Chapter 29 Sugar Mushroom: "Draw a mushroom."

"Okay, go to sleep."

After Gu Huizhou finished speaking, he turned around and found that Yao Ruyi, who had just applied medicine to him, had already fallen into a deep sleep.

I'm so tired, even though I just slept all day.

Gu Huizhou remained silent. He had applied several ointments to his hands, and Twelve had added too much plum blossom fragrance, so the Yun Palace was now filled with the scent of flowers.

Even Yao Ruyi, who was lying on the dragon bed, was permeated with this scent, so fragrant that it made her dizzy.

A large hand lifted the person up and placed them securely on the inside of the dragon bed.

"Just this once."

The emperor then rose and extinguished the lamps, plunging the Cloud Palace into darkness. A soft, subtle breathing sound could be heard, accompanied by another faint noise.

The man's breathing slowed, but remained uneven until it gradually became even after half an hour.

Several days passed peacefully in the capital.

Han Siwen hadn't originally planned to stay in the capital for long; she had lived in Jiangnan for many years. Her return to the capital was for her younger brother's wedding; the boy used to follow her around as a child, calling her "elder sister."

I never imagined we'd be getting married today.

Having become a renowned general, Han Siwen stood in the courtyard with a faint smile on his lips. How many famous generals throughout history have been able to retire gracefully after achieving their goals?

Let's take it one step at a time.

She didn't believe His Majesty would exterminate the Han family.

"Why don't you go in? I'll go see if he's ready." Han Dahai was dressed like a wealthy man today. His usual robe was loose and not very proper. If he didn't change it today, his wife would nag him endlessly.

"Father." Han Siwen smiled. Her light green silk dress accentuated her noblewomanly air, but her face was quite heroic. She had beautiful, arched eyebrows, a high nose, and her eyes looked slightly sharp when she looked at people.

Even when she's smiling, she often comes across as difficult to get along with.

"Father, please don't go in. I just saw Mother go inside. I'm afraid there's no need for you to join in the fun."

Han Dahai stopped abruptly, pacing back and forth. "I still feel uneasy. If he married an ordinary woman, Father would surely celebrate with great fanfare. But this princess is, after all, a person from the Xiao Kingdom. What will happen in the future..."

Life would never be peaceful.

“Father, Ji Qing has grown up.” The woman smiled gently, but the firmness and composure in her eyes always gave her a fierce aura. “After all, he became a general who protects the country through his own efforts.”

“From now on, that’s Ji Qing’s family matter, so Father, don’t worry about it.”

"But—" Han Dahai wanted to say something, but then thought better of it. He then asked, "When are you getting married?"

"Me?" Han Siwen raised an eyebrow, then blinked and glanced around. "I will marry whenever I meet a dashing young man."

She is one year older than Han Jiqing, and is now thirty-one. Han Dahai had even hired a shaman to perform a ritual to arrange a marriage for his eldest daughter some time ago.

As a result, Han Siwen packed her things and left Beijing that very night, and did not reappear in the capital until two years later.

"Look at you! You're not getting any younger, your younger brother is already married and you're still homeless!"

What does it mean to be homeless?

The woman didn't seem to care. "I, Han Siwen, am also Manager Han in Jiangnan, and I control the Siyun Chamber of Commerce. My father knows how many people want to get involved with Siyun."

The two walked to the side and sat on a stone bench. "People always say that businessmen are all vulgar people who are greedy for petty profits, and that they all regard refined scholars as superior. So what? Wherever I go, they will call me Manager Han, or Chairman Han."

Her arrogance was undisguised; the days when her children desperately wanted to prove themselves to their parents were over. Now, Han Siwen had ingrained arrogance in her bones; she was just like everyone else.

"I can't control you," Han Dahai asked. "The other day His Majesty summoned you to the palace. Did he set a date for your return to Jiangnan?"

"Hmm, in a couple of days." Han Siwen fiddled with the jade pendant at her waist. She still didn't quite like the layers of silk and satin she wore. "After Ji Qing's wedding, I'll take care of some things and then go back."

"Um."

