Chapter 28 (28) Moment

Seeing Lianzhi smiling happily, Arus became unhappy: "What's wrong with you? Are you so happy when I call you Madam Bai? Are you getting too independent? Aren't you afraid that I will tell the adults?"

After saying that, seeing that Lianzhi didn't respond, he was so angry that he shouted at him.

Lianzhi finally came to her senses, realizing what Arus was saying belatedly and rolling her eyes. He didn't explain why he was so happy, simply saying he'd already taken care of it, and then sent him away. He'd been in Beijing for over two months, and he couldn't even touch the guards' coats at the gate, let alone enter the palace. Everything he did was restricted. Now, he finally had a legitimate opportunity to enter the palace.

Bai Kang had been spending the last few days with his younger siblings and had no time for Lianzhi. Ever since Lianzhi had become a well-behaved girl, he didn't need to worry about her much. He would simply send someone to fetch Lianzhi before dinner.

When I returned to my room before going to bed at night, Lianzhi was basically asleep too, and the two of us didn't talk much.

Today, he once again sent for Lianzhi. Qinghe returned quickly and said to him, "Young Master Lianzhi is in your room. Do you want to go and see him?"

Bai Kang frowned. As long as Lianzhi stayed in his study, he didn't care where she went. But he was curious about what Lianzhi was doing, so he followed her. The door was open. Lianzhi and Lianye sat facing each other at the table, packing something.

Oh, not Lian Ye anymore. A few days ago, Bo Kang asked them to change their names. Lian Ye was quite brave and changed back to his old surname, asking everyone to call him Liang Ye.

In contrast, Lianzi was very resistant to the idea of changing his name and was determined not to change it, insisting that the name bestowed by the emperor could not be changed. Lianzhi listened but said nothing.

Through the door, the whispering sounds of the two teenagers were particularly clear.

"You said your sister likes this pattern. Is that true? It looks so tacky to me."

"Young Master is handsome, and he looks good in anything he wears. We are natives, so of course we are not as good as Young Master." Liang Ye finished speaking, and added, "Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss are also good-looking, and this will definitely suit them."

Lianzhi looked at his face, which looked 50% like her own, and didn't know what to say. After a burst of packing sounds, Lianzhi said, "Don't just focus on eating. Tell me if it tastes good first."

"It's delicious, but sour." Liang Ye said.

"What are you doing?" Bai Kang pushed the door open and walked in. Liang Ye was startled and hurriedly greeted him. Lian Zhi was not afraid. She took a piece of the snack in her hand, raised her hand and stood on tiptoe, trying to put it into Bai Kang's mouth, "Try it, is it delicious?"

Bai Kang didn't take it, but raised his chin, deliberately avoiding being touched by Lianzhi.

Lianzhi looks quite cute when she tries to stand on tiptoe.

"Are you going to eat it or not? If not, give it to someone else." Lianzhi stamped her feet anxiously. Bai Kang curled his lips and lowered his head to take a bite of the strangely shaped snack in his hand. "It's a little sour. Is it bad? Did you make it?"

"You're the Minister of Rites, and you've never even tasted this," Lianzhi snorted. "This is called yogurt cake, unique to Liangzhou. I didn't expect you all wouldn't like it. If I had known, I wouldn't have let Xiao Wenzi make it. What a waste of time!"

It turned out that he was craving something from his hometown. Bai Kang waved his hand at Liang Ye, signaling him to leave, and said, "These things are also available in Beijing, but I'm not interested in pastries. If you want someone to buy them, just go and get them. It's too much trouble."

"The ones in the capital aren't authentic. They're completely different from the ones in Liangzhou." Lianzhi walked back to the table, closed the lunch box, and continued packing. "Give this to your brothers. I'm sure some of them will appreciate it. This is my favorite in Liangzhou..."

Bai Kang smiled and hummed twice. Seeing him pick up a few skirts and start to pack them, he asked in surprise, "What did you buy?"

"A skirt." Lianzhi unfolded the long skirt in her hand. It was a style that Bai Kang had seen in Liangzhou, but people in the capital didn't wear it. He felt a little complicated. "This... well, well, you'd better not wear it outside. It's okay to wear it privately."

What is this? It's so strange. Lianzhi didn't know what he was talking about: "Look carefully, this is a skirt."

"I know." Bai Kang coughed again.

"For Shou'er and Xi'er!" Lianzhi said loudly.

Bo Kang: "I... um?"

He was stunned for a moment. Lianzhi moved another footstool and stepped on it. She looked at the pile of packed things on the table and began to pack them into boxes, putting notes on them. "I...you should give these to them. I've put notes on all six boxes. Don't get them mixed up. Each box has different contents. Even though I packed them randomly, you must make sure you don't send the wrong ones."

Before he could finish, Bai Kang came over, reached out from behind him, and grabbed his hand: "Why did you suddenly think of giving something to my brother and sister?"

"I've already said that, I think your family is pretty good..."

"to be honest."

Lianzhi stopped talking and put on a soft smile: "I heard from the servants that there is His Majesty's birthday this month. Can you take me to the palace?"

