Chapter 426 Sneaking Away

Chapter 426: Slipping Out

An ordinary stretch of road, from the moment he entered the city, Meng Wan kept stopping and starting so much that the sun was dipping low in the west by the time he finally got home. Even so, a bunch of people were still camped out at his door.

Seven or eight carriages were parked sideways across the alley. If the Meng estate didn't take up the whole alley by itself, it would have been quite cramped.

Song Tingzhou had been swamped with work lately, and with Meng Wan away from home, he had been working late at the Shuntian Prefecture office or simply sleeping at the yamen. As it happened, he coincidentally ran into Meng Wan at the mouth of the alley.

"Didn't you say you'd stay a few more days? Why are you back so soon?" Song Tingzhou had been about to dismount to welcome Meng Wan, but when he looked up and saw the spectacle in front of their house, he held back the eager A Yan and Tong'er, who were ready to rush forward, and urged his horse forward alone.

"What is the meaning of all of you gathered outside this official's residence?" His face was cold and hard, and combined with the rumors that had been going around today, the air in the alley, already tense, seemed to freeze solid in an instant.

Those who had been eagerly preparing to step forward and strike up a conversation instinctively took two steps back under Song Tingzhou's icy gaze. "Lord Song, we did not mean to intrude. Meng Fulang must be tired from the journey—we'll come back another day."

"No need for that either." Song Tingzhou sat high on his fine horse, his eyes half-lidded, not looking at these people sent by their masters to probe, but staring directly at the carriages parked in front of his home. His voice rang out, forceful and cold: "If any of you have official business, you may submit your documents at the Shuntian Prefecture office tomorrow. But if you linger outside the Song residence and disturb my husband, don't blame this official for showing no mercy."

He rode ahead, clearing the way, and the people looked at each other, dumbfounded, then immediately ordered their coachmen to move aside.

When they reached the front door, Song Tingzhou walked straight to Meng Wan's carriage, reached up, and lifted him down. His movements were gentle, his voice soft—like a different person from the cold, hard man of moments ago. "Yesterday, Senior Brother sent me two baskets of crabs. They're still alive in the water tank. Want some tonight?"

Meng Wan stretched his limbs and walked in with him, side by side. "Let's skip it. The three of us have eaten plenty of pork and mutton at the estate these past days. I'd like something light tonight."

Tong'er and A Yan jumped down from the carriage, curiously watching the people at the door. A lady in the carriage looked at A Yan with a calculating, scheming gaze, which scared him so much that he grabbed Tong'er and ran into the courtyard, bumping straight into Chu Ci, who had come out to greet them.

"What's wrong?" Chu Ci steadied A Yan and signed with his hands.

A Yan tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Big brother, what are those people outside doing?"

Chu Ci's cool gaze swept toward the departing carriages outside. Holding A Yan's hand with one hand and Tong'er's with the other, he walked back in silence.

Tong'er whispered to A Yan, "If big brother doesn't answer, that means it's not important, right?"

A Yan nodded. "Right!"

That evening, the family sat together for a simple meal of congee and roasted sweet potatoes over the fire.

Chang Jinhua and A Xun were back in their hometown village, waiting for the year-end reunion when Meng Wan and the others would return home. This year, Song Tingzhou planned to request leave early to return to his hometown for ancestral rites. After working so hard for so long, the Emperor wasn't unreasonable and had granted permission well in advance.

Perhaps to accommodate Song Tingzhou, even this year's grand evaluation was arranged so that capital officials would be assessed first, followed by the local officials' audience at court.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Senior Brother's house first. He's been busy lately and doesn't have time to entertain me—I'll just spend a bit of time with Sister-in-law, then stop by to see Xiao Cao on the way." After dinner, Meng Wan sorted through the gifts he had prepared for everyone in the bedroom—for Nie Zhiyao, the Lin family, the Wu family, the Gu family, the Kou family...

Not for any particular occasion, mostly local specialties he had bought in the south, or small trinkets for the children.

Regardless of how close or distant the relationship, social interactions require reciprocity and mutual visits. Meng Wan was undoubtedly well-versed in this art, with gifts carefully categorized and thoughtfully prepared.

