Chapter 60: A House Full of Spring

Huo Zheng said "hmm".

Seeing that he didn't look very happy, Chunzhi couldn't help but ask him, "Why didn't you tell me about this good news earlier?"

Of course it’s because he himself is the King of Chang’an.

If I lie to her one more thing now, it will be difficult to explain it later.

Huo Zheng didn't want to lie to Chunzhi. His identity was so special that he couldn't reveal everything now.

Before he could say anything, Chunzhi suddenly understood something and asked him with a smile, "Are you trying to hide some private money?"

Huo Zheng paused, neither saying yes nor no.

Chunzhi smiled and said, "Okay, keep your monthly salary for yourself. I won't miss your money."

Huo Zheng pretended to be concerned and said, "That's good."

Chunzhi looked at the donkey in the yard, feeling three parts worried about the money and seven parts happy.

She made tofu from dawn to dusk every day. Some people advised her to buy a donkey so that the donkey could grind the beans, which would save a lot of effort, but she was reluctant to buy it because she felt sorry for the money.

Now that Huo Zheng bought it for her, she still felt bad about the money, but she was also somewhat happy.

Huo Zheng opened the oil paper packages, which were packed food from Yunlai Restaurant, the largest restaurant in town. He went to get two pairs of chopsticks, handed one to Chunzhi, and ate with her.

“It smells so good.”

Chunzhi was already hungry, and the food made her appetite soar that she ate very quickly.

Huo Zheng ate slowly while listening to Chunzhi say that Gu Yuanjia had just come and that this Mr. Gu was determined to find Yuzhu. Fortunately, she had let Yuzhu leave by boat early.

There are many rules in the royal family, including not talking while eating or sleeping.

But Huo Zheng didn't feel annoyed at all when listening to Chunzhi chattering. Instead, he felt very at home.

After Chunzhi finished eating, she rested for a while and then jumped in front of the newly bought donkey to look left and right.

The donkey was not afraid of strangers at all and even came over to sniff Chunzhi.

Huo Zheng was washing the chopsticks after wiping the table.

"Huo Qi," Chunzhi called out to him, "Have you named this donkey?"

Huo Zheng said: "No."

Chunzhi smiled and said, "Then I'll pick one for it."

"What should I call it?" She thought carefully. "Laicai? Huo Qi, what do you think of calling it Laicai?"

Huo Zheng thought to himself that this girl was really obsessed with money and even named a donkey Laicai.

After washing the chopsticks and putting them in the chopstick holder, he turned around and said, "It's up to you."

"Then you will be called Lai Cai from now on!"

Chunzhi liked the name she gave to the donkey very much. She raised her hand and touched the donkey's head, feeling very happy.

…

On the other side, Lu’s house.

Ever since she learned that Zhou Rong was in trouble, Ji Ruzhen has been unable to sleep.

Today, Ji Ruzhen learned that the father and son of the Zhou family were beheaded in court by the King of Chang'an and the Zhou Mansion was raided. She was extremely frightened and could not hold on any longer. She took a nap, but she still had nightmares.

She was awakened by a nightmare and ordered her maid to find Lu Jingyun.

Lu Jingyun was sorting out the ins and outs of the Zhou family incident in the study when he was asked to go back to his room by a servant. Seeing Ji Ruzhen with her long hair disheveled and a lot of cold sweat on her forehead, he immediately asked the maid to bring a handkerchief and personally wiped Ji Ruzhen's forehead with the handkerchief.

"Husband..."

Seeing that Lu Jingyun was so considerate and gentle, Ji Ruzhen couldn't help but move closer to his arms.

Lu Jingyun asked gently, "What's wrong, Madam?"

"I had a nightmare," Ji Ruzhen said. "I dreamed that after Prince Chang'an killed my uncle and cousin, he wanted to kill me..."

Lu Jingyun knew that Ji Ruzhen asked Zhou Rong to defile Chunzhi, and he had a guilty conscience so he would have such a nightmare.

