The next day’s breakfast, everyone ate from the Fusang Palace, and it must be said that their breakfast was very light, which is good for health.
At noon, Bai Ruozhu decided to cook a bit more, divided into two food boxes, and simply packed three dishes for the Emperor and the two Empresses, handing them to Lord Da Gu, saying: "Lord Da Gu, these are flavors from Zhongyuan for His Majesty, Empress Shangzi, and Empress Yazi, as a token of our appreciation."
"Alright, I will deliver them to His Majesty and the Empresses now." Lord Da Gu personally delivered the dishes to them.
Soon after, Lord Da Gu returned bringing three rewards, Bai Ruozhu thanked him and accepted them.
When the Emperor ca to see the Second Prince, he praised the dishes from Zhongyuan, and at last said: "That particularly red dish is hard to swallow, but afterward it has a compelling flavor. Lord Da Gu, as a samurai, said that taste was the most satisfying."
Bai Ruozhu laughed, "It uses chili pepper and Sichuan pepper, both numbing and spicy, one must drink plenty of water after eating, otherwise it might cause internal heat."
"Truly remarkable Zhongyuan cuisine, truly unique." The Emperor exclaid, "Fusang should establish diplomatic relations with Danliang Country, open mariti routes, and send young people to Danliang Country to learn Zhongyuan culture each year, otherwise it would be like sitting in a well and gazing at the sky."
Bai Ruozhu agreed with the Emperor’s idea and felt reassured by his progressive thoughts, but when she thought of his marriage to Shangzi, his half-sister, she felt awkward.
The Second Prince drank water all day, starting with very thin rice soup, made from the broth of rice porridge, but not too thick, it must be thin rice soup.
Because of this, his mouth slowly began to move, at least he could open his mouth to drink water, though he still could not make a sound.
Seeing the Second Prince’s condition improving, the Emperor felt especially relieved, but when he turned his head he found Bai Ruozhu sowhat gloomy, and quickly asked: "Lord Bai, is there sothing on your mind?"
The Emperor asked very carefully, fearing that Bai Ruozhu might ntion difficulties in treating the Second Prince.
"A maid of mine went missing days ago, Lord Mo is still out searching for her but hasn’t found her yet." Bai Ruozhu pondered and decided to tell the Emperor.
She was initially worried about Lingzi’s identity and dared not use the Emperor’s resources to search, but now that Lingzi has been missing for seven or eight days, she couldn’t postpone it anymore; once found, she’d find a way to protect Lingzi.
Being the Second Prince’s savior, she should be able to make this request, right?
But if Lingzi actually left on her own, then this matter would be puzzling, although Mo Beishan went to the Anben family to inquire, Anben said Lingzi hadn’t returned, yet Bai Ruozhu still felt sothing was amiss.
On one hand, she believed in Yuan Licheng’s expertise in arrays, Yuan Licheng said no one went in to capture Lingzi, so that should be the case. If the opponent really could break the array to get in, there’d be no point in capturing Lingzi, right?
Most likely, only Lingzi herself knows what’s going on.
"Ah? What does she look like? How about you draw a portrait, and I can send soone to help find her." The Emperor suggested.
"Alright, I’ll give the portrait to Lord Da Gu later, thank you, Your Majesty." Bai Ruozhu quickly expressed gratitude.
"It’s only right; you have helped more." The Emperor sincerely said.
Very soon Bai Ruozhu asked Jianqi to draw a portrait, but the clothing was depicted as the Danliang Country attire Lingzi wore before she disappeared; unless soone knew Lingzi well, most might think she’s a Zhongyuan woman.
Lingzi’s portrait was handed to local officials, and soon guards were looking everywhere for her. When Anben saw those portraits, he nearly jumped in urgency, wishing to enter the palace imdiately to talk to Bai Ruozhu, but unfortunately, he wasn’t qualified to enter the palace, nor dared to et Bai Ruozhu.
In a suburban villa, a man looked at the woman standing by the window, speaking in Fusang Language: "They enlisted the Emperor’s help, your portrait is already spread throughout Kyoto, is this the good you speak of?"
"They are worried sothing has happened to and had to choose this thod." The woman sighed, turned around, and it was precisely Lingzi whom Bai Ruozhu and others had been searching for seven or eight days.
The man sneered, "Are you naive or foolish? This is clearly a harm to you, can you not see it?"
Lingzi was sowhat angry, glaring at the man, asking: "What would you say then? What exactly do you want to do?"
"Just do as I say, understand who you really belong to!" The man’s voice suddenly rose with a hint of nace, Lingzi tightened and lowered her eyelids, softly said: "I understand."
...
"Master, it has all been clarified, that bracelet was given by the late Empress to Empress Shangzi, they are full sisters." Jianqi reported to Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu was a bit surprised but quickly understood.
"What of being full sisters, ultimately when interests conflict, people develop selfish and harmful intentions. It’s a pity the Empress has passed for many years, and we don’t know where she got that bracelet." Bai Ruozhu felt sowhat regretful.
"I also found out that a close maid nad Lihua who served the Empress is still alive, she might know sothing, but nowadays Lihua is not in the palace, she left the palace three years ago to return to her family, reportedly the Lihua family is in the suburb of the capital." Jianqi continued.
Bai Ruozhu nodded with satisfaction, confident in Jianqi’s handling of matters, never easily giving up hope.
"Would Master like to go find that Lihua and ask her?" Jianqi suggested.
If their group leaves the palace, surely it would draw attention, but if Jianqi secretly leaves alone, it would be hard for others to notice.
Additionally, Jianqi has always been a dark guard, skilled in concealing himself; bringing more people with him would only impede him.
"Alright, but be careful in all things, lack of clues doesn’t matter, safety first." Bai Ruozhu said, handing him a small porcelain bottle, "This will make Lihua speak the truth, use it cautiously."
"Yes, then I will set out, going early and returning early to avoid being noticed by the palace." Jianqi carefully kept the dicine bottle and prepared to leave.
Bai Ruozhu quickly called him back, saying: "Did you tell Yizi?"
Jianqi looked solemn, "This matter cannot be delayed, I will explain when I return; Master, please help convey to her."
Bai Ruozhu was helpless, this guy was clear between public and private, but this was also good, it wouldn’t interfere with the important matters.
Sure enough, by afternoon, Yizi couldn’t help but ask after Jianqi, saying she hadn’t seen him for ages, Bai Ruozhu replied that Jianqi had taken on a task and was busy, Yizi opened her mouth but in the end did not pursue further.
This is good too; Yizi is also a girl who understands the rules.
Jianqi returned the next evening, silently showing up outside Bai Ruozhu’s door.
Bai Ruozhu heard the noise, asked him to enter and report, Jianqi knew not to hide from Jiang Yichun, so he truthfully reported what he learned from Lihua.
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