Chapter 441: Chapter 416, Once Again Beguiling_1
Did the Imperial Uncle leave Beijing for Zhongzhou in search of a gold mine?
Xiao Yeyang really didn’t know.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang’s bewildered face, Daohua got up and ran to her room, returning soon after with a brocade box: “Do you recognize this?”
Xiao Yeyang took the somewhat wilted wild grass from Daohua’s hands, shook his head uncertainly, and said, “Is this… a medicinal herb?”
Daohua nodded, “This grass is called Jing Cao, it is a medicinal herb, but it also has another little-known use.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression changed, “Jing Cao, you say this is called Jing Cao?”
Previously, Advisor Jiang seemed to have asked him if he knew where Jing Cao could be found, saying it was for concocting medicine for his cousin Wan Ying.
Daohua nodded, “What, you know about Jing Cao?”
Xiao Yeyang: “I’ve heard it mentioned before, you said it has another use, what is it?”
Daohua smiled, “Jing Cao typically grows around gold mines, its other use is for locating gold mines.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang stood up ‘whoosh’ with his eyes wide open, “Gold mine? Are you sure?”
Watching the peanuts she had just picked up scatter on the floor again, Daohua was somewhat displeased, “Why are you so agitated?”
Xiao Yeyang quickly squatted down, steadying Daohua with his hands, making her look at him, “Daohua, are you sure Jing Cao can lead us to a gold mine? This is very important, you can’t just say anything carelessly.”
Daohua initially wanted to break free, but seeing Xiao Yeyang’s serious face, she stopped and nodded earnestly, “I did indeed read about this in stories, and I wasn’t very sure before, but after seeing Xiaowu and his people, I think it’s true. Moreover, the gold mine might be in Ningmen Prefecture.”
Xiao Yeyang let go of Daohua, stood up, furrowed his brow into a knot, his expression shifting.
Since the Imperial Uncle had personally come from Beijing to investigate, the gold mine matter must be real.
But then, the Jiang Family is also searching for Jing Cao, do they know it grows near gold mines?
Thinking of the news brought by the servants these past days, saying that the Jiang Family had sent out several groups in the territories of Ningmen Prefecture, searching for something.
Xiao Yeyang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt a tightness in his chest.
The Jiang Family is searching for a gold mine?!!!
And they are doing it secretly and privately.
What are they planning?
Don’t they know this is a crime that could lead to their entire clan’s annihilation?
The Jiang Family is now one of the most distinguished aristocratic families in Beijing, with the Empress Dowager and Empress coming from their family, and both Duke Cheng’en and the Princely Heir holding high positions; what more could they possibly want?
Xiao Yeyang’s lips were pressed into a thin line; this matter was too significant, and he had to inform the Imperial Uncle immediately.
“Hey, where are you going?”
Seeing Xiao Yeyang lift his leg to walk out, Daohua quickly called out to him.
Xiao Yeyang paused, turned to look at Daohua, then glanced at his concerned grandmother Gu Jian and Master Gu Jian, and smiled, “I need to inform the Imperial Uncle about the gold mine.”
Daohua hurriedly stood up with the peanuts, placed them on a plate on the table, and then looked at Xiao Yeyang with sparkling eyes, “Xiao Yeyang, let me ask you, if I help find the gold mine, will the Emperor knight me as a county princess?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang was taken aback, “…County princess?”
Daohua became a bit anxious, “What, is that not possible?” As she spoke, she huffed coldly, “As expected, not a single true word comes from Xiaowu and his people’s mouths, making me happy for nothing.”
Hearing his apprentice’s tone, Gu Jian quickly looked over, “What, you really think you can find a gold mine?”
Daohua lifted her chin, “I’ve always been lucky. I believe that if I set my mind to it, I will definitely find it.”
Gu Jian was somewhat at a loss for words, “Ningmen Prefecture is so vast, do you think you’ll find a gold mine just by stepping outside? Xiaowu deployed so many people to search and found nothing, could a young girl like her find it?”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, “There’s no telling about things in this world, what if I’m the blind cat that catches a dead mouse?” Saying that, she looked at Xiao Yeyang with expectation, “Can you help me ask?”
After a brief moment, Xiao Yeyang readily agreed.
