CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 431 IOU

Agarwood Pavilion, back courtyard.

When Xingxing returned, Su Jin was still asleep.

She sat by the ice basin making knots.

After about a quarter of an hour, Su Jin woke up.

"Miss, you’re awake?" called Xingxing.

Su Jin lazily stretched her body.

Xingxing recounted to Su Jin what happened when she delivered the tremella soup to Qingqiu Garden.

"Mrs. Li is so overbearing; I only gave her a small lesson," said Xingxing.

"Miss, when will she finally get her comeuppance?"

Xingxing was impatient by nature.

She comforted Xique in that way because Xique couldn’t stand up to Mrs. Li.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been pushed down and cut her hand.

She always avenged her grievances.

It was good enough that she didn’t rob others, so how could she allow others to rob her?

Su Jin, sitting on the small couch, said, "It should be a few more days."

She couldn’t be certain exactly how many days.

After all, before the box of ointment, Princess Nanzhang still had more than half a box of ointment.

If she used it the day it was stolen, there should be a reaction in these two days.

The severity of the reaction depended on how much ointment was used. It might not be very obvious, or it could be quite severe.

Though Su Jin was a bit anxious, she wasn’t that hurried.

As long as Princess Nanzhang used her ointment, she would know how good it was, especially since it was made using several pieces of Dongzhu.

Someone who even pocketed the Bihun Ointment wouldn’t use such a good ointment on anyone but her own children.

There’s always a time when you’ll get bumped or bruised.

This calamity, she can’t escape it.

However, Su Jin hadn’t thought about Mrs. Li bullying Lady Chi and Xique; it reminded her of something.

When the ointment issue comes to light, Mrs. Li will certainly not escape death.

Princess Nanzhang would surely hate her and Lady Chi for it.

Princess Nanzhang had been wanting to kill her for a long time, so she didn’t mind a little more resentment.

But what about Lady Chi?

Lady Chi only had Xique by her side.

If Princess Nanzhang wanted to dominate her, it would be as easy as turning a hand.

After all, Lady Chi was Old Master Xie’s concubine. Although she was the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, she couldn’t interfere in Old Master Xie’s backyard affairs.

When Xie Jingchen returns, she needs to talk to him to see if he can report the truth to Old Master Xie to have Lady Chi released from the mansion.

Arrange her in a small courtyard until Zhao Xu comes to take her.

Speaking of Xie Jingchen, Su Jin furrowed her brows a little more.

This rascal hadn’t been seen since early morning. Ever since learning he was ordained as Princely Heir, she planned to congratulate him, but he still hadn’t returned, no one knew where he’d run off to.

Su Jin was lost in thought, and Xingxing waved her hand in front of her.

"Miss, are you thinking about Master?" Xingxing laughed.

Outside, Xie Jingchen was just stepping up the stairs when he heard this sentence.

He lightened his steps and heard Su Jin’s voice saying, "If he doesn’t come back soon, the congratulations I prepared will spoil."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

"Miss, you prepared a gift for the master?" Xingxing asked in surprise.

"Why didn’t I see it?"

"..."

"It’s just a ’congratulations’," said Su Jin.

Xingxing, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

"He’s overjoyed; I spent five thousand taels. Shouldn’t he give me ten thousand taels?" Su Jin laughed.

"Master has no money," Xingxing said.

"But he could write an IOU."

Su Jin, "..."

Xie Jingchen, "..."

Cough, cough!

The Hidden Guard couldn’t hold it in any longer.

The cough erupted as if choked out.

He was utterly defeated by the mind of the Eldest Young Madam’s maid.

Utterly convinced.

Expecting this maid to change her bandit ways was like speaking of dreams.

Hearing the cough from the Hidden Guard, Xingxing quickly went to open the door.

She stood by the door and curtsied, "Congratulations to the Master."

The Hidden Guard glanced aside and saw a determined ’you must reward me’ expression on Xingxing’s face.

