Qu Dubian: “Come, help me intercept them.”
The vegetable basket was delivered by Xiaochun. If discovered, it would be hard to explain, and in the worst case, he might become a scapegoat.
Xia Fuyang: “You have a plan?”
Qu Dubian smiled slightly, pulled his arm, and bit down on it.
Xia Fuyang screamed in pain: “Oww—!!”
The servants and steward who were about to enter through the archway only saw two figures, one tall and one short, “fighting” as they ran from the back courtyard.
“You actually bit me! If I don’t bite you back today, I’m not a Xia!”
The one running ahead quickly turned back and stuck out his tongue, “Then take my surname instead. I’ll ask my old man to adopt you.”
The steward and female official’s eyelids twitched violently as they exclaimed: “Seventh Prince? Young Master Xia??”
Good heavens!
Why were these two here?
Qu Dubian’s eyes were filled with tears, and he indignantly grabbed the female official’s sleeve, “He stole my dessert!”
Xia Fuyang: “What nonsense! You clearly stole mine, and you even bit me. I haven’t even settled the score with you yet.”
“You two, you two, don’t argue. What dessert, Your Highness? We can just have another one made.”
The steward and female official were forced into the children’s dispute, patiently mediating.
The Seventh Prince was deeply loved by His Majesty, and Young Baron Xia’s father was an important minister in His Majesty’s eyes. Neither could be dealt with carelessly.
The back courtyard was temporarily neglected.
–
By the vegetable basket.
Ye Xiaoyuan: “The prince and Young Master Xia have gone to intercept people. What should we do about this? If discovered, you’ll be implicated and unable to explain. There’s a ninety percent chance you’ll die.”
“This is clearly someone trying to set you up. Do you know who it might be?”
Wen Xiaochun: “I have some idea.”
He rolled up his sleeves and pulled the corpse out of the vegetable basket, “I’ll handle this. Brother Xiaoyuan, please clean up the blood stains in the basket.”
The blood stains in the basket were scattered, with some flowing down the stems of the cabbage. He didn’t understand these things and couldn’t tell how long the person had been dead.
Ye Xiaoyuan nodded: “Leave it to me.”
Outside the archway.
Qu Dubian and Xia Fuyang put on an act, blocking for a full ten minutes. When they really couldn’t stall any longer, they pretended to part ways.
Xia Fuyang feigned anger and walked away, but turned back with concern after getting some distance.
Qu Dubian was being led and comforted by the steward, heading toward the back kitchen, “Your Highness shouldn’t stoop to his level. What’s your status compared to his? Whatever you want to eat, come, I’ll have someone make it right away, and make plenty.”
In the back courtyard.
Splash—
A basin of water was poured into the vegetable basket.
Ye Xiaoyuan put down the water basin, holding a half-slaughtered chicken that was still dripping blood, and a kitchen knife in his other hand.
“Eh? Your Highness, didn’t you just leave? How did you come back with the steward?”
Qu Dubian: “Met an annoying pest.”
The steward smiled: “The young prince wants something to eat. I’ll have the kitchen make it fresh. Eunuch Ye, what are you…?” His gaze swept over the dripping vegetable basket and the dead chicken in his hand.
Ye Xiaoyuan said helplessly: “The prince wants chicken soup and asked me to make it personally. I’m just borrowing some tools. I accidentally splashed blood on the vegetable basket while slaughtering the chicken, so I rinsed it with water. Sorry about that.”
“It’s nothing, nothing!” The steward waved repeatedly, “Please continue, don’t let me interrupt. We’re just looking for someone.”
Ye Xiaoyuan was surprised: “Looking for someone? In the back courtyard?”
The steward smiled bitterly: “I know it’s unlikely that Young Master Shu would be in the back courtyard, but it’s the master’s order to search the entire residence. We must check every corner.”
Ye Xiaoyuan: “I see. Then please search quickly. The kitchen just happens to be a bit crowded.”
They began searching the back courtyard, checking all the storerooms, walking around the kitchen, and even looking by the rockery, stones, and pond.
After thoroughly searching, they finally left the back courtyard.
The steward said: “Sigh, no one here either. Eunuch Xiaoyuan, should I escort the Seventh Prince to the front hall, or should he stay with you?”
Ye Xiaoyuan was the personal eunuch who had been with the Seventh Prince since Ju’an Hall. His level of intimacy and status were naturally extraordinary. Because the Seventh Prince was loved by His Majesty, even the palace people spoke politely to Ye Xiaoyuan.
Ye Xiaoyuan: “Your Highness, please return to the front hall first. The smell of blood is strong here.”
