Chapter 29

In the dead of night, the Han couple had already gone to bed when they heard some commotion outside. They got up to check and saw a few unexpected guests.

Xiao Xi was leading two drunkards, his head as big as a bucket, and he gave a sheepish smile.

Han Shaoyu: “…”

Han Shaoyu was shocked, he looked around, dumbfounded, “What’s going on?!”

Xiao Xi concisely explained the whole story.

That’s how the two bowls of cold water ended up splashed on their faces.

Qiao Ling woke up from her daze, she shivered, “Oh my, how did I get out?!”

Lu Mengqing woke up from his daze, he shivered, “Oh my, how did I get out?!”

Han Shaoyu was exasperated, he wanted to yell and roar, but considering the neighbors, he lowered his voice, “Go back quickly, don’t let anyone find out!”

Lu Mengqing looked at his face, struggling to say, “Stewed chicken…”

Han Shaoyu was furious, “What stewed chicken? You two look like stewed chicken!”

Qiao Ling hung her head, Lu Mengqing slumped his shoulders, like two defeated roosters, they sheepishly left the Han family.

Han Shaoyu’s face was as black as coal, but Madam Han couldn’t help but chuckle. She put on her clothes and asked, “Go back to sleep?”

Han Shaoyu sighed, helplessly, “Do we still have any chickens at home?”

Madam Han smiled knowingly, “We still have two.”

Han Shaoyu, feeling restless, waved his hand, “…I’ll go kill one.”

Lu Mengqing remembered the shift change schedule of the night patrol guards in the capital, and Qiao Ling remembered the route from the entrance of Jingzhao Prison to her cell.

Xiao Xi followed behind anxiously, using the excuse of delivering wine to distract the guards at the gate. He caught a glimpse of the two figures disappearing like smoke, and only then did he manage to relax.

Less than two hours later, Qiao Ling and Lu Mengqing returned, back to their familiar cell. They sat in silence for a moment, met each other’s eyes, and suddenly burst into laughter.

Qiao Ling finished laughing and said, “I met Minister Han before, but I didn’t know his identity at the time, and he probably didn’t recognize me either. He likes to wear plain clothes and go to the countryside to chat with ordinary people.”

Lu Mengqing said, “You didn’t go inside for tea tonight, so naturally you wouldn’t see it. There’s a couplet on the pillar in his hall—’Those who know of a leaky roof are under the eaves, those who know of misgovernment are among the common people.'”

Qiao Ling sincerely said, “Minister Han is a good official!”

At this moment, they heard the sound of metal chains clanging from the stairs. The two looked at each other and both went back to their beds to lie down and sleep.

Soon, they heard footsteps approaching. The night patrol guard, carrying a ledger, came over. After a quick glance, he looked a little sleepy and started to record:

July 19th, night, early Yin hour, calm and peaceful, nothing happened.

He signed his name at the end.

He then went back up the stairs.

The shift change time had arrived, and the ledgers were sent to the warden one by one. He pretended to seriously receive them and put them aside. After everyone left, he closed his eyes and started to doze off.

Unlike the civil and military officials in the court, the warden and even the jailers, many of them inherited their positions.

After all, proper officials didn’t look down on this place. Firstly, the reputation wasn’t good, and secondly, it was truly unbearable. After spending a long time in prison, even if they weren’t imprisoned themselves, they would inevitably develop a bit of a violent nature, and they would also become gloomy.

The warden’s grandfather had also been a warden.

It was his grandfather who said that sometimes, people don’t need to live too seriously, and they should take a break when they need to.

He also secretly told him that most of the guards in the prison were just going through the motions. When something serious happened, the ones who could raise the alarm first were the two reflecting mirrors in the warden’s room, facing the windows…

The warden couldn’t imagine how those two reflecting mirrors would raise the alarm.

Because he had been in Jingzhao Prison for decades, and he had never encountered an escape or a prison break.

But it must be true, he thought.

His grandfather wouldn’t lie to his grandson.

In the night, the two reflecting mirrors facing the windows were like a pair of silver eyes, silently watching, soundlessly.

The warden couldn’t help but doze off again…

Qiao Ling was really tired yesterday. First, there was the wedding, then she transformed into a melon-smashing warrior, and after entering prison, she even took the time to escape a little…

She wasn’t a truly pampered child, she had slept in all sorts of places, so she didn’t find the cell simple. She lay down on the hard bed and slept until dawn the next day.

Lu Mengqing, on the other hand, probably had a lot of things on his mind, and he woke up early.

