“Yes, this servant will go at once.” Chu…
“Yes, this servant will go at once.”
Chu Yixin rolled up his sleeves, suppressing a smile as he bowed his head to catch earthworms from the porcelain jar, refusing to look at his master who stood in the center of the room holding a plump carp.
Though the scene was truly astonishing, it also carried a hint of… absurdity.
Jiang Zhuoying felt extremely uncomfortable out of water, instinctively struggling as she twisted her body restlessly. Suddenly she realized her size was actually so enormous?!
She was even wider than the shoulders of the tall man holding her?
While swimming in the water she hadn’t felt this reality – she had thought she was still a small, delicate red carp…
Jiang Zhuoying looked around and spotted a bronze mirror facing her direction.
Heavens! Not only was her body so long, but she had grown so stout?
This was no small red carp, but clearly a round, plump, large fat carp!
Jiang Zhuoying quietly dismissed this thought in her mind – at most she could only accept being called a little fat carp…
“Master, the earthworms have been caught.”
Chu Yixin was quick and skillful, managing to catch the wriggling earthworm without much effort.
“Hmm.”
Qi Fan nodded slightly, took two steps forward, and threw the fiery red carp in his arms back into the jar.
Instantly, water splashed everywhere. The man narrowed his eyes coldly, allowing the splashing water to dampen his robes.
Chu Yixin studied his master’s expression and tentatively suggested, “Sir, shall you change your clothes in the bedchamber?”
Qi Fan remained expressionless, half-closing his eyes as he gazed at the red carp in the porcelain jar.
Chu Yixin, slightly bowing at his side, followed his gaze.
Jiang Zhuoying huddled motionless at the bottom of the jar, feeling discomfort throughout her body. Just recalling how that earthworm had swum freely in this water made her unhappy.
She wanted to bathe…
But she was already in water – how else could she bathe?
Jiang Zhuoying sighed softly: “Gurgle gurgle gurgle…”
“Change the water in the porcelain jar again.”
Though the man’s voice was cold, Jiang Zhuoying found it extremely pleasant to hear.
She slowly rose from the bottom of the water, happily swaying her tail fin, swimming back and forth before Qi Fan’s eyes.
This movement made Chu Yixin click his tongue in wonder. Staring at the scarlet carp on the water surface, he exclaimed in surprise: “Sir, what is Zhuozhuo doing?”
The man watched the red figure moving back and forth, the corners of his lips lifting slightly: “After raising her all these years, perhaps she’s become a spirit.”
“…Ah?”
Chu Yixin was stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned his head to see his master already shaking his wide sleeves and striding toward the bedchamber.
He immediately stored away his bellyful of questions and turned to leave.
He still needed to hurry and change Zhuozhuo’s water!
Jiang Zhuoying was extremely satisfied with this. As for the man’s comment about “becoming a spirit,” she didn’t take it to heart.
If given the chance, her future performances would be even more astonishing!
Now that the room had quieted, her heart felt empty too. She didn’t know how she could return…
She couldn’t possibly live the rest of her life in this scarlet carp’s body, could she?
When she first arrived, there had been a veterinarian watching over her, which showed this scarlet carp must have been sick.
Then was her original body also sick?
Meanwhile, at the eastern suburb manor.
The main room was isolated separately, its door tightly shut with no one at the entrance.
Beyond the closed door, a woman’s anxious sobbing could occasionally be heard from inside the room.
Xiangyue’s voice had grown hoarse as she repeatedly wiped the forehead of the young woman on the bed: “Miss, this servant begs you, you must hold on!”
The young woman on the bed lay with her eyes tightly shut, her delicate face flushed crimson from fever, with rosy rashes visible on her exposed neck.
“Miss, think of the Master and Young Master. The Master must still be alive, I beg you. The Master hasn’t returned yet, you cannot fall ill!”
Xiangyue wept bitterly, her eyes already swollen and red. Another maid hurried over behind her.
