Chapter 115: He Is Also Looking Forward to It

"Wait a moment."

Near the Study, Qingzhu turned and stopped him.

Then he stepped forward and knocked on the door, and once given permission, he bowed slightly toward him.

"Young Master Cheng, please come in."

Cheng Chengxuan took a deep breath, masking the complicated emotions in his eyes, and walked into the Study with his usual expression.

"Brother Cheng!"

Shang Xiaomin, who had been pacing excitedly back and forth in the Study, heard the movement and smiled as he beckoned him over, his face alight with excitement.

"Come quickly!"

"The Second Prince did indeed arrange for several Imperial Officials to meet secretly at a teahouse, including that Secretary Qin. Our plan is about to succeed!"

Cheng Chengxuan's expression remained calm as he quietly reminded him.

"There's no distant cousin girl in the family. She opened a shop in Ducheng and often goes there to return goods. If you ask someone to deliver the letter back, it'll go bad."

"You're just having a bad rest, you simply lacked energy a moment ago."

"Regarding the winter hunt, Father Emperor must be dissatisfied with the Seventh Prince. If this scheme succeeds, it will surely make Father Emperor completely disappointed in the Seventh Prince!"

"What are you worried about?"

Saying so, Cheng Chengxuan smiled and patted Imperial Censor Zhang's shoulder.

It's just that this shop's most important task now is gathering intelligence; selling milk tea to make money is merely a side business used to throw people off the scent.

"This matter isn't his fault either. The Imperial Prince has just been too busy lately, so he neglected the matter of the antidote. He won't forget to give it. Don't overthink it."

Lu Chenghong smiled and said nothing more.

Before Imperial Censor Zhang left, Brother Xuan pulled Qingzhu to a secluded corner.

Right!

Qingzhu, who had reached the corner, happened to glance back unintentionally and caught sight of him tucking a small white medicine bottle into his chest.

Although he didn't pursue the matter of Qingzhu's distraction, Brother Xuan gave Qingzhu a scrutinizing look.

He has risked his life for the Seventh Prince so many times, done so many things, and just because of one small mistake, he's to be thrown away like trash?!

"Always troubling Cheng Qingmu has left you with no time to attend to these matters."

Hearing his words, Qingzhu's expression shifted slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

"Speaking of which, it's also my fault, Your Highness."

"So that's how it is."

Actually, that's not the case at all. The shop uses instant milk tea in bags wholesaled by An Luo; just pour hot water over it and add some honey beans, red dates, and the like.

Watching his retreating back, Brother Xuan sighed, reached into his chest and took out a small white medicine bottle, hesitated for a moment, then his gaze hardened and he tucked the bottle away again.

Having received a satisfactory answer, Shang Xiaomin couldn't be bothered to hold against him his earlier moment of absent-mindedness.

His heart instantly chilled.

He doesn't want to die!

Lu Chenghong smiled and lowered his eyelids, the coldness in his eyes deepening.

"I'll write a Memorial right now about the problems encountered in this year's civil official assessment, and present it tomorrow. Not only will it let Father Emperor see that I am the most capable one, but I can also take this chance to get rid of those Imperial Officials who have been secretly working against me!"

Imperial Censor Zhang smiled faintly, lowering his eyes to hide the coldness and killing intent within.

"Stop pretending. I know you too well. Something's off with you today. What's going on?"

Qingzhu nodded and forced a weak smile at him.

"I didn't complete this mission, and the day to take the medicine every month is almost here. But after returning, the Imperial Prince never once mentioned the matter of the antidote."

Cheng Chengxuan nodded and didn't press further.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

He first smiled and shook his head, declining Cheng Chengxuan's kind offer, looking as though he truly didn't want to trouble the other.

"Very well!"

Qingzhu clenched his fists tightly, his angry face tinged with resolve.

"I'm afraid…"

He nodded in satisfaction at once, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed out the window with full confidence.

"Cheng Qingmu is truly wise and resourceful. To have Cheng Qingmu's help is my good fortune!"

Brother Xuan strode out, but returned shortly after, his tone excited.

