Chapter 641: with translation of chapter title

Prince Qing and Prince Chen were chatting in the study when they heard the report; Prince Chen's brows immediately furrowed: "Marquis Jinghai? At this hour, what does he want?"

"Could it be that he knows about that mother and son?"

Prince Qing ordered: "Have him brought to the front hall, and say I'm changing clothes; I'll be there shortly."

"Yes." The servant withdrew.

Prince Qing wore an indifferent expression: "How could he possibly know? Anyone who knew even a little has already been killed by me; how could he still find out?"

He curled his lip: "This really owes a lot to Zhou Jing'an."

"If it weren't for his deliberate secrecy, worried that Marquis Jinghai would find out, I wouldn't have been able to clean up Flower Branch Alley so easily."

Prince Chen rolled his eyes: "You too, with so many women in the world, how did you fixate on Zhou Jing'an's woman?"

"Brother Prince, Yunniang is unlike any woman I've ever met."

Prince Qing thought of that soft, water-like woman, and his expression instantly softened: "The moment I saw her, I knew she would be my woman."

"Besides, I've looked into Ningxiang Yuan; although she's in a brothel, she has always sold her art, not her body."

"That's precisely why Zhou Jing'an redeemed her."

"It's also a matter of fate; if I hadn't sent Zhou Jing'an to Yu Prefecture, where he vanished without a trace, and if you, Brother Prince, hadn't had me inquire at Flower Branch Alley, I would never have met Yunniang."

Prince Chen's brows remained unfurrowed: "It's just a woman; what Zhou Jinhua truly cares about is that child, his own grandson!"

"You had better send him away quickly to be safe."

"Zhou Jinhua is still useful; this must absolutely not be let him know."

"Don't forget, the promises we made to him haven't been fulfilled yet."

Prince Qing replied: "Don't worry, Brother Prince; this woman is like a kitten or puppy—needs taming. Once Yunniang's heart is settled, I'll send that little brat away."

"Zhou Jinhua's visit this time may not be because of this; why are you so worried?"

He stood up: "I'll go see him."

Prince Chen, still uneasy, also rose: "I'll go with you."

The two left the study and came to the front hall.

Zhou Jinhua's expression was normal as he sipped tea.

The two exchanged a glance, and Prince Chen's heart eased.

Seeing them hastily rise, Zhou Jinhua bowed and said: "Both Princes are here; my visit is ill‑timed, sorry for the disturbance."

Prince Qing quickly stepped forward to help him up: "Please rise, no need for ceremony, take a seat."

Prince Chen glanced at the several brocade boxes on the table beside Zhou Jinhua and smiled: "Marquis, you're too courteous; please sit."

The three took their seats.

Zhou Jinhua lifted his eyes to Prince Qing, brows slightly furrowed: "Your Highness, your face…?"

Prince Qing stiffened; the two falls from yesterday had left some bruising on his face, especially around the nose, still red and swollen.

He raised a hand to touch his nose: "No matter; yesterday I was carelessly thrown off by a mad horse, damaging my appearance."

He let out a hearty laugh: "If it weren't for your personal visit, Marquis, anyone else would have gotten the gate slammed in their face today, hahaha!"

Zhou Jinhua looked flattered and startled: "It's my visit that's ill‑timed, Your Highness, please forgive me!"

Prince Chen asked bluntly: "Marquis, what brings you here today?"

Zhou Jinhua also got straight to the point: "Ah, it's all for my son!"

"He's been gone many days, I'm anxious and sleepless; that's why I've rushed here to ask—how's the investigation in Yu Prefecture going? Any news?"

Prince Qing's expression turned serious: "I've sent people to Yu Prefecture several times, yet still haven't found any trace of Jing'an."

He sighed: "If only I had sent someone else that day."

"We're as close as family; Jing'an's prolonged absence has left me anxious as well."

He rose, making a gesture to bow: "Really, I feel ashamed before the Marquis."

Zhou Jinhua hurried forward: "Don't! Don't! Your Highness, you'll kill me with your courtesy!"

Prince Qing seized the moment to stand straight: "Marquis, you're too polite; if there's any news of Jing'an, I will certainly send word at once."

Zhou Jinhua's eyes welled with tears, deeply moved: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Having said that, he sat back, slowly lifting his teacup and taking a sip, then another.

Prince Qing watched him, inwardly impatient: "You've finished asking, yet you don't leave? What are you dawdling about here?"

