Chapter 364: You’re Too Much
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Emperor Kangze’s eyes were blazing like torches.
The Empress Dowager picked up a piece of bean curd with her chopsticks and gave it to Emperor Kangze. “Prince Ma has returned to the capital? Did Your Majesty summon him?”
Emperor Kangze replied, “He came back on his own accord. He said that he wanted to offer his wishes to Empress Mother on her birthday. He’s quite thoughtful.”
The Empress Dowager’s face was emotionless as she continued to eat. “There’s no need for him to travel so far, but since he’s back, it’s good.”
“Are you looking forward to his return, or do you not want him to return, Empress Mother?”
The Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Kangze and slowly put down her chopsticks. “What does Your Majesty want to say?”
Emperor Kangze laughed, but the smile did not extend to his eyes. “Nothing. I’m just curious.”
“What does it matter whether I want him to come back or not? How would it affect Your Majesty? Since there is no effect, why should Your Majesty worry?”
Emperor Kangze scooped a bowl of soup for the Empress Dowager. “I was just saying casually. Empress Mother, don’t be angry. Let’s eat.”
The meal was eaten in a particularly gloomy atmosphere. The Empress Dowager only ate a few mouthfuls before putting down her chopsticks.
When Emperor Kangze saw that the Empress Dowager was full, he also put down his chopsticks. “1 still have something on, so I’ll take my leave first.”
“Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. There is no need to come to my place and waste your time.”
Emperor Kangze didn’t say anything and left.
The palace maid brought hot tea into the room and served it to the Empress Dowager. “Your Imperial Highness, have some tea.”
The Empress Dowager reached out to take the tea, but to the maid’s surprise, the moment she let go, the teacup tilted and fell to the ground.
Crash! The teacup instantly shattered into pieces.
The palace maid’s face turned pale from fright and she knelt on the ground in panic. “Your Imperial Highness, please calm down. Your servant is useless. I… I thought that Your Imperial Highness had already held it firmly so I let go. Please punish me.”
The Empress Dowager came back to her senses and looked at the palace maid who was trembling all over. “Get up. Clean up the place and leave.”
“Yes, yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
There was a trace of panic in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, and she clenched the prayer beads in her hand tightly.
She muttered something that only she could hear. “Why did you come back? Oh, why did you come back?”
Prince Ma was a prince of a different surname from the Imperial Family. When he was conferred the title of Prince, he was given a mansion in the capital. As long as Prince Ma did not commit any crimes, the mansion would not be taken back.
After coming out of the palace, Prince Ma went back to his mansion in the capital with Sima Chen.
“Go. Send the visitation card to Prince Qi’s Manor. Tomorrow, 1 will pay a visit to Prince Qi.”
Sima Chen frowned when he heard that. “Father, aren’t you worried that the Emperor will be suspicious?”
Xiao Jin’s situation was very sensitive to begin with. If they came looking for Xiao Jin as soon as they arrived, Sima Chen was worried that Emperor Kangze would have other thoughts.
However, Prince Ma replied, “You mean if I don’t go, the Emperor won’t suspect me?”
In truth, Sima Chen did not understand why his father kept clinging to Xiao Jin.
“Father wants to rope in Prince Qi?”
Rather than saying that he was trying to rope Prince Qi in, it was more like he was testing Prince Qi.
“After he returned to the capital, he didn’t seem to have done anything, but Xiao Jue fell. If he really did something behind the scenes, it would be very bad for us to have such an opponent.” However, the main reason he wanted to see Xiao Jin was not to meet him, but rather his Princess Consort.
Prince Ma had already heard of the commotion Su Ying had caused in the capital. He was very curious to know what kind of character this woman was.
If she was really as powerful as the rumors said, then she must not be left alive!
In the study of Prince Qi’s Manor, Jiang Yang handed a booklet to Xiao Jin.
