Shen Buci was indeed a man who had studied at the Nanjing Food Bureau. His cooking skills were amazing. It only took him half an hour to serve five dishes and a soup that were delicious and attractive for Zhao Mian and the others.
Everyone took their seats one after another. Zhao Mian sat down first at the main seat, Bai Yu sat on his left, and then Zhou Huairang and Shen Buci.
Wei Zhenfeng asked casually: "Can I eat it?"
Zhao Mian said, "No." He didn't invite him to eat fish yesterday, but he wanted to eat the dishes made by Shen Buci today. He was really dreaming.
Wei Zhenfeng shrugged: "Then I'll wait here for you to finish eating."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's extremely low aura made everyone present feel uneasy, especially since there was an outsider standing nearby watching them eat. The atmosphere at the table was very tense.
In order to ease the atmosphere, Bai Yu praised Shen Buci's cooking skills: "Xiao Shen's cooking skills are almost catching up with those of a master chef."
Shen Buci: "You are so kind."
Bai Yu: “…”
She was being silly. Why did she have to talk to Shen Buci? If she wanted to ease the atmosphere, she should have gone to Zhou Huairang.
Suddenly, Zhao Mian put down his chopsticks with a snap. Everyone was startled and followed suit. Zhao Mian looked up at Wei Zhenfeng, his disdain evident in his words: "How long are you going to use this face of yours?"
Wei Zhenfeng raised his eyebrows: "Why do you ask this suddenly? I spent a lot of effort to create this face. I can't find a potion that can make it look better in a short time. You just have to bear with it for a few more days."
Zhao Mian couldn't help but ask, "Are you also so dark?"
Wei Zhenfeng replied: "Anyway, it's not as good as yours."
Zhao Mian's face looked even worse.
Think about it. If you are outside all year round and are exposed to the wind and sun, even if you are born with fair skin when you are young, you will be tanned when you grow up.
He really doesn't like dark skin.
Zhao Mian closed his eyes and slowly exhaled the foul air in his chest.
Don't be angry, it doesn't matter. He won't fall to the point where he has to rely on Wei Zhenfeng to cure the poison. It doesn't matter whether Wei Zhenfeng is black or white.
Zhao Mian suddenly opened his eyes under the gaze of everyone, his tone was more firm and resolute than ever before: "We must use everything we can to get the antidote for the male and female poisons at any cost. Even if it means risking our lives!"
The others were full of vigor and said in unison: "Yes, sir!"
"Risting your life?" Wei Zhenfeng stroked his chin and said with a little displeasure, "Where does this sudden great determination come from?"
"And you." Zhao Mian turned to Wei Zhenfeng and said coldly, "Your injured men are still lying down? Hurry and bring them to Bai Yu to see. Once they are healed, they can get back to work."
Wei Zhenfeng: “…Oh.”
Within half a day, Yun Yong and Hua Ju were picked up.
The two had sneaked into Nangong not long ago, hoping to try their luck and explore the way. They disguised themselves as maids in charge of purchasing and sneaked into Nangong, thinking they had done it perfectly, but they never expected that they had just entered for a short time and had not even explored one way before they were discovered without warning.
The two men struggled hard to break out, and although they managed to escape, they were injured by some unknown miasma and did not see any improvement after resting for several days.
When they were picked up by their owner and saw the doctor who was about to treat them, they were both stunned.
Yun Yong opened his eyes slightly: "Is it you...?"
Hua Ju was so excited that he pointed at Bai Yu and said, "Master, it's her! She was the one who led people to arrest us in Nangong! She is from Wanhua Meng!"
Wei Zhenfeng nodded: "I know."
Hua Ju was confused: "You know?"
Bai Yu smiled slightly, very gentle and generous: "Each of us serves his own master and follows orders. I hope you two sisters will not mind."
Yun Yong and Hua Ju were stunned and confused.
Wei Zhenfeng briefly explained the current situation to them and told them to follow his orders. Although the two were still wary of Zhao Mian and others, after listening to their master and letting Bai Yu treat them, the discomfort caused by the miasma was actually alleviated, and they would be cured after two more days of rest.
On the tenth day of the tenth month, there were still five days left before the poison of the male and female Gu would take effect. Bai Yu worked hard for a long time and finally drew a complete topographic map of Nangong.
Nangong was the residence specially granted to the Imperial Master by the Empress Dowager Dongling. It was built by the mountains and rivers, with towers and terraces lined up one after another. There were countless roads of all sizes, not to mention the secret passages hidden in the dark. Even the maids of Nangong could get lost in them if they were not careful.
With this clear and detailed topographic map, the problem of getting lost was solved.
