Zheng Xiang smiled and waved his hand, "What kind of broad-mindedness is that? It's just a statement of helplessness."
Yi Zixie listened but didn't continue speaking. Seeing this, Zheng Xiang didn't press the issue further.
Just as he was about to ask again if Yi Zixie and the others had carriages, Jiang Yubao's voice came from afar.
Turning his head, he saw Jiang Yubao indeed running towards them.
When Jiang Yubao approached, Yi Zixie asked, "Manager Jiang, is there something you're rushing here for?"
Jiang Yubao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "When the Grand Tutor and the Fifth Prince arrived, they used imperial carriages. Young Master Lu's family also traveled in imperial carriages. Therefore, now that you are leaving, the Grand Empress fears you will have no way to return and has specifically sent this servant to escort you back."
Yi Zixie smiled at this and, while smiling, didn't forget to glance at Zheng Xiang, "Prince Duan just said he would send us back."
Zheng Xiang was startled. Why did he feel that Yi Zixie's words carried a hidden meaning?
Jiang Yubao hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, "Prince Duan is indeed the most kind-hearted. Even though he lives extremely far from the Grand Tutor, he still actively offered to escort the Grand Tutor back."
Zheng Xiang noticed the tone of the words was off and was immediately startled. He blurted out an explanation, "Didn't the Grand Tutor just say he was going to treat us to a meal? So, I also wanted to join in the fun. As for the carriage, wasn't it just a convenience?"
Listening to Zheng Xiang's extremely obsequious tone, Yi Zixie and Sima Han exchanged glances, all looking to the heavens speechlessly.
What kind of pathetic Prince Duan was this, fawning over an old eunuch by the Grand Empress's side.
However, considering Zheng Xiang was from Sima Hao's faction, it was indeed fitting for him to curry favor with Sima Hao's trusted eunuch.
He just hoped that Sima Hao would ultimately give Zheng Xiang what he wanted.
Since Jiang Yubao came to escort them, Zheng Xiang no longer needed to offer his courtesies, which also made Sima Han and Yi Zixie feel much more relaxed.
Jiang Yubao brought two carriages. Yi Zixie and Sima Han took one, and Lu Taobao took his family in the other. As for Jiang Yubao, he didn't personally escort them but watched their carriages gradually recede before turning around and returning to the palace gates.
The carriages did not travel very fast. Yi Zixie and Sima Han did not speak during the journey.
They arrived at Siyang House in silence. Yi Zixie and the others alighted from the carriages at the entrance. After bowing, the young eunuch drove the carriages away.
Huo Si, who heard the commotion outside, rushed out.
Seeing that Yi Zixie and Sima Han had returned, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But when he saw Lu Taobao walking in behind the two, followed by three people behind Lu Taobao, and then a group of old men, he was completely stunned.
Didn't they say they were going to the Forbidden City?
Why did they bring so many people back?
It was one thing for Young Master Lu to return, but why did he bring his parents and grandmother along?
These were ultimately not matters he should inquire about, so he honestly welcomed everyone inside and then had the servants take the horses by the door to the stables.
After everyone entered Siyang House, they went directly to the living room.
Yi Zixie asked Sima Han to entertain them with tea while he himself led Lu Taobao and the others towards the backyard.
After taking a few steps, he saw Zheng Xiang walking towards them with a smile, "Grand Tutor, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. I wonder if you would permit it."
Yi Zixie raised his eyebrows, "What is it?"
Zheng Xiang smiled sheepishly, "Awei just left my place this morning, but I didn't see him before he left. Coupled with what happened in my mansion last night, I wanted to check if he was injured. That way, I can be at ease."
Zheng Xiang's reason sounded plausible, but instinctively, Yi Zixie and the others felt that Zheng Xiang's true intentions were not that simple.
However, even if they weren't simple, so what?
Would they be afraid of him?
At worst, they could just kill him, and it would simply be said that he was killed by an assassin.
"Since Prince Duan wants to see Awei, this Grand Tutor really cannot stop you. Let's go."
After Yi Zixie finished speaking, he turned around briskly and headed towards the backyard.
Seeing that things were proceeding so smoothly, Yi Zixie couldn't help but feel happy.
The group quickly entered the second gate and arrived at the backyard.
There seemed to be quite a few people in the backyard, currently busy among the branches and vines in the garden.
Although no plants had sprouted leaves yet, the newly grown plants still needed pruning to ensure they grew more luxuriantly.
Yi Zixie only took a cursory glance and then withdrew his gaze.
Zheng Xiang showed no surprise at such a scene.
The group continued forward. As they neared Shi'an Courtyard, Yi Zixie inexplicably felt a pang of unease.
With this feeling, Yi Zixie was no longer his usual calm self. With a flash, he had completely disappeared.
Sima Han was a little surprised to see Yi Zixie quickly enter Shi'an Courtyard.
They were clearly very close, so why the sudden panic?
Although he felt strange, Sima Han was not slow to react and followed Yi Zixie into the courtyard.
The courtyard was quiet, and even Huo Fen was not there.
This made Yi Zixie's uneasy heart even more flustered.
In the past, after Yi Zixie entered Shi'an Courtyard, he would always head straight for the east side room, as the children were all there.
But today, for some unknown reason, something seemed to be drawing him forward, urging him to hurry towards the main house.
Walking quickly to the door of the main house, Yi Zixie stopped.
Looking at the slightly ajar door before him, Yi Zixie, for a moment, actually hesitated to open it and enter.
