nucmednet Chapter 145 The longer this pot of vinegar boils, the drier it gets.
Chapter 145 The longer this pot of vinegar boils, the drier it gets.
When she returned home that day, Yinshuang noticed that Su Mowan's expression was not quite right.
After the meal, she asked with concern, "Consort Su, what did that young master Chi say to you today? You've been acting strangely all day."
Su Mowan composed herself.
She smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. The triennial autumn imperial examination is in a few days. I'm just worried about my second brother."
Speaking of the autumn examinations, Yinshuang's face showed admiration, and she exclaimed, "You don't need to worry. With Vice Minister Su as an example, Second Young Master Su will surely pass the examinations as well."
Su Mowan's eyes also showed admiration.
“There are very few people in the world who can match my eldest brother. If my second brother could be half as good as him, I wouldn’t have to worry.”
Su Mowan only learned a year ago that Su Mobai had won the top prize in both the civil and military examinations at the age of sixteen, shocking the entire Yunmo.
Emperor Moyao originally intended for him to succeed the Minister of Personnel, who had just retired to his hometown, but he refused and ended up becoming a Vice Minister in the Ministry of War.
This was a sensational event at the time, shocking the entire court. Although Su Mobai was indeed incredibly capable, the fact that he took over the Ministry of Personnel at the young age of sixteen, before he had even reached adulthood, still drew opposition from many veteran officials.
Fortunately, Su Mobai rejected Emperor Moyao's idea as soon as it was uttered. The officials breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but look at Su Mobai with newfound respect.
Moreover, Su Mobai has made considerable achievements during his six years in the Ministry of War. If it weren't for Minister Lu of the Ministry of War, who was not yet old enough to retire, Emperor Moyao would have promoted Su Mobai long ago.
Strictly speaking, Su Mobai is actually a year younger than Murong Jing.
Seeing that she remained silent, Yinshuang assumed she was genuinely worried about Su Ruofeng and immediately offered a very 'kind' suggestion: "If you're really that worried, why don't you go and let the Prince know?"
Is this asking her to use connections to get in through the back door?
Su Mowan blinked in surprise.
"Why are you looking for Murong Jing? What does this have to do with him?"
"Of course it does."
Yinshuang sighed inwardly. Consort Su really hadn't been paying enough attention to the Prince's affairs lately.
"This year's autumn imperial examination will be presided over by the Prince."
Although he was called the host, he was actually the chief judge.
Su Mowan was just making a casual remark; she had no intention of going to Murong Jing. She immediately waved her hand and said, "No need, no need. Your prince is very busy; I won't bother you with such a small matter."
Upon receiving this answer, Yinshuang secretly grumbled to herself: "The Prince is probably hoping you'll bother him; it's been so many days since he last visited Fenghua Palace..."
Meanwhile, His Highness the Prince of Qin listened to Jiang Zhuo's report with a dark expression.
"Shangguan Qingqi? Tang Minzhi? The Left Hall Master of the Xiaoyao Sect?"
Jiang Zhuo watched as His Highness the Prince of Qin's face darkened inch by inch, and felt a deep sense of sympathy for him.
Actually, he originally wanted to include Gu Huan, who was unable to enter the building, because Shangguan Qingqi had stopped Gu Huan at the door.
Since Shangguan Qingqi is confirmed to be a potential love interest, there is only one reason why he got rid of Gu Huan: he was afraid that Gu Huan would come into the building and see Consort Su.
Based on this deduction, Gu Huan is also a potential suitor.
But seeing that the prince's face had already darkened so much after he had only given three names, Jiang Zhuo decided to skip over Gu Huan.
Feng Yue, who was standing a step further away, was already used to it. No matter how dark the prince's face was at this moment, it would light up immediately as soon as he saw Consort Su. He had long figured it out!
Jiang Zhuo thought for a moment and then added, "Shangguan Qingqi came before you entered the building and left after you entered. Tang Minzhi came after you left, but he didn't recognize Consort Su. Only Chi Yi, who arrived last, recognized her."
Your Highness Prince Qin knows Chi Yi. Isn't he the Left Hall Master of the Xiaoyao Sect who went to a brothel to meet Su Mowan in the middle of the night?
Of course he could recognize Su Mowan, because Su Mowan always wore men's clothing when she came to see him!
His Highness the King of Qin hadn't expected that after all the scheming he had put in, including dressing as a man and wearing a mask, he would still have missed one person. His expression immediately darkened.
Feng Yue, being very understanding, asked, "Master, how about we go to Huangfeng Garden?"
In the past, His Highness the Prince of Qin would have given the order long ago without Feng Yue even having to ask, but this time is different.
After asking, Feng Yue was already prepared to set off.
His Highness the King of Qin coldly refused.
"Don't go."
Although he said he wouldn't go, His Highness the Prince of Qin was actually quite annoyed. This woman was restless; so be it, let her go out and wander around.
But who knew that going out dressed as a man would still attract unwanted romantic attention!
His Highness the King of Qin was in a very depressed mood.
Jiang Zhuo was about to say something when Feng Yue stopped him in time.
Upon arriving outside Fenghua Palace, Jiang Zhuo asked, puzzled, "It seems there's some problem between the Prince and Consort Su?"
"It's more than just a little problem!"
Feng Yue realized he had spoken too loudly as soon as he said it, and quickly covered his mouth, whispering, "There's a big problem here!"
Jiang Zhuo, being a young man, also had a gossipy nature, and immediately pulled Feng Yue aside for a 'detailed discussion'.
“I’m new here and don’t know anything. Tell me the details.”
Feng Yue had been holding it in for ages!
He had noticed his lord's unusual behavior these past few days and was secretly delighted! All he needed was someone to share his joy with!
Now that Jiang Zhuo is back, that's perfect. He can't be happy all by himself, can he?
"The thing is like this..."
Feng Yue spoke vividly and animatedly, his spittle flying everywhere.
A quarter of an hour later.
Jiang Zhuo looked on in astonishment and asked incredulously, "So you mean that the Prince likes Consort Su, but Consort Su is indifferent? And the Prince is often jealous?"
"...Cough, I never said it was dried vinegar!"
After Feng Yue finished speaking, he finally felt relieved. It was indeed liberating to share with Jiang Zhuo!
Jiang Zhuo frowned, somewhat puzzled.
"But since Your Highness doesn't like Consort Su going out and showing her face in public, why not just tell her directly?"
Feng Yue rolled his eyes at Jiang Zhuo.
He said irritably, "Young Marquis, are you stupid? How could the Prince say such a thing? Don't you know what kind of person the Prince is? If you say that, it's tantamount to admitting that the Prince cares about Consort Su and adores her! The Prince can't afford to lose face like that!"
This time, Jiang Zhuo was truly baffled.
He was indeed inexperienced, but his gut feeling was that this approach was wrong, so he persisted in his opinion.
"That's not how it works. Based on my observation of Consort Su all day, if Your Highness doesn't speak up, Consort Su won't know. In that case, the jealousy will only get drier and drier."
"You're really something, young marquis!"
Feng Yue chuckled and patted Jiang Zhuo on the shoulder, "You see things quite clearly! But this is our prince, different from others. Let's just watch this pot of vinegar simmer slowly; it'll be fine once it boils dry!"
The two were whispering to each other with their arms around each other's shoulders when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.
"What are you two talking about?"