Song Tingzhou hung his court robe for tomorrow on the folding screen. He would have to leave for court before dawn, so he wouldn't be traveling with Meng Wan. "Zhao Yuan came by with Xiao Cao the day before yesterday. The boy's even chubbier than A Yan was as a baby."

Meng Wan laughed. "Didn't Senior Brother always say that jade requires carving to become a vessel? I wonder how he'll discipline Xiao Cao when the boy grows up."

Song Tingzhou thought of Wu Zhaoyuan's utterly contented expression with his son, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile as well.

Because he had to get up early the next morning to visit Lin Congrong's house, Meng Wan went to bed early. Their families were close, and as Lin Congrong was the eldest brother, Meng Wan should take the initiative to visit.

Meng Wan changed his clothes and walked out of the bedroom. Huang Ye personally brought breakfast over and set it on the square table in the main hall. "The young master and Young Master Ge haven't woken up yet. The eldest young master went out early to the shop."

"Alright, I understand." Meng Wan sat down and took a mouthful of noodles. "You don't need to attend to me here. If you've got your things ready and want to come with me, come along. If not, just stay home."

Huang Ye hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Fulang, I won't accompany you out today. The courier station said there's a package for me."

Seeing that it was getting late, Meng Wan hurriedly slurped down his noodles. "That's fine. Call Zhifan and Zhimao, and have them plus Chi Yu come with me. If Nie Fulang comes, tell him to wait for me a moment—I should be back soon."

Just as he was speaking, Zhimao walked in. "Fulang, Gui Qian asked me to check with you—how should we arrange those two kids you brought back to the front courtyard?"

Meng Wan put down his chopsticks. "I almost forgot about that. I'll go to the front courtyard now. Have the carriage wait at the gate."

Sixty-six and Seventeen had complicated backgrounds, but after the people at the Luo family's old estate were all arrested and Song Tingzhou conducted a thorough investigation of You City, many of those who had been tricked into coming and still had families were sent home. Sixty-six and Seventeen happened to be two unlucky ones with no family left.

Seventeen came from a poor family—his parents were beggars somewhere unknown, and the children had all been sold off. Both of his older sisters had died in You City.

Sixty-six was slightly better off. His family had been well-off, and he had grown up as a young master of a wealthy household. But his family had offended the Luo family through business dealings, and his entire family was either dead or scattered. He too had been captured and brought to You City.

Meng Wan hadn't originally planned to bring them back to the capital, but Sixty-six, seeing that Meng Wan was clearly someone of importance, shamelessly insisted on following him and serving him however he could. Meng Wan found him reasonably clever, and since both he and Seventeen had martial skills, they could be trained as guards for A Yan.

Meng Wan addressed the two youths who had removed their masks: "Since you've decided to follow me, I won't treat you poorly."

Sixty-six was slightly shorter, with delicate features and alert eyes. Seventeen was much taller, thin with little flesh on his bones, ordinary-looking with narrow eyes and thin lips—a face that seemed sharp and solitary.

The two youths had only a vague understanding of what a "High Official" meant, but they knew Song Tingzhou was an even more formidable figure than the master of You City. Fear lingered in their hearts, and they were much more deferential toward Meng Wan, nodding obediently when he asked them questions. After all, being a servant in a great household was still better than fighting for survival in You City.

"Gui Qian, take them to the Shuntian Prefecture office to register their household later. Register them under the same household." Meng Wan was in a hurry to leave, so he left this small matter to Gui Qian.

Gui Qian caught the implication in Meng Wan's words and asked one more question. "Fulang, what about their names?" They couldn't very well keep being called Seventeen and Sixty-six, could they?

Meng Wan walked out the door without looking back. "Let them come up with their own names."

Sixty-six had once had a family. His surname was Hao, and before he was captured and brought to You City, his name had been Hao Yun.

Seventeen didn't quite understand why he needed to change his name, but when he heard Sixty-six give his name, he followed along and said, "Then I'll be Song Yun." Even as slow as he was, he knew the master's surname was Song. He had never had a name to begin with, so he might as well take the master's surname.

