Su Xiaoqi coaxed kindly, "Zi Ling, don't cry. What happened?"
"Madam, this servant, this servant heard that the Ning King's heir has had an accident."
Zi Ling sobbed, asking intermittently.
Su Xiaoqi's brows furrowed slightly. She didn't hide it from her, "That's right. The incident happened at Ganquan Temple."
Zi Ling hesitated, "Was it a monk who did it?"
Su Xiaoqi helped Zi Ling to sit down and looked at her attentively, "How do you know? Do you know him?"
Zi Ling lowered her head, crying even harder.
Su Xiaoqi didn't disturb her, just sat with her, quietly waiting for her to finish crying. Afterward, she thoughtfully handed her a handkerchief.
She then had Zi Cao bring hot water for her to wash her face and soothe her eyes.
After all the fuss, Zi Ling was so touched that she was about to cry again.
"Zi Ling, since you've come to me, it means you trust me. Why don't you tell me?"
Zi Ling nodded, her voice as small as a mosquito's.
Fortunately, Su Xiaoqi's hearing was good, and she understood the gist of it.
It turned out that Zi Ling knew the young monk who had attacked the Ning King's heir.
His name was Chai Zilin. He was previously part of the Ning King's household, not as a born servant, but as an employed guard.
They had met a few times because of the heir's outings. When Chai Zilin learned that she had been kicked out after her accident, he also left the Ning King's mansion.
He had looked for her several times when she was with Meng Yaren, and they had even met in the back courtyard of the temple this time at Ganquan Temple.
"He, he told me he would avenge me," Zi Ling said, sobbing.
At the time, she thought he was joking and had advised him against it. She was living well now and had never thought of seeking revenge on anyone.
So, she hadn't taken his words to heart.
Who knew that when she returned and heard Zhang Yu mention the Ning King's heir's accident, she thought he might have been responsible.
Ever since she found out, she hadn't slept. As soon as she closed her eyes, she would see the Ning King's heir pouncing at her ferociously.
He would point at her nose and curse her, saying that she had caused his downfall.
"Wuwu, Madam, this servant, this servant really didn't intend to harm anyone.
The way the heir treated this servant was just due to my bad luck. I never thought of resenting anyone." Zi Ling cried sorrowfully.
Su Xiaoqi saw all her worries and her vulnerability.
She thought she was truly a pitiable person.
She had been bullied to death by Shen Fu but dared not complain, and now she had to worry about Chai Zilin.
"Zi Ling, you are a good girl. I understand your situation. I will ask my husband to help."
After receiving Su Xiaoqi's assurance, Zi Ling temporarily stopped her tears and stood up, bowing deeply to Su Xiaoqi.
"You don't need to be so formal. I didn't know the monk's identity before, so my husband didn't pay much attention. If we inquire now, I don't know if we can still find him.
But rest assured, if it's something my husband can do, he definitely will."
Just as she had thought, Su Xiaoqi believed that the Ning King's heir had brought his current predicament upon himself.
Su Xiaoqi wasn't just appeasing Zi Ling. After sending Zi Ling away, she immediately summoned Zhang Yu and asked her to run to the Hanlin Academy to inform Shen Yun of the matter.
Zhang Yu particularly enjoyed this task. She would go out for a while, do nothing, and her mistress would give her a handful of copper coins.
She could buy whatever she saw outside.
Su Xiaoqi watched Zi Yan, who was standing in the corridor. She had been bought along with Zi Ling, Zi Yi, and Zi Yu last time.
She usually didn't stay close to Su Xiaoqi but was very good at her work and very diligent. Most importantly, she was lively and good at gathering gossip.
Su Xiaoqi asked her to go to the Hanlin Academy with Zhang Yu. It was nothing major, just to inform Shen Yun about Zi Ling's query.
Soon, Zhang Yu returned with Zi Yan.
They told Su Xiaoqi with surprise, "Madam, it turns out that the Hanlin Academy doesn't provide meals at noon. The officials either eat at restaurants outside or bring their own.
Our master went empty-handed. He didn't bring anything. Will he go hungry?"
When Su Xiaoqi heard this, she remembered that it was indeed the case in the Hanlin Academy of the Great Liang Dynasty. She quickly asked Zi Ling to prepare food.
"Today is the master's first day on duty. The kitchen just bought a piece of good streaky pork, with layers of fat and lean.
Ask Zi Ling to make some Mei Cai Kou Rou (steamed pork belly with preserved vegetables)."
This was the main dish. Su Xiaoqi also ordered several of Shen Yun's favorite dishes: Twice-cooked pork with green peppers, shredded potatoes with vinegar, Mapo tofu, and steamed corn.
"Make the portions large," Su Xiaoqi said, recalling how in her internship days, sharing dishes among colleagues easily fostered closer relationships.
Su Xiaoqi, caring for Shen Yun on his first day of duty and also curious about what Shen Yun did at the Hanlin Academy, went to deliver the meal with Zhang Yu and Zi Yan.
At noon, when it was time to get off work, some colleagues who lived nearby went home.
Those who lived far away either brought their own meals or had already formed groups to eat at nearby restaurants.
Shen Yun stayed behind. He hadn't decided whether to go back or eat at a restaurant.
He had come on horseback, and Mao'er Hutong wasn't too far away.
It would take just over half an hour to go back and forth, and after eating, he would still have time for his afternoon duties.
As for whether there would be food at home, Shen Yun had no doubts about that.
His wife's kitchen always had delicious food prepared.
Just as he walked out the door, he saw a carriage parked at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy.
A woman in a light blue crossover-collar dress was lifting the curtain to get out of the carriage.
Shen Yun found her somewhat familiar. Just as he was about to look closer, a person in a light green official robe blocked his view.
"Whose young lady is this? So pretty, and carrying such a large food box."
"Indeed, it looks like she's here to deliver food to the Hanlin Academy."
"Let's just stand here and see whose young lady it is. What good fortune!"
Shen Yun listened and happened to see the pretty young lady raise her head.
Who else could it be but his wife?
"Husband!" Su Xiaoqi had already seen Shen Yun.
She was about to go up and call him when she saw someone coming out from the entrance.
To avoid attracting onlookers, she deliberately turned her head to the side, planning to approach after they had left.
Who knew that after those people learned she was delivering food, they didn't leave but just stood there to watch the excitement.
This was frustrating.
Moreover, Shen Yun seemed not to have seen her. With no other option, she had to call out to him.
"My wife..." Shen Yun was somewhat surprised.
When he first saw the beautiful figure, he felt it was familiar.
But he never dreamed that his wife would come to deliver food on his first day of duty.
He felt somewhat overwhelmed with joy.
"Husband, hurry up and come here. The food will get cold soon." Su Xiaoqi saw him still standing there in a daze and hurried forward to pull him.
Her graceful figure and her delicate, jade-like hand, which rested limply in his palm, filled his previously empty heart.
He tightened his grip on Su Xiaoqi's fingers, looked up at the sun in the sky, and couldn't help but say, "My wife, I'm drunk."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled and said playfully, "Husband, are you silly? I didn't bring you any wine. What are you drunk about?"
"It's not the wine that intoxicates, but the person themselves. My wife's deep affection is comparable to aged cellar wine." Shen Yun's heart was warm. He found Su Xiaoqi more beautiful the more he looked at her.
If it weren't for his colleagues peeking from the side, he would have surely embraced his wife and kissed her to his heart's content.