why he was terrified out of his wits.
Because of the other party's status, he wouldn't even dare to fight back, rushing to hide at the estate so they wouldn't find him. It all made perfect sense.
If that was really the case, who exactly was Lanxi?
"Sister?" Seeing Song Jinzhao lost in thought, Song Shixue waved a hand in front of her eyes.
With her line of sight blocked, Song Jinzhao looked up at Song Shixue, temporarily suppressing the speculations in her mind.
"Everyone has secrets. Maybe he didn't go to the shop today and slacked off to play outside instead."
If Lanxi really had a grudge against someone in the Shuobei diplomatic mission, he definitely should go hide at this critical juncture.
"Impossible. He has always been very diligent. He wouldn't lie to me about slacking off," Song Shixue said with absolute certainty.
Song Jinzhao replied, "Then go ask him yourself."
Speaking of which, she had only bought him in passing back then because he was cheap, literate, and both Shixue and Anhao were captivated by his pale blue eyes.
Over the past few years, he had indeed been capable and obedient, but wasn't Shixue paying a bit too much attention to him?
By the time Song Shixue came out of the study and went to find Lanxi to ask him, she was informed by the servants that he had already packed his things and left for the estate.
The doubts in Song Shixue's heart grew even stronger.
"In such a rush! It's almost dark and he still had to leave. Is he going to work there at night?"
The servant shook his head in bewilderment. "This lowly one doesn't know, but Manager Lanxi has always been diligent."
The sky had darkened. Bright lanterns were hung inside the Huitong Guesthouse, the candlelight stretching all the way from the entrance to the banquet hall.
Xiao Rongyan stepped out of his sedan chair at the entrance. He wore a purple robe with a curved collar and wide sleeves embroidered with cloud and dragon motifs, and a far-roaming crown on his head. An exquisite jade pendant with dragon patterns hung from his belt, swaying slightly as he walked and reflecting a gentle, lustrous glow.
Kang Zhibo followed behind him with two officials from the Ministry of Rites. Their mission today was to entertain everyone well, with the exception of Gong Linjue.
Entering the banquet hall, Cao Mo, who had sent people to urge the guests three times already, looked at Prince Ying in a panic.
Seeing that the hall was empty and no one was at the tables yet, Xiao Rongyan frowned in displeasure.
"Have the people from the diplomatic mission not arrived yet?"
Cao Mo lowered his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
"This humble official has already sent people to invite them three times. The people from the mission said that Prince Wei is taking a nap and hasn't woken up yet, so they will arrive a bit late."
Xiao Rongyan glanced at the pitch-black sky and said with a dissatisfied expression, "It's already this hour and he still hasn't woken up? A short nap takes four hours?"
Worried that Xiao Rongyan would lose his temper, Kang Zhibo quickly shot a meaningful glance at Cao Mo.
"Go invite them one more time, and say that His Highness Prince Ying has arrived."
Wiping his sweat, Cao Mo bowed repeatedly and nodded. "This humble official will go right away."
"Am I late?"
Gong Linjue walked over with his deputy envoy and two guards.
His gentle voice was completely different from how he sounded during the day, and he even wore a warm smile, leaving Kang Zhibo utterly baffled.
How could this man change faces so quickly?
Xiao Rongyan was initially startled by Gong Linjue's height; it felt as if his hair crown was about to scrape the top of the corridor.
Since he referred to himself as a prince, he had to be Prince Wei, Gong Linjue.
Since Prince Wei has traveled thousands of miles to celebrate our Emperor's birthday, with such sincerity, how could we ever say you have arrived late?
After everyone took their seats, the dishes were served.
The hostel attendants carried trays, walking up to the tables one by one and kneeling down.
Exquisite dishes were placed on the tables; both the color combinations and the aromas were incredibly enticing.
Orangutan lips and roasted deer tongue—every dish featured expensive ingredients that showcased the nation's wealth and power.
The Huairou Eight Treasure Duck and the Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness dish carried political undertones of good fortune and conciliation.
Sitting opposite each other, Xiao Rongyan and Gong Linjue's gazes met in midair; their calm smiles both concealed wariness and probing.
After the attendants withdrew, Xiao Rongyan raised his wine cup in a gesture to Gong Linjue.
Prince Wei, you have endured a long and arduous journey. On my royal father's orders, I am hosting this welcoming banquet for the delegation. I have prepared this modest feast and ask for your forgiveness for the humble setting. I shall toast you first.
Gong Linjue raised his cup and responded with a smile, I have long heard that His Highness Prince Ying possesses a majestic bearing and is the most like the Emperor of Dongzhao among all the princes. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation.
These words left Xiao Rongyan elated.
Prince Wei overpraises me. This wine is the Spring Scenery of Dongting, unique to the Jiangnan region of our Dongzhao. Please, give it a taste.
Gong Linjue drank the wine. This wine is crisp and sweet; it truly resembles the rainy season of your esteemed country's Jiangnan.
Xiao Rongyan's hand paused slightly as he set down his cup, and he asked instinctively, Has Prince Wei been to Jiangnan?
The hypocritical smile in Gong Linjue's eyes suddenly froze, but in the next second, it became gentle again, as if nothing had happened.
I have read about the pavilions and terraces of Jiangnan in books. Not only is the scenery pleasant, but even the rainy season is picturesque and holds a unique charm. I imagine it is just like this Spring Scenery of Dongting.
Saying this, he raised his cup and offered a toast in return to Xiao Rongyan.
