Chapter 230 Take Away

Ma Hong felt a little annoyed that Prince Yan was bringing up something he shouldn't have said.

His Majesty was already upset about the matter concerning Physician He's family, and then Prince Yan brought it up again...

"Ma Hong, ask who's taking care of Xiao Lan and Yao Yao now." Xiao Qing's expression was calm.

Ma Hong lowered his head. "This servant will go and ask right away."

Xiao Yan then said, "Steward Ma, please wait."

He looked at Xiao Qing and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have heard about Physician He's matter. These past two days, the He family has been holding a religious ceremony, and I happened to be outside the palace, so I went to the He family's residence."

Seeing that Xiao Qing's expression had darkened, he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. Although it was due to illness, I heard that Physician He passed away without suffering from pain, which is a blessing."

Xiao Qing was stunned for a moment, different images flashing through her mind, and she became momentarily dazed.

Because Fu Mingyi handled the matter promptly, apart from a few people present, no one else knew the specific details of what happened at the He residence.

The He family announced that He Shu had been ill for a long time and was now dying. The two servants had been placed under the care of Fu Mingyi and were no longer allowed to appear in public. Fu Mingyi had been handling everything since He Shu's death, and had even invited a monk from Tianyin Temple to perform rituals. Now that Mingxiu had also gone there, the coffin would be carried up the mountain today. All of this was considered a favor from the emperor.

Xiao Yan continued, "It was at the He residence at this time that I happened to see Xiao Xiao's two brothers lying unattended in a corner, looking quite pitiful. Xiao Xiao has a deep bond with her two brothers; although they haven't been together for several years, she still misses them. I wasn't watching her for a moment, and she darted over. So I thought..."

Xiao Qing forced himself to composed himself, lowered his eyes slightly, and said, "Brother Yan is very kind. In that case, Brother Yan..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Ma Hong, go and see if Xiao Lan and Yao Yao are still at the He residence. If no one is looking after them, give them to His Highness Yan so that Xiao Xiao can keep him company."

Ma Hong naturally agreed.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to go with Steward Ma so that Xiao Xiao can meet the two brothers as soon as possible. Is that alright?"

Xiao Qing nodded, thinking that although Xiao Yan was aloof and extreme, he had actually been quite good to cats over the past few years.

Whether it's a person or a cat, once they've been by your side for a long time, you'll inevitably develop feelings for them.

She unconsciously thought of Mingxiu again, and quickly stopped the thought, but the chill that crept into her heart just wouldn't go away.

Xiao Yan went to the He residence with Ma Hong and quickly carried Xiao Lan and Yao Yao away wrapped in cloth.

The He family really couldn't take care of them anymore.

After returning to the palace, Xiao Yan did not rush to clean up Xiao Lan and Yao Yao. Instead, he put the two obviously uneasy little guys together, then instructed Dan Ying to bring two soft cloths and slowly wrap them around his hands. He then had Dan Ying tie brocade ropes around his wrists before approaching the two little guys and carefully examining their fur.

Dan Ying and Liu Yi exchanged glances. Although they didn't know why their master was doing this, seeing his serious and earnest profile, they felt a little uneasy.

Xiao Yan looked at it for a long time, but he didn't seem to be able to figure it out.

Liu Yi couldn't help but step forward: "Your Highness, is there...is there something wrong with this?"

The two kittens were quite well-behaved; apart from struggling a bit at first, they are now huddled together and haven't reacted much.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Wash them clean, keep them away from the wind, and they can stay with Xiaoxiao from now on."

Dan Ying stepped forward to remove the cloth wrapped around Xiao Yan's hands. Liu Yi quickly offered Xiao Yan a basin of water and a soft cloth to wash his hands, and Dan Ying then wrapped the two kittens in the cloth and went to wash them.

Xiao Yan took Xiao Xiao into his arms, waved Liu Yi away, and sat by the window, quietly looking out.

Unlike Yongxiao Palace in Beidu, Nanhua Palace still retains a comfortable warmth even in winter.

He stroked Xiao Xiao's fur gently, his body gradually relaxing, his gaze slowly drifting away, his memory seemingly transporting him to the distant Northern Capital, to that cold and tragic palace.

Children who grow up in hardship remember things early, and Xiao Yan's memory seems to have never been incomplete, even after spending three years in the warm and cozy Nanhua Palace.

In Yongxiao Palace, in that forgotten, desolate palace, he once had a little cat by his side, pitiful, thin, and frail...

Things seem to be getting interesting.

Ma Hong reported the situation at the He residence to Xiao Qing. Seeing the weariness on Xiao Qing's face, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

However, after a moment of silence, he asked, "Your Majesty, this servant has another matter to discuss..."

Xiao Qing nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Ma Hong said, "His Majesty has granted Chief Eunuch Ming permission to guard the coffin at Tianyin Temple for a year, which is an immense favor. However, Chief Eunuch Ming has always been His Majesty's personal attendant, and now that he has been away for some time, does His Majesty have any plans for him?"

Xiao Qing had considered this before. To be honest, besides Mingxiu, she really didn't have a suitable candidate to serve her personally. This made some things inconvenient.

She thought for a moment and said, "Some of the things Mingxiu was in charge of before will have to be handed over to you. You'll have to take care of them for now. Things will change after the winter hunt. As for the people around me..."

Xiao Qing paused, ultimately having no better solution, "Let's leave it at that for now, and there's no need to arrange anyone else."

Ma Hong agreed, and seeing that his master had considered these matters, he said no more. He figured they, as servants, should simply follow their master's decisions.

Xiao Qing is not a local. Although he has enjoyed a few good years, he has not lost his ability to live independently. The absence of Mingxiu by his side for a short period of time will not cause too much trouble.

However, after Ma Hong left, Xiao Qing sat alone in the hall, and gradually her eyes became vacant again.

With He Shu dead and Mingxiu leaving the palace, she was busy with all sorts of things, but the scene at the He residence that day kept flashing through her mind. She couldn't let it go, she couldn't stop thinking about it.

So many days have passed, and although Fu Mingyi is busy with He Shu's funeral arrangements, he has never come to talk to her about anything related to the He family again.

Many thoughts flashed through Xiao Qing's mind.

Every thought was rushing at her frantically, making her feel that the palace was becoming increasingly empty and desolate.

She felt like she had a lot of "whys" in her head.

"Come out." Her voice was low and weak.

Soon, four dark figures appeared in front of her, kneeling in unison with their heads bowed.

These people were secret guards, or more precisely, Fu Mingyi's secret guards. Fu Mingyi gave them to her, and she used them without hesitation, but never ordered them to do anything. It was said that their purpose was to ensure her safety in Nanhua. Beyond that, they were not to be involved in anything else.

Xiao Qing looked at them for a long time before saying, "You should go back."

The four were shocked and lowered their heads even further. One of them said urgently, "Master, we made a mistake the other day. Please punish us! We have nowhere else to go but to be with you."