Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Truth

Mrs. Zhao was also puzzled.

The message was sent into the palace. The Emperor would be delighted to know that Old Master Xie is fine, and knowing that the entire Duke Mansion is worried, he would surely send someone to inform them.

Half an hour should be enough for the eunuch to make a round trip.

“Princess, please wait a bit longer, it should be soon,” Mrs. Zhao advised.

Princess Nanzhang waited patiently.

But the wait extended until the sun set.

With no news sent during this time, no one from the palace would come.

That night, Princess Nanzhang stayed in the Buddhist Hall.

The next day, after waiting another half day, Princess Nanzhang’s patience wore thin.

Mrs. Zhao went to Duke Chong’s Mansion to find Duke Chong.

Duke Chong was unaware of the situation. He frowned and said, “The Emperor didn’t send anyone to inform Duke Zhen Country Mansion?”

“No,” Mrs. Zhao shook her head.

The man standing beside Duke Chong said, “That’s impossible. The message was already delivered to the Emperor. When the message was sent to the Imperial Study yesterday, the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion happened to be coming out.”

Mrs. Zhao furrowed her brows and said, “Could it be that the Eldest Young Master complained to the Emperor, and the Emperor deliberately withheld the news to make the Princess stay in the Buddhist Hall longer?”

Mrs. Zhao realized the truth.

But she immediately denied it herself, “The Eldest Young Master is not the type to lodge complaints.”

Duke Chong couldn’t fathom what the Emperor wanted to do.

Mrs. Zhao anxiously said, “Duke, what should we do about the Princess?”

Duke Chong showed displeasure in his eyes.

What is to be done?

How would he know what to do?!

The message was sent back to the Capital with the urgency of an eight-hundred-mile dispatch, delivered into the Emperor’s hands. If the Emperor doesn’t pass it on, how could others know?!

If he were to reveal this, wouldn’t it be telling the Emperor that he has read the military report?!

“Reciting sutras and praying in the Buddhist Hall isn’t a bad thing; seven days will pass quickly,” Duke Chong said.

“…”

Mrs. Zhao wanted to faint.

She had no issue hearing this, but if she were to tell the Princess, it would surely upset her.

Failing consecutively, the Princess had shown less patience with her. Mrs. Zhao pleaded, “Duke, please find a way to help the Princess. The Buddhist Hall is cold and lonely, and the Princess’s health is frail; she can’t endure it.”

“Alright, I’ll try to think of a way to help her. Please leave,” Duke Chong gestured with his hand.

Mrs. Zhao didn’t dare say more and curtsied to take her leave.

Returning to Duke Zhen Country Mansion, Mrs. Zhao informed Princess Nanzhang of the matter, and Princess Nanzhang bit her lips until they bled.

This wait extended for three more days.

Princess Nanzhang was restless in the Buddhist Hall, gritting her teeth in anger.

Su Jin was also bored in the room.

With Old Master Xie poisoned and unconscious, and Princess Nanzhang reciting sutras and praying in the Buddhist Hall, how could she possibly take her maid for a stroll or a lakeside excursion? As a daughter-in-law, she also had to look the part of mourning.

Su Jin lay on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch with cucumber slices on her face.

Tianxiang Building.

Chu Shun, Prince NanAn, and several others were strolling and observing in the backyard.

A sense of pride arose spontaneously.

“The feeling of doing proper business isn’t bad at all,” Prince NanAn said, fanning himself with a jade fan.

“Now, if I don’t sit at a tea stand for a while every day, I feel uneasy all over,” the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion said.

“I just wonder how the shop’s business will be on its opening day?” Chu Shun asked.

“It definitely won’t be bad,” the Heir of Marquis Beining said.

“How can you be so sure?” Chu Shun asked with a smile.

The Heir of Marquis Beining patted him on the shoulder and said, “Think about it, our sister-in-law went to the noodle stand once, and now it has long lines daily. When she wanted charcoal, the business boomed, and now even the incense supply can’t keep up. When it comes to her opening a business, it’d be unbelievable if it isn’t bustling.”

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion placed a hand on Prince NanAn’s shoulder and said, “Have you forgotten Princess NanAn?”

Prince NanAn knocked the hand off with a slap and said, “Don’t bring up what’s better left unsaid.”

They were talking and laughing.

A servant ran up from behind, calling from afar, “Your Highness, the Commandery Prince.”

Prince NanAn turned around.

The servant ran up, panting heavily, “Com – Commandery Prince, the price for the ice blocks is too, too high.”

“How high?” the Heir of Marquis Beining asked.

“Ten, ten taels of silver per block,” the servant said, breathless.

“Ten taels? Why don’t they just rob us?!” Prince NanAn exclaimed angrily.

Chu Shun said, “That shouldn’t be right. I remember last summer the price of ice blocks was two taels per block, and it rose to three taels in peak heat. It’s not even summer yet, so why is it so high?”

The servant hesitated to speak.

“Stop dawdling, just say it,” Prince NanAn urged.

The servant then spoke the truth, “Originally the ice blocks were indeed two taels each, but since we were buying a lot, the seller asked, and I didn’t notice and said it was for Tianxiang Building. Then the price soared to ten taels, and even at that price, the seller was reluctant to sell.”

“Does the ice seller have a grudge against us?” the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion asked.

Over the years, they had made quite a few enemies, too many to keep track of.

“No grudge against you gentlemen, but there’s grudges with the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion,” the servant replied.

“…”

“I inquired around. The ice seller is a distant relative of a steward from Duke Chong’s Mansion,” the servant said.

“…”

“No wonder. I always wondered why the court’s ice always turns to water every year; turns out it’s Duke Chong’s doing,” Chu Shun sneered.

Prince NanAn thought of the large ice cellar dug next to the backyard kitchen and said, “The ice cellar is so big that even if we move all the stored ice from the mansion, it wouldn’t be enough.”

Chu Shun pondered and said, “Let’s go, to Duke Zhen’s Mansion.”

“I won’t go; I have a shadow over that place,” Prince NanAn said.

No sooner had he spoken than the Heir of Marquis Beining and the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion lifted his arms and guided him forward.

Prince NanAn, “…”

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Su Jin stood on the corridor, stretching.

In the distance, a young maid entered the courtyard, calling from afar, “Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Madam, Prince NanAn and the others are here.”

“Let them in,” Xie Jingchen said.

The young maid turned and left.

Su Jin walked towards Xie Jingchen’s bamboo house.

Just after entering, Chu Shun and the others came over.

Xie Jingchen looked at them and said, “What brings you here?”

“We’ve come to see our sister-in-law,” Chu Shun said.

“…”

A true friend indeed, no need for formalities.

Su Jin stifled a laugh, looking at them, and said, “Looking for me? Is there something wrong with the shop?”

Chu Shun didn’t say anything.

“How much is the ice block?” Su Jin asked.

Chu Shun kept silent.

“Go on, tell her,” Prince NanAn prompted.

The servant finally spoke the truth, “The ice was indeed two taels at first, but since we’re buying in bulk, the ice seller asked who it was for. I didn’t pay attention and said it was for Tianxiang Building, and then the price of the ice soared to ten taels, yet they still refuse to sell.”

“Do they have a grudge against us?” the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo asked.

Through the years, they had made quite a few enemies, too many to remember.

“They don’t have a grudge with you, sirs, but with the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion,” the servant replied.

“…”

“No wonder, I said it before, there is no need for that,” the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo said.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep