Chapter 233 Meeting the Prince Again
Mengxi brought the Second Master to Yichun Hall. While Father Li was bandaging his wound, he followed Fangcao to her room in the backyard. Zhiqiu and Zhichun were already waiting there. When they saw Second Madam, their eyes immediately turned red and they were speechless for a while. Seeing Second Madam looking at Fangcao, Zhiqiu sent her away. Just as Zhiqiu was about to open his mouth, he heard Second Madam ask:
"Is Ouyang Di back?"
"Replying to Second Madam, they just arrived and you came right after them, how could this happen?"
"I don't have much time. Come on, help me change my clothes first, and call Ouyang Di over later."
After hearing this, Zhiqiu and Zhichun hurriedly responded. The water and clothes had already been prepared. The clothes were newly made after Zhiqiu left the house. While the two of them were helping the second grandma to change her clothes, Mengxi briefly told her what had just happened. Zhichun went out for a while, and soon Ouyang Di walked in with a gloomy face.
After Ouyang Di came in, he saluted the Second Grandma and said:
"Master, I underestimated Xiao Jun's martial arts. First, I was afraid that your identity would be exposed. Second, I thought that you would only bring a few maids and servants with you when you left the house , and they would not be difficult to deal with. So I did not invite friends from the martial arts world, and only used Yichun Hall bodyguards. Later, when I found out that Xiao Jun had left, it was too late to make new arrangements. I temporarily added four people, but I didn't want to harm them, and none of them came back."
Ouyang Di finished speaking, his expression was gloomy. Meng Xi listened, his expression was also gloomy, and he said:
"It's all my fault, not yours. I didn't expect the Second Master to follow him so suddenly. I wanted to cancel the plan, firstly because the message couldn't get through, and secondly because I thought your martial arts were better than the Second Master's. With you around, nothing would happen. I never thought it would turn out like this, with someone killed. Make good arrangements for the funeral of those four people..."
After hearing Meng Xi's words, Ouyang Di said in a low voice:
"They were all trained by me, just like my brothers. I wanted to kill Xiao Jun so much that I accidentally injured him, Master..."
"Swords have no eyes. Fortunately, the Second Master didn't hurt his heart. I also hate him for being so ruthless. I wonder if the Xiao family..."
Before Mengxi finished speaking, there was a hurried knock on the door. Everyone was startled. Zhiqiu hurried out and came back with a pale face. Mengxi saw him and asked hurriedly:
"What's wrong?"
"My elder brother sent a message saying that the prince has come and is talking to the second master."
"If the prince has something to say, he can just send someone to deliver the message. Why did he come here in person?"
"I don't know, it seems like something big is going to happen. The prince has come here in person these days, eager to see you, but he doesn't say anything. He only occasionally mentioned that the queen mother was ill. Because you can't leave the house, I haven't sent you a message. Second Madam, the second master will leave soon, and you must go. When the prince sees you, I'm afraid..."
The Queen Mother is ill, and there is an imperial physician in the palace. Why is the prince so nervous? Does he want her to treat the Queen Mother? The Queen Mother strongly advocates that the Prince of Yan be made the crown prince. It would be more beneficial for the prince if she died of illness. Thinking of this, Mengxi suddenly remembered that she had given the prince a spice made of red banana. Could it be that the prince...
When he thought of this, Mengxi broke out in sweat on his forehead and lowered his head in silence.
The air in the room suddenly became stagnant. Seeing that the Second Madam remained silent, everyone was at a loss as to what to do. While they were silent, Fangcao knocked on the door and came in with a message saying that the Second Master's injury had been treated. She asked the Second Madam if she had finished cleaning up and asked her to come over.
After hearing this, Zhixia and Zhichun turned pale. Looking at the Second Mistress, Mengxi was also shocked and turned pale. After pondering for a while, he said:
"There is no time. Zhiqiu should find a veil. I am afraid it will not be concealed for long. Let's delay it for now and then think of a solution. The most important thing is not to let the Second Master find out the flaws."
After hearing this, Zhiqiu started searching in the house. After a while, he actually found a hat with a layer of black gauze hanging down. He put it on the second grandmother, covering most of her face. Because it was summer, it didn't look out of place.
After putting it on, Zhiqiu looked left and right, sighed and said:
"A thin layer of gauze is deceiving, and it cannot withstand close scrutiny. Second Madam, you must not get too close to the prince, otherwise, you will definitely be exposed."
…
Xiao Jun's injury had been treated. He was sitting on the couch with a pale face, talking to the prince. He looked up and found that the prince's eyes were staring at the door. He followed his gaze and saw that it was Mengxi who had changed clothes and walked in with Zhixia. Seeing the prince's eyes, Xiao Jun felt a little cold, coughed and said:
"Your Highness, my wife is here. Please forgive me for not being able to stay with you for long as I am injured."
After hearing what Xiao Jun said, the prince was stunned. He looked at Xiao Jun, then at Mengxi. His lips moved, but he said nothing. He saw that the Second Master had stood up with the help of Xiao Ke, and walked towards Mengxi. When he came to Mengxi, he said:
"Your Highness, this is my wife, Mrs. Li."
"Xi'er, I meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
When Mengxi saw him, she bowed and said:
"This common woman pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Seeing Mengxi bowing, the prince stood up suddenly, opened and closed the folding fan in his hand, closed and opened it again, stared at Mengxi, unable to speak.
Seeing this, Xiao Jun gently pulled Mengxi behind him, clasped his fists towards the prince and said:
"Your Highness, I will take my leave now and leave first."
After hearing what Xiao Jun said, the prince came back to his senses after a long while, and said hurriedly:
"Okay, okay, Xiao Jun, see you later."
