Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Laba.

The end of the year, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The sage and his court officials went to the hunting ground in the eastern suburbs. After the winter hunt, they would hold a year-end sacrifice. After sunset, they would light lanterns and pray for good rain and wind in the coming year.

The Empress Dowager had caught a cold a few days ago and was absent from the winter hunt. The ladies in the court, led by the Empress, followed the Emperor out of the city.

At three quarters past three in the morning, the frost was as heavy as snow, and Sheng Puzhu was drowsy sitting in the carriage.

A long queue had already formed outside Mingde Gate, and carriages from various government offices were on the official road, their lights shining like stars, winding around without an end.

"Madam, would you like to drink some milk?" Madam Du took out a food box with various snacks in it. They were all specially prepared by the cook late at night for the master of the mansion to eat on the way.

Sheng Puzhu held a soft pillow in her arms, her eyelids felt like they were weighed down by lead, and they slid down little by little as the carriage swayed.

Hearing this, she shook her head. "It's too early. I'm so sleepy and I ate too much. I'm afraid I won't be able to withstand the bumpy ride and will vomit."

"Then let's suck on a candied fruit?"

"Aunt Fang specially added mint, and soaked it with fine salt, honey, and tangerine peel. It's good for refreshing."

"Yeah, that's fine." Sheng Puzhu kept her eyes closed, too sleepy to even lift a hand. "Mammy, feed me."

"Okay, I'll pick the biggest one for you." Nanny Du doted on her. When she spoke, wrinkles from the years appeared at the corners of her slightly curved eyes. She smiled and reached out to open the savings box.

At this time, a regular sound of horse hooves was heard outside the carriage.

The sound of armor rubbing and colliding was hard to ignore, startling Sheng Puzhu so much that he muttered and opened his eyes with difficulty.

Xie Zhiyan's slender hand lifted half of the carriage curtain, and the moonlight leaked in, revealing the man's cold eyebrows and eyes. There was snow on his black coat, and his whole body was shrouded in a deeper and heavier chill than the dawn.

Sheng Puzhu was drowsy, her eyes misty, and she looked at him hesitantly: "Why are you here, my dear?"

Xie Zhiyan raised his eyes, said nothing, but lifted his long legs and stepped into the carriage.

He untied his cloak with one hand, took the hot handkerchief that Aunt Du carefully handed to him, and wiped his face and hands carefully before looking at her and whispering, "Why are you so sleepy?"

Sheng Puzhu shook her head helplessly. She couldn't tell him that because he stayed in the palace last night, she had been reading the storybook without restraint for most of the night. Staying up late made her dizzy. It was not until an hour before departure that she managed to take a nap while washing and changing clothes.

"Once the Holy Chariot passes Suzaku Street, we will be allowed to pass."

"Wait another half hour." Xie Zhiyan's voice was filled with laughter. A light white mist came out of his mouth as he spoke. He didn't know how long he had been freezing outside.

"Um."

It was unclear whether Sheng Puzhu had taken his words to heart or not. She was still swaying in sleep, with a shallow crimson mark left by the soft pillow on her chin. A few strands of hair hung fluffily beside her ears. Her eyes, which were unable to focus, revealed a very touching look.

Xie Zhiyan looked down at her for a while, then his slightly deep gaze moved away silently and fell on the food box containing snacks.

"Still eating?" He stretched out his hand and tapped it with his knuckles.

"Well, I want candied fruit, not desserts, or you'll vomit." Sheng Puzhu narrowed his eyes, his weak and boneless body tilted backwards, and he was about to fall into the soft pillow again.

Xie Zhiyan frowned slightly. Although the soft pillow was made of the finest silk material, it was still a bit rough for her skin that was as smooth as jade.

Such a delicate body would turn red with just a touch. If it really left a heavy mark on her face, she would be angry again when she woke up.

Xie Zhiyan picked up a candied fruit from the box with his cold white fingertips and looked down.

Suddenly, something cold pressed against his lips. Sheng Puzhu opened his lips vaguely and put the tip of his tongue against the sour candied fruit. After tasting it, he leaned forward instinctively without thinking too much, wanting to take a bite.

However, he didn't expect that Xie Zhiyan's wrist just happened to make a forward-extending gesture.

The rosy lips were moist, and the slender fingers holding the candied fruit were also taken into her mouth.

"Hmm."

This time, the stab went very deep.

