Chapter 3 Going to the Street with Cheese and Cherry

New green shoots have already appeared on the branches in the warm spring, and the weather is gradually getting warmer.

The head injury on Wen Miao's head finally faded completely a few days after returning to the Xie residence, leaving only new skin and flesh. Although it was slightly whiter than her original skin color, it was barely noticeable because it was close to her hair.

Because her injuries had completely healed, the occasional dizziness and vertigo that Wen Miao had felt before had completely disappeared, and her illness had dissipated, making her beautiful face even more radiant. Every smile and frown of hers could captivate people's hearts.

That morning, after getting up, Wen Miao went to have breakfast with her maternal grandfather and Meng Jun as usual.

After having breakfast, Wen Miao, who knew nothing about the capital city due to amnesia, decided to go out for a stroll and see for herself the most prosperous capital city in the entire Great Chu.

Xie Mengjun wanted to go too, but she still needed to attend classes with the female teacher in the mansion, so she could only reluctantly be taken away by the maid beside her. Xie Jingxuan gave Wen Miao a lot of instructions, which were nothing more than telling her to be careful, buy whatever she wanted, and just be happy.

Hearing this warmed Wen Miao's heart, and she couldn't help but sigh that this is what it feels like to have a family who loves you.

But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Wen Miao pursed her lips in a daze.

...This thought makes it seem as if she has never experienced the love of family before.

"Is Miao Niang feeling unwell?"

Seeing Wen Miao's slightly unusual expression, Xie Jingxuan immediately spoke with concern, unable to help but say, "If you're not feeling well, why don't you go out and enjoy the capital another day?"

"Grandpa, I'm fine."

Wen Miao shook his head, smiled slightly at the concerned old man, and said, "I'm all better now. If I don't go out for a walk, I'll really get sick from boredom."

"That's good."

Xie Jingxuan stroked his beard and breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Wen Miao, who was the same age as his daughter when she passed away, his eyes filled with even deeper affection. He said softly, "Miao Niang, if you feel unwell, you must tell your grandfather immediately. Your grandfather only has you and Meng Jun left..."

At first, it was just an order from the Emperor, but Xie Jingxuan's heart was not made of stone. He was an honest man and had been an official for many years. He was unwilling to be as scheming and corrupt as others, which led to his difficult time in Jinling. Now, although he was driven by self-interest to get along with Wen Miao, he wanted to be as clear-headed as possible.

Furthermore, if his eldest daughter hadn't died young, her children would likely be about the same age as Miao Niang...

"Don't worry, maternal grandfather."

Seeing the dazed look in the old woman's eyes, Wen Miao guessed that she must be missing her deceased mother and uncle. She said softly, "Meng Jun and I will always be with you."

Xie Jingxuan opened his mouth, his throat slightly dry, then smiled kindly, "In that case, Miaoniang, you should go and have a good time today. Put all the money on your maternal grandfather's account!"

Wen Miao: "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Because Wen Miao was leaving the manor, Shi Cui and Wan Bi went ahead to prepare the carriage and called for guards.

The people of the Great Chu were open-minded and had relatively few restrictions on women. In addition, the country was in a prosperous era with peace and tranquility. Many unmarried girls and newlyweds wore light veils and hats and strolled around the streets of the capital.

Wen Miao was still a widow. Since she had no children with her deceased husband, the mourning period had ended, so there were no other restrictions on her clothing. However, thinking of Shi Cui and Wan Bi's words about how "she" used to shed tears and miss her, she still chose a light-colored, inconspicuous dress.

Her apricot-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with its sleeves, bare earlobes without any ornaments, and a veil made of black gauze made her gentle, jade-like face appear hazy, as if viewed through a mist, causing several unfamiliar maids in the courtyard to blush.

The mistress they serve is so beautiful! No wonder the young lady can eat an extra bowl every time she sits down to eat with her mistress. If it were them, they could probably eat three bowls!

The capital was bustling, and the shops on both sides of the street had everything. Wen Miao felt curious about everything here, as if she had a sense of novelty that she had never experienced before.

As the Xie family's carriage passed by on the street, passersby saw the guards with swords at their waists but dared not approach, assuming it was some noble family traveling.