"This is my first time in the palace. I never thought I'd have such an opportunity." Lianzhi hugged his forearm and shook it. "It's all thanks to Brother Kang. Also, Bai Shou and the others have been very kind to me. I want to thank them."

"Just thank me, no need to thank them." Bo Kang seemed to accept this and picked up several large boxes on the table. "Come and have dinner with me."

What Lianzhi didn't lie about was that he really liked Bai Kang's younger brothers and sisters.

To be honest, he was a little scared at first. He had no experience getting along with siblings, but the kids were very kind to him and really treated him like a brother. It was the first time in over a decade that someone had treated him like a brother.

Even without Bo Kang, he would still give gifts to the six children.

This is a gift from the emperor, hehe.

Bai Kang suddenly slowed down. Lian Zhi didn't notice and her head hit his back, causing her to feel numb with pain. Just as she was about to question him, Bai Kang turned around and asked, "Do you particularly like thanking others?"

Lotus branch:?

What is the problem? What's wrong?

The yogurt cake proved to be delicious. All four of Bai Kang's brothers loved it. Even Bai Kang's third and more reserved brother, Bai Fu, ate a large portion. Under the six children's praise, Lian Zhi was too embarrassed to admit that she had asked someone else to make it.

Anyway, it was Eunuch Wen who did it, so rounding it off to the nearest digit, it was him who did it.

Lianzhi went to bed the earliest and went back to wash up after dinner. After the others left, several people surrounded Baikang.

"Brother, isn't it time for you to go back to work?" Bai Jian asked, "We should go home. The provincial examination is in more than two months, and Xiaofu and I want to give it a try."

Bo Kang certainly encouraged them to take the imperial examination. But he felt a little reluctant: "You really don't want to stay a few more days? You haven't even been here ten days yet?"

"We feel relieved to see that our eldest brother is doing well," said Bai Shou.

When this was mentioned, Bai Kang asked nervously, "Do you really think so?"

Before he met his younger siblings, he was quite scared. He was afraid that the children would tell their parents that he had married a man and would scold him. Perhaps knowing what he was worried about, Bai Shou said, "Don't worry, big brother. Mother said that as long as you are alive and well in the capital and don't get your property confiscated or beheaded, bringing disaster to the family, she will be very happy."

Bai Kang smiled awkwardly.

The next day, he sent the six children to the post station and set off for home.

He didn't disturb Lianzhi. It was obvious that Lianzhi really liked the children. It was a sudden separation, so she should not cry outside. Before leaving, Bai Shou stretched out his hand from the car window and said to him, "Brother, you have to be nice to your sister-in-law."

"I know." Bai Kang laughed.

His sister is not yet old enough to lean towards her husband's family, so why is she favoring her sister-in-law?

"We all know that you like your sister-in-law. You two should live a good life together." Bai Shou instructed him like a little adult, "Don't look down on him because of his status."

"You know... huh?" Bai Kang was stunned.

He wanted to ask more, but the carriage had already sped off like a gust of wind. The driver was so fast that Bai Kang swallowed a mouthful of dirt. He coughed twice, still in shock at what Bai Shou had just said.

He likes lotus branches?

What's with that little brat's eyes? How could you tell he liked Lianzhi? He's not gay and has never liked a man.

Although I've never liked girls.

It's inexplicable. Thinking this, Bai Kang got on the carriage back to the Shangshu Mansion. He didn't take Bai Shou's words to heart and went back to the study after returning to the mansion.

My wedding leave is almost over. I've been so relaxed after so many days that I've almost forgotten everything I had to do. Fortunately, the only thing that falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites for the Wanshou Festival is the gift list, so overall it's pretty free.

Bai Kang flipped through some documents sent by his subordinates and took out the gift box.

When he takes office tomorrow, he will deliver the gift box to the eunuch admiral.

The topaz Buddha statue lay in its brocade box. Bo Kang examined it carefully again, but found nothing unusual. He had already replaced the box to ensure it would not be amiss. Bo Kang thought of Lianzhi again. Did the fact that Lianzhi was willing to tell him about the box mean that she trusted him?

Is there any way to make Lianzhi trust him wholeheartedly?

This thought only came to his mind for a moment before being suppressed by Bai Kang.

"My lord, my lord?"

Qing He's voice came from outside the door. Bo Kang nodded, and Qing He said, "Young Master Lian Zhi sent someone to deliver the mansion's accounts for last month, and he also brought a message to you."

Bo Kang became interested: "What are you talking about?"

"I told you to get some rest," Qing He said honestly. Bo Kang was surprised, then laughed.

What Bai Shou and the others wanted to say, actually, is that Lianzhi likes him?

When they were in Liangzhou, she had been pestering him, wanting to come back with him, and repeatedly said that she wanted to repay him and get close to him. Now she still cares about him... One thing after another flashed through Bai Kang's mind like a kaleidoscope, and he suddenly made up his mind.

Yes, that's right.

It’s not that he likes Lianzhi, it’s that Lianzhi likes him.

Although he doesn't like men and can't respond to Lianzhi's feelings, he will treat Lianzhi better in the future. After all, Lianzhi is a child and is coerced by the governor of Liangzhou, so it is normal for her to like him.

He needs to be nicer to Lianzhi.