Chapter 22: Seeing Him Again

Miss, please come in.

Yao Niang smiled, as if she had been waiting a long time, personally ushering Shen Shuangning inside; the two arrived at the elegant room where they had previously talked.

The thing you're looking for is elsewhere.

"Where?" Shen Shuangning paused, her tone somewhat urgent.

At this moment her mind was full of potatoes; it was now spring planting, and if sown early they could be harvested in two months, so she must obtain Lady Shen's support.

She had little time.

Yao Niang said, "Miss, don't rush; the item won't run away. It's just that our Pavilion Master wishes to see you."

Shen Shuangning showed doubt: "Who is your Pavilion Master?"

Yao Niang spoke gently: "You'll find out soon."

It seemed that if she didn't see them, she wouldn't get the potatoes.

Shen Shuangning felt a hint of wariness, but for the potatoes and for the Rongguo Duke's Manor, she would not hesitate to rush headlong into danger.

She said in a low voice, "Please lead the way."

"Fourth Miss, please wait a moment."

Upon hearing "Fourth Miss," a flicker of surprise crossed Shen Shuangning's eyes; indeed, her petty tricks could not escape these people.

Shen Shuangning removed her veil; since the other party already knew her identity, there was no need to conceal it further.

Nevertheless, precisely for that reason Shen Shuangning felt somewhat reassured; no matter who they were, they would likely fear the power of the Rongguo Duke's Manor and dare not act against her.

Yao Niang took out a cloth, covered Shen Shuangning's eyes, and gently took her hand.

Aheng was left here, watching her leave with worry.

"Young lady, please don't come to any harm..."

Shen Shuangning didn't know where Yao Niang had taken her, only vaguely feeling she had entered an airless secret passage, the path twisting and turning beneath her feet.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally stopped.

A low sound came from nearby, a gentle breeze brushed Shen Shuangning's cheek, and Yao Niang reached out to undo the blindfold.

The light suddenly brightened, and Shen Shuangning instinctively narrowed her eyes.

Accustomed to the darkness of the secret passage, suddenly being outside made her feel somewhat unaccustomed.

All around was a bamboo grove, a water wheel turned slowly, the water murmured, and not far away stood a rather elegant bamboo house.

Shen Shuangning glanced back; behind her was a rough stone wall, the very place they had just exited, and where they now stood was no longer within the prosperous Jingcheng, but rather like a secluded utopia.

Shen Shuangning was greatly shocked.

To covertly construct a thoroughfare of secret passages beneath the imperial city would require immense resources; more terrifyingly, if an army used this passage to infiltrate Jingcheng, it could completely evade the City Defense Office's guards, as if entering an uninhabited realm...

Thinking of this, Shen Shuangning trembled all over, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, afraid to think further.

She suddenly had an ominous premonition that she should not have come here.

Yet there was no turning back.

"Fourth Miss, please follow me."

Yao Niang gestured for her to follow.

Shen Shuangning steeled herself and went forward.

Upon reaching the bamboo house, Yao Niang did not rush to push the door open; instead she stood outside, lowered her gaze, and respectfully said, "Pavilion Master, I have brought the person."

At the word "Enter," a thunderclap exploded in Shen Shuangning's mind.

"Isn't Xiao Jingyuan supposed to be in True Pacify? Why is he here?"

Shen Shuangning's eyes surged with shock; the master of the Treasure Pavilion was actually him!

Though they were husband and wife, she knew virtually nothing about him.

"Fourth Miss, please come in."

Yao Niang's voice called back Shen Shuangning's wandering soul; as she turned her gaze to Yao Niang, her eyes grew more complex.

Even Song Xizhi knew of Yao Niang's existence, yet she, having once been Xiao Jingyuan's Heir Apparent's Consort, had never heard of or seen this person during their four years of marriage.

Just how many more "surprises" does Xiao Jingyuan have that she doesn't know about?

Shen Shuangning didn't want to dwell on these things, but her mood sank to the bottom.

