Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Do You Really Want Me to Go?

Back in Cang Nan, Qi Shu Xian’s words still seemed to ring in Jiang Mang’s ears: “If one day I could become a general, I would never abandon any comrade-in-arms who still had hope!”

Yet Jiang Mang felt like Jiang Mang could not hear them at all. “Never abandon any comrade-in-arms…” Jiang Mang laughed, “Ha-ha!”

Jiang Mang lay on the ground and only wanted to sleep forever.

In the distance, a carriage came rumbling over.

Zhang Da was startled by the figure sprawled outside his own gate, but he was not driving fast. Zhang Da said, “Princess, there’s a beggar here.”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted the curtain and glanced out.

The person lay facedown, and Sheng Zhi Wan could not see his features. But his shoes were badly worn, and the snow cap on his head was the kind only seen in the north.

He was probably a refugee from Mo Bei.

Sheng Zhi Wan told Zhang Da to give him two steamed buns once he woke up. After thinking for a moment, Sheng Zhi Wan told Zhang Da to watch him for a few days, and if he was willing, to send him to a manor to work so he could at least have food to eat.

Zhang Da agreed, and Sheng Zhi Wan did not ask about it again.

Sheng Zhi Wan still had more important matters waiting.

That night in the Eastern Palace, three advisers gathered.

Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun wanted to marry Ming Jia Commandery Princess as his consort, and the loyal advisers were so worried they felt their hair might fall out.

Prince Huai had no sons, and His Majesty trusted Prince Huai especially. Ming Jia Commandery Princess was also Prince Huai’s cherished pearl. Whoever married Ming Jia Commandery Princess would gain Prince Huai Manor’s support.

It was good that the Crown Prince had such ambition.

But this matter was truly hard to handle.

The Crown Prince said that Empress Your Grace held one of Ming Jia’s weaknesses, and the Crown Prince asked whether using that weakness to threaten Ming Jia would work.

One adviser asked, “May I ask, Crown Prince… is it a very large weakness? Enough to have Prince Huai Manor confiscated and the whole clan wiped out?”

Sheng Yuan Jun shook his head. “No.”

“Then it can’t work,” the adviser said. “If it fails, it will invite Prince Huai Manor’s revenge. The loss will outweigh the gain!”

Sheng Yuan Jun asked, “Then do you have any other way to make Ming Jia marry me?”

The adviser fell silent.

Sheng Yuan Jun turned to another man. “Tao Xie, you always have the most ideas. Do you have any thoughts?”

Tao Xie’s eyes shifted. Tao Xie said, “Threats alone are indeed a bad move. But what if the Crown Prince can win a bit more of the Commandery Princess’s favor? I just heard something today.”

Tao Xie lowered his voice and said a few words.

Sheng Yuan Jun slapped the table and jumped up in delight. “You mean it? A prince consort actually dared to be that bold?”

“Absolutely true!” Tao Xie replied.

Sheng Yuan Jun laughed. “Good. Then we’ll do it like that. If this succeeds, I will reward you heavily.”

*Shang Residence was now truly Shang Residence. The plaque of the Feng Guo Grand General Manor had already been taken down, and Shang Xing Yu was directing people to tear down and rebuild according to the drawings.

Someone reported that Shang Eldest Young Master had arrived.

Shang Xing Yu lifted a brow.

Shang Xiu Yuan gripped the invitation in his hand and stared at the rockery and bamboo that had been torn down, his chest tight with pain. And when Shang Xiu Yuan thought about the small courtyard his family lived in now…

Shang Xiu Yuan did not even have a study of his own.

[Soon… soon…] As long as tonight’s literary gathering ended, Shang Xing Yu would never be able to act so arrogant again. This residence would return to Shang Xiu Yuan in the end.

Thinking that, Shang Xiu Yuan saw Shang Xing Yu walking over and smiled gently. Shang Xiu Yuan said, “Xing Yu, this is an invitation to the inner courtyard at Gathering Sages Teahouse for tonight’s literary gathering. A colleague originally gave it to me, but since you’re already a prospective prince consort, you should attend more events like this and meet real talents.”

Shang Xiu Yuan handed the invitation over.

Mo Bei was far away behind mountains, and the fighting there could not affect life in the capital for now. So this year’s Flower Festival Literary Gathering, hosted by Gathering Sages Teahouse, still went on as usual.

The Flower Festival Literary Gathering was held every year in the middle to late part of the second month. It invited scholars from all over, and it also invited local officials and famous great scholars to judge.

Poems, lyrics, and essays filled the day. As long as your writing was good enough and your poems were dazzling enough, you could leave a strong impression on those people.

For many scholars, it was a rare chance.

Besides, Gathering Sages Teahouse even put up a prize of one thousand taels of silver for first place.

Hearing that, Shang Xing Yu pulled back the hand he had halfway extended. Shang Xing Yu said, “Wouldn’t that mean I’m stealing Elder Brother’s invitation? No, no. We’ve already split the household. I can’t take Elder Brother’s things.”

Shang Xiu Yuan’s smile stiffened. “It’s fine. I don’t care.”

“But I care,” Shang Xing Yu said, shaking his head. “I’m a prince consort now. If word gets out that I grabbed Elder Brother’s things, it won’t sound good.”

After speaking, Shang Xing Yu turned to leave.

Shang Xiu Yuan grew anxious. Shang Xiu Yuan said, “How is that stealing? Elder Brother is giving it to you.”

Shang Xiu Yuan had already promised the Crown Prince. If Shang Xing Yu did not go, what was Shang Xiu Yuan supposed to do?

Shang Xing Yu kept walking. “No, no.”

Shang Xiu Yuan panicked for real. “Xing Yu! Why are you so unambitious? You’re about to marry the Princess. If you don’t use this chance to build connections, the Princess will look down on you later!”

“Impossible,” Shang Xing Yu said shamelessly. “With this face, the Princess won’t look down on me.”

Shang Xiu Yuan was furious at how impossible he was.

Just as Shang Xiu Yuan was racking his brain for a way to convince him, Shang Xing Yu suddenly stopped.

Shang Xing Yu asked, “Does Elder Brother really want me to go?”

Shang Xiu Yuan’s eyes flickered. “I’m doing this for your good!”

“Fine,” Shang Xing Yu said. “As long as Elder Brother brings me that pot of Red Coral from Madam Shang’s storeroom to add to the Princess’s betrothal gifts, I’ll agree to go tonight.”

“Impossible!” Shang Xiu Yuan rejected him without hesitation.

That Red Coral was war loot Father had taken in battle. Back when Qin Meng Cen was still alive, Father had said his wife at home liked it, and His Majesty had granted it as a reward.

But Father had not given the Red Coral to Qin Meng Cen. Father had placed it in Mother’s room instead.

Mother believed that Red Coral was proof of Father’s special favor, so Mother treasured it dearly.

How could Shang Xiu Yuan possibly give it to Shang Xing Yu?