Before long, they stopped on West Street, the most bustling street in Beijing.

Next to it was a teahouse. Several customers by the window recognized the emblem on the carriage as belonging to the Xie family, who had recently been greatly favored by the emperor. They couldn't help but scrutinize it carefully, trying to guess which member of the Xie family it was.

Soon, a woman wearing a veil stepped down from the carriage.

Perhaps because she was still grieving the loss of her husband, the woman did not wear any jewelry or ornaments. Her appearance was simple and elegant, and even without showing her face, her skin looked fair and plump. The skin under her sleeves was so white that it seemed to glow.

Judging from that updo, she must be Xie Gong's granddaughter who lost her husband.

On the street, Wen Miao was not used to the scrutinizing gazes. She turned her head slightly to the side, stepped into the nearest bookstore, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Wen Miao turned to the two maids and said, "There are too many customers in the bookstore, and it's inconvenient for you to follow. Why don't you go sit in the teahouse across the street? I'll be there in a bit."

"Can……"

Before Wanbi could finish speaking, Shicui tugged at her sleeve.

The latter nodded obediently and pulled Wanbi out of the bookstore.

Wen Miao walked to the inside, her gaze sweeping among the bookshelves. When she looked at the slightly complicated characters, she only needed to think for a couple of seconds before she could recognize them.

There were many books on the shelf. Wen Miao had come in to kill time, and when she happened to see a book called "Natural History", she decided to take it out and read it.

Just as her fingertips touched the spine of the book, it was taken away from the opposite side of the bookshelf.

"wait……"

The book was emptied, revealing gaps.

Only through that narrow gap did Wen Miao see that there was an adult man standing opposite her.

The other person was tall and imposing, hidden in the shadow of the bookshelf. He had broad shoulders and wore a dark robe that was understated yet revealed wealth in the details. He exuded a cold and dignified aura, and was holding the book "Natural History" in his hand.

Wen Miao looked up in surprise, and at the same time, the person opposite her also looked up.

Beneath the hazy veil, one could still catch a glimpse of those clear, black and white phoenix eyes, their depths seemingly holding snow that never melts. The bridge of her nose was straight, her face deep-set, her lips pale yet angular, pressing into a dignified line when she was silent.

But when he looked into Wen Miao's eyes through the gap in the bookshelf and through the veil of her hat, his eyes suddenly softened, becoming deep and intense, as if he were looking at a long-lost friend.

Emperor Qianyuan, who was traveling incognito outside the palace, had one hand behind his back, his knuckles twitching unconsciously. After a moment of silence, he silently handed over a book from the side of the bookshelf.

Those deep eyes and sharp jawline... they look somewhat familiar...

Wen Miao watched the other person's actions, tapped herself with her fingertip, and asked softly, "...For me?"

Emperor Qianyuan nodded.

Wen Miao pursed her lips. She didn't really want to buy it, and it wouldn't be polite to ask the other person to part with it. She gently shook her head, "Thank you, I'm just looking around."

The book was suspended between them, but the hand holding it remained steady, never wavering, with a silent persistence.

Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she saw that the other person's gaze was still on her, as if there was a sticky feeling that was close to her skin, which made her feel inexplicably flustered and uneasy.

At this moment, the other party spoke.

"Madam, we meet again."

Seeing the confusion on the other end, he added, "That stretch of road in the outskirts of Beijing a few days ago."

Wen Miao was startled; that familiar voice immediately brought back her memories. She stammered, "It's you..."

"Madam, I was rude the other day."

Even though the other person had given way, they still nodded slightly, making an apologetic gesture, as if taking all the blame for the accident of the narrow road. Their politeness and humility softened their otherwise imposing demeanor, making Wen Miao relax a little.

Wen Miao: "It's alright, road repairs are beyond our control."

Emperor Qian Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly; he really was capable.

Wen Miao continued, "That day was an accident, and I had the advantage of being there first, so naturally I can't compete with you for this book."

As she spoke, Wen Miao raised her hand and gently pushed the edge of the book, loosening it towards the other person.

Emperor Qianyuan's fingers trembled slightly as he held the book. This time, he did not refuse but accepted it without hesitation. "Thank you."