Neither of them had expected this to happen, and they were stunned at the same time.

The sweetness and bitterness mixed with the sour aroma of candied fruit explode in the mouth, so violently, like a sudden storm on a winter night, which cannot be ignored.

Sheng Puzhu suddenly opened his eyes and met Xie Zhiyan's eyes which were so close to him.

He was born with phoenix eyes, with a crescent-shaped arc at the end of his eyes. His pupils were dark yet surprisingly bright. His eyes should have been very fierce, but his brow bones were elegant and refined. When he was not smiling, the innate sharpness in his bones was diluted, so that people could not easily notice it.

"lady."

"Why are you so anxious?" Xie Zhiyan's voice was low, but his fingertips probed deeper into her teeth, and his fingertips rubbed her tongue harshly, as if he wanted to knead the candied fruit in her mouth into sweet honey water.

Sheng Puzhu panicked and tried to push his wrist away, but he grabbed her snow-white neck with his other hand and pulled her forward tightly.

"I... didn't." She managed to utter a weak sound.

Xie Zhiyan hummed, without saying anything else. His tall body completely enveloped her, but his knuckles remained between her lips and teeth.

It was hard to describe the strange feeling. Sheng Puzhu's eyes were instantly filled with moisture, her long eyelashes were filled with mist, her cheeks were red, and she looked like she had been bullied.

Unfortunately, he had official business today, so she didn't dare to close her teeth for fear of biting him. If she left marks and was seen by outsiders, how would she explain it?

I don’t know how long it took, but just when Sheng Puzhu swallowed and the saliva in his mouth was about to overflow, he was in a dilemma.

Xie Zhiyan finally pulled his hand back slowly, rubbing his thumb across her lower lip, rubbing it lightly twice: "Awake?"

"Awake." Sheng Puzhu lowered his eyes, not daring to look at him.

"I have to go now."

Xie Zhiyan stepped past her, reached out and picked up the cloak, and said in a very calm voice, "I have asked the Empress for instructions in advance. When your carriage arrives at the East Suburb Villa, a maid named Yu will come to pick you up. You must then squeeze in with the other women from other families."

"Yeah." Sheng Puzhu's cheeks were burning hot. Even though she heard clearly what he said, she couldn't make a correct response for a moment and could only nod randomly.

Xie Zhiyan's emotions subsided so quickly that the moment he turned around, his face had returned to its usual coldness, as if the person who had been overly reckless just now was not him.

"Madam, why is your face so red?" Madam Du returned to the carriage and asked with a slightly anxious voice.

Sheng Puzhu slowly pressed the tip of her tongue over the candied fruit between her teeth. Facing Madam Du's nervous expression, she reached out and lifted the curtain, letting the cold wind from outside into the carriage.

She said vaguely, "The charcoal brazier was overheated, so it might have been smoked."

"I see."

"Then please bear with it, my lady. Going out in the winter and catching a cold will be very painful."

Sheng Puzhu nodded, and fanned her face with a handkerchief guiltily. After the heat passed, she slowly lowered the curtain.

"Do you still want to eat the candied fruit?" Aunt Du asked uncertainly, looking at the opened box.

"No... anymore."

"Put it away." Sheng Puzhu didn't dare to look at the candied fruits inside. When he thought of what he had just done, his heartbeat and breathing became uncontrollable.

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage set off.

The sky also gradually changed from pitch dark to a hazy and bright fish belly white.

During this year's winter hunting, all the wives of the Duke of Jingguo's family stayed in the mansion because of illness or injury, including Xie Qingshu who was under house arrest.

The old lady is old and it is not suitable for her to go out in the cold winter.

Therefore, the position of the female member of the eldest house was vacant, the second house was represented by Sheng Puzhu, and the third house, Dou, brought her daughter along. The only unexpected thing was that Xie Lingxi, the second daughter of the third house, also got a place in the winter hunt.

At dawn, the sun gradually rose higher and the snow that had fallen all night slowly stopped.

At the hour of Si, the carriage stopped and rested for a quarter of an hour as instructed by the saint before setting off again.

Sheng Puzhu's legs were numb from sitting so much. Although she was still sleepy, she couldn't fall asleep at all. The moment she closed her eyes, she thought of the man's cold white hands, which was almost killing her.

So she asked Madam Du to help her get out of the carriage, intending to get some cool air.

