Chapter 80 (1/2)
Chapter 80: Housewarming
Nan Xun sat there for a long time. The teapot on the table was now empty, but it was too late to have someone brew him fresh tea. He gave up and went to bed.
Back at Prince Chen's Manor, Jun Huang found the place to be almost void of activity. The page boy at the gate greeted her with a shy smile. Jun Huang smiled in response and threw a glance at the inside. ”Has everyone retired to their rooms?”
”Indeed,” the page boy said with his eyes crinkled. ”The gentleman was late to return.”
Jun Huang nodded and exchanged some words with him before making her way to the side building. It was late. She decided to bid farewell to Qi Chen tomorrow before moving out of the manor.
The side building was even more empty. The birds perched on the tree took off into the air when they heard her approach and vanished into the night.
She pushed open the heavy door of the side building and was immediately faced with Wei Qian. Jun Huang startled. Trying her best to calm her heart down, she looked at Wei Qian with curious eyes. ”Why are you here? Aren't you away for a mission?”
Wei Qian pursed her lips without a word. Her silence made unsettled Jun Huang. Just when Jun Huang thought that Wei Qian wouldn't answer her, she said, ”I came back today. I heard the prince mentioned that the gentleman is moving out…”
”I am,” said Jun Huang, her tone casual. She stepped into the building with a calm expression and sat down in the garden. She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip.
”You have just reported back to the prince about what the imperial commissioner has achieved at the county town, haven't you?” Jun Huang said as she looked up at Wei Qian. ”It's late. You should go rest.”
Wei Qian lowered her eyes to look at the stone floor, unmoving and straight-backed even against the chilling winds at night. ”The gentleman has decided to move out. Will you take this subordinate with you?”
Jun Huang was a little surprised. She arched an eyebrow and looked at Wei Qian's downcast eyes inquisitively. She didn't think a woman like Wei Qian would say something like this of her own accord. Was Qi Chen trying to test her through Wei Qian?
Jun Huang paused for a moment before she said with a faint smile, ”Your are the prince's confidante. I believe the prince still requires your help. If you come with this gentleman, the prince will have very few people he can trust around him. Of course, if the prince agrees to let you come with this gentleman, who am I to say no?”
Her words were perfectly appropriate and within the boundaries of propriety, which was exactly the most hurtful answer she could have given. The light in Wei Qian's eyes dimmed, but her face remained impa.s.sive. She was Qi Chen's confidante after all. She would not let her own feelings be seen.
No matter how bitter and pained she felt, her face remained calm and collected. Sometimes she was similar to Jun Huang. Jun Huang did smile from time to time, though, while Wei Qian never did.
Before taking her leave, Wei Qian said in a quiet tone, ”The gentleman never drank tea at night in the past. You said yourself that it was bad for health. If so, the gentleman should take care of yourself better. Now please excuse this subordinate.” With that, she went into her room, leaving Jun Huang alone in the backyard.
Jun Huang looked at the teacup in her hand. Her chest had been hurting a little earlier. It might have been caused by the poison again. That was why she drank tea to suppress the pain. She hadn't thought too much about her actions.
Wei Qian was right though. Jun Huang sighed and put down the teacup before going into her bedroom.
The next day Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn. She quickly packed her things and freshened up before going to Qi Chen's building. She happened to run into Qi Chen when he was leaving for the court meeting.
”Brother Feng woke up early,” Qi Chen said as he smoothed out his sleeves. ”I heard the servants say that you returned quite late last night. Why didn't you sleep a little longer?”
Jun Huang's eyes flashed. Why has Qi Chen been keeping such a close eye on my whereabout? Could it be that Nan Xun was right? Did Qi Chen sent those men to test me?
Jun Huang was too immersed in her thoughts to answer. Qi Chen frowned and waved a hand before her eyes. He gave her a bright smile. ”Brother Feng is clearly distracted. Did you meet a beautiful woman last night?”
Jun Huang quickly regained her focus, but she didn't know what she should say about what had happened yesterday. ”The house is ready, Your Royal Highness,” she said with a smile. ”This gentleman has stayed in this manor for a long time. I'm too ashamed to stay any longer. I therefore came to bid farewell to Your Royal Highness.”
Qi Chen looked surprised. ”Why is brother Feng so eager to move out? Have I made you feel unwelcome?”
”That's not it,” said Jun Huang. ”It's just that there are things I have to buy for the new place. This gentleman thinks that I might as well move into the house now. Then I'll know what I need.”
Qi Chen was about to say something else when the page boy in charge of preparing the coach came. He reminded Qi Chen that he had to leave for the palace now, or he would be late to the meeting.
Qi Chen had no choice but to cut the conversation short. He told Jun Huang to take care of herself and tell him if she ran into any troubles. Jun Huang nodded in response. Only then did he take his leave.
After seeing Qi Chen off, Jun Huang returned to the side building for her things. Wei Qian was right at the door when she left her room. She nodded as a way of greeting. Wei Qian watched her leave, as silent and still as a statue.