Zheng Xinran stood on the yacht, staring at the unfamiliar and wondrous objects around her with astonishment. Everything here was something she had never seen before.
The temperature aboard the yacht was especially shocking. It was worlds apart from outside: cool and refreshing within, while outside was scorching hot, like a red-hot iron. The two places were absolute extremes.
After recovering from her shock, she quickly bent forward in a respectful bow. “This commoner pays her respects to Commandery Princess Cenyue! We have come to thank you for saving my younger brother and me.”
Behind her, a middle-aged man and a woman also bowed respectfully. “I am Zheng Xing, the current head of the Zheng Clan and Xinran’s father. I have taken the liberty of coming to pay my respects to the commandery princess. We are deeply grateful for your saving the Zheng Clan’s children.”
Xi Qingyue examined the three visitors. The man was not yet forty. His manner was respectful without being obsequious, and he possessed the refined, scholarly air of a gentle and cultivated man. The woman was a little over thirty, graceful and dignified. From her features alone, it was clear that she was a gentle and loving mother.
She smiled faintly. “There is no need to be so polite. Saving people was merely a small gesture on my part. You did not need to make a special trip here.”
Zheng Xing took a stack of banknotes from his sleeve. “Commandery Princess, since we did not know what you and the other commandery princess liked, we did not bring anything else. These are two hundred thousand taels in banknotes, a small token of the Zheng Clan’s gratitude. Please accept them.”
At the mention of banknotes, Xi Weilan—who had been sitting with Lu Jinshuang on the other side of the cabin, putting together a puzzle—suddenly looked over. Her eyes lit up at once.
Zheng Xing noticed the change. With a faint smile, he tilted the banknotes toward Xi Weilan, presenting them with every indication that he was more than happy to give them away.
Xi Weilan immediately set down the puzzle and jumped off the sofa. Lu Jinshuang covered her forehead with a hand and laughed. What a little money grubber.
Xi Weilan ran over to Zheng Xing, tilted her head back, and asked excitedly, “Are those really for us?”
Zheng Xing bent down and held the banknotes out to her. “Commandery Princess, they are merely a token of the Zheng Clan’s gratitude. If you accept them, it will be an honor to our clan.”
Xi Weilan did not take them right away. Instead, she looked toward Xi Qingyue. Only after seeing her nod in agreement did she happily accept the banknotes.
Clutching them, she ran back. When she reached Lu Jinshuang, she waved them excitedly. “Big Sister Lu, we have more money now! We can buy lots of delicious food!”
At the words “Big Sister Lu,” Zheng Xing’s heart jolted. He glanced at Lu Jinshuang.
He then hurriedly bowed in her direction once more. “I did not realize the princess was here. I was discourteous. I beg the princess’s forgiveness.”
Zheng Xinran and her mother, Li Yishui, were also filled with shock, and they followed him in bowing.
Lu Jinshuang was taken aback as well. He had recognized her from nothing more than her name. She waved a hand at them. “There is no need for such formalities. I came out to play with my younger sisters. Just pretend I am not here.”
With that, she carried the little money grubber toward the bedroom at the rear of the yacht. Xi Weilan was still clutching the banknotes, grinning happily. It was impossible to tell whether she was counting the money or simply practicing her numbers.
Only after they had left did Xi Qingyue speak calmly. “What is Minister Zheng Shao of the Ministry of Rites to you?”
“Commandery Princess, he is my younger brother.”
Xi Qingyue smiled faintly. “Very well. I have accepted your gift. You may return now.”
Zheng Xing and his wife and daughter bowed once more before leaving the yacht. As they walked away, he kept pondering the meaning behind Xi Qingyue’s words. Why had she suddenly brought up his younger brother? He needed to send someone to the capital at once.
The moment they stepped off the yacht, they ran into the Lu family, who had just arrived.
Sixth Lu’s face was bruised and swollen, and he was being carried by the collar by a middle-aged man. A group of guards followed behind them, carrying gold and silver jewelry, all kinds of beautiful accessories, and bolts of expensive fabric.
When the middle-aged man saw the Zheng family coming down from the yacht, he immediately blocked their path.
“Brother Zheng, this is far too unneighborly of you! How could you come to see the commandery princess without inviting us along?”