Han Dahai's gaze was calm, and when he looked away from his daughter, he also suppressed his worry. "Spend more time with your mother; she misses you terribly."

"Yes, Father, don't worry."

As the two were talking, Han Jiqing was already ready, and his red outfit looked somewhat out of place on him.

Han Siwen burst out laughing on the spot, "I'm really not used to your outfit."

Perhaps it had been too long since Han Jiqing had worn such a bright color, Han Siwen couldn't help but laugh even after looking at it several times.

"Is there anything wrong?" Han Jiqing asked everyone nervously. "Should we tidy it up again?"

"Alright, he's definitely a young master now. Let's go, lest we miss the auspicious time."

Seeing that it was getting late, Han Jiqing quickly nodded. The Han family had everything prepared, and the atmosphere was festive, just waiting for the groom to go and bring the bride back.

The man on the tall horse had a dignified appearance. His imposing figure alone would have scared away several people, but on this auspicious day for Han Jiqing, the dignified General Zhenguo couldn't suppress the smirk on his face even while sitting on horseback.

"This General Han is indeed handsome. If he hadn't married the princess of Xiao Kingdom, he probably would have had to be a young lady from a noble family to be worthy of him!"

"That's hard to say. There are plenty of young women out there these days. Did you see General Liang of the Liang family just a few days ago? He married a young lady who had just come of age as his wife."

"What do you mean by that? The daughter of Vice Minister Li is beautiful and charming, and she was once known as a talented woman."

"Sigh, why bring this up? Do you think Princess Xiao and General Han are together because they love each other? If the title of General were to fall on someone else, you'd see what happens."

An old woman looked at the countless women in red with envy in her eyes and said, "Stop talking nonsense! What business is it of yours what other rich people have to do with their affairs? You should think about how much rice you can buy with your meager wages!"

The young man next to him chuckled, "I heard that the imperial court has issued a decree that the price of rice will be controlled by the court, and they said they will also distribute some seeds to plant in the ground. Maybe rice will grow next year."

"The imperial court?" the old woman scoffed. "If the imperial court were truly capable, it would have resolved the issue long ago. Why would it still be around now?"

Given the new emperor's temperament, if he were to actually issue a decree, these unfortunate people wouldn't be unable to even get a proper meal a few times.

"Grandma, don't speak too soon. Aren't those few grains of rice you still have in your house also provided by the imperial court?"

The old woman glared at him and said nothing. Seeing the wedding procession finally coming to an end, she bent over and turned to go back to work.

To save on hiring, the shopkeeper assigned all the work to these few women. There are still clothes left to wash in the yard.

Her hands, covered in chilblains, showed no sign of healthy skin, and her cheeks were thin and sunken, making it impossible to discern her original appearance.

When Princess Xiao came to marry Yun, Yun gave her a great deal of face. They chose a good location in the capital to build a courtyard, with the court allocating funds to build a princess's mansion.

The envoy from Xiao Kingdom had nothing to say, and even swallowed back any criticisms he might have had. Today was their princess's joyous day; everything else could wait.

They, the people of Xiao, have plenty of time to fight Gu Huizhou.

The wedding procession traveled from the General's Mansion to the Princess's Mansion, circled the city, and then returned to the General's Mansion. The number of brides in red had increased considerably. It was a sight to behold, making everyone envious.

Li Yunyun forced a smile during the meal, but no one knew how much her long fingernails had dug into her flesh.

If she could, why would she be willing to marry this old man?

The woman suppressed her regret and put on a charming expression as she poured wine for the person beside her, saying, "Please, my husband."

Liang He made no attempt to hide his displeasure. He downed the wine in his glass in one gulp and slammed the glass onto the table with a loud "bang!"

The banquet was crowded and lively, and such a small commotion went unnoticed. Li Yunyun quickly poured him another cup, trying to say something agreeable to please him.

At banquets, it's always the older generation who converse with each other, while the younger generation plays and jokes around. Han Dahai and Liu Yushuang chatted with a group of senior officials from the court, while Han Siwen and Han Jiwen stayed behind to help entertain some guests of their own age.

