Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 808 Return to the Palace
The Third Prince's suppressed cry of pain in the carriage certainly did not escape Ah Liu's ears. However, he did not get on the carriage to check what was going on, nor did he ask, but instead used his eyes to signal the driver to drive the carriage to catch up with him. In response, Zhang Yuan, the driver who had just recognized the Third Prince and was already used to Ah Liu's style of doing things, naturally did not dare to say a word.
No wonder Zhang Shou’s carriage was quietly driven out today. It turned out that the prince had quietly left the palace!
And when this man and his carriage met up with the servants and guards of the Duke of Zhao's Mansion, although there were two people when Liu went there and there were two people when he came back, one of them had become a coachman for one carriage. Although everyone looked at each other in confusion, since they had all been fought one by one or in a group by Liu - the kind of group fight where one person beat a group, they still did not dare to ask more questions.
Even when Ah Liu directly ordered them to return, they still obeyed his orders despite being full of doubts. After all, the lady had previously ordered them to listen to Ah Liu in everything today. However, some smart people had already felt that the carriage should not be empty, and there might be someone inside.
The Third Prince in the carriage heaved a sigh of relief. After the initial burning pain, he felt a slight coolness. However, tying the smooth silk bandage on the moving carriage was not an easy task. After tying it with great difficulty, he put on his pants, but when he moved a little, he felt the stinging pain on the inner thigh when the fabric rubbed against him.
But it was much more comfortable than riding a horse on the way back, so he certainly couldn't complain. After all, he had implicated many people today, and he didn't even know what the situation in the palace was like. Therefore, when Ah Liu's low voice came from outside the carriage, reminding him that there was food under the seat, he didn't even have much appetite.
"We need to return to Beijing at least at noon or even at dusk. Don't starve."
Hearing this, the Third Prince hesitated for a moment, but he finally reached under the seat and took out a small and exquisite food box. This food box was only the size of two palms at most, small and exquisite, but tall, with three layers.
He opened the first layer and saw several neatly stacked silver rolls. The second layer was a layer of meat dates as big as a little finger, and the third layer was four grids, all of which were pickled vegetables. The third prince was relieved when he saw no common candied fruits, cakes, or anything like that. He ate two rolls with meat dates and pickled vegetables, but then he felt thirsty again.
It was only then that he remembered that he had not had a drink of water during the rush. He thought about it and did not ask Ah Liu. Instead, he put the lunch box back and reached under the seat to look for something. Since Ah Liu had just mentioned food and drink, it was impossible that there were only snacks and no drinks.
This time, he really took out a cattail bag, and inside the cattail bag was a small coat. When he unbuttoned the coat, he found a purple clay teapot. Probably because of the charcoal burning under the car, the purple clay teapot was still a little warm, and the water inside was also warm and sweet. The taste was not like the tea he usually drank, but more like monk fruit or something like that.
At this moment, he noticed that there seemed to be a note in the cattail bag.
After bending down to take out the note, he unfolded it with one hand and saw that it was written in beautiful small characters. It was obvious that Zhu Ying had prepared it long ago and left it for him - "When I saw this, I thought you had already accomplished your goal. Remember not to take all the responsibility when you return to the palace, otherwise the Queen Mother and I will not forgive you!"
The Third Prince was stunned at first, and then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Others would be eager to shirk responsibility when encountering this kind of thing, but from what Zhu Ying meant, if he told his father that it was all his own idea, and asked him not to blame others... Zhu Ying would settle accounts with the Queen Mother!
However, he felt that this kind of self-evidently arrogant tone was extremely caring and warm, so he folded the note solemnly and put it in his arms, then heaved a sigh of relief, drank some tea in small sips, and put the purple clay pot back into the cattail bag. He didn't want to ask people to stop the car on the road to change clothes because he drank too much water.
The ride was bumpy, and he was completely relaxed. He didn't think about whether he would face an angry father after returning to the palace. The carriage was warm, and the third prince fell asleep unconsciously. When he opened his eyes in the noise, he found that he had a thick velvet cloak on him. It seemed that someone had covered him.