"Reward," said Xie Jingchen.

The Hidden Guard, "..."

The Hidden Guard silently took out a money pouch from his chest.

He rewarded Xingxing with five taels.

Xingxing looked at him.

The Hidden Guard took out another ten taels.

Xingxing still looked at him.

The Hidden Guard took out his last fifty-tael silver note.

Xingxing happily accepted it, smoothing it out with glee.

The Hidden Guard twitched his mouth and handed the whole money pouch to Xingxing.

The Young Master was down to his last money; as soon as he was made Princely Heir, he was utterly destitute.

This back courtyard of Agarwood Pavilion holds the poorest Princely Heir and the wealthiest Princely Wife in the Capital City.

Su Jin gravely congratulated Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen said, "Go and fetch the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone."

"Why?" Su Jin looked at him.

"To write you an IOU."

"..."

Su Jin was embarrassed.

"No need to write an IOU," Su Jin said.

"That generous?" Xie Jingchen was surprised.

"Of course, with your character, you surely won’t default, so why waste a piece of paper."

Su Jin’s trust almost made Xie Jingchen spit out blood.

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Where have you been all day?"

"I went to the military camp," Xie Jingchen said.

After Duke Zhen went to morning court, he didn’t return to the Duke Mansion.

Since he was injured, Xie Jingchen was worried and took Doctor Zhao to the military camp to dress Duke Zhen’s wound.

After doing that, Duke Zhen didn’t let him leave.

Duke Zhen had always had high hopes for Xie Jingchen, but since he had poison in his body, it wasn’t suitable for him to engage in martial arts.

For this, Duke Zhen had sighed countless times.

Now that he was made Heir, the military power in Duke Zhen’s hands would surely be handed to Xie Jingchen in the future, so he should have more contact with the soldiers.

But Xie Jingchen went to treat Duke Zhen, yet Duke Zhen didn’t get treated at the camp. Instead, Doctor Zhao was caught up there.

All the soldiers had injuries of varying degrees and dragged Doctor Zhao to treat them.

More importantly, most of those soldiers were from the Flying Tiger Army.

Doctor Zhao really didn’t dare refuse.

Just half an hour ago, after Duke Zhen was exhausted and returned to the duke’s residence, Doctor Zhao managed to treat his wound.

Xie Jingchen watched Duke Zhen fall asleep before returning to the inner courtyard.

Though Xie Jingchen and Duke Zhen returned to the mansion, Old Master Xie didn’t.

The Emperor summoned him, and he went to the palace.

Of course, the Emperor originally intended to summon Duke Zhen to the palace for a discussion too, but seeing Duke Zhen cough so harshly in court, he was worried Duke Zhen wouldn’t survive much longer.

For so many years, thanks to Duke Zhen, the Emperor didn’t want the court to lose such a trusted minister.

But whether Duke Zhen’s wound could heal, Old Master Xie had no assurance.

The Emperor was quite heavy-hearted, urging Duke Zhen to recuperate well.

After the discussion, Old Master Xie was about to take his leave.

The Emperor bestowed upon him a piece of calligraphy.

The Empress Dowager had heatstroke and punished Duke Chong heavily, leaving the Emperor in no mood to read memorials to the throne.

It was hot, and he didn’t want to go anywhere, so he started practicing calligraphy.

With Duke Zhen’s ennoblement, the Emperor decided to bestow yet another calligraphy piece personally.

The strokes were majestic and full of vitality.

After expressing gratitude, Old Master Xie left the palace with it.

Passing by Baosheng House, Old Master Xie dismounted.

Baosheng House was a master in mounting paintings and calligraphy, and not bad at making plaques either.

Since he passed by, Old Master Xie didn’t return to make Manager Li send someone again.

The servant from Baosheng House saw it was Old Master Xie and respectfully welcomed him, fearing any delay.

After giving his instructions, Old Master Xie was about to leave.

But as he turned, he saw a painting on the wall.

His body shook violently.