Chapter 1219: Mission South
Editor: Henyee Translations
The Crown Prince had been reluctant to release Shao Yunduan, but he believed it was essential for Shao Yunduan to remain in the capital.
However, Shao Yunduan was insistent, hinting to the Crown Prince that it was a matter of finances. After some hesitation, the Crown Prince agreed.
He required the money more than Shao Yunduan had anticipated, a fact that left her speechless in embarrassment.
Shao Yunduan knew what needed to be done, unburdened by his position. Perhaps he could help resolve the financial issue without constraint. He dared to hope that he wouldn’t need to be overly frugal.
Though the Crown Prince didn’t vocalize his thoughts, he was deeply touched.
Dedicated and loyal officials—how admirable they were!
His thoughts had always revolved around himself, causing him anxiety. Shao Yunduan, on the other hand, knew how to maintain a low profile.
Inwardly, the Crown Prince vowed never to forget Shao Yunduan’s contributions once he advanced to the next level. He envisioned Shao Yunduan by his side as one of the esteemed ministers in the pavilion.
Yet, he questioned whether he was qualified for such a role.
Qiao Xuan was overjoyed when she heard that Shao Yunduan would be heading south. Their relationship had been strained, and the prospect of further separation was unwelcome.
Heading south in the spring to such a delightful place felt like pure bliss.
Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but think of her good fortune, having experienced so much and seen so many things. She humbled herself, wary of becoming overly arrogant.
The departure date was set for the first day of February, which left Qiao Xuan with the responsibility of arranging affairs in the capital beforehand.
Ever since the Fourth Prince’s side yard had faced punishment, he had been exceptionally well-behaved. The same held true for the other two princes. This was because it seemed as if the heavens were condemning the Fourth Prince, indirectly upholding the rightful position of the crown prince.
During these times, no one dared to draw attention to themselves, opting for a period of relative peace.
In the intermediate, everything had remained tranquil.
Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan, along with Liqiu and Lixia, made the decision to depart, entrusting Songshi with the task of tending to the yard and cultivating the 20 mu of land. As long as Songshi maintained a low profile, the Qiao Family and the Tian Family wouldn’t challenge their servants. The servants held no immediate value to them, and their pride was at stake. However, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan were determined to eventually exact revenge on them.
Qiao Xuan instructed Songshi to plant potatoes and transplant strawberries when the weather permitted. She also planned to cultivate some seasonal vegetables and oversee the household, striving to avoid causing any issues or developing bad habits.
Songshi nodded enthusiastically, motivated by his desire to work diligently. He aspired to become the household manager once Old Master and Madame Qiao achieved success, envisioning a bright future for himself without causing any trouble.
With the arrangements made, Qiao Xuan wrote a letter to Yuezheng Xiao, asking the Crown Prince to arrange for its delivery. The letter contained various design drawings and a request for Yuezheng Xiao to produce perfume-making tools. Half of these tools were to be entrusted to Yuezheng Xiao, while the other half would be crafted by skilled artisans, ensuring that the secret remained secure. No matter how clever these artisans were, they would never have access to the half-finished products.
Once all the preparations were in order, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan departed together on the first day of February. The Crown Prince had two capable guards, Sun Qian and Sun Bai, who excelled not only in their duties but also in martial arts accompanied the couple.