Chapter 159: The Biggest Sucker

The Emperor was swamped with work, but Xiao Li was thoroughly enjoying the show.

Especially the gossip from outside. It was a bit vulgar, but it was also explosive, captivating stuff—the kind that made any meal more interesting.

For instance, the wife of Prince Lu’s grandson, Jiang Xuan, had fainted for no apparent reason. An examination revealed she was pregnant.

The Lu Royal Mansion hadn’t even said anything yet, but Marquis Xuanping was already panicking.

Jiang Xuan was very likely carrying He Chengfeng’s child—his biological grandson!

But Jiang Xuan was the Lu Royal Mansion’s granddaughter-in-law, so he couldn’t just demand they hand her over.

Normally, as long as no one said anything, who would know whose child she was carrying?

But the trouble was, recent events had exposed all their dirty laundry. Jiang Xuan, in particular—being the only married one and having carried on with He Chengfeng right under her husband’s nose—was the star of the rumor mill. People talked as if they’d personally been hiding under her bed, listening in.

In short, everyone knew Jiang Xuan and He Chengfeng were having an affair. And now that He Chengfeng had been made a eunuch, Jiang Xuan was pregnant.

In an instant, the entire Lu Royal Mansion was thoroughly cuckolded. Seeing that they couldn’t cover it up, both families chose to shut their doors and hide while they figured out a solution.

Beat Jiang Xuan to death? Marquis Xuanping wouldn’t allow it. After all, that child was his son’s only bloodline.

Let Jiang Xuan have the baby? The Lu Royal Mansion would never be able to hold their heads high again. What a disgrace!

Send Jiang Xuan to the Xuanping Marquis Mansion? Wouldn’t that be an open admission of being cuckolded?

The two families argued for days. In the end, for some unknown price paid by Marquis Xuanping, Prince Lu’s grandson, Xiao Changsheng, finally wrote a letter of divorce. The Marquis then brought Jiang Xuan home, but she was given no official status.

But then, some unlucky soul had to pipe up with: "What if the child is Xiao Changsheng’s, or someone else’s? Wouldn’t that mean He Chengfeng, a eunuch, is raising another man’s child?"

Those words were like a drop of water in a pot of hot oil. The whole thing just exploded.

This time, nobody was laughing at the Lu Royal Mansion anymore. All eyes were on the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, speculating on just whose child Jiang Xuan was carrying.

If she really gave birth to another man’s spawn, the Xuanping Marquis Mansion would become the biggest joke of all.

It would be a total double loss, making them look like complete fools.

When Marquis Xuanping heard this, he was so overcome with rage that he spat up blood.

He Chengfeng lay in bed, seething with impotent rage.

’What drama. Truly, what a show!’

To get a better view of the drama, Xiao Li had even brought Ziyue out to a teahouse.

Downstairs, the storyteller had abandoned his tales of generals and actresses. Instead, he was excitedly analyzing the two families’ drama, spit flying everywhere. The audience was just as thrilled, tossing copper coins up onto the stage with a CLATTER. The young apprentice collecting the coins winced as he was pelted, but it didn’t slow down his frantic money-grabbing in the slightest.

Ziyue watched with blatant envy. "I’m a much better storyteller than him," he said indignantly. "I want to be buried in money too!"

Xiao Li shot him an exasperated look. "You’re just a child. Don’t be so eager to earn every penny you see."

It was a good thing Ziyue had grown up on the streets and heard all sorts of things. Otherwise, Xiao Li couldn’t have brought him along. This gossip was a bit too explosive for a child.

Just as she was thinking about whether to take him home, Song Junzhan came upstairs, his expression grim. "Princess, Cen An has been taken."

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

Seeing him almost unable to breathe after speaking, Xiao Li poured him a cup of tea. "Slow down. What happened?"

