Shen Li was holding tightly, her voice as soft as a dream murmur, "Xuan Yuanjue... I feel like I'm starting to like you..."
There was a desolate sadness in her voice, "Why don't you wake up..."
She stayed awake all night.
The next day, in the side hall of the manor on the outskirts of the capital.
Tian Qing was sitting in the middle, with Cang Lan and Chi Xia standing on either side of him. In the center of the hall, there was a trembling young man on his knees.
Tian Qing picked up a cup of scalding hot tea and splashed it on the young man. The young man let out a scream immediately.
"Spare... spare my life!"
Tian Qing's voice was cold, "Look up!"
The young man looked up. His facial features were ordinary, but his lips were extremely thin, looking rather rascally. At this moment, he was full of panic.
Cang Lan then spoke. His voice was like it had been whipped by frost, making people shiver involuntarily. "I'll ask you, who spread the rumors in the city?"
"I... I don't know." The young man trembled, "I just heard it from others. Out of curiosity, I just said a few words. I deserve to be beaten, I deserve to be beaten!"
As he said this, the young man slapped himself. The sound of "pa pa" was quite crisp.
Tian Qing looked at the young man's appearance and felt a bit disgusted. So he waved his hand, "Stop hitting yourself!"
The young man stopped. Chi Xia asked, "What rumors were spread in the city?"
The young man hesitated a bit, "This..."
Chi Xia's sword on his hand seemed to be about to come out of its scabbard. The young man was so scared that he shrank back quickly, "I'll say, I'll say!"
"I don't know where the rumors started, but some people really spread them. They said that the young master of the prince had done too many bad things and was getting his retribution. He was already deeply poisoned and might not live for a few more days. And it spread widely. Some people even said that the young master of Prince Li had died..."
"Nonsense!" Chi Xia shouted angrily, "The young master is alive and well. How could you commoners talk nonsense like this? I'll cut this brat's tongue right now and see if you still dare to talk nonsense!"
Hearing this, the young man's face turned pale immediately, "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life! I have an eighty - year - old mother at home and an eight - year - old son. The whole family is relying on me to make a living. Please spare my life, my lord!"
"Forget it." Tian Qing sighed, "Let him go."
But Chi Xia was not willing to let it go like this, "Are you just going to let him go like this? Don't you know that the prince and the princess are already asking for people!"
Just as they were about to argue further, they heard a shrill male voice from outside, "The imperial edict is here!"
Tian Qing was stunned. Then he saw a eunuch with a fair complexion and red lips come in. The eunuch first bowed to Tian Qing and Chi Xia, then said with a smile,
"I'm here to find the young master of the prince."
Tian Qing and Chi Xia knelt down. "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the young master of Prince Li, Xuan Yuanjue, be summoned to audience!"
Tian Qing said, "The young master is not here for the moment. We don't know where he is either."
"This..." The eunuch looked embarrassed, "In that case, could you please come with me? I've been searching hard and finally found out that the young master is here. I've also brought the Emperor's oral order. If I go back without bringing anyone, the Emperor might punish me."
Tian Qing nodded. He naturally knew why the eunuch, Li Gonggong, came here. No matter who went, they always had to give the Emperor an explanation. This matter could only be handled by himself. He didn't trust others. The fact that the Emperor sent his personal eunuch here showed that this matter was not easy to solve.
"Okay, I'll go with you. Thank you, Li Gonggong."
Shen Li was holding Xuan Yuanjue's body. She felt that his skin was extremely cold, as if even his bones were made of ice. It was like her heart was hanging over an abyss, constantly falling. She thought, if this person really died, what should she do? She remembered the gentle and jade - like Xuan Yuanjue. His voice, appearance and smile flashed through her mind one by one. The more she thought, the more sour her heart felt.
Since it was already dawn and Xuan Yuanjue's condition had gradually stabilized, it was time for her to set off to find Mu Ruchu. The world was so big that she didn't know where to look for Mu Ruchu.
Just as she walked out of the room, she saw Tian Qing and Li Gonggong walking out. She didn't know what had happened.
"Li Gonggong? Why are you here?" Shen Li suddenly said.
Li Gonggong turned around and was surprised to see Shen Li. Then he said, "I didn't expect it to be Miss Shen. Today I'm here by the Emperor's order to invite the young master of the prince to audience."
The young master of the prince? Wasn't that Xuan Yuanjue?
Why did the Emperor suddenly want to see Xuan Yuanjue? There must be something fishy about it. Looking at Tian Qing's appearance, it seemed that he was going to the palace with Li Gonggong. So Shen Li had an idea and said, "Xuan Yuanjue has gone to investigate the private salt business. He's not here at this time. Li Gonggong, you won't be able to find him."
"But if I go back without bringing anyone, it will be hard for me to explain."
Hearing their conversation, Tian Qing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Shen Li was quick - witted and didn't reveal the news that Xuan Yuanjue was seriously ill. Otherwise, this matter would really be hard to solve.
"Okay. This person is beside the young master. Li Gonggong, please take good care of him. If the young master comes back and asks me for this person, it will be hard for me to explain. Maybe he will even think that I deliberately sent him away and did something to the people around him." Shen Li's half - joking words made Li Gonggong take it seriously.
It was precisely because of Shen Li's guarantee that Li Gonggong felt a bit more at ease. After all, the Emperor had been worried day and night because of the private salt business. Since it was related to the private salt business, he'd better not ask too much. He should go back to the palace quickly and report this matter to the Emperor. Maybe it would make the Emperor happy.
"Please also pay attention, Miss Shen. Staying overnight in a man's room is not a good thing after all. If some ill - intentioned people hear about it, it will damage your reputation." Li Gonggong mentioned it casually, out of concern for Shen Li.
"Thank you for your advice, Li Gonggong. I'll remember it." Shen Li sent Tian Qing and Li Gonggong out of the door. She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the carriage slowly drove into the distance.
At this time, Li Gonggong already had his own thoughts.
It was nothing more than that the young master had gone to investigate the private salt business. After some ill - intentioned people found out, they casually slandered the young master and even viciously cursed him. He secretly thought that these people were really hateful.
After making a subjective assumption, when Li Gonggong reported the situation to the Emperor, there would also be a subjective assumption. This was undoubtedly a good thing and could also solve the problem of Xuan Yuanjue not going to the palace to meet the Emperor.
Looking at Tian Qing's smart appearance, he should be able to understand what Shen Li meant.