Xuanzhou.
Bai Ruoshu and Song Qian were respectfully ushered into Prince Kang’s residence, where they were received by an elderly nanny.
The old nanny led Bai Ruoshu to an elegant, secluded courtyard with a kind expression. “Miss, Young Master, please rest here for now. His Highness and the Princess Consort have gone to the Red Maple Villa outside the city to escape the summer heat. I’ve already sent someone to inform them. I’m sure they’ll return as soon as they learn that you’ve come.”
Bai Ruoshu smiled gently. “It’s all right, Nanny Liu. Qian’er and I are perfectly fine. We merely came to visit my cousin and his wife, and to stay for a few days.”
Nanny Liu had once served Consort Bai and later left the capital with Prince Kang to manage his household. Bai Ruoshu had seen her many times during her childhood at the Bai residence, so she was not at all unfamiliar with her.
“Very well, Miss. Please rest for now. I’ll have someone prepare some food.”
Bai Ruoshu nodded with a smile. “Thank you for your trouble, Nanny Liu.”
After Nanny Liu left, Song Qian pursed his lips in displeasure and muttered, “Mother, didn’t you say we’d get to eat all kinds of delicious food after coming here? You lied to me. My uncle isn’t even here.”
Bai Ruoshu put on a stern expression and scolded her son for his insolence. “Qian’er, your uncle is a prince. Watch what you say while you’re here. Nanny Liu has already gone to prepare food. Eat something when it arrives. We’ll rest today, and tomorrow I’ll take you around Xuanzhou City. You can have whatever you want, and I’ll buy it for you.”
“Yay!” Song Qian immediately broke into a happy smile.
After leaving the courtyard, Nanny Liu could not help sighing. “Ah… I wonder whether the young miss’s arrival this time will bring good fortune or disaster.”
She muttered to herself, then shook her head and slowly walked away.
The next day, Bai Ruoshu took Song Qian out for a casual stroll around the city.
Nanny Liu said worriedly, “Miss, take more guards with you. With them accompanying you, no one will dare cause you trouble. Besides, they can help carry whatever you buy.”
As she spoke, she pointed to the dozen or so additional guards standing nearby.
Bai Ruoshu was somewhat surprised. This was Prince Kang’s territory. Did she really need to worry about anyone bullying her while she was out?
She glanced over the guards, then froze when she caught sight of a familiar figure.
“Lin Meng, what are you doing here?”
These guards were the very men who had originally been sent to search for the sisters Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan. After returning to the residence, they had been sold off by Xi Daniu. Bai Ruoshu had not expected to see them here, and their presence caught her completely off guard.
Lin Meng was delighted to see Bai Ruoshu. “Miss, what are you and Young Master doing here? It’s wonderful to see you!”
Bai Ruoshu looked at Lin Meng and the others in confusion. “Why are you here?”
She clearly remembered that Xi Daniu had sold them. Later, she had sent someone to redeem them from the broker, only to be told that they had already been bought. Yet now they had appeared at Prince Kang’s residence—and had arrived before she did. No matter how she looked at it, none of it made sense.
With a smile, Lin Meng said, “Speaking of this, we have to thank you, Miss. Back then, the heir was furious and sold us to the broker. We escaped directly from there, but we could no longer remain in the capital. So we thought of Prince Kang and came here to try our luck. He took us in because of his regard for you.”
Bai Ruoshu was stunned for a moment before smiling and nodding. “I’m glad you’re able to work for my cousin. I’ll have to thank him properly.”
As she spoke, her grip on Song Qian’s hand unconsciously tightened. She did not release him until he hissed in pain.
“Mother, my hand hurts.”
Bai Ruoshu quickly loosened her grip. “Don’t blame me, Qian’er. I was simply too happy to see someone familiar.”
She smiled at Nanny Liu. “Nanny Liu, I’ll take Lin Meng and the others with us, then.”
“Go ahead. Buy whatever you like and charge it to Prince Kang’s account,” Nanny Liu replied with an equally warm smile.
Inside the luxurious carriage, Bai Ruoshu’s mood was heavy. She could sense that something was wrong.
She had sent someone to the broker’s to inquire about Lin Meng and the others. They had been bought by someone, yet now they claimed that they had escaped on their own. They were obviously lying.
She had sent her trusted maid, Little Cui, to investigate. Little Cui would never deceive her, and the broker had no reason to lie. That meant Lin Meng was the one lying. But why?
From his attitude just now, Lin Meng did not seem to harbor any resentment toward her. After all, she had always treated these guards well, and she had not been the one to sell them. So where exactly did the problem lie?
Just then, Song Qian pointed out the carriage window and shouted, “Mother, I want the pastries from that shop!”
Bai Ruoshu came back to herself and gently stroked his head. “All right. I’ll have someone buy them for you.”
Before she could say anything, Lin Meng called out from outside with a laugh, “Young Master, wait a moment. Your pastries will be here shortly.”
A moment later, a package of freshly made pastries appeared inside the carriage. Song Qian happily picked one up and began eating.
Bai Ruoshu’s mind was filled with questions, but she had now learned to conceal her true emotions.
As long as she remained cautious and observant, she would eventually uncover the truth.
At the Red Maple Villa, Prince Kang’s expression brightened when he received the news that Bai Ruoshu and her son had arrived.
He instructed the maid beside him, “My cousin has gone to the trouble of coming all this way. As her elder cousin, I naturally should return to see her. Go tell the Princess Consort that we’ll return to the residence tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
In a quiet courtyard within the villa, a woman dressed in red was practicing her swordsmanship. Sweat covered her forehead, but she showed no intention of stopping.
“Princess Consort, His Highness says that we’ll return to the residence tomorrow,” the maid reported before quietly standing aside.
The woman in red did not stop. She continued practicing for some time with a calm expression before finally sheathing her sword and walking over to sit at the table in the courtyard.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, then lifted a cup of tea and drained it in one gulp. Only then did she look at the maid and ask indifferently, “Why are we leaving tomorrow? We’ve only just arrived a few days ago.”
The maid lowered her head respectfully. “In reply to the Princess Consort, Miss Bai has arrived. She brought the young master of the Duke of Anguo’s residence with her and is currently staying at the prince’s residence.”
The woman gave a faint nod. “Oh. Then let’s return. Have everyone pack up at once.”
Afterward, she ordered the servants to prepare a bath.
Once everyone had withdrawn, she sat in the bathtub and muttered to herself, “Bai Ruoshu, that foolish woman actually came to Xuanzhou. She really is an idiot.”
While Bai Ruoshu was wandering around Xuanzhou, Duke Anguo and the others were holed up in a small residence in Xin’an City. They hated Xi Qingyue with all their hearts, but they did not dare provoke her at a time like this.
After learning that the Ninth Prince had been killed by men sent by Prince Kang, they even began to look forward to what might happen on Bai Ruoshu’s side. They hoped Prince Kang would send over even more men, allowing them to fish in troubled waters.
In a dark, damp cell within the county office, Ye Ying lay in the corner like a dead dog, blood covering his body.
When he heard footsteps approaching from outside, the lids of Ye Ying’s drooping eyes twitched. He slowly turned his head toward the entrance.
Xi Qingyue slowly led Xi Weilan toward him, a hint of coldness in her gaze.
