Chapter 222 2/3

People who came to Li Qingzhi to get tofu pudding started speaking up.

Li Qingzhi responded with a smile, then noticed Lord Ping approaching from a distance, wearing a silver hairpin with a green glass piece the size of a soybean. This kind of hairpin was cheap, attractive, and practical, making it very popular.

It was evident that Jin Ye Embroidery Shop was truly a big hit.

The bucket of tofu pudding Li Qingzhi had brought to share was still half full, so he gave it to Lord Ping. She accepted it gratefully with a smile.

Li Qingzhi had a porter deliver the half bucket of tofu pudding to Lord Ping’s house and then took the remaining bucket home for breakfast. Tofu pudding paired with flatbread was indeed delicious!

Just as Li Qingzhi finished eating, he received a letter from Du Yongning. Du Yongning mentioned that a scholar he knew was going to a nearby village to soak in the hot springs and asked if Li Qingzhi would like to join.

At the same time, Li Zhu also sent a message, informing him that Lu Qingxi had made some arrangements and invited him to the hot springs. Even Lu Qingxi would be there.

Since Lu Qingxi had arranged it, he definitely had to go, especially since Lu Qingxi himself would be there. Did Lu Qingxi want to meet him?

Li Qingzhi had been staying home teaching Li Damao, Li Ermao, and Zhang Zao for the past few days. It wasn’t that he disliked socializing, but rather, he had found out that Prince Yan had been socializing with scholars. Not wanting to encounter Prince Yan, he had been avoiding him. However, since Prince Yan was now out of money, he would likely stay quiet, so Li Qingzhi decided to go to the hot springs this time.

Li Qingzhi wrote back to Du Yongning, saying he would go to Du’s residence the next morning and set off with him.

The next day arrived quickly. After breakfast, Li Qingzhi headed to Du’s residence, where Du Yongning was busy having things loaded onto the carriage.

Seeing Li Qingzhi, Du Yongning immediately called him over. “Brother Li, we are truly lucky this time; otherwise, we wouldn’t have a chance to soak in the hot springs! I’ve never soaked in a hot spring before…”

Li Qingzhi wasn’t sure if there were hot springs in Jiang’an Province, but he had never heard of them or soaked in one himself.

The opportunity to soak in the hot springs at the village was indeed nice!

Lu Qingxi’s arrangement was quite considerate. The reason behind it was likely to see if Li Qingzhi had any birthmarks.

To confirm kinship, one must at least know if he had any distinguishing marks.

The original Li Qingzhi had no birthmarks, but now… he had a mole on his back.

A completely ordinary mole, yet its position and size were exactly the same as the one on the emperor’s back.

“Brother Du, I brought some braised dishes from Juewei Zhai to share with everyone,” Li Qingzhi said with a smile, showing Du Yongning the food box he was carrying.

Juewei Zhai’s food was quite expensive in the capital, making it a suitable gift.

“That’s wonderful!” Du Yongning said, delighted.

The official in Du’s family was Du Yongning’s uncle, meaning Du Yongning lived with his uncle.

Given this situation, he couldn’t be too picky about the food.

He hadn’t been eating well lately and had really missed Juewei Zhai’s braised dishes.

“I wanted to buy some braised dishes for myself, but Uncle Zhou said it wasn’t appropriate. If I bought it for everyone to share, it would be too expensive. My aunt is very frugal, and the food at my uncle’s place isn’t great…” Du Yongning kept on talking.

His uncle had one wife and three concubines and many children, so money was tight.

Even though his cousin had an official father, he wasn’t as well-off as Li Qingzhi.

After discussing this, Du Yongning started talking about Lu Mingshan.

Only someone as chatty as Li Qingzhi could endure him.

“Master Lu previously told me I would definitely pass the imperial exam and that I have a bright future…” Du Yongning said proudly.

Li Qingzhi thought, “…” Lu Mingshan said this to every scholar!

He didn’t specify if it would be this time or the next time or the one after that.

However, believing it was beneficial for Du Yongning, it boosted his confidence and might help him perform better in the exams.

The two chatted in the carriage all morning and arrived at the hot spring village by noon.

This place was farther than the village with the plum blossoms. After soaking in the hot springs, they wouldn’t return; they would stay overnight and return the next day.

The carriage entered the hot spring village, but Li Qingzhi didn’t see the misty hot springs right away. Upon closer inspection, he realized the hot springs were enclosed.

The village had many servants who introduced the place to Li Qingzhi and Du Yongning and mentioned they had skilled staff to help with scrubbing backs.

When they arrived, other scholars were already there.

The area near the hot springs was warm, and flowers were planted there, making it a pleasant environment. After chatting for a while and having some snacks, they separated to soak in the hot springs.

Li Qingzhi entered a room with a large stone bath carved out of rock, with hot spring water flowing in from one side and out the other. Flowers and plants were planted around, creating a serene atmosphere.

A lot of money must have been invested in this place.

Li Qingzhi undressed, leaving only his shorts, and got into the water.

He hadn’t been soaking for long when a tall, well-built servant arrived.

The servant brought some snacks and asked if Li Qingzhi wanted a back scrub.

“Sure,” Li Qingzhi replied without hesitation, getting out of the bath and lying down for the scrub.

While being scrubbed, he chatted with the servant.

Unfortunately, the servant wasn’t talkative. When Li Qingzhi asked about the hot spring village, the servant remained tight-lipped.

It made sense; being arranged by Lu Qingxi, the servant probably knew little about the place.

While Li Qingzhi soaked in the hot springs, Lu Qingxi stayed in a nearby room.

Due to a physical impairment, Lu Qingxi disliked soaking in hot springs and didn’t enter the water. Instead, he sat drinking tea while the village steward stood nearby, feeling somewhat at a loss.

The steward thought Lu Qingxi wanted to soak in the hot springs and planned to ensure he had a comfortable experience.

But Lu Qingxi didn’t go into the hot springs; he only had the steward arrange back scrubbing for the scholars and even sent someone specifically to scrub Li Qingzhi’s back.

Could it be that Lu Qingxi had taken a liking to Li Qingzhi?

Probably not. If he had, why would he send someone else to scrub Li Qingzhi’s back?

So… was Lu Qingxi planning to harm Li Qingzhi?

That seemed more likely…

Lu Qingxi had no idea the steward had so many thoughts. After a long wait, the person sent to scrub Li Qingzhi’s back finally returned.

Sending the steward away, Lu Qingxi asked this person about Li Qingzhi’s condition.

Li Qingzhi originally had many scars, but now they were gone. His body had no abnormalities or birthmarks.

“Your Highness, Li Qingzhi has no birthmarks, but he has a mole on his back, on the left shoulder blade.”

“Draw it for me,” Lu Qingxi said, producing a piece of paper.

The person quickly sketched a back and marked a mole.

Lu Qingxi was shocked upon seeing it.

He had always served Qi Jun and was the only eunuch around Qi Jun in his youth.

He naturally knew about the mole on Qi Jun’s back, even before Qi Jun himself, as Qi Jun couldn’t see his own back.

The position of Li Qingzhi’s mole was identical to Qi Jun’s!

This was too much of a coincidence, almost as if it was intentionally designed.

But who could design something like this? Few knew about the emperor’s mole, and even those favored by Qi Jun might not be aware!