Chapter 265: Danshen Operator

Chapter 265

As Xiao Yinzi and Song Zhao were talking, they suddenly heard a knock at the door.

"Has the Noble Consort rested?"

"Is that you, Xiao Yinzi?" Song Zhao asked Xiao Fuzi to open the door and welcome Xiao Yinzi inside.

When Xiao Yinzi came in, he had a big smile on his face. He bowed respectfully to Song Zhao with clasped hands and said, "I thought you were still resting, I hope I have not disturbed you."

Song Zhao said, "Why have you come at this time? His Majesty went to the Nine Bends Dike. Shouldn't you be attending to him there?"

Xiao Yinzi smiled and said, "The matters at the Nine Bends Dike have been resolved perfectly. His Majesty is in an excellent mood today. Having some free time, he wanted to take you to tour Suzhou City properly."

Happiness also rose onto Song Zhao's brow. "But isn't it the concubines' rest time now? Why not wait until..."

Xiao Fuzi quickly said, "Too many people would be noisy. His Majesty only invited you and Noble Consort Chen. No one else has this blessing."

Song Zhao then understood. "Let this concubine change clothes and will go with you immediately."

After leaving the island by boat and arriving on Zhengchang Street, from afar, Song Zhao saw several attendants in disguise guarding Xiao Jingheng and Noble Consort Chen, who were talking and laughing.

Xiao Yinzi led her forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has arrived."

Following his voice, Song Zhao paid her respects and greeted, "Greetings to Your Majesty, Noble Consort."

"You’re here," said Xiao Jingheng, holding Song Zhao's arm to spare her from bowing, looking at her with laughter in his eyes.

In contrast, Noble Consort Chen had an unhappy expression on her face.

She looked Song Zhao up and down and said impatiently, "What are you doing here too?"

Xiao Jingheng said, "I finally have some free time today, so I wanted to take you and the Noble Consort out to tour around."

Noble Consort Chen coquettishly said, "Your Majesty, having this concubine accompany you is enough. The Noble Consort still has to take care of Chen Yu. How can she make time?"

Xiao Jingheng casually said, "There are many ancient calligraphies and paintings in Suzhou. You don’t have much interest in them. With the Noble Consort along, she can also broaden my perspective." Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

Hearing this, Noble Consort Chen's eyes darkened. She glanced impatiently at Song Zhao and said, "Well, since that's the case, come along then."

Having said that, she intimately held onto Xiao Jingheng’s arm, deliberately quickening her pace to leave Song Zhao behind, afraid that she would get too close to Xiao Jingheng.

Noble Consort Chen was used to being petty. Song Zhao didn’t have the mind to compete with her over such matters. She just quietly followed behind the whole way.

Hearing Song Zhao’s analysis, Noble Consort Chen felt she had lost face. Scoffing lightly, she said,

“You really are so worldly and learned!”

As she turned to retort Song Zhao, she accidentally bumped into a careless woman, nearly knocking her over.

Seeing this, the guards quickly surrounded them and seized the woman.

Xiao Jingheng supported Noble Consort Chen and anxiously asked, “Are you hurt?”

Noble Consort Chen shook her head. Then she glared at the sweating woman and said in irritation, “What’s your hurry? Don’t you have eyes to watch the road?”

The woman knelt before them with a thud, crying and begging for mercy.

"Forgive me, noble lady, I didn't mean it! My son is gravely ill, having convulsions and fainting spells. I heard that the divine Tan Yuezhi has opened his temple today. I was hurrying there, hoping he could save my son’s life...”

Hearing this, Noble Consort Chen's expression softened slightly. “Since it’s your child who's sick, you should find an imperial physician, not some charlatan!”

The woman explained, “How could I afford an imperial physician? My son has been sick for two years and we have spent all our savings. My husband fell gathering medicine in the mountains and left my son and I widowed and orphaned. What else could I do...”

She wept bitterly. Seeing her tattered clothes and skin-and-bones thinness, Noble Consort Chen took pity and told Liu Yue to give the woman twenty taels of silver.

“Take this money and properly treat your son. Stop believing in nonsense.”

Thinking she had seen a living bodhisattva, the woman repeatedly kowtowed to Noble Consort Chen, wiping away tears as she scrambled back home.

While Noble Consort Chen was handling the matter, Xiao Jingheng silently watched by the side, only speaking after the woman had left.

“Wan’er has become even more gentle now.”

Noble Consort Chen blushed and coquettishly smiled. “Being a mother now, I cannot bear such sights.”

Xiao Jingheng held her hand and gently caressed the back of it, showing his affection.

He then asked Jiang Deshun, “I often hear the people of Suzhou mention Tan the Immortal. What kind of extraordinary character is he that so draws the locals to him?”

Jiang Deshun replied, “This servant secretly investigated. The man is called Tan Yuezhi and is truly skilled in divination, possessing some abilities.”

He then pointed to the popular temple not far away, “That Temple of No Words was built for Tan Yuezhi by the people of Suzhou themselves.”

Seeing the bustling crowd at the temple even livelier than a fair, Xiao Jingheng also became interested. “Let’s go take a look at the commotion.”