While Yi Zixie was in a daze, Sima Han caught up and stood beside him.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you going in? And why do you suddenly want to go in and take a look?"
It wasn't that Sima Han asked this without reason. Normally, they would not disturb Shen Xiaoyan in the main house.
Therefore, Yi Zixie's actions today were indeed surprising.
Hearing Sima Han's question, Yi Zixie opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.
Finally, taking a deep breath, he entered the room.
Upon entering the living room, he saw that the bedroom door was open, and there were figures moving inside.
Sima Han frowned slightly upon seeing this. Why were so many people here today?
The two slowly walked towards the bedroom. Before they entered, they felt the oppressive atmosphere within.
Before the two entered, footsteps could be heard from behind, "What's going on? Why is everyone in this room?"
It was Lu Taobao speaking.
Yi Zixie and Sima Han had rushed ahead earlier, leaving him to walk behind with Zheng Xiang.
As he spoke, Lu Taobao had just stepped into the living room, while Zheng Xiang was still behind him, with one foot not yet crossed the threshold.
Hearing this, Yi Zixie quickly turned his head, "Take Prince Duan to the front yard to rest and eat."
Lu Taobao was startled. Didn't he say they were going to see Zheng Wei?
Although he was puzzled, Lu Taobao was a smart person. Seeing this, he knew something must be up, so he didn't delay. He turned around and, with a smile, took Zheng Xiang's arm and walked outside.
While it was said he took his arm, it could also be described as dragging him.
Zheng Xiang, caught off guard, was directly pulled out of the courtyard by Lu Taobao.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing that they were about to leave the house, Zheng Xiang was furious and reprimanded him sternly.
He hadn't even seen the situation in the bedroom clearly before this brat dragged him out.
Lu Taobao stopped and smiled apologetically at Zheng Xiang, "Your Highness, please forgive me. It's just that family matters are being handled inside, and it's not convenient for Your Highness to be there. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will have Zheng Ge see you as soon as he's free."
Lu Taobao's words were polite, but the meaning behind them was not at all polite.
Zheng Xiang's expression turned a bit unpleasant after hearing this.
After all, according to their public narrative, he was Zheng Wei's grandfather.
Now they were talking about family matters and asking him to wait.
Wasn't this clearly slapping him in the face?
But he couldn't say anything.
He believed that if he expressed any dissatisfaction or insisted on seeing Zheng Wei immediately, he would likely be directly kicked out of the house.
Taking a deep breath, Zheng Xiang forced a smile that was more like a grimace.
"Alright, then this Prince will wait in the front."
After speaking, he ignored Lu Taobao and strode out of the courtyard himself.
Lu Taobao shrugged indifferently as he watched Zheng Xiang's retreating figure.
What was he pretending for in front of him?
He grumbled inwardly, but his actions were not slow. He raised his leg and caught up.
In the main house's bedroom, Zheng Wei sat by the window, his eyes fixed on Shen Xiaoyan on the bed.
Not far from the bed stood a row of people. Without a close look, one could tell that everyone in the family was there, including Bai Ying and Fujiwara Shifui.
Sima Han and Yi Zixie stood dumbfounded at the doorway for a while before entering slowly.
Hearing footsteps, everyone except Zheng Wei turned to look.
"You're back?" Na Mu Zhong said with a smile.
Yi Zixie nodded and walked to Na Mu Zhong's side, asking softly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Na Mu Zhong shook her head.
Yi Zixie raised his eyebrows, "You're all standing here, and you're telling me nothing's wrong?"
Na Mu Zhong only then realized and smiled awkwardly, explaining, "It's really nothing. It's just that Shen Xiaoyan has woken up."
Woken up?
Yi Zixie and Sima Han's pupils widened simultaneously.
"Xin Xin, is this true?" Sima Han asked Yue Qingxin disbelievingly.
Yue Qingxin smiled and nodded, "It's true. I saw it with my own eyes."
Hearing Yue Qingxin say this, Sima Han's smile widened, "Then why are you all standing here?"
And all with expressionless faces, making him think something had happened.
"Oh, you mean this. Sister only woke up for a short while before falling asleep again. We wanted to wait here and see if she would wake up again."
After Yue Qingxin's explanation, Sima Han and Yi Zixie finally truly relaxed.
"Did she say anything when she woke up?" Yi Zixie looked at Shen Xiaoyan on the bed, but his question was directed at Na Mu Zhong.
Na Mu Zhong shook her head, "I don't know. When we came over, she was already almost asleep. When she saw us, she only managed a faint smile before falling asleep. We didn't have time to ask anything."
Yi Zixie nodded, finding this understandable.
However, Zheng Wei must have been there all along and would certainly know if Shen Xiaoyan had said anything.
So, Yi Zixie took a few steps forward and said in a low voice, "What did Shen Xiaoyan say? Did she mention why she fainted? Did she say how we can help her?"
Zheng Wei slowly shifted his gaze from Shen Xiaoyan and looked up at Yi Zixie.
Seeing that everyone, including Yi Zixie, looked concerned, he smiled.
"Don't worry everyone, Mi Mi said she'll recover soon. This matter has nothing to do with her master, so don't blame innocent people."
As for Zheng Wei's words, the others could let it go.
However, the old man's eyes actually welled up slightly upon hearing this.
Shen Xiaoyan had been unconscious for so long, and now that she had only woken up for a short while, she still remembered to say good things for him.
The old man was overwhelmed with emotion and repeatedly thought to himself that he hadn't taken this disciple in vain and would definitely teach her well in the future.