Chapter 253
253 Xie Changsheng Arrives at the Capital
Qin Huai did not care what Murong Run thought. Now that he had returned to the Duke Yong Manor, he had to behave appropriately.
Coincidentally, not long after he returned, his maternal ancestor, Duke Yong, gave him a box of things and said mysteriously that the things inside could relieve his illness.
Qin Huai opened it and saw that it was actually the fruits planted by Ah Yu.
Qin Huai’s heart skipped a beat.
Ah Yu’s fruit had a certain miraculous effect. This was what Qin Huai learned after his subsequent observations.
However, Qin Huai did not expose everything about Ah Yu’s family to his mother, let alone the Duke Yong Manor.
In that case, the origin of this fruit was suspicious.
Later on, he found out that the fruit was actually offered to the Empress’s aunt by Concubine Jing. The Empress’s aunt gave it to Duke Yong, who gave it to his mother.
In the end, it ended up in Qin Huai’s hands.
Qin Huai’s body had naturally recovered long ago. In fact, after he returned to the Duke Yong Manor, the divine physician had already taken his pulse, indicating that the poison in his body had been completely removed and he had no worries.
However, the entire Duke Yong Manor had unanimously decided to let Qin Huai continue pretending to be sick for a period of time. Although Qin Huai was puzzled, he was happy to cooperate.
He was not impatient to deal with the others.
Now that the fruits had appeared, he naturally had to go with the flow and beat them at their own game.
He would take it that these fruits had cured his illness.
Even if they found out in the future and wanted to thank the person who gave the fruits, in the end, it would only fall to Ah Yu.
The credit would not be given away. Moreover, he had long treated Ah Yu as someone he wanted to protect for the rest of his life.
After all, it was Ah Yu who had given back to him the rest of his life. This was a favor that could never be replaced.
“In short, I’m very grateful to Young Master Murong. If Young Master is used to this Flower Appreciation Banquet, you can enjoy it to your heart’s content. If you’re not used to it, Young Master can choose for yourself something else to do. The Duke Yong Manor will definitely not make things difficult for you.” Qin Huai revealed a weak smile. “My body is still weak. I’m sorry. Chi Jia, entertain Young Master Murong for me.”
Chi Jia, who had been standing there like a statue, stepped forward. “Young Master Murong, feel free to instruct me.”
Murong Run did not know how shocked Chi Jia was.
Ever since the Young Master returned to the Duke Yong Manor, he had changed his taciturn personality. However, no matter how much he said, he definitely did not say as much as today.
Although he knew that the Young Master was doing this to lower Murong Run’s vigilance and to let others see how much he valued him…
There were indeed too many words. Chi Jia, who was used to speaking up for the Young Master, was a little unused to it.
In the end, Murong Run went to the banquet under the lead of Chi Jia. He even got to know some Young Masters of the same age.
Those Young Masters were very open-minded. Most of them came from military families and did not care about family backgrounds. Instead, they let Murong Run make a few good friends.
Later on, they even played shooting, pitch-pot, and other games. Murong Run heaved a sigh of relief.
At the very least it was not poetry, he was not good at that.
Shooting, pitch-pot, riding, wrestling, and so on were all subjects that generals loved. Murong Run could not be said to be proficient in them, but at least it was not too embarrassing.
After this conversation, several Young Masters patted Murong Run’s shoulder. “You’re not bad, kid. You’re worth befriending! I heard that you’re not from Wanning City. Do you have a place to stay? Do you want to stay at my house for two months? Let’s spar. In any case, it’s boring these days.”
Murong Run: !!
You’re too hospitable.
Not only that, but Murong Run also discovered a girl dressed as a man. She actually had good lightness skills.
The girl fell off her horse in front of everyone. Murong Run pulled her back without thinking, but he accidentally broke her hair tie.
The silent “Young Master” exclaimed in surprise. Her feminine voice instantly exposed her identity.