It was cold, and she was wrapped tightly in a snow-white fox fur coat with a lapel, and earrings of the same color on her ears, leaving only her radiant little face exposed. She looked really lovely.

"Big sister." Sheng Puyao didn't know where she came from. Her face turned red from running, and her eyes curved into beautiful crescent shapes.

Sheng Puzhu reached out and took the person in her arms: "Where are the sisters at home?"

"Or are you alone?"

Sheng Puyao nodded gently: "Yes, it's just me."

She stood on tiptoe and asked Sheng Puzhu to bend over. She whispered in her ear, "Second uncle said that the emperor wants to choose a concubine for the crown prince. Second sister is in poor health and shouldn't be tired or exposed to the wind. Third sister twisted her ankle while admiring the plum blossoms in the yard yesterday. It's swollen so badly that she can't get up today."

Sheng Puyao winked playfully: "So I'm the only one going to the winter hunt this year."

A little girl who has not yet reached marriage age, still childish and with baby fat on her cheeks.

It is difficult to do what the emperor wants, but the Sheng family is a noble family and it is impossible for them to send their daughter to the palace. Taking Sheng Puyao to the East Suburb Villa during the winter hunt is indeed the most foolproof method.

Sheng Puzhu's eyes were filled with a smile as he pinched Sheng Puyao's cheeks: "What about my aunt?"

"Well, my aunt is in the carriage, three carriages away from my sister's carriage."

Sheng Puzhu patted her and warned her, "There are many people in the hunting grounds. You don't ride your horse well. Remember not to run around. Come to me if you have any problems."

Sheng Puyao nodded obediently: "Don't worry, sister, the maids are following me, so I won't run around."

A quarter of an hour passed quickly and the carriage set off again.

Sheng Puzhu took out the storybook that she had not finished reading last night from the secret pocket of her soft pillow. She had just turned one page when Aunt Du secretly pulled her sleeve.

"Madam, guess who I just met?" Madam Du carefully lifted the curtain and asked when she saw that there was no one outside.

"who?"

"The second daughter of the eldest son, that is, Fourth Lady Xie."

"Although she was wearing a veil and her appearance was unclear, the dress she was wearing today was the one that the embroiderer had hastily made the other day."

Aunt Du covered her chest and said, "What should we do? Isn't she under house arrest? Isn't she not allowed to leave the house?"

Sheng Puzhu frowned and thought, no wonder the second daughter of the third wife suddenly wanted to go too, it turned out that Xie Qingshu had such a trick up her sleeve.

The two girls were fifteen and sixteen years old, and of similar height. When they wore winter clothes and veils, even Qin Shi might not be able to recognize the younger daughter if they were far away.

Who is the "Xie Qingshu" who was confined to the yard?

Could it be Xie Lingxi?

Thinking of this, Sheng Puzhu couldn't help but curl up the corners of her lips, and said in a gentle voice: "Madam, if you see it, then let it be seen. We will just pretend that we don't know."

"Xie Qingshu is the daughter of the eldest son. Even if the eldest aunt found out something was wrong, she would have already entered the East Suburb Villa."

"As for how Xie Qingshu got Third Aunt to agree, that's a matter for the Third House and the First House to argue about."

"My God, the second lady of the eldest house is really brave." Nanny Du was still frightened.

Sheng Puzhu still had some admiration for Xie Qingshu.

Although she had a bad temper and couldn't keep her composure, at least she dared to fight for what she wanted. Compared to those girls who would just hide in their boudoirs and cry when faced with difficulties, Xie Qingshu still had some redeeming qualities.

When the carriage was about to arrive at the East Suburb Villa, the main house of the Duke of Jingguo's Mansion was already in chaos.

When the nanny went in to deliver the meal, she saw "Xie Qingshu" lying on the bed with the curtains hung low.

When they lifted the curtain, they saw Xie Lingxi with his hands and feet tied.

The nanny who brought the food went dark and almost fainted on the spot.

Xie Lingxi blinked, pursed her rosy lips, and then forced a panicked expression: "Mammy, save me."

"Where is Madam Qingshu?"

Xie Lingxi said innocently, "I don't know."

Oh my God!

The nanny who brought the food ran out crawling and calling for help.

Qin sat up in shock from her dying illness, her face as pale as a ghost. Just as Nanny Wang finished speaking, her eyes rolled back and she fainted completely.