Chapter 38 (2/2)

”Yes,” his servants answered in a heavy tone. When they raised their head, Yan Xun was no longer there.

The afternoon sun was shining brilliantly. Yan Xun sat in his study, flipping through the tax documents that had been submitted for the winter, making comments as he read each line carefully. Feng Zhi came into the room thrice to invite Yan Xun to have his lunch, but was chased out of the room each time by the guard, AhJing. He could only wait patiently at the door.

The wind blew gently through the room, gently swaying the incense on the desk. All of a sudden, a fresh fragrance wafted into the room. It neither smelt like it was from the palace, nor did it smell like the orchid incense from Ying Ge Court. It also did not smell like the sea of bamboo. It was a unique smell that had a tinge of sand and mud mixed in with it. It even had the smell of a sharp blade.

Yan Xun frowned as he raised his head. He saw the person that came and his gaze softened. He wanted to say something funny but he could not hold in his laughter. He tried to suppress it in by looking away, but the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

”Are you done laughing?” The person that came in did not look like she was even 16 years old, still a young teenager. Her skin was fair and her eyes were watery. She was dressed in black leather armor. She looked increasingly heroic. As she leaned on the door with her hands across her chest, her eyes sparkled with a tinge of laughter. She stubbornly said, ”It is still cold outside.”

”When did you come back?” Yan Xun's voice was as gentle as water, as if he had gotten rid of his flair in an instant. He gazed into the warm eyes of the teenager at the door as he laughed gently.

The teenager laughed as well. She tilted her head and answered, ”Just now.”

”Why don't you come in?”

The teenager pouted as she said disdainfully, ”Someone said to not allow anyone in, even if it was a matter of great importance.”

Yan Xun nodded. ”I did? Since I made such an order, they still dared to let you in. They should be punished by death.”

”Aren't I still outside the door?” The teenager raised her eyebrows. ”Who would dare to violate the rules that the Crown Prince of Yan had set?”

When Yan Xun was about to speak, the little child behind the teenager could not help but speak up, ”I must say, Miss, stop speaking so guilefully to the Crown Prince. I have already asked the kitchen to heat up this meal for him more than ten times. Please have a bite.”

”Okay then.” Chu Qiao took the lunchbox and walked in. She smiled and said, ”I give in only because of Feng Zhi.”

The little boy wiped his sweat as he took his leave.

Yan Xun stood up from the back of his desk. He walked up to Chu Qiao to untie her cloak, then set it on a chair. He sat in front of his desk, looking at Chu Qiao lay out the dishes in front of him. Only then did he close his eyes to take a whiff. As if he was in a trance, he said, ”How fragrant! How did I not smell this?”

”Your nose is no longer working. You would have starved to death if I had not returned.” Serving a bowl of rice to Yan Xun, Chu Qiao sat up straight beside him and shoved in a mouthful of rice. ”Lady Yu still makes the best dishes.”

Yan Xun's expression changed slightly, showing a rare glimmer of sorrow as he lowered his gaze to the teenager. He asked, ”Was it tough?”

”It was okay.” Chu Qiao shook her head and continued, ”It was just too cold.”

”Are your feet frozen again?”

”Nope, the boots that you gave me were very warm and comfortable.”

Yan Xun nodded and said in a deep tone, ”Next time, let AhJing and the rest handle things like this. Don't keep running around.”

”I also wish to stay in this house, but how could I be assured that things would be completed?” Chu Qiao let out a long sigh. ”Luckily we do not have to do this for long. Six more months and life will never be as tough.”

Yan Xun's gaze brightened as a gust of wind blew through the windows that were slightly open, bringing in the fragrance of the bamboo forest from afar.

”Did you see Mr. Wu?”

”Nope.” Chu Qiao shook her head. ”But I saw Xi Hua. He said that Mr. Wu had already entered the capital and is in the process of collating the data for winter taxes. He asked you not to worry.”

Yan Xun nodded and let out a long sigh. ”That's good, it has been many nights since I have had a good rest. I have been doing the taxes all this time. Now that Mr. Wu is back, it will save me a lot of effort.”

”Is everything peaceful in the palace?”

Yan Xun laughed coldly and was unable to hide the sarcasm from the edge of his lips. ”It's still the same old thing. But I don't know if you heard that Wu Jing is back. I just met him earlier today.”

”I heard.” Chu Qiao nodded as she replied, ”The mausoleum at Nan Ji Mountain had collapsed, and Wu Jing could hardly absolve himself of the blame. I heard that he had been dismissed from his role, but I never expected him to return so quickly.”

Yan Xun put down his chopsticks and raised his teacup to take a sip. ”Your method of removing the root of the problem had been going so well. Wei Shuye had been implicated by Wei Jing, and has been removed as the Capital's magistrate. There are rumors within the palace saying that Wei Guang did this on purpose in order to get out of the position. Although he had not commented on it, the elders had always been critical about Wei Guang. Just a few days ago, they eliminated the Wei family from the picture. Although Muhe Xifeng is good for nothing, and Muhe Yunting is no longer around, Muhe Rongcheng is not a vegetarian. When he is back from Xi Ling, the Grand Elder's Council will become a whole lot livelier.”

Chu Qiao's had stuffed her mouth with food. However, she managed to say in a solemn tone, ”We must continue to follow up on this matter; we must not be careless. Don't worry, I will deal with it.”

Yan Xun nodded. ”I can count on you.” When he said that, he laughed all of a sudden as he raised his slender finger, rubbing it on Chu Qiao's face.