"I haven't even found a corpse of your son; he's surely not coming back."

"After we finish dealing with Xibei, I'll tell you—then you should arrange his funeral."

"Cough, cough," Prince Chen cleared his throat, "Marquis, if you have anything else, please speak plainly; I will certainly see to it."

Zhou Jinhua then set down his teacup: "Indeed, there is still one matter."

He sighed, shook his head, wearing an exasperated expression: "Speaking of which, this is also a family disgrace."

"However, you two Princes are not outsiders; you also know of this, so I will speak frankly."

"My son, in his youthful recklessness, once took a courtesan from Ningxiang Yuan named Yunniang and installed her in Flower Branch Alley to the west of the city."

Prince Qing's heart stirred; he narrowed his eyes at Zhou Jinhua: "Could it be that you really know something?"

Prince Chen gripped the armrest of his chair, his face unchanged: "How so? Marquis, haven't you yet brought that mother and son back to the manor?"

Zhou Jinhua startled, never expecting Prince Chen to ask voluntarily.

Prince Qing turned his head to look at Prince Chen, immediately grasping his intention.

He sighed: "Indeed, Marquis, Brother Prince makes sense."

"Although she's merely a courtesan, she bears Jing'an's flesh and blood; you shouldn't still worry about status—bring her into the manor and settle her properly."

Zhou Jinhua's chest surged with anger: "Take her back? Where would I even go to fetch her?"

"It's clearly you who seized Yunniang and hid my grandson, yet now you're turning the tables on me?"

He suppressed his anger without showing it: "What this marquis thinks is the same as what the two princes think."

But when I went to fetch them, Flower Branch Alley was already empty of people; I've searched for many days, yet still found no trace.

Oh? Prince Chen showed a doubtful expression, "Could it be that they have already left? Marquis, do you know where that woman's hometown is?"

Prince Qing said solemnly: "Exactly! That must be it! A weak woman, even with a child, must have been frightened by the Jing'an incident and fled back to her hometown for refuge."

Marquis should go to Fragrant Gathering Garden to inquire, then quickly send people to her hometown; surely you will find them mother and child.

Zhou Jinhua made an expression of sudden realization: "Truly, the bystander sees clearly! I, the marquis, never thought of that! Truly, being concerned leads to confusion."

Prince Qing's heart settled, and he smiled: "The love of flesh and blood most tugs at the heart; it is only human nature, marquis need not blame himself."

Zhou Jinhua lifted the teacup to his lips, without blowing on it to cool, and drank.

Prince Chen's heart stirred; seeing he still wanted to stay, his face immediately darkened: "How are you serving? The marquis's tea has gone cold, and you didn't even think to change it?"

The two servants in the hall were startled; the tea was still warm, not cold at all!

Prince Chen flew into a rage: "Come here!"

The guards on the corridor responded in unison: "Present!"

To neglect honored guests so, is it intentional to disgrace this prince?

Drag them out! Fifty heavy strokes each! Beat them right at the gate! To serve as a warning!

Yes! The guards rushed in and dragged those two servants out.

The two kept shouting: "Your Highness, spare my life! Spare my life!"

The guards turned a deaf ear, dragged the two to the gate, pressed them to the ground, picked up the boards, and struck hard.

After only a dozen or so blows, their skin split and flesh tore, and their anguished cries gradually weakened.

Seeing this, Zhou Jinhua could not stay seated; he rose and bowed: "It's just a small matter; Your Highness need not be angry; I, the marquis, take my leave."

Prince Qing and Prince Chen also rose: "The servants don't know etiquette; marquis, please excuse us."

Not at all. Zhou Jinhua politely replied, turned and withdrew from the front hall, gradually fading away.

Prince Qing gazed at his back: "Brother Wang, fortunately you had this outburst; otherwise his next move would likely be to ask about the dukedom and the salt tax."

Prince Chen snorted: "The right to collect the salt tax could never be given to him."

That was merely a bait the top official used initially to lure him into opening the city gate.

As for the dukedom, once the world is pacified, if there is a vacancy, granting it to him would be fine.

The two walked out of the front hall.

The two servants lay on the ground, one already dead, the other on his last breath.

Prince Chen didn't even glance at them; Prince Qing didn't care: "Drag them away and bury them."

Yes!

Outside the mansion gate, Zhou Jinhua mounted the carriage; inside sat a man in blue clothing.

How is it? Have you found anything?