Ziyue sensibly hurried to pat his back. After catching his breath, Song Junzhan quickly explained, "Cen An and I came out together just now, looking for you, Princess. We passed a stall selling medicinal herbs, and he went over to take a look. I was just a few steps behind him when I saw him get pulled into an alley and then dragged onto a carriage, which drove off."

"Uncle Jiang has already gone after them. The carriage looked perfectly ordinary, with no distinct markings, but it wasn’t headed toward the city gates."

’So the people who took Cen An are still in the city.’

Uncle Jiang wasn’t the only one in pursuit. Soon, someone returned with a message: the carriage had gone to the west side of the city.

Half an hour later, Uncle Jiang returned.

"Princess, Young Master, Cen An was taken to the Xuanping Marquis Mansion."

’Everyone knows what’s going on at the Xuanping Marquis Mansion. They wouldn’t have brought Cen An there just to treat the Marquis for spitting up blood.’

’Don’t tell me they’re making Cen An handle... *that*?!’

Xiao Li: "..."

’Cen An is about to become the sole innocent victim in this farce.’

Song Junzhan said, "They obviously want Cen An to treat someone, so his life won’t be in danger."

Looking at Song Junzhan, who was now calmly brewing tea, it was clear the Young Master was a little worried about Cen An, but not much.

Ziyue thought for a moment. "So, are we still going to rescue him?"

Song Junzhan glanced at him. "What do you think."

Ziyue looked from the Young Master to Xiao Li, his interest piqued. "Princess, how are we going to rescue him? Are we going to take your guards and flatten the Xuanping Marquis Mansion?"

Ziyue grew incredibly excited just thinking about it. He had gotten a suit of armor from the Princess and had been wearing it around the house for days, unable to put it down. He hadn’t had a chance to wear it out yet.

Song Junzhan held him back. "It’s just the Xuanping Marquis Mansion. There’s no need to trouble the Princess. I’ll give it a try. If I can’t manage it, it won’t be too late to ask for the Princess’s help."

Xiao Li raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Just the Xuanping Marquis Mansion?’

"Alright. I’ll wait for your news."

Cen An had been brought by Xiao Li to treat the Empress Dowager, so everyone now assumed he was Xiao Li’s man. Marquis Xuanping knew he couldn’t possibly invite Cen An over, which was why he had him kidnapped directly.

His men did indeed manage to capture him, but Cen An had traveled far and wide; this wasn’t his first encounter with bad people.

He didn’t resist strongly at first. Once they reached their destination and his captors let their guard down, he quickly threw a knockout powder and easily escaped through a back door that hadn’t been properly closed.

This was actually what Song Junzhan had meant. He understood Cen An and knew what he was capable of. He also knew the Xuanping Marquis Mansion well, and had even planted spies there. For Cen An to simply leave the mansion was an easy matter.

But accidents always happen when you least expect them.

As Cen An walked down the street, a wave of resentment washed over him as he thought about how he was only targeted because of Xiao Li.

’I was kidnapped and dragged off to treat He Chengfeng,’ he thought. ’That wretched Princess will probably laugh her head off at me.’

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He decided not to go find them and instead turned and headed straight for his residence.

But unexpectedly, people were already waiting for him there. Five or six men in black rushed him, drawing their blades. Cen An was forced to back away as a burlap sack descended from above, neatly packaging him up to be carried off.

Xiao Li had just returned to her mansion when she immediately received news: Cen An had been taken.

She almost thought she was hearing things. ’Wasn’t Cen An already taken? Didn’t Song Junzhan go to rescue him?’

The messenger explained the details carefully, and only then did Xiao Li understand. Cen An had left the Xuanping Marquis Mansion and was then kidnapped again.

*Tsk.* ’Has Cen An become some sort of hot commodity?’

’But for group after group to keep kidnapping him, knowing full well he’s my man... they clearly have no respect for me.’

"Yang Jun, notify the Patrol Camp and have them help find him."

"Rong Qing, get our people ready. It’s about time everyone stretched their legs."