Upon entering, she indeed saw that familiar face, so familiar it could not be more so.

Shen Shuangning closed her eyes as if resigning herself to fate.

Really unlucky.

She composed herself, stepped forward, and bowed expressionlessly.

The Heir Apparent wore a jade cap and dark robe, seeming somewhat thinner, his deep features appearing sharper; his bearing was refined yet carried an aloof, unapproachable detachment.

He sat on a couch draped with gold-threaded cushions, lifted his gaze to her, and said, "Fourth Miss, you don't seem very surprised."

Shen Shuangning met his gaze, feigning calm: "Heir Apparent, with your far-reaching influence, what is there to be surprised about?"

The door had already been closed, and Yao Niang did not enter.

Xiao Jingyuan's brows and eyes turned cold; he picked up a nearby cloth sack, and a round object rolled onto the table.

It was exactly the potato Shen Shuangning had been seeking.

"Is this the thing the Fourth Miss is looking for?"

Shen Shuangning slightly clenched her fingers; had she known that the person behind the Treasure Pavilion was Xiao Jingyuan, she would never have come.

"Yes."

"Could you tell me what you need it for?" Xiao Jingyuan said lightly.

Shen Shuangning pursed her lips: "What if I refuse to say?"

Tea vapor hazed, blurring the man's cold face; the Heir Apparent unhurriedly sipped his tea, then lifted his eyes to her and said, "Fourth Miss, what do you have to say?"

A sudden chill ran up Shen Shuangning's back; she heard the threat in Xiao Jingyuan's flat tone.

If she didn't speak, not only would she not be able to take the potatoes, but she would likely have to answer for herself here.

Otherwise, once the secret of the passage leaked from her mouth, the matter would become serious; under Great Liang law, anyone who privately builds a passage is to be punished as a rebel.

Moreover, the Yan Wang Fu still holds military power; if even a word of today's affair were leaked, the Yan Wang Fu would surely bring down a catastrophic disaster upon itself.

She stared at Xiao Jingyuan's expressionless face, her heart unable to calm for a long time; as his wife, she would still face the danger of extermination of her nine kin— in this life, she would rather die than have any further involvement with him.

"Fourth Miss is a smart person; you ought to know how to choose." Xiao Jingyuan's lips curled in a smile, but his eyes were icy, "My patience is not much."

After weighing the pros and cons in her mind, Shen Shuangning said, "You're overthinking, Master Heir; it's just a vegetable planted in the ground, not a weapon—aside from planting it, what else could I do with it?"

Xiao Jingyuan: "Come over."

Shen Shuangning did not want to get too close to him, but now he was the butcher and she the meat; she could only obey.

Who knew Xiao Jingyuan would reach out and pull her to face him.

Shen Shuangning stumbled, half her body collapsing against Xiao Jingyuan's leg; she lifted her head, her breath catching, looking up at him, and her aura weakened by seventy percent.

Xiao Jingyuan gripped her hand and did not let go, his deep, unfathomable eyes fixed on her: "Look into my eyes and repeat what you just said."

"I said it—I'm only taking it to plant!"

Shen Shuangning also glared at him; she had meant no harm, taking the potatoes to do a good deed, yet he treated her like a criminal on trial—how could she not feel wronged and angry?

Xiao Jingyuan is simply sick!

Watching the young lady's eyes turn red and glisten, Xiao Jingyuan felt an inexplicable sinking in his chest; he subconsciously furrowed his brows and released her hand.

He said lightly, "If that's the case, why are you hiding things?"

As soon as she gained freedom, Shen Shuangning immediately stepped back two paces, putting distance between them.

"First you took me through the secret passage, then you blindfolded me, then you threatened me—if it were you, wouldn't you be on guard?"

Perhaps because she was too angry, her fear of Xiao Jingyuan weakened somewhat.

Shen Shuangning rubbed the wrist he had pinched sore and snapped, "Besides, what right do you have to demand that I tell you?"

