Chapter Fourteen: Father, I Have Good News to Tell You

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By the time the Grand Princess and her party reached the rear gate, the place was already empty. Qin Hao had left long ago.

There was not even the sound of wind or insects. The silence was terrifying.

“This... this...”

Wu Tong was frantic.

His younger brother Shen had landed him in serious trouble. The Grand Princess had ordered Qin Hao to stand as punishment, and Wu Tong himself had arranged it. How could he have simply run away?

Li Qingyao’s face darkened at the sight.

The Optimized Disaster Relief Method in her hand nearly slipped to the ground, but she swiftly clenched it tight, leaving deep creases in the paper.

“Your Highness, I’ll have someone bring Master Shen—Young Master Shen back at once.”

Wu Tong hurriedly fell to his knees, desperately trying to think of a way to remedy the situation.

At the same time, he gained an even deeper appreciation of just how audacious this younger brother Qin was.

“No need.” Li Qingyao stopped him. “I heard Shen Hao say that you did not judge him by his appearance, and only after he composed the second line did you take him into the household staff?”

Wu Tong’s face went pale, and he did not even dare lift his head.

How had Shen told the Grand Princess about this?

And why had she brought it up precisely when Shen had openly disobeyed her orders?

Could she be planning to silence both him and Shen by killing them?

The more Wu Tong thought about it, the more frightened he became. Even his voice trembled.

“Yes... yes, that did happen.”

Li Qingyao smiled. “You did well. You found a great talent for this princess. You shall be richly rewarded.”

Wu Tong thought she was being sarcastic and lowered his head even further.

Seeing his misunderstanding, Li Qingyao gave a faint gesture to Xiao Zhao beside her.

Xiao Zhao immediately announced, “Wu Tong, receive your reward.”

“You have an eye for talent and have rendered service by finding a capable man for Her Highness. You are hereby granted permission for one direct male descendant of your family to enter the Grand Princess’s residence for further study. One person only.”

Wu Tong was utterly stunned.

What?

Was this really true? Not only would he escape punishment, he would receive an enormous reward?

Allowing a member of his family to study at the Grand Princess’s residence was an honor beyond measure.

For example, a promising scholar might originally have needed ten years before he could take the imperial examinations. But after entering the Grand Princess’s residence for further study, it would be like having every road cleared before him—he could take the examinations immediately.

“Wu Tong, why have you not offered your thanks?” Xiao Zhao said with a smile.

“This old servant thanks Your Highness the Grand Princess for your gracious reward!”

Wu Tong prostrated himself fully, unable to conceal his excitement.

“Very well.” The Grand Princess spoke calmly. “Wu Tong, prepare a room for Shen Hao tomorrow. Choose one of the rooms beside my residence.”

“As for his punishment, let him forget about it.”

Wu Tong hurriedly agreed.

How could he still fail to understand that he had benefited from his younger brother Shen?

At the same time, he could not help wondering what kind of spell Shen had cast during that brief meeting to make the Grand Princess grant him such generous treatment.

But he also knew that his opportunity had arrived.

He truly did possess a discerning eye for talent. He had spotted Shen at a glance in the crowd.

After the Grand Princess departed, Wu Tong sprang to his feet in excitement and ran into the residence.

Shen was not there.

In that case, the young lady Yu, whom his younger brother had brought today, absolutely had to be given the finest medicine available.

On the street, Qin Hao’s expression was as ugly as if he had just eaten excrement.

His money was gone!

Two ounces of silver—gone!

He had already decided how he would spend it.

And now it was gone!

At that moment, Qin Hao cursed the thief’s entire ancestral line in his heart.

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I was already this miserable, and you still stole from me!

Had your conscience been eaten by a dog?

“Grrr...”

Qin Hao’s stomach rumbled at the worst possible moment.

The hunger had returned.

He had clearly eaten his fill not long ago. How could he already be hungry again?

Still, he did feel much more energetic.

Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he could distinctly sense that his body was recovering at an astonishing speed. It seemed that this rapid recovery was what had made him so hungry.

It was strange, to say the least.

His body was recovering far too quickly.

Moreover, his memories of his previous life had somehow become remarkably clear. Things he had learned in that life came back to him with perfect clarity.

Even with the intelligence of someone who had earned master’s degrees in both dynamics and energy science in his previous life, he could not explain it.

Could transmigration of the soul have caused a quantum transformation in his brain and body?

But he had no time to dwell on it now.

He was hungry.

The hunger grew stronger and stronger, until he was swallowing repeatedly and his mouth was filling with saliva.

Suddenly, he heard a conversation nearby.

“Brother Wang, Miss Plum and Miss Snow of the Pleasure House are holding a literary gathering tonight. The themes are plum blossoms and snow.”

“Any talented scholar who goes upstairs and wins the favor of either lady will have his entire bill waived by the Pleasure House tonight.”

“It’s really Miss Plum and Miss Snow?”

“Yes. Yet no one has managed to become their favored companion. I hear that more than half the talented scholars in the capital have gone tonight.”

“Then let’s hurry over too.”

Qin Hao’s gaze fell upon two young scholars striding away.

