Chapter 194 Many Questions
Yu Huatang remembered that she had heard people from Tianjing Pavilion talking about this matter before, but they shut up when they saw her. She didn't care about it before, but now she realized that it was related to her.
So he beat Ouyang Zui to help her avenge her frivolous behavior...
Why didn't he say...
Ouyang Zui was talking nonsense, saying he would sleep with her. Would he believe it?
She looked at the boy's legs and asked, "Who broke your legs?"
The servant smiled bitterly and said, "That day, the young master insisted on going out, saying there were some good stuff in the yard outside. I tried to persuade him not to listen, and when I sent him there, he told me to go back and not to disturb his leisure time. By the next day, he had frozen to death in the river. People there said they didn't know why it happened. But he could obviously swim, so even if he fell into the river drunk, he should have woken up. Why did he just die?"
"After I came back, the lady blamed me for not taking good care of the young master, so she broke my legs and kicked me out."
Yu Huatang stared at the ground in a daze and asked, "You said that day, you were not with your master, and your master could swim, but he fell into the river and was not found until the next day?"
"Yes, that's what everyone over there says."
Yu Huatang looked at him for a while, took a few coins and put them in the bowl, then turned and left.
As they walked along, Qing Xing asked, "Master, the beggar just said that Ouyang Zui wanted to sleep..."
Yu Huatang said, "It's okay. His son was a well-known evildoer in the capital. His death is retribution. He wasn't a good person anyway, so don't take it to heart."
Qing Xing nodded, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "But if someone heard what that person said, would it cause misunderstanding? Lord Zhao..."
Yu Huatang looked at her, realizing that such things were hard to explain. She wondered what Zhao Yan would think, but she hadn't seen him ask. At Chunhua Pavilion, everything he did was natural, nothing much else.
Qingxing was still confused, and Yu Huatang said, "It's nothing. We have nothing to do with the Zhao family now. This matter is completely false, so there's no need to worry about it."
Although he said this, Yu Huatang still felt a little traumatic.
That very night she had a dream. In the dream, it was snowing heavily. Zhao Yan was dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat, and next to him was An Yuan who was dressed in the same way.
He pressed a handkerchief on Ouyang Zui's mouth and nose, and when he started to hallucinate, he pushed him into the deeper river. Then he stood on the carriage and waited until Ouyang Zui was frozen to death before leaving.
This dream was extremely absurd. The Zhao Yan in the dream was more cold and gloomy than she had ever seen him before, but the details were so clear that she could even see the pattern of the brocade handkerchief, which was a twined branch pattern, which was also what Zhao Yan usually used.
She woke up from her dream and finally understood why she was so uneasy after hearing what the servant said.
That day, Zhao Yan told her he would be away for half a month. She went to class as usual, and then was summoned by the Empress. After a series of events, she didn't think much about why Zhao Yan was away for so long.
The servant said that his young master could swim and would not die immediately even if he fell into cold water while drunk. In his dream, Zhao Yan used some medicine to push him deeper.
She vaguely remembered that one day many traveling doctors and alchemists came to the Zhao Mansion. The servants at that time said that they were called by the Third Young Master and had something to ask.
So he was the one who killed Ouyang Zui?
If she were still at Zhao's house, she would definitely go over and ask. Now that the two of them have agreed to part ways, she should not bother them anymore.
In the end, she did not go to find Zhao Yan, but just told herself that it might be her own fantasy that caused her to have such a bizarre dream.
By the end of February, the capital had regained its former prosperity. It was also at this time that the biggest event of the year, the International Lantern Festival, was held.
Your Majesty today attaches more importance to the Ministry of Works and craftsmen than the previous dynasty.
Yu Huatang signed up first, and then took Qingxing to buy materials. The time was the 15th. Everyone made lanterns at home. On the official day, His Majesty would come to the scene in person to select the champion of this year.
After Yu Huatang registered, Zhao Yan found Eunuch Cao and asked about the selection.
The International Lantern Festival has only been held four times so far, and the crown has been different each time. The previous four were, respectively, Luoyang Palace Lantern, Panchi Lantern, Xianju Pantan Lantern, and Aoshan Lantern.
Eunuch Cao naturally knew the purpose of Zhao Yan's visit, so he handed over a handwritten note about the emperor's favorite craft.
Zhao Yan shook his head and said, "Your Excellency has misunderstood. I came here only to ask about Miss Yu's participation in the Lantern Festival as a woman. I wonder what else I need to do. I want to ensure that Miss Yu receives absolute fairness and is not excluded from the quota because of her gender, as the inheritance is passed down to males instead of females."
Eunuch Cao said, "Don't worry, my lord. Miss Yu was recommended by our family. We will definitely not let a villain cause trouble."
The reason why Eunuch Cao said this was simply because he was impressed by Yu Huatang's craftsmanship. It was originally very difficult for women to learn craftsmanship.
In Tianjing Pavilion, Yu Huatang was more outstanding than others, and Eunuch Cao, who allowed her to come in to study, was naturally happy.
Zhao Yan said, "With your words, I feel relieved." He was about to leave when Eunuch Cao stopped him and asked, "Master Zhao, do you really not want this letter?"
Zhao Yan said, "You are joking, eunuch. I am only the Minister of Works and do not have any responsibility for the affairs of the Imperial Household Department. If I saw it, and I have a personal relationship with Miss Yu, it would be difficult to explain. Moreover, it would be unfair to Miss Yu's efforts."
Eunuch Cao took back the letter and said with a smile, "I was not wrong about Miss Yu."
…………
At the end of February, on the day of the International Lantern Festival, the streets were deserted.
Yu Huatang had the prepared lanterns transported in advance by car and placed them in his own compartment. When his name was called in the evening, he would go forward and show them.
The display terrace is very large, and next to it is a three-story pavilion where Your Majesty will hold the selection tonight.
Night falls.
Everything was quiet, and the people from the Zhao residence had already found a place to sit down.
The lights in the pavilion were as bright as day. After a while, a group of imperial guards led the way, led by a general. His voice was as loud as a bell, "Stand back, the emperor is here!"
Everyone stood up immediately and bowed their heads in silence.
When several figures appeared in the attic, everyone knelt and bowed, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty; Your Majesty, Your Majesty, may your Majesty and Your Majesty live in peace."
After a long while, a powerful and majestic voice came from the attic, "Get up, tonight is the International Lantern Festival, I will enjoy it with everyone, there is no need to be restrained."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The grand ceremonial music began, and the eunuchs followed to announce the proceedings.
The selection has officially begun.
Yu Huatang was the 25th, and it would take a while for her turn. Although she was far away from His Majesty, she was still so nervous that she broke out in a cold sweat.
It’s not because of your majesty’s mighty power, but because of years of hard work, which is finally going to be shown to the world today!
The eunuchs called out one by one and everyone showed up.
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