Qi Fan stared at the suddenly calmed little plump carp, a smile glinting in his eyes.
“Not just the cause of Jiang Zheng’s wife’s death—I want all the information about the inner household of the Rui Guo Gong Manor.”
“This servant understands.”
Chu Yixin accepted the order and was about to withdraw when the man stopped him: “In that case, how is that young lady?”
Young lady?
Chu Yixin pondered for a few moments before catching the meaning.
“Reporting to my lord, Miss Jiang should be fine, barring any accidents.”
“Mm, you may go.”
“Yes, this servant will go deliver the message immediately!”
Listening to Chu Yixin’s hurried departing footsteps, Jiang Zhuoying felt her heart settle and her spirit calm.
Knowing that her body was unharmed, she immediately regained her liveliness.
Not only did she swim back and forth rapidly in front of Qi Fan, but she also occasionally leaped out of the water.
Anyone could see how excited she was at that moment.
Excellent!
This was the most ideal situation!
She would obtain the truth about her mother’s death from the Second Prince, then return to the manor to investigate the matter of her sudden “pox disease.”
Barring any accidents, her sudden outbreak of “pox disease” was likely related to Jiang Ying’s marriage arrangements.
But the details still needed to be investigated by her personally.
Compared to her own affairs, uncovering the cause of her mother’s death was even more crucial.
Jiang Zhuoying secretly made plans, clearly organizing what she needed to do at present.
Since childhood, she had been deeply doted on in her family and had always been positive and optimistic.
Although she had gone through a period of despondency in recent years due to her parents’ matters, she now had new aspirations.
…
Jiang Zhuoying was abruptly startled awake.
She had originally been napping but was suddenly jolted by a sharp, clear voice.
The voice also sounded like a eunuch’s, but it wasn’t the tone of the Second Prince’s personal eunuch.
Puzzled, Jiang Zhuoying slowly rose to the surface to see who had arrived.
As soon as she emerged from the water, she spotted two eunuchs standing by the shore.
Both were standing at the pond’s edge, gazing at the water’s surface.
When they found the fiery red figure in the pond, the unfamiliar eunuch’s eyes lit up, his voice shrill with delight: “This must be Zhuozhuo, right?”
Chu Yixin smiled and responded: “Indeed, Zhuozhuo is the only one in this pond. His Highness said Zhuozhuo doesn’t need to compete for favor with other red carps.”
Seeing the Second Prince’s personal eunuch being so polite, Jiang Zhuoying grew even more curious about the unfamiliar eunuch’s identity.
She swam forward to the shore, moving back and forth before them, continuously passing through their line of sight.
“Zhuozhuo’s size hasn’t changed noticeably compared to last year.”
Chu Yixin immediately replied: “Eunuch Liu, you jest. Zhuozhuo is already over ten years old and won’t grow anymore.”
The unfamiliar eunuch fell silent for a few moments upon hearing this, then suddenly changed the subject: “His Majesty also misses Zhuozhuo very much.”
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
What had she just heard?
His Majesty? Wasn’t it said that this Second Prince was out of imperial favor?
If he truly lacked imperial favor, how would the Emperor remember this single red carp?
Just then, a familiar cold voice came from above Jiang Zhuoying: “Eunuch Liu, thank you for making this trip.”
Liu Li immediately turned around: “This servant pays respects to His Highness the Second Prince.”
“Eunuch Liu, you’re too kind. Please rise.”
Liu Li looked up, a smile mingling in his expression: “Your Highness, His Majesty is deeply concerned about you. This time, he has sent this servant to bring many fine items for Zhuozhuo.”
Qi Fan remained unmoved, merely turning sideways calmly and cupping his hands in salute. “Your son thanks Father Emperor on Zhuozhuo’s behalf.”
Jiang Zhuoying was even more astonished—had the Emperor specifically sent someone to deliver gifts to her?
“Ahem.” Liu Li cleared his throat twice before continuing, “Second Prince, this servant has come this time with another important matter to convey.”
“Eunuch Liu may speak frankly.” Qi Fan stood tall and straight, giving him a slight nod.
“Ahem, the Third Prince intends to take the legitimate daughter of the Rui Guo Gong Manor’s main branch as his princess consort. His Majesty… also wishes to arrange a marriage for you.”
The man’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Might I ask which noble family’s daughter has caught Father Emperor’s favor?”
“His Majesty wishes to hear Your Highness’s opinion first. Does the Crown Prince have any woman he favors?”
Liu Li’s face was full of expectation—this was the most crucial task the Emperor had entrusted to him.
The man lowered his eyes in contemplation, then shook his head. “I hope Eunuch Liu will convey to Father Emperor that I only wish to live a leisurely life and have no intention of marrying.”
The smile froze on Liu Li’s lips. “Your Highness, forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn, but one can still enjoy a leisurely life after marriage!”
Jiang Zhuoying also secretly pricked up her ears.
The man fell silent, seemingly deep in thought, before slowly speaking again. “I have long lived in seclusion, and my temperament is cold by nature. I have no desire to take a wife.”
Liu Li nodded helplessly. “This servant understands Your Highness’s meaning and will report it truthfully to His Majesty!”
Qi Fan’s expression remained indifferent. “I’ve troubled Eunuch Liu. Accommodations have been arranged in the courtyard—Eunuch Liu may retire to rest at any time.”
“This servant understands, but I haven’t seen Eunuch Chu for so long. I’d like to… catch up with him for a while!”
“Mm.”
…How boring.
Jiang Zhuoying shook her head and sank deep into the water.
