Zhu Yàn accompanied Shao Mingyuan as they walked toward the shore, saying: “Seeing the situation at his house, I didn’t tell him about your arrival today.”
“I should still go greet him later.”
“That’s natural. I’ve reserved a table at Desheng Restaurant to welcome you back,” Zhu Yàn said with a smile.
The group went to Desheng Restaurant. Listening to Shao Mingyuan casually talk about his southern journey, Qiao Mo also mentioned recent happenings in the capital. After finishing the meal, they each went their separate ways.
Having returned from his distant travels, Shao Mingyuan first took Qiao Zhao back to her maiden home, where they were naturally received with great hospitality by the Li residence.
After returning from the Li residence, just as the two were about to enjoy a few days of leisurely sleeping until they woke naturally, Shao Mingyuan received a summons from the new emperor.
“The Marquis has returned—why didn’t you inform me?” came the new emperor’s questioning voice from above.
Somehow, Shao Mingyuan detected a hint of grievance in it.
“This subject thought that Your Majesty handles countless affairs daily and dared not disturb you with such a small matter.”
Returning from a pleasure trip—surely this didn’t require personally coming to the palace to report back to His Majesty? He wasn’t even a key cabinet minister. If everyone came to report over matters as small as sesame seeds, His Majesty probably wouldn’t even have time to eat.
“How could that be a disturbance? The Marquis is my trusted minister—I would never consider any matter concerning the Marquis a disturbance.”
Shao Mingyuan could only manage a dry laugh.
What else could he say?
“I haven’t seen the Marquis for a long time. Today, the Marquis shall stay and share breakfast with me,” the new emperor suddenly declared, raising an eyebrow. “Wei Wuxie, have them prepare the meal.”
“Your Majesty, at this hour—” Shao Mingyuan looked completely baffled.
His Majesty still hadn’t eaten breakfast at this time?
The new emperor beamed with joy: “I was thinking that the Marquis would be entering the palace, so I waited to dine together with the Marquis.”
Shao Mingyuan: “…” The physician was right—the new emperor might be ill, and quite seriously at that.
After accompanying the new emperor through a breakfast that tasted like chewing wax, Shao Mingyuan finally escaped and returned to his residence.
“You’re back.” Qiao Zhao was playing with the myna bird Er Bing. Seeing Shao Mingyuan approach, she looked up and greeted him with a smile.
“Back.” An identical greeting sounded as Er Bing also twisted its neck to greet Shao Mingyuan.
Shao Mingyuan walked over and tapped Er Bing’s forehead with his finger, warning: “If you imitate my wife’s speech again, I’ll pluck all your feathers.”
Er Bing fluttered into Qiao Zhao’s embrace, pressing its bird face against its mistress’s high chest: “Wifey, I’m scared—”
Shao Mingyuan’s face instantly darkened.
This thieving bird was taking advantage of his wife both verbally and physically—this was intolerable!
General Shao rolled up his sleeves and lunged forward with both hands extended. Er Bing cleverly soared into the sky, so the man’s large hands landed right on that soft mound.
“Ah! This servant didn’t see anything!” Binglu, who had come over carrying a fruit tray, screamed and turned to run.
How vexing! The young master was becoming more and more improper—in broad daylight, too.
She had said being a maid was difficult.
Ah, she forgot to put down the fruit tray.
Binglu suddenly turned around, hurriedly set down the fruit tray, and ran off like smoke.
“Aren’t you going to let go?” Qiao Zhao said with a dark expression.
Shao Mingyuan blinked, took advantage of the situation to give a squeeze before withdrawing his hand, looking completely innocent: “I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s all Er Bing’s fault.”
Er Bing, perched on a branch, cleared its throat and began to sing: “Extend that hand, touch oh sister, touched the top of sister’s head oh, sister’s head smells of osmanthus…”
This was… the Eighteen Touches?
Shao Mingyuan slowly realized what was happening, his face instantly turning black as the bottom of a pot.
