Chapter 21 Chun Nong is very protective of her food.
Recently, Zhou Xian has been avoiding Zhang Jinwei intentionally or unintentionally.
In other words, he was avoiding everyone in the mansion intentionally or unintentionally.
Spring was in full bloom, flowers were in full bloom, and he was plotting how to disappear quietly. He had Yuxi pawn many of her humble dowry items, exchanging them for gold leaves and small change, and he would do so quietly over two or three months without anyone noticing.
Even Qianshan and Muxue, who had always been close to Zhou Xian, were kept in the dark about this matter.
So what about eunuch Wang Xiang?
Zhou Xian couldn't see through this person.
Once Wang Xiang lost his position before Emperor Yongchang, he simply became a shadow, relegated to the inner sanctum of the palace. With his skillful connections and perceptive ears, he shouldn't have fallen into obscurity, and if he had wanted to make a comeback, he would have had the opportunity. However, Wang Xiang seemed to have completely abandoned his future, willingly following Concubine Jing and Zhou Shan. He and Zhou Shan acted like a teacher and student, and he preferred to guide Zhou Shan's views on court matters.
Wang Xiang...had Fu Ningxiang's trust very much, and he knew that Zhou Shan was actually a man.
So, has he noticed anything unusual about Zhou Xian these days?
Zhou Shan did not dare to be arrogant and had to be doubly wary of this person.
It was a sunny day, and Zhou Xian came out of the study and sat on the swing in the yard. The swing was newly built, and the small garden in the yard was also newly renovated. It was the height of spring, and the peach and plum blossoms in the yard were fragrant and petals fell like rain. Zhou Xian picked up a random book and swayed on the swing, flipping through it and dozing off.
The petals landed on Zhou Shan's nose, tickling it a little. He wrinkled his nose and sneezed, feeling dizzy. Wang Xiang, who was accompanying Zhou Shan today, heard the noise and hurried inside to get a cloak to put on Zhou Shan.
"I'm not cold," Zhou Xian said, "it's just that the flowers are making my nose itchy."
Wang Xiang, an apricot-colored cloak draped over his arm, said with a smile, "Although spring is much warmer, it can also be easy for colds to enter the body. Princess, you should always take care of your health. It would be heartbreaking if you fell ill again. You'd better put it on first."
Zhou Xian was actually feeling a bit hot. He was wearing a thin spring coat, and the warm sun made him feel scorching. A single gust of wind would have him catching a cold. He was concerned about the upcoming Buddha's Birthday, so he obediently allowed Wang Xiang to cover him with clothes. If he fell ill and missed the chance to escape, it would be a loss.
After putting on his cloak, Wang Xiang's eyes shifted to the book cover in Zhou Xian's hand. "What book are you reading, Princess? It looks unfamiliar to me."
Zhou Xian said, "It's just a small book commenting on poetry, supposedly written by a famous scholar of the time. I flipped through it, and it's full of narrow-minded comments from sour Confucian scholars, but that's fine."
Wang Xiang lowered his brows and looked submissively: "Although our princess was raised in the deep palace, her heart is not like that of ordinary palace maids. She is filled with mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, so she cannot stand those sour and pedantic things."
When the eunuch praised others, he would often use words like "nimble hands and feet" and "thrifty and simple"—things that were neither offensive nor itchy. But when it came to Zhou Xian, he would always use grand words that seemed genuine and heartfelt.
Did he guess it?
Do you want to test it?
Zhou Xian's mind raced with thoughts. He hesitated, struggled, and finally pretended nothing had happened, casually dismissing Wang Xiang. He reasoned, there was no point in alerting the enemy; since Wang Xiang wouldn't move, he wouldn't either.
He sat on the swing, basking in the sun, his eyes slightly closed, reading for a moment. He found the "talented scholar's" far-fetched comments laughable, and suddenly felt bored. Then Qianshan and the others ran into the yard, carrying lunch boxes, grinning and huddling around him, chattering more noisily than the birds on the branches.
Qianshan smiled and opened the food box, saying with great interest, "Princess, try this! Aunt Cui made this thousand-layer cake with candied magnolia flowers inside. It's so sweet. If you like it, wait until the locust flowers bloom and then make some fresh flavors!"
Zhou Xian picked up a piece of cake and devoured it in two bites. Staring at the crumbs on his fingers, he suddenly remembered Fu Ningxiang's words: "Eating flowers is a science. Some flowers can be used as medicine or as food. Flowers are beautiful in appearance and useful in many ways. They can truly be described as "perfect."
Things in this world are far from perfect, like clouds that disperse easily and glass that is fragile. His six months in the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion were peaceful and smooth, filled with much joy, but...
"When I went out these days, I saw many ladies going out for an outing! Princess, let's go and have fun too. It's rare that this spring is so warm." said a maid.
"You are such a playful lazy bastard! You just think about going out to play every day. Be careful or I will ask your aunt to deduct your monthly salary!" Qianshan scolded with a smile, and the two girls started to chase and play with each other in the yard.
They are only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Zhou Xian, soaking in the sweltering warmth of spring, suddenly wondered: If she were to leave quietly like this, what would her aunt do? What about these girls? Would Zhang Jinwei let them go?
He had asked his aunt to go with him, but she refused, preferring to keep the secret and remain in the capital, a city filled with lies. She said that after Xianxian passed away, she would go to the imperial concubines' tombs. She had spent thirty years in the palace, serving many masters, and she feared they would be lonely after their death.
It's lonely traveling around the world alone.
