Chapter 1108: Servant

As they were afraid of trouble, the group tried their best to keep a low profile on the way. They usually chose an inn to stay in and rarely troubled the local officials.

This time, it was no exception. Qi Haoran did not inform the officials of Jingzhao Prefecture, so naturally, he did not inform the people guarding the residence either. Hence, no one came out to welcome them.

The guard captain went forward and knocked on the door. He thought that he would have to wait for half a day. After all, there was only one family left behind to guard the vast General’s Residence. Considering the master was not at home, there might not be someone guarding the door at all times.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he knocked, the door immediately opened. A servant-like person sized up the guard captain and asked, “What are you doing? If you’re here to find someone, you need to enter through the corner door. This is the main door.”

The guard captain replied with a gentle smile, “His Highness, Prince Rong, has returned to the residence. Go and get Zhu De to welcome him.”

The servant was shocked. He first glanced at the guard captain and then stuck his head out to look at the five large carriages in front of the door. Then, he hurriedly opened the door and bowed. “Please wait a moment. I’ll go now.”

He asked another servant behind the door to attend to them before running into the house.

Zhu De was sitting in an armchair and drinking tea. He said slowly to his son, Zhu Quan, “According to the news from Kaifeng, someone saw Prince Rong and Princess Consort Rong over there. You should restrain yourselves these days. If His Highness doesn’t return to the capital with His Majesty, I’m afraid he’ll take a detour to Jingzhao Prefecture.”

Frowning, Zhu Quan said, “Why would Your Highness come to Jingzhao Prefecture for no reason?”

“What do you know? Her Highness’s maternal family is in Xingzhou Prefecture. Won’t they pass by our Jingzhao Prefecture from the north?” Zhu De sighed and said, “His Highness is almost perfect, but he dotes on Her Highness too much. Who knows, perhaps they will come. Therefore, you should watch your behavior recently. His Highness is very hot-tempered and can’t stand these things the most.”

Zhu Quan could only lower his head and agree.

“Since the magistrate takes good care of us, do send someone to inform him.”

Zhu Quan said indignantly, “How is he taking care of us? The last time my son took a fancy to that piece of land in the east city, he refused to relent no matter what. I sent someone to buy it from those bumpkins, but he actually secretly sent the bailiffs to stop them. Does he think that I won’t know that he’s behind it by sending the bailiffs”

With a frown, Zhu De scolded, “Idiot, do you think I’m doing the magistrate a favor? I’m protecting you. We’re in the same boat now. If anything happens to him, we’ll definitely be implicated. Although there are many bad things about this magistrate, we’re still familiar with each other after all. It’s better than a new unknown person. Moreover, if Prince Rong and Princess Consort Rong come to the Jingzhao Prefecture this time, it might be a chance for us.”

Everyone in the world knew that Prince Rong hated corrupt officials, and the officials in the bureaucracy were especially afraid. The magistrate had turned a blind eye to them all these years and allowed them to cause trouble. This was a weakness in itself. Seizing this opportunity, they did not have to worry about not being able to take him down.

Just as Zhu De was about to teach his son, a servant ran over and shouted, “Head Chief, Head Chief…”

Zhu De frowned and Zhu Quan scolded, “What are you shouting for? This is the General’s Residence. How can you be so noisy?”

Panting, the servant pointed outside. “Head Chief, Eldest Master, there’s a guard and five carriages outside. They said that His Highness, Prince Rong, is back.”

Zhu De’s expression changed drastically. The teacup in his hands trembled and fell to the ground.

He thought that Prince Rong might come to Jingzhao Prefecture, but he definitely didn’t expect him to arrive today. Zhu De glanced at the clothes on himself and his son and hurriedly stood up. “Hurry up and get someone to tidy up this place. Go back and change quickly. Take off all the accessories on your body.”

Qi Haoran was sleeping soundly in Mu Yangling’s arms. The guards accompanying him outside were still sitting on their horses, motionless.

The window of the carriage behind was pushed open a little, and an imperial physician stuck his head out to take a look. He turned around and whispered to his colleague, “It’s been 45 minutes, right? Looks like something is going to happen in Jingzhao Prefecture.”

The other imperial physician still had his eyes slightly closed. When he heard this, he said in a low voice, “Don’t worry too much. We just have to take care of His Highness’s health. Even if something happens, they only have themselves to blame. We’ve traveled west all the way from the Jinan Prefecture and passed by so many towns. Although there have also been injustices, we’ve never encountered someone quite so arrogant.”

“To think a servant of the royal family is so bold…”

The bold Zhu De and his son ran out of the residence anxiously. Wearing gray cloth clothes, they knelt down in front of the carriage and apologized. “Your Highness, please forgive us. We didn’t know that Your Highness had returned to the residence. It’s our fault for not welcoming you properly.”

Qi Haoran opened his eyes and asked with difficulty, “What’s wrong?”

Mu Yangling patted him and smiled. “It’s fine. The servants were a little shocked. It’s good that you woke up. Let’s go into the residence to sleep.”

When Qi Haoran heard this, he stood up faintly and said after a while, “Let the imperial physician change the prescription. It’s awful dozing off every time I take the medicine.”

Smiling, Mu Yangling said, “Sleeping is also a way to regulate the body.”

The couple chatted for a while and left Zhu De and Zhu Quan there. As it had been a long time since the father and son knelt like this, their knees turned wobbly from the kneeling.

Mu Yangling even poured a cup of water for Qi Haoran before saying through the curtain, “Get up. We’ll only stay for one night and will leave tomorrow morning. Get someone to clean up His Highness’s courtyard. The imperial physicians will stay in the guest courtyard while the guards will stay in the front yard.”

Zhu De and Zhu Quan heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that they were just staying there for a day. They hurriedly helped each other up and led the way.

The servants removed the threshold to allow the carriage to enter.

After entering the residence, Mu Yangling helped Qi Haoran out of the carriage. Seeing that the residence was relatively clean, the two of them nodded in satisfaction.

Looking at the gray cloth clothes on the two of them, Mu Yangling did not say anything. She helped Qi Haoran to the backyard. From afar, she saw two servant girls hurriedly helping a young woman dressed lavishly out of the garden.

A drop of cold sweat rolled down Zhu Quan’s forehead. That was his beloved concubine. Didn’t he tell them to go back to their rooms and not to go out?

Why was his concubine still in the garden?

Mu Yangling acted as if she didn’t see anything and helped Qi Haoran back to their residence.

Upon entering, they saw that their room was covered in dust. Mu Yangling wiped a finger on the table, and her fingertip was covered in dust. This time, even Zhu De’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Mu Yangling still smiled and said, “Get someone to get water to clean the room. We brought a blanket with us, so just get them to come in and make the bed. Also, fetch me a basin of hot water.”

Qi Haoran’s expression was ugly. After everyone left, he said to Mu Yangling, “Let’s just stay at the inn.”

“No.” Mu Yangling said, “How can staying at an inn be as comfortable as staying at home?”

Qi Haoran took a deep breath and sat there with a livid expression for a long time before saying, “Head Chief Zhu and Zhu Liang are still considered capable. They weren’t blinded by the bustling capital…”

“Everyone has their own fate. Don’t worry about this matter. We’ll just stay for a night and leave. Don’t forget that we’re here to visit my old home and have fun.”

Qi Haoran did not believe her. “Are you just going to let the matter go?”

Mu Yangling sneered. “If I interfere, I’d have to expend time and mental energy. Since there are so many smart people in this world, there will naturally be someone who will take care of these things for us.”