Hearing no sound from next door, he didn’t make a sound either. He just rested his head on his arm and stared blankly at the ceiling.

At this moment, he heard the sound of jailers from the stairs, accompanied by some noisy footsteps.

Lu Mengqing knew someone was coming. The strange thing was that the voice was unfamiliar, not someone he knew, and it didn’t sound like someone from the Duke of Yue’s Mansion…

Lu Mengqing sat up and saw two jailers leading the way, both with troubled expressions.

The woman behind them was dressed in fine clothes, with a silk handkerchief covering her nose. She looked around with disdain, a hint of glee in her eyes.

Lu Mengqing recognized who she was, and he understood why she was here.

So, when she arrived at the cell next to him, he got out of bed, went to the iron railing, leaned against it, and politely said, “Madam Huaian Marquis.”

The Marquis of Huai’an was here to seek revenge on Qiao Ling. Yesterday’s melon-smashing battle had made both of them lose face!

That statement was absolutely not an exaggeration!!!

Now that Qiao was in prison, when else could she come to gloat?!

She was startled when she was suddenly addressed. The Marquis of Huaian turned her head and saw Lu Mengqing. She smiled, “It’s Minister Lu.”

Lu Mengqing nodded at her, then said softly, “Go back, don’t make a fuss. My big sister is sleeping.”

The Marquis of Huaian: “…”

A question mark appeared above her head.

She said in confusion, “Huh?!”

Lu Mengqing repeated, “Go back, Madam. It’s acceptable for a close friend to visit someone in prison, but what’s your reason for coming here? It’s against the rules, and it won’t benefit you if it gets out of hand.”

The Marquis of Huaian froze for a moment, the smile on her face disappeared, and her tone turned cold, “I say, Mrs. Lu, you should take care of yourself first…”

“If you don’t leave, I’ll make sure the Marquis of Huai’an pays for this when I get out.”

Lu Mengqing leaned against the iron railing of his cell, his tone calm, “Madam, you wouldn’t want your husband to be hindered in court because of you, would you?”

The Marquis of Huaian: “…”

The Marquis of Huaian felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She wanted to say something harsh, to try and maintain her composure, but thinking about Lu Mengqing’s influence in the scholarly circles and his power in the court, she didn’t dare.

She had come here full of arrogance, but now she left meekly.

When she stepped outside Jingzhao Prison and felt the warm summer breeze, she couldn’t help but shed tears, “There are so many bastards in the world!”

Qiao Ling was half-asleep, and she heard someone calling her, ” Sister Qiao, Sister Qiao? Wake up, it’s time for chicken!”

Qiao Ling, with messy hair, sat up unhappily, “Don’t call me Sister Qiao! It makes me sound old!”

Lu Mengqing laughed, “You said you wanted to be my big sister. And your surname is Qiao, what else would I call you?”

He tapped the earthenware pot on the table with a porcelain spoon, “Shaoyu stewed chicken and had Xiao Xi deliver it. Come and eat it while it’s hot!”

Qiao Ling quickly got out of bed, unlocked her cell, and went to Lu Mengqing’s side. By this time, Lu Mengqing had already poured her a bowl of soup, “Have some hot soup first, to line your stomach.”

Qiao Ling took a sip and found it refreshing. She didn’t want to finish it all at once.

She took a few more sips before saying, “Call me Da Qiao—wasn’t there a beautiful woman named Da Qiao?”

Lu Mengqing nodded and readily agreed, “Okay, Da Qiao!”

Qiao Ling then said, “This chicken is so flavorful, Minister Han must have started the fire right after we left…”

Lu Mengqing said, “Shaoyu is like that.”

Qiao Ling silently finished the soup in her bowl and said, “After drinking Minister Han’s soup, I’m considered his friend. Speaking of which, if Liu Da dies, will the people from the Duke of Cheng’en’s Mansion go after Minister Han? I’ll ask my friend to help him!”

Lu Mengqing raised his soup bowl.

Qiao Ling understood and reached out, clinking her soup bowl against his.

The next day, when Han Shaoyu stepped out of his room, he discovered a young man with a sword, dressed in white and wearing a golden belt, standing in the courtyard.

Han Shaoyu was truly surprised, but he remained composed. He went forward and politely bowed, “Who are you, sir?”

The young man bowed to him, “My surname is Xiang, my given name is Huitang. Greetings to your esteemed self.”

Han Shaoyu nodded slightly, “What brings you here, Huitang?”

Xiang Huitang said, “I’m here to protect your esteemed self for a while, as I was asked to do.”

