Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 74: Climbing the Wall
What did Xu Guanbai mean by that sentence?
Did she know this marriage would go awry? Was she involved in Princess Mohe's assassination?
Or is it that there are still disagreements in the court about the marriage?
If this is true, the situation becomes complicated.

The princess is dead, and a marriage is imminent. No matter how hard they try to cover up and deceive, the truth will eventually be revealed. When that happens, whose orders will the Zhenxi Army obey? How will this shocking tragedy end?
As the only survivor, how will Tan Huaike cope with it? And what about the ill-intentioned Prince Mo He?

As he was thinking, Shen Tu Zhuo came to the gate of the side courtyard and pushed it open skillfully.

Didn't push away.

Um? what happened?

Shen Tuzhuo pushed again and felt a brass lock on the bolt. He was immediately stunned: Why is it locked on the side courtyard? And on this side too! Who did this?
On second thought, no servant in the house dared to act on his own, so it was probably my mother's idea.

He was too lazy to find someone to unlock the door for him, nor was he too lazy to go out for a long circle and then enter through the side door of the courtyard. He simply pushed off with his feet and hands and flipped over nimbly.

A figure suddenly jumped down from the wall, startling Pei'er, who was about to go into the house to add more charcoal. He slapped his chest and exclaimed, "Who is it! Second Young Master? Why are you sneaking around like that?"

Shentu Zhuo dusted off his clothes and said, "The main house has locked the door to the side yard. Didn't you know?"

Pei'er said bewilderedly, "Ah? Why lock it? The mistress and I just came back and were busy lighting the charcoal brazier. No one came to talk to us about this."

Isn't it just that they bullied you while you were away?

Shen Tuzhuo sighed and knocked on the door: "Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you."

Tan Huaike's voice was a little hoarse: "Come in quickly, ahem, it's too cold outside."

"What's wrong with your throat?" Shen Tu Zhuo pushed the door open and keenly noticed something was wrong. Seeing Tan Huaike covering his face and coughing, he asked with concern, "Did you catch a cold?"

"I went to my own pharmacy and it's nothing serious."

"You need to make the charcoal fire burn brighter. Don't be reluctant to use it. I'll ask Ah Shuo to bring you another basket of silver charcoal tomorrow."

"Of course I'm reluctant to let go of it. The fire just started... ahem, isn't this just letting Pei'er add more charcoal?" Tan Huaike leaned on the table, supporting his forehead and said, "The doctor said I've been too busy lately and caught a cold. A few doses of medicine will be fine."

Pei'er quickly added charcoal and started to boil medicine on the clay stove beside him. The room soon became warm.

Shentu Zhuo propped up a small window in the corner and warned, "The charcoal is too blocked, so you need to ventilate it more to prevent being intoxicated by the charcoal fumes. It's best to put up a screen to block it, so that the cold wind doesn't blow on you and aggravate the symptoms."

Tan Huaike laughed and said, "Ahem, you're even more talkative than Old Lady Liao. By the way, do you have anything to say to me?"

"When I came here, I found that the door to the side courtyard of the main house was locked, so I informed you in advance." Shen Tu Zhuo said, "It was locked not earlier or later, but at this time. I guess it's because there's a new guest in the house."

"There are new guests at home?" Tan Huaike was surprised. "I've been busy in the shop all day, and no one from the mansion has come to see me. I don't know what happened. Ahem, please tell me in detail, uncle."

Shentu Zhuo then told her everything about Xu Guanbai's background and his relationship with the third prince.

After listening to this, Tan Huaike's eyes lit up with admiration: "The female historian appointed by Empress Daxuan traveled all the way to the border. Ahem, she has been concerned about the Third Prince for many years and even volunteered to teach etiquette to the princess who was to be married off... This lady is truly amazing."

