The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 697 - 659: Departure (Second Update)

Eunuch Sanbao’s face changed dramatically.

How does the saying go? The nation cannot be without a ruler for a day, and naturally cannot be without a Crown Prince either. If His Highness is sent to Suzhou, the faction of the Second Prince will surely seize the opportunity to stir up unrest. With His Highness’s condition, it’s uncertain when he can fully recover. If by the time he returns the court’s structure has changed, wouldn’t that put the position of the Crown Prince at risk?

Just when he was anxiously worried, he suddenly heard Zhao Xi’s voice saying, "Alright."

If Emperor Guangxi weren’t present, Eunuch Sanbao would have rushed up and shouted, "My foolish Highness."

Mr. Cui also had a complex expression.

It’s known that as Zhao Nuo grows day by day, Chief Minister Yang has already begun paving the way for the Second Prince. If it were to be known at this time that the Crown Prince was driven mad over a female official, the court would be in an uproar.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince isn’t actually ill. Sending him to Suzhou for no reason makes no sense. Perhaps, let His Highness go on a southern tour instead?"

Mr. Cui’s words were meant to cover up Zhao Xi’s "illness."

Emperor Guangxi understood his concerns and, after pondering for a moment, said, "There are too many people on a southern tour, and it will inevitably be exposed. It’s better to make an incognito visit without alarming the Ministry of Rites and the civil and military officials; just notify the Yun family in advance to receive him."

Mr. Cui nodded, "Your Majesty has indeed thought of everything."

After Emperor Guangxi left, Eunuch Sanbao helplessly glanced at his Highness, got paper and pen, wrote a note, and sent a message to the Song Mansion by homing pigeon.

Song Yuanbao had just changed his clothes. He was already planning to enter the palace to see Zhao Xi, but just before stepping out, he received Eunuch Sanbao’s letter.

The letter stated that Zhao Xi had been diagnosed with a melancholic disorder, and the Emperor suggested he go to Suzhou to recuperate. His Highness agreed.

Although Eunuch Sanbao didn’t say much else, Song Yuanbao could already guess the meaning.

Zhao Xi is the Crown Prince. If he stays away from court for too long, his position will surely be compromised. This is no small matter.

But... how did Zhao Xi become so severely ill in just a day or two?

Song Yuanbao thought of how he had yelled at him that day, feeling deep regret. He rushed out the door, had a servant bring his horse, and galloped straight to the Eastern Palace.

Outside Chengming Hall, many palace attendants and eunuchs stood guard. Upon seeing him, they all bowed and saluted.

Song Yuanbao didn’t even have time to see who was who; he had already crossed the threshold into the inner hall.

Zhao Xi stood by the window, intently gazing at the magnolia buds outside, lost in thought. Eunuch Sanbao seemed to be saying something to him, but he didn’t respond, standing quietly like a statue.

Seeing this, Song Yuanbao knew Zhao Xi was genuinely ill, and very seriously so.

"Your Highness," he called softly.

Zhao Xi didn’t react, his gaze still fixed on the magnolias outside the window.

Song Yuanbao looked at Eunuch Sanbao nearby and quietly asked, "How long has he been standing here?"

Eunuch Sanbao, with a troubled expression, said, "He’s been like this since he woke up. Several waves of breakfast have been sent, but he hasn’t eaten a bite or said a word."

Song Yuanbao sighed, gesturing for Eunuch Sanbao to leave. He approached Zhao Xi, "Your Highness, I heard you agreed with the Emperor to go to Suzhou for some rest. Is that true?"

Zhao Xi glanced sideways at him, but didn’t respond.

"Then I’ll go with you, how about it?" Song Yuanbao said, "Let’s leave aside the affairs of the state, forget about Wanqiu Gu Yu; we’ll happily spend a month in Suzhou. Gusu is a great place. When we come back, all your worries will surely be gone."

——

The Yun family quickly received Emperor Guangxi’s decree and sent a message by trained Hai Dongqing to Song Yuanbao, saying Yun Shisan, Yun Shiliu, and Xue Yan were still in the capital. Yun Huai wouldn’t come personally to receive them, but asked them to bring them along and also let Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu protect His Highness.

Learning that he could return to Suzhou with Song Yuanbao and the Crown Prince, Xue Yan was overjoyed and early that day urged Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu to pack up quickly.

"Little ancestor, why are you in such a hurry?" Yun Shisan said, "Sixteen still has one last phase of treatment for Mr. Song of the Song family. We have to go finish that before we can leave."

Song Mansion.

Song Wei hadn’t left the lower court yet. Wen Wan, hearing that Song Yuanbao planned to accompany the Crown Prince to Jiangnan, showed a troubled expression, "Do you really have to go?"