Han Shaoyu was sharp-witted, his mind raced, and he quickly guessed, “Could it be that you were asked by the Duchess of Yue?”

Xiang Huitang nodded.

Han Shaoyu was slightly curious, and also moved, “I haven’t spoken to the Duchess of Yue much!”

Xiang Huitang said, “One doesn’t need to have met before to be friends.”

Han Shaoyu’s lips moved, but he didn’t say anything. He looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “The Duchess of Yue is Mengqing’s friend, and she even cares for Mengqing’s friends as her own. How can she not be considered a gentleman? Huitang is the Duchess of Yue’s friend, and you are willing to go the extra mile to care for her friend’s friend. You are truly a gentleman among gentlemen…”

Xiang Huitang said, “You flatter me.”

Han Shaoyu thought for a moment, then picked up his knife again, “…Please sit down, I’ll go kill another chicken.”

Qiao Ling and Lu Mengqing hadn’t finished their chicken yet when Zhang Yuying arrived. She looked them up and down, secretly relieved, “It’s good that you’re okay, lady…”

Qiao Ling was eating a chicken wing, and she said strangely, “What could happen to me?”

Zhang Yuying, seeing this, was even more confused, “Didn’t you see anyone?”

Qiao Ling was even more puzzled, “Who?”

Lu Mengqing said, “The Marquis of Huaian came, but I sent her away.”

Qiao Ling was furious when she heard this, she bit down on a chicken bone and said, “She dares to come?!”

Zhang Yuying: “…”

Lu Mengqing: “…”

Lu Mengqing tried to calm her down, “Da Qiao, calm down. Murder and provoking trouble are not the same thing, they won’t be punished equally.”

Zhang Yuying also tried to persuade her, “You’re getting out the day after tomorrow, we don’t need to get angry with her.”

Qiao Ling didn’t say anything else, her eyes flashed with anger, she clenched her fist and sneered, then continued eating her chicken.

Zhang Yuying combed her hair into a beautiful bun, examined it, and saw that it was truly beautiful. Then, she left reluctantly. Qiao Ling, having eaten and drunk her fill, couldn’t help but chat with Lu Mengqing again.

“Everything is so expensive in the Shendu, food is expensive, accommodation is expensive. I didn’t bring much money with me, and I’ve almost spent it all…”

Lu Mengqing said curiously, “Didn’t the Duke of Yue’s Mansion give you a dowry?”

Qiao Ling gently shook her head, “They did, but I think it’s best not to spend it lavishly…”

After all, judging by Jiang Mai’s health, she might not be the Duchess of Yue for very long.

Lu Mengqing, upon hearing this, immediately said, “I’ll share my poetry collection’s royalties with you. You can eat off of it in the future—I won’t stop you from helping Shaoyu, and you can’t stop me from helping you.”

Qiao Ling, upon hearing this, readily agreed, “Okay!”

She then talked about the wedding night, “I owe the Princess a little favor. She spoke up for me at the time.”

Lu Mengqing laughed after hearing this, “The Princess is indeed straightforward, but you don’t need to consider it a favor.”

He told Qiao Ling, “The Princess doesn’t like the Marquis of Huai’an.”

Qiao Ling was puzzled, she thought for a moment and tentatively said, “Is it because of the Marquis of Huaian personality?”

Lu Mengqing shook his head, his expression then became serious, “It’s because the Marquis of Huai’an betrayed her.”

Qiao Ling heard that there was a juicy story here, and she immediately sat up straight, “Tell me more!”

Lu Mengqing asked her back, “Do you know the Marquis of Huaian surname?”

“I do,” Qiao Ling immediately said, “Her surname is Dong!”

Lu Mengqing asked again, “Do you know that the Marquis of Huaian also has the surname Dong?”

Qiao Ling was shocked, “Ah?!”

She said, “They have the same surname?!”

“No, no, the Marquis of Huaian didn’t originally have the surname Dong. It was only after he married the Marquis of Huaian that he took her surname—he took his wife’s surname.”

Lu Mengqing didn’t beat around the bush, he told her, “The former Marquis of Huai’an was not the current Marquis of Huai’an’s father, but the Marquis of Huaian father. The Marquis of Huaian, through marriage, temporarily passed the title to her husband, so he could become the Marquis of Huai’an!”

Qiao Ling was dumbfounded, “Ah?! But as far as I know, women can inherit titles too. Why didn’t she become the Marquis of Huai’an herself, but instead gave the title to her husband?!”

“Wait a minute!”

