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In the middle of the sixth month, the capital was hit by a heavy rainstorm that lasted for five days, causing many farmlands and houses to be flooded. The Ministry of Works was busy clearing the capital's sewers, and even the new mansion of Empress Dowager Zhuang had to temporarily halt construction as Marquis Gu was summoned back to take charge during the crisis.
The Ministry of Revenue was busy helping the people resume farming.
Some of the Hanlin officials who were knowledgeable in agriculture were also sent to the countryside, and Xiao Liulang was among them.
On the day before his departure, he went to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Zhuang at Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was reviewing some documents in her study. She grunted and said, "It's not like you're going to a faraway place, it's just a day's journey by carriage. There's no need to say goodbye."
Just then, Eunuch Qin walked in with bundles in hand and said, "Senior Compiler Xiao, Empress Dowager personally picked these items for you. This servant was just about to deliver them to Bishui Alley, but you happen to come here in person."
Xiao Liulang looked at the two big bundles and then at his Grandaunt.
Oh, what about not saying goodbye?
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave Eunuch Qin a death glare!
Eunuch Qin rubbed his nose bitterly and said, "Oh dear, this servant just remembered that there are a few accounts he hasn’t finished looking over yet! This servant must go first!"
With that, he quickly ran away!
"When are you leaving?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Xiao Liulang replied.
Empress Dowager Zhuang inquired again, "Who else is going besides you?".
"Senior Compiler Wang, Senior Compiler Li, and Reading-in-Waiting Yang." Xiao Liulang answered.
"Summon them." Empress Dowager Zhuang said.
Eunuch Qin stepped forward and asked, "Empress Dowager, what are your orders?"
"Aijia has several scrolls of Buddhist scriptures that need to be copied. Go to Hanlin Academy and have Reading-in-Waiting Yang copy them." Empress Dowager Zhuang said.
"No need, Grandaunt." Xiao Liulang said. "Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? I can handle it."
After a moment's thought, Empress Dowager Zhuang realized that it was unnecessary to overprotect him. Giving him some small tasks was also beneficial for his development.
"Is dinner ready?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked Eunuch Qin.
Eunuch Qin hurriedly smiled and replied, "We are just waiting for your orders to serve the food, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Liulang had dinner with Empress Dowager Zhuang in Renshou Palace, and after that, he planned to leave. Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, "Aijia has been sitting all day and would like to take a walk outside."
Eunuch Qin thought to himself, why don't you just say you want to send Lord Xiao off!
The corners of Xiao Liulang's lips curled up slightly and he said, "Sure."
The grandaunt and grandnephew pair left Renshou Palace.
The heavy rain not only flooded half of the capital but also many parts of the imperial palace. Fortunately, Renshou Palace was the most powerful palace. All the accumulated water was drained, and the roads were flattened. It was easy to travel all the way to the gate of the imperial palace.
The same goes for Huaqing Palace.
The evening sun was beautiful, and the weather was cool. Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing sat on a sedan chair, covered by a canopy, wearing the clothes and hat of a nun, which were out of place with the luxurious sedan chair.
Since Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was injured, she had been recuperating in Huaqing Palace. After several days of heavy rain, the imperial physician said she couldn’t always stay in the bedroom and should go outside to get some fresh air.
Hence, the Emperor had someone carry her out on a sedan chair.
Empress Dowager Zhuang did not ride in her own phoenix palanquin but walked with Xiao Liulang to accompany him.
The two groups met unexpectedly, and Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was in the higher position.
"Imperial——" Eunuch Qin was about to scold Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing for not getting off the sedan chair, but Xiao Liulang spoke first.
He bowed to her like he was greeting a Buddhist nun and said, "Greetings, Sister Jing."
The faces of the palace maids around Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing changed instantly.
What Sister Jing? This is Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing! Even the Emperor called her imperial concubine mother!
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing’s expression remained unchanged.
Xiao Liulang continued to speak, "Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing has become a Buddhist nun and has been away from the palace for too long. This official believes she has forgotten about the secular world. This is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
At this point, anyone would have to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
"Lower the sedan chair." Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing raised her hand and looked towards Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang also looked at her.
Their gazes were both extremely calm, and no one could guess what they were thinking.
Grannie Cai reached out and helped Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing up.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was still in pain, mainly because the injury wasn’t just in one area, it was uncomfortable and slow to heal.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, holding Grannie Cai's hand, slowly came to Empress Dowager Zhuang and bowed, "This..."
She just barely opened her mouth when Empress Dowager Zhuang walked away without even looking back.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's body stiffened as she bowed, and all the palace maids saw her moment of embarrassment and awkwardness.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's aura was undoubtedly powerful and intimidating. She didn't have to deliberately look down on anyone. She naturally had an air of being the number one in the world.