To Han Jiwen, they were classmates and friends, but to Han Siwen, they were his younger brothers and sisters.

"Have fun! Xiao Rou has grown into a beautiful young woman. Ping Xia too. It's been so long since I've seen you two, Siwen." Han Siwen was friendly to the two girls, revealing a rare gentleness from her very core.

"Thank you, Siwen. We won't keep you entertaining your guests any longer. We'll go have some fun on our own."

"Okay, come find your sister later. She'll bring you some little trinkets she brought back from Jiangnan."

The two little girls immediately beamed with joy, "Okay!"

Han Siwen smiled and watched them head to the guest seating area before turning to greet the others. Normally, men would host guests at such banquets, but the Han family didn't follow this custom. Han Siwen spoke even more eloquently than Han Jiwen, her every smile and gesture exuding a mature charm.

"Siwen!"

Han Siwen turned her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She vaguely remembered this person. She smiled slightly and asked, "Second Young Master, who is this?"

Baili Wenhan pushed a wheelchair over. The person in the wheelchair had a gentle face and a warm smile on his lips. Han Siwen felt like she had seen him somewhere before.

The two shared a similar demeanor, yet their temperaments were completely different. If they were the legendary twins from the capital over a decade ago, then this person must be Baili Qingxiao, who had been living in seclusion in his residence for a long time.

The eldest son of the Baili family.

“Miss Han, my name is Baili Qingxiao.” Although he was in a wheelchair, Han Siwen had the illusion that he was looking down on her. “That’s Siwen’s fault. It is an honor for the Han family that you two gentlemen can come to congratulate Ji Qing on his wedding. Please!”

Baili Qingxiao smiled and nodded, but Baili Wenhan had no intention of leaving. He looked intently at Han Siwen and asked urgently, "Siwen! Do you still remember me?"

"What are you saying, Second Young Master?" the woman laughed heartily. "Siwen has been away from the capital for many years, but he has heard a little about what is happening there. Second Young Master is very famous in the capital. Last year, his reputation soared after the sword competition, and everyone in the capital knows him."

Han Siwen's words were reasonable and well-founded; most people wouldn't turn cold upon hearing such flattery. However, Baili Wenhan's expression immediately darkened, his eyes filled with stubbornness. "How can you not remember me? Five years ago, in the outskirts of the capital, I was traveling with a carriage to an ancient temple when I happened to meet Siwen. We hunted pheasants and rabbits together! Siwen—"

Han Siwen's astonished expression amused Baili Qingxiao. He was also unable to walk now, and sat in his wheelchair watching with interest as his younger brother expressed his affection for someone.

"That's quite a coincidence."

She doesn't remember! How could she not remember!

Baili Wenhan gripped the armrests of the wheelchair tightly, his eyes filled with fierce determination as he looked at Han Siwen. Back then, on the palace stage, he had thought that even if he married the Princess of Xiao Kingdom, he would definitely take her home as his concubine!

He loved her so deeply, yet all he got in return was a single word: "coincidence!"

"Siwen, my feelings for you are truly sincere. I have no wives or concubines at home, and our two families are—"

"Wen Han!"

Baili Qingxiao interrupted sharply, "We've already bothered Miss Han long enough. We should go and congratulate General Han on his wedding first."

Han Siwen nodded with a smile, her face showing neither joy nor anger. "We have prepared some fine wine at home. Please enjoy it. I'll go and entertain the guests now."

"Thank you, Miss Han."

"Siwen—"

Baili Wenhan turned to tug at Han Siwen's sleeve, but was stopped by the person in the wheelchair. He turned back and said fiercely, "Brother! What are you doing?"

Watch your words.

Baili Wenhan lowered his head and remained silent. The veins on the back of his hand bulged and then subsided. Finally, he pushed his wheelchair forward.

The general's mansion is very large; it would probably take several hours to walk around it from beginning to end. Now it is past dusk, and the sky outside the window is getting darker, but the noise is getting louder and louder.

Just as the guests were enjoying their drinks.

Inside a room, the table was laden with delicious food and drinks, and the room was dimly lit by candlelight, making it impossible to tell from the outside whether anyone was inside.

