Chapter 443 - 230: Ye Weiyang’s Mess

Chapter 443: Chapter 230: Ye Weiyang’s Mess

While waiting for Xi’er to arrive, Qing Shisan emerged from the shadows, a faint wisp of smoke trailing behind him.

"Prince, there’s been some movement from that person today."

"Tell me."

With the Ravens gone from the sky and Ye Weiyang practically paralyzed, Qing Shisan no longer had to ask for a private word in the Red King Mansion. He walked straight up to Zheng Xiu, taking a drag from his smoke and smiling. "Today, a deaf man, a blind man, and a cripple entered the city. They went to Blind Chen Wei’s bone-reading stall and secretly slipped him a letter."

"What was in it?"

Qing Shisan gave a wry smile and spread his hands. "Now you’re putting me in a difficult position, Prince."

"Right. What happened then?"

"Afterward, the cripple, the blind man, and the deaf man split up. The blind man and the deaf man were begging on the street when they were shooed away by some soldiers. They went to the Ministry of Justice to seek lodging for the night. The cripple secretly met with a woman."

"Hm?"

Zheng Xiu grunted softly, waiting for him to continue.

Qing Shisan let out a dramatic sigh. "I’m afraid I have to disappoint you, Prince. I didn’t see the ’pair of young, fair-skinned, blonde-haired bed-warming maids from the Western Regions’ he mentioned. Ahem, a pair of them."

He punctuated this with a deliberate blink.

"Be serious... Times have changed. You work for a Prince now."

Zheng Xiu shot a glare at Qing Pi.

Qing Pi’s expression turned serious. ’He has a point,’ he thought, straightening his back a little. He continued, "Your criticism is just, Prince. I hid in a corner afterward and listened in. The cripple called the woman... ’Void.’"

Void?

A buried memory suddenly assaulted Zheng Xiu. The word made his brow furrow. "Chu Susu?"

"Oh? The Prince knows her?"

"We have a bit of history."

Zheng Xiu didn’t explain further.

He gradually recalled his experiences in Shuzhou.

’If I see Chu Susu now, she might not recognize me.’

Incidentally, many people in the Zheng Residence, including Qing Shisan, had more or less guessed that Zheng Er and Zheng Shan were both personas played by Zheng Xiu. But since Zheng Xiu had never openly confirmed it, they all pretended not to know, and Qing Shisan was no exception.

’Maybe the Prince just has some... unique hobbies. Like pretending to be a child to play around with the maids.’

Besides Qing Shisan, others in the Zheng Family had also noticed something was off. Ever since the Master fell ill, the young master hadn’t been seen for a long time. Second Lady would occasionally tease Pingping about the crazy things she’d said about wanting to be the young master’s wet nurse. This would make Pingping blush, her mind inexplicably conjuring the bizarre image of being the *Master’s* wet nurse, turning so red she wished she could crawl into a crack in the floor.

In any case, no one dared to ask too many questions about Zheng Xiu’s affairs now; they all shared a tacit understanding.

’It’s not like it’s a bad thing, anyway.’

’If the "young master" were to appear, they might even be able to let loose a bit more.’

But back to the matter at hand.

This was all the news Qing Shisan had come to deliver, and Zheng Xiu gave no further instructions. Qing Shisan asked tentatively, "Prince, it seems that Blind Chen Wei is trying to sound you out. Do you plan to meet him, or should we just... kkkk?" As he spoke, Qing Shisan grinned and made a throat-slitting gesture, letting out a vivid "kkkk" sound.

As in, a straightforward "off with his head."

"Not for now."

Zheng Xiu thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Qing Shisan’s expression was calm as he nodded.

Inwardly, however, he understood instantly. ’So the Prince really *is* interested in that "pair of young, fair-skinned, blonde-haired bed-warming maids from the Western Regions."’

After Qing Shisan withdrew, a short while later, an excited Xi’er arrived at the Red King Mansion.

"Tailor Xi’er greets the Prince."

Xi’er called out in a sweet voice, her eyes moist and bright, the corners of her lips and the tips of her brows curved up in an expression of pure delight. She first bowed to Prince Zheng, then looked left and right as if searching for someone.

Zheng Xiu asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Xi’er lowered her head, her gaze dropping. "I heard that Senior Zheng Shan has returned."

Zheng Xiu’s heart skipped a beat. "Who told you that?"

"Brother Shisan let it slip." A blush rose on Xi’er’s cheeks as she gave a gentle smile. "Regarding the matter in Shuzhou last time, I never had the chance to apologize to Senior Zheng Shan, or to thank him."

Zheng Xiu thought back.

The apology was because she, in her identity as Yue Yan, had been on the opposing side at the time. The thanks was because Zheng Shan had deliberately avoided her with all his attacks, allowing Yue Yan to return to the capital safely.

’Xi’er really didn’t see through the disguise?’ Zheng Xiu grumbled inwardly. ’This girl seems clever, but she’s surprisingly dense. And that blabbermouth Qing Shisan... he "let it slip" on purpose, I’m sure of it.’

Zheng Xiu cleared his throat twice to cover his awkwardness and said in a deep voice, "Zheng Shan..." ’No, wait.’ Zheng Xiu considered their supposed relationship. Since Xi’er hadn’t figured it out, he had no intention of explaining. Instead, he said, "That uncle of mine is like a mythical dragon—you only ever see the head, never the tail. He is not here at the moment."

"Oh." The disappointment on Xi’er’s pretty face was hard to hide, but she quickly composed herself, remembered her purpose, and smiled. "Prince, did you summon me regarding the matter you instructed me on a while ago?"

"To answer the Prince," she began after receiving an affirmative reply, starting to count on her fingers, "ever since the Night Lord’s mysterious disappearance, Ye Weiyang has become a scattered mess. I’ve spent these past days contacting everyone one by one. After learning that the new ’Ye Weiyang’ will be under your command, Prince, their reactions have been mixed."

"Speak sitting down."

Zheng Xiu pointed to a side seat, indicating for Xi’er to sit and not to be so formal.

"Thank you, Prince."

Being formal was out of the question, but she still had to keep up appearances. The moment the Prince offered her a seat, Xi’er’s bottom plopped softly onto the chair.

Just then, Yin Qingqing, dressed in a pale cyan dress, brought over two cups of tea with a blank expression.

"Hm?" Xi’er glanced at Yin Qingqing, puzzled. She didn’t usually live in the Prince’s Mansion, so she was unaware that a new, unfamiliar maid had joined the household. But Xi’er didn’t ask.

Xi’er spread the five fingers of her hand, then bent her middle finger toward her palm. An invisible, colorless thread shot from her sleeve, lifting the teacup lid into the air where it hovered. She raised the hot tea to her lips for a delicate sip to moisten her throat, all while secretly stealing a glance at Yin Qingqing out of the corner of her eye.