His eyes immediately lit up.

If he won the literary gathering, he could get dinner for free!

He had a meal to look forward to tonight.

He knew what such a gathering was: an entertainment held between the famous courtesans of ancient pleasure houses and talented scholars.

The Pleasure House was the most renowned establishment of its kind in the capital.

Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon; Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum—the eight famous courtesans were all extraordinarily beautiful and each possessed a special talent.

Among them, Miss Plum was best known for her mastery of the xiao flute, a skill said to be unmatched throughout the capital.

Qin Hao immediately quickened his pace toward the Pleasure House.

He was starving to death.

At the same time.

The Qin residence.

A spy dressed in black quietly returned to Yang Suxin’s side.

Yang Suxin was feeding medicine to her unconscious son. Without looking up, she asked, “Have you found out?”

The man in black respectfully reported, “Yes. Qin Hao left the Grand Princess’s residence through the rear gate. It seems that Her Highness does not want outsiders to know that he visited.”

“Furthermore, Qin Hao stayed there for only half an hour before leaving. When he departed, the steward of the Grand Princess’s residence gave him two ounces of silver.”

“As for his injured maidservant, she did not come out. Most likely, she died of her wounds.”

A flicker of light passed through Yang Suxin’s eyes.

Just as she had expected.

The Grand Princess did not think highly of Qin Hao.

It made sense. He was a useless man without the slightest ability.

If not for the last trace of affection she owed his mother, who would have bothered with him?

Besides, Qin Hao had just caused the royal family to lose face.

The Grand Princess had already done everything she could by helping him.

Suddenly, Yang Suxin thought of something and issued an order.

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“Have people guard the city gates. If Qin Hao tries to leave the city, kill him immediately and make it look as though bandits robbed and murdered him on the road.”

“And his maidservant as well. Once her death is confirmed, that will suffice. As for those following Qin Hao, there is no need to continue. We must avoid exposing ourselves.”

“Go.”

“Yes!”

The man in black departed.

A smile appeared at the corners of Yang Suxin’s lips.

Qin Hao was certain to die this time.

Having left home of his own accord and carrying the reputation of a fool, Qin Hao would not be believed even if he shouted the truth from the rooftops.

At most, people would assume he was merely expressing resentment toward his stepmother.

The only troublesome matter was the Grand Princess’s interest in him.

She had arranged for Qin Hao to leave through the rear gate.

Most likely, she had secretly helped him without the Empress’s knowledge.

Otherwise, if the matter came to light, the royal family would suffer another blow to its dignity.

It seemed she would have to find an opportunity to whisper a few words into the Empress’s ear and persuade the Grand Princess to stop interfering in Qin Hao’s affairs.

She needed a reason to enter the palace.

She had heard that the Empress had recently caught a cold and lost her appetite.

This was the perfect opportunity.

Yang Suxin immediately gave her orders.

“Send someone to Hexi to purchase red-fruit paste. Hurry. Have it delivered within three days.”

If more than three days passed, the Empress’s cold might already have been cured, and all their preparations would be wasted.

At that moment.

The imperial palace.

Phoenix Grace Hall.

Emperor Xuande had set aside the memorials for once and was accompanying the Empress in the inner palace.

Empress Xiaoyuan had caught a slight cold and had been unwell for several days, which had caused Emperor Xuande considerable distress.

The two had been childhood sweethearts and had eventually become husband and wife.

No matter how many consorts he had, Empress Xiaoyuan was the only woman Emperor Xuande truly loved.

Inside the hall, the couple drank tea and chatted leisurely.

Emperor Xuande said with a smile, “Xiaoyuan, Qingyao composed another ingenious couplet today. The first line was: ‘Lonely at the cold window, vainly guarding widowhood.’”

After taking her medicine, Empress Xiaoyuan had recovered a little of her strength. Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes, followed by a sigh.

“I have been negligent as her mother. I always thought of her as a child who had not yet grown up.”

“Who would have thought that Qingyao is already eighteen?”

“Most of all, that child has devoted herself entirely to helping you stabilize the Great Jing Dynasty. I am forever hearing about all the good she does for the nation and its people, and I had forgotten that she should have found a suitable husband long ago.”

Emperor Xuande immediately said, “You think so too?”

Empress Xiaoyuan nodded. “Yes. It is time to start looking for a husband for Qingyao.”

Emperor Xuande smiled. “Once your cold has cleared, we can see which handsome and talented young man is worthy of our Qingyao.”

Empress Xiaoyuan smiled gently. “I shall leave it to you.”

At that moment, the emperor’s personal eunuch came to report.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the Grand Princess has arrived.”

A bright gleam appeared in Emperor Xuande’s eyes. “Quickly, let Qingyao in.”

After only a few breaths, Li Qingyao’s voice arrived before she did.

“Imperial Father, I have good news to tell you!”

Then Li Qingyao came bustling into the hall.

Only in the presence of her parents did she dare behave so freely, casting aside proper etiquette.

Emperor Xuande laughed heartily. “Qingyao, come. Sit beside your Imperial Father. Your mother and I also have good news to tell you.”

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