novelaction Chapter 422 The Prince Returns to His Residence!
Chapter 422 The Prince Returns to His Residence!
After seeing Zhao Zihe off, Mu Xin Nuan immediately sent a letter to Li Haoran in the capital, asking him to help procure more supplies, whether it be medicine, cotton cloth, or cotton clothing. Anything that could help was appreciated.
Because Duanmu Chuze was not in the manor, the inner quarters were peaceful. Of course, to outsiders, this was because the prince was too busy, and the young princess was not yet of marriageable age, so she chose to rest in the study. No one knew that he was not actually in the manor at all.
Mu Xin Nuan wasn't idle either. Besides staying at the Prince's Mansion herself, she also sent Mu Hua and Mu Qing out to investigate the situation inside and outside the city. If there were also refugees outside Yanzhou City, then the situation would be much more serious.
Most of the people brought by Duanmu Chuze were sent directly to Qi County and Yu County. Those who remained in Yanzhou City were busy with various government affairs. For a time, the Chang Le Prince's Mansion was so busy that everyone barely had a chance to catch their breath.
Every day, Wang Zhao and Xu Hai could only go to bed around midnight, and they would have to get up again before dawn the next day to handle some trivial government affairs on behalf of the prince. After the princess appeared at Qinghui Pavilion, they would also discuss some important matters concerning the livelihood of the people in Yan.
The two couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, Zhao Zihe had come. He was not only a doctor but also a talented person and one of their own. Otherwise, they would have had to send one or two more people out, making their manpower even more strained.
Fortunately, this situation didn't last long, and another helper arrived at the Prince's residence.
This time, the one who came to Yan was Yu Shaohong, the prince's capable deputy commander who had previously served on the border.
It was his arrival that made Mu Xin Nuan realize just how deep Duanmu Chu Ze was hiding!
Just as Mu Xin Nuan was praising the prince for having such capable people by his side, Xu Hai accidentally let slip that the men he had brought from Yan were less than half of the prince's trusted confidants. Immediately, Mu Xin Nuan's gaze towards him changed.
Xu Hai belatedly realized that he had spoken too quickly, and could only smile awkwardly. What could he do now that the words were out?
Mu Xin Nuan didn't pursue the matter further; after all, whoever came would be a good helper.
A few days later, Duanmu Chuze returned, looking travel-worn and slightly tanned with rough skin, clearly having been to this windy and dusty place in Yan.
After taking a bath and freshening up, they went directly to Qinghui Pavilion, while Mu Xin Nuan stayed at Yijing Garden.
Duanmu Chuze was gone until evening, when it was time for dinner, before he returned.
Seeing his tired face, Mu Xin Nuan felt sorry for him, but she also knew that she couldn't help much. All she could do was serve him food and soup so that he could eat more comfortably.
"Lu Shaofeng is back too?"
"Yes, he's back. This time, he's certainly broadened his horizons. I'm a bit better off, since I've been to Qi County and Yu County before, but he can't. The eldest son of the Lu family, even if he goes out to study, he wouldn't go to some harsh place. Besides, wherever he goes, he's always pampered and protected."
Mu Xin Nuan chuckled, "You brought him there precisely because of this? You wanted him to see these things with his own eyes, so that he would be deeply moved, and then he, or his wife, would step forward and invite Mr. Liu out?"
“Ah Nuan understands me best! That’s right! Didn’t you notice that before we left Yanzhou, some of the things Lu Shaofeng said were too profound, unlike what he would normally say?”
Mu Xin Nuan thought about it carefully and shook her head.
"In terms of literary talent, he is undoubtedly a renowned scholar. Yet, when he spoke of the refugees, he spoke eloquently. Of course, what he said was good, but I always felt something was missing. Upon further reflection, it's not hard to guess who said those words."
“You’re quite shrewd! Well then, if we can get that old Mr. Liu to come forward, the people of Yan will ultimately benefit. The sooner he can offer you advice, the sooner the situation in Yan will be brought under control.”
"Hmm. Let's wait and see. We'll wait for news these next few days. This Mr. Liu isn't actually that old. It's just that people respect him, so they call him Mr. Liu. In fact, he's not even forty yet, which is the perfect age to serve the court."
"Don't rush, let's take it slow. Also, Xu Hai said that a large portion of your trusted men haven't come yet. I'd like to ask you, what have they all been doing?"
Duanmu Chuze didn't notice anything amiss in Mu Xinnuan's words. "I've already sent them all out. They're supplies, cotton-padded clothes, and tents. I can't possibly do everything myself."
Mu Xin Nuan was initially angry with him for not telling her the truth, but seeing how tired he looked, she couldn't bring herself to say a word of reproach.
That evening, Duanmu Chuze stubbornly held Mu Xinnuan in his arms and began to greedily inhale her fragrance. After a while, he felt that he could finally hold a warm and soft body in his arms. He smiled with great satisfaction, closed his eyes, and soon heard his even breathing.
Mu Xin Nuan was held quite tightly by him. She struggled a little before feeling more comfortable. Looking at the light blue circles under his eyebrows, she knew that he must not have rested well for many days.
She looked at the man with a touch of heartache, reached out and gently stroked his brow. She felt him tremble slightly, quickly withdrew her hand, and smiled gently.
She slept soundly through the night. Ever since Duanmu Chuze left, she had been going to bed very late every night, and each time she would lie in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She worried about whether he was cold or hungry outside, and whether he had gotten hurt.
Now that he's back, Mu Xin Nuan slept so soundly that she missed breakfast.
If it weren't for the fact that Qianxia hadn't reached marriageable age yet, and that the prince had gone to Qinghui Pavilion so early, the servants in this mansion probably wouldn't know what they were thinking about her!
"Your Highness, Granny Song has brought Miss Song Jing with her. What do you think?"
"Oh? She's got some nerve. Does she think I won't punish Song Jing severely? Does she really think I'm easygoing?" Mu Xin Nuan sneered. "Tell them to wait in the main hall. I haven't had breakfast yet."
Understanding Mu Xin Nuan's meaning, Rong Yue chuckled to herself, "Yes, Your Highness."
After washing up, Mu Xin Nuan slowly ate breakfast and then instructed Aunt Fang to prepare some medicinal herbs, as she would personally go to the kitchen to stew some medicinal dishes later.
Granny Song was getting impatient. "Miss Rongyue, why is the Princess Consort so slow? Why don't you go to the back and urge her?"
Rongyue's eyes widened. "Granny Song, I am a servant. How can a servant urge his master? Or is it that in the Chang Le Prince's Mansion, servants don't have to follow these rules?"