by Ning er
Slightly tightening the reins, permitting the horse to slowly arrived in front of Rong Yun He, Chen Wang examined Rong Yun He who should not have appeared in this place at this particular time, then he slowly voiced out, “The Rong Shan Tang was utterly active recently. Not only delivering the medicines for Luo Cheng, but also helping the scholars bind up their wounds and treating them, but, in the past, the Rong clan has never been involved in the medicinal herbs business before, apparently it seems like Rong gongzi is interested in bringing the Rong family to a much greater height of development!”
Jiang Mu Chen was the person in charge of the city’s defense troops, there’s nothing that he would nor know of. Rong Shan Tang was just a very small medical institution, but among those imperial physicians who had proceeded towards Luo Cheng, there was Rong Shan Tang’s Nie Huai Yuan, this person had been appointed by Emperor Yu Qian as the eighth rank imperial physician the night before their departure. A physician among the common people who had such kind of ability, really made Jiang Mu Chen felt somewhat curious towards Nie Huai Yuan.
And during the recent days, Rong Yun He had been all over the shops in the streets performing good deeds as he was seen in and out of Rong Shan Tang, it was safe to assume that he was interested in expanding the herbal medicine business on behalf of the Rong family, with regards to this, it seemed not to be a good thing for Chen Wang.
After all, Jiang Mu Chen was able to notice Rong Yun He’s affection towards Yun Qian Meng. Although he expressed it in a reserved manner, according to Jiang Mu Chen’s intuition as a man, for Rong Yun He, who was an independent man, perhaps Yun Qian Meng was a special existence, and due to this, it made Rong Yun He a sore spot in the eyes of Jiang Mu Chen.
“The Rong family, as a merchant for the Imperial Family, would naturally do its utmost to provide more contribution for His Majesty and the Imperial Court. Yun He is untalented, unable to proceed to the epidemic area to do anything for the common people, in that case I can only offer fast and convenient supplies for them. This is my most fundamental conscience as human being.” Rong Yun He slightly raised his eyes, with a face as deep as water looking at Jiang Mu Chen’s cold one, speaking out these words in an indifferent tone of voice.
“Is that so? Rong gongzi might have forgetten that I had recently issued an order to the city defense troops, that every day before midnight, the common people will not be allowed to leave their homes, so as to avoid the plague spreading out. And this time it is already past midnight, apparently Rong gongzi had ignored my orders.” The imperial guards surrounding the area felt Chen Wang’s voice became colder, making their hearts tremble, yet Rong Yun He’s face kept maintaining its calm and composed, his eyes did not look scared, they thought that this young gongzi of the Rong family was really out of his mind, he actually dared to offend Chen Wang.
From the beginning,Rong Yun He had not actually cared about Chen Wang’s words, now hearing these statements that implied threats, his immortal-like handsome face exposed a faint smile, his eyes full of ridicule were aimed at Chen Wang, afterwhich he asked in response, “Don’t tell me that you think this protocol is more important than saving the people’s lives? This seems somewhat contrary to Wangye’s conduct and deeds! Wange, since you have seen those scholars having nowhere to stay and you’ve felt pity for them, offering them Chen Wang fu as their temporary shelter, why are you contradicting yourself by interrogating me?”
Jiang Mu Chen certainly had not seen that coming, for Rong Yun He who was usually a quiet person, would become an eloquent and fluent speaker at this moment, then he smiled coldly and said, “Where did Rong gongzi get eloquence, it has actually given benwang a whole new level of respect for you. With the fire that happened tonight, the city defense troops would naturally come to the rescue, why would Rong gongzi do more than what is required? And you, Rong Yun He, had actually turned a deaf ear towards the royal court issues, if you are not to be severely punished this time, people would thought that I’m not capable of handling this big capital!”
With Chen Wang’s sudden change of tone, his voice had momentarily turned harsh and cold, immediately he vigorously faced an assistant officer behind him and commanded, “You should personally send Rong gongzi back to Rongfu, properly protect the Rongfu, if you let any person out, I shall provide punishment based on military law!”
