The Forbidden Palace's Shadows: Princess An and 7th Prince's Confrontation - Part 10

第181章 Chapter 181

Venerable turned her head and recognized the wealthy young man in front of her.

"Xiao Yu?" She was a bit surprised. Seeing his clothes, she quickly understood. The one who had just been robbed by the little thief was him.

This person looked dumb and silly, and so did the small attendant beside him, thinking that their master's money pouch had fallen when someone else saw it to grab.

"It's me!" Xiao Yu was both shocked and excited. "Miss Venerable, how come you're here?"

Venerable handed over the money she got from the bamboo carving stall owner, absentmindedly saying: "Of course I came by boat..." Then she asked the stall owner: "I still want two strings of beads, how much are they?"

These two strings of beads were made of bamboo, light yellow in color, polished very smooth, obviously a pair.

The stall owner smiled and said a number, not expensive at all. Venerable paid up quickly.

Everyone around was looking at Xiao Yu, especially seeing his gaze on Venerable, instantly understanding.

Mrs. Wang laughed a little bit but wasn't very surprised. It was normal for young people to chase beauty.

Venerable's appearance had a unique aura about it. Anyone who saw her would have trouble taking their eyes off her, and even female children would be drawn in, let alone men.

At this time, Mrs. Song smiled and asked: "Don't know what the name of this young man is? How did he meet our family's daughter-in-law?"

Her voice was gentle and her expression was warm, very easy to make people feel intimate.

Xiao Yu's attention was all on Venerable, who didn't expect there to be so many people beside her. He was startled, being stared at made him very uncomfortable.

This time when he heard Mrs. Song ask like this, he felt a little guilty.

He scratched his head and said vaguely: "We met in the provincial city..." Then carefully asked: "Don't know if madam is..."

Mrs. Song became even more gentle: "I am Venerable's mother-in-law."

Xiao Yu: "..."

Xiao Yu laughed awkwardly: "Haha, good luck."

His gaze turned and he saw that there was also her husband beside Venerable. The one who had met in the provincial city last time.

Even if it was another man, they couldn't help but admit that Venerable's husband was extremely outstanding. His appearance and manners were excellent.

"Isn't it?" Mrs. Song echoed, tactfully not revealing the young man's thoughts.

Mr. Wang and his wife smiled.

This young master in the luxurious clothes didn't seem bad, even though he had some intentions towards Venerable earlier, but after seeing that she already had a husband, let alone one so outstanding, he... probably couldn't compare to him.

Xiao Yu was too embarrassed to stay here. He said goodbye to them and hurried away.

Venerable stopped him and said: "This place has many pickpockets and thieves. Your money pouch should be kept safe."

Xiao Yu nodded his head blankly.

He didn't think, until he walked far away, when he touched the money pouch in his sleeve pocket.

The little attendant beside him suddenly said: "Young master, could it be that your money pouch actually wasn't accidentally dropped by you, but was stolen by a thief? The thief screamed so loudly at that time, not because of your daughter-in-law's action, right?"

Xiao Yu finally reacted and realized the little attendant was right. He also thought his money pouch was accidentally dropped, then someone saw it to grab.

"Could Venerable Lady have helped me again?" He felt a bit ashamed. "I should have thanked her just now."

The other side, Fu Huangxiao saw the two strings of bamboo beads Venerable bought and asked: "Venerable, why did you buy this thing?"

This bamboo bead was only for novelty, or it could be said to be crude.

But this was a pair, with some meaning.

Fu Huangxiao didn't speak, looking at her with a cold expression.

Venerable put one string of beads in her hand, weighing it: "Used for hitting people should be suitable."

A string had thirteen bamboo beads. Two strings were twenty-six. At critical moments they would be quite useful. Not like last time when she broke a piece of bamboo carving.

Fu Huangxiao: "..."

Xiao Yu was just an interlude, and no one paid much attention to it.

But who knew that when they returned to the boat to continue northbound, they discovered Xiao Yu was in the ship next to them.

This ship also had to go north.

At that time, Venerable was bringing two children to the deck using a fishing rod to catch fish. They could eat fresh fish at night and then tomorrow morning they would have some.

Just then, she heard Xiao Yu's voice from across the river.

"Miss Venerable! Miss Venerable!"

Xiao Yu excitedly leaned against the ship railing and called over.

This dock was large and the river wide. Coming and going ships were not few.

At this time when two ships passed by one after another, their distance was particularly close. Venerable lifted her head and saw Xiao Yu on the opposite boat.

