Scent Of Time

Chapter 47

Because I was uncomfortable, I ended my trip early and returned to the Hua Mansion. I carefully picked out a jewelry set from the drawer, all from Hua Shen, and each should be worthy. After sorting it out, I called Qian Zhi to come in, and without avoiding Yin Xing and Cui Zhu, I handed over the jewelry box to Qian Zhi.

Qian Zhi puzzledly received it. After opening it, her face paled.

I hurriedly explain: “This store is under my name. I carefully pick it out during the day. Although the location is not exceptionally good, it still has some customer sources. After all, the prosperous area here is full of dignitaries’s stores. I’m afraid that in the future, without me, you can’t keep the store. Inside, there’s a set of jewelry I have not used. It’s brand new. I gave you your slave contract. It’s considered our master and servant’s love.”

Qian Zhi did not show joy but kneeled with teary eyes, saying, “Miss, if I did something wrong, you can casually hit or punish me. I won’t complain, but please, Miss, do not drive me away.”

I hurriedly picked her up and said, “I’m not driving you away. I’m preparing a dowry for you.”

“Miss, I don’t want to leave you. Nan Feng and I are only…” Qian Zhi panicked and tried to explain.

“I might have to leave the capital in a few days. Fortunately, I know about it now, or else I’ll take you away at that time and delay your happiness instead. It’s still not too late to prepare a marriage for you. In the future, if Nan Feng bullies you, even if I’m not in the capital, you must tell me. I’ll support you.” I interrupted Qian Zhi’s words and patted her hand.

Qian Zhi’s eyes were red: “Miss, I want to go with you.”

“Silly girl.” I knocked on Qian Zhi’s head and said, “Marrying is a significant event in your life. I see that Nan Feng is not a bad person, and you are in love with each other, so you don’t have to mind me. Besides, I can’t afford to support you for the rest of your life, so don’t try to rely on me.”

Qian Zhi was amused by me, finally no longer in tears.

I changed the chat to a lighter direction: “When did you and Nan Feng start? Why did you never tell me? Are you afraid that I’ll get in the way?”

Qian Zhi, slightly shy, said: “It is …… in the King Jin Mansion. When Nan Feng came over to take your seal, I couldn’t help but say a few words to him. Later, because Nan Feng had been taking more care of us, our courtyard did not suffer much. I never told you because I thought this was an impossible thing.”

I assumed I had Hua Xiang’s support, so King Jin’s jealous servants didn’t treat me harshly, but that was Nan Feng’s aid.

This pairing of male master’s guards and female supporting character’s maid was weirdly funny. In a good mood, I looked at Yin Xing and Cui Zhu to say, “You guys can tell me if you have a crush in the future. No matter who the other party is, I will give you a lavish marriage as long as you are willing.”

I wanted to say a few more words, but I remembered Hua Rongzhou when I saw Cui Zhu hanging her head all the time so that I couldn’t say much more. After pulling Qian Zhi to talk for a while, she insisted on accompanying me until I left the capital, so I didn’t try to persuade her more.

Mu Yao has yet to send any news, and it wasn’t good for me to kept held Wu Shuomo, so I also tried to be active. I couldn’t just sit around and wait for Mu Yao’s news. After asking Qian Zhi to prepare refreshments, I entered the palace. Sitting in Noble Consort Qi’s palace, she looked at me surprisedly, “How did Miss Hua remember me?”

I smiled and said, “I considered Noble Consort Qi’s suggestion and felt that it was good, so I came specially.”

“I knew that Sister Hua was a smart person.” Noble Consort Qi’s eyes flashed with triumph.

I took a handkerchief and lightly wiped the corners of my mouth before speaking, “It’s just that I know very little about the palace, so I’m afraid that if I want to help Sister Qi in the future, I won’t be able to.”

Noble Consort Qi sat closer and spoke softly: “Sister can ask me. I’ll teach you everything if we cooperate.”

“Then, what’s His Majesty’s preferences?” I pretended to be happy.

Seeing my undisguised prying, Noble Consort Qi seemed disdainful, but she was still smiling. She gently leaned over my ear and whispered: “Sister asked the right person. You knew the Emperor likes to eat sweets, and his favorite is honey…”

I heard that Zhong Xiwu loved to eat lychee. Presumably, he was indeed a sweet tooth, but honey —

Noble Consort Qi sat up straight and said: “Very few people knew about it. After all, the Emperor never showed any hint of joy and anger. I only knew after I stayed in the palace for a long time. Sister, please don’t spread it out. I see that the Emperor treats you specially. In the future, don’t forget me ……”

I smiled and was about to open my mouth, but I heard a shrill voice: “His Majesty arrives.”

