Prince Shao, Yuanying.
Huo Qilang froze. After everything she had encountered since entering the residence, even the dullest person should have realized that the bedridden man was the emperor's son, an imperial prince serving as Regional Governor of Youzhou. He could not possibly be Yang Xingjian's adopted son.
Household Steward Li Chengyin explained respectfully, "Wang Ying is His Highness's alias. Registrar Yang addressed the letter to that name to ensure its secrecy. Now that you have met him in person, please hand the letter to His Highness."
Huo Qilang was still reeling from the shock. Thinking back carefully, although she had met Yang Xingjian two or three times, they had barely exchanged a few words. It was always the young lady of the Yang family who had written the letter and commissioned its delivery. The girl's anxious concern for her elder brother had seemed perfectly sincere.
She held the Carp Letter inside her saddlebag and said hesitantly, "But this is a letter Yang Fangxie wrote to her elder brother..."
Li Chengyin frowned. "What are you talking about? Lady Yang was His Highness's secondary consort. She died of illness two years ago, before entering his household. Where would Registrar Yang have found a second daughter? There may be some misunderstanding here, but Registrar Yang's letter must be meant for His Highness. We must read its contents to understand his meaning. Please give the letter to Prince Shao. His Highness will reward you generously."
Having traveled a thousand miles to get here, Huo Qilang could not return empty-handed over a minor discrepancy. She studied the positions of the doors and windows, assuring herself that if anything went wrong, she could snatch the letter back from these three and force her way out. Then she made up her mind, took out the Carp