Chapter 7:The Scholar's Chest

Master Zhuang finally returned to Willow Dance House and explained what had happened at the palace including Mizi Yue being Consort Huan's favourite poet and the possibility that Mizi Yue would be summoned to the Imperial Palace soon.

"What should I do in a situation like this?"Mizi Yue was becoming more and more nervous. He felt too powerless to resist the strong karmic force that was pulling him to the Imperial Palace.

"You have me so you don't have to worry,"Master Zhuang assured him.

"Fine."

"I'm moving back to my old residence so I won't overstay here. "

"You've become old and you don't have servants let alone a wife. Who will serve you at the residence? "

"I'm used to living alone ever since Ah- Mei got married?"

"Ah- Mei got married? When? Why didn't you invite me to the wedding?"

"With your handsome face you would have swayed her heart and stole another man's wife,"Master Zhuang joked.

"Lao Zhuang in all the years I've known you it's the first time I've heard you joke. Congratulations."

"Instead of congratulating me you better practice good etiquette otherwise you will embarrass yourself in front of the emperor."

"Don't worry with my temperament I won't embarrass myself,"Mizi Yue said confidently.

That afternoon,the three remaining members of the Jinxiu family had just finished taking their afternoon meal and had not yet cleared the table. Unexpectedly,Wen Mingye paid them a visit. They had not seen each other since Jinxiu Shan's funeral. They didn't even have the chance to comfort him about losing his Crown Prince title.

"Your Highness,you've become pale and thin,"Sang Bingchen said smiling wistfully.

"Is that so?"Wen Mingye smiled back.

Sang Bingchen instructed the servants to serve him a meal but Wen Mingye politely refused claiming he had already taken his afternoon meal at the palace.

"Aunt Sang, actually I came here because I heard Ah- Zhi has been appointed to be one of my sister's study buddies."

Jinxiu Zhi couldn't hide her beautiful smile at the mention of that topic.

"Yeah, she's excited about it because she will be seeing you everyday."

"Ah- Zhi the Imperial Palace is not like your home and it has many rules so you have to be careful,"Jinxiu Lan added

"Got it dad. You've been telling me that ever since we received the invitation ."

"Ah- Zhi I have a surprise for you . Xue Yao,come in."

Xue Yao who had been standing outside the whole time finally came in to present the surprise which was a Scholar's Chest. A Scholar's Chest was box used to keep or carry stationery in. Xue Yao placed the Scholar's Chest on the table in front of Jinxiu Zhi. The Scholar's Chest was light blue carved from sandalwood with intricate carvings of phoenixes. Jinxiu Zhi happily traced the intricate carvings with her delicate long thin fingers to her satisfaction. She them opened it to have a look at the interior structure. The interior was lined with silk with separate compartments for each of the stationery and brass fittings to secure the content.

"Do you like it?"

"I like it so much. Brother Mingye you're the best."

"Your Highness,with you at the palace I can be assured Ah- Zhi will be safe,"Jinxiu Lan added.

"Of course."

The following morning,Wen Mingye woke up due to loud knocks at the door. Xue Yao opened the door revealing Wen Xiang. Xue Yao bowed to greet her but she ignored him and proceeded to ask about Wen Mingye's whereabouts. She barged in without further thought while Xue Yao ran after her to stop her.

"Your Highness,His Highness is dressing up."

Wen Xiang ignored him and walked towards Wen Mingye's room. On reaching there she knocked several times.

"Wen Mingye,come out!"She yelled.

"What do you want?"

This yelling was kind of their greeting style or routine. They would yell at each other till one of them gave up.

"I want you to take me to the stationery store."

"Isn't it too early to go there?"

"The early bird catches the worm. If I go there later I won't find the best stationery."

"Fine give me a minute."

Half an hour later , Wen Mingye ,Wen Xiang and Xue Yao left Tianming Hall to go the stationery store.As they were walking along the pathways,Xue Yao hesitated a bit when he caught a sight of a familiar figure heading towards Meilin Hall. The person was Mizi Yue who had just left Longwei Hall after seeing the emperor. Consort Huan had sent an invitation to him so he had to go to Meilin Hall.

"Why does that person's physique look familiar?"Xue Yao asked.

"Does it?"

They stopped for a while and watched Mizi Yue till he disappeared out of sight.