Chapter 65

Chapter 65: A Generous Gift

While Ye Rong was so anxious he almost scratched his head bald, another voice came from outside.

“If their words were not believable, then were mine believable, Heir Apparent Qi?”

A plain carriage stopped not far from the Duke Qi Residence. Everyone’s eyes turned over.

Madam Cui frowned in displeasure. Who was trying to ruin Madam Cui’s good thing now?

Then Madam Han, dressed in a dark purple cloud-patterned outfit, slowly stepped down from the carriage with a Maid supporting Madam Han. Madam Cui froze when Madam Cui saw her.

Qi Shu Xian frowned hard.

Old Madam Han had knelt outside the palace gates yesterday and begged His Majesty to search for someone. Qi Shu Xian had led soldiers through the capital city and still found nothing. How was Madam Han here now?

And judging from Madam Han’s words, did that mean Sheng Zhi Wan had been with Madam Han last night? Would that not prove even more that Sheng Zhi Wan had been taken away?

Qi Shu Xian’s mind turned with thoughts, but before Qi Shu Xian could sort them out, Madam Han had already walked up to Sheng Zhi Wan.

Madam Cui quickly forced a smile and went over.

Madam Han was young, but Madam Han’s Husband had died for the nation, and Madam Han had received a title early. Madam Han’s Father-in-law was also the First Rank Grand Defender General. Madam Han usually did not attend banquets, and Madam Cui could never find a chance to get close.

Yet today, Madam Han had come on her own.

“What wind blew Madam Han here?” Madam Cui said with a broad smile.

Madam Han did not even look at Madam Cui. Madam Han walked straight to Sheng Zhi Wan and said, “Last night, my child had a high fever at Chao Ming Temple and would not stop. I waited a long time, but the Imperial Physician still did not arrive.”

“Luckily, Princess Qing Ning helped me, and my child escaped danger.”

Madam Han lifted her eyes. “Today, I came specifically to thank Princess.”

Madam Han finished speaking and gave a small nod to the people behind her. Only then did everyone notice that several more carriages followed the plain one.

With Madam Han’s nod, Maidservants carried red lacquer trays down from the carriages one after another.

As the Maidservants approached, the crowd sucked in breath after breath. They did not know what the other items were, but the bright gold ingots nearly blinded everyone.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze fell on a half-open painting.

Master Ju Ran’s Landscape Painting.

Qi Shu Xian knew about it. People said Grand General Han had seized it from the Xiong Nu Royal House after a great victory over the Northern Xiong Nu when Grand General Han was young.

Master Ju Ran had already died. Only this one Landscape Painting was most famous among the few works still in the world. Even the Late Emperor had once tested the waters and tried to ask Grand General Han for it, but Grand General Han had brushed it off by saying Old Madam Han loved the painting too much.

But now, the Han Residence had brought it out.

If a single painting had such a background, the other items were no less. They were all rare treasures. Most even carried foreign styles, clearly war trophies from Grand General Han.

Qi Shu Xian was shocked.

Madam Cui’s eyes nearly spun. Any displeasure Madam Cui had felt from being ignored vanished the moment Madam Cui saw the gifts.

The gold ingots did not need explaining. The Duke Qi Residence lacked silver right now. As for the other items, Madam Cui liked them too.

“This was only a small favor. How could it deserve such a generous gift from your residence?” Madam Cui said, pretending to refuse.

Madam Han finally seemed to notice Madam Cui. Madam Han frowned and looked over. “Duchess worries too much. These are the Han Residence’s thanks to Princess Qing Ning, not gifts for the Duke Qi Residence.”

Madam Cui’s smile stiffened.

Madam Han turned back to Sheng Zhi Wan. “Thank you for last night, Princess Qing Ning. Rui’er is the Han Residence’s only sprout, our only Offspring. If something happened to Rui’er, the Han Residence would lose its root.”

“So please do not refuse these gifts, Princess.”

Madam Han bowed deeply to Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan said nothing. Sheng Zhi Wan understood why Madam Han brought gifts now. It was partly to let them vouch for each other, and also because only if Sheng Zhi Wan accepted them would Madam Han truly feel at ease.

Since that was the case, Sheng Zhi Wan had no reason to refuse. Besides, Sheng Zhi Wan still had many places in her future plans where she would need silver.

“Grand General Han was Sheng Kingdom’s Grand Defender General, and General Han also died for Sheng Kingdom. What I did cannot compare to the Han Residence at all,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “But since the Han Residence cherishes Young Master Han, I will accept Madam Han’s heartfelt thanks.”

“Han Residence? The one with two generals in one family? The Son would rather die than yield and died on the battlefield, leaving only an unborn child behind in the Grand Defender General Residence?”

“Of course it is. Other than Grand General Han, who else deserved the title ‘Defender of the Nation’?”

Madam Han then looked at Qi Shu Xian, who was pressing his lips together in silence. “If Heir Apparent Qi does not believe Young Master Ye and Young Master Shang Er and the others, then ask me where Princess was last night.”

“Old Madam Han knelt yesterday and begged His Majesty to search for Madam Han. Madam Han’s Servants were found dead halfway to Chao Ming Temple. Madam Han is only a woman, so Madam Han must have been taken by Mountain Bandits as well,” Qi Shu Xian said.

Madam Han laughed coldly. “You made great achievements in Cang Nan, yet when Servants were killed, you still assumed Rui’er and I had to be in the carriage?”