Three days later, Ruan Jiu had mostly recovered. However, she still felt some pain in her body, and the wound on her wrist hadn't fully healed.
Nevertheless, these didn't prevent her from leaving. After all, this was Xiao Wang's post - house. Staying here for too long would surely invite gossip. Moreover, the Shen family had their own mansion in Shuozhou. There was no need for her to stay here.
So, she asked Chun Tao to pack their things while she went to bid farewell to Xiao Wang first. But just as she reached the door of Xiao Wang's room, she heard voices inside. She murmured to herself, "I really didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Although she thought so, her ears were already pricked up.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the prefect of Shuozhou has learned that you've arrived in Shuozhou and has invited you to his residence for a visit today."
"I didn't go to him, yet he comes to me first," Xiao Wang said.
"Shall we decline the invitation?"
"No need. I'd like to see what he's up to."
From the very beginning, Xiao Wang had suspected that there was something fishy behind the epidemic in Shuozhou. So when he arrived in Shuozhou, he hadn't informed the local government. Unexpectedly, within just three days, the prefect of Shuozhou already knew of his arrival. It seemed that this prefect was not an ordinary man.
Hearing the conversation inside, Ruan Jiu was taken aback. Wasn't the prefect of Shuozhou Liang Jingzhuo?
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu gently knocked on the door.
"Come in," Xiao Wang said.
Seeing that it was Ruan Jiu, Xiao Wang leaned back with his arms folded.
"What is it?" His tone was still calm, revealing no emotion.
Ruan Jiu stepped forward gracefully and replied softly, "I'd like to go to the prefect's residence with Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Seeing Xiao Wang's eyes darken, she quickly explained, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation."
Xiao Wang squinted his eyes slightly. What was this woman up to now?
"What do you want to do at the prefect's residence?"
"The Shen family escorted the medicinal materials to Shuozhou. I should pay a visit to the prefect. But I'm just a commoner. How could I easily meet the prefect? So I'd like to rely on Your Highness's prestige."
Looking at Ruan Jiu's rather worldly appearance, a look of disgust flashed in Xiao Wang's eyes. He said coldly, "What makes you think I'll take you with me?"
"Your Highness is kind - hearted and always willing to help others. You'd even draw your sword to help those in trouble. A good person like you must..."
"Enough!" Xiao Wang interrupted Ruan Jiu sharply. If he listened to her flattery any longer, he would be nauseated. However, since he wanted to know what she was planning, he should keep her under his nose. So he said coldly again, "You'll go with me later."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Your Highness is really a great person!"
"Get out!"
-
As soon as Liang Jingzhuo saw Xiao Wang, he bowed and stepped forward, clasping his hands in greeting. Ruan Jiu quietly sized up Liang Jingzhuo. He seemed to be a kind - looking man. No wonder Concubine Shu had asked her to come to Shuozhou to seek help from Liang Jingzhuo.
She had inquired privately. The Huo family used to be in Shuozhou but had later moved to the capital. The Huo and Liang families were once close friends. Concubine Shu and Liang Jingzhuo had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. However, since the Huo family moved to the capital, the two families had lost contact.
"Who is this?" Liang Jingzhuo asked, looking at Ruan Jiu. He had once had the honor of seeing the Crown Princess at the Crown Prince's wedding, but this charming girl in front of him was not the Crown Princess. Could she be one of the Crown Prince's concubines?
"Your Excellency, I'm the legitimate daughter of the Shen family," Ruan Jiu replied.
Hearing this, Liang Jingzhuo squinted his eyes into slits. "Master Shen is so righteous. He has saved the people of Shuozhou from the epidemic." After saying that, he clasped his hands in salute to Ruan Jiu, his eyes full of respect and showing no airs of an official at all.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu quickly stepped forward and lifted Liang Jingzhuo's hands. "Your Excellency, there's no need for this! It's the fortune of the Shen family to be able to help the people of Shuozhou."
"Plain porridge and simple dishes have been prepared. Please, Your Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Shen, move to the inner hall."
After they were seated, Ruan Jiu found that Liang Jingzhuo had not exaggerated. As he had said, there wasn't a single piece of meat on the table.
Liang Jingzhuo smiled awkwardly. "The epidemic in Shuozhou is very serious now. There's really no extra money in the mansion. I can only prepare some home - cooked meals. Please forgive me, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
It was well - known that Liang Jingzhuo was an honest official. He would even use his meager monthly salary to relieve the refugees in the city. He was regarded as a great benefactor by the people of Shuozhou. Now it seemed that the rumors were true.
"Prefect Liang has the well - being of the people at heart. It's a blessing for our dynasty. He should be rewarded," Xiao Wang said calmly.
Ruan Jiu looked at Xiao Wang's expressionless face and couldn't help but complain silently in her heart. Did he think he looked cool like this?
Liang Jingzhuo still looked a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head with a silly smile.
Just then, a woman came in from outside with a tray in her hand. After moving the dishes on the tray to the table, she said softly to Liang Jingzhuo, "Husband, all the dishes are here."
Liang Jingzhuo looked at Xiao Wang and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is my humble wife. There aren't enough servants in the mansion. Please forgive me for this, Your Highness."
Xiao Wang waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. Since it's just a home - cooked meal, let your wife sit down and dine with us."
"That's not appropriate!" Liang Jingzhuo shook his head repeatedly. "We can't break the etiquette!"
After several refusals, seeing that Xiao Wang still insisted, Liang Jingzhuo had no choice but to nod slightly at his wife.
After Mrs. Liang sat down, Ruan Jiu noticed that this Mrs. Liang looked seven or eight points similar to Concubine Shu.
"I wonder where Prefect Liang's children are. Why not call them over to dine with us?" Xiao Wang said.
Liang Jingzhuo replied respectfully, "My two sons have been busy taking care of the people in the city these days and haven't been back to the mansion for several days."
Xiao Wang then asked, "Do you only have two sons, Prefect Liang?"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu偷偷 glanced at Xiao Wang. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. She never thought that the noble Crown Prince would be interested in other people's children.
"I also have a little daughter. But she's very naughty. She might be running wild somewhere now," Liang Jingzhuo replied embarrassedly.
Mrs. Liang looked up at the sky outside and said softly, "Judging from the time, Yun'er should be back soon."
Liang Jingzhuo said with a silly smile, "I really hope Yun'er won't come back so early today. I don't want her to make a fool of herself in front of Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Just as he finished speaking, a girl's voice came from outside the door.
"Daddy, Mommy, we're back!"
Ruan Jiu looked out in the direction of the voice. Liang Jingzhuo was right. His daughter was really wild.
"Dressing like a boy all day long. What kind of behavior is this!" Liang Jingzhuo said, and then looked at Xiao Wang nervously. Maybe because Xiao Wang was here, seeing his daughter dressed as a boy again, Liang Jingzhuo was very annoyed.
Ruan Jiu couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. It was the first time she had seen such an interesting girl. Dressing as a boy. If she had the chance, she would like to try it too.
But the next moment, the smile on her face froze instantly. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the man behind the girl and she couldn't look away for a long time.