"Imperial Concubine Dowager..." A young palace girl came forward and helped her.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's eyelashes trembled, "I'm fine."
Empress Dowager Zhuang accompanied Xiao Liulang to the imperial garden. Xiao Liulang stopped and said to her, "Grandaunt, please go back. It's getting late."
"Okay." Empress Dowager Zhuang responded lightly and looked at his eyes, reminding him, "Be careful in everything."
"I understand." Xiao Liulang nodded, glanced in the direction of Huaqing Palace, and said, "Please take care of JiaoJiao, Grandaunt."
Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes, "My JiaoJiao, Aijia can take care of her myself. Do you think Aijia needs you to remind her?"
Xiao Liulang chuckled, "Then I'll go first."
"All right." Empress Dowager Zhuang watched Xiao Liulang disappear at the end of the path before turning to go back to Renshou Palace. She noticed that Eunuch Qin was in a daze and scolded him, "What are you staring at? Move!"
Eunuch Qin sighed, "Senior Compiler Xiao… Looks very handsome when he smiles..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang thought to herself, of course he looks very handsome. How could the Little Marquis who was renowned in the capital at the age of thirteen not have a few points of beauty?
It was just that this child didn’t like to smile.
No. That didn’t seem right either. He used to be a person who laughed a lot. When he was a child, his laughter echoed throughout the imperial garden.
It was the fire at the Imperial Academy that burned his laughter away.
Was that fire really just an accident?
If Xiao Heng had survived, then who was the scorched body who died in the fire?
……
The next day, when Xiao Liulang got up, Gu Jiao had already packed his luggage. This wasn't his first time traveling far away. Before, he was rushing to take the imperial exams, and now he was on a business trip.
"The mosquito repellent incense is in this bag. The mosquito bite medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, and motion sickness medicine are in this pouch, and there are also some fruits and dry food for the journey."
Gu Jiao knew that he didn't have much money on him, and what he earned was either used for rent or for household expenses.
Gu Jiao put 100 taels of silver banknotes, a pouch of silver bits, and copper coins inside the bag.
Xiao Liulang took the baggage and said, "I can be back in half a month at the earliest, and no later than next month."
"Take care." Gu Jiao saw him off onto the carriage.
Liu Quan first took him to the Hanlin Academy, where all the Hanlin officials would ride together in a carriage to go to the countryside.
Little Jing Kong had gone to school and missed this farewell.
After Xiao Liulang left, Gu Jiao went to the medical hall and stayed there for the morning. Then she changed into men's clothing and put on a mask before going to the Taihe Martial Arts School.
She had been busy these days and hadn’t come here for a long time.
She had to regain her strength as soon as possible. She didn't want to see those death warriors just to run away from them again with a whimper!
She wanted to sack them!
Today, she didn't encounter any opponents that were too difficult. After playing a few matches, she lost interest and left.
She rubbed her wrist and started walking back.
Because some of the streets in the city were still flooded, she didn't take the usual route but took a big detour. On her way back, she unexpectedly saw the beggar who had set up the chessboard last time on the roadside.
The beggar still had his face covered but with a book this time. He seemed to be asleep.
There was a different chess game in front of him this time.
Gu Jiao curiously glanced at it. This game was clearly more difficult, and she wasn’t able to solve it as quickly as last time.
She started to calculate in her mind. There were more than ten possible moves in this game, and each move would create dozens of different game states. Ordinary people couldn't possibly do such a massive calculation in their minds.
After about half a moment, Gu Jiao opened her eyes and picked up a chess piece, placing it on the board.
Just as she was about to leave, a skinny old hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
It was the old beggar.
She had been so focused on analyzing the chess game that she didn't notice he had woken up.
The old beggar held onto her wrist and said, "Hey? You're leaving after playing my game? Didn't you see what's written on this broken wooden sign?"
It was the same sign Gu Jiao had seen before, indicating a game fee of ten taels.
"Oh." Gu Jiao held out her hand.
The old beggar looked at her empty hand in confusion and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Aren't you going to give me money?" Gu Jiao pointed to the wooden sign. "Ten taels."
The old beggar was taken aback, "You're the one who's supposed to give me ten taels!"
Old beggar: Wait, from the sound of this brat’s voice… This little brat is a girl?
Gu Jiao: Oh, so he isn't asking for help to solve the chess game.
Gu Jiao misunderstood. She thought for a moment and said strangely, "But is this rubbish chess game really worth ten taels?"
The old beggar almost choked up. He pointed to the chessboard on the ground and exclaimed, "You, you, you… What did you just say? Rubbish chess game? You're calling this...a rubbish chess game?"
Gu Jiao innocently said, "Ten taels of silver is two years' worth of living expenses for a family of ten in the countryside. If you're going to charge so much, at least it should be something challenging, right?"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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