But he didn't say it to her face. He just patted Ji Ruzhen's back gently and said in a gentle voice, "It's just a nightmare. Madam, don't take it to heart."

"But..." Ji Ruzhen felt guilty about what she had done, and she couldn't tell Lu Jingyun. She leaned in Lu Jingyun's arms and said softly, "Husband, let's go back to the capital as soon as possible."

After Lu Jingyun passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, he entered the Hanlin Academy. Because he was the son-in-law of the prime minister, he was allowed to take a three-month leave as an exception and return home in glory.

At least in Ji Ruzhen's eyes, that's how things are.

In fact, Lu Jingyun was secretly assisting Prince Chang'an in inspecting Nanzhou under the emperor's secret order.

Because he was from Nanzhou, he was very familiar with this place. After returning to Nanzhou, he openly showed his goodwill to King Ning, and maneuvered among local officials to help King Chang'an.

While inspecting Nanzhou, Prince Chang'an was in the open, while Lu Jingyun was in the dark.

But when Lu Jingyun became the top scorer in the imperial examination, Prince Chang'an was patrolling the border in the northern province. He had just returned to the capital and was sent to the southern province by the emperor. Lu Jingyun had never met the Prince Chang'an before and didn't even know what he looked like.

Today, Prince Chang'an beheaded the Zhou father and son in the Nanzhou government office. Zhou He was Prince Ning's confidant. Touching this person means that Prince Chang'an will take action against Prince Ning soon.

Things have reached the most critical moment, and it is impossible for Lu Jingyun to return to the capital at this time.

He could only comfort Ji Ruzhen and said, "I have only been back to Nanzhou for a short time. I have just made friends with Prince Ning. It would be a pity to return to the capital at this time."

Ji Ruzhen said, "You are the son-in-law of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Why would you want to befriend the son of a prince? When we return to the capital, your father will be able to find you any official position you want."

"Madam," Lu Jingyun said sternly, "Don't mention this again."

Ji Ruzhen knew that Lu Jingyun had won the top spot in the imperial examination based on his own talent, unlike those second-generation rich men who relied on their ancestors' influence. She also knew that Lu Jingyun didn't like her constantly talking about his father. She suddenly felt tired and said, "I just want to go back to the capital as soon as possible."

Lu Jingyun whispered soothingly, "Madam, don't worry. As soon as I finish my business in Nanzhou, I will take you back to the capital immediately."

Ji Ruzhen said softly, "Okay."

Lu Jingyun held Ji Ruzhen in his arms, but he was thinking about meeting King Chang'an as soon as possible.

…

Taohua Lane, tofu workshop.

Chunzhi had previously asked Huo Zheng to take the donkey back, but now she is touching the donkey's head and talking to it, and she simply can't let it go.

It was not until nightfall that Huo Zheng could no longer tolerate this and asked Chunzhi to go back to the house and sleep.

Chunzhi said "Oh" and was about to hop on one foot to fetch water to wash her hands. Huo Zheng picked her up and carried her to the well.

He fetched water from the well and asked Chunzhi to wash her hands clean. Then he carried her back into the house and put her on the bed.

The lights in the room were dim.

The man stood in front of the bed and showed no intention of leaving.

Chunzhi silently moved inward, leaving most of the outer bed empty.

She had almost tacitly agreed to Huo Zheng sleeping in the same bed with her.

Huo Zheng stood in front of the couch and undressed, his clothes scattered on the ground. He got on the bed, put his arms around Chunzhi's waist, and pulled her into his arms.

Haruji whispered, "Be careful...be careful of my feet."

Huo Zheng untied Chunzhi's skirt and lifted one of her legs. This not only avoided touching her wound but also made her feel extra amused.

Chunzhi blushed deeply, "Turn off the lights."

Huo Zheng flicked his sleeves and extinguished the oil lamp on the table.

The moonlight shines through the windows, filling the room with spring colors.