22. Chapter 22 Fear

When Xiaoxiao woke up, she found that it was already dawn and she was sleeping in Brother Pei's bed. She quickly got out of bed and found out that there was a fire in the palace in the middle of the night. He went to the palace and has not returned since then.

Xiaoxiao was a little worried. She couldn't help much, so she went back to Suyuexuan. As soon as she got back, she saw the embroiderer coming over with a tray. There were several sets of clothes on the tray. When she saw her, the embroiderer bowed and said with a smile: "Miss, please try it quickly. This is what the servants just made."

Xiaoxiao was a little surprised. "Didn't you just make a few sets for me last month? They're enough for me to wear."

The people in the palace were all shrewd people. They naturally knew that the prince treated her very differently. She was also his benefactor, so how could the embroiderers dare to neglect her? "New Year's Eve must have new clothes. They are made according to your size. It would be a pity if you don't wear them. Please accept them quickly, young lady."

Xiaoxiao couldn't refuse, so she thanked him and reminded him, "You don't have to do it for me again in the future."

She has a good temper, loves to laugh, and is very easy to get along with. Many people in the palace regard her as the young lady of the prince's palace. They feel that since she came, the prince has become a little more humane.

When Pei Xiuhan returned, it was already evening. Fortunately, the little emperor was fine. Seeing the tiredness between his brows, Xiaoxiao knew that he must have not slept all night. She felt a little distressed and said to Pei Xiuhan, "Brother, eat something and get some rest."

Pei Xiuhan had no appetite and only ate two bites before returning to the dormitory. Xiaoxiao did not try to persuade him anymore. She followed him into the inner room like a little tail, helped him draw the curtains, and then returned to her own residence.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Xiaoxiao asked Muwen to go to the Huguo Temple together. Pei Xiuhan was going to the battlefield tomorrow, and Xiaoxiao wanted to ask for some amulets for him.

When Pei Xiuhan learned that she was going out with Mu Wen, he thought she was bored in the mansion and wanted to go shopping. Fearing that the guards of the Zhenguo Mansion were not very skilled, Pei Xiuhan said, "Let Luzhu come with you."

Xiaoxiao had met Luzhu several times. She had once reported something to Brother Pei. Xiaoxiao always felt that she was not an ordinary maid. Seeing that Brother Pei insisted, she agreed obediently.

When she went back to prepare, Pei Xiuhan asked Yang Hao to give Luzhu a bag of silver. Although he didn't say anything else, Yang Hao knew that he must have given the silver to Luzhu because he was afraid that Xiaoxiao would not accept it.

Yang Hao gave Luzhu a few extra instructions, asking her to be smart and remember to buy her whatever the little girl liked.

Luzhu was a little surprised. She had never expected that her master valued Xiaoxiao so much. She pocketed the silver.

The carriage swayed out of the mansion. The weather was good today, the wind was not strong, and the curtains were only swaying slightly. Xiaoxiao was wearing warm clothes and holding a hand warmer, and her palms were almost sweating.

Mu Wen was already waiting at the palace gate, with a number of guards beside the carriage. She was always afraid of Pei Xiuhan, so she refused to go in and waited for Xiaoxiao at the gate.

After the two girls met up, the carriage drove towards the Huguo Temple. Seeing that it was heading out of the city, Luzhu's eyes moved slightly and she couldn't help but touch the silver in her arms.

*

The Huguo Temple is shaded by green trees and is filled with incense all year round. Even on the third day of the Lunar New Year, there are still many people coming to burn incense.

Of course, it is not just Pei Xiuhan who will be going to the battlefield tomorrow. Many soldiers' families have also come to the temple.

Xiaoxiao and Muwen followed the crowd inside. They worshipped many statues and prayed for several amulets. In the end, Muwen's feet ached so much that she couldn't even walk. Seeing Xiaoxiao looking normal and not tired at all, she felt a little envious. "Look at you, such a small creature, you have so much energy, don't you?"

Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "I used to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms often, so I've built up my physical strength."

Mu Wen heard Xiaoxiao talk about some things that happened in the past, such as picking fruits in the mountains and catching fish in the stream, so much so that Mu Wen even wanted to go to the countryside for a trip.

She said with a heartfelt sigh, "I really want to go mushroom picking with you."

Xiaoxiao curled her lips and said, "Then you have to exercise well, otherwise you will run out of energy halfway up the mountain."

The two chatted as they walked towards the pavilion, intending to rest for a while. When they walked around the brick-red wall and headed towards the small garden, they met three teenagers who were about seventeen or eighteen years old. All three of them had outstanding looks, and as they walked from afar, they attracted the attention of many young girls.

The young man walking in the middle was tall and slender, with handsome features and a pair of bright eyes.

Mu Wen saw him at a glance, and her eyes lit up immediately, "Cousin, why are you here too?"

Zhong Yu smiled and said, "I came here with a friend, you too?"

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Xiaoxiao. The girl was slender and stood quietly beside Mu Wen. Her skin was as white as jade, her eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a picture. Even at her young age, one could glimpse the beauty she would later become.

