Farewell Flower Festival

When they got to the street, Shen He picked a tea stall on the side of the road to drink tea. Zhao Zhong looked at the simple tea stall with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Your Highness, if you want to drink tea, wouldn't it be better for you to go to a teahouse? What good tea can you get from a small stall like this?"

Zhao Zhong looked at the simple tea bowl in front of him, unable to conceal the disgust in his eyes.

Shen He picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then said it tasted good. He asked Zhao Zhong to try it too, but Zhao Zhong said he was not thirsty.

"There are so many people coming and going on this street. Even if we are seen by others, they won't misunderstand that we are plotting something."

Zhao Zhong laughed dryly and said, "Your Majesty is still thoughtful."

"You've had your tea, go ahead and talk." Shen He said.

Zhao Zhong looked around and said in a low voice that he had been looking for Liu Lei, Xu Hai's deputy general. On the night when Prince Ning disappeared, he saw Liu Lei sneaking out of the military camp. He didn't pay much attention to it at the time. When he found out that Prince Ning was missing the next day, he also suspected Liu Lei. When he confronted him, Liu Lei confessed that Xu Hai was the mastermind behind the incident.

For the sake of the court and the country, he had to report the matter to Emperor Mu.

After Xu Hai's death, he felt very regretful, thinking that he had believed Liu Lei's words at that time, so he had sent people to look for the other party over the years, but there was no news at all.

After listening to Zhao Zhong's words, Shen He said, "So, the Marquis betrayed his brother for the sake of justice?" Zhao Zhong laughed dryly and said, "For the sake of the court and the emperor, it is worth it even if he bears the infamy."

"It's getting late, My Lord, you should go back and rest." After saying that, Shen He got up and left.

After getting on the carriage, Shen He clenched his fists, his eyes as cold as a knife.

Zhao Zhong's expression also changed. His eyes became gloomy, as if a dark spider web was woven inside.

After returning home, Shen He asked someone to call Chao Yan and Shen Cheng to the study. He looked a little solemn, as if he had something important to tell them.

"Dad, what happened?" Shen Cheng asked.

Shen He glanced at Zhao Yan, then at Shen Cheng, and said, "You should be more careful with the Loyal and Brave Marquis' Mansion in the future."

Chao Yan nodded obediently.

Shen Cheng asked, "Dad, did the man surnamed Zhao cause you trouble?"

Shen He pondered for a moment and said, "There are some things I should tell you."

Next, Shen He told the two of them about the investigation in Dingcheng and Pu County. Yesterday, Shen Ming had already found out the real culprit of the Wang family arson case.

He was a captain of the police in the county government named Jin.

This Captain Jin is a cousin of a general under Wei Chang, and this general is one of the three people who were avenged by Xu Xuan.

Wei Chang was also Zhao Zhong's confidant.

Although it cannot be directly proved that Zhao Zhong was related to the arson, he is a cunning man and we must be on guard against him.

Chao Yan immediately thought that the power behind Lin Rou might be the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. She wanted to say it out, but she had no solid evidence. If the person behind Lin Rou was really Zhao Zhong, then the two of them must have had contact in private. As long as she kept an eye on them, she would definitely be able to catch the other party's fox tail.

It would not be enough to just rely on her own eyes, so she needed two more helpers. Liu'er and Dong'er were sent by Lin Rou to serve her. Although they were careful and thoughtful, they had to report everything to Lin Rou, so she couldn't trust them. So she had no choice but to find Feicui and Amber.

After coming out of the study, Shen Cheng became angrier and angrier, and cursed Zhao Zhong as an old villain. Chao Yan said that an old fox like him would not cry until he saw the coffin, and that sooner or later he would be dealt with.

After returning to the residence, Chaoyan asked Liu'er to go to Hua Xiangrong.

Later, Liu Er came back with the jade.

Chaoyan showed Feicui the new rouge she made, and asked Dong'er to call Qian'er over. After Qian'er came, Chaoyan showed her the new rouge she made, and asked her to take it back to Lin Rou.

"I promised before that I would make a box of rouge for Aunt Lin. This rouge is really good. You should take it back and let Aunt Lin try it."

"Thank you, Princess."

After Qian'er took the rouge and left, Chaoyan took Feicui for a walk in the garden and then sent her away.

After Qian'er handed Rouge to Lin Rou, she said that there was an unfamiliar girl at Chaoyan's place. When Chaoyan was taking Feicui to visit the garden, Qian'er went to ask Liu'er and Dong'er and found out Feicui's identity. She was from Chaoyan's shop. After coming back, she reported to Lin Rou.

During dinner, Lin Rou praised the rouge made by Chao Yan for being excellent, better than the ones sold in the store, and mentioned that her store must be doing very good business.

Chao Yan said it was not bad, but her small shop could not compare with the golden brand like Hua Ninglu.

"Xue'er, don't blame me for being nosy. The prince and I are a little worried about you, a girl, going out. Before, Cheng'er," Lin Rou paused, looking worried, "Xue'er, do you want to consider closing the store?"

Chaoyan advised herself to calm down. If her father hadn't been at the table, she would have thrown her chopsticks. She lowered her head and ate silently, which made people feel wronged.

Shen Cheng said, "Aunt Lin, if Xue'er wants to open a store, let her do it. I will follow Xue'er whenever she goes to the store. There will definitely be no problem."

Shen He picked up some food for Chaoyan and said, "Don't come back too late from the store next time. Dad will be worried." Chaoyan nodded obediently.

After dinner, Lin Rou came to talk to Shen He, feeling that she had not done well enough and Chao Yan was still a little unfamiliar with her. Shen He told her not to think too much and that she would get familiar with Chao Yan in the future, and asked her to rest early.

"Your Highness," Lin Rou called out to Shen He who was about to leave, and stopped herself from saying anything. She changed her mind when she was about to say something, "Your Highness, please go to bed early too."

After Shen He left, Lin Rou said to herself, "After so many years, I am still a princess in name only." She laughed at herself. Qian'er came over and comforted her, "Master, just be patient and wait until the princess gets married."

Lin Rou walked over and sat on the couch, and Qian'er poured her a cup of tea.

"So what if she gets married? She still stays in the capital and can come back anytime she wants." Lin Rou said as she scraped the teacup.

Qian'er said, "How can a married daughter go back to her parents' home every now and then without being afraid of being laughed at?"

"It's about time that the Emperor grants marriages to the three princes." Lin Rou scraped the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Qian'er said, "Your Highnesses are all not young anymore. The Emperor might grant you a marriage on New Year's Eve this year."

……

The next morning, Shen Cheng received an invitation from Shang Ye, inviting him to a gathering at Yuquan Temple in the city.

Shen Cheng happily found Chaoyan and asked her if she wanted to go together. Chaoyan said yes, and this time she had to keep an eye on her brother and not let him get drunk again.

Yuquan Temple is built on Yuquan Mountain and is named after the spring in the mountain. There is gurgling water in the back mountain, and the temple is quiet and elegant. Scholars and men of letters often gather here.

A servant led Chaoyan and Shen Cheng to the gathering place in the back mountain. When they got there, Chaoyan was a little surprised to find Mu Tianqi was also there. She looked for him again but couldn’t find Mu Tianling. She muttered to herself that Mr. Shang was too careless. If he wanted to invite people, he should invite all of them. . . . .