Chapter 50: At the Head of the Great Stone Bridge

Chapter 50: At the Head of the Great Stone Bridge

"Someone come," Jing Mo said while ignoring the Zhao father and son. "Escort Prime Minster and General Zhao away."

"Father," Zhoa Beicheng was getting anxious. Jing Mo was already driving them away, but his father still hadn't said a word.

Zhao Qiuming only cupped his fist to pay respects. "Your Eldest Highness, I was simply following royal orders."

Jing Mo's voice was as cold as ice. "See the visitors out."

"Prime Minister Zhao, if you please," a guard stepped forward while gesturing towards the exit.

Zhao Qiuming turned and left wordlessly with the guard. Once the Zhao duo left, the aide by Jing Mo's side murmured, "Since the plot's been exposed, we can push the blame on their sovereign. How can Fengtian's imperial court be any good if they have officials like these in important positions?"

Jing Mo only laughed coldly. "Does Xianzong even have a reputation as a righteous ruler?"

"Master," a guard came over next, carrying an unconscious Qingyu in his ams. "This servant found Chuqiu behind the rockery."

Jing Mo glanced at the rockery he was pointing at, then asked, "Is she still alive?"

Thanks to the rockery, Qingyu had avoided being crushed by any of the falling debris. However, her face was as white as a sheet and she didn't stir in the guard's arms. It was hard to tell if she was alive or dead.

"She's still breathing," the guard replied.

"Throw her out," Jing Mo said. Look at how Yu Xiaoxiao had treated Gu Xinglang. It was obvious that this servant hadn't succeeded, so why keep her around?

"Master," an aide spoke up, "Chuqiu might have witnessed what happened here. How about waiting to ask her after she wakes?"

Jing Mo waved a hand at the guard, "Find a doctor for her."

"Yes," the guard obeyed and ran off with Qingyu in his arms.

—

By now the Zhao father and son had left the gates of Complacent Winery and was standing at its entrance. Prime Minister Zhao told his son in a low voice, "You don't need to go home, head for the palace and find esteemed consort."

Zhao Beicheng replied, "What do I find her for? Father, what's the deal with that secret tunnel?" As the eldest son of the official wife, even he wasn't privy to such information. Was that really acceptable?

Zhao Qiuming kept walking towards the Zhao Estate while gritting his teeth. "You still have time to talk to me? We've offended Jing Mo!"

"What could he do in Fengtian? Kill us?" Zhao Beicheng challenged.

Zhao Qiuming could only hate his son for being so useless. "He'll definitely strike against His Sixth Highness. Why are you still standing here wasting time?"

Zhao Beicheng gave a start before he realized Jing Mo's best revenge would be to take the sixth prince Yu Ziming to Zhuri.

"Hurry and go!" Zhao Qiuming hollered.

Zhao Beicheng prepared to bolt.

"Wait," Zhao Qiuming called him back. "When you see His Majesty in the palace, just say that a section of Complacent Winery collapsed and gave me a fright."

"Will that allow me to see the consort?" Zhao Beicheng asked.

"I was startled and fell ill. His Majesty will naturally send someone to inform her then," Zhao Qiuming expounded. "You have to tell His Majesty that it was the western wing that collapsed."

Meanwhile, someone had already brought a horse to Zhao Beicheng's side.

Consort Zhao will know what's going on as long as I mention the western wing? Looks like Zhao Yingshan long knew about this secret tunnel. Why can his married daughter know something his own son doesn't? Zhao Beicheng couldn't help but disapprove, but now wasn't the time for chitchat. He flew onto his horse and brought three men with him to gallop towards the palace.

By now, Yu Xiaoxiao's group had already reached the big stone bridge. It was one of many ordinary stone bridges in the capital city. Currently, the moon was bright overhead, so the waters reflected its light in the gleaming ripples. Occasionally, gaily-painted pleasure boats would pass by beneath, its oars sending wimpled waves through the river.

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei rarely had time to leave the palace during their stint as Xianzong's shadow guards. After they were given to Yu Xiaoxiao, the duo had little time to roam around the flourishing and bustling city, either. Once they reached the bridge, the duo carried Gu Xinglang off the carriage and placed him by the tables set up next to the food vendor booths. Then they ran up the bridge, leaned over the railing, and stared at the colorful boats sailing by below. All of the women on board were dressed in thin gauze robes that exposed the tops of their rounded chests. Their bearing and manners were a charming, alluring sight for the two men.

Meanwhile, a white-haired, rather hunched backed old woman approached Yu Xiaoxiao and asked in a low voice, "My lady, what would you like to eat?"

Yu Xiaoxiao asked Gu Xinglang, "What do you want to eat?"

Gu Xinglang replied, "Didn't you want some wontons?"

Yu Xiaoxiao affirmed, "I want to eat everything."

Gu Xinglang could only tell the old woman, "Granny Wang, send up two bowls of wontons first, then a bowl of everything else you have."

"One bowl?" Yu Xiaoxiao echoed.

Gu Xinglang coughed and said, "If it's not enough, I'll ask for more."

Satisfied, Yu Xiaoxiao told Granny Wang, "Large portions, please."

Granny Wang had worked half her life at the head of the bridge, so her people skills were just as good as her cooking. She knew this husband and wife didn't lack for money, so she agreed and hurried off to cook. There were plenty of other food vendors by the bridge as well, so Yu Xiaoxiao cast them hungry, covetous eyes while sitting next to Gu Xinglang.

Gu Xinglang was worried that she'd eat herself sick. After all, this person had polished off an entire table of food at Complacent Winery. He tried to coax, "We can come back tomorrow to try the rest. Eating too much is bad for your body."

Two pedestrians walked by just then, carrying steaming hot fried fish. The fragrance of the fish made Yu Xiaoxiao restless. She replied, "I'll be right back."

It was then that Granny Wang arrived with the two bowls of wontons. Gu Xinglang sighed in relief, feeling that they'd be enough to keep his wife put. Yet Yu Xiaoxiao only ended up carrying the bowl in her hands while heading for the fried fish stand. Gu Xinglang couldn't walk, so he had to watch as she ate and roamed around like some common ragamuffin. By the time Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei returned from sightseeing on the bridge, Gu Xinglang had finished half a bowl of wontons and Yu Xiaoxiao had vanished into the night market crowds.

"She went to buy food," Gu Xinglang told the two.

Neither guard was concerned for Yu Xiaoxiao's safety, not because they had no bodyguard instincts, but because they firmly believed that the princess had the strongest martial arts in the world. Rather than fret about her, they were better off worrying over the next unlucky bastard she'd target instead.

"Have a seat," Gu Xinglang invited the guards to join his table.

As Xiao Wei plopped onto a chair, Xiao Zhuang shouted to Granny Wang, "Two more bowls of wontons here!"

Before Granny Wang could reply, the table full of men next to theirs broke out into laughter.

"The rumors said Gu Clan's young masters are like stars descended from Heaven. I see this one's just a cripple relying on a woman to live. And to regain his post as a general! F*ck that," a tall, strong man jeered at his fellows. "Is he f*cking still a man?"