After struggling to sit up, he unbuttoned the curtains and looked out, and saw that he had entered the capital. He was passing by the Dongsi Archway, and there were people everywhere, and shops were lined up along the street. It was very lively at this time of year. He couldn't help but lean on the window to look for a long time, and soon he sneezed because of the cold.
Then, he saw Ah Liu's condescending and reproachful look.
Knowing that Ah Liu was blaming him for leaning out like that, which would make him cold and easy to be recognized, the little prince quickly retreated into the car and fastened the curtain buttons again. He then rubbed his hands and patted his forehead. Not long after they drove forward, he heard Ah Liu's voice from outside: "We've arrived at Dong'anmen."
After three hours of traveling back and forth in the middle of winter, the servants and guards of the Duke of Zhao's mansion, who were all well-trained, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw that they had arrived at their destination. Seeing that Ah Liu went forward to negotiate with the guards at Dong'an Gate, and then the carriage was allowed in without being checked, they could not help but look at each other.
Who is this person in the car? If he is really an important person, why didn't they see this car when they were escorting him before?
Ah Liu who had returned did not intend to explain at all. He just nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work today. You can go back first!"
After saying this, he left the group of people who were extremely confused and rode straight to catch up with the carriage in front. In a moment, the carriage stopped at Donghua Gate. The guards who were on guard again were more conscientious. After someone came forward to check Ah Liu's tooth card, he smiled and greeted him, "Master Zhang followed the emperor back to the palace before, and he hasn't come out yet. Who is the Sixth Master escorting again?"
The Third Prince in the car suddenly heard that his father, who had gone to public school before, had brought Zhang Shou into the palace. He immediately took a deep breath. Since he had instructed Lu Sanlang to spread the news after he left, he naturally thought of this possibility. But now that it really happened, he couldn't help but feel uneasy in his heart, and hesitated for a while before getting off the car.
After leaving the palace, he had already taken off the eunuch's crown and changed into simple casual clothes at the Duke of Zhao's mansion. So when he got off the car, several guards were a little confused at first, but someone finally stared at him for a long time and exclaimed, "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Your Highness? Because the Third Prince rarely left the palace, and even when he did, he would sit in the carriage early, so many of the guards here didn't recognize him. When they heard this exclamation, they were all dumbfounded, and then they hurriedly saluted.
Facing these people who were paying their respects, the Third Prince did not rush away in a guilty conscience, but stopped, nodded slightly, and then walked into the Donghua Gate as if nothing had happened. Ah Liu waited for the little prince to take a few steps forward, then glanced at the stunned guards, and then followed him leisurely.
As the two of them walked away leisurely, several guards looked at each other, and then almost exploded - not the kind of explosion that caused them to talk at once, but their heads exploded - they had never heard of or seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince leave the palace before, so how did he leave?
If they had not left through the Donghua Gate, it would have been fine. But if they had left through the Donghua Gate, would they have been able to keep their heads if they were investigated? You know, guarding the palace gate is the most important responsibility, and no one can afford to be accused of dereliction of duty.
When everyone was crying, Ah Liu suddenly came back. When he came to the guards, he said casually: "The Crown Prince said that his case has nothing to do with you. It was the Queen Mother who took him out of the palace."
Several guards looked at each other, and when they raised their heads to ask Ah Liu what happened, they found that he had just explained it and then left. Although they couldn't figure out the details at the moment, they thought that if it was really the Queen Mother who took the Prince away in the car quietly, they really couldn't find it, so they had to comfort themselves with Ah Liu's words as a life-saving straw.
No one dared to think about whether they would still have to take the blame if the Queen Mother did not admit it.
After catching up with the Third Prince again, Ah Liu asked softly, "Is it really okay?"
"Sixth brother, are you saying to put the blame on the Queen Mother?"
The Third Prince knew that what Ah Liu was asking was not whether he should appear before others openly, but whether he should confess that the Queen Mother had taken him out of the palace. He immediately laughed and said, "Originally, I wanted to say that it was all my fault and had nothing to do with anyone else. But if the Emperor asks how he left the palace, he will have to bring the Queen Mother into the picture. What's more..."