"You're still praising her for what she's capable of. I think she's here to ruin the marriage, and who knows what evil intentions she might harbor." "Princess Alan is already dead, so what can she do even if she has any evil intentions?" Tan Huaike stared blankly at the bright red sparks in the charcoal basin. "The palace has sent people here, so the matter will inevitably be exposed sooner or later... Ahem, I think she got some advance warning and rushed here under the guise of teaching etiquette, but in fact she had other errands to do."

"You mean, Xu Guanbai was sent by the Empress Dowager to deal with the aftermath of the marriage?"

"It's just speculation," Tan Huaike said. "I don't understand what's going on in the court. I just feel that someone has been pretending to be ignorant despite knowing the truth. Ahem, that's why Princess Alan and my father and brother died in vain. I don't know when revenge will be exacted."

Touched by the pain in her heart, she coughed violently for a while.

Seeing her slender back trembling from coughing, Shen Tuzhuo couldn't help but pat her gently to soothe her breathing. Pei'er came over with the medicine bowl and saw this scene. She wanted to say something, but finally swallowed it back.

After Tan Huaike calmed down, Shen Tuzhuo took the medicine bowl from Pei'er, blew it cool, and handed it to her. "Let's not talk about that anymore. It's just that this side courtyard is locked and really annoying. Do I have to climb over the wall every day in my own home?"

Tan Huaike drank the bitter medicine, his brows furrowed. "If the Second Young Master doesn't want to climb over the wall, just go around from outside the courtyard."

"That would be even more troublesome!" Shen Tu Zhuo complained for her, "I don't know what mother is thinking. You are my brother's widow after all. Do you really have to be so ruthless?"

"Actually, I don't think it's inconvenient at all. Ahem, if my uncle hadn't complained, I wouldn't have known it was locked." Tan Huaike said sympathetically, "Aunt Jun probably did this just to prevent that young lady from mistakenly barging into my place. Otherwise, it would be too troublesome to explain. Ahem, let's just keep our distance and I'm happy."

"Mother doesn't like you, so aren't you afraid that the servants in the mansion will neglect you? Especially that old lady Liao, she's always trying to make things difficult for you. Ever since you opened the restaurant, there have been more and more people gossiping about you."

"Have the servants in the mansion ever been attentive to me? Ahem, I don't manage the husband's household expenses, and I can't be their mistress anyway. I live my own life. That old lady Liao looks down on me, but she can't do anything about it." Tan Huaike said nonchalantly, "And I don't think Jun's lady dislikes me either."

"Ah? Does my mother like you?" Shentu Zhuo didn't believe it.

"Haven't you noticed? So many people gossip about me, saying I'm restless, but Aunt Jun never stopped me from opening a restaurant. Ahem, that's pretty generous of her."

"You really are content with what you have." Shentu Zhuo was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
-
Two days later, Shentu Ji took Xu Guanbai to visit Xiangling Street.

At the old lady's urging, she learned a lot of etiquette from Xu Guanbai. After getting familiar with her, she became closer to this well-educated and modest lady, and treated her as a close friend with whom she could talk about anything.

Naturally, she also said a lot of bad things about Tan Huaike.

Little did he know that this made Xu Guanbai even more curious about her unique sister-in-law.

As they were strolling around, they came to Yanzhisi. Recently, Yanzhisi has become very popular in Xiangling Street. It is always crowded with customers and there are long queues every day. It is said that the owner of Huji Restaurant is very angry.

Standing at the door, Shentu Ji curled his lips and said, "This is the restaurant opened by my sister-in-law."

"Yan Zhi Si...what a good name."

"It's said to be some new taste from the Western Territory, sourced from beyond the Yanzhi Mountains. It's just a pretense of elegance." Seeing her interest, Shentu Ji compromised, "But it does taste good. Why don't we have a meal here today?"

"Okay." Xu Guanbai walked into the restaurant and his eyes fell on the bright and beautiful Mohe woman. Slightly startled, he asked Shentu Ji, "Is she the widow who lives in that locked courtyard? Is she a Mohe?"
-
　Next chapter: She must be taught a lesson.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)