Which damned bastard taught a myna to sing this?
Sensing the thick murderous aura, Er Bing spread its wings and quickly fled, still humming the rest of the lyrics: “Extend that hand, touch oh sister…”
Shao Mingyuan smiled awkwardly at Qiao Zhao: “Hehe.”
Qiao Zhao raised her hand to smooth her disheveled hair at her temples and said with a half-smile: “So you all love singing this in the north.”
Shao Mingyuan, at this moment, wanted nothing more than to pluck Er Bing’s feathers, laughing sheepishly: “There are a few from the south in the troops who hum a couple of lines when they miss home. Over time, all those rascals learned to hum along…”
Turning around, Shao Mingyuan immediately summoned Chen Guang for a scolding: “You’re completely unreliable in your work, sending all sorts of nonsense to my wife!”
Chen Guang felt very wronged: “This subordinate hasn’t done anything recently, let alone sent anything to Madam!”
Now that Madam had married over, if he sent anything more, he wouldn’t be sending things—he’d be sending his life!
“Not now—before,” Shao Mingyuan reminded with a cold face.
“Before?” Chen Guang thought carefully and felt even more wronged. “Before, whatever was sent was all according to your orders!”
Heaven and earth could bear witness—before, when the General had him send box after box of silver ingots to Madam, he hadn’t even dared to touch them.
“Suggesting that I send that myna to my wife was your idea!” Shao Mingyuan finally couldn’t help but vent his anger.
Chen Guang blinked, very puzzled: “But Madam likes Er Bing. Er Bing is very good at amusing her and keeping her entertained.”
“Er Bing can also sing the Eighteen Touches,” General said expressionlessly.
“What?” Chen Guang stumbled and nearly fell over.
“Er Bing can sing this—dare you say you didn’t teach it?”
“We didn’t!” Chen Guang was ready to swear to heaven and earth. “General, we’re not crazy enough to teach a myna to sing the Eighteen Touches!”
Shao Mingyuan snorted coldly.
Chen Guang’s mind raced, then he clapped his hands: “I know! It must have secretly learned it when Shao Zhi and the others were singing carelessly before. This myna hid it deep enough! General, don’t be angry—this subordinate will go pluck its feathers right now!”
“That won’t be necessary. Er Bing is my wife’s favorite. If you dare touch it, my wife will be unhappy.”
“So we’re just letting this slide?”
“Of course not.” Shao Mingyuan raised an eyebrow. “Your monthly salary is gone until next year.”
“Gen-General!” Watching the General walk away heartlessly, Chen Guang reached out his hand with a face full of despair.
After autumn arrived, the nights became somewhat cool. Qiao Zhao nestled in Shao Mingyuan’s arms, chatting about the new emperor’s summons during the day.
“You said His Majesty specifically waited to have breakfast with you?”
“Yes. Zhaozhao, from a physician’s perspective, if His Majesty disobeyed the physician’s medical orders and broke his abstinence, would it affect this?” Shao Mingyuan pointed to his head.
No matter how he thought about it, His Majesty’s behavior seemed somewhat mentally deficient.
“You’re overthinking. If you think that person has problems here—” Qiao Zhao burst into laughter, pointing at her head, “that can only mean he’s always had problems here. It’s unrelated to Grandfather Li’s medication.”
“Oh, natural born,” Shao Mingyuan realized, still somewhat puzzled. “But it’s been especially severe recently.”
Qiao Zhao thought seriously for a moment: “Maybe now that he’s sitting in that position, he doesn’t need to hide it anymore?”
“That makes sense!” After discussing with his wife, Shao Mingyuan was completely enlightened.
A few more days passed. The autumn wind began to blow, yellow leaves covered the ground, and even the little eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were constantly busy, sweeping and cleaning everywhere.
“Make way, make way!” A eunuch ran toward the Cining Palace, knocking over a palace maid who was sweeping.