Chapter 125: Relatives

"There is no need to search. Just grab someone on the street and ask, and they will point the way immediately. That ice shop is incredibly popular right now; half the dignitaries in the capital have tasted it. Older brother, is it delicious?" The young Lady Anping cast a triumphant glance, eager for the Heir of Annan to shower her with praise.

The Heir of Annan took a spoonful and nodded. "It is delicious. Thanks to you, younger sister, I am fortunate enough to taste such a delicacy."

"I haven't asked yet—what is this called?" The Heir of Annan finished it in no time. Eating a bowl of this was far more effective than drinking several bowls of herbal tea.

"It's called shaved ice. It’s a lovely name, and the taste is quite good." Lady Anping recalled Su Liluo’s warning that women shouldn't consume too much shaved ice as it wasn't good for their health, which dampened her desire to have a bowl every day.

"Indeed, it is excellent. Have you tasted it there yourself, sister?" The Heir of Annan licked his lips after finishing, still wanting more.

"Yes, I went with Sister Liluo. Brother, since you have finished, I shall head back now." The Heir of Annan froze for a moment at the mention of Su Liluo’s name. As Lady Anping walked away, the joyful mood of the Heir of Annan turned somewhat somber.

A short while later, he gathered his thoughts. Finding the shaved ice delightful, he brought it up when he ran into Yun Yanyi at the palace that day.

"Your Highness, that shaved ice is truly excellent. You should find the time to try it. I have personally tested it before recommending it to you." Yun Yanyi only nodded slightly; it was unclear whether he had taken the suggestion to heart.

After reviewing the latest reports on the drought, Yun Yanyi recalled the shaved ice the Heir of Annan had recommended. "Leng Feng, go investigate what exactly this 'shaved ice' is."

Leng Feng, who was always by Yun Yanyi’s side, knew very little about it. After he uncovered the details, he stood before Yun Yanyi, hesitant to speak.

"How much longer do you intend to kneel?" Yun Yanyi asked, noticing him still kneeling without reporting his findings.

Leng Feng shuddered, thinking of what he had discovered and wondering if he could withstand the Prince's impending rage. "Your Highness, I will speak."

"The ice shop was opened by Miss Su, and the capital for it was borrowed from Jiang Nan." Leng Feng stated the results concisely. Yun Yanyi remained silent for a long time, not uttering a word, leaving Leng Feng’s heart hanging in suspense.

"This Su Liluo—my warnings were all in vain. She has gotten involved with that Jiang Nan again." Yun Yanyi gritted his teeth, staring at his teacup before hurling it to the ground in frustration.

Hearing the crisp sound of the cup shattering, Leng Feng mentally prayed for his life, but Yun Yanyi simply threw the cup and did not fly into a further rage.

"Your Highness, shall I send men to..."

"No need. Her affairs are not urgent. Focus on resolving the drought in the south first." Yun Yanyi pressed his temples. The news in recent days had been mixed. While local officials in the south had taken immediate measures, many regions had seen no rain for days. Temperatures were steadily rising, crops were withering from lack of water, harvest losses were severe, and the people were crying out in misery.

The Emperor pressured the officials for solutions, but with the drought already entrenched, the ministers could only tremble in fear, praying the Emperor would not call upon them—until a bombshell of news struck them.

Another urgent report arrived from the south, bearing only four characters: "Refugee rebellion!"

Once the news broke, what started as a single region experiencing a refugee crisis gradually escalated into multiple areas, and the Emperor immediately dispatched troops to suppress them.

That day, a couple in their thirties, accompanied by a youth of seventeen or eighteen, arrived at the side gate of the Prime Minister’s residence. After much hesitation, they knocked on the grand gate. The old servant guarding the entrance opened it, and not recognizing them, asked suspiciously, "Who are you looking for? This is the Prime Minister’s residence."

"Is there a Concubine Shu in the residence? We are her relatives." The woman took a long moment to gather her courage before stating her purpose.

The old servant looked at their tattered clothes, disheveled hair, and gaunt, sallow faces. He could even smell a nauseating odor from them. Impatiently, he said, "No, no. You’ve come to the wrong place."

Seeing the servant dismiss them without even asking, the youth’s anger flared. He grabbed the servant by the collar and asked with a ferocious expression, "Are you going to ask or not? Otherwise, I’ll beat you to death."

He had not eaten for days and had only been holding on with the hope of finding relatives in the capital. Encountering such an arrogant servant pushed him over the edge.

Seeing their fierce demeanor, the servant, who was a coward at heart, suddenly remembered that the Concubine was indeed surnamed Shu. He nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, there is a Concubine surnamed Shu in the residence, though I am not certain if it is the Shu Mei you speak of."

The servant wasn't sure, as the Concubine rarely left the residence and was always addressed as the Second Concubine; he didn't know her given name.

"Yes, that’s her! Go call her out immediately." The youth let out a breath of relief. The servant promptly sent someone to notify the inner courtyard and invited them to sit in the gatehouse.

The three sat in the gatehouse, sipping cool tea, and finally felt a bit more comfortable. Looking at their bedraggled appearance, they realized they had been too rash in their visit.

The youth whispered to the two beside him, "Father, Mother, we should have changed our clothes."

"My son, we are already here. Surely your cousin won't mind," the woman said timidly.

The youth could only sigh, then nodded. "It will have to be this way. Once we see her, we shall change."

Concubine Shu, upon hearing that relatives from her maiden home had arrived, hurried over. She looked at the three, startled, and asked, "Are you my cousin's nephew?" She focused first on the youth. Despite his rags, his manners were refined. He bowed and said, "Nephew Li Ming pays his respects to you, Aunt."

"Quickly, rise." Concubine Shu did not intend to help him up. Having spent years in the Prime Minister’s residence draped in silks and satins, she was appalled by Li Ming’s tattered state and dared not touch him.

Li Ming seemed to understand this, standing up with poise. Concubine Shu nodded inwardly. "I will send someone to inform the Madame immediately. You may go to my quarters and change your clothes first."

After the Li family of three had changed, Concubine Shu nodded with satisfaction. She sent word to Yao Ruoshui, asking to let her relatives stay in the residence for a few days. Yao Ruoshui agreed, provided that Concubine Shu covered the expenses herself.

The Li family was settled into the guest quarters. Through casual conversation, Concubine Shu learned that these distant relatives had fled to the capital due to the drought in Jiang Nan and had come specifically to seek her help.

Looking at her cousin's wife, Concubine Shu asked with pleasant surprise, "So Ming is already a scholar?"

"Yes, he passed the examination last year. Who would have thought such a disaster would strike this year? Ming has been very diligent with his studies, and even his master praised him highly, but now..." As she spoke, Mrs. Li began to sob. Concubine Shu considered Li Ming’s status as a scholar and his decent appearance; though his family was poor, she could provide for them. If she married her daughter San'er to him, her daughter would surely be the one in charge.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a perfect match. She sent Mrs. Li away and immediately summoned Su San'er. Grasping her daughter’s hand affectionately, she said, "Daughter, I have found you a wonderful match. It is far better than the sorry excuses for men the Madame has been picking for you. Listen to me, marry him, and I promise you will live a happy life."

Seeing her mother’s certainty, Su San'er asked with curiosity, "Aunt, what kind of family is it? Tell me about them."

"It is my own kin—your cousin, Li Ming. He is a scholar now. If you marry him, they will surely treat you like a goddess. It is much better than being a secondary wife to someone else." Concubine Shu was thoroughly dissatisfied with every candidate Yao Ruoshui had suggested.