Yao Ruyi watched with great interest from the window. Just a few days ago, he was able to talk to girls in the brothel, and now he was expressing his feelings to Miss Han in front of so many guests.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he had some deep-seated grudge against Miss Han.

"Come and eat."

Gu Huizhou tapped his fingers lightly on the table. Yao Ruyi walked over slowly. "Your Majesty, is it just the two of us?"

"Um."

Seeing the emperor pick up his chopsticks, he didn't stand on ceremony. It seemed the dishes on the table were prepared for the two of them. Since the emperor couldn't attend the banquet, he sent Cui Xiangzhu to deliver congratulatory gifts.

But no one knew that the emperor was currently in the Han residence, even in the side room next to their banquet.

There was a light knock on the back door of the room. Yao Ruyi initially thought it was Cui Xiangzhu returning. But when he turned around, he saw a slender figure. It was Han Siwen, the eldest daughter of the Han family, whom he had just seen through the window.

As she walked in, Yao Ruyi could smell the fragrance of pear blossoms.

"Your Majesty, I have seen you—" She looked at Yao Ruyi, who was sitting at the same table as the emperor.

"nineteen."

"I have met with the 19th Party Congress."

Yao Ruyi smiled at her.

"Your Majesty, Ji Qing heard that Your Majesty is in the residence, so I wished to come and offer you a cup of wine. I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is?"

Gu Huizhou nodded upon hearing this, "Mm."

Han Siwen smiled and said, "Ji Qing is right outside the door. I'll go call him." She curtsied again and said, "This humble woman takes her leave."

Han Jiqing had already drunk quite a bit of alcohol, and the strong smell of alcohol emanating from him could be smelled as soon as he entered. Yao Ruyi tried to get up, but Gu Huizhou pressed her down, saying, "Eat your food."

He continued eating.

"Your subject, Han Jiqing, offers a toast to Your Majesty!"

He wasn't drunk yet, but the thought of marrying the woman he loved on his wedding day had him grinning from ear to ear. The wine glass in his hand swayed gently, and the sincerity and loyalty in his eyes were frank and straightforward.

Gu Huizhou smiled and said, "Congratulations."

The two wine glasses clinked together with a "ding," and Han Jiqing's smile widened even more.

He tilted his head back and gulped down the wine, then casually wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. "Your Majesty, I am extremely grateful for your presence. I am especially, especially, especially happy!"

He knew better than anyone why His Majesty didn't show up, but Han Jiqing was happy whenever His Majesty did.

Gu Huizhou sat in his seat, looking as usual, but Yao Ruyi felt that he was in a good mood. Even after Han Jiqing left through the back door and returned to the banquet, His Majesty still had a smile on his lips. "Your Majesty, please have something to eat."

What's so great about wine? Anyway, the emperor poured him a cup of wine earlier and made him feel unwell for quite a while.

"Eat yours."

That same phrase again.

Most of the dishes on the table ended up in Yao Ruyi's mouth, while Gu Huizhou only took a few bites of the food in front of him. It seemed he wasn't full from the food.

Cui Xiangzhu has already returned to the palace. Since he came from the palace, he naturally had to return in front of everyone.

As dusk fell, most of the guests had left. Han Dahai and Han Siwen saw off the last guest and then escorted the Xiao Kingdom envoy to his carriage back to the princess's residence. The banquet finally came to an end.

Are there still carriages and horses?

"Wen'er, is something the matter? There's still your father's carriage left at home for going to court."

Han Siwen nodded. "His Majesty is in the side room. Ji Qing has already taken a moment to offer a toast during the banquet."

"His Majesty is here?!" Han Dahai exclaimed in a breathy voice, instantly sobering up considerably. "I... Father, I have to go and offer a toast! Why didn't you tell Father about something so important!"

Han Siwen was helpless. His Majesty had come to celebrate for his close friend, not for General Han.

Where is His Majesty?

Han Siwen's carriages and horses were already prepared. Turning around, she saw Han Dahai rushing out and asked in surprise, "His Majesty has already left?"