“Xiangyue, why are you still crying? This is the medicine prepared by the physician, quickly feed it to Miss. And this decoction needs to be used to wipe her body…”
Upon hearing this, Xiangyue sniffled and stood up, then helped Jiang Zhuoying sit up with Xiangxing, leaning her against the supporting pillow behind.
She took the medicine bowl from Xiangxing’s hands, knelt before the bed, and spoon-fed the unconscious Jiang Zhuoying.
“If the Master were still in the manor, Miss wouldn’t have to suffer like this…” Xiangyue could hardly restrain her flowing tears, her lips trembling as she murmured, “Miss has contracted the pox disease and lies critically ill, yet the Guogong Fu won’t even summon a royal physician for her…”
Xiangxing frowned deeply: “Enough, stop with these useless words. If Miss hears, she’ll feel worse.”
Kneeling beside Xiangyue, she firmly held Jiang Zhuoying’s chin, her tone resolute: “Even if we must exhaust our lives, we must find a way to help Miss pull through.”
“Mhmm…” Xiangyue nodded repeatedly while wiping her tears, “That goes without saying.”
Staring intently at the fever-flushed woman, she whispered: “Miss is my life.”
The water in the porcelain jar had been changed, and Jiang Zhuoying now swayed in the clean, clear water.
“Your Highness, it’s time for the evening meal. Shall this servant have the food brought now?”
Mealtime?
Jiang Zhuoying blew bubbles. She was starving too – ever since she opened her eyes and became a red carp, she hadn’t eaten anything.
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle!~”
But no matter how much she called out, no one in the room paid her any attention.
“Yes, and have Wang Yue bring some food for Zhuozhuo too.”
The man paused: “Cooked food.”
Chu Yixin bowed: “This servant understands. But Master, Zhuozhuo has always preferred live bait before, and having just awakened, shouldn’t we prepare some earthworms?”
“Live bait?” Qi Fan glanced at the specially made fish tank nearby, his eyes flickering with unclear meaning.
After a moment, his voice turned cold: “Unnecessary.”
“Understood. This servant will make preparations immediately.”
Floating in the water, Jiang Zhuoying listened to the fading footsteps and contentedly waved her pectoral fins.
As expected of a royal prince – he understood immediately. Since she was originally human, she naturally needed cooked food.
…
Two figures appeared above the water surface, staring at her intently.
“Your Highness, these are desalted, shelled shrimp; these are pumpkin cubes; these are cooked spinach…”
Jiang Zhuoying anxiously circled in the water. She was desperately hungry and could smell the fresh shrimp aroma – feed her already!
But the man moved with deliberate slowness, inquiring in detail about each dish in the porcelain plates, finally giving a slight nod.
“Yes, may I trouble Official Wang to elaborate further on the benefits of each food item?”
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
“Your Highness the Second Prince, according to my research, these shrimp should supplement Zhuozhuo’s nutrition…”
Jiang Zhuoying simply grew too lazy to swim anymore and sank directly to the bottom of the water, resting while waiting for the two outside to finish their conversation.
She fiddled with the aquatic plant leaves at the bottom using her pectoral fins, listening to one of them speak. From what she gathered, the tall figure outside must be the current Second Prince.
Three years ago, she had left the Rui Guo Gong Manor and moved to this estate in the eastern suburbs of Luo Jing. Even back then, she had heard rumors.
This Second Prince was truly unfit for great responsibility!
Emperor Rong’an had few offspring, fathering only three sons.
The original Crown Prince was born to the Empress and was Emperor Rong’an’s eldest legitimate son. He was named Crown Prince at birth but passed away before reaching adulthood.
Since then, the position of Crown Prince had remained vacant. The Second Prince’s birth mother was Consort Wan, who had died of illness years ago. The Third Prince’s birth mother was an Imperial Concubine who had enjoyed unwavering favor for many years.
She had heard these rumors before – Consort Wan never gained the Emperor’s affection, and consequently, the Emperor showed little interest in the Second Prince. Otherwise, why would a royal child be given the name ‘Fan’ (ordinary)?
