Chapter 228: What Was Said
“Where’s Jingyun?”
Madam Xue asked Mama Xu, who came to greet her as soon as she got out of the carriage, while looking towards the inside of the house.
Mama Xu smiled and supported her: “Madam came unexpectedly, Master Zhou doesn’t know, he went to the government office early this morning and hasn’t returned yet.”
After saying that, she instructed the maids at the side.
“Quickly send someone to find Master Zhou, tell him to come back early.”
Madam Xue glanced at her, wanting to say something but stopped, her face complex as she went inside.
“Are you here to ask why I didn’t attend the palace banquet?” Madam of Dongyang said lazily, half-lying on the Arhat bed, “I’m fine, I just don’t want to go to that place.”
After saying that, she looked at Madam Xue.
“I won’t never enter the imperial city for the rest of my life, after a while when my mood is better, I will still go as usual.”
Mama Xu nodded beside her: “It’s a day of celebration, Madam is also unwilling to go, afraid of offending the little prince.”
Madam Xue held the teacup and said a little absentmindedly: “It’s good not to go.”
Madam of Dongyang was stunned, Mama Xu was also a little surprised, she thought Madam Xue didn’t see Madam of Dongyang last night and came to ask out of concern, why did it seem that she was relieved that she didn’t go?
“What’s wrong?” Madam of Dongyang sat up, thinking of something, her brows furrowed, “Did Jingyun cause any trouble again?”
She didn’t go to the banquet last night, Marquis of Dongyang had already withdrawn from the court and lived in seclusion, because of the unpleasant rumors about Zhou Jingyun outside, the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence closed its doors and didn’t know what happened at the palace banquet yesterday.
“It’s not that Jingyun caused trouble.” Madam Xue hurriedly said, and told the story of Young Miss Zhu, although the Emperor dismissed the others later, she didn’t know the specific things Young Miss Zhu said, but in view of the previous conversation between Princess Jinyu and Madam Zhu, everyone guessed it.
“So, Princess Jinyu intends to let the Prince of Chu marry into the Zhu family?” Madam of Dongyang also immediately saw it, “She actually used this method!”
Mama Xu patted her chest: “Madam Zhu is really amazing, she made a decisive decision and brought out Empress Yang.”
Madam of Dongyang curled her lips: “Princess Jinyu is just relying on her status, how can she fight with Madam Zhu.”
Mama Xu nodded: “Now that there is the Prince of Chu, and His Majesty has a little prince, it is becoming more and more unpredictable, Madam did not go, it is really worry-free.”
Madam of Dongyang looked at Madam Xue and asked: “What are the rumors outside? Young Miss Zhu doesn’t have to be involved with the Prince of Chu, right?”
Madam Xue oh-ed: “No, everyone saw that Young Miss Zhu didn’t meet the Prince of Chu, it has nothing to do with the Prince of Chu.”
Madam of Dongyang breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good.” After finishing her words, she saw Madam Xue’s strange expression, “What’s wrong?”
Madam Xue didn’t answer, but asked: “Is Jingyun still often outside and not coming back recently?”
Madam of Dongyang looked at her: “I know what you want to ask, about the last time, although we didn’t find it, but I asked him, he admitted it, there is someone in his heart.”
Madam Xue hurriedly asked: “Who is it?”
Madam of Dongyang snorted: “He won’t say, for the sake of the other party’s reputation.” She sneered, “What’s there to hide.”
Madam Xue murmured: “Maybe it’s really shameful.”
“What did you say?” Madam of Dongyang frowned, looking at Madam Xue, “Do you know who it is?”
Madam Xue looked away: “No, I don’t know.”
At this time, Madam of Dongyang noticed something was wrong, from Madam Xue’s reaction from entering the door to now, she clearly had something on her mind, she sat up straight: “What’s going on? What happened to Jingyun at the banquet last night?” She guessed something again, and raised her eyebrows, “Did that woman outside of Jingyun also go? Did you see her?”
“No, there was no woman.” Madam Xue said, the words blurted out, “It’s…”
She hurriedly stopped when the words came to her lips.
“What is it?” Madam of Dongyang stood up.
Mama Xu also looked at Madam Xue nervously.
Madam Xue looked helpless: “It’s all rumors, those words, it’s better not to listen.”
Madam of Dongyang sneered: “Tell me about it, what haven’t I heard these days, what else could be more bizarre?”
Madam Xue hesitated for a moment.
Madam of Dongyang stood up: “Fine, if you don’t say it, I’ll go ask on the street.”
Mama Xu hurriedly stopped her: “Madam.”
Madam Xue also stood up: “Okay, okay, I’ll say it, I’ll say it.”
Madam of Dongyang stood in the room, looking back at her.
“Say, he and the Prince of Chu.” Madam Xue blushed, and said with difficulty, “They are in love.”
Madam of Dongyang and Mama Xu were stunned, as if they didn’t understand.
“Last night, Young Miss Zhu didn’t meet the drunk Prince of Chu, because the Prince of Chu left with Jingyun.” Madam Xue’s voice stuttered, “They, by the Lake Taiye, spent time together.”
Madam of Dongyang’s face turned pale.
Mama Xu’s eyes widened.
This, this, what nonsense…
In a moment of silence, footsteps sounded outside the door, and then a maid’s voice came: “Madam, Jiang Yun just came back and said that Master Zhou went directly from the government office to the pleasure boat and won’t be back tonight.”
The room fell silent again.
Zhou Jingyun had been going to the pleasure boat frequently during this period, before they just thought he was dissolute, but now combined with Madam Xue’s words…
That pleasure boat was the property of the Prince of Chu, Li Yu.
Madam of Dongyang’s face turned from pale to red: “This good-for-nothing—I’ll strangle him—”
After saying that, she rushed out.