The assistant officer immediately stepped down from the horseback then knelt down before Chen Wang, quickly responded, afterwhich he proceeded in front of Rong Yun He, with an expressionless face he said, “Rong gongzi, please proceed!”
Rong Yun He gave a cold glance back at Chen Wang, his face grave and stern containing a strong murderous intention. Rong Yun He’s heart was somehow unconvinced, after which he was being forcibly escorted back to Rong fu.
Meanwhile, Chen Wang had issued an order allowing the city defense troops to send home all the physicians of Rong Shan Tang and the scholars. Afterwards, he himself urged on a horse as he rushed back to Chen Wang fu.
When Chen Wang returned back to Chen Wang Fu before he could eter his own study room, he saw Jiang Mama leading the servant girls respectfully standing outside of the study room, he also saw Ning Feng keeping watch in the doorway of the study room, then in a deep voice he asked “What’s the matter?”
“Nubi is here to greet Wangye. Taifei having heard that Wange had been working until the middle of the night, had especially instructed the kitchen to stew some ginseng duck soup for Wangye to supplement Wangye’s health.” Seeing Chen Wang had returned back home, Jiang Mama led the servant girls as they made their salutations.
Yet Chen Wang only spared them an indifferent glance, “Got it, just set them aside, and step down now.”
He spoke to Ning Feng, “Has everybody been arranged properly?”
Jiang Mama immediately cast a meaningful glance towards the servant girl behind her. That servant girl cleverly stepped ahead, then handed over the tray in her hands to Ning Feng, then immediately retreated back behind Jiang Mama.
Ning Feng merely looked at Jiang Mama, soon after he reported to Chen Wang “Reporting Wange, Taifei had already issued an order a while ago, permitting the group of the exam candidates to enter the northern wing. Taifei had said that the area is the furthest to the backyard and with a peaceful environment, it is the most suitable place for studying. Moreover, the northern wing is quite far away from south and east courtyard, it also won’t allow that group of exam candidates to disturb Wangye’s everyday life.”
Jiang Mu Chen noticed the small gestures that Ning Feng had made before responding to his question, then he saw Jiang Mama still had not stepped down as requested, his eyes immediately went somewhat gloomy, his expression became deep, containing the fury of not allowing anyone to challenge his own authority, then dangerously spoke, “Ning Feng, for whom do you really work for? It looks as if you still aren’t able to remember perfectly the lesson that you have learned last time!”
Having heard what was said, Ning Feng also heard Chen Wang using such tone of voice while speaking to him, suddenly his eyes exposed an expression of fear, in an instant he knelt down before Chen Wang, in a loud and clear voice he proclaimed, “I wouldn’t dare! The instruction that Wangye had given this servant last time is already engraved in this servant’s memory, not a moment is iti dared to be forgotten, please see it, Wangye!”
Jiang Mama seeing Chen Wang rebuking him to frighten the others, in her mind she realized that if she continued to stand in the spot, Chen Wang might really punish Ning Feng, consequently she led the servant girls as they saluted Chen Wang, in a lowered voice she said, “Nubi needs to head back and report to Taifei, I shall take my leave now.”
After speaking, she brought along a few servant girls behind her as they left unhurriedly.
Seeing Jiang Mama already left, Chen Wang’s gaze swept towards Ning Feng like a frosted blade, following which he turned around and entered the study room, only after the sky had gradually turned bright did Ning Feng hear the
instruction from Chen Wang asking him to step inside. Suddenly Ning Feng felt as if being relieved from a burden, wiping off the cold sweat that had been continuously coming out from his head, he got up and entered the study room without delay.
“Do you have any orders, Wangye?” Seeing Jiang Mu Chen quietly looking at the accounts book in his hand while sitting beside the study table, Ning Feng asked in a low voice.
“Is that Han Che staying with the other exam candidates?” Grasping the writing brush, then writing quickly on the accounts book, yet Jiang Mu Chen was still able to divide his attention as he asked Ning Feng.
