CH 23.3

A brand new morning.

Meng Huan got out of bed and stood in the courtyard, having stayed up late last night to finish writing the words. The maid was very excited: “Your Highness, Your Highness, we can go to the lotus pond to catch the fish.”

A-Qing was also happy. “It’s a hot day. The fish and shrimp in the pond will soon be fat. After catching, cleaning, and stewing it in water, the soup will be thick and fragrant. I feel hungry just thinking about it!”

Meng Huan was also happy, picking up the small net, and ran outside. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”

Although there was no cell phone computer in ancient times, the days of the young masters and misses of rich families truly surpassed immortals. Meng Huan ran to the garden poolside. The sunlight along the way sprinkled on the ground through the treetops, dropping mottled light and shadow, giving off the feeling of summer.

Amidst the cheers and laughter, Meng Huan ran to the lotus pond, took off his shoes, and raised his robe to step into the water, his mood happy.

Other maids caught fish and shrimp and moved the stones to turn out the crabs. After collecting them in a bamboo basket and washing them clean from the mud, they were placed in the shallow water on the shore to prevent the fish from escaping and avoid the fishes and shrimps dying from basking under the sun.

They fished until the sun was about to set when a call came from behind. “Princess is so happy, ah?”

Meng Huan turned his head and saw Shan Xing standing under the porch with a cheeky smile.

Meng Huan immediately associated it with Lin Bozhou; his mood was suddenly a little gray. He turned his head and put his hand into the river to swim.

These Qingkes were truly idle— without official positions, no need to serve anyone— and would receive living money from Lin Bozhou. Thus, they played in the prince’s residence daily, occasionally wrote poems, and drew paintings for Lin Bozhou to enjoy, living comfortably.

Shan Xing picked up a fish. “Oh! This fish is really fat!”

“……”

The last time Meng Huan saw him was at the inn, where he drugged his cup and prepared to sedate him like a pig.

So, Meng Huan felt somewhat guilty and behaved friendlier to him. “There are quite a lot of fishes. Why don’t you carry two back to eat?”

Shan Xing nodded. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“……”

I said it casually, but you really carry it, huh? Meng Huan stopped talking and looked down to count the shrimp, looking bored.

Shan Xing asked, “Your Highness, how did you feel when you left the house two days ago?”

He was probably exchanging pleasantries. Meng Huan said, “Not very good.”

“Indeed, not very good.” Shan Xing sighed, “If the prince hadn’t come in time on that day, I’m afraid—”

He heaved another sigh.

Meng Huan was a bit guilty and mentally said: Yes. If Lin Bozhou hadn’t come in time, you would have married a wife by now.

Meng Huan continued to fiddle with the fish when he heard, “Your Highness?”

Meng Huan: “Hmm?”

“Does Your Highness know who slipped the drug that day?”

This sentence took him by surprise, and Meng Huan thought he had heard wrong. He looked up; the sun shone into his eyes, and his face was a little white.

“What did you say?”

Shan Xing scratched his head as if distressed. “The prince has been investigating who drugged the princess these days, but it has not been found so far.”

Drugged…… the princess?

Meng Huan repeated slowly in his heart, asking with uncertainty, “Were you asking about who drugged me?”

His subtext: Are you sure it wasn’t to drug you?

Shan Xing looked puzzled. “Your Highness can’t remember at all? At that time, Your Highness was taken to the carriage by the prince, and the drug began to take effect on the way. We bypassed the main street and took the side road to avoid Your Highness’ from symptoms being seen by outsiders.”

The small fish in Meng Huan’s hand crashed into the water.

No… it… can’t… be….

How…… would…… it… be……?

Shan Xing must’ve been joking, right? At that time, there was only a cup of drugged wine, which was clearly poured into the flowers and plants by himself, so how would he be drugged?

Meng Huan’s small face screwed up, and he asked sincerely, “What are you talking about, ah?”

Shan Xing was silent.

His expression was serious, not half joking.

“The prince didn’t even tell Your Highness?”

If Lin Bozhou had said this, Meng Huan wouldn’t even believe it, but the person who spoke was Shan Xing, and he began to feel panicked.

There was a feeling of something forgotten slowly rushing into his mind. Meng Huan’s back tingled, and he suddenly wanted to tell Shan Xing: Don’t say it. I won’t listen.

But Shan Xing had already spoken—

“At that time, the princess was not only drugged with an aphrodisiac but also dead drunk. On the way, when the prince took Your Highness back, Your Highness’ drug effect flared up. Everyone on the route knew. But the prince thought it would harm Your Highness’ reputation and instructed us not to disclose it.”

“The aphrodisiac couldn’t be resolved, so the prince took Your Highness back to the bed chamber.”

“In the past few days, the prince has been thinking about the people who drugged Your Highness. Could it be the little marquis and Young Master Lu? But the two are the princess’ friends. It can’t be, right?”

“Who does Your Highness think it could be?”

“……”

Meng Huan’s mind was blank. After Shan Xing talked for a long time, he only felt an eerie cold feeling surging up from his back, making his head and feet cold.

But…… it was outrageous ah.

Strange and outrageous.

Meng Huan insisted, “Not at all. I wasn’t drugged.”

“Madam, it was true……”

“I don’t believe it!” Meng Huan gritted his teeth. “As long as I don’t remember, I wasn’t drugged!”

“…………”