Upon hearing that, Xiao Jingyuan reached into his lapel and produced a dark-colored token, holding it before her eyes.

Seeing the token, Shen Shuangning's heart jolted.

She recognized it—it was the token of the Commander of the Northern Jinyi Wei.

The Northern Jinyi Wei oversees the imperial prison, conducts surveillance, arrests, and interrogations, possesses independent judicial authority, can arrest anyone by imperial order without needing to go through the Ministry of Punishment, the Censorate, or the Ministry of Justice, and stands above them.

In other words, the Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard exists solely to serve the emperor, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander holds the privilege of striking first and reporting later.

He needs only a suspicion to summon you for tea and prison meals.

But wasn't the Northern Embroidered Uniform Guard disbanded long ago? How could it have made a comeback? When was Xiao Jingyuan appointed Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander? Such a major event, yet not a whisper of it reached the outside world.

Emperor Xuwen—what on earth is he trying to do?

Xiao Jingyuan watched Shen Shuangning's expression shift repeatedly, then suddenly chuckled: "It seems Fourth Miss recognizes this thing, so I won't waste words."

He put the token away and gestured for her to take a seat.

Shen Shuangning struggled to suppress her shock, sat honestly opposite him, and dared not meet his eyes.

Now Xiao Jingyuan had sufficient qualification to "interrogate" her, and she had no choice but to comply.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander steered the conversation back to the "potato," and Shen Shuangning, devoid of any lingering attachment, honestly confessed her mercantile activities.

Upon learning that the miss of the Rongguo Gong Fu actually harbored a mercantile notion, Xiao Jingyuan raised his eyebrows.

Yet he had no interest whatsoever in the Shen family's domestic affairs, and he asked again, "How much money can this potato make? Is it worth your obsession?"

Shen Shuangning knew he was richer than a country and would not covet her modest profit, so she set out to dispel his doubts by analyzing the benefits of planting potatoes.

"It resists drought and poor soil, yields high and steady output, can make up for food shortages, is easy to store and can be eaten across seasons......"

Xiao Jingyuan listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a sentence or two; his expression remained as calm as ever, but his eyes grew brighter.

Who would have thought such a tiny potato could substitute for grain?

The only question is whether this little thing can be planted in the Northern Border?

And whether the facts are really as she said.

Shen Shuangning spoke earnestly, saying much, without noticing that Xiao Jingyuan himself had poured her two cups of tea.

After the exchange, the sky had gradually darkened.

Xiao Jingyuan finally asked one question: "Under heaven, there is such a fine thing—others don't know of it; may I ask, Fourth Miss, how did you come to know of it?"

Shen Shuangning had already prepared an answer to this question—originally intended to deal with her mother—but she hadn't expected Xiao Jingyuan to be the first to ask it.

"I happened to see it two years ago in a foreign book, though I've since lost it. This potato was not originally a product of the Central Plains; it came from the Western Regions, but at that time our people rejected such foreign goods, believing they would ruin the land, so it never spread widely."

Shen Shuangning said, "If the Heir Apparent doesn't believe me, he can go investigate."

Xiao Jingyuan looked at her and said, "I will investigate it myself."

Shen Shuangning choked, then asked, "So may I take it now?"

Xiao Jingyuan's pale, cold knuckles lightly tapped the table corner, and he fell silent for a moment.

A cold sweat gradually appeared on Shen Shuangning's forehead.

The court situation was tangled and complex; the Yan Wang Fu and the Rongguo Gong Fu had never been on the same faction.

The Xiao clan had always been loyal to Emperor Xuwen; who the Crown Prince was made no difference, but it was clear that the Xiao clan also guarded against the Elder Princess at every turn.

As the situation remained unclear, the Rongguo Gong Fu had not yet declared a side, but Shen Lang had received favors from the Elder Princess; furthermore, not long ago in the ladies' competition, Shen Shuangning won first place under the Elder Princess's patronage.