He subtly shook his head at Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian had no choice but to say: “Then, Banban, be careful when handling the chicken.”
He hadn’t seen what was in the vegetable basket, but he could vaguely guess what it looked like.
Ye Xiaoyuan: “I’ll be careful when handling it. Steward, please trouble you to escort the young prince to the front hall.”
The steward nodded and smiled: “The Seventh Prince really cares about you, even reminding you to be careful with a chicken.”
Ye Xiaoyuan smiled but didn’t respond.
The servants who had come to search the back courtyard all left with the steward, and suddenly it became quiet.
Ye Xiaoyuan carried the chicken to the edge of the pond.
Not long after, with a splash from the pond, Wen Xiaochun, soaking wet, emerged step by step, dragging the corpse. He looked up at Ye Xiaoyuan on the shore.
Ye Xiaoyuan: “What do you want me to do?”
Wen Xiaochun took out a flying bird jade pendant from his bosom, caressed it for a moment, then threw it to him.
“Take it to the Xue Family Grain Shop and say, ‘Ask the shopkeeper to transport something.'”
Ye Xiaoyuan: “Transport where?”
Wen Xiaochun patted the corpse, “He’s about to become a tribute.”
–
In the city.
Xue Family Grain Shop.
People were discussing the news of the banquet at the Crown Prince’s Residence.
A person wearing a bamboo hat and women’s clothes entered the grain shop.
Shopkeeper: “Buying grain?”
Ye Xiaoyuan softened his voice and pressed the jade pendant on the counter, “Exchanging grain.”
The shopkeeper’s expression changed slightly, and he invited him into the inner room, “Miss, where do you want to exchange grain?”
Ye Xiaoyuan passed him a small note.
–
In an elegant and interesting room.
Behind a screen, a youth in purple robes burned the note to ashes and stretched.
“Oh my, just returned to the capital from Baojiang District, and already there’s a troublesome task.”
He stood up and picked up a fan from the table.
“What a laborious life.”
The fan opened, revealing four characters:
Heaven’s Mandate, Romantic Flair.
–
The Crown Prince’s Residence was bustling with people coming and going. Carriages hurried in and out of the back gate, with vegetable baskets and garbage being promptly removed.
Qu Dubian wandered around the front hall for a while, then went to find Zhiyi.
Being still young, he could roam around the women’s area without causing any issues.
Zhiyi and Yuan’er were talking with Shu Wenxin, and they seemed to be getting along well.
She would eventually marry into the Crown Prince’s household, making them somewhat like family. Shu Wenxin’s speech and knowledge were both extraordinary, and when she spoke to people, she gave them a very comfortable feeling.
Qu Dubian came over and greeted them.
“Sister, Sister Yuan.”
Shu Wenxin: “Greetings, Seventh Prince.”
Zhiyi whispered: “This is our future eldest sister-in-law.”
Qu Dubian was stunned, “Eh?”
Shu Wenxin: “We’re not yet married, so I don’t deserve that title. Just call me by my name.”
Qu Dubian: “Sister Shu.”
Shu Wenxin smiled, seeming a bit embarrassed.
She stood up and said: “I’ve been waiting for news of my brother, and started chatting with the princess. Although the princess and Miss Xie are young, their knowledge is truly astonishing. I lost track of time while talking. I should go now and ask if they’ve found my brother.”
She nodded slightly and left with her maid.
Qu Dubian couldn’t help but sigh.
Yuan’er: “Seventh Prince, why are you sighing?”
“It’s nothing.”
He just wanted to say that although he didn’t know how Xiaochun and Xiaoyuan had handled it, Miss Shu was destined to never see her brother again.
Qu Dubian climbed up to the pavilion and leaned on the wooden railing. In the garden, the female guests were laughing and chatting, while in another garden, the male guests were drinking and toasting. It was all a lively and peaceful scene, full of flowers and splendor.
Beneath the surface, he hadn’t been involved, only observing.
Just glimpsing a corner of the intricate and unpredictable situation was already full of the scent of blood.
–
The banquet at the Crown Prince’s Residence ended.
Qu Dubian returned to the palace with Zhiyi.
Ye Xiaoyuan was waiting early by the carriage and gave Qu Dubian a reassuring smile.
Qu Dubian felt relieved and led Zhiyi onto the carriage.
After returning to Shunning Palace and greeting Concubine Xuan, he pulled Ye Xiaoyuan into his sleeping quarters, “Is Xiaochun alright?”
Ye Xiaoyuan: “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Everything has been arranged. The vegetable basket has been entrusted to someone to be sent out.”