“The guard keeping watch at that residence said that Ming Yu received news from the buyer yesterday. He said he wanted to take the people earlier and told them to go to the previous transaction place at night to trade. Last night, the guards laid an ambush and arrested the person who came to trade. After interrogation, they found out that he was a middleman and not the main buyer. However, he revealed some details about the buyer. I have sorted all the information and recorded them here.”
Xiao Jin flipped through the booklet and found that there were three brothels listed on it. It was not strange for brothels to buy women. “What kind of place is this Cultural Flair Teahouse?”
“When 1 saw it, I also felt that it was strange. I’ve already sent people to investigate, but there’s no news yet.”
Xiao Jin closed the booklet. “Where are the people at the Grand Mentor’s Residence?”
“Your Highness, they have reached the county city closest to the capital.”
“Send some people there to act as a cover. Don’t let them be discovered.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Jiang Yang had just excused himself when Wang Su walked in with a visitation card.
“Your Highness, Prince Ma sent someone to send a visitation card over. He said that he brought a lot of local specialties from Prince Ma City and wanted to present them to Your Highness as well as pay you a visit.”
Xiao Jin glanced at the visitation card. “He just arrived in the capital yet he can’t wait to drag me down with him. Tell him I’m injured, so it’s inconvenient for me to meet guests. Reply to him in this way.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Xiao Jin returned to the courtyard after he finished dealing with the miscellaneous affairs.
Su Ying had already coaxed the two little ones to sleep.
Xiao Jin entered the room and frowned when he saw the two children sleeping in the spot that originally belonged to him.
“Why didn’t you let Bai Shuang carry them next door?”
Su Ying lay on the bed and said with her eyes closed, “No need. You can sleep next door.”
Xiao Jin sat down by the bed like a canine species and rubbed his hand against Su Ying’s fingertips. “Are you jealous?”
Su Ying slapped his paw away. “What is there to be jealous of?”
“Then why did you ask me to go to the room next door? Su Ying, are you angry?”
Su Ying opened her eyes lazily, revealing a slit of an opening. “Indeed, I’m not too pleased.” She did lose a big fish!
However, a faint smile appeared in the corner of Xiao Jin’s eyes. “She’s just an unimportant character. If you really can’t get over it, I’ll help you relieve your stress tonight.”
Su Ying closed her eyes and didn’t say anything. Xiao Jin laughed softly and summoned Bai Shuang to carry the two children to the room next door.
Xiao Jin’s fingertips then swept across the room and extinguished the candles, hiding all the suggestive sentiments within the room.
The next morning, Prince Ma came uninvited and brought along the spicy fish that was a specialty in Prince Ma City. He said that Su Ying and Xiao Jin must try it.
“Spicy fish? What is that?” Su Ying took a bite of the meat bun, showing some interest in this novel food item.
Bai Shuang explained, “Your Highness, spicy fish is a specialty of Prince Ma City. Prince Ma City produces a lot of chilies. They have a fishing festival every year. After the fish caught during the festival are sliced open and cleaned, they will be marinated with chilies and salt. After that, they will be dried and placed in jars. When the New Year comes, they will take them out to eat. I heard that on a snowy winter day, one will sweat a lot after eating spicy fish. It is the best way to ward off the cold.”
Su Ying listened with great interest. “Sounds like it tastes pretty good.”
“I have never eaten it before, but 1 have heard that it is delicious.”
Su Ying turned to look at Xiao Jin. “Your father doesn’t like you anyway. Since that Prince Ma has been trying to get close to you time and again, why don’t you fulfill his wish?”
Xiao Jin raised his eyebrows. “Just for a bite of spicy fish?”
Su Ying licked her lips. “The ones he brings may be more authentic and taste better.”
A hint of helplessness flashed across Xiao Jin’s eyes as he said dotingly, “Fine. If you want to eat it, then let him in.”
Su Ying was pleased. “If it doesn’t taste good, you can chase him away.”
Xiao Jin chuckled softly. “Then make him bring something else over as compensation.”
Su Ying clicked her tongue. “Xiao Jin, you’re too much.”
However, she liked him for it..