This was said by Sixth Brother. Zhou Xian, thinking of Sixth Brother, felt even more reluctant to let go. He tried to let go of the people who had grown up with him, but his heart was throbbing with pain. So he said silently, "When the dust settles, I'll come back and secretly see you. Please take care of yourself."
And...and Zhang Jinwei.
Zhou Xian looked up and happened to meet the gaze of the man returning home from the government office. He was dressed in apricot-colored clothes, sitting on a swing with a lunch box in his arms, a piece of thousand-layer cake in his mouth, and blinked at the man blankly.
Why are you back so early today?
Zhou Xian nearly choked himself. He quickly finished his cake, pretending the man didn't exist, his eyes following the butterfly.
"Aunt Cui's cakes?" Zhang Jinwei, still in his official robes, leisurely walked to the swing, reaching out to pick up a piece of thousand-layer cake. "I wonder what new creations she's made this year."
With a "click", Zhou Xian slammed the food box shut, nearly pinching Zhang Jinwei's fingers. The man suddenly felt a little sad. He looked at his wife on the swing and wondered why she was still protecting the food.
The maids, tired from playing around, gathered around and greeted Zhang Jinwei with smiles on their faces. Zhou Xian stopped guarding the food and generously opened the food box, letting them eat it all.
Qianshan ate the cake and asked Zhang Jinwei, "Don't you want to eat it?"
Zhang Jinwei said calmly: "Thank you, I'm not hungry."
Qianshan looked at him strangely when he heard that, took the empty food box from the princess, and retreated with a few maids.
Only two people remained in the courtyard. The sun had already set, and the surroundings were shrouded in darkness. Zhou Xian continued to stare at the butterflies, the swing swaying gently, the hairpins swaying slightly, without saying a word, simply refusing to pay attention.
"Why are you reading Qi Xue Ci Hua?" Zhang Jin was trying to make conversation, so he picked up the book on the swing and flipped through it casually.
Zhou Xian was vindictive. He said coldly, "I won't talk to a lecher."
For nearly a month, Zhou Xian had been acting cold and indifferent. As the weather got warmer, he even stopped sleeping next to Zhang Jinwei. Whenever someone got close to him, he would say he was hot, and if anyone got any closer, he would be called a pervert.
As the saying goes, "Trouble comes from the mouth," Zhang Jinwei had no choice but to accept it. Regardless of whether the little liar was pretending or acting, it seemed that he really didn't like those explicit words. So did she still prefer calm and self-controlled men? He heard from the maids that last month a young wandering monk came to Daxinglong Temple and had a very pleasant conversation with the princess. The monk lectured for five days, and the princess was away for three days. Although she was secretly reading a storybook, she still gave the bald monk full face.
Zhang Jinwei sneered, thinking he had to go and see who this eminent monk was. So he said, "Buddha's birthday is coming soon. My aunt said the princess has donated a porridge tent and will go with the eminent monks to distribute porridge outside the city. It's not as safe outside as inside, and I'm worried. Could you please go with the princess?"
Zhou Xian was startled, almost thinking his thoughts had been discovered. He quickly said, "The Jinwu Guards are accompanying us, so rest assured, Prince Consort."
Jinwu Guards? A bunch of parasites who eat the emperor's food. The rich and powerful children among them probably can't even lift a knife.
Zhang Jin, in a compromise, said, "The princess is giving away porridge and charity, and as her husband, I naturally have to do my part. How about I accompany the princess to the temple to burn some incense that day and then escort her to the city gate?"
Zhou Shan was so tired that she wished someone would come and tie this man back to the Hanlin Academy and stop him from interfering in his affairs.
He couldn't help feeling sad when he saw him, and he didn't know why he was sad. The closer it got to Buddha's birthday, the more uneasy he became.
Maybe he was not sincere enough and wanted to use Buddha to deceive people.
Zhou Xian lowered his head and said casually, "Okay." He had to find someone to send Zhang Jinwei away halfway.
He was lost in thought when the swing swayed. Turning around, he saw the man smiling broadly. He casually pushed the swing and sighed, "I know you've been upset by that remark, and I'm truly sorry. I just said it casually, but I didn't realize it was so reckless. I've noticed the princess has been quite troubled lately. If you're feeling really uncomfortable, you might as well speak it out. It'll make you feel better."
If I tell you, will you let me go?
Zhou Xian tilted her head to look at the man, a few strands of hair fell on her face, and the spring sunset hung in her eyes, like two tears that were about to fall.
"You're fine now, just talking for a few words, and you're crying again." Zhang Jin was helpless. He reached out his hand, his palm broad, and gently stroked Zhou Xian's head. "You've been unhappy lately. Why?"
…
On Buddha's birthday, Zhou Xian got up very early. He asked Yu Xi to go out of the city in advance, ostensibly to help set up the porridge stall, but in fact, to wait for him with the money he had prepared.
He deliberately did not wear formal clothes, but just a simple and plain dress, without any gold or silver in his hair, and finally took a look at the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion.
On Buddha's Birthday, many people rushed to worship the Buddha, and several famous temples held temple fairs, making the capital city particularly lively early in the morning. Zhou Xian lifted the curtain and carefully examined the road he had walked a dozen times, feeling increasingly nervous.
Soon, the sedan chair landed steadily on the ground. Before Zhou Xian could get out of it, she heard Qian Shan, who was accompanying her, exclaim in surprise, "Oh, there are so many Jinyiwei in Daxinglong Temple today."
Jinyiwei?
Zhou Xian's face turned pale in an instant.
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