Gui Qian laughed. "His name means 'good fortune,' and yours means 'delivering fortune'—where exactly are you delivering it to? If you don't mind me being presumptuous, how about I pick one for you? What do you think of Song He? It sounds harmonious and kind."

"Song He?" Seventeen was illiterate. He repeated the name, trying his best to pull the corners of his mouth upward. "Alright, Song He it is."

—

After autumn began and Lin Congrong's mourning period ended, the Emperor summoned him back to Shengjing. The position of Minister of Rites had been vacant for a long time, and after this year's grand evaluation, Lin Congrong was certain to take the position.

Two carriages were parked at the Lin family's entrance, both low-key with no family crests or official insignias. Meng Wan glanced at them twice as he got out of his carriage, and Chi Yu asked, "Do you know them, Fulang?"

"Perhaps." Meng Wan carried his gifts and was led directly to the main courtyard by the Lin family's servant.

Lin Congrong's wife, Lady Liu, had been listening to her sister-in-law pour out her grievances and was thoroughly annoyed. Her sister-in-law had once been arrogant and had never been particularly close to her as the eldest sister-in-law. Now that she had fallen on hard times, she suddenly remembered her brother and sister-in-law. No one would feel comfortable with that.

Lady Liu was overjoyed to see Meng Wan arrive. She rose quickly to greet him, speaking warmly: "I heard from Jingxing that you went to the estate. When did you get back?"

Lin Conghui was also sitting in the hall. By seniority, after Meng Wan paid his respects to Sister-in-law Liu, he should also bow to Lin Conghui. But by status, Meng Wan was a first-rank Fulang personally ennobled by the Emperor, with his own title—the highest rank among all titled consorts.

Except for the imperial family, even a first-rank madam was below him. So by protocol, it was Lin Conghui who should bow to him first.

Sure enough, Meng Wan ignored Lin Conghui standing off to the side and handed his gifts to Lady Liu instead. "I returned home last night. I heard Xuanniang's husband is about to be transferred back to Shengjing? Has she come along?"

"What have you brought this time? We're all family, no need to be so polite. My son-in-law's official position still depends on the year-end audience at court. Her children are still young, so even if there's good news, she probably won't be able to come to the capital until after the new year." Lady Liu's gaze was warm. Xuanniang had been married for years and hadn't seen Meng Wan in a long time, yet he still remembered to ask about her. Meanwhile, her own aunt Lin Conghui only whined about how difficult her life was—surely the Huaien Earl's mansion, however fallen, still had a few bolts of cloth to spare for the children?

"Greetings, Meng Fulang." Lin Conghui endured and endured, then finally lowered her head and bowed to Meng Wan.

Her temples were streaked with gray, and in just two short years she appeared at least ten years older. After her son was beheaded, the situation at the Huaien Earl's mansion had become dire. Everyone knew that once the Earl passed away, with no title and no legitimate heir—only a few useless illegitimate sons—the former Earl's mansion would become nothing more than an ordinary country gentry. Lin Conghui had offended so many people that without protection, she couldn't even remain in Shengjing. But who was there to blame?

Meng Wan returned the bow politely. "I didn't know the Countess was also here. I only prepared a modest gift for my brother and sister-in-law. I hope the Countess will forgive me."

Lin Conghui was about to reply when Meng Wan added another line, "But the Huai'en Earl's mansion is grand and wealthy, surely it wouldn't care for my meager gift."

Facing Meng Wan's smiling face, Lin Conghui could barely maintain her stiff smile, "You flatter me, Lord Meng."

Liu Shi kept them for lunch at home. Lin Conghui sat on pins and needles but didn't dare leave early; she had offended Meng Wan before and feared he might seize the opportunity to blame her.

After enduring the meal in agony, Lin Conghui waited until Meng Wan had left before making her own exit.

Meng Wan then visited the Wu family to see Zheng Shushen and Xiao Cao. Xiao Cao was nearly a year old and indeed... somewhat overweight; Meng Wan had to pause for breath after carrying him a few steps.

