Chapter 1439: Chapter 1417: Inquiry (December Monthly Ticket Extra Twelve)
Manbao rummaged through a pile of things and gifted a very nice and expensive tea set to the teacher, a piece of fabric suitable for a man to Xiang Ming’s brothers, and kept the rest in the room. Manbao stored a peppercorn in the system and curiously asked, "Do you have this thing there?"
"Yes, but the genetic data is different. This is an ancient variety." So it’s not sure how many reward points this will bring, but it’s better than nothing, she has a box of it.
Manbao thought the same.
Now points were more important to her. Last time, Bai Shan took the opportunity to buy a mule and donkey for her; the two secretly recorded them, raising no suspicions.
Just as Manbao put everything away, storing particularly expensive spices and gems in the system space, there was a knock at the door. Xiang Chao called from outside, "Manbao, Lord Tang is here."
Manbao hurried out.
Lord Tang had just greeted Mr. Zhuang and Xiang Ming. He noticed Xiang Ming could already stand and walk slowly, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
Zhou Man indeed had some skill.
Though he hadn’t met Xiang Ming, he always knew of him.
The incident involving the Xiang family of Dongxi Village was initially uncovered by him when he came to the capital. Among the few survivors of the Xiang family, Xiang Ming was of legitimate lineage and was said to be the mastermind behind several attempts to assassinate Prince Yizhou. It was rumored that the tendons in both his legs had been severed.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Man managed to heal him.
After a brief thought, Lord Tang invited him to stay and chat.
Xiang Ming didn’t like officials but agreed anyway.
Manbao felt a bit nervous upon seeing Lord Tang, giving him winks and nudges.
She hadn’t told her family about the mishap yesterday.
Lord Tang laughed and said, "There’s a place just outside the alley that serves good mutton soup and cakes. I was just passing by and thought about inviting Manbao to try it. I didn’t expect to see Young Master Xiang. I’ve read about Young Master Xiang’s exploits and have long admired him, so I thick-skinnedly invite you to join us for a meal?"
Xiang Ming said, "...That’s mostly Bai Er’s fabrication. Lord Tang must be aware."
"I don’t think so," Lord Tang smiled, "The stories can be made up, but such a tenacious and clever character is true. I believe Young Master simply hasn’t had the opportunity. If given, you’d surely be like in the books."
Xiang Ming: ...No thanks, he had no desire to drift two days in a flood and then crash into a secret realm.
Whoever could float in the flood for two days could only be a corpse; he wasn’t that skilled.
Nonetheless, he went out with Lord Tang for mutton soup and cakes.
Feeling a bit hungry, Manbao, who was nervous seeing the Empress Dowager and had walked such a long distance, told Mr. Zhuang she’d go with Lord Tang.
Mr. Zhuang, seeing Lord Tang also looking not very tense, shook his head and leisurely continued reading on his lounge chair.
Manbao tore a piece of cake and soaked it in the mutton offal soup. The flavor and grease soaked into the cake made it particularly delicious.
Lord Tang also tore some cake into his mutton soup and laughed, "With the Empress Dowager’s reward, fewer people should trouble you now."
Manbao glanced at Xiang Ming, seeing him focused on eating, spoke candidly, "Is Senior Brother Tang implying some people will still cause me trouble?"
"There will always be those who won’t or can’t see reason." Lord Tang said meaningfully, indicating that those switching the prince’s wine might stop, but the one sending poison likely wouldn’t.
It’s just like a serial killer who can’t stop once they start; not only because of themselves but also those around them.
Lord Tang advised, "So be cautious when going out these days."
He added, "The Emperor assigned this matter to Lord Yin to investigate. I’m assisting him, and it’s clear the Emperor is very angry this time."
Angrier than when they switched the prince’s wine last time, leading him to drunkenness. It’s said the Emperor overnight reprimanded Prince Gong at Luozhou regarding neglecting agriculture duties.
The issue was with the February Second, Dragon’s Rising Head Day.
But this was a minor issue; nine out of ten princes wouldn’t have plowed, and the common people didn’t care. Who would use such customs to accuse someone?
Also, how long has it been since February Second?
Manbao muttered while eating, "I’m just a doctor. He’s so domineering, even interfering with my practice."
He referred to the Third Prince.
Lord Tang remarked meaningfully, "Yet he might not be who he seems~"
Manbao was stunned, blinking and asking, "Not the Third Prince?"
Lord Tang laughed, "We haven’t found any evidence pointing to the Third Prince."
There’s no evidence against the Third Prince either, but everyone assumes it’s him.
Comprehending after some thought, Manbao lowered her head to eat the cake.
Lord Tang then turned to Xiang Ming.
Xiang Ming slowly took the cloth beside him, wiped his mouth, and asked, "Did something happen yesterday?"
Feeling momentarily guilty, Manbao stayed silent.
Lord Tang smiled and recounted the incident of Manbao’s carriage breaking down and falling over the day before, then said, "Young Master Xiang always has insider information. I’d like to ask for your help in finding out more."
Xiang Ming stiffened and turned to Manbao, asking, "So, was the pig heart we ate last night from..."
Manbao nodded, "It was thrown by that person."
Lord Tang’s hand stiffened slightly as he held the cake, turning to Manbao, "You ate that package of heart, liver, and kidneys?"
Manbao nodded.
Xiang Ming felt his hand trembling, "The liver and kidneys..."
"I stewed them for Rong Si at the pharmacy; he had diarrhea, and I had a recipe using those."
Xiang Ming breathed a sigh of relief, just a pig heart.
But still...
He couldn’t help but shiver, then said, "Such things should be thrown away in the future. Our family doesn’t lack money for dishes. If you like it, let Aunt Rong buy it."
"No!" Manbao said, "If they dare send it, I’ll eat it. It’s not poisoned, so why should I be afraid?"
Lord Tang couldn’t help but give her a thumbs up, greatly admiring her.
Xiang Ming felt something was off and recalled, "You didn’t eat much of the pig heart last night, did you? Even Bai Shan and Bai Er barely ate any..."
Manbao bowed her head and drank the soup.
Xiang Ming was quite exasperated, so he drank another bowl of soup, almost feeling too heavy to walk.
Nevertheless, he promised Manbao to keep it secret, not telling Mr. Zhuang or others at home.
Lord Tang’s main purpose today was to ask Manbao about the previous day’s details, and after confirming things, he paid the bill and left.
After he settled the bill, Manbao bought a pot of soup and a basket of cakes from the owner to be sent home.
So when Bai Shan and the others returned from school, dinner at home was mutton soup and cakes, with a few extra dishes cooked in the kitchen, and it was indeed quite delicious.