Hearing that the Marquis of Nanhai was also present today, Hong Tao stated his purpose directly.
It was nothing major, just that the incident of Yi Yan Geng and Xu Heng Yan fighting had reached the Emperor's ears, and His Majesty had sent someone to inquire.
Hong Tao looked at the closed study door. "Why isn't Marquis Xie going in? Is the Regent busy at the moment?"
Xie Jiang tacitly acknowledged Yi Yan Geng's busyness. "Yi Yan Geng and Xu Heng Yan, on a whim, sparred. Both were in high spirits and couldn't control their strength. They accidentally flattened the Duke of Wei's estate. The scene looked quite tragic."
Everyone knew the truth, and it was unlikely the Emperor wanted Yi Yan Geng and the Duke of Wei's estate to be on such amicable terms.
"It's good there's no misunderstanding. It's good there's no misunderstanding," Hong Tao said with a smile.
"When His Majesty heard about this, he laughed and said that today was the birthday of the Old Madam Xu, and the Regent was visiting to offer his birthday wishes. Even if there were some conflicts with Young Master Xu, the two wouldn't have escalated to such a point today."
But they did fight today, in front of the Duke of Wei's estate and so many guests. There must be something unusual.
"Why are they fighting at their age? Yi Yan Geng and Xu Heng Yan are both over fifty combined, not hot-blooded youngsters in their teens."
Inside the study, Yi Yan Geng found these words particularly jarring. Was he considered old at his age in his twenties? Why was he not as good as a young fellow in his teens!
"The Regent and Young Master Xu are both mature and prudent individuals, and naturally would not engage in a major conflict over trivial matters."
So, what was the reason that caused these two, as steady as a mountain, to fight without regard for the occasion?
It was said that only Marquis Xie was present at the time. Besides the two involved parties, the Regent and Young Master Xu, Marquis Xie was the one who knew the whole story best.
But Marquis Xie insisted they were sparring, showing great tacit understanding with the Duke of Wei's estate's official statement.
If it were anyone else, Hong Tao would have found a way to pry for information, but how would he dare to question Marquis Xie? He had personally witnessed Hao Wei and his group being held and beaten in Marquis Xie's old residence.
"Yi Yan Geng and Young Master Xu are kindred spirits. Perhaps they had a bit too much to drink at the banquet today, and both were a little unrestrained."
"The Regent and Young Master Xu have rarely met their match. But even during sparring, bumps and bruises are inevitable. Is the Regent unharmed? His Majesty was most concerned about the Regent's health upon hearing this news, and thus specially instructed this servant to prepare some fine medicinal herbs to be delivered."
Hong Tao waved his horsetail whisk, and a队 of eunuchs carrying items walked in orderly. Steward Zhang accepted them with gratitude.
Looking at the still-closed study door, Hong Tao guessed he likely wouldn't see the Regent today, as Marquis Xie was still waiting outside.
Hong Tao also found it inconvenient to linger. "Since the Regent is busy, this servant will not disturb him further. I shall return to report to His Majesty, so that His Majesty may be at ease."
Steward Zhang politely saw Hong Tao out.
Xie Jiang turned and continued to peek through the window. She had made a small hole earlier and was trying to look inside, but saw the curtains fluttering, completely blocking her view.
She's not letting me see! So proud!
"Did Xu Heng Yan scratch your master's face?" Xie Jiang turned to ask Shan Bai and Wen Feng.
"How is that possible! My master had the upper hand..." Young Master Xu isn't a young lady, why would he scratch his face?
"Are all the necessary parts still there?"
What did Miss Xie mean by "parts"? "Can't you wish my master well for once?"
"Of course, I care about Yi Yan Geng. I'm terribly worried, and I dare not stay there to provoke him. I'm suffering..."
Her suffering was hidden too deeply for Wen Feng to see.
"Young Master Xie, perhaps you should leave. Our master said he isn't seeing anyone..."
Wen Feng hadn't forgotten his duty. His master was still listening inside, so he had to put on a show, even if it was just for appearance's sake.
Xie Jiang: "Scram!"
"Yes." Wen Feng quickly scrambled away.
Xie Jiang leaned by the window and knocked. "Yi Yan Geng, open the door for me. The riff-raff has been cleared. Let's have a good chat. Some misunderstandings need to be cleared up in person."
There was no movement from the study.
Who wants to hear those deceptive words!
He hadn't been fooled by her enough!
"Yi Yan Geng? Yi Yan Geng?"
"Yi Yan Geng, did you hurt your ears?"
Xie Jiang had intended to show her face and leave, not to coax him into reconciliation today. She needed to give him time to calm down. Yi Yan Geng's silence was exactly what she wanted, as Xu Heng Yan was still in the capital these few days.
As she coaxed, she actually found it quite amusing.
Xie Jiang suddenly felt the joy of having multiple wives and concubines.
"Yi Yan Geng? Yi Yan Geng?"
"Yi Yan Geng, are you asleep?"
"Little Geng Geng, be good, open the door for me. Hurry and open it, I want to come in..."
Hearing Xie Jiang actually start singing, Wen Feng and Shan Bai were stunned. Goosebumps crawled up their arms, spreading like blooming flowers onto their backs.
They tacitly moved further away, covering their ears.
Miss Xie dared to sing, but they dared not listen. What kind of song was that?
It sounded like a lecherous man coaxing a virtuous woman.
"Little Geng Geng, be good, open the door for me. Hurry and open it, I want to come in..."
Xie Jiang sang with more vigor, feeling the lyrics were very fitting. Yi Yan Geng was indeed a prickly rabbit, fierce enough to eat people. She had to soothe him.
"Little Geng Geng..."
Yi Yan Geng felt so ashamed through the door that his vision went black. His pent-up rage almost erupted.
But the image of her and Xu Heng Yan entangled by the lotus pond, whenever he thought of it, he couldn't suppress the戾气 and killing intent all over his body.
She's a liar!
He had known she was a liar long ago!
But since she had deceived him, couldn't she deceive him forever?
Couldn't she focus all her deception on him alone!
Was she proud that she could play him in the palm of her hand after being caught red-handed!
Yi Yan Geng pressed his throbbing temple, fearing he might lose control and rush out to kill her!
Yi Yan Geng angrily roared into the outside: "Are all of you dead! Do you want to be chopped up and fed to dogs!"
Wen Feng and Shan Bai no longer dared to harbor any侥幸. They rushed forward in two steps and grabbed Xie Jiang. "Young Master Xie, perhaps you should leave..."
They were far away at the Duke of Wei's estate today and didn't know what had happened, only guessing vaguely. But they hadn't expected their master's reaction to be so intense.
They thought that Young Lady Xie and Young Master Xu were involved, and their master should have some idea. Could it be that their master had previously underestimated Miss Xie, and found it difficult to accept the truth when it was suddenly revealed?
Their master had thought too highly of Miss Xie. Miss Xie was as cunning as a wolf; what couldn't she do.
"Yi Yan Geng, don't get angry. If you don't like it, I won't sing anymore, alright..."
Xie Jiang was reluctant, but also afraid of provoking him and hurting his body, so she had to compromise and retreat.
"Then I won't disturb you. You calm down yourself..." See how understanding she was!
Turning, she instructed Wen Feng and Shan Bai: "Take good care of Yi Yan Geng, and persuade him to calm down."
"..."
Unless Miss Xie personally killed Young Master Xu, how could their master calm down? Even if they wanted to help their master resolve his troubles, they were powerless in this matter.