Chapter 162: The Four Wealthy Female Merchants (16)

That night, Ning Yuan had a dream.

In the dream, Shi Xianyü appeared, but instead of her usual Daoist robes, she wore a brilliant crimson bridal gown, sitting on the edge of the bed with a shy expression, smiling warmly at him.

The dream that followed was filled with tender romance and blossoming spring passion, details of which need not be recounted here. In short, when he woke up the next morning, the bedding was soaked in a large patch.

Ning Yuan sat on the bed, staring at the damp mark before him, and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he leisurely dressed and got out of bed, then walked over to the table and used the leftover overnight tea to grind some ink. He then poured the freshly ground ink directly onto the bed.

A few ink splatters also landed on his newly changed clothes and trousers.

Having done all this, Ning Yuan calmly pushed open the window, tapped the windowsill a few times, and called out, "Ding Er."

Xue Ding lived in the opposite guest room; hearing the commotion, he immediately opened the door and came out. "Why is Your Lordship up so early today? Do you need water?"

"I do," Ning Yuan nodded, saying indifferently, "and change the mattress set."

Xue Ding walked briskly into the room. Seeing the large black ink stain on the bed, he froze for a moment before immediately setting to work to clean it up.

Ever since Ning Yuan was struck by a poisoned arrow, although his life was saved, his limbs often ached and lacked strength, making even walking difficult. As for accidentally spilling teacups and rice bowls, it was a regular occurrence. Therefore, Xue Ding harbored not the slightest suspicion about Ning Yuan spilling ink on the bed; he merely found it strange why anyone would write in bed instead of using a desk.

"What would Your Lordship like to eat today?" Xue Ding asked while tidying up. "There is rice porridge and vegetarian buns in the dining hall. If Your Lordship liked yesterday's chicken soup, I can make another trip down the mountain."

"Rice porridge and vegetarian buns," Ning Yuan replied.

After a pause, he instructed further, "You may go into town today to purchase a new tea set. If guests arrive, we will have the proper utensils to host them."

Xue Ding thought to himself that this request sounded rather odd. They were living in seclusion here, and only a few trusted confidants knew their location. Who would ever come to visit?

Still, buying another set would come in handy eventually.

Xue Ding quickly cleaned up the bed and asked, "The memorial reports have been piling up in the Cabinet for days now. Do you need them sent here for your review?"

"There is no need," Ning Yuan said lazily. "Send them to His Majesty instead. He is not so young anymore; it is time he learned to review state memorials."

Xue Ding hesitated slightly. "But His Majesty has never participated in state affairs before. If he suddenly takes over the memorials, might there be..."

"It is fine. Even if he makes mistakes, the Prime Minister is there to assist him; nothing major will go wrong," Ning Yuan said, narrowing his eyes slightly as he sat in his wheelchair. "Physician Li told me to recuperate in peace so I might live long enough to see the day they formulate the antidote. As for matters of state, I shall no longer trouble myself with them."

Xue Ding thought it over and nodded. "His Lordship has worked himself to the bone for the country all these years; it is indeed time for a proper rest. This subordinate will pass the word back immediately. From now on, the daily memorials will be sent directly to His Majesty, and His Lordship will no longer be burdened."

Ning Yuan gave a slight nod.

Xue Ding turned and left to fetch breakfast from the front dining hall, then headed down the mountain to buy the tea set while relaying the Prince Regent's instructions.

Fearing that no one would be around to wait upon the Prince after he left, Xue Ding as usual prepared food and hot water beforehand. Finding the indoor temperature somewhat chilly, he moved the table and chairs out into the courtyard so Ning Yuan could bask in the sun whenever he pleased.

After finishing his breakfast indoors, Ning Yuan gazed at the sky outside and naturally thought of Shi Xianyü next door.

He wondered what kind of daily routine a Daoist priestess kept.