"They're gone."

"It's good that they're gone," Han Dahai breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, everyone, get some rest."

Two figures darted across the rooftop, finally leaping from an abandoned courtyard and landing steadily on the ground.

Gu Huizhou was dressed in all black today, without any symbols of his imperial status on his person.

Yao Ruyi changed into her robe, and the two walked from the narrow alley into the bustling market. There was no curfew in Yun Kingdom, and even at night, one or two food vendors could be seen.

Yao Ruyi ate quite a lot today. She didn't crave the street food, but everything else seemed new and exciting to her.

He had initially thought His Majesty would take him straight back to the palace, but unexpectedly, they were allowed to stroll around the streets for a while. "Your Majesty, aren't we going back to the palace?"

"Change it."

People came and went on the street, shouts rose and fell from the roadside, and orange and red lanterns hung in the air, reflecting colorful light on people's faces.

Should we change the way we address each other?

Yao Ruyi thought about it and remembered that he had previously heard Thirteen call out to His Majesty, "Master, aren't we going back?"

"Return."

The two strolled along the street, both dressed in fine clothes and exuding an extraordinary air. The vendors and people on both sides couldn't help but look in their direction. Gu Huizhou stepped forward without making a sound and blocked them behind him.

"What's this?"

"Young master, this is a sugar figurine, it's edible. Our family makes the most exquisite sugar figurines. Do you like it? Shall I have one for you?"

Food? Yao Ruyi didn't want any; he couldn't eat anything right now.

"Draw a mushroom."

"mushroom?"

The vendor paused for a moment when he saw the cold-faced young master suddenly appear before him, but then smiled and said, "Alright, alright! We can draw anything! Please wait a moment, young master."

As soon as he finished speaking, the vendor immediately started working, while Yao Ruyi and Gu Huizhou stood in front of the stall and waited.

Yao Ruyi said angrily, "Why are you drawing mushrooms?"

"It's fun."

You're the funniest.

The mushroom was unhappy; although it stood still, its eyes darted around.

"Here, young master, please take this."

Gu Huizhou held a plump, orange mushroom in his hand, quite pleased with himself. He put down a few copper coins, turned, and left.

"Thank you, young master! Please come again if you like!"

How can you be so fat!

Yao Ruyi couldn't believe it. The mushroom in the emperor's hand was ten times fatter than him. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was a teacup that had come to life. "Ugly."

"Why does the 19th Party Congress care so much? I just happened to have a craving, what's it to you?"

Yao Ruyi was stunned by his accusatory look. The man smiled smugly, his eyes gleaming with cunning. He lowered his head and bit into the mushroom cap, instantly chipping off a piece of the sugar mushroom, which fell to the ground along with some crumbs.

It's sickeningly sweet.

Gu Huizhou held the candy in his mouth for a long time before swallowing it. He turned to look at the sulking Yao Ruyi, then reached out and shoved the candy figurine into Yao Ruyi's hand. "Take it."

Yao Ruyi was about to retort when she suddenly remembered that she was a guard and it was only natural for her to help the emperor.

So he reluctantly accepted it.

Still feeling resentful, he took advantage of Gu Huizhou's inattention while walking ahead and bit into the other end of the mushroom.

Now that most of the cap is missing, it's no longer recognizable as a mushroom.

The two walked from one end of the market to the other, and Yao Ruyi's hands became increasingly full of things. At first, he was just helping the emperor carry sugar figurines. Later, after he had stolen and eaten all the sugar figurines, he took small crispy fish, and then he also took sugar cakes and pastries.

Yao Ruyi was holding a bunch of things in his arms. He carefully placed the lantern in the water according to the posture the boss had taught him.

The eight characters on the lantern were written crookedly, yet Yao Ruyi was as devout as a believer. Gu Huizhou had never seen him like this before, not even at Yun Temple. Gu Huizhou found it amusing.

Finally, Yao Ruyi released her grip, and the lanterns along the riverbank floated towards the center. The lanterns, linked together, were indescribably beautiful.

"Would you like to set off another one, young master? Our lanterns are of excellent quality."

