Jing Xuan was concentrating intently on making incense, her movements extremely practiced.
“Princess Consort, what is this?”
“Incense.”
“Incense? What is this made from? Why does it smell even better than the incense that was originally in the room?”
While blending, Jing Xuan explained, “This incense is a type of secret recipe from my homeland of Great Lin. After smelling it, it will make people feel refreshed and invigorated, promote blood circulation and clear the meridians. If someone is tired or emotionally unstable, smelling it will make their body and mind feel comfortable.”
The maids were astonished. “We never imagined it would have such miraculous effects.”
She smiled without speaking and continued blending. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “By the way, what were you all discussing in the courtyard just now? It seemed… to be about the Prince.”
“Well…” The maids exchanged glances, unsure whether they should speak or not.
Jing Xuan’s hands stopped their movements as she looked toward them, her expression becoming stern. “What, am I not allowed to know?”
“That’s not it, Princess Consort.”
“Speak!” Seeing Jing Xuan’s gaze suddenly turn sharp, the maids dared not conceal anything and honestly said, “Today the Prince took guards to the Second Prince’s manor, saying that the Second Prince had a secret chamber there and had even broken through a wall. When the Great King found out about this, he punished the Prince… confining him to the manor for five days and ordering him to copy scriptures.”
Jing Xuan smiled slightly, as if it wasn’t such a big deal. “Oh? Is that all?”
“Also, we heard that for this year’s ancestral ceremony, the Great King has put the Second Prince in charge.” Jing Xuan smiled again, showing no sign whatsoever of any inner thoughts. After remaining silent for a moment, she said, “Since the Prince will be copying scriptures these next few days, then after a while you should light this new incense I’ve just blended in his study, so the Prince’s spirit can be better and he won’t make mistakes while copying the scriptures.”
Her tone was extremely calm.
The maids accepted the order.
Soon, Jing Xuan had finished making the incense, forming it into individual pieces.
The maids also followed her instructions and lit the incense in the study.
The fragrance was pleasing to the nose.
Comfortable and pleasant-smelling.
As soon as Natuo entered, he noticed it.
“What is that smell?”
“In response to the Prince, it’s incense,” the maid said.
“Incense?”
“The Princess Consort knew the Prince would be copying scriptures in the study these next few days, so she specially sent over several pieces of incense to burn in the room, saying it can help the Prince concentrate and dispel fatigue.”
Heh?
This was truly miraculous!
Natuo’s heart was filled with confusion, not knowing what that woman was really up to.
Last time when he drank himself into a stupor, she had specifically instructed people to tell him not to drink anymore. Now she was sending incense to relieve fatigue. What exactly was her intention?
By all rights, with Gong Shilin dead, she should hate him to death.
Instead, she kept showing him kindness time and again. It was truly strange.
Seeing him lost in thought, the maid softly called out, “Prince?”
“It’s nothing. You may leave. Unless there’s something important, don’t come in to disturb this Prince.”
“Yes!”
The maid withdrew and closed the door.
Natuo walked to the small incense burner and lifted the lid.
The fragrance rushed out from inside.
It immediately made one feel clear-headed and refreshed, and indeed much more alert.
It appeared that it truly could dispel fatigue.
So be it. He needed to copy scriptures, which required mental clarity. Keeping this incense burning in the room was actually good.
He replaced the lid, walked behind the desk, and began copying scriptures.
…
Deep night approached.
In a secluded residence.
Lian Que had slept for several hours before finally waking.
The wounds on his body and face had all been cleaned and bandaged.
The bloodstains covering him had also been washed away.
He opened his eyes to see the gauze curtains gently swaying overhead.
The surroundings were filled with a strong medicinal smell.
He frowned slightly. He wanted to prop himself up, but his entire body was weak and pain radiated everywhere.
“Brother Lian, you’re awake.” A male voice sounded in the room as a man walked to the bedside, extremely excited and joyful. “You’ve finally woken up. We were all worried to death.”
This was one of his companions, named Zhao Qi.
They had faced life and death together many times.
“Zhao Qi? How… how did I end up here? Shouldn’t I… shouldn’t I be at the Second Prince’s manor?”
“Fortunately your fate was strong and you had a benefactor’s assistance, which is how you escaped disaster! Moreover, if we hadn’t arrived in time, you shouldn’t be here now, nor should you be at the Second Prince’s manor—you should be in the King of Hell’s palace.”
“What do you mean? What benefactor?”
Just as Zhao Qi was about to speak, the door to the room was pushed open.
Someone entered from outside.
Zhao Qi immediately stood and walked over, calling out, “Prime Minister.”
Lian Que’s brows furrowed.
Prime Minister?
In all of Huyi today, the only person who could be called Prime Minister was Left Prime Minister Gong.
Why would he be here?
Seeing that he had already awakened, Gong Chi felt much more relieved.
He walked over and said, “You’ve finally woken up. If you hadn’t woken up, I wouldn’t have been able to answer to the Marquis.”
Lian Que’s heart was full of questions.
He tried to get up.
But Gong Chi immediately pressed him down. “You suffered such severe injuries at the Second Prince’s manor, your entire body covered in whip marks. Right now you’d better lie still, otherwise if your wounds split open again, even the greatest immortal couldn’t save you.”
“What exactly is going on? Why would you be the one to save me? How did you know… that I was trapped at the Second Prince’s manor, and also… exactly how much do you know? And on the Marquis’s side…”
Before he could finish, Gong Chi interrupted him. “You want to ask exactly how much I know, is that it?”
“…”
Gong Chi smiled slightly. “These things, you need not know. You only need to remember one thing—right now the Marquis and I are in the same boat. Our goals are the same.”
Lian Que wanted to speak but stopped himself.
He couldn’t utter a single word.
But he could be certain that this Prime Minister before him must have reached some kind of deal with the Marquis. Otherwise, Zhao Qi wouldn’t be so courteous to him, nor would he have intervened to save himself.
“All right, I won’t disturb you further. Rest well, and don’t think too much about other matters.”
After speaking, he left!
Lian Que insisted on sitting up from the bed and asked Zhao Qi, “In just one short day, what exactly happened?” Zhao Qi let out a deep breath and said, “After you were trapped in the manor, Bai Yin went to find the Marquis. We searched for you at the manor all night without finding you. Because the manor’s security was so tight, when dawn was approaching, we could only return first. Not long after, the Prime Minister suddenly came to show goodwill to the Marquis. The Marquis said that if the Prime Minister could save you, he would agree to cooperate with him. Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister truly had a way—he deliberately leaked information to both sides, and then…”
He explained all the details of what had transpired.
Lian Que was shocked. “You mean that the Marquis has now agreed to cooperate with the Prime Minister?”
“Mm… I think that should be the case, though the Marquis hasn’t said so explicitly!”
“And then?” Zhao Qi walked to the table, picked up a bowl of medicine and walked over while saying, “In any case, the Marquis’s intentions aren’t clear. Once you’ve recovered, Brother Lian, the Marquis should tell you. For now, don’t ask about these things. The most important thing is your injuries. I think in a little while, the Marquis should be coming over. Right now you should drink this medicine and get some good sleep.”