Worried that Nie Zhiyao might be waiting at home, Meng Wan didn't stay long and hurried back. Nie Zhiyao had indeed been waiting for a while.

Over the following days, Meng Wan kept visiting relatives and friends. Thanks to Song Tingzhou's threat, no one dared to block Meng Wan's doorstep anymore, though the stack of calling cards at his door kept piling up.

A Yan and Tong'er had a few days of freedom before being called back to the palace for lessons, though they no longer had to stay overnight and returned home each night to sleep. Additionally, they had formally become Zheng Su's disciples, so they occasionally visited him to pick up assignments to complete at home.

Under such heavy study pressure, A Yan had had enough.

"Should we go back to the palace? The Grand Tutor will slap your hand if he finds out," the mature young crown prince tried to dissuade him.

A Yan rolled his eyes disdainfully, "Say that after you give me back the flatbread I bought you!"

The pig pancreas flatbread sold on the streets was filled mainly with pig pancreas, which was trimmed of fascia, diced, pounded into a paste with the back of a knife, mixed with chopped scallions, ginger, pepper-salt, and crushed sesame seeds. It was spread onto proofed dough, seasoned with pepper and fermented black beans, moistened with butter, sprinkled with white sesame seeds, and baked until the crust was golden and crispy—one bite and it was greasy and fragrant, the aroma hitting you right in the nose.

The crown prince had no comeback but couldn't bring himself to put down the half-eaten flatbread in his hand. He'd never had such food; compared to the palace's temperature-controlled, elegantly plated meals, this street food was way more tempting.

Seeing him quiet, A Yan grinned smugly, took a big bite of his own flatbread, and mumbled, "It's way better outside the palace—you can eat whatever you want. The palace has too many rules, and you have to kneel all the time."

Tong'er, eating his own portion nearby, nodded in agreement, "And the bed at home is way more comfy. Your family's cooking beats the palace's any day."

A Yan cautiously covered Tong'er's mouth, getting his hand greasy. As he wiped his hand with a handkerchief, he whispered a warning, "Tong'er, you can't say things like that outside. The palace is the most honorable place under heaven; you can't compare your own home to it, or else..." A Yan made a throat-slitting gesture, "you'll get your head chopped off."

Tong'er, two years younger and not as sharp, nodded without really getting it, "Got it, Brother A Yan."

Listening to them, the crown prince quietly chewed on his flatbread, "Where are we heading next?"

A Yan grinned slyly, "I'll take you to a great place—there are tons of pretty guys and gals dancing there!"

Tong'er said straight up, "Is it a brothel?"

The imperial guards, who were secretly shadowing the crown prince, all turned to their boss.

Ge Quan was silent for a moment, then said, "See which brothel they go to, and tip off the madam in advance."

And the imperial guards' idea of a "heads-up" wasn't exactly polite.

When the three kids got kicked out of three brothels for being too young, A Yan, the one who'd suggested it, finally lost it, "Why won't they let us see the pretty sisters!"

Tong'er rolled up his sleeves, "Should we barge in?"

A Yan tapped his forehead, "Are you stupid? If we barge in and make a scene, we'll be exposed! Whether it's the Shuntian Prefecture or the Wucheng Military Office coming to arrest us, they might not know the crown prince, but don't they know us two?"

The crown prince straightened his collar and puffed out his chest, "So where do we go?"

A Yan thought hard, "I remember there's one place where the sisters are the prettiest—they dance on the lake. Let's go there!"

He spoke with great bravado, but A Yan actually had no idea where it was. He wandered around until his legs were about to give out without finding it. It was getting dark, and the streets were emptying out. Just as the crown prince was wondering anxiously why no one had come to find him yet, a hoarse voice came from behind.

"Oh my, whose cute kid is this? Come with grandpa, and he'll buy you a Jiangren figurine."

A Yan's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around to make a request, "I want the newly released Jiangren figurine."

Lord Ran stroked his graying beard, looking troubled, "That's too expensive. How about a cotton doll instead? Grandpa thinks that one's just fine."

A Yan looked disdainful—cotton dolls cost money? He had plenty at home.

The crown prince couldn't help but speak up, "Grand-uncle."