Noble Consort Qi glanced at me and smiled before rising to salute. Zhong Xiwu, who wore a bright yellow dragon robe, looked like he had just finished dealing with political affairs and rushed over. Noticing his line of sight falling on me, I hung my head without saying anything, making a shy appearance.

“There is no need to be polite. I have come to seek Hua Qian.” Zhong Xiwu spoke straightforwardly, and his tone wasn’t courteous.

Noble Consort Qi smiled unconcernedly and said: “Then Your Majesty has come at the right time. We’re almost done talking.”

Zhong Xiwu nodded and turned to leave. Then, he turned back to look at me and signaled me to follow him. Looking at Noble Consort Qi’s understanding wink at me, I returned a polite smile and followed Zhong Xiwu.

After leaving the palace, Zhong Xiwu asked, “How did you run to Noble Consort Qi so diligently these past few days?”

“The Emperor seems to dislike me meeting Noble Consort Qi. It’s the second time you have rushed over to interrupt. Why?” I didn’t reply; instead, I asked.

Zhong Xiwu replied helplessly, “You rarely enter the palace. You were either looking for the Imperial Mother or Noble Consort Qi. It was fine with Imperial Mother, but why does Noble Consort Qi see you more often than me?”

Looking at Zhong Xiwu’s increasingly uncovered speech, I did not respond.

After waiting a moment, Zhong Xiwu spoke again: “These few days, I heard that you and that guard beside you are getting too close to each other. Last time, when you heard that he was injured, you were also left in a hurry and left me. Is a guard overstepping his bounds?”

“Hua Rongzhou is my guard. He’s loyal to me. How could I didn’t care about him?” I replied.

Zhong Xiwu looked at me sullenly, “Just a guard?”

My heart jumped, and I did not want him to pay attention to Hua Rongzhou. I changed the topic, “Does the Emperor like to eat honey?”

When Zhong Xiwu heard my words, his face finally showed joy: “Are you inquiring about my preferences?”

I hung my head again. Zhong Xiwu came closer. I wanted to avoid him, but he pulled me, and his voice rang in my ear: “This matter is rarely known in the palace. I’m allergic to honey. When I was a child, I accidentally ate it and almost lost my life.”

“So there is such a thing.” I pushed aside his hand and replied in a light tone.

Zhong Xiwu did not care about my coldness but spoke with a smile, “In the future, you can ask me anything you want to know.”

“Will His Majesty say anything to me?” I asked rhetorically.

Zhong Xiwu nodded solemnly.

I continued to ask, “Then, did you find the assassin who killed my elder brother?”

Zhong Xiwu visibly froze momentarily before speaking, “Qianqian, can you leave these matters to me? I promise I won’t spare the culprit. I don’t want you to be so exhausted. There’s me. You’ll be fine behind me.”

“But ……,” I looked at Zhong Xiwu’s eyes and said without avoiding, “If I know the mastermind, I will deal with it personally ……. ”

Zhong Xiwu speechlessly stared at me for a long time, and finally, he shook his head helplessly so as not to argue with me.

After returning to Hua Mansion, I devoted myself to the stores, trying to find a buyer. It was better to hold money. After all, I never wanted to stay in this capital for a long time.

Hua Rongzhou followed me for a few days. He followed wherever I went. When I saw the street vendor selling fried chestnuts, similar to the modern ones, I turned back and asked Hua Rongzhou: “Want to eat chestnuts?”

Hua Rongzhou nodded solemnly. I hadn’t seen him look so childish for a long time, looking blearily at the food, so I bought a big packet and handed it to him ostentatiously. Then, when I walked in front, a palm with a few orange, peeled chestnuts lying on it appeared. With a warm heart, I took the chestnuts and said to him, “Thank you.”

He pursed his lips and smiled, melted my heart. I wanted to reach out and touch his head, but I heard a voice interject, “Qianqian.” My hand involuntarily shook, and I saw Zhong Xiwu standing not far away, looking at me with an expressionless face. Is he on a private visit? I was about to walk over when suddenly a scream came from my side, startling me. I saw a middle-aged woman fall to the ground. A man who seemed to be her husband was reaching out to help her. The woman trembled and stretched out her hand and screamed, “It …… is you …… you, murderer. ”

The direction of her finger was – Hua Rongzhou.