This Second Prince was not only advanced in years but truly rigid and dull.
…But just as she submerged completely, the two people above the water lowered their voices and began whispering.
“Give me some inside information—does the Second Prince truly have no woman he favors?”
Chu Yixin was taken aback. “This… What His Highness says is naturally the truth.”
“Ah, we servants all naturally side with our masters, but the Second Prince is already of such age! The Third Prince is nearly five years younger than the Second Prince!”
Having said this, he quietly patted Chu Yixin’s arm. “You’ve been by the Second Prince’s side all these years—aren’t you truly anxious in your heart?”
The latter was speechless. What use was his anxiety?
He had been by the Second Prince’s side since his birth. All these years, he naturally hoped the Second Prince could achieve his ambitions, but he also wished he could experience the joys of ordinary people.
His lordship has great undertakings in his heart. Now that those undertakings remain unfulfilled, he’s probably in no mood for romantic affairs.
Liu Li glanced around before lowering his voice further. “Ahem, tell me—does the Second Prince have any particular preferences?”
“Even if he doesn’t take a wife, when I return to the palace and report to His Majesty, we could arrange some concubines or maids for the Second Prince. Once he discovers the pleasures, wouldn’t things proceed naturally in the future?Chu Yixin felt slightly shaken.
“To be frank with you, His Majesty keeps Consort Wan in his thoughts, and naturally worries about the Second Prince as well. Now that the Third Prince is about to marry, if the Second Prince continues like this, how could His Majesty possibly agree?”
“Ahem.”
Chu Yixin tightened his grip on the horsetail whisk. So be it—he would beg his master for forgiveness later.
Having made up his mind, he lowered his voice even further. “If that’s the case… it would be best to find someone with a timid and delicate temperament. Preferably innocent, well-behaved, and obedient… and quite frail…”
The voice was too faint. Though Jiang Zhuoying had nearly surfaced, she could only catch intermittent phrases.
She heard only “demure and well-behaved,” “obedient and simple-hearted,” “delicate and fragile…”
So this was the Second Prince’s preference in women.
Chu Yixin had considered everything carefully. Since their master had never been deeply involved with women, it would be best to select those who were simple and obedient.
This would let His Highness understand that women were naturally different from men – far more interesting than studying military texts all day.
After listening, Liu Li nodded in agreement: “What you say makes sense. When we return to the palace, I shall report this to His Majesty.”
“Let’s go inside for some tea and discuss this further…”
The two departed one after another, and Jiang Zhuoying also left the shore, swimming deep into the lotus thickets.
She sorted through her thoughts: if nothing was amiss, the eunuch who had just come was someone from the Emperor’s inner circle.
The Second Prince had come here originally for the anniversary of Consort Wan’s passing.
Moreover, that eunuch had mentioned “a year has passed, yet the red carp’s size remains unchanged,” which indicated the Emperor sent his trusted attendants here every year.
The Second Prince’s standing in the Emperor’s heart was definitely not as rumor had it!
Just by slightly recalling the information she had gathered since arriving here, Jiang Zhuoying reached a conclusion.
This Second Prince had many secrets!
…
Jiang Zhuoying’s evening meal was still personally fed by Qi Fan, but this time was different from usual.
She was being watched!
Although the person feeding her appeared calm, the two eunuchs beside him were extremely enthusiastic.
It was as if every part of her was praiseworthy, with virtues too numerous to count.
They praised her beautiful colors, her swift swimming, and her human-like intelligence…
Jiang Zhuoying found this quite exasperating – she had originally been human, after all.
Jiang Zhuoying was overwhelmed by the continuous stream of praises. Such noise was tolerable if she endured it.
But one thing was unbearable.
While these two were praising her, they were spraying saliva everywhere – it was nearly splashing onto the shrimp in her porcelain spoon!
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle!”
She fiercely blew bubbles at them.
“Ahem, it seems Zhuozhuo is also very excited.” Liu Li chuckled. “This servant will report this matter to His Majesty upon returning. I wonder when His Highness the Second Prince will bring Zhuozhuo back to the palace for His Majesty to see.”
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
If not for these outsiders being present, and to save some face for the Second Prince, she would have lost her temper immediately.
“Return to the palace?” The silent man suddenly spoke.
“Indeed, bring her back to the palace.” Liu Li beamed and nodded.
Qi Fan chuckled softly: “That won’t do. Zhuozhuo has been pampered since childhood. If she goes to the palace fish pond, she might be bullied.”
“This…”
Liu Li clicked his tongue, his gaze turning to the fiery red carp in the pond.
Then he recalled the tiny goldfish in the palace fish pond.
The size difference was like heaven and earth… would she be bullied?
Jiang Zhuoying was slightly stunned – her father had said similar words.
“A Zhuo has been pampered since childhood. You need to be more careful in the future – what would we do if you get bullied?”
The man held the porcelain spoon to the water’s surface, but Jiang Zhuoying remained motionless.
She had heard that fathers and daughters shared a connection, and she always had a premonition that her father would return.
But with her mother gone, how could she explain things to her father?
“Zhuozhuo?” Seeing no movement in the water, Chu Yixin casually called out.
In the very next moment, all three of them saw the red carp in the water suddenly flick its tail fin, poke its head out of the water, and swallow the minced shrimp in the porcelain spoon in one gulp.
Liu Li’s face showed astonishment, and her tone seemed equally startled: “Zhuozhuo can… recognize her own name?”
Qi Fan’s expression immediately darkened.
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
The man half-closed his eyes, his tone faintly ominous: “Is that so?”