"Shopping? Just the two of them?"
The man, wearing imperial robes with lightly graying temples, sat in a wide chair, asking the person below.
"To answer Your Majesty, yes, just Prince Mo and that woman, the two of them," the eunuch replied, bowing his head low.
"Prince Mo accompanied that woman to many places including Jade Pavilion, Wenshang Pavilion and others, buying quite a few things. Everything was sent to Prince Mo’s Mansion, as if that woman is residing in Prince Mo’s Mansion."
From the lengthy report, the Emperor picked out two words.
What does ’as if’ mean? When did his people start being so unreliable in their tasks? Either it is, or it isn’t; where does this ’as if’ come from?
"To reply to Your Majesty, the messenger who returned reported that the items were delivered to Prince Mo’s Mansion. However, as for the woman, she did not return to the mansion with Prince Mo; instead, she... disappeared within Shaohua City. Our men... were unable to follow her."
Without daring to take a deep breath, the eunuch responded.
The Emperor merely uttered those two words coldly.
"It is this servant’s incompetence. Please, Your Majesty, punish me." The eunuch knelt down hurriedly upon hearing his words.
This wasn’t about his competence; it was that Prince Mo’s martial skills were extraordinary. He could easily shake off their men. Indeed, it wasn’t something they could keep up with; losing track of them was within the realm of expectations.
But he dared not say this in front of the Emperor; he could only swallow his teeth along with the blood.
The Emperor indifferently commanded him to stand up.
He was also aware that his son was no longer the same little thing he could tightly control in his palm. Now, with his wings hardened, he yearned to fly on his own, and indeed, the Emperor felt he could no longer control him.
"Ensure someone closely watches Prince Mo’s Mansion. The moment that woman appears, take her down immediately," he ordered.
With those words, the eunuch prepared to walk out backward.
Suddenly, the Emperor called out to him again.
"Your Majesty, do you have further instructions?" the eunuch immediately turned back and asked.
"Keep a close watch on that woman, but don’t act rashly. First, investigate her relationship with Prince Mo thoroughly," the Emperor added after a moment’s thought.
It wasn’t that he was overly suspicious; it was just that his ’fine’ son had been coming up with one idea after another in recent years, keeping him almost too busy to cope. He had to be cautious; this might just be bait thrown by his son.
He was eager to see what his ’fine’ son was planning this time!
"This servant obeys," the eunuch withdrew.
The next day, Lin Caisang left her home early in the morning. Using the unchanging excuse of picking wild fruits on the mountain as a pretext for leaving, she changed her clothes in the medicinal garden space and then proceeded to Shaohua City.
She arrived at the courtyard where Ya Molian was already waiting for her.
"Have you been waiting long?" she asked.
She thought she had arrived quite early, but to her surprise, the man seemed even more eager than her.
"Come here, I’ve made osmanthus fish and braised pork for you. Let’s eat first."
Ya Molian gestured for her to come and together, they went to a room where a table filled with steaming dishes awaited, tempting Lin Caisang’s appetite.
Lin Caisang took a deep breath and hurriedly sat down.
"Brother Molian, it feels like it’s been so long since I’ve had your cooking. I’ve really missed it. Did you make this especially for me? I’ve already had breakfast at home, you know?"
Ya Molian sat down beside her, asking softly.