Xiao Yu didn't expect they could meet again so coincidentally, and he smiled brightly.

Venerable didn't say anything to him, she just waved her hand and a fish was caught.

This time it was an extra fat fish that was caught. The two children cheered up, very giving face by clapping their hands and shouting: "Little Aunt is amazing!"

Across the river, Xiao Yu looked at this scene in surprise.

He thought Venerable was fishing with a fishing rod just now. He didn't think she could really catch a fish.

Very soon, Xiao Yu discovered that Venerable wasn't actually fishing, who would directly sweep a fishing rod into the water and then lift it up to catch a fish?

Xiao Yu's attention was quickly attracted, watching her catching fish like this with great interest. Every time Venerable lifted a fish up with her hand, he also clapped his hands excitedly like the two children, his face reddening.

Of course, it could also be because of the river wind blowing cold.

The little attendant worried about his body, urging him to go back to rest in the ship cabin. Xiao Yu didn't listen, instead scolding him for being a busybody.

Not far away in the hall, Fu Huangxiao stood by the window and saw everything on the deck.

Mr. Wang looked over at the opposite boat, suddenly saying: "That ship over there is probably privately customized, with many guards on board, well trained. It seems this young master's status is not ordinary."

He was a scholar himself, so he had some discernment.

The name of Xiao Yu's family was royal, and it wasn't known if this Xiao Yu was a member of the royal family or not.

Fu Huangxiao didn't speak, his expression cold.

Mr. Wang was already used to his silence and looked over again, smiling: "This young master seems like a child."

Xiao Yu's age was in his teens, but in Mr. Wang's eyes he was still a child, let alone Xiao Yu showed the temperament of a child.

Fu Huangxiao didn't speak, walked out of the hall and towards the deck.

The two children saw him and called out sweetly: "Uncle."

Venerable turned her head to look at him and asked: "Why did you come over? Don't you want to write poems with Mr. Wang?"

The two were going to take the imperial exams next spring, and they had not been idle on this long journey, often coming together to discuss literary matters.

Fu Huangxiao smiled and said: "Come see, also stretch your legs."

He reached out his hand towards her, slowly putting away the messy hair at her temple with a calm expression.

Venerable obediently stood there, looking up at him, letting him do as he pleased.

The two children had long been accustomed to this kind of thing and didn't think it was strange at all.

Only Xiao Yu on the opposite boat felt very uncomfortable, secretly looking over and seeing Venerable's husband come out.

Fu Huangxiao greeted him politely: "Xiao Yu are you also heading north?"

"Y-yes." Xiao Yu stammered, his face red. "I'm also going to the capital."

Venerable and Fu Huangxiao were invited by Mr. Wang's family to eat dinner in their ship.

Mr. Wang saw Venerable and Fu Huangxiao were invited by Mr. Wang's family for dinner in their ship.

Mr. Wang smiled: "Finally, this little kid is willing to come over."

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "This child has no reason not to come. If he doesn't come here, where can he go? He still has to eat and sleep."

Venerable and the other two children were already in bed.

Xiao Yu had been very excited since the day Venerable and Fu Huangxiao left for the capital. He kept asking when they would arrive.

It was a pity that Mr. Wang didn't know how to answer him, so he could only say: "Soon."

Xiao Yu nodded, saying he understood.

Over the next few days, the two ships continued northward side by side.

Not long after that, they encountered an attack again.

This time it was in broad daylight and the attack came from all directions. Several boats rushed over to surround theirs.

Their boat's guards were not a small number, but against this kind of surrounding attack, they couldn't resist.

It was like being trapped between a rock and a hard place, with no way out in front or behind. The river banks on both sides were barren, there was nowhere to seek help.

On the adjacent ship, Xiao Yu was grabbed by his small attendant and he said anxiously: "Young master, let's run quickly! Our guards will delay them for us, we can take a small boat to shore when they're distracted... You can't have anything happen to you, otherwise Madam will be sad."

"I won't go!" Xiao Yu tightened his face. "I'm not afraid of what? They dare to attack me, I'll fight back!"

"Master..."

Just as the little attendant was getting anxious and wanted to knock him out and take him away by force, suddenly he saw someone jump off the other boat.

"Miss Venerable!"

Xiao Yu looked clearly at who jumped off from their ship. It was Venerable!

Fortunately, Venerable didn't fall into the water but jumped onto one of the boats. Then everyone saw her kick hard on the deck and BOOM! The deck immediately collapsed and cracked, causing the guards standing on it to all fall down like dumplings.