“Earlier as we went inside the house, Top Scorer Han had been brought inside to the northern wing together with other exam candidates. But, Top Scorer Han seemed to be a bit incompatible with the others, he almost didn’t have any interactions with the other exam candidates.” Thinking about those excited looks on the faces of the exam candidates as they entered Chen Wangfu, Ning Feng felt that Han Che was really different from the others. Not only he was not wild with joy, even the emotion in his eyes was very much calm and collected, this made Ning Feng felt somehow worried. Thus, in a lowered voice he asked, “Wangye, nubi is truly worried that this Top Scorer Han might be ……”
Chapter 116: Part 2 Who was the Arsonist that Burnt the Exam Candidates to Their Deaths? | Chu Wang Fei
“Assign people to investigate his background!” This command from Chen Wang caused a slight transformation on Ning Feng’s expression.
Generally speaking, when Chen Wang issued an order to thoroughly investigate a person, there must be an important purpose.
Han Che really had some characteristics that certainly surpassed all the others, but also one would could see that this person was hard to win over. On top of that, Han Che’s attributes contained a conceited condescending air that was uniquely possessed by a scholar, and it made Ning Feng admire this person.
But since Chen Wang had already issued an order, Ning Feng could only obey and make it work.
With such a big incident that had occurred in just one night, not only the common people, even those well-bred young ladies from the large and influential families were able to faintly see the flame that lighted up the night sky, and the sounds of fleeing and cries for help. For the moment it had distracted the minds of the people in the capital. All the common people were now stealthily discussing in private the series of incidents that had recently occurred, whether or not it was some kind of warning that Western Chu will soon be gone.
“Didn’t expect a lot of people to lose their lives among the sea of flames in just one night!” Getting out of the bed in the morning, Yun Qian Meng thought of the blazing fire that had filled up half the sky last night, she could not help but shake her head in surprise, the indistinct feeling of uneasiness in her heart was becoming increasingly distinct.
Yun Qian Meng let Mu Chun open the wood shutters then stretched her hand outside the window, feeling the low temperature outside. The ice-cold elements in the air couldn’t help making people shiver.
In a few more days it would be the eleventh month of the current year. The temperature these days had obviously begun to change. One could feel the coldness in the air when they got out bed each day.
Recently,the weather had been full of changes, occasionally there were patters of rain in the sky, the frost and dew during the night became heavier. But the flame from the guest house had actually brightened up half of the night sky in the capital in these conditions, making people truly worried.
“Yes! These exam candidates had experienced a life of strenuous studies for ten years, before the imperial examinations came to an end, they had actually lost their lives in vain, that’s truly pitiful! Moreover, those exam candidates who have been burned to their deaths were mostly low-income class scholars, perhaps their families had been hoping for them to bring honor to their families, yet they had even lost their lives now. If the members of their families were to know about it, they would definitely be broken-hearted!” Mi Mama said to Yun Qian Meng as she arranged the tableware on the table.
For Mi Mama, who was also a mother, such kind of pain seemed to be more vivid than what Yun Qian Meng could have imagined. Needless to say, which mother would be willing to see their children die before they did? With this thought, Mi Mama could not help but rejoiced that, although her own son had failed to live up to her expectations, but still he lived smoothly and steadily; bringing a feeling of comfort in her heart.
“Xiaojie, nubi has brought your breakfast here!” This time, Ying Xie walked in wearing a tranquil face, afterwhich, together with Yuan Dong, they quietly laid the plates of food down on the table one by one.
Yun Qian Meng’s gaze shifted from outside the window back to Ying Xia, only to sense that this servant girl was unlike her usual way of being active and energetic, although her face appeared calm, but her eyes looked somehow anxious. Looking over at Yuan Dong who had come in together with her, those usually undisturbed eyes contained a worried expression, causing Yun Qian Meng to be suspicious, thus she could not help but ask, “What happened to you two today? Were you being bullied in the kitchen or do you have any unhappy matters?”
Under Yun Qian Meng’s interrogation, Yuan Dong and Ying Xia’s faces immediately looked distracted, then the two of them immediately switched to their happy smiling expression. Ying Xia quickly denied and said, “Currently, no one would ever dare to bully me. I am usually the one who bullies other people.”