He didn't know whether Ah Liu had seen the note in the cattail bag on the carriage, but after hesitating for a while, he still said truthfully: "Besides, Sister Yingying left a note to warn me not to take it all by myself, otherwise she will come back to settle the score with me!"
Ah Liu, who had just been ordered by the Third Prince to pass on a message to the guards, was not surprised at all by Zhu Ying's statement. He thought it was reasonable. So, he thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, you don't have to help me make excuses when I meet the Emperor and the Young Master. Although it was the Young Miss who asked me to do this, I also agreed to it on my own."
The Third Prince was slightly startled, but he did not stop or look back. He just nodded and said, "Okay, I understand!"
This simple sentence seemed to be free of any personal feelings, but in fact he was very grateful to those who helped him unconditionally without blaming him for his nonsense. No one knew whether his father would tolerate his willfulness as before, and no one knew whether his father would be furious again.
Knowing that his father had gone to the Ciqing Palace, he must still be there at this moment and would not return to the Qianqing Palace, he naturally rushed there directly. As for the surprised looks of some officials he met along the way when they saluted him, he just pretended not to see them.
When the Third Prince finally saw the Ciqing Palace, he saw a figure rushing over. It was Chen Yongshou, who had been waiting here with the Emperor for a long time. Seeing the young Crown Prince appear in front of him in good condition, the Qianqing Palace manager breathed a sigh of relief and even did not bother to salute and quickly led the person inside.
"My prince, you are finally back! The emperor is waiting in Ciqing Palace, and Zhang Xueshi is accompanying him. He won't see anyone, won't listen to anything, and won't let anyone go to the empress dowager to inquire... If you don't come back, Zhang Xueshi will be so anxious!"
Seeing the Third Prince's expression change, he rushed in quickly. Chen Yongshou fell behind, but he quickly wiped the sweat on his forehead that shouldn't have appeared in the winter. Then he suddenly realized that a fiery gaze fell on his face. He turned his head in surprise, but found that the person staring at him with a sharp gaze was not Ah Liu?
He was slightly stunned, and then he heard the young man's faint voice: "Master, are you really so anxious?"
Chen Yongshou's face immediately became unnatural. In fact, the emperor was sitting there waiting with a fierce look on his face, not eating or drinking, but Zhang Shou seemed very carefree. With the help of Lu Sanlang, he even checked the homework of the third prince, and then read books with great interest in the place where the prince studied - after all, this place was equivalent to a small library. Zhang Shou ate most of the snacks that the emperor didn't eat.
But why did Ah Liu insist on pursuing this? Wasn't he trying to emphasize the seriousness of the matter?
Knowing that Ah Liu was not easy to fool, he could only lower his voice and say, "Little Six Brother, I'm afraid that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will still be stubborn and anger the Emperor, and then implicate Master Zhang. I know that Master Zhang is also very anxious, he might..."
Ah Liu chased after him without waiting for Chen Yongshou to finish his words. Instead of listening to nonsense here, he might as well follow him in to prevent anything from happening! However, he saw the Third Prince had already pushed through the door curtain and entered with one hand, but he squinted his eyes and saw the scene inside through the gap in the door curtain, but suddenly stopped in an emergency.
As a result, Chen Yongshou, who was lagging behind, was unable to stop in time and almost bumped into his back. Fortunately, Ah Liu turned around and helped him, so the poor Qianqing Palace Manager did not fall. However, when Ah Liu dragged him to the side, he was still a little dazed.
"Don't talk." Ah Liu uttered three words concisely and then pricked up his ears.
Just now, he saw the emperor standing in the center, facing the third prince, and Zhang Shou standing two steps behind the emperor, as if he noticed that he was about to follow him in, and at that moment he shook his head slightly. So, he stopped abruptly and even pulled Chen Yongshou, but he was still a little worried.
At this time, he heard the emperor's voice coming from inside: "Sanlang, you left the palace without telling me. Did you have fun?"
