Chapter 213: Interesting Events
When daylight broke, Xue Silang collapsed onto his large bed, his eyes already unable to open, but he still couldn’t help but chuckle from time to time.
“I won.”
“Yuniang, dance one more time.”
The maids listened to Xue Silang’s sleep-talking by the bedside and glanced at each other: “It seems Fourth Young Master is very happy this time.” “Rare, he actually won money.” “Yuniang, Fourth Young Master said before, she’s a famous dancer, even on the pleasure boat, she’s a rare sight.” “What good luck did Fourth Young Master have last night—”
Before the maids’ laughter faded, the sound of noisy footsteps came from the courtyard.
“Silang!”
“Get out here!”
A man’s roar followed.
The maids were startled. This voice…
“His uncle, please speak nicely, Silang is still young—”
Second Madam Xue’s voice came along as well.
As they spoke, the door was pushed open, and Master Xue, Elder Branch, stormed in angrily. He saw Xue Silang lying on the bed, sleeping and smiling at the same time.
Master Xue, Elder Branch, looked around, grabbed the tea on the table, and splashed it over.
“Still sleeping! Get up!”
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“Uncle, what are you doing?”
Xue Silang fell back onto the edge of the bed, his face and clothes soaked with tea, fully awake.
Second Madam Xue hurriedly spoke first: “What mischief did you do yesterday? Hurry up and admit your mistake!”
Xue Silang looked bewildered: “I didn’t do anything wrong, just like before, drinking and gambling…”
Master Xue, Elder Branch, scolded: “Did you take Jingyun to fool around last night!”
Zhou Jingyun?
Second Madam Xue gasped and looked at Xue Silang: “You played with the Marquis’s Heir? The Marquis’s Heir actually didn’t drive you away?”
Of course, she wanted her son to get closer to Zhou Jingyun, it would bring her face.
But this Zhou Jingyun had a noble character and disdained associating with the likes of Xue Silang.
What?
Did Xue Silang force himself on Zhou Jingyun?
No wonder Madam Xue was angry.
Xue Silang’s expression suddenly cleared, he flicked his sleeves, and stood up excitedly: “Uncle, you’re right, the Marquis’s Heir begged me to take him to the pleasure boat, haha, the two of us had so much fun—”
Before he finished speaking, Master Xue, Elder Branch, grabbed the teacup on the table and threw it at him: “It really was you, you unfilial son, you dared to entice and corrupt Jingyun’s reputation!”
Xue Silang was hit, his eyes widened, and he hurriedly explained: “Uncle, you’re wrong, it wasn’t me who enticed and corrupted him, it was the Marquis’s Heir who insisted on me taking him there—”
Master Xue, Elder Branch, sneered: “Jingyun insisted on you taking him to that kind of place, listen to yourself, is that believable?”
Second Madam Xue grabbed Xue Silang’s arm and said helplessly: “Son, you can’t harm the Marquis’s Heir, if he becomes a prodigal son like you, what help can we expect from him?”
Xue Silang shook off his mother and shouted: “It was really him pestering me and forcing me, I didn’t believe it at the time either, but it’s the truth, I took him there, he had so much fun on the pleasure boat, surrounded by beauties, drinking and having fun—ouch—”
Before he finished speaking, Master Xue, Elder Branch, untied his belt and whipped him fiercely: “You still dare to say it, you have the nerve to say it, it’s spread all over the city, Jingyun’s reputation has been ruined by you!”
Xue Silang wailed.
“I’m wronged—”
…….
…….
In the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, the food in front of Madam of Dongyang remained untouched.
“Madam Xue sent someone to say that Xue Silang has already been punished, kneeling in the ancestral hall and confined for a month.” Mama Xu said, “Master Xue, Elder Branch, also wants to personally apologize to the Lord Marquis.”
Madam of Dongyang waved her hand: “No need.” She sneered, “It takes two to tango, Xue Silang can’t be blamed alone.”
She then looked at Mama Huang.
“What are people saying on the streets?”
Mama Huang, who always had a stern face, showed a hint of embarrassment: “Madam, those rumors are all nonsense, best not to listen to them.”
She remembered this morning, the stewards and servants who went out to buy groceries rushed back in a panic, without even buying vegetables and meat, shouting that something had happened, the Marquis’s Heir’s reputation was ruined.
Everyone was confused, and upon asking, they learned that early in the morning, the streets were filled with rumors that Zhou Jingyun had spent the night on a pleasure boat.
It was the people on the pleasure boat who disembarked this morning and spread the word throughout the city, saying that Zhou Jingyun had eaten, drank, and gambled with them on the pleasure boat, enjoying himself all night.
Who was it that ruined the Marquis’s Heir’s reputation?
The Marquis’s Heir didn’t come back last night. Mama Xu panicked and hurriedly sent someone to ask where the Marquis’s Heir was. Feng’er said the Marquis’s Heir had sent someone back with a message, he had already gone to court.
Remembering that Xue Silang and the Marquis’s Heir were together yesterday, Mama Xu hurriedly sent someone to the Xue Residence to ask what was going on.
Now the Xue Residence had replied, confirming that the Marquis’s Heir had indeed gone to the pleasure boat last night.
This…
How could the Marquis’s Heir go to such a place!