Qu Dubian: “Entrusted to whom? Where was it sent?”
Ye Xiaoyuan: “I don’t know, Xiaochun didn’t say. It should be his own connections? Anyway, it’s within the capital.”
Not knowing if it’s safe or not… Qu Dubian rubbed his chin, “Liuliu, did you see where it was sent?”
Yi Shi’er jumped down from the beam, “No, I stayed by your side. Without orders, I don’t go elsewhere.”
Qu Dubian: “Keep today’s matter secret. No one is to mention it again.”
Ye Xiaoyuan and Yi Shi’er nodded.
Yi Shi’er: “What about Xia Fuyang?”
Qu Dubian: “Don’t worry about him.”
Xia Fuyang understood very well and wouldn’t actively seek trouble for himself. This matter might still escalate, and getting involved would bring no benefit.
But before there was definite news or this matter was resolved, he’d better not go out.
Qu Dubian lay on the small hammock in his sleeping quarters, his cheek squished to one side, sighing deeply.
What a mess.
Yi Shi’er didn’t leave. He stood in front of the hammock, looking at Qu Dubian for quite a while.
His gaze was truly impossible to ignore. Qu Dubian: “Liuliu, what are you doing?” He’s not thinking of killing Xia Fuyang to silence him, is he?
Yi Shi’er: “Your Highness, you gave the books I copied to Young Master Xia.”
Qu Dubian: “Mm, that’s right.”
Yi Shi’er was quiet for a moment, “I wrote for a long time.”
A few seconds later, he added emphatically: “I also really liked those books.”
Qu Dubian: “…”
He looked up and saw a hint of accusation in Liuliu’s eyes.
Qu Dubian: “I’ll tell you one more new chapter tomorrow.”
Yi Shi’er didn’t move.
Qu Dubian: “Two chapters!”
“…Mm.”
–
Inspection and Transport Office.
Wen Xiaochun drove the mule cart back.
When Superintendent Ren saw him, he glanced at the empty cart bed, his expression subtly pausing, “You’re back?”
Wen Xiaochun: “Yes, I came back after delivering the vegetables. I bought some snacks on the way, which delayed me a bit.” He smiled and handed over a flower cake wrapped in oiled paper, “I bought one for you. It’s not expensive, take it and try it.”
Superintendent Ren took it, “Oh, oh, thank you. Nothing happened on the way? The vegetables were fresh?”
Wen Xiaochun asked curiously: “Of course nothing happened. The vegetables were freshly picked by farmers. How could they not be fresh?”
“Superintendent, I’ll go rest now. Carrying heavy things back and forth was quite tiring. The back courtyard of the Crown Prince’s Residence was very busy, washing vegetables and splashing water, getting me all wet. I still need to change clothes when I get back.”
His tone carried some complaint, “The important people were all in the front hall. Who would come to the back courtyard? This errand was really hard work.”
Superintendent Ren: “Then go rest quickly, go on, go on.”
He frowned deeply, walked around the mule cart, and hurriedly left.
Two days later.
News of the disappearance of the Vice Minister of Revenue’s son spread quickly. Some people sensed something was wrong, while others didn’t think much of it, assuming he was carousing in brothels and taverns, afraid to return home.
Another day passed.
Several carriages stopped at the North Gate Inspection and Transport Office.
Several heavy large boxes emitting coldness were all moved down from the carriages, ready for inspection.
The person submitting them for inspection said: “These are all tribute seafood from Wuchen River—cultivated black crabs, palm-patterned shrimp, and silver-scaled fish, transported by boat all the way here. Look at this ice, it needs to be replaced daily.”
Superintendent Ren: “Tribute items are precious and can’t be treated carelessly. Open them and take a look.”
The inspection staff pried open the boxes. Unexpectedly, when they got to the second one, the person suddenly screamed in shock, his face turning pale as he pointed inside the box: “Su-su-superintendent…”
Superintendent Ren: “What is it?”
He impatiently stepped forward to look and was greatly shocked.
“It’s a dead person! It’s a dead person!”
“There’s a dead person in the tribute items!!”
Curled up in the box was a corpse, clearly the brother of the future Crown Princess Consort, Young Master Shu, who had been searched for throughout the capital.
The coolness emitted by the ice blocks slowly froze his hands and feet.
Superintendent Ren instinctively turned his head.
Wen Xiaochun stood not far away, exclaiming in surprise: “My goodness, it’s actually a corpse.”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
![Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250108211651_200_280.jpg "Who Are You Calling A Canary? [Transmigration]")