Seeing that the prince agreed, the second master stopped talking, pushed away Xiao Ke who was about to go forward to help him, hugged Mengxi, turned around and walked out slowly, and Li Du and others followed him out.
Xiao Junqiang held on and hugged Mengxi downstairs. When they arrived outside Yichun Hall, he could no longer hold back and fell down as soon as he got on the carriage. Just as he was about to order someone to lower the curtain, he saw the prince following them out and standing at the entrance of Yichun Hall, watching them from afar. He frowned and his face darkened. He shouted:
"Go back home!"
The prince must have suspected that she was the God of Medicine! Seeing the prince staring at her from afar, Mengxi's heart couldn't help but beat fast.
The carriage started moving. Xiao Jun held Mengxi's hand and looked at her thoughtfully. He always felt that something was strange in Yichuntang today, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He intuitively thought that Yichuntang and Mengxi had a close relationship. He couldn't even buy medicine when he came to Yichuntang before. He remembered that Mengxi had been using Yichuntang's medicine for him these days. When did she become so close to Yichuntang?
Suddenly I remembered that Xiao Yun once said that when he went south, Mengxi always went to Yipin Teahouse to drink tea. Could it be that the owner of Yipin Teahouse has a close relationship with Yichuntang? How did Mengxi know them?
What is the relationship between Yichuntang, Yipintang and Mengxihui?
Seeing that the Second Master was staring at her in a trance, Meng Xi felt a little guilty and asked:
"What is Second Master thinking about?"
After hearing this, Xiao Jun paused for a moment and said:
"Xi'er, those people went straight to your carriage as soon as they came up, as if they were specifically targeting you. Xi'er, recall if there are any enemies?"
Hearing this, Mengxi's body trembled, and beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. Feeling Mengxi's hand trembling, Xiao Jun hurriedly comforted him:
"Don't be afraid, Xi'er. I will arrange a few more experts to protect you closely."
Mengxi, who had just calmed down, couldn't help but groan inwardly after hearing what the Second Master said. She really shot herself in the foot. It was already difficult for her to leave the mansion now. If she had a few masters around her, she would be even more difficult to move. After pondering for a while, she looked up and said:
"Second Master, I live in the inner house. I never leave the front door or the back door. How could I have enemies? I hate having a bunch of people following me around every day. Second Master, don't worry about it."
After hearing Mengxi's words, the second master frowned.
What Mengxi said was right. It was impossible for her to make enemies with anyone outside. So who in the Xiao Mansion would hate her so much and want to kill her?
Aunt? Shaking his head, Aunt didn't have that much courage. Then there was mother. Could it be that mother wanted to... Thinking of this, the Second Master shuddered. Seeing that the Second Master looked different, Meng Xi asked:
"Second Master, what's wrong with you?"
"I know Xi'er likes quietness, so I won't let them get too close to you. I'll just let them follow you from a distance to protect you when you leave Xiaoxiang Courtyard."
Seeing Mengxi asking, the Second Master answered irrelevantly. Mengxi wanted to argue, but just after calling him Second Master, he heard the Second Master say without question:
"It's settled."
After Xiao Jun finished speaking, he closed his eyes, leaned against the side and said nothing more.
The news of Xiao Jun's injury had already been reported back to the Xiao Mansion. As soon as the carriage arrived at the second gate, the Third Master and several concubines were waiting there. When the carriage stopped, the Third Master opened the door and was about to get in. When he looked up and saw the Second Sister-in-law on top, he quickly stopped, took a step back and said:
"My second sister-in-law is fine. How is my second brother? Grandma and father are very worried."
"The Second Master was stabbed in the left chest with a sword. Fortunately , we went to Yichun Hall nearby. The Second Master has taken medicine, but he lost too much blood and is now asleep."
The Third Master looked at the pale Second Brother and said:
"I'm glad that my second brother is okay. The news scared my grandmother, father, and mother. My father wanted to take people to pick him up in person, but later he was relieved when he heard that he went to Yichun Hall. My second sister-in-law can take my second brother directly back to Xiaoxiang Courtyard. My grandmother , father and mother are waiting there."
Mengxi nodded. Seeing the three concubines coming to greet him, Mengxi waved her hand to indicate that it was unnecessary. She asked them to get in the car and follow her all the way back to Xiaoxiangyuan.
When they arrived at the second gate, there were already several servants waiting there, waiting to carry the Second Master back to the house. Mengxi saw them, gently woke the Second Master up and said:
"Second Master, we have arrived at Xiaoxiang Courtyard. I will get off the car first and have someone come up to carry you."
The Second Master opened his eyes in a daze, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. Seeing that he had arrived at Xiaoxiang Courtyard, he said:
"No need, Xier, help me up, I can walk by myself"
"Second Master..."
"His legs aren't injured. If we carry him inside, grandma will be worried if she sees him."
Mengxi thought about it and nodded, and supported himself. Erye leaned forward and stood up shakily. A servant had already reached out to the door of the car, caught Erye, and helped him out of the car. At this time, two servants brought a stretcher-like bed made of soft rattan with a mattress on it, and asked Erye to lie on it. Erye shook his head and told him to step aside. Looking back, he saw Mengxi had already got out of the car.
Then, supported by a servant, he slowly walked towards the courtyard. Everyone came in front and behind him. Turning the screen, he saw the old lady, the eldest master , and the eldest wife waiting in the hall. When the second master came in, the old lady stood up tremblingly, supported by the servant, and walked a few steps to the second master. She grabbed the second master's hand, looked him up and down, and said:
"What happened to Jun'er this year? He just recovered a few days ago and was fine when he went out this morning. How come he became like this in just one morning?"
The second master mustered up his energy and said to the old lady:
"Don't worry, grandma. It's nothing serious. It's just a minor injury. It will be fine after a few days of rest."