He wheeled himself out into the courtyard, picked up a teacup to drink some water, and finally cast a quiet glance toward the courtyard wall. After a moment of contemplation, his fingers relaxed, and the teacup instantly dropped to the ground—

With a sharp crash.

Ning Yuan stared at the courtyard wall, waiting patiently for a short while. The apricot tree branches swayed slightly, and then a head poked up over the wall.

Shi Xianyü looked at him, then down at the broken cup on the ground. "...Do you have any cups left?"

Ning Yuan lowered his gaze to the teacup and replied with a hint of mild regret, "None."

Shi Xianyü: "............"

How truly pitiful. He didn't even have his last cup left.

"Has the Daoist priestess partaken in breakfast yet?" Ning Yuan invited her. "The morning meals at this dining hall are quite good. Would you care to come over and taste them?"

"No need," Shi Xianyü said, resting her chin on her arms atop the wall. "I am already practicing *bigu*, so I don't need to eat such things."

Ning Yuan was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a reason for refusal.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday, call me Xianyü, or Little Fish," she corrected him.

Hearing this, Ning Yuan smiled. "Ah yes. I wonder when Little Fish mastered the art of *bigu*?"

"Well, that's a rather long story..." Shi Xianyü thought for a moment and told him, "Wait here."

With that, she jumped down from the wall and scurried off to do goodness knows what.

Ning Yuan waited a moment and heard the courtyard door next door creak open. Then came the sound of hurried footsteps coming toward his courtyard, followed by the pushing open of the door—

Shi Xianyü walked in holding a vacuum flask and handed it to him. "This is for you."

"This is..." Ning Yuan looked at the flask, certain he had never seen such an object before, yet somehow sensing intuitively that it was a vessel for holding water.

"This is called a vacuum flask. You can pour hot water into it and drink it slowly; it keeps the water warm for a very long time." Shi Xianyü unscrewed the lid, picked up the teapot nearby, and poured water into the flask right in front of Ning Yuan. "...It's sturdier than ceramic and won't break easily."

Having filled it, Shi Xianyü handed the flask along with its lid back to him. "Try using it. Drink slowly; the water is still a little hot."

Ning Yuan took a sip of the water and smiled. "Little Fish gave me candy yesterday and a teacup today. Such kindness leaves me wondering what I should offer to express my gratitude."

Shi Xianyü gave a light, carefree laugh and waved a hand. "No need to give anything back, I'm not lacking in anything."

"Though you may lack nothing, I cannot simply accept without a gesture," Ning Yuan said in a serious tone. "A gift, regardless of its weight, represents my sincere feelings. Little Fish, is there anything you like?"

Shi Xianyü felt a bit troubled. He was quite proactive in this world, but as a penniless scholar, he couldn't afford to buy anything—what could he possibly give?

If she didn't accept anything, she feared hurting his pride; if she did mention something and he couldn't afford it, wouldn't that wound his pride even more?

"How about..." she deliberated, "you draw me a picture?"

Ning Yuan laughed. "How difficult could that be? Why don't you stand under that apricot tree branch right now, and I will paint one for you."

Just as Shi Xianyü was about to agree, she suddenly heard the sound of a carriage approaching. The wheels creaked and groaned as it stopped outside, and she faintly heard Zhi'er say, "Young Miss, please do not be angry." It seemed Li Lingjing had returned.

"Some other time," Shi Xianyü waved at him. "I'm heading back first."

Li Lingjing hadn't returned for days; something must have happened, and she needed to go ask about it immediately.

Before Ning Yuan could reply, she had already walked away with brisk steps. Shortly after, he heard her voice from outside asking, "What is the matter?"

Another female voice replied, "You wouldn't believe it, Daoist Priest, the Xie family is utterly and shamelessly brazen! I'm afraid this matter cannot be separated from Xiangzhi!..."

"Don't panic, tell me slowly..."

The voices gradually faded as the two women walked into the courtyard, entered the room, and closed the door, cutting off the rest of their hushed conversation.