The matter of Zhao Xi’s illness was not made public. Song Yuanbao dared not say that the primary reason the Crown Prince became like this was largely because of him. If he didn’t go and something really happened to Zhao Xi, he would be guilty for the ages, so he said, "Since the Emperor has commanded it, I can’t exactly defy the order, can I?"

Wen Wan said, "I’m just thinking your sister will get married soon, and if you leave, who knows when you’ll return? You might not even be able to see her off, wouldn’t that be regrettable in the future?"

"And besides," Wen Wan added, "you’re supposed to discuss a marriage proposal after the New Year. I’ve already picked a date. If you’re not here, how will that work?"

"Do I need to be present for a matchmaker’s proposal?" Song Yuanbao considered and said, "As for Jiaojiao, I believe she is a reasonable, well-educated sister who will surely understand my predicament."

"Who needs to understand you?" Song Yuanbao had just finished speaking when Song Jiao’s voice came from outside. Maid lifted the curtain, and Song Jiao came in, walked to the east side, looked at Song Yuanbao sitting beside Wen Wan, and sneered, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she laughed. "Leaving your sister is one thing, but aren’t you even going to want a wife? If the Ye family knows we’re sending someone to propose a marriage, and you’re not even in town, will they agree?"

"If they don’t agree, then when I return, I’ll personally go to propose." Song Yuanbao said, "I don’t believe that girl’s heart is made of stone."

Song Jiao snorted, "If it were me, I wouldn’t marry someone like you."

"What’s wrong with me?"

Song Jiao criticized, "Frivolous, having an insincere smile for everyone, liable to be hooked by some little fox spirit any day."

"Heaven knows." Song Yuanbao hurriedly said, "You mustn’t let her hear this, otherwise I’d be wrongly accused to death.There’s nothing happened at all. Why are you talking nonsense?"

"Don’t believe me? Ask Aunt San to see how she perceives you as being good to every girl?"

Song Yuanbao turned to look at Wen Wan.

Wen Wan smiled and gave Song Jiao a playful glance, "Alright, stop teasing him. Yuanbao has always been this way since he was a child. He’s not the type to be fickle. It’s clear he genuinely cares for Miss Ye. At the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, I probed with a few words, and that girl seems to have some interest in him. If this matchmaker’s proposal succeeds, that would be ideal; if not, then he’ll have to win her over himself when he returns."

"Mother’s words are always pleasant to hear." Song Yuanbao said contentedly, squinting his eyes.

In the afternoon, Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu came by, concluding the treatment for Xu Dengke before coming over to bid farewell to Wen Wan.

Wen Wan asked, "So from now on, will he speak normally?"

Yun Shiliu nodded, "If nothing goes wrong in the next three to five days, he will be no different from an average person."

"You two are truly skilled." Wen Wan praised sincerely.

Yun Shisan smiled, "This was specially instructed by the family head before leaving, so we naturally have to give it our all."

Wen Wan had Yun Cai go to the storeroom to fetch two boxes of the tea awarded by the imperial family before the New Year as a gift of thanks for the two of them.

She also requested, "Before you both leave the capital, could I ask you to prepare some emergency medicinal pills for the elders in the family? I wonder if you both could..."

"Of course, we can." Yun Shisan smiled like a blooming flower and patted Yun Shiliu’s shoulder, "We’ll leave this matter to Sixteen. He’s a young divine doctor, very skilled, and preparing some emergency pills is no problem."

——

On the day they left the Capital, Zhao Xi only brought along Eunuch Sanbao, with dozens of Shadow Guards following in secret.

The group met at the South City Gate, then headed to Tongzhou, where they switched to an official ship to head south along the Grand Canal.

Yun Shisan, Yun Shiliu, and Xue Yan seemed to also sense Zhao Xi’s unusual mood, so until they reached Suzhou, they either stayed in their own cabins or went up on deck for some fresh air and didn’t dare disturb him.

Song Yuanbao, on the other hand, felt guilty and took on Eunuch Sanbao’s duties, serving Zhao Xi tea and water, afraid of any oversight in care.

Upon arriving in Suzhou that day, it coincided with the Lantern Festival, and Wu Gate was bustling with festivity.

Yun Huai personally came with people to greet them.

In the chilly early spring, Eunuch Sanbao feared the master would catch cold, so before disembarking he found a feathered satin cloak for Zhao Xi to wear and also asked, "Does Your Highness feel any better today?"

The voice was cautious, as if afraid of breaking something delicate.

Outside the window, the vast waters and skies, covered in clouds and fog, faintly silhouetted rows of pink walls and black tiles on the opposite shore.

Zhao Xi withdrew his gaze, "Have we arrived?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Yes, we have." Eunuch Sanbao nodded, "Master Yun is waiting outside."