Bai Yu pointed to an inconspicuous corner on the map and said, "This place is called 'Yanyueju'. The antidote we are looking for is there. On the 15th of every month, Wan Huameng would go to Xuyuan to watch the wedding ceremony, and then stay in Yanyueju for a few days after returning. The male and female Gu and their antidote were all prepared and stored by him in Yanyueju."
Bai Yu was from Nanjing. She was at most a student in Nangong. Even though she had been appreciated by Wan Huameng, she was still an "outsider". Fortunately, she had made great contributions in discovering Yun Yong Hua Ju last time and gained the trust of some disciples in the sect. That gave her the opportunity to go deep into Nangong and find and confirm these clues.
She thought about stealing the antidote and handing it over to His Highness. Unfortunately, Wan Huameng seemed to be very fond of Yanyueju. Even though he did not live there often, he would send heavy troops to guard it on weekdays. Bai Yu tried to sneak in several times but to no avail. Once, she almost exposed herself and had to give up.
Wei Zhenfeng stared at the black dot on the map that represented Yanyueju, thinking: "Here..."
Zhao Mian: "Speak."
Wei Zhenfeng pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Nothing, let's get to Yanyueju alive first and then talk about other things." He handed the map to everyone to memorize, and said to Zhao Mian: "Before we act, we still have to go to another place."
Zhao Mian nodded in agreement: "Xuyuan."
Wan Huameng was the matchmaker, and the people to be married were designated by him, and the wedding location must also be in the Xu Garden he designated. If they did not show up in Xu Garden for a long time, it would definitely attract Nangong's attention.
In addition, Xuyuan must be hiding some clues about Wanhua Meng's strange habits.
Zhao Mian needs to pay attention to three things when he goes to Xuyuan: keep a low profile, keep a low profile, and keep a low profile. He needs to act like an ordinary Dongling citizen who is "granted a marriage" by the imperial master, and cannot bring too many attendants with him to avoid suspicion of his identity and causing unexpected trouble.
Zhou Huairang volunteered to accompany the prince to Xuyuan, but Bai Yu tactfully told him that "you are not suitable." Zhao Mian chose Bai Yu to accompany him, because she knew Nangong best among them, and she was also the most attentive one.
Before leaving, Bai Yu specifically reminded Zhao Mian not to wear the colors he usually liked to wear, otherwise people would know at a glance that he was a rich young master. Zhao Mian then wore a pure white plain dress, but Bai Yu was still not satisfied.
"Your Highness," Bai Yu spread out his palm in front of him, amused and helpless, "Your jade pendant."
He can't even wear a jade pendant? Then he is really no different from an ordinary person. This is a gift from his teacher.
Zhao Mian took off the jade pendant with a serious face and placed it in Bai Yu's hand.
"Your Highness, please bear with it for now. When this is over, you can wear ten jade pendants if you want." Bai Yu patiently coaxed, "I will help you change your appearance again?"
Bai Yu spent most of the day trying to make the Crown Prince lose that domineering beauty. He now looked like an ordinary, good-looking young man who was not too conspicuous.
The two met up with Wei Zhenfeng in the front hall. When Wei Zhenfeng saw Zhao Mian, who had changed his appearance and was dressed in white, he raised his eyebrows and was about to say something when Zhao Mian said "Shut up" in his face.
Xuyuan is located in the downtown area of Kyoto, just two streets away from the Dongling Palace. It can be said to be the true footsteps of the emperor.
A vermilion plaque with the words "Xiuyuan" hangs on the door, and lanterns and decorations are hung all around. Big red "happiness" characters can be seen everywhere, making it look like the real thing.
Several people reported their identities to the maid, who immediately looked at them with a wary look: "Others who know they have been chosen by the Imperial Master will report to Xuyuan within five days. Why did you come only now?"
Bai Yu, who changed her appearance, looked like an ordinary eldest sister from a small family: "My younger brother didn't want to marry a fishmonger, and he was very upset at home. I had to work very hard to bring him here."
The maid looked at the two people behind Bai Yu. One had skin as white as snow, the other as black as charcoal. One was beautiful, the other was average. Most of her doubts were immediately dispelled.
Put yourself in his shoes. If she were that handsome young man, she would not want to marry a big and strong bastard.
The maid said, "Show me the red thread on your hand."
The maid checked the red thread of the two people, confirmed that it was correct, and asked: "What are your names?"
Zhao Mian said, "Xiao Jue." This was the pseudonym he usually used when he was away from home.
Wei Zhenfeng glanced at Zhao Mian and said, "Li Er."
The maid looked Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng up and down, as if she were looking at two rabbits waiting to be slaughtered: "You come so late, you will suffer when the time comes."
Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng looked at each other, not knowing what the maid meant.
The maid said, "Follow me."
After entering Xu Garden, Zhao Mian and Wei Zhenfeng were taken to two different directions. Bai Yu was allowed to stay with Zhao Mian because she was the elder sister of the newcomer.