Another Young Master walked out and scolded the girl. The girl curled her lips and made a face at Murong Run, as if she was complaining that he had ruined her plans.
“How can you get married like this? You’re really worrying Father and I to death!” the Young Master said angrily, his tone especially helpless.
However, the girl did not think much of it. “At most, I won’t get married. I’ll beg the Empress and form an army of women. I’ll also go into battle to kill the enemy in the future!”
“How can a woman go into battle to kill the enemy?”
“Then I’ll roam the martial world. The world is huge. I don’t believe that there’s no place for me, Hua Rou!”
“You’re really trying to anger me to death!”
However, when he heard this, Murong Run’s eyes lit up. Looking at the young girl’s lively face, a string in his heart was gently plucked.
Hua Rou glared at him. “It’s all your fault for embarrassing me!”
Murong Run begged for mercy repeatedly, but the way he looked at Hua Rou carried a gentleness that he himself did not notice.
Qin Huai, who was in the distant attic, happened to see this scene.
Qin Huai changed his initial weak appearance and said to Chi Bing beside him, “Did you find anything?”
“Young Master, I’ve investigated. Some time ago, a farm girl offered up improved rice grains. They’re being nurtured in the greenhouse now. It’s said that the yield will be extremely high.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chi Bing took out a handful of rice stalks from his pocket. There was a string of golden rice grains hanging on them.
Qin Huai took it and looked at the rice grains on it in deep thought.
This was indeed much better than the rice they usually saw.
However, it was still inferior to the ones from Hu Family Village.
“What’s the name of that peasant girl? Where did she come from? Is there anything unusual?” Qin Huai asked.
“Her name is Xu Linglong, and she claims to be from Qingshan County.” Chi Bing paused and said, “There’s another person beside her. Like Miss Ah Yu, she’s also from Wangbei County. She’s the second daughter of the Xie family in Dongning County, and her name is Xie Changsheng. Their expenses along the way were all provided by Xie Changsheng. Now, they’re living in Duke An Manor.”
Qin Huai frowned. “She’s in the Duke An Manor?”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
The Duke An Manor and the Duke Yong Manor did not interact all year round because the young lady of the Duke Yong Manor married into the Imperial Palace and became the Empress.
Qin Huai had never seen the Empress before. He only knew that she was his mother’s sister, but he did not know if she was her elder or younger sister.
Logically speaking, he should have called her Aunt.
But in private, they only let him call her Aunt Empress.
The Empress had actually been the Crown Princess Consort for a long time, but at that time, the ministers caused trouble and insisted that she participate in the talent show again and compete with a group of ladies for favor.
They clearly wanted to humiliate his aunt.
Fortunately, the Emperor treated her well, and she still became the Empress.
However, the Lady of the Duke An Manor was not selected in the talent show back then and could only marry a Minister of War. Later on, that Minister of War was even imprisoned for corruption.
It was even due to an impeachment letter from the Duke Yong Manor.
In addition, there was also King Xiaoyao in the Duke An Manor. His mother was once an Imperial Consort in the palace. After the new Emperor ascended the throne, the Imperial Consort requested to return to the Duke An Manor.
Because King Xiaoyao was partially disabled, even though he had his own mansion, he lived in the Duke An Manor all year round.
This year, King Xiaoyao was already 24 years old and had yet to marry. He was also very low-key. Rumor had it that he was a gentle Young Master.
He was now related to a peasant girl. Was it a misunderstanding, or did the Duke An Manor have other motives?
Qin Huai frowned when he heard Xie Changsheng’s name.
Back then, Zhang Zhan asked him to help investigate Ah Yu’s identity. He quickly found out about the Xie Manor and later concealed Ah Yu’s whereabouts.
The old master of the Xie family obtained his official position from donating money. He was a small official, but he enjoyed it especially. He raised several concubines and had more than ten legitimate sons and daughters with his concubines.
It was very lively.