"I wouldn't dare trouble the Imperial Prince."

"What's wrong with you today? You actually zoned out in front of the Imperial Prince? Are you mad? Don't you want to live?!"

"The Imperial Prince speaks too seriously. It's merely to subsidize household expenses. Besides, this milk tea is rather troublesome to make; we can't even brew a few cups a day."

Qingzhu looked up at him, and after a long while, let out a faint sigh.

"Right, what you said makes sense."

"I'm ashamed to say that since coming to Muyuan, I've only written one letter home to let them know I'm safe."

"Imperial Prince, speaking of success now is a bit premature. Only when Imperial Censor Zhang impeaches the Second Prince in the great hall will it count as half a success."

Imperial Censor Zhang pondered for a moment, then a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.

"How about this: there are quite a few Carrier Pigeons in the residence. Write your letter, and I'll send someone specifically to deliver it for you. What do you think?"

"According to the scout, Shang Xiaomin's face turned green with rage at the time, and he left in anger."

Seeing that he had begun writing the Memorial, Imperial Censor Zhang turned and left the Study.

Cheng Chengxuan clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

Qingmu nearby also frowned and glanced at Qingzhu, about to do something to remind him, but Qingzhu had already moved.

So the Imperial Prince hasn't given the antidote yet?

Saying so, I knit my brows tightly, my face full of worry.

In the meantime, Cheng Chengxuan and Lu Chenghong continued discussing the earlier plan.

Hearing those words, Cheng Chengxuan sighed.

"The men you left at the teahouse just came to report that when the Seventh Prince was saying farewell to a few minor officials, he happened to be spotted by Shang Xiaomin."

"If this time we can help you completely remove that stumbling block, the Seventh Prince, before the deed is done, you must remember to give Qingmu a small merit!"

Hearing that, Lucheng dismissed the belief in his heart and patted my shoulder.

"Haha!"

"The fragrance drink shop your younger sister opened is now the darling of Ducheng — from the wives and daughters of high officials and nobles below, all the way up to the common folk."

Suddenly, Cheng Chengxuan thought of something, changed the subject, and spoke to probe.

"How are the arrangements on your end? Can Censor-in-Chief Zhang make it to that teahouse in time today?"

"You just, aren't a bit worried."

Xuan-xiong's gaze was sharp as he scrutinized me, with trust in his eyes.

It can let me succeed easily, after all, information that's too hard to obtain, I would also suspect.

"The Imperial Prince is too kind with his praise."

"Next, we just wait to watch the good show at tomorrow's Early Court."

So, he really did plan to give it to me!

Then he looked toward Qingzhu.

"Right, how could you forget about that matter?"

"Tomorrow's Early Court is sure to be very lively!"

"To answer the Imperial Prince, Censor-in-Chief Zhang goes to that teahouse for tea every three days. If all goes smoothly, Censor-in-Chief Zhang should have already arrived by now."

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan's eyes flickered, then he laughed heartily.

Just then, the Study door was knocked on.

Hearing this, Censor-in-Chief Zhang shook his head with a bitter smile.

Since the Seventh Imperial Prince is so heartless, don't blame me for disregarding the bond between master and servant!

"Really looking forward to it!"

"By the way, New Year's Eve is approaching. Recently, has Qingmu contacted his family?"

"To say one cup is hard to come by is no exaggeration; even the Imperial Consort (Gongzhu) in the Imperial Palace and these sisters of mine at the Imperial Prince's residence send people to buy it every few days."

Looking forward to it?

Shang Xiaomin nodded at his words, his expression also becoming a bit more restrained.

"Imperial Prince, bad news!"

Qingzhu today, is off!

That's wanting to intercept the letters to see what you all would write?

"Understood, you go attend to your duties first."

I rubbed my fists together and walked to the desk.

Why?!

I'm also quite looking forward to it.

Qingzhu's expression turned despondent.

But if it can completely cut off my channel for intercepting letters, after all, without some news, only when Cheng Chengxuan sees it can we better lay out our plans…

Not getting an immediate answer from Qingzhu, Shang Xiaomin's face showed a hint of displeasure.