Next, she spun around and punched at the ship's body.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM sounds resounded. In everyone's stunned eyes, they only saw that boat being smashed by her in an instant.

When the ship split open, she nimbly jumped onto another boat, then proceeded to smash it up as before.

Because her movements were so fast, the people on the ships couldn't react in time to stop her. Even if they tried to stop her when she was about to smash a ship, they still couldn't get close to her, let alone fight back.

Very soon, Venerable smashed all the boats and they sank slowly into the water.

The people on the ships fell one by one into the river, freezing in the winter river. They splashed around in the water.

This scene stunned everyone.

Both ships' people were staring blankly at it, not reacting for a long time.

Until Venerable stepped over the sinking ships, leaping lightly back to their ship as before, they still had no reaction.

Then when she turned and walked back into the cabin, Mr. Wang finally said: "That was amazing!"

Mrs. Wang smiled and asked: "It's been so many days since we left home, what do you think of this journey?"

Mr. Wang pondered for a moment and then said: "If I had to choose one word, it would be 'exciting'."

Over the next few days, the two ships continued northward side by side.

Not long after that, they encountered an attack again.

This time it was in broad daylight and the attack came from all directions. Several boats rushed over to surround theirs.

Their boat's guards were not a small number, but against this kind of surrounding attack, they couldn't resist.

It was like being trapped between a rock and a hard place, with no way out in front or behind. The river banks on both sides were barren, there was nowhere to seek help.

"I won't go!" Xiao Yu tightened his face. "I'm not afraid of what? They dare to attack me, I'll fight back!"

BODY ENDS

第182章 Chapter 182

Venerable and Gold sit down for a meal.

Gold says, "Let's eat together."

Venerable replies, "Okay."

They drink wine and chat happily.

Gold asks her to stay longer but she refuses politely.

The next day, Venerable goes to the inn. The innkeeper tells her that Silver has already arrived and is resting upstairs.

She goes up to his room and sees him lying on a bed. He opens his eyes when he hears someone enter the room.

Venerable asks if he needs any medicine or food.

Silver says no thanks. She leaves after making sure he's alright.

Time passes quickly, soon it's winter again! The snowflakes fall thickly from the sky onto the ground below. It looks like a white blanket covering everything in sight. This year seems to be especially cold; people can hardly stand outside for long periods of time without feeling numbness creeping into their bones.

Even though Venerable is used to cold weather, she still feels chilled at times when she steps out of the inn's door. She wraps her cloak around herself tightly as she walks down the street towards Grandpa's house.

When Venerable arrives at Grandpa's house, she sees that the place has been well-maintained by Silver. The garden is clean and tidy; no weeds are visible anywhere. Even the old tree in front of the courtyard looks more robust than before!

Venerable enters Grandpa's room. He is lying on his bed, looking weak but not entirely sickly anymore.

"Grandpa!" Venerable greets him warmly. "You're awake! How do you feel today?"

"It feels good to see you again, Venerable," Grandpa replies with a smile on his face. "Thank you for coming back."

"You don't need to thank me," Venerable says gently. "I'm here because I want to be here."

Grandpa nods and says nothing further.

Venerable stays with him until nightfall, making sure he eats well before leaving.

The next morning, Venerable wakes up early. She washes her face with cold water from the basin nearby then heads downstairs for breakfast.

After eating, she steps outside for some fresh air when suddenly someone calls out to her from behind: "Venerable!"

Turning around, Venerable sees Gold standing there wearing a cloak and holding an umbrella over herself.

"Gold! What are you doing here?" Venerable asks in surprise.

"I've come to see Grandpa too," Gold replies with a smile on her face before lowering the umbrella down onto the ground beside her feet. "Can I come inside?"

Venerable nods and lets her sister enter the house together. Inside, Silver is already waiting for them at the dining table. He looks up when he hears them approaching then stands up politely saying: "Sisters! Welcome back!"

They all sit down together around the table and begin eating their breakfast while chatting with each other happily.

After they finish eating, Gold goes to check on Grandpa in his room while Venerable helps Silver wash dishes downstairs.

Silver asks her how she feels after traveling so long alone. She tells him that everything went smoothly; nothing unexpected happened during this trip at all except for meeting a new friend who gave her some advice along the way...

Venerable and Gold are eating together when Gold says, "Let's eat together."

Venerable replies, "Okay."

They drink wine and chat happily. Gold asks her to stay longer but she refuses politely.