As Jiang Zhuoying lost herself in these wild thoughts, she accidentally uprooted the aquatic plants tied to the sinking stone at the bottom of the jar…
She made a few more swipes with her pectoral fins, attempting to pull the plants back, but obviously failed as expected.
…
“Well, in Official Wang’s opinion, has Zhuozhuo now fully recovered?”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying naturally looked up toward the water surface and happened to meet Wang Yue’s face with its dark circles.
Wang Yue was leaning over the porcelain jar, forehead creased with wrinkles, showing complete exhaustion. He must have been working extremely hard recently.
Jiang Zhuoying felt quite sympathetic. See? Probably being tormented by that Second Prince…
What proper master would treat their subordinates like this?
She had previously heard that the Third Prince respected talented scholars and led with virtue, receiving widespread praise in the court. But regarding the Second Prince, little was ever heard.
Jiang Zhuoying stared wide-eyed at Wang Yue, sympathetically wagging her tail at him.
Wang Yue nodded with relief, then straightened up: “Reporting to the Second Prince, Zhuozhuo has fully recovered and is now very healthy and active.”
Then came a man’s clear, cold voice: “Since that’s the case, Official Wang may return to the palace. These past days have troubled you to care for Zhuozhuo without even undressing to rest.”
Jiang Zhuoying shook her head in the water. See? Just as expected.
But at such times, shouldn’t he at least give some reward silver?
So harsh and stingy – how would any subordinate willingly work for him?
Even this seemingly respectful Official Wang probably had complaints about him in his heart.
Truly as rumored – untalented and mediocre, not knowing how to employ people properly.
The little fat carp shook her head, blowing bubbles with “tsk tsk tsk” sounds.
“Zhuozhuo is my beloved treasure. This jade pendant I carry with me shall be gifted to Official Wang, in gratitude for saving Zhuozhuo’s life.”
“This… this is too valuable. How could I possibly accept it?”
“It’s fine.”
Wang Yue made a deep bow, moved to tears: “This official thanks Your Highness for the reward.”
Jiang Zhuoying in the water was so shocked she kept blowing bubbles.
If she hadn’t seen wrong, the man had directly untied this jade pendant from his waist cord.
Ordinary people would never give such things as rewards – this jade pendant was clearly his personal belonging!
To gift something so meaningful, unless he valued the recipient extremely highly, it must mean he was financially strained.
I never expected him to value this red carp so deeply. The current Lord Wang must surely be overwhelmed with mixed emotions and deeply moved.
Sure enough, Lord Wang’s impassioned voice followed immediately: “Should Your Highness ever have need of this humble official in the future, please do not hesitate to ask! I shall never refuse!”
“You’re too kind, Lord Wang. As evening approaches, I’ll have someone escort you back to your residence.”
Wang Yue bowed his head and cupped his hands once more: “Thank you for Your Highness’s consideration!”
Jiang Zhuoying personally heard Wang Yue depart—the door opened and closed again, soon followed by new footsteps.
“Your Lordship, the evening meal has arrived.”
“Mm, serve it.” Qi Fan nodded with an indifferent expression, flipping aside his front robe and directly taking a seat on the square stool beside the round table.
The two attendants following Chu Yixin efficiently and properly arranged the meal, while the latter stepped into the bedchamber and brought out a tray.
“Please have a look, Your Lordship.”
The man glanced up briefly: “The white jade will do.”
“Yes.”
With only two people conversing in the room now, Jiang Zhuoying couldn’t help but overhear.
White jade?
She couldn’t help but recall the jade pendant she had just sent out.
Surely it couldn’t be…
“Your Lordship’s strategy is unparalleled. When Lord Wang departed earlier, he held that jade pendant in both hands, nearly moved to tears.”
Unable to contain her curiosity, Jiang Zhuoying leaped out of the water and widened her eyes to look ahead.
On the tray held by the eunuch were neatly arranged, numerous jade pendants of every variety imaginable—all materials and styles were present!
With a “plop,” the fiery red carp fell back into the water.
Jiang Zhuoying was inwardly astonished.
Such cunning—how could this be the mediocrity and incompetence she had heard about?
What a calculating Second Prince he is!