Zheng Xing glanced at Sixth Lu. “Didn’t your son say that the Zheng Clan was currying favor with people? What is this, then? Are you here to curry favor with the commandery princess too?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Sixth Lu burst into tears. “Uncle Zheng, please stop! If you say any more, my father will beat me to death!”
With a loud thump, he was struck on the forehead again. The one who had hit him was none other than his father, Lu Xi.
Lu Xi glared at Zheng Xing, then dragged Sixth Lu onto the yacht. Nan Yun led the way.
Once inside, Lu Xi immediately dragged Sixth Lu to his knees.
“Greetings, Commandery Princess Cenyue! My son was ignorant and offended you. I beg you not to hold it against him. You saved members of my Lu family at the theater, so the Lu family is willing to offer five hundred thousand taels as thanks. Please do not refuse.”
Xi Qingyue rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Why was the Lu family being so generous?
Just as suspicion began to arise in her heart, Mu Jin leaned over and whispered, “Commandery Princess, the Lu family belongs to the Ninth Princess. I did not get a chance to tell you at the theater, and afterward I forgot.”
Xi Qingyue stared at Mu Jin in astonishment. Had she really forgotten to mention it, or had she deliberately kept quiet? Was she not afraid that Xi Qingyue might actually have killed the Lu family members at the theater?
Under her gaze, Mu Jin grew somewhat uncomfortable. She gave a small cough and lowered her voice. “The princess said that no matter who it was, anyone who speaks disrespectfully to you should be taught a lesson. If they truly commit evil deeds and harm others, their deaths would be no great loss. She did not want us to tell you beforehand because she was afraid you might hold back out of consideration for her.”
The conversation between the two women was quiet, but Lu Xi and Sixth Lu heard every word. Sweat immediately soaked through Sixth Lu’s back.
Lu Xi was even more shaken. He had known that the sisters were close to the Ninth Princess, but he had never imagined that their relationship was more than ordinary. The Ninth Princess practically worshiped them. Thankfully, his son had only been foul-mouthed and had not done anything truly wicked.
Xi Qingyue smiled warmly at the father and son. “Patriarch Lu, there is no need to be so courteous. I have always been generous. How could I be so petty? Kneeling like this is hardly appropriate. Sit down and talk. Mu Jin, serve some tea.”
After Lu Xi rose, he took five hundred thousand taels in banknotes from his sleeve. Nan Yun accepted them and was about to hand them to Xi Qingyue.
Xi Qingyue waved her hand. “Give them to Lan’er. They will make her happy.”
Nan Yun chuckled. She took the banknotes and headed toward the bedroom where Xi Weilan was staying.
Xi Qingyue leaned back against the sofa and spoke in a casual tone. “Since you are people of Big Sister Lu, we are all family. I heard that two of your children were struck by hidden weapons. Have someone bring them here. I know some medical techniques. I guarantee they will be up and running by tonight, and they will not have to suffer.”
At those words, Lu Xi’s face filled with astonishment, followed by gratitude. “Thank you, Commandery Princess!”
After saying that, he bowed and strode out of the yacht, forgetting even to take Sixth Lu with him. He did not doubt Xi Qingyue’s words in the slightest.
Sixth Lu, meanwhile, was overwhelmed with regret. If he had not run his mouth, the Lu family would never have been struck by hidden weapons in the first place. Even if they had been hit, Xi Qingyue could have treated them. Why had they gone through all this trouble? Those physicians needed half a day just to prepare before removing the hidden weapons, and his two younger cousins had suffered terribly.
Xi Qingyue looked at the restless Sixth Lu and smiled faintly. “You’re Sixth Lu, aren’t you? That younger brother of yours is much smarter than you. When someone throws a hidden weapon, don’t you know enough to dodge? Yet you just sat there like a fool and even made your guards take the hit for you.”
Sixth Lu was as meek as a grandson, nodding repeatedly. “The Commandery Princess is right. My younger brother has been clever since he was little. My father beat me so often that I’m a bit slow in the head. Please don’t hold what happened before against me.”
Xi Qingyue nodded in firm agreement. “Mm, I can tell. When your father arrives, I’ll tell him to stop hitting your head next time and choose somewhere else.”
Sixth Lu was instantly left gaping in shock. Wouldn’t he still get beaten?