In the past two months, he often heard Zhong Miao mention Xiaoxiao at home, saying that she was pretty and a nice person. When they had breakfast together in the morning, Zhong Miao was still humming and saying that if she hadn't been feeling unwell, she would definitely come to Huguo Temple with them.

Noticing his gaze, Xiaoxiao smiled at him. The girl was beautiful and her smile was even more pleasing. Zhong Yu was stunned for a moment, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

Zhong Yu still had to accompany his friends to meet the abbot, so he simply greeted them and left. The young man next to him couldn't help but look at Xiaoxiao several times. He always felt that this little girl looked very familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere.

After Xiaoxiao and Muwen left, Zhong Yu's friend Feng Zichen asked Zhong Yu, "Who is the little girl next to your cousin?"

Like Zhong Yu, Feng Zichen is now studying at the Imperial College. He is usually very taciturn and rarely mentions a girl on his own initiative. Seeing that he actually asked about Xiaoxiao, Zhong Yu and the other boy were a little surprised.

Thinking of Xiaoxiao's overly pretty face, Zhong Yu hooked Feng Zichen's shoulder and kindly reminded him, "She is the little girl brought back by the Regent. Even if you like her, don't try to get your hands on her. She is only thirteen and still young."

Feng Zichen frowned and didn't explain any further.

When Xiaoxiao returned to Prince Yan's Mansion, Pei Xiuhan was not there. He went to the military camp again, stayed there until dark, and then went to the palace.

Although Pei Jing is smart, he is playful by nature. When Pei Xiuhan is around, he still has some concerns. But after he has been away from Beijing for a long time, this kid will definitely be restless. Pei Xiuhan warned Pei Jing and met with Mr. Zhang again.

Old Zhang has always been impartial, resourceful, and had taught the late emperor. Pei Jing would be a little more restrained when facing him. Pei Xiu Han not only asked him to keep an eye on Pei Jing, but also granted him great power. With him in charge, Pei Xiu Han could leave with a little more peace of mind.

He returned home only after he had arranged everything. Before he knew it, it was almost midnight. The night was as dark as ink. The moon and stars had hidden themselves, and dark clouds were faintly rolling in the sky.

As soon as the carriage left the Meridian Gate, it began to drizzle. The rain was not heavy, and it made a slight clicking sound when it hit the roof of the carriage.

Pei Xiuhan got off the carriage and walked back, but he saw a thin figure. A little girl was holding an oil-powdered umbrella with lotus flowers printed on it, waiting obediently at the gate.

The flickering candlelight shone on her, stretching her thin figure very long. Pei Xiu Han was stunned for a moment and stood there without moving.

Xiaoxiao also saw him. He was wearing court robes. The five-clawed dragon in front of him looked majestic, but it was far less impressive than the captivating aura around him. It was late at night and the dew was heavy. Under the rain, he looked like a god descending from the sky.

Xiaoxiao quickly ran over holding up the umbrella.

Pei Xiuhan reached out and took the umbrella from her hand. He felt a strange feeling in his heart. After a while, he frowned and said, "It's so late, why haven't you slept yet?"

"I see it's raining, come and pick up my brother."

Xiaoxiao was not sleepy at all. She felt a little depressed when she thought that he was going to the battlefield tomorrow morning. After she found that it was drizzling, she came out to pick him up. As expected, he didn't bring an umbrella.

Pei Xiuhan was silent for a while. He couldn't help but stroke her head and whispered, "Don't stay up late anymore."

Xiaoxiao nodded obediently, her eyes brighter because she helped him.

Pei Xiuhan sent her directly to Suyuexuan. Xiaoxiao took out a few amulets from her bosom and handed them to him. "Brother, these are what I asked for for you at the temple today. You must carry them with you. I asked for a few more in case you lose them. When you get to the battlefield, you must protect yourself."

Pei Xiuhan nodded, "Have you finished writing the letter to your brother?"

"I'll get it for you when I'm done writing it."

Xiaoxiao wrote more than ten pages. When she took it out, it was a thick stack. She felt a little embarrassed and asked, "Is it too much?"

"It's okay." Pei Xiuhan took the letter and the amulet into his arms, "Go to bed early."

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked into the rain.

Xiaoxiao returned to the house only after his figure disappeared into the night. The rain had unknowingly gotten heavier. The sound of raindrops hitting the branches and leaves was particularly frightening. Xiaoxiao once again took out her grandmother's clothes and held them in her arms.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep at all. Xiaoxiao felt anxious when she thought that he was leaving tomorrow and she was not sure whether he could return safely. The last time they were defeated, nearly nine thousand of the ten thousand soldiers died, kept flashing through her mind.

She was so scared that she would never see him again.

Even though she knew that he was doing this for the Great Jin and for the people of Dawn, and she should be proud of him, she was still very scared. She couldn't suppress the panic in her chest and held up an umbrella to go to Wuya Hall.