“This Princess Chaoyang is simply going too far!”
After Luo Jingxin triumphantly led a group of servants out of the courtyard, Lizhi, indignant, muttered softly.
Lin Yanxi sat on the swing, her small legs swaying with its arc, a slight coldness in her eyes.
Her engagement was fake, but Luo Jingxin was real, the true Wangfei.
Realizing this, she deftly jumped off the swing. "Let's go, I'm hungry."
Lizhi followed behind her, "Okay, then I'll invite the Prince to dine."
Lin Yanxi paused her steps slightly and said, "No need to invite him, let's eat ourselves."
Hearing Lin Yanxi say this, Lizhi placed the pre-warmed dishes on the round table. After arranging them, she said, "Miss, quickly come, the dishes are still hot."
Lin Yanxi sat alone at the round table, picked up a few of her usual favorites, and placed them in her bowl. "The dishes from Baoxiu Tower are indeed delicious. The cooks in the Prince's mansion either give me congee or soup every day, which is very bland."
She looked at the green bamboo shoots and meat in her bowl, a beautiful arc curving on her lips, her eyes calm, not showing much joy.
Lizhi stood behind Lin Yanxi and said, "Then I'll buy from Baoxiu Tower for Miss every day."
As soon as she finished speaking, someone entered the courtyard. Shen Muzhou, having heard Lizhi's words, teased, "Then why not invite the head chef of Baoxiu Tower to the Prince's mansion? It would save you the trouble of buying for your lady every day."
Lizhi performed a customary bow, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Shen Muzhou entered the room and said to her, "You go outside and serve."
Lizhi stood there without moving her feet, instead secretly glancing at her lady.
Lin Yanxi agreed, "You may withdraw."
"Your servant takes leave." Lizhi then retreated a few steps, walked out of the room, and did not forget to turn back and close the door as she left.
Shen Muzhou sat at the round table and said, "Didn't we agree to eat together?"
Lin Yanxi said, "You eat, I'm not stopping you."
She didn't look at him as she spoke, her tone subtly carrying a hint of complaint and displeasure. She picked up a small piece of pigeon meat and put it in her bowl.
"Yanxi." He called her name.
Lin Yanxi finally raised her eyes to look at him. Upon meeting her gaze, he inexplicably dodged his eyes. "Eat more, it's all your favorite."
She furrowed her brow slightly. In fact, if he had been more attentive, he would have noticed that four out of the five dishes were to his taste, with only one sweet cake being her favorite.
After enduring for a while, she finally asked directly, "Which dish is my favorite?"
The young lady frowned, her tone stiff. When she was sulking, her small face looked a little fierce yet very cute.
Only then did he notice that these dishes were prepared especially for him. He picked up his chopsticks and put some in her dish. "It's my favorite."
Lin Yanxi glared at him. "Too lazy to argue with you."
He chuckled, "Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Second Miss Lin, for your magnanimity."
After bantering back and forth for a while, Lin Yanxi said, "My body has recovered quite well now. I also want to contribute to the refugee camp, under your name."
Shen Muzhou knew she had been cooped up in her room with nothing to do these past few days. It would be good for her to get out.
"Then take Xiao Liu with you."
"No need. Xiao Liu is used to being with you. I know talisman techniques myself, why would I need someone to protect me?"
He said sternly, "The refugee camp is crowded and mixed. I'm worried about you going alone."
Lin Yanxi nodded, "Alright."
Seeing that she had eaten enough, Shen Muzhou stood up to help her ladle some soup. A small stove was placed under the soup tureen to keep it warm.
Holding an empty porcelain bowl in his hand, he said, "The Crown Prince's involvement in the selling of official posts has led to the discovery of ore used for private weapon manufacturing also being linked to him."
"The authorities have sealed off the mine pits this time, causing quite a stir. It's estimated he won't dare to reveal any more flaws for a while. However, the more he tries to hide, the more anxious he will become and will soon be unable to restrain himself, making his next move."
"I have already instructed people to keep a close watch on the Eastern Palace's movements."
He stirred the soup in the tureen with his spoon a couple of times. The steam slowly rose, and behind the misty illusion, his face also became somewhat blurred, his clean and fair face revealing a sharp and stern profile.
His dark, deep peach blossom eyes, when met, always made one's heart race.
"Yes, after exposing the Crown Prince, I will also be leaving the Prince's mansion." Her voice was light as she said this, her gaze slightly avoiding his.
Shen Muzhou's hand holding the spoon paused. The bottom of the soup bubbled ‘gurglingly’ as it was heated by the stove. The spoon in his hand deviated half an inch, splashing scalding hot soup onto his hand.
He frowned, enduring the dull pain of the burn, and brought the porcelain bowl to her, "Let it cool for a bit before drinking, be careful of the heat."
Lin Yanxi stared at the porcelain bowl before her, her gaze slightly unfocused.
Could she leave the Prince's mansion smoothly? There was still no clue from the black cloak group. Fortunately, there had been progress with the Crown Prince's affairs.
Where would she go after leaving the Prince's mansion?
She had considered this question after her rebirth. She would choose a small county town far from the capital, purchase a few residences and shops, and bring the people from the Grand Tutor's mansion with her.
But her father's attitude was uncertain now. Would he be willing to relocate the entire family with her?
Shen Muzhou changed to a smaller porcelain spoon, scooped the soup into the small bowl, and quickly judged if the temperature was right. "Don't think too much, drink the soup first."
Her pensive expression was all seen by him. However, at this moment, he was powerless to keep this young lady by his side. He could only help her achieve her wish as soon as possible.
Before everything was resolved, staying by his side meant endless danger.
