Chapter 635 - 234: Struck It Rich
Chapter 635: Chapter 234: Struck It Rich
Almost all the masters of the Xu family had left, leaving only Zhao Jing and Chen Wanqing at home.
Chen Wanqing hadn’t slept well yesterday, so she and Zhao Jing went back to the backyard to catch up on some sleep. Halfway through their nap, a maid rushed in frantically, announcing that a guest had arrived at the door, and a distinguished one at that.
Chen Wanqing wondered who could be considered a distinguished guest by the Xu family, and who would rush over to their home at such a critical juncture. She thought of the Xu family’s relatives and old friends, assuming they had heard the news of her mother’s return and come specifically to visit. However, that wasn’t the case.
"Princess Kangning is here!"
Chen Wanqing subconsciously repeated the name the maid had mentioned. "Princess Kangning? Why does this name sound so familiar?"
Zhao Jing walked beside her, one hand resting on her waist, afraid she might slip if she walked too fast.
He said, "You aren’t familiar with Princess Kangning, but rather the Kangning Fragrance Workshop. The female manager of the Kangning Fragrance Workshop mentioned before that her boss was in the Capital City, and her family held great power and influence. Is it possible that this is Princess Kangning’s property?"
A look of sudden realization washed over Chen Wanqing’s face. "That makes sense. But for her to show up at our door so quickly..."
"If I had to guess, she must be Mother’s close friend," Zhao Jing replied.
A nanny leading the way walked beside them. Hearing their conversation, she refrained from interrupting the entire time. Only when they turned their gaze toward her did the nanny smile and say, "Just so you know, Miss, Princess Kangning is the daughter of Princess Longyu from next door. Because they both lived on the same street, and her temperament meshed well with your mother’s, they have been close friends since childhood."
The nanny further explained that when Xu Su Ying had previously fallen into the water and gone missing, Princess Kangning had gone straight to the palace to plead for help. She managed to secure a Holy Decree, ensuring that missing person notices were posted across all the prefectures and counties along both banks of the Sui River.
Even during the years when Xu Su Ying was away from home, Princess Kangning never failed to send gifts to the family during all the holidays and festivals. Moreover, the gifts were more generous than in previous years, and she even personally presented clothes and headbands to the old madam, acting as though she were fulfilling filial duties on behalf of her good friend.
"Princess Kangning left the Capital City a couple of years ago to accompany her husband to his new post," the nanny continued. "Fortunately, his post isn’t far; it’s right near the Capital City. It’s highly likely that the Princess Mansion sent a letter to her yesterday, which prompted her to rush back overnight."
The nanny’s guess was spot on—Princess Kangning had indeed hurried back through the night.
Her clothes were disheveled, and her face was covered in dust and windburn. Despite being a noble lady, she was dressed in a riding habit. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell she had galloped all the way back.
Upon seeing Chen Wanqing, she immediately called out, "Suying!"
Once she rushed closer, she suddenly realized her mistake. "You’re not Suying! I’m getting muddled. Suying is the same age as me; no matter how well she takes care of herself, she wouldn’t look like a young girl."
She carefully examined Chen Wanqing and took her hands. "You must be Suying’s daughter, right?"
Chen Wanqing curtsied in greeting, and Zhao Jing followed suit with a bow. Princess Kangning helped them up, giving them a curious once-over before asking, "Is your mother really not at the manor? She isn’t deliberately hiding from me, is she?"
Chen Wanqing looked at this princess, who possessed gentle features but spoke rather sharply. She deeply felt that it was no wonder this woman was close friends with her mother; their temperaments were exactly the same.
She said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "Why would my mother hide from you? She really isn’t at the manor. After breakfast today, she went out with my grandmother and aunt to pray to Buddha. She said she wanted to fulfill a vow and mentioned having a golden statue cast for Buddha."
"Really?"
"It couldn’t be more true."
Seeing her pledge so earnestly, not looking like she was lying, Princess Kangning finally believed her. After accepting this, she couldn’t help but complain, "I was one step too late. I’ll still have to wait to see your mother."
Chen Wanqing smiled. "Good things come to those who wait. Besides, you’ve already waited for my mother for twenty years; you surely aren’t afraid of waiting just a little while longer, right?"
"You have a point. Then I’ll head back to the Long Princess Mansion to wash up first. Later, when your mother returns, have someone send a message over to me."
"Aren’t you going to stay for some tea, Princess?"
"No. I rode my horse back and I’m covered in dirt. It was freezing on the road, and the cold made my whole body ache. I’ll go back to rest and recover first, and you two should go rest as well."
Princess Kangning was truly a resolute and swift woman. The moment she finished her instructions, she turned around and stepped out of the reception hall.
However, just as she was about to go down the steps, she remembered something and abruptly turned back. Staring sharply at Chen Wanqing, she asked, "I heard people say that your mother lost her memory?"
Chen Wanqing nodded. "She did indeed lose her memory. My mother hit her head in the water, causing a blood clot in her brain that still hasn’t cleared. This is what prevents her from remembering the past. Otherwise, if she still had her memories, she wouldn’t have stayed away from home for so many years."