The white clothes Zhao Mian was wearing were made of ordinary fabrics. He was not used to wearing them and felt uncomfortable everywhere. He endured it all the way until he entered the house and the maid left. Then he said, "White..."
Bai Yu quickly shook his head at him and pointed in the direction of the doors and windows, with a warning in his eyes, intending to tell him that walls have ears.
Zhao Mian paused, then changed his words unhappily: "Sister, this dress is hard to wear."
Bai Yu smiled, with a gentle light in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes.
In her heart, she truly regarded His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as her own little brother, although she would never, and dared not, express this sisterly and brotherly love out loud.
The prince's sister could only be a princess, and she was just a small medical officer.
Zhou Huairang said that when His Highness was five or six years old, he would still call him "Little Rang". Unfortunately, when she entered the East Palace, His Highness was already a ten-year-old boy. He always remembered that he was the crown prince of a country, so he would not call his childhood sweetheart by her nickname, let alone call her sister. Missing His Highness at that age has always been her regret.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's call of "sister" today has fulfilled a small dream of hers.
Bai Yu could hardly hide her happiness. Zhao Mian saw her reaction and couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips.
Bai Yu smiled and said, "I brought a few sets of clothes with me. Do you want to change into one?"
"That's not necessary." Zhao Mian raised his hand and loosened his collar. "I can still bear it." He looked around, his eyes swept over the furniture in the room one by one, and lowered his voice and asked, "Do you feel anything is wrong?"
Bai Yu looked around and understood what His Highness meant: "It seems... too old?"
Whether it was the tables, chairs, curtains, or teapots and cups in the house, they all looked like they were old items that had been used for more than a decade. Wan Huameng was highly favored, and his wealth must be unimaginable to ordinary people. Why was he unwilling to take out some of it to renovate Xuyuan
If Xuyuan was just an unimportant place to Wan Huameng and there was no need to renovate it, why did Wan Huameng insist that the person he was forcing to marry get married in Xuyuan
It was all Wei Zhenfeng's fault. He wasted too much time beforehand, so he didn't have time to investigate many things in detail.
At dusk, as promised, someone delivered the meal, and along with the dinner, there was also a set of Kyoto-style wedding dress.
So, it was time for Zhao Mian to sneer at the taste and aesthetics of the people of Dongling.
When the Dongling people get married, both the man and the woman wear the color of Xuanzun, which is a color of black and red. The black is the main color, and only the edges of the clothes are edged with light red. There is no festive feeling at all, but more solemnity. It doesn't seem like a marriage, but more like a sworn brotherhood of brotherhood.
The maid who delivered the wedding dress said to Zhao Mian, "Try it on to see if it fits you."
Zhao Mian said: "Later."
The maid was unusually firm: "No, try now."
Zhao Mian wanted to ask who the maid was teaching, but he was already in Xuyuan, so there was no need to make a fuss over such a small matter. After all, it was just Dong Ling's wedding dress, so he just wore it as if it was a piece of rag he had picked up.
Zhao Mian changed into his wedding dress in the inner room. The dress was a little too big for him, and it was loose around the waist and collar, but the length was just right.
Bai Yu looked at His Highness dressed in black with a smile on her face. She was lucky to see His Highness wearing black and white, which he rarely wore.
The solemn black color adds a sense of deep coldness to His Highness. The white clothes His Highness just wore are light and elegant, with a sense of scholarly pride. However, the most suitable color for His Highness is still the high-profile, brilliant, and extremely noble color.
"Your waist is too thin. You must gain some weight." The maid said, "From now on, your meals will be increased from three to five meals a day until this wedding dress fits you perfectly."
"This..." Bai Yu looked embarrassed, "My brother has never had a big appetite."
The maid interrupted coldly: "That's your business. Even if you can't eat it, you have to stuff it into your stomach."
Zhao Mian became even more suspicious.
Clothes always fit the person, but people never fit the clothes. The monthly wedding banquets in Xuyuan were indeed full of weirdness.
After the maid left, Zhao Mian started to take off his clothes without saying anything. Bai Yu stepped forward to help, but he stepped back, turned around and said, "I can do it myself."
Zhao Mian was not used to girls serving him personally. There were only some maids in the East Palace who were responsible for sweeping, sewing and serving outside. He took off his coat and handed it to Bai Yu: "Take a look."
"This wedding dress is brand new, but the style is still old." Bai Yu picked up the hem of the dress and rubbed it carefully, feeling the touch of the dress, and said, "More than a decade ago, the nobles in Kyoto used this kind of fabric. Later, when they saw the quality of the silk from Nanjing and Jiangnan, they no longer looked down on the local linen."
Zhao Mian asked: "Do you still study these?"