Before Yao Ruyi could even reply, she heard an old woman from the restaurant next door mutter with a displeased expression, "What's the use of releasing so many lanterns? Will the river god give you a bowl of rice?"

The shopkeeper chuckled, "Grandma Li, why are you doing this?"

"Why should I?!" The old woman's resentment began to spread from the bottom of her heart. "We can't even afford rice now, and we can barely get a bowl of hot porridge! And you're wasting your money on this kind of entertainment! Instead of praying to the river god, you should pray to the local earth god and see if he'll be kind enough to ensure a good harvest this year!"

The shopkeeper apologized to Yao Ruyi and her companion, "I'm sorry, sirs. Consider this one a gift from me. Please don't spoil your mood."

"Thanks."

The old lady over there didn't quiet down because of the boss's words. While clearing the remaining dishes on the restaurant table, she muttered, "The imperial court actually came up with the idea of ​​growing mulberry trees and alfalfa. Maybe it's because the emperor is greedy for immortality and gave us his land to grow medicinal herbs!"

"Grandma Li!" the shopkeeper scolded, "You can't just say things like that!"

"Am I talking nonsense?" Granny Li's thin face made her cheekbones stand out even more, and her squinting eyes could scare away a whole room of children. "Look at how many people actually listen to the court and plant crops! Originally, even if the harvest was bad, there would be a few grains of rice left in a bowl. But now that we're growing this stuff, this old woman can't even get a single grain of rice!"

Grandma Li's eyes reddened, and she stubbornly turned to walk towards another untidy table. When she saw that there were still two mouthfuls of noodle soup left on the table, her eyes lit up, and she rushed forward with her hunched body to drink up the cold leftovers.

The shopkeeper looked at Granny Li with pity, then turned back and said, "Young masters, please don't mind her. Granny Li is all alone at home; her son couldn't stay and ran away. She used to be able to support herself, but the harvests have been so bad these past few years that she has to come out and beg for a living at her age."

"Moreover, this decree from the imperial court is not something that even young people like us can easily understand, let alone the elderly women."

The owner said it was time to pack up. Several other vendors had already finished packing up, and there weren't many people on the street. They should go home and sleep.

Would you plant it?

Yao Ruyi squatted on the ground, playing with the lantern in his hand.

"Me? I'll plant a little if I can, just to try anything." He smiled helplessly. "I happen to have some skills, so I won't starve for now."

The owner turned off the lights on his stall, turned around and left with a heavy stack of things on his back, not forgetting to wave goodbye to the two of them.

Yao Ruyi remained silent. He carefully placed the lantern back into the water and then went to find the other lantern they had just placed down.

Where is it?

"Underwater."

It flipped over?

Yao Ruyi looked displeased. "This is my first time using it, I have no experience."

"Look, this second one is very good."

Gu Huizhou didn't say anything. He stood up, adjusted his robe, and said, "I'm leaving."

"Your Majesty, wait for me."

"master!"

Gu Huizhou turned his head. "What is it?"

"I found the first one!"

Yao Ruyi declared confidently, "It's in the middle!"

His handwriting wasn't very good yet, but the eight large characters "四海升平八方宁静" (Peace and tranquility throughout the world) were surprisingly easy to recognize when they were pasted together.

Gu Huizhou paused, his gaze shifting from the lanterns to the person beside him, his tone softening considerably, "Okay, let's go."

"Regarding the cultivation of medicinal herbs..."

"Let's discuss this further upon returning to the palace."

It was late at night when the two returned to the palace. Even though it was past midnight, the Yun Palace was still lit. Cui Xiangzhu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the two had finally returned. "This old servant was thinking of having the Thirteenth Prince go to welcome His Majesty. Your Majesty, please come inside and rest."

"Um."

Yao Ruyi sat on her soft couch, resting.

After Cui Xiangzhu finished tidying up and left, the emperor sat down at his desk and picked up his pen again. Mushroom yawned and looked at him drowsily.

When His Majesty said "return to the palace," he really meant returning to the palace...

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Let me see! Let me see! Let me see!

Mushroom: I'm not fat!!!