Chapter Forty-Two: Xin Feng Town (I)

Realizing that the carriage had stopped, Tao Ming had no choice but to take the two little ones out of the room. The Seventh Prince saw them and said, "We've arrived at Xinfeng Town." Tao Ming nodded without a word.

Just then, someone outside announced, "Meng Sa, the Guardian of Xinfeng, respectfully welcomes Your Highness the Seventh Prince."

The Seventh Prince spoke softly: "You should stay here." With that, he rose and stepped out of the carriage.

Seeing the man half-kneeling in greeting, the Seventh Prince descended and reached out to help him up. "Guardian Meng, you may rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Meng Sa replied, standing up as he spoke.

The Seventh Prince looked him over: he wore a deep indigo official's robe, was still young, handsome, and dignified, with a respectful expression and silent composure.

The prince, intending to stay for the grand assembly tomorrow, said, "Guardian Meng, I have decided to spend the night in Xinfeng on a whim. There's no need for a grand affair; simply arrange a spacious courtyard for me."

Meng Sa replied, "Your Highness, I have already ordered a separate courtyard in the guardian’s residence to be prepared. It is quite spacious. Please, Your Highness, return to the carriage, and I will lead the way."

The Seventh Prince reentered the carriage, standing just inside the door. Tao Ming glanced at him, silently asking why he didn't sit.

He replied in a low voice, "Xinfeng is just a small town. We'll be there in a few steps."

"How small is it?" Tao Ming inquired.

The Seventh Prince thought for a moment, then answered, "The population is just over ten thousand, occupying less than fifty hectares, overseeing a dozen or so nearby villages."

Tao Ming did a quick calculation in her mind; it was about the size of the new campus at Lotus Spoon University—indeed, a small town.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the carriage rolled into the Guardian’s Residence.

Before Meng Sa could speak, the Seventh Prince stepped out as soon as the carriage halted.

Meng Sa stood respectfully at the gate of a courtyard and reported, "This courtyard has been cleaned. Your Highness may rest in the main house. The side rooms are sufficient to accommodate all your guards."

The Seventh Prince gave a brief acknowledgment and walked into the courtyard.

Before him was a typical Wei River three-sided courtyard, with only one entrance but quite spacious.

The prince led the way, with Meng Sa a respectful half-step behind.

Inside the main house, the Seventh Prince seated himself on the left of the central chairs, while Meng Sa stood below, silent.

The prince, preoccupied with his own thoughts and disinclined to converse, finally said, "Guardian Meng, would you accompany me for dinner later? You could also introduce me to the customs and scenery of Xinfeng."

Meng Sa replied, "Your Highness, tomorrow at the ninth hour, the Grand Assembly will be held before the Heavenly Emperor’s Temple. I have many preparations yet unfinished and cannot remain with you."

Feigning surprise, the Seventh Prince asked, "The Grand Assembly? Will the Heavenly Envoy be present?"

"I received word that the Heavenly Envoy will arrive in Xinfeng at eight tomorrow morning," Meng Sa answered.

The prince displayed keen interest. "I shall attend as well, to see the excitement for myself." Not waiting for a reply, he added, "Since that is settled, you may tend to your duties. I will rest here."

Meng Sa bowed and took his leave.

Once he had left the courtyard, he felt his heart finally settle. It was said the Seventh Prince was gentle and approachable—indeed, he found it so. Quite unlike the previous visitor, whose temper was erratic and arrogant, making all of Xinfeng suffer.

After Meng Sa’s departure, the Seventh Prince remained seated, calculating that Mu Zhi should soon return.

Mu Zhi, his page, had been chosen by his mother and had accompanied him since childhood. They ate, slept, and cultivated together—master and servant in name, but family in truth. As a child, whenever he erred, the Heavenly Emperor would thunder in anger, but the punishment always fell upon Mu Zhi, never truly upon the prince himself. After that, he ceased making mistakes.

Upon arriving at Qiluo Residence, Mu Zhi had already concealed himself within, gathering information.

Soon enough, a voice reported at the door, "Your Highness, I have returned."

"Come in," the prince responded immediately.

Mu Zhi entered. The prince motioned for him to follow into the bedchamber, where he set up a sound-proofing array before asking, "What have you learned?"

Mu Zhi sat down carelessly. "The Saintess entered the residence yesterday afternoon and hasn’t appeared much in public. Only two incidents have become common knowledge."

The prince leaned forward. "What two incidents?"

Mu Zhi glanced at him, slightly reproachful. "I wanted to capture a few maidservants and search their memories, but you forbade me from harming anyone, so I had to drop it. I could only eavesdrop when the servants gossiped."

The prince reassured him, "If you harmed anyone and the Saintess found out, she might bear a grudge against you. What would you do then?" Yet inwardly, he mused that Tao Ming was likely to hold grudges.

Mu Zhi protested, "There are so many eyes on Qiluo Residence—who would know it was me? Besides, I’d have left no trace."

The prince, growing impatient, pressed, "Hurry and tell me what those two incidents are. You’re always keeping me in suspense."

Seeing the prince’s urgency, Mu Zhi relented. "The first is a trifle: yesterday evening at the eighteenth hour, all the masters dined together at Listening Waves Pavilion. During the meal, the Saintess recited a poem. Afterwards, Qiluo ordered half the residence's food supplies cut."

The prince thought of that innocent, lively girl and couldn’t imagine her reciting poetry. "What poem?"

Mu Zhi grumbled, "How could the little maidservants remember? If I’d searched their memories, maybe I’d know."

The prince sighed, "Mu Zhi, let’s not speak of this again."

Mu Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. Though they’d grown up together and the prince treated him like family, he was still a servant. Perhaps he’d gone too far just now. He grew more respectful. "The second incident was far more dangerous. Late last night, the Crying Soul Curse appeared in Qiluo Residence. Over twenty little maids threw themselves into wells."

The prince was startled. "Were the Saintess and her two companions harmed?"

Mu Zhi frowned slightly, puzzled by the prince’s concern, though he showed nothing. "The Saintess was unharmed, but I couldn’t tell which girl she was. I only know that, guided by one of the girls, they swiftly found the curse, and Qiluo himself broke it apart."

The prince frowned deeply. Tao Ming had never cultivated—if the curse was aimed at her, how had she escaped? If it was not meant for her, then who was the target?

He would have to probe Tao Ming subtly.

He asked Mu Zhi a few more questions, but aside from the Saintess producing some rare trinkets, there was nothing new to learn.

At last, the prince said, "You need not remain hidden. From now on, stay by my side."

Mu Zhi acknowledged the order.

...

The Seventh Prince, with Mu Zhi in tow, left the main house and walked to the carriage. Aside from the several dozen guards on watch, most had gone to rest in the side rooms, leaving only eight by the carriage.

He instructed Mu Zhi to wait at the door, then boarded the carriage.

Inside, he found Tao Ming playing a game with the two children, though the game pieces were quite unusual.

Earlier, when the prince had left, Tao Ming had breathed a sigh of relief, unsure how to interact with him. She found his temperament strange—one moment wanting her dead, the next trying to befriend her—truly a headache.

The two little ones, unable to keep still, clamored to play once they were alone. Tao Ming, thinking the prince would dine with the guardian and return late, brought out some toys for them to play house.

Who would have thought the prince would return after just over an hour?

Now, as he entered, she hurried to put the toys away but, realizing how forced that seemed, simply continued playing with the children.

The prince sat across from them, watching their game with keen interest. Only then did he notice that the toys resembled kitchen utensils—but quite different from those of the Wei River region. The stoves and pots were unlike any he’d seen, and the exquisitely shaped pastries were entirely unfamiliar.