Bai Yu smiled and said, "I used to be in my boudoir and couldn't help myself. I didn't study these things, but now it's different."
Zhao Mian thought of his father who made Bai Yu different now, and raised the corners of his lips slightly: "Yeah."
After nightfall, Zhao Mian slept alone in the house, while Bai Yu lived next door to him.
The unfamiliar environment kept Zhao Mian awake for a long time. He lay on the bed with his eyes open, looking at the cold moonlight coming in through the window, sorting out his thoughts about what he had seen and heard today.
The fifteenth day of the lunar month was approaching, the moon was shining brightly, and the room was bright without lights. Suddenly, Zhao Mian saw a black shadow on the screen in front of the bed, with a slender outline and looked very familiar.
Zhao Mian sat up calmly: "Who?"
"It's me." Wei Zhenfeng walked out from behind the screen, as relaxed as if he was taking a walk in his own backyard. "Are you still awake? It just so happens that I want to talk to you."
Zhao Mian glanced out the window: "Didn't they say we can't move around freely?"
Wei Zhenfeng disagreed: "Who can those people stop?"
Zhao Mian watched Wei Zhenfeng walk towards the bed, thinking he was going to sit on his bed. Just as he was thinking about chasing him away, Wei Zhenfeng walked straight past him, stood with his back against the bedpost, and kept a polite distance from him: "Have you discovered the strangeness of Xuyuan?"
Zhao Mian swallowed his words and said, "You found out too?"
Wei Zhenfeng nodded and asked, "Have you ever thought about why Wan Huameng insisted that the unlucky guy he chose get married in Xuyuan?"
Zhao Mian thought about it, but he thought it was not something he had to know, and it would not be of much help to him in finding the antidote. But now it is not difficult to see that there is something in Xuyuan.
Of course, he would not admit to Wei Zhenfeng that he had neglected this. Not only did he not admit it, he also put all the blame on Wei Zhenfeng.
He reflected less on himself and blamed others more. He knew his mistakes and corrected them but did not admit them. Only in this way could he maintain his dignity as a crown prince.
"I thought about it, but I haven't had time to check it out yet." Zhao Mian said nonchalantly, "You wasted too much of my time."
Wei Zhenfeng sneered: "Can you blame me for this? Who is the one who keeps being so arrogant and refuses to make peace with me?"
Zhao Mian glanced at him sideways: "Is it meaningful to say this now? Do you like to bring up old issues?"
Wei Zhenfeng was stunned by the young master's ability to turn the tables. He looked down at Zhao Mian who was sitting on the bed, knowing that further quarreling would only damage the fragile alliance they had built with great difficulty, so it would be better to take a step back and let the matter go.
"Anyway, I found out something." Wei Zhenfeng said, "Sixteen years ago, Xuyuan was not the residence under Wan Huameng's name, but the residence of Jia Huai, the former Grand Secretary of the Dongge."
Zhao Mian quickly got down to business: "If that's the case, why did Xuyuan fall into Wan Huameng's hands?"
"Wan Huameng stole it. To be more precise, he took a fancy to Xuyuan and asked the empress dowager to give him the Xuyuan, which already had an owner. Jia Huai has lived in Xuyuan for most of his life. This house was given to him by the late emperor. Wan Huameng's words forced him to move to a new house with his family, and he moved directly to the south of the city, five miles away. He had to get up an hour earlier every day to attend court." Wei Zhenfeng sighed, "Poor old man, how many hours of sleep must Jia have lost over the years."
Zhao Mian understood: "So that's it."
No wonder Jia Huai would travel thousands of miles back to Kyoto despite his old age in order to impeach Wan Huameng. It turns out that there is also a personal vendetta against him over the mansion.
Wei Zhenfeng continued, "Then I checked whether there were any weddings in Xuyuan before Wanhuameng, and found three weddings in total. They were the marriage of Jia Lao's eldest son in the eighth year of Tianwu, the marriage of his second son in the tenth year of Tianwu, and the marriage of his youngest son in the first year of Zaixi."
Zhao Mian pondered and said, "Do you suspect that Wan Huameng's hobby of matchmaking is related to these marriages?"
"Yes."
Zhao Mian asked: "What else?"
Wei Zhenfeng shrugged: "That's all. Do you think I'm a know-it-all? I know everything."
Zhao Mian frowned, very unhappy: "If you want to investigate, don't do it more thoroughly."
"Well, Mr. Xiao," Wei Zhenfeng invited him with a smile, "Do you want to go with me to check it out now?"
Zhao Mian was slightly surprised: "Now?"
Wei Zhenfeng said: "Now."
The night was pitch black, with only a pair of exceptionally bright eyes of a young boy looking at him under the moonlight with excitement about exploring the unknown.
(End of this chapter)