nashuaworldcup Chapter 339 Gong Zheng
Chapter 339 Gong Zheng
Nianyao went to the palace alone to find An Liangchen. She spread out the portrait in front of An Liangchen and asked, "Does Your Highness recognize this woman?"
The madam wasn't exaggerating; Guan Xin's painting skills were excellent. The portrait was lifelike, capturing both the figure and the spirit.
The woman in the painting is dressed in a pink gauze dress, her long black hair is gently tied up with a pink ribbon, and a few strands fall on both sides of her face. Her expression is arrogant, her eyes are sharp, and she exudes disdain and thuggishness, making the otherwise gentle makeup look strange.
An Liangchen remained unmoved, not even his eyes changed: "Suhexiang."
Nianyao asked, "How did Your Highness come to know her?"
An Liangchen slowly rolled up the scroll: "As the only ship captain of the Great River Gang, she is famous throughout the world. Isn't it normal for me to know her?"
Nianyao asked, "Where is she now?"
An Liangchen seemed about to laugh: "What if I said I didn't know?"
Nianyao stared at him for a while before saying, "Of course Your Highness can say you don't know, after all, there's nothing I can do to Your Highness."
As the Crown Prince Regent, An Liangchen tolerated her impolite questioning probably out of respect for Luo An. It was highly unlikely that he would sincerely answer Nian Yao's questions.
Nianyao picked up the scroll, took two steps back, and turned to leave.
An Liangchen raised his voice to stop Nianyao: "She's in the palace."
Nianyao could hardly believe it: "She's in the palace?"
Dexi entered at the opportune moment to announce: "Your Highness, Su Gongzheng requests an audience."
Su Hexiang, dressed in a light white robe, walked past Nianyao and knelt before An Liangchen, bowing: "Palace Attendant Su Hexiang greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Gong Zheng Suhexiang? Suhexiang is actually a female official in the palace?
An Liangchen said calmly, "Get up. Madam Luo has something to ask you."
Su Hexiang acted as if she had never met Nianyao, speaking in a distant and polite manner: "May I ask what advice Madam Luo has for me?"
Nianyao's voice trembled slightly: "President Su..."
Su Hexiang interrupted her: "Madam, I am now a female official in Dongyang, holding the position of Palace Attendant. You may call me Palace Attendant Su or Su Hexiang."
Nianyao felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water, and instantly calmed down: "When did Su Gongzheng arrive in Dongyang? And when did he take office?"
Su Hexiang calmly stated: "After the Madam disbanded the Great River Gang, General Yan approached me and asked if I would be willing to come to Dongyang. On his recommendation, the Crown Prince appointed me as a female official."
Since it was recommended by Yan Zeyu, they should have arrived long ago.
Nianyao calculated the time: "Since the Crown Prince appointed you as a lady-in-waiting, why did you appear at Wenxiang Tower and even cause Young Master Wang and Ninth Brother to fight over you?"
Su Hexiang laughed heartily: "I am the Palace Master, in charge of decrees, discipline, and punishments. I work during the day and have nothing to do at night. When I'm bored, I go to brothels to sing a song, selling my art but not my body, to save up for my dowry."
That day, when I heard that Ninth Brother was back, I invited him to Wenxianglou for drinks. Unexpectedly, we ran into a spoiled brat, and for some reason, the two of us started fighting over a disagreement.
However, His Highness the Crown Prince has already deducted half a year's salary from my pay and forbade me from leaving the palace. Now, except when summoned, I'm basically confined to the Shanggong Bureau, never venturing beyond the inner gates.
Nianyao asked, "Did you go to Erlang Temple the day Ninth Brother died?"
Su Hexiang shook her head: "I told you, ever since Ninth Brother fought with that spoiled brat, I've been confined to my quarters and haven't left the palace since. Your Highness can testify for me."
An Liangchen said, "Yes."
Nianyao glanced at An Liangchen and Su Hexiang. The two seemed open and honest, without any psychological burden.
Nianyao asked again, "Did you write 'Enjoying the beautiful scenery together, building an everlasting dynasty'?"
Suhexiang nodded: "Yes. I heard from others that the ginkgo tree is very efficacious, so I asked the abbot of Erlang Temple for a lucky charm to pray for the prince."
So it's all just a coincidence? That's why we can't get any answers from them?
After leaving the palace, Nianyao went to the Prince's Mansion. The steward said that the Prince and Princess had gone to the Duke's Mansion and asked Nianyao if she had left a message or if she was waiting at the mansion.
Nianyao simply said she would come again next time before leaving the Prince's residence. She wandered aimlessly through the streets, unsure of where to go.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, landing on her head, body, and the ground. There were clear tire tracks on the snow in the street, and Nianyao followed the tracks and looked into the distance.
The tire tracks have no end, and neither does her gaze. So what about life? What is the end of life? Is it death? If the end of life is death, then what is the point of going through this journey from birth to death?
Is it to experience this bleak helplessness? Is it to suffer betrayal and deception? Is it to experience the pain of separation and death? Is it to endure human suffering...?
Nianyao knew things weren't that simple; she could sense it was a scam. But she couldn't get the truth out of him, nor could she uncover the facts…
She used to be arrogant and overbearing, protected by her parents. Now she realizes that she is actually such an incompetent and cowardly person, incapable of even finding out the truth, let alone protecting anyone.
Nianyao stood in the snow and wept silently, her tears mingling with the snowmelt, which was both salty and cold.
A carriage sped towards them, stopping abruptly in front of Nianyao. Through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, Nianyao saw Luo An emerge from the carriage and stand before her.
Luo An wiped away the tears and snowflakes on her face with a handkerchief, and took her snow-cold hand in his: "Let's go back."
There was a small charcoal stove in the carriage, making it very warm. Nianyao curled up against Luo An's chest like a wounded little animal, looking particularly pitiful.
Back at Xi Zhai, Luo An carried Nian Yao back to the warm room and placed her on the bed. He pulled the blanket up to her waist and touched her ears, saying, "Your ears are all red from the cold."
Guan Xin brought over a tray: "Young master, the bird's nest is ready."
Nianyao only slowly came to her senses when she saw Guan Xin, and whispered, "I pawned the jade pendant to the madam."
Nianyao wanted to redeem Guanxin, and the madam, seeing his generosity, demanded an exorbitant price of one thousand taels. Nianyao said she didn't have that much money, and the madam said that gold locks, jewelry, and jade could be used as collateral. She happened to touch a jade pendant, so she took it off and gave it to the madam.
Luo An hummed in agreement: "It's nothing."
This was Luo An's father's keepsake, a token of love Luo An gave her. It was really inappropriate to pawn it away like this. Nian Yao felt more and more ashamed as she thought about it: "I'm sorry, but I will redeem it."
Luo An's tone was indifferent: "Money is just an external thing, you don't need to worry about it. But why did you redeem her?"
Nianyao's eyes flickered: "Yanghua went to the palace. Chunhua said that Guyu bought a house outside and will be moving out in a while. Xizhai needs a clever and quick-witted maid."
Luo An smiled enigmatically: "But she told me that she was the concubine you took in for me, to bear me a son."
Guan Xin was eloquent and skilled in poetry and painting. In a moment of impulse, Nian Yao told Guan Xin that she was infertile and wanted to have a son for her husband by taking a concubine.
It was only when they arrived at Xi Zhai that Nian Yao realized it was inappropriate: how could she possibly find a courtesan to be Luo An's concubine!
Nianyao clutched the quilt: "I...I was just joking with her."