Chapter 344: The Peach Blossom Spring Deeply Shuts Out the Spring Wind

What natural disasters and man-made calamities?

What natural disasters and man-made calamities?!

Exactly, that 【man-made calamity】 behind the Princess!

Wang Lao Ba still remembers to this day how that person instructed him to intercept all letters.

That person said, "Since there's only one post station in the city, rather than involve everyone and risk a leak later, it's better to solve everything at the source."

That person said, "In the end, it's all just work. I am now the prefect; you work for me—how is that not working for the state?"

That day, light and shadow were mottled, and the tone of speech was slow.

The dangling skylight turned into spider silk, thread after thread wrapping around his heartstrings, causing him to agree in a daze.

He not only followed the other's instructions, deliberately 'retaining' the first envelope, but also intercepted all letters passing through this post station between Cang Cheng and Zhoufu.

Exactly, all of them.

Not only those he personally recorded, which should have been handed to the courier for delivery, but even those already sent to the station that should have been forwarded by him next......

All the letters, none arrived.

Therefore, no one knows better than him what exactly is wrong with that ledger.

The problem is huge——

All letters that should have been sent to Cang Cheng were not recorded upon receipt.

All letters sent from Cang Cheng that should have gone to Zhoufu—though recording them would not fool the other station workers—when it came to his turn, none were sent onward.

This problem is huge, huge.

He is truly foolish; only after doing it several times did he realize something was wrong.

As for letters, if one cannot permanently intercept them all, then once the sender and recipient meet, or the message is conveyed through other channels bypassing the station to an un-intercepted letter......

Everything he did would come to nothing at the last moment.

This is very easy to investigate.

Even at the beginning, he gave several people receipts for receiving letters.

One might ask, if the letters were received but not delivered, what other reason could there be?

Once they find him, being punished will be as certain as nails on a board!

He regretted it.

He regretted it early on.

The more letters he intercepted, the more nervous and fearful he became of being exposed.

Today, this day has finally arrived.

He had heard earlier that a noble princess had come to Yongzhou, but only upon seeing her today did he realize the Princess was even more beautiful than he had imagined..... and also more dignified and solemn.

When those beautiful eyes narrowed and cast their gaze, it made one feel as if locked in the jaws of a fierce tiger.

As the saying goes, 'An eagle stands as if asleep; a tiger walks as if sick.'

Top hunters always employ some disguise before they strike.

That gaze is languid and carefree, yet the lethal intent and heavenly majesty hidden behind it are hard for outsiders to fathom.

Although Wang Lao Ba is considered a respectable person by ordinary folk and has worked many years at the official post station, he has never encountered someone so noble and prominent, with a bearing that is utterly natural.

【Or else, let's just squeeze Prefect Chen out.】

In just a few breaths, Wang Lao Ba made his decision.

What he thought and considered in his heart was actually quite simple——

To ordinary people, the prefect's post is obviously unattainably high.

But the whole of Yongzhou is the Princess's fief; before her, isn't he just able to stand?

At a glance, the Princess is not someone easily fooled; why should he take the matter upon himself to excuse others?

Perhaps the Princess, seeing his frankness, would also understand how torn and hesitant he had been before, and perhaps she would lift this small role of his up high and then set it down lightly......

After all, he is just following orders; what do the struggles of those above have to do with him?

Yes.

Wang Lao Ba, that's exactly what he thought.

However, when he was about to utter the truth, Wang Lao Ba......

but then he saw something else.

Perhaps because the Princess had not received the ledger for a long time.

That familiar, serene and elegant figure stepped out from behind the Princess, took the ledger in passing, and immediately sat beside her with a normal expression to read it together.

His expression was normal, and the Princess's expression was also normal.

Only then did Wang Lao Ba notice something out of the ordinary——

Although the Princess's attire is luxurious and heavy, and she wears waist armor......

but one can still see her abdomen swelling, obviously showing signs of pregnancy.

Having long resided in Zhoufu, he actually knows nothing about who the Princess's husband is.

Or rather, who the Princess's husband is doesn't really matter; who she favors and who is the father of her unborn child is what truly matters.

Who could it be?

Who could it be?

Who else could be so intimate with her?

Wang Lao Ba dare not gamble, Wang Lao Ba dare not gamble.

At that moment, he finally managed to recall the past——

Back then, along with those ingots of silver delivered to his eyes, there was also that person's lingering smile at the corner of the mouth.

At that time, he said:

I know you've had it rough, and the road has already been paved for you.

If someday you want to leak secrets, think more of this silver, and..... your whole family waiting to be fed.

I can give you now, and later I can also take it back.

I remembered.

Everything, I remembered.

Wang Lao Ba's forehead broke out in cold sweat, but he finally realized another bigger matter—

The old hunter in the family mountains often said, a fierce tiger is a top-notch hunter, and also a top-notch fearsome hunter...

However, she is often not the hunter who kills the most.

Because the tiger's body is huge, its consumption is also large, thus it suffers from being too big to maneuver.

Unless hungry, it will not lightly waste energy playing with prey, harming the prey.

However, other things are different.

In the deep woods, things are unpredictable; the tiger can spot danger from afar, but some lie hidden under rotten leaves, regardless of everything, waiting for anyone to pass, then bite at any moment—these poisonous snakes are even more terrifying.

Prey cannot predict where the poisonous snake will come from, nor when they themselves will step on it; if stepping on it does not kill it with one blow, will it follow the prey's traces, slowly wandering and hiding into the hunter's home...

This is more terrifying than 【Tiger's Watchful Gaze】.

The tiger's danger is known, but the calamity of poisonous snakes—no one knows when it will come.

Wang Lao Ba finally bowed down, lay on the ground and burst into loud sobs.

Du Shanü had already noticed something in the booklet together with Afang; seeing this now, what is there not to understand?

She slightly impatiently flicked her finger, signaling Chen Weifang to close the booklet, then said:

If you're at fault, accept the punishment; if you're wronged, file a complaint—why cry like this?

When you dared to detain my letter earlier, didn't you anticipate today?

He keeps saying 'natural disasters and human calamities,' there is a 'cause.'

Then hurry up and say it!

Chen Weifang obviously seemed half-smiling, but soon held it back, only speaking softly:

For such a stubborn and senseless person, the Wise Lord need not be merciful.

Now he acts like this and still talks about 'human calamities,' which makes me suspect someone behind him is pulling the strings...... If the Wise Lord agrees, I want to investigate his household situation, conduct a brief inquiry, and surely the truth will come to light.

Du Shanü meant the same, but before she could nod in agreement, Wang Lao Ba crawled forward using hands and feet, almost reaching her feet.

Fortunately, the people in the hall were quick-eyed and quick-handed, managing to press him down.

Du Shanü was also startled; after a few breaths she patted Chen Weifang, who had instinctively shielded her front:

It's fine, listen to what he has to say.

Wang Lao Ba had already been weeping bitterly:

Wrong, wrong. Actually, in the phrase 'natural disasters and human calamities,' the important part is not the human calamities but the 【natural disaster】.

Your Highness, all mistakes are mine. But I also did not intend to rebel; the root of all bad deeds actually comes from that letter first sent by a young man surnamed Xun......

?? Being top-heavy: the tail is too big to move easily. Metaphor for subordinates' power being too strong to command.

? The Peach Blossom Spring locks away the spring breeze: from Song dynasty's Xiang Ziyin's 'Seeing Joy,' the full poem is 【The Peach Blossom Spring locks away the spring breeze. Messages are hard to send. Fallen flowers and flowing water, remnants of regret—when will it end? Water has no constant. Flowers have an end. We will meet again. But life is long in parting.】