Qiao Ling suddenly remembered the full moon banquet she had attended, “Since the title belonged to the Marquis of Huaian, why did she rent a concubine for her husband to have a son?! She didn’t give the title to her own daughter, but to her so-called son, who had no blood relation to her?!”

“My god!” She couldn’t help but slam her hand on the table, “She’s a complete idiot!!!”

Lu Mengqing was also surprised after hearing this, “What, she rented a concubine to have a son?”

“Yeah,” Qiao Ling told him what happened that day, “Because of this, she even had a disagreement with me and my mother-in-law!”

Lu Mengqing couldn’t help but sigh, “What can we say…”

Qiao Ling, however, didn’t forget her original question, and she continued to ask, “What does this have to do with the Princess?”

Lu Mengqing sighed, “The former Marquis of Huai’an died suddenly, and he didn’t leave a will. He only had one daughter, the Marquis of Huaian, and she was very young at the time. So, initially, the title fell to the former Marquis’s cousins. The Marquis of Huaian was sent back to her hometown.”

“Years later, the Marquis of Huaian grew up and understood what had happened. Naturally, she was unwilling to accept it. It was a hereditary marquisate! But she was alone, how could she fight against her deeply rooted cousins?”

Qiao Ling understood, “The Princess helped her.”

“Yes,” Lu Mengqing said, “You should know what the Princess wants. Every woman who inherits a title and stands in the court is a benefit to her. Even if the woman simply exists, it’s a very significant meaning.”

Hearing this, Qiao Ling finally understood completely, “But after the Marquis of Huaian received the title, she chose to give it to her husband and retreated to the inner chambers. For the Princess, this is a betrayal…”

Lu Mengqing nodded, “After all, the former Marquis’s cousins had already inherited the title and had their own connections. Compared to the Marquis of Huaian, an orphan without parents, their power was much greater. The Princess had spent a lot of effort to take them down, but after the Marquis of Huaian got the title, she betrayed her, making a fool of herself and turning the Princess’s efforts and hard work into a joke.”

Qiao Ling put herself in her shoes and thought about it, “The Princess has a good temper. At least the Marquis and Marquis of Huaian are still alive and well…”

Lu Mengqing “tsk”, shrugged his shoulders, and didn’t comment.

Life in prison was truly a bit boring, but luckily, he had Lu Mengqing to chat and drink with, and he didn’t have to stay for long.

Qiao Ling went in on the night of her wedding, and she had to stay for three days. She would be able to leave on the third night.

The Jingzhao  Yin gave a small but significant favor. Around dusk, the warden took Zhang Yuying to pick her up.

Qiao Ling bid farewell to Lu Mengqing. He waved to her generously, “Go, I’ll make you pancakes when I get out!”

Qiao Ling assured him, “I’ll go back and brew wine, and I’ll come see you later!”

Lu Mengqing didn’t think much of it, he smiled and nodded.

As she stepped out of Jingzhao Prison, Qiao Ling had just rolled up her sleeves when she saw several familiar faces. They were the maids from her own courtyard.

She was puzzled, “Why are you all waiting here?”

Then she saw those flower-like girls, some holding water, some holding braziers, and some brushing her with willow branches dipped in yuzu leaf water, muttering, “Bad luck go away, bad luck go away…”

Zhang Yuying gently pushed her, “Lady, go step over the brazier!”

Qiao Ling was a bit hesitant, she scratched her face, “Actually, it’s not necessary, I have something to do later…”

The maids all said in unison, “Come on!”

Qiao Ling had no choice, “Alright, but I have something to do later…”

She said this, and resignedly stepped over the brazier.

Seeing this, everyone cheered, and they pulled her towards the carriage, “Go change clothes, don’t wear this one!”

Qiao Ling, again resignedly, went to change clothes, and she said, “I really have something to do later…”

Zhang Yuying was puzzled, and the other maids were also confused, “Lady, what do you have to do?”

Qiao Ling didn’t say anything.

After changing clothes, she ordered the carriage to move, and when it stopped, she got down and started picking melons.

Zhang Yuying: “…”

The others: “…”

Smiles slowly froze.jpg

Zhang Yuying, with a stiff smile, said awkwardly, “Lady, you must want to eat melons, right? Haha, melons are good, they’re the most fragrant and crispy right now…”

The other maids also said awkwardly, “Yes, it’s the season for melons…”

Qiao Ling smiled at them, then lowered her head and focused on picking melons.

Zhang Yuying’s heart was pounding, she was about to cry. She grabbed her sleeve and said eagerly, “Lady, you just want to eat melons, right?!”