Wen Miao shook her head and said "No need," but then she saw that the man was still staring at her. She felt a little flustered and couldn't help but raise her hand to adjust her veil, thinking that something was wrong. But then she saw the man opposite her suddenly speak.

Emperor Qianyuan asked knowingly, "May I ask if Madam is a member of the Xie family?"

She said, "My maternal grandfather was Xie Jingxuan, also known as Xie Gong."

When he heard Wen Miao's unconsciously gentle voice when she mentioned "maternal grandfather," Emperor Qian Yuan's slightly clenched fingers trembled slightly, his flustered emotions returned to calm, and he then turned to the side and made a "please" gesture.

Wen Miao breathed a sigh of relief. She bent down and hurriedly left the bookstore as if being chased by a wild beast, heading towards the Xie family's carriage.

If Wen Miao were to turn around at this moment, she might find that several "guests" in the bookstore had stopped what they were doing, faced the man, bowed their heads and lowered their eyes, appearing silent and loyal.

Emperor Qian Yuan raised his hand, his eyes dark, but his fingertips traced the spot on the book where Wen Miao had touched it, as if he was savoring the warmth of her touch.

He whispered, "Protect her well, and don't attract attention."

"yes."

After standing still for a moment, the guests returned to normal. They scattered and left the bookstore, forming a circle, some near and some far from the carriage that had already driven away, and no one noticed them.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage.

Wen Miao, who had rushed back, leaned against the car wall, her chest heaving uncontrollably.

She walked a few steps quickly out of the bookstore, slightly out of breath, her red lips parted slightly, as if the burning intensity of the man's gaze still lingered on her back. It wasn't until she came to her senses and removed the veil from her head that she suddenly realized—

A few days ago, when the roads in the outskirts of the capital were under repair, they were merely sitting in their respective carriages, their eyes meeting blurry against the light and shadow. Now, she was wearing a veiled hat, so how could that person recognize her at a glance? Was it just because of the two sentences she uttered?

A strange shiver belatedly welled up from Wen Miao's fingertips, especially when she recalled the gaze that made her hair stand on end even through the veil. Having already experienced romantic relationships, Wen Miao couldn't help but make a guess.

Could it be...?

No, she must be overthinking it. The woman's hairstyle under her veil was clearly visible, and the man looked to be a person of high status. Perhaps he was just overly polite and meticulous.

At this moment, Shi Cui, who was outside the carriage, suddenly said, "Madam, there is a guard outside who says he wants to give you a thank-you gift on behalf of his master."

A thank-you gift?

For some reason, even though Shi Cui hadn't specified what it was, Wen Miao subconsciously thought of the man in the bookstore.

Wen Miao pursed her lips, "Shi Cui, please bring it in for me."

After Shi Cui delivered the "thank you gift" to the carriage, Wen Miao opened it and found a food box containing exquisitely made pastries and a serving of fresh cherry cheese.

Cheese cherry is a relatively expensive delicacy in the capital of Da Chu. It was originally spread from the palace to the outside world. Its taste, appearance and the quality of the ingredients are directly related, and only wealthy families can afford it.

The cherry cheese that was presented to Wen Miao must have come from a famous restaurant in the capital. The cherries were large and plump, with a deep red color, the cheese was smooth and creamy, and it was also drizzled with sugarcane juice, making it sweet and fragrant.

Tucked inside the food box was a piece of paper with a few somewhat familiar characters written in bold, vigorous strokes.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Madam."

...I feel like I've seen this somewhere before?

Wen Miao ran her fingertips over the writing, picked it up, and smelled a peculiar scent.

It was an exceptionally rich and mellow agarwood fragrance, like a cold spring or a mountain rock.

Meanwhile, the imperial gifts from the palace were escorted all the way to Xie's residence. It was said that Xie Jingxuan had done a good job a few days ago, and the emperor was very pleased, so he gave the family a basket of cherries to reward the loyal minister.

At the entrance of the Xie residence, Xie Jingxuan knelt and bowed in gratitude, but he knew perfectly well that this was not a reward for his meritorious service. It was clearly a way to let Miaoniang eat the fresh cherries sent from the south!

A note from the author:

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