A hint of disappointment inexplicably appeared in Lin Yanxi's eyes.
---
When Luo Wanwan came to the Prince's mansion, she happened to catch Lin Yanxi as she was about to leave for the refugee camp.
The two of them went together in a carriage.
"I've been coming to see you these past few days, and the people in the mansion said you were ill and not receiving visitors," Luo Wanwan asked.
Lin Yanxi vaguely replied, "A cold, a cold."
"By the way, after your marriage, has Shen Yu treated you well?"
A hint of awkwardness appeared on Luo Wanwan's face, and she quickly smiled and said, "He didn't make things difficult for me."
He didn't make things difficult, but that was all.
Since getting married, Shen Yu seemed to be avoiding her, either sleeping in the study or at the Fengyue Tower.
She was happy to be at ease and paid no attention to him. But occasionally, she could hear Shen Yu, when drunk, stagger through the Prince's mansion, muttering 'Xin'er.'
Lin Yanxi also noticed that things didn't seem to be going smoothly between her and Shen Yu. "By the way, I have a wedding gift for you. I wanted to give it to you on your wedding day, but I never had the chance."
As she spoke, she took out a small box and handed it to the other party.
Luo Wanwan took out two property deeds from inside and looked at them repeatedly before she understood what they were.
She quickly put the deeds back and declined, "These are shops in the best location! They are too precious. Please take them back."
In the capital, every inch of land was valuable, and shops on Chang'an Street were particularly prized.
Lin Yanxi said, "It's nothing. Didn't you want to be self-sufficient? I support you."
"Have you thought about what you want to do?"
Luo Wanwan thought for a moment and said, "Although the border town is remote, if it's for transporting goods, the horse teams can reach it in just seven days. Besides ginger candy, we have many other delicious and interesting things there. I want to transport those foods that can be stored for a long time and sell them, as well as some other unique small items."
Lin Yanxi smiled, revealing a row of small teeth, and linked her arm through hers, saying, "Oh, so my Wanwan has such business acumen! That's wonderful. I support you, you will definitely succeed."
Luo Wanwan held her arm and hugged her intimately, saying, "Then you will be the main shareholder, and I will be the second shareholder."
"Okay, Second Shareholder."
The two young ladies, inside the carriage, joked with each other and had a lively time.
The carriage stopped after exiting Nanmin. Xiao Liu was outside holding the horses. He lifted the curtain, "Second Miss, we've arrived."
Luo Wanwan got out of the carriage with Lin Yanxi. Xiao Liu followed behind them.
There were about five or six refugee shelters set up, but they were far from enough to house all the refugees.
The place was overcrowded. The people, ravaged by the drought, sat one after another in tattered clothes, their faces unkempt, their original appearance indistinguishable, only revealing a pair of black eyes, dull and lifeless.
Everyone here had been forced to leave their homes due to the drought. Along the way, they had endured unimaginable hardships, and some even lost family members who died en route, unable to reach the capital.
They did not know what tomorrow would bring, nor when the disaster would end, nor how they would face the days after the disaster. Their eyes were filled with despair, yet amidst their despair, having witnessed so much life and death, they desperately longed to live.
"Miss, please give us some water."
An old man tried to grab Luo Wanwan's skirt. It was her first time seeing such a scene, and she flinched back in fright, exclaiming, "Oh!"
The old man seemed to realize he had frightened the noble lady before him and withdrew his hand awkwardly, sitting back down on the ground.
Luo Wanwan whispered into Lin Yanxi's ear, "Let's go back."
Lin Yanxi said, "It's alright, let's look further ahead."
Luo Wanwan fearfully grabbed her sleeve, preventing her from moving forward, shaking her head vigorously.
"What are you doing! Are you trying to die?!"
A man shouted in a rough voice. In front of him was a little boy.
The boy's face showed no fear, nor did he reply. His eyes stared silently at the water bucket in the man's hand.
It was called a water bucket, but it only held enough for three sips. It could be held in one hand.
"Trying to steal water?" the man asked ferociously, grabbing the boy by his collar.
The boy's feet left the ground. He struggled but did not refute his words.
Lin Yanxi glanced slightly at the person behind her and said, "Xiao Liu."
Xiao Liu immediately understood and stepped forward to intervene, "Let the child down!"
The man's bloodshot eyes glared at him and said, "Those who steal water must be executed!"
Xiao Liu drew his long saber and placed it at the man's neck, "He didn't succeed in stealing, let the child down."
Seeing that Xiao Liu had a knife, the man temporarily threw the child to the ground. "He didn't succeed today, but what about tomorrow? Someone here always loses water. Do you know that this is only enough for three sips a day, and each sip can cost someone their life!"
"Yes, this water is really not enough to drink."
"I lost water a few days ago too, maybe he stole it."
"We can't let this child go, my water was also lost."
With a few words, the man stirred up the dissatisfaction of the common people. In times of difficulty, everyone was on their own.
The little boy spoke, "I didn't! I didn't steal it!"
Lin Yanxi walked up to the little boy and asked gently, "What did you say? Say it again."
The little boy said, "My sister had a fever. I gave her my water, but it was still not enough. I had no choice but to steal water for her. The water you lost before has nothing to do with me."
Before Lin Yanxi could speak, the man became insistent, "If not you, then who? A thief like you, you don't speak a word of truth, no one will believe what you say!"
Saying this, the man directly passed Lin Yanxi, reached out, and grabbed the boy's collar again, lifting him high up, intending to throw him to the ground.
In her haste, Lin Yanxi twirled her fingertips and pointed in the man's direction: "Immobilization Art."