But, the more they tried to conceal it, the more obvious it was indicating that there must be something wrong.
Yun Qian Meng shut down the wooden window in her room, only leaving a tiny crack for ventilation, afterwhich she approached the dining table, her eyes calmly swept through the dishes on the table and its order of arrangement, then she asked in a deep voice, “Ying Xia, are you still saying that there’s nothing wrong? Why don’t you take a look, there was actually two plates of shiso cake on the table, and what is this cup of ginseng soup doing being placed right in front of me?”
Having heard what was said, Mi Mama immediately stepped forward and examined carefully, sure enough she saw two plates of exactly the same shiso cakes, and that said cup of ginseng soup was evidently placed right in front of her, making her unable to see the other dishes behind it.
Seeing Ying Xia and Yuan Dong would commit such mistake for a simple task, Mi Mama’s face immediately turned gloomy before she reprimanded them, “What happened to you two? Why are you so careless? Ying Xia, xiaojie was convinced with your medical expertise, that’s the reason why she had retained you beside her to take care of her diet. But you aren’t be able to perform your duty well, at that time who had promised to make her utmost efforts to serve xiaojie? With just a few days passed, you’ve actually forgot all the things that you’ve said?”
Upon speaking, Mi Mama and Mu Chun removed the two plates of shiso cakes from the table, smoothly they rearranged the position of the bowls and plates on the table. Then they slowly supported Yun Qian Meng to her seat.
Hearing Mi Mama angrily rebuked Ying Xia, Yuan Dong also stood out to acknowledge her mistake, “Xiaojie, this matter does not concern Ying Xia. It was nubi who entered the kitchen to get the morning meals, it was my negligence that had caused such mistake. Xiaojie, please punish nubi instead!”
Finished speaking, Yuan Dong lowered down her head then knelt down before Yun Qian Meng.
Yun Qian Meng patted Mi Mama’s hands, hinting her not to get angry because of such a trivial matter, after which she stretched out her hands and pulled Yuan Dong up, then gently spoke “You have always been cautious and careful, you are the most earnest one among my four servant girls. Serving by my side for these few months, you had never committed the least bit of mistakes. If it wasn’t for something inside your head, I believe you would certainly not commit such basic mistake today. Thus, you must speak out, if there’s something I can do to help, I will certainly not allow you to suffer while working beside me.”
Upon hearing these words, the feeling of gratefulness suddenly came rushing forth in Yuan Dong’s heart, she could not help but slightly lifted up her eyes and looked at Yun Qian Meng, seeing her xiaojie wearing a light smile on her face, having a sincere expression in her eyes, but with such beautiful xiaojie, truly made Yuan Dong to be unwilling to speak out the news that she had just heard, just insistently shook her head, resolutely denied the matter as she said, “It was because I had not been able to rest well last night, that’s why my eyesight became blurred and got the wrong morning meal. Honestly,there were no other reasons, please believe me, xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng did not push any further when she saw that Yuan Dong was unwilling to explain. She only instructed Yuan Dong and Ying Xia was instructed to deliver the morning meals to Ying Qiu, then she herself just sat down and silently had her morning meal.
Mu Chun saw that Yun Qian Meng wasn’t in a good mood. “Xiaojie, would you like me to go and ask around?” She scooped up a bowl of corn congee then knelt down before Yun Qian Meng, as she asked in a hushed manner.
Yet Yun Qian Meng simply shook her head, even if she were to personally interrogate her, it would still be of no use, Mu Chun was very likely would not even be able to obtain anything. It would be better to let Xi Lin go ahead and ask around, perhaps he would come out fruitful.
In less than an hour, Yun Qian Meng was already able to guess the reason why it had caused Yuan Dong and Ying Xia to repeatedly commit mistakes, Chen Wang had actually placed Rong fu under house arrest!!
Such an action truly made people feel puzzled.
Even if Chen Wang had intentions to revolt, even though Rong fu was the richest in Western Chu, there was no point in apprehending them first.
