Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 86

Chapter 86
Candied haws

After Zhu Ming left, Emperor Chong’an sat alone in the palace for a long time. The Yongle Golden Sword lay on the ground, with the sharp blade half out of the sheath. Liu Jian’an put down the whisk in his hand, stepped forward to pick up the sword, and carefully put it back on the weapon rack. The scabbard collided with the weapon frame, making a slight sound. Emperor Chong’an opened his eyes and said, “Liu Jian’an.”

Liu Jian’an hurried to the table, leaned over, and bowed, “Your Majesty, I am here.”

Emperor Chong’an was silent momentarily and slowly asked, “How is Concubine Wan these days? Have you had any troubles during my absence from the palace?”

This question was asked at a good time. Concubine Wan was pregnant, and everyone in the harem was staring at her belly, which was getting bigger daily. Naturally, the troubles she caused could be big or small.

Liu Jian’an knew what Emperor Chong’an wanted to ask and replied: “Your Majesty, there is no trouble. The imperial physician takes her pulse daily, and the people below are also cautious. I often visit her as you ordered. Concubine Wan can eat and sleep well and is in a good mood. It’s just that she has asked you several times when you will return. I think she misses you too much.”

Hearing this, Emperor Chong’an smiled rarely: “She’s pregnant. I should go to see her. Is she still vomiting now? I remember that she has been very picky since she got pregnant and only likes sour food.”

“She doesn’t vomit anymore.” Liu Jian’an said: “The last time I went, I heard from the palace maids that Concubine Wan likes to eat both sour and spicy food recently, and she likes strong flavors.”

Emperor Chong’an nodded: “It’s good that she can eat. It’s hot now, so take the gold-glittering satin that the Western envoys presented as tribute last time and ask the Clothing Bureau to make some clothes for Wanwan.”

Liu Jianan quickly responded: “I will go and give the order now.”

He was about to leave when the Emperor stopped him: “Wait.”

Emperor Chong’an played with the beads in his hand: “I remember that Lin Jing’s wife is also pregnant.”

Liu Jian’an was stunned, not understanding why Emperor Chong’an suddenly mentioned this matter, and replied: “Yes, they were pregnant one after another.”

Emperor Chong’an said: “In a few days, call his wife to enter the palace.”

Liu Jianan became increasingly confused. He really couldn’t understand what Emperor Chong’an meant by this move. If the counselors had known about him calling one’s wife to enter the palace, they might have scolded him with treasonous words.

He asked carefully: “This… Your Majesty, what is the reason?”

“Just say that Concubine Wan is pregnant and misses home, and let her enter the palace to accompany Concubine Wan.”

Liu Jianan nodded and replied: “Yes.”

Li Heming was not surprised that Emperor Chong’an chose to suppress the truth about the unsolved case and didn’t seem to care. He went to court as usual, as if the case that took months to investigate had passed quietly.

After the court that day, Lin Jing went to Heji Pastry Shop to buy chestnut cakes and met Li Heming, who was picking cakes in the store.

After the court dismissed, Lin Jing’s colleagues dragged him to chat, and when he hurried to the store, only a few chestnut cakes were left.

Fortunately, Li Heming stood in the store in a flying fish suit, and no customers dared to enter the door. Otherwise, these last few chestnut cakes would not fall into Lin Jing’s hands.

Li Heming stood before the counter, waiting for the store to pack the snacks. He had a cold face and one hand on the handle of the embroidered sword on his waist. He looked about to draw the sword and start a fight. No wonder no one in the store was interested.

Lin Jing didn’t care about him and hurriedly asked the waiter to pack up the last few pieces of chestnut cakes. After ordering a few other snacks, he had time to greet Li Heming. He saw Li Heming holding a handful of food wrapped in oil paper in his right hand. He pointed to the two thin sticks sticking out of the paper and asked him, “What are you holding?”

Li Heming looked down and saw: “The candied fruits in front of the wonton shop.”

Lin Jing frowned: “You only bought two pieces?”

This question was too bizarre. It was not for him, so why did he complain that it was not enough? Li Heming glanced at him and said, “Only two left when I went there.”

Lin Jing remembered that Qin Mei’an had recently liked to eat sweet and sour food, so he reached out to take it without hesitation: “Give me one string.”

Li Heming slightly turned sideways to avoid his hand and moved his feet half a step away: “Go buy it yourself.”

Lin Jing said, “Tsk,” “Why are you so stingy? I’ll return it to you later. Don’t you have two? My little sister can’t eat that much. She can only eat three hawthorns at a time.”

A string of candied haws had five hawthorns, and Lin Jing guessed Lin Yu would be unable to finish them. Unexpectedly, Li Heming glared at him and said, “I can’t eat?”

Lin Jing: “… Can’t you and my little sister eat one string?”

“Who told you that candied haws can be shared?”

“Pears can’t be shared, but not with candied haws. There is no such saying. Give me one string.”

It’s rare for the Minister of Revenue and the Northern Leader to fight for a string of candied haws. Unfortunately, Li Heming didn’t give in even though Lin Jing’s lips were dry.

Lin Jing shook his head: “Why did my little sister marry you? You don’t know how much Yang Jinming flattered me. If he became my brother-in-law, he would give me a string today.”

Li Heming was silent for a while and took a string for him.

Lin Jing raised his eyebrows proudly and handed the candied haws to the busy shopkeeper: “Please, help me wrap this separately.”

The two bought half of the snacks in the shop, and the shopkeeper would not refuse. He took the candied haws and said, “Okay!”

Suddenly, Lin Jing saw something in his peripheral vision, and his body paused. He turned to look at the tall man eating noodles on the noodle stall opposite the shop door.

He retracted his gaze, took a half step towards Li Heming, and asked softly: “Who’s that man? Someone dares to stare at the dignified Northern Leader.”

Li Heming said lightly: “Guo Fang.”

Lin Jing naturally knew that Guo Fang was the Sixth Prince’s man. He frowned: “Because of the Sixth Prince’s case?”

Li Heming heard this and turned his head to stare at him: “How did you know?”

Lin Jing said dissatisfiedly: “What’s the look in your eyes? I have been in the court for many years. Shouldn’t I have a few information channels? Or do you want to put me in jail for trial?”

Li Heming glared at him and said nothing.

Interrogation was Li Heming’s strong point. After a moment, his gaze defeated Lin Jing, and he touched his nose: “…It’s your father-in-law who said so.”

Li Heming turned his head, snorted and laughed, and repeated his words with mockery: “Information channel.”