At that time, being in the midst of it, she felt nothing wrong; later, noticing the clues, after returning to the Duke's mansion she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, for if someone investigated carefully, they might well suspect the Rongguo Gong Fu of having defected to the Elder Princess.

Perhaps at this moment, in the Heir Apparent's eyes, the "golden potato" that Shen Shuangning had painstakingly sought was actually the Elder Princess's behind-the-scenes instigation.

Others might not know, but Shen Shuangning knows the Elder Princess holds military authority; if this potato were secretly planted, who knows how many private troops it could support—thinking this way, it makes sense why Xiao Jingyuan treated her as a "criminal" in his interrogation.

Shen Shuangning momentarily regretted having told Xiao Jingyuan all the potato's benefits; if he had firmly decided in his heart that she was connected to the Elder Princess, he might well have hardened his heart and burned the bridges.

She glanced sideways out the window, swallowed her saliva, and thought, "This place is really perfect for burying bodies......"

Soon after, Xiao Jingyuan finally spoke.

"You may leave, but this item must stay."

"You..."

Shen Shuangning, hearing that, found she could not sit still.

She came here just for this thing, spent half a day talking, and now she might leave empty-handed?

Since it concerned the fate of the Rong Duke's Manor, Shen Shuangning could not bear it; she suddenly rose to her feet, and a faint anger appeared on her lovely little face.

"What do you mean, Heir Apparent? I have already explained everything—this item benefits the world and harms neither the state nor the altars; why won't you give it to me?"

"Because I don't trust you." Xiao Jingyuan lifted his eyes, giving her a cold stare; the look in his brows and eyes was the aloofness she knew so well.

Fine, worst case she'll turn around and look for it herself!

Shen Shuangning turned and walked away.

When she reached the doorway, Xiao Jingyuan behind her spoke unhurriedly: "That hill has already been hollowed out; if Fourth Miss wants to go look for it herself, that's fine—you can see whether you're faster or the Pacification Command is."

This person is utterly shameless!

Shen Shuangning took a breath, turned and strode back, hands on the table, and said: "Heir Apparent, what exactly do you want?"

A hint of domineering showed in Xiao Jingyuan's brows: "You will make a deal with me."

Hearing that, Shen Shuangning was utterly unwilling, but if she refused, she would be opposing Xiao Jingyuan.

Unless absolutely necessary, she did not wish to make an enemy of the Yan Prince's Manor.

Thus Shen Shuangning sat down, speaking calmly: "Heir Apparent, you should have said so earlier—if it's a deal, everything can be negotiated."

"You said this thing yields eight to twelve dan per mu; if that's true, I want seventy percent of the profit." Xiao Jingyuan said.

Really, a lion's big mouth!

But why does Xiao Jingyuan need so many potatoes? Could it be to use them as grain supplies? Or to prevent her from trading with the Grand Princess?

Shen Shuangning gritted her teeth and said: "All right. But you must tell me what you need all that grain for."

If it's to raise private troops for the Yan Prince's Manor, that would be too dangerous; she absolutely cannot get involved in that muddy water.

Xiao Jingyuan tapped his teacup lightly with his fingertip, lifted his gaze to her, as if seeing through her thoughts: "Naturally it's not what you think; as for what I intend to use it for, Fourth Miss doesn't need to know."

Hearing that, Shen Shuangning breathed a sigh of relief, yet she did not fully trust him; but for now she had no choice, so she could only cooperate with him.

The discussion was nearly over; Shen Shuangning said: "It's getting late; I should head back."

Xiao Jingyuan merely gave a faint nod.

Shen Shuangning packed the potatoes into a cloth bag, and just as she was about to leave, she recalled something and said: "Earlier, my grandmother went to the Princess Consort to discuss a marriage match, but I was unaware; had I known, I would have stopped her. The Duke's Manor also did not know beforehand of the Yan Prince's Manor's plans; they meant well by me, and they did not intend to sabotage your relationship with Miss Song."