Kong Xingzhuo was stunned, his face full of curiosity…
Could the legendary mother蛊 be hidden in this woodshed?
If this matter wasn't resolved quickly, the Emperor would be in danger at any moment.
Thinking of this, Kong Xingzhuo dared not delay. He quietly climbed out of the haystack and walked towards the woodshed…
Before he reached the door, he smelled the aroma of fruits wafting over. It seemed this woodshed wasn't piled with firewood, but rather with things like apples and peaches…
To avoid being discovered by the surrounding experts, Kong Xingzhuo peered inside through the gap in the door.
It was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything.
“That’s not right. Nanny Xing clearly went in with a lantern. Why isn’t anyone in here?” Kong Xingzhuo wondered.
He glanced around, then pushed open the door and quickly slipped inside…
The woodshed was not large. Near the corner, seven or eight large wooden crates were piled up, filled with fruits of various colors, even lychees and cherries.
Kong Xingzhuo was dumbfounded. Such precious fruits were not even eaten by the Empress regularly. Consort Hui lived a truly extravagant life…
There was no one in the woodshed, and Nanny Xing and Consort Hui had vanished without a trace. This indicated that there was a secret passage or underground chamber here, and the two of them must have gone into the secret chamber.
Kong Xingzhuo searched for the mechanism to the secret chamber. He saw a protruding brick on the wall and pressed it hard. The surroundings were silent, and there was no reaction…
“What’s going on?” Kong Xingzhuo frowned. “Isn’t this the mechanism to open the secret chamber?”
No matter how he pushed, the door to the secret chamber could not be opened…
Just then, footsteps were heard from outside the woodshed. “It seems someone has broken in. You two, go search the surroundings immediately. The Consort is controlling the蛊 worms and cannot be disturbed by anyone!”
“Yes!”
“You, go search near the kitchen. You, go check the woodshed…”
The noisy footsteps grew closer, and Kong Xingzhuo’s heart pounded in his chest.
If he didn’t leave now, it would be too late.
If Consort Hui discovered that the Crown Prince had sent him to spy, she would surely send the mother蛊 away, and it would be troublesome to find it then…
Before the experts rushed into the woodshed, Kong Xingzhuo pushed open a small window and quickly squeezed out. Then, using the cover of night, he quickly left Fahua Nunnery.
It was a close call, but although he hadn’t completed his mission, he at least knew that the mother蛊 was hidden in the secret chamber of the woodshed. As long as he found the mechanism, he could get in…
The next morning.
Little Xi Tian hadn't had a good rest these past few days. First, Sister Fang’er returned from Yan Country, and she had to entertain her warmly. Then, her eldest nephew returned to the capital, and she had to take great care to ensure her nephew ate and slept well…
The warship blueprints needed improvement, and there were even minor issues at the Sweetheart Wine House.
And now, early in the morning, Old Ma showed up at her door.
“You say our grape wine tastes off?” Little Xi Tian asked, full of surprise.
“Yes, yes…”
Old Ma sighed, “Recently, customers have been complaining about us, saying we sell overpriced wine and that the quality of the wine is also substandard. I really don’t know what to do, so I wanted to ask Steward Xi Tian for advice…”
Little Xi Tian: “???”
This was truly outrageous.
Her wine-making recipe was the same as before, she hadn’t modified it or added any other ingredients. How could the taste have changed?
“Alright, I understand…” Little Xi Tian pursed her lips, went back into the house, and put on a small coat. “Let’s go to the wine house to take a look!~”
The Sweetheart Wine House was her only property in the capital and her most profitable establishment.
If there were problems here, it would directly affect her income…
Opening a mahjong parlor and a restaurant in the county town were just small ventures. Even if the business was booming, it couldn’t compare to the profit she made from selling two boxes of grape wine.
As the two of them reached the main entrance, Little Jie Kong chased after them, “Sister Xi Tian, I want to go too, I want to go too…”
He held a steamed bun filled with meat in one hand and a skewer of candied haws in the other, eating as he ran.
Little Xi Tian: “…”
Little monk, you’ll choke if you eat like that.
“Where did you buy the candied haws?” Little Xi Tian asked.
Little Jie Kong stuffed the skewer of candied haws into Little Xi Tian’s hand, his eyes smiling. “Sister Xi Tian, try it. I made these candied haws myself. They’re delicious…”
“What?” Little Xi Tian’s mouth twitched. “You can make candied haws now?”
Good heavens, no wonder the little monk had been staying in the kitchen these past few days and didn’t have time to argue with Xiao Jinheng. It turned out he was making candied haws…
“They look quite appetizing, and the presentation is good!” Old Ma smiled and said.
The little monk heard this and raised his chin, patting his chest. “Of course, the candied haws I make are the best, sweetest, and most delicious candied haws in the world, only for Sister Xi Tian to eat…”
Little Xi Tian couldn’t help but laugh. Since he had said so much, it would be rude of her not to accept.
Helplessly, Little Xi Tian took a small bite. An indescribable taste spread in her mouth, like swallowing a large mouthful of mustard, making her shut down on the spot…
What had the little monk added to the sugar syrup?
It was so salty, a little spicy, and if you tasted it carefully, it was also a bit bitter.
In her entire life, she had never eaten such terrible candied haws…
Seeing Little Xi Tian’s speechless expression, the little monk scratched his face curiously. “Sister Xi Tian, what’s wrong? Are the candied haws not delicious?”
Little Xi Tian: “…”
“Jie Kong, did you eat these candied haws yourself?” Little Xi Tian asked.
The little monk blinked. “I only ate a small bite. I saved the rest for Sister Xi Tian…”
Little Xi Tian let out a silent roar in her heart. She shoved the candied haws into Old Ma’s hand and then turned to get into the carriage.
Old Ma was a bit at a loss. Was the little princess bestowing a skewer of candied haws upon him?
Should he eat it or not?
“Uncle Old Ma, drive the carriage…” Little Xi Tian called out crisply.
There were still so many things to attend to at the shop, she didn’t have time to bicker here.
Old Ma responded, placed the candied haws on the carriage shaft, flicked the reins, and shouted, “Giddy up!”
In the study of the Yun Mansion.
“Are you sure they disappeared after entering the woodshed?” Xiao Jinheng looked at Kong Xingzhuo, his heart filled with suspicion.
How could two living people vanish for no reason?
There must be something fishy going on…
Kong Xingzhuo nodded. “It’s absolutely true. I believe there must be some mechanism in that woodshed, but the situation was urgent at the time, and I had to retreat before I could find the mechanism!”
Xiao Jinheng listened and pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Murong Taotao walk in with his hands behind his back…