“Get me a rope, get me a knife—”
Mama Xu and Madam Xue hurriedly stopped her.
“Madam—”
“Yuniang—”
The room was in chaos.
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……
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As the sun set in the west, the pier outside the city was bustling with activity, carriages and horses kept coming, men and women, old and young, dressed in gorgeous clothes, were waiting to board the boat while discussing.
“There are especially many people here today.” Jixiang said, standing at the bow of the boat, “Do they know that His Highness is here today?”
“That’s really not a good thing.” Cai Songnian said.
Jixiang looked at him and saw Cai Songnian’s gloomy face.
“Is Mr. Cai worried about His Highness’ reputation?” Jixiang whispered, “His Highness didn’t say, a bad reputation also has benefits, so that His Majesty and the court officials won’t be wary and hostile.”
Cai Songnian frowned: “That’s not to ruin it to this extent.”
Jixiang was puzzled: “Ruin it to what extent?”
Cai Songnian glanced at him, wanting to say something, but there was another commotion on the pier.
“Marquis Zhou’s Heir is here—”
Jixiang’s eyes lit up: “Marquis Zhou’s Heir is also here, then tonight will be even more lively.”
After saying that, he looked at Cai Songnian, but saw Cai Songnian’s face became even uglier.
“This is really unclear…” he murmured.
What’s unclear? Jixiang was even more puzzled.
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“Marquis Zhou’s Heir, you’re here at the pleasure boat.”
Someone shouted, looking at Zhou Jingyun who was walking over.
Zhou Jingyun glanced at him and smiled: “Aren’t you?”
The man smiled awkwardly, being pushed and teased by the people next to him, and the next moment another voice sounded.
“Marquis Zhou’s Heir, the Prince of Chu is also here today, are you here to see the Prince of Chu?”
These words made the noisy pier quiet, the surrounding eyes were burning, their expressions varied.
Zhou Jingyun looked at these eyes, he didn’t pay attention before, this morning he suddenly found that the rumors about him and the Prince of Chu became more and more strange, but, so what?
He looked at the pleasure boat and saw the stewards who were welcoming the guests surrounded the boat owner and walked out, standing on the high third floor, the Prince of Chu, Li Yu, was in front, and Bai Li followed closely behind.
Today, Bai Li was wearing an apricot yellow shirt and a purple skirt, with pearls and jade all over her head, a gorgeous attire she had never had before.
At the same time Zhou Jingyun looked over, her eyes looked over, and she found him in the bustling crowd at a glance, she smiled.
Zhou Jingyun also smiled, facing Bai Li’s gaze, he nodded to the people around him: “Yes, I’m here to see the Prince of Chu.”
Everyone’s eyes followed him to the bow of the boat, and saw Li Yu wearing a crimson round-collar robe and a golden jade crown, dazzling in the twilight.
There was a moment of silence, and then the noise rose again, mixed with someone’s cheers.
“Good!”
“Marquis Zhou’s Heir is open and aboveboard!”
“Marquis Zhou’s Heir is a true gentleman!”
Accompanied by shouts, someone jumped out, waved his sleeves to drive away the crowd, and then bowed to Zhou Jingyun: “Marquis Zhou’s Heir.”
Zhou Jingyun glanced at him and saw that this person was wearing a Taoist robe.
“Master Zhou, I am Wang Tong, from the Taiyuan Wang Clan, now a disciple under Xuanyangzi at the Temple of the Holy Ancestor…” Wang Tong said excitedly.
Someone next to him interjected: “What disciple of Xuanyangzi, you are just lighting lamps at the Temple of the Holy Ancestor.”
Wang Tong spat at them, waved his sleeves to drive them away, and then stretched out his hand to Zhou Jingyun in a gesture of invitation: “Marquis Zhou’s Heir is a role model for our generation, Marquis Zhou’s Heir, please.”
Zhou Jingyun smiled, not caring what he was talking about, and went forward as he said, Wang Tong swaggered behind him, and soon there were jeers around him: “What role model for your generation, you are also worthy of being with Master Zhou.” “Go away.”
Accompanied by the noise, he boarded the boat, and there was another noise when he entered the cabin, with surprised expressions.
Pleasure boats have always been known for their magnificence, but today it was even more magnificent than usual, countless colorful silks hung down from the third floor, decorated with pearls and jade, flowers were everywhere between the buildings, the lights were twice as many as usual, the whole pleasure boat was like a fairy palace.
“What’s going on?”
“It feels like a festival.”
Accompanied by the buzzing discussion, Li Yu stood on the third floor and announced loudly: “Today, on the pleasure boat, all entertainment is free, please enjoy yourselves.”
As soon as these words came out, the noise became even louder.
“What’s going on?” “Is it to celebrate the Prince of Chu regaining his identity?”
Accompanied by the discussion, the sound of drums, dong dong dong, sounded, everyone’s eyes flickered, and they saw several graceful women wrapped in colorful silks slowly descending from the third floor, like fairies descending to earth, at the same time, in the main hall of the main hall, a dancing girl holding two swords stood up.
“It’s Lady Dengyun!”
“Lady Dengyun’s sword dance!”
“They actually invited Lady Dengyun!”
The hall was suddenly filled with noise, which made the guests who were boarding the boat on the pier puzzled and asked what was going on.
“Come and see, tonight there is Lady Dengyun on the pleasure boat—”
“Lady Dengyun? The disciple of Lady Gongsun?”
“Oh my god, isn’t it said that she doesn’t perform on stage anymore?”
“Hurry, hurry, hurry—”
There was a surge of people on the pier.
Zhang Ze, who had just dismounted from his horse, looked at this scene, narrowed his eyes: “This pleasure boat is even more lively than the palace banquet in the imperial city yesterday.”
