CHAPTER 393: CHAPTER 390: THE UNLUCKY ONE

The person hadn’t arrived yet, but the voice had already spread throughout the entire residence. Only Mr. Cheng could pull off something like this.

Chang An, who was leaning against the corridor’s column with a sword in hand, immediately grew alert, ready to step forward to intercept. If anyone was the most oblivious, with Mr. Cheng standing there, others would be too embarrassed to compete.

As soon as they entered the capital, the elder has hinted, both overtly and covertly, for Mr. Cheng not to stir up trouble without reason. It wasn’t easy to find some free time; the elder still needs to settle his lifetime matters, or else really end up sleeping in the monk temple with Mr. Cheng.

Mr. Cheng just stopped causing trouble for a few days, and here he is again, stirring things up at a critical moment.

Cheng Yanzhao appeared in the courtyard, with Hei Dan leading the way beside him.

"Mr. Cheng..." Chang An just managed to say two words before being drowned out by Cheng Yanzhao’s voice.

Cheng Yanzhao said, "Is Song Xian’s face still intact? It doesn’t matter if his butt’s rotten, as long as his face is preserved."

Cheng Yanzhao took a few steps towards Chang An, lowering his voice, "The butt can’t be too rotten either, otherwise he’d be despised and the marriage would be called off. Oh...heaven forbid his future father-in-law or wife ever sees it, or else when they think of him, they’ll first think of that rotten butt, hahahaha...hahahaha..."

Chang An sighed deeply in his heart; Mr. Cheng in a previous life must have been a duck spirit, otherwise his laughter wouldn’t be so similar to a duck’s quacking, going "quack quack quack" without end.

"Don’t stop me, I have to see this," Cheng Yanzhao laughed until tears came out, "This is poetic justice, served right."

Cheng Yanzhao was confined at home as soon as he returned to the capital, only because Song Xian reported to General Cheng that Cheng Yanzhao went to the battlefield and got injured, drank with people, and before returning to the capital, inquired about the most bustling spots in the capital.

General Cheng pulled Cheng Yanzhao to practice boxing and kicking and horseback archery every day, while Madam Cheng sought an imperial physician to nourish her son’s body. In short, Mr. Cheng was kept busy running in circles, wanting to leave the Cheng Mansion alone but having to come up with good reasons. Coincidentally, whenever Song Xian had things to do, he would first send a letter to the Cheng Family, telling General Cheng in advance not to need Cheng Yanzhao’s company, leaving Cheng Yanzhao without any excuses.

Cheng Yanzhao’s palms itched with hatred; he finally seized the opportunity, how could he not vent this anger?

Xie Liangchen walked to the door and called out, "Chang An."

Since the Commandery Princess spoke up, Chang An had no choice but to step aside.

Cheng Yanzhao eagerly walked forward, raised his head, and paused upon seeing Xie Liangchen. How has Princess Jia’an become so different from before?

Her eyebrows and eyes were still the same, but her complexion and appearance had changed.

Is this still Miss Xie? Cheng Yanzhao rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was dreaming.

Inside the room, Song Xian listened to the commotion outside. Cheng Yanzhao had just been eagerly heading in, but after Liangchen went out, the noise outside suddenly stopped. Even without seeing it firsthand, he could guess the situation.

Song Xian’s patience only lasted a mere moment. He spoke in a low voice, "Chang An, take that litter of wolf pups caught in the Northwest and send it to the General Mansion."

Hearing about the wolf pups, Cheng Yanzhao’s face changed immediately. Mr. Cheng feared nothing except wolves and dogs. His father had mentioned raising a few wolves to help train Cheng Yanzhao’s nerves, but his mother barely managed to stop him. If Song Xian sent them over...

"I’m here, I’m here," Cheng Yanzhao said, "How deep of a grudge is this? We’re as close as blood relatives, there’s no need to be so ruthless, right?"

Cheng Yanzhao sat properly by the bed, "I’m only concerned about you. Why are you like this? You just received a military honor recently, and word is spreading throughout the capital about Song Jiedu being the most promising official in Daqi. How did this happen...and Mr. Li at the Palace Department didn’t plead for you?"

"Let me see, the beating was really on the butt? You know, it’s almost New Year’s, and even the most disobedient children in the family aren’t being punished, yet here you are, unlucky fellow...hahahaha!"

Xie Liangchen listened to Cheng Yanzhao’s laughter in the room and finally understood why Song Xian often found him annoying. Ultimately, Mr. Cheng brought this upon himself and wasn’t at all wronged.

Cheng Yanzhao handed the letter in his hand to Song Xian, "I’m here because of this. My father found out some information. These people will be sent to the eight states. Take a look, if there’s anyone really unsuitable, we can find a way to remove them."

Song Xian took the paper in his hand and was about to read it when Cheng Yanzhao, taking advantage of Song Xian’s inattention, suddenly yanked off the blanket covering Song Xian.

"Oh dear, it’s red, purple, bleeding, hahahaha!"

Xie Liangchen first heard Cheng Yanzhao’s laughter, immediately followed by Cheng Yanzhao’s pleading.

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but smile; thanks to Cheng Yanzhao’s presence over the years, Song Xian’s life wasn’t too quiet and cold.

"Tell Mr. Cheng," Xie Liangchen instructed Chang An, "to stay and have a meal with the elder."

After hearing that scream from Cheng Yanzhao, a bowl of noodles should help calm the nerves.

Chang An responded, though he thought to himself that the Commandery Princess cooking for Mr. Cheng would surely be noted by the elder.

After enough commotion, Cheng Yanzhao softly consulted with Song Xian, "My father had someone inquire about it, and Xiao Xingzong said something in prison. Now, no one dares to discuss it, but such secrets can’t be kept hidden, and the more they suppress it, the more people believe it. Most likely, during tomorrow’s court session, no one will speak of it."

That’s exactly the outcome Song Xian wanted.

Cheng Yanzhao continued, "Besides escorting Xiao Xingzong to the capital, the Palace Department arrested a few more people, as this time they want to thoroughly investigate and get to the bottom of things. Du Zheng took people to the prison and hasn’t come out yet. The information we can get is limited; we just know that initially, the military envoy who was to escort Xiao Xingzong suddenly fell ill, which is why the duty fell to Wei Junshi."

"After Xiao Xingzong spoke, Wei Junshi panicked and tried to block Xiao Xingzong’s mouth in front of everyone in the prison, which amounts to confessing that the poisoning has another story. How could a military envoy at the Palace Department be so useless? That Wei Junshi has a big problem."

Song Xian nodded.

Cheng Yanzhao said, "When there’s more news, I’ll let you know." After saying this, Cheng Yanzhao stood up to leave, afraid Song Xian would hold a grudge if he stayed too long.

However, before he could move, Chang An said, "The Commandery Princess is making shredded pork noodles in the kitchen, so Mr. Cheng can stay and have some with the elder."

Cheng Yanzhao was delighted, "That sounds good."

"There’s not enough to eat," Song Xian said coldly, "let him go back!"

"How can it not be enough?" Cheng Yanzhao said, "I’ll just have a small bowl, or half a bowl... at least let me have some soup! With the cold wind and snow outside, if I don’t eat something warm, my legs will freeze together, and I won’t be able to walk."

"Chang An," Song Xian said, "fetch the sword, I’ll split Mr. Cheng’s legs apart."

...

Capital City.

In a courtyard of the Wang Family.

Ji Yuan sat in a chair, watching as people moved around the room.

The person stopped in front of him, "Will it be discovered in the interrogation? Should I send my father a letter?"