He hadn’t really counted on the luck Daohua spoke of, but wasn’t he there to intervene?
In a while, he would send people to search for it. If they found it, he would credit Daohua for the discovery. Coupled with the glazed prescription from last time, his royal uncle was unlikely to be stingy in awarding a county princess title.
If Daohua did indeed become a county princess, it would be good for her, and for him as well.
Daohua immediately urged, “Then go write the letter quickly. After writing the letter, we can discuss how to search. The sooner we find the gold mine, the sooner the emperor’s reward will arrive.”
She was truly looking forward to that reward.
In an era of strict social hierarchy, a nobler identity made many things more convenient, and one could have relatively more options and say in matters.
In doing so, she would also be able to secure more freedom for herself.
Seeing his apprentice hung up on the gold mine as if it was already in the bag, Gu Jian rolled his eyes and asked, “Why didn’t you help them search when Xiaowu and the others were here?”
Daohua replied, “I don’t trust them at all. What if I really found the gold mine and they took credit for it?
Telling Xiao Yeyang is different. Even if the emperor is stingy, if she doesn’t get the reward, the credit won’t fall into the hands of outsiders.”
Seeing that Gu Jian was about to say something else, Daohua quickly interjected, “Master, I know you and Granny are old acquaintances with them, but it’s been many years since you last saw them. Who knows if they’ve changed? As the saying goes, ‘You can know someone’s face, but not their heart.’ Of course, I have to be careful.”
“Old acquaintances?” Xiao Yeyang looked at Gu Jian and Granny in surprise, “Granny and Master Gu, who are you old acquaintances with?”
Gu Jian’s lips moved as if he was about to say something, but Daohua beat him to it: “With that Xiaowu.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression changed to one of bewilderment, and he looked at Gu Jian and Granny with suspicion and curiosity in his eyes, “Old acquaintances with Xiaowu?”
Gu Jian immediately snorted coldly, “Why, is that not possible?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “It’s not that it’s impossible, but…” how could his royal uncle know two country elders?
Watching her grandson’s growing suspicion, Granny had no choice but to speak up, “Xiaowu was injured once, and Xiaojian had saved him.”
Xiao Yeyang’s gaze flickered, not entirely convinced, “Where? When did this happen?”
Gu Jian’s face immediately turned stern, “Are you interrogating a criminal?”
Xiao Yeyang quickly shook his head, “I didn’t mean that; I was just a bit puzzled.”
Granny smiled, “That was over a decade ago. Xiaojian had heard that there was a miraculous doctor in Beijing, so we went there. En route, we came across the injured Xiaowu. That’s how we came to know him.”
Confusion crept into Daohua’s brows, “Then why didn’t you tell me when I asked before?”
Granny continued to smile, “It’s a matter from many years ago, not worth mentioning.”
Daohua furrowed her brow, what wasn’t worth mentioning to her was worth mentioning to Xiao Yeyang?
Xiao Yeyang, looking at Gu Jian and Granny, noticed their expressions were indifferent, which somewhat eased his doubts. Still, wasn’t this all too coincidental? He probed further, “Then, do you know Xiaowu’s identity?”
Gu Jian replied irritably, “Of course we knew.”
At those words, Xiao Yeyang tensed up, but relaxed again upon hearing what followed.
Gu Jian continued, “Isn’t he just an official who handles secret missions for the emperor? Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found him so severely injured when we first met.”
Xiao Yeyang pondered; over a decade ago, his royal uncle had been seriously injured while away, but he was too young at the time and only vaguely remembered such an event.
Considering Master Gu’s excellent medical skills, the curiosity in Xiao Yeyang’s eyes gradually faded.
Daohua stood to the side, resting her chin on her hand, listening. Seeing Xiao Yeyang not pressing further, she thought to herself that Master’s words must be true, and those few Xiaowus were probably the emperor’s secret agents specifically appointed to handle royal affairs.
“Go write that letter now.”
With that, Xiao Yeyang turned to write the letter, with Daohua quickly following.
Watching the two children leave the room, not pursuing further questions, Gu Jian and Granny both sighed in unison.
Having two clever children at home was truly taxing on the brain.
Fortunately, mixing truth with fiction, they managed to keep the deception going.