“Madam.” Mama Xu said softly, “Even if the Marquis’s Heir went, it’s nothing, maybe he was feeling down, and was persuaded by Xue Silang to drown his sorrows with alcohol.”
Madam of Dongyang gasped: “He’s feeling down? He’s drowning his sorrows with alcohol? I’m the one who should be drowning my sorrows.” She gestured to Mama Huang, “Go, tell Xue Silang, take me to the pleasure boat tonight.”
Mama Xu and Mama Huang were both amused and helpless, Madam was becoming more and more sarcastic.
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The Empress had already entered the imperial mausoleum, and the Emperor had resumed his court sessions, but he still seemed somewhat listless. The court session ended quickly.
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It was still early, and there was no need to go home. A group of officials gathered together to eat breakfast in the corridor.
“Why is His Majesty still listless? Is he still missing the Empress and unable to sleep day and night?”
“Not really, His Majesty doesn’t dare to stay up late either, afraid that Princess Jinyu will come and scold him again.”
“Princess Jinyu is quite reasonable now, and she’s acting more appropriately.”
“I know, His Majesty is taking care of the little prince, so he hasn’t slept well.”
“His Majesty is personally taking care of the little prince?”
“His Majesty is truly a loving father.”
“Hey hey hey, big news, last night’s big news, have you heard?”
What big news?
These words made the officials holding their food trays look over. They saw an official who had just arrived and was not qualified to attend the court session, winking with a strange expression.
“Shangguan Yue, no, Prince of Chu’s former pleasure boat set sail last night.” He said.
The officials scoffed dismissively, this was not big news, but then they heard him say.
“The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir went on the pleasure boat last night.”
Zhou Jingyun? The officials’ expressions were slightly surprised. Officials and nobles rarely went to pleasure boats, not because they were virtuous, but because they minded Shangguan Yue’s identity and didn’t want to get into trouble.
If they wanted to eat, drink, and have fun, there were plenty of good places in Sanqu Lane.
However, Zhou Jingyun didn’t have this kind of hobby.
“Really?” Someone asked with a frown.
“Of course it’s true, everyone on the pleasure boat last night saw it, and as soon as they disembarked, it spread.” The official said.
The officials couldn’t help but discuss among themselves, “What is he doing?” “Depressed after losing his wife?” “Could it be that he’s supporting Prince of Chu?”
As they were discussing, they heard a voice ask, “Is it so strange to visit a pleasure boat?”
“Of course it’s strange, that’s Zhou Jingyun.” An official said, turning his head, his face stiffening involuntarily.
Zhou Jingyun was standing aside, holding a bowl of noodles: “It’s strange because I’ve never done these things before.”
He took a bite of the noodles, his official robe sleeves swaying slightly, and smiled at everyone.
“It won’t be strange after I’ve been there more often.”
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Li Yu, who had returned to the imperial mausoleum once again, was still living in his former palace, but compared to before, the charcoal fire, the furnishings, everything was much more luxurious.
After all, he now had a title and had become a prince.
The first prince of this generation of the imperial family.
“So the biggest change in the past two days is that Zhou Jingyun went to the pleasure boat?”
Li Yu took a sip of tea, looking at the flickering lamplight in the room.
Jixiang nodded and added: “Everyone is investigating his intentions, from Xue Silang’s words, it seems he really just went on a whim….”
He was interrupted by Li Yu before he could finish.
“No need to investigate.” He said, smiling, “I know his intentions.”
Ah, Young Master knows? Young Master and Zhou Jingyun have been in contact privately? Jixiang was a little surprised and couldn’t help but look at Cai Songnian.
Cai Songnian also looked like he knew, and even snorted, muttering: “What do these two take our pleasure boat for.”
Which two? Jixiang was even more puzzled.
“You don’t need to worry about it.” Li Yu said, smiling, “Is Young Lady Bai alright, did she entertain Marquis Zhou’s Heir well, is she, happy?”
Young Lady Bai? Jixiang nodded: “She didn’t just stand there for a while and leave like usual when the boat set sail, she personally entertained Marquis Zhou’s Heir, accompanied him everywhere, watched the singing and dancing with him, and seemed quite happy.”
This was not surprising, that was Zhou Jingyun, any woman would be overjoyed to entertain him.
Young Lady Bai was no exception.
The smile on Li Yu’s lips faded, and he hummed: “It’s good that she’s happy.”
Really? Why did it seem like Young Master was not happy? Jixiang scratched his head, inexplicably wanting to say something more.
“He only came once, Marquis Zhou’s Heir hasn’t come again these two days.” He said, chuckling, “Maybe because of the rumors spreading in the city, Marquis Zhou’s Heir doesn’t dare to come again.”
He finished speaking and saw Li Yu had no reaction, just mechanically tapping his finger on the teacup.
“Also, when I came out this morning, Young Lady Bai called me over and asked if I was coming to see you, Young Master.” Jixiang continued.
Li Yu’s finger paused, and he looked up at him slightly: “Did she have anything to say to me?”
“Young Lady Bai said she won’t be staying on the pleasure boat tonight.” Jixiang said, “She also said, Young Master, you know where she’s going.”
He knows where she’s going?
Li Yu understood, she must be going to see the little princess.
She even specifically told him.
The smile on Li Yu’s lips spread again, but then it drooped the next moment.
That was the place Zhou Jingyun chose, would Zhou Jingyun be there too, accompanying her?
