Chapter 222 Finale
The Queen helped her up and said, "Then it's settled. I'll find a day to invite you over for dinner, and then have the Emperor call you over, so he doesn't have to keep asking me for a companion. Now I've found a companion of my own, and it's much better than the one he found."
Yu Huatang nodded and smiled, "I will follow your Majesty's instructions."
"Okay, from today on, I will call you by your name, Huatang. Hey, this name is nice." The queen pulled her and smiled.
Although they were clearly collaborating with each other, Yu Huatang felt a warmth coming over him.
These are two women who have gone through hardships to get to where they are today. They are also two women who have no family support but rely on each other for warmth. Even if it is for profit, at this moment, Yu Huatang still felt the unspeakable warmth.
She didn't know anyone in the capital, and the queen was indeed not suitable. She hoped that this fellow countryman could live a stable life, and that they could support each other and find a place of their own in the capital.
When I came out of the palace, Zhao Yan was waiting outside.
"Why are you here?"
Zhao Yan said, "When I was off duty, Anfu said you had come to the palace, so I thought of coming here to pick you up. I just happened to want to take you somewhere."
Yu Huatang smiled, "Where is it?"
He held her and said gently, "Follow me."
"Walk?"
It was autumn and the sun was shining brightly. Zhao Yan pulled him to the center of the street. Both of them had outstanding looks, and she was wearing the clothes of a noble lady, so many people looked at them along the way.
She secretly pulled her hand out of his, but he ignored it and came over to pull her back, laughing and saying, "Why are you shy?"
"Someone's watching."
He ignored her and just pulled her along, talking to her all the way, trying to distract her.
When they got to a place with more people, she felt embarrassed and pulled it out again. He stopped and looked at her angrily, then held out his hand for her to hold it herself.
But she pretended not to see it and deliberately changed the subject, "Guess what the Queen just said to me?"
He led her inside and held her hand again. She smiled at him and said, "You'll never guess. You scholars often say that meeting an old friend in a new place is a great blessing in life, and today I met one."
Zhao Yan asked with great interest, "The Queen wants to be from the same hometown as you?"
She was surprised, "How did you guess it so quickly?"
Zhao Yan said as if it was a matter of course, "I am the Prime Minister. Besides, you explained it so clearly yourself, and I still can't guess it. Isn't that an insult to my reputation?"
So this means she's stupid?
She looked at him angrily, and he smiled and said, "You're angry." He then tried to come over and hug her, but she was so scared that she ran away immediately, "How can we behave in public?"
Zhao Yan was unconvinced, "There's no law that says a husband and wife can't walk next to each other during the day."
Was he right next to her? "Shame on you." She glared at him.
Finally, she said seriously, "The Queen said that she and I are from the same hometown from now on, and I agreed. I shouldn't have done anything wrong."
Zhao Yan pondered for a moment, then came over to pull her along and continued walking. "The Empress wants His Majesty to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible. In March of this year, His Majesty fell ill, and the concubines in the harem all had their own ideas. The Empress might be a little anxious. After all, Concubine Duan's son is older than her third prince. If the court officials support him, she will be in trouble."
Yu Huatang was a little worried. "If I agree today, won't that tell others that you are on the Queen's side?"
He smiled and rubbed her hand. "Nothing. From what His Majesty has indicated, it seems he is referring to the Third Prince. So, thanks to you, we are on the same boat with the Empress."
Yu Huatang was amused by him and hurried over to signal him to speak in a lower voice so that no one would hear him.
After they walked a few steps, he took her to a shop. It was called a shop, but it was actually a three-story building. The door was closed, and no one knew what was going on inside.
At this moment, Zhao Yan took out a bunch of keys and opened the door in front of her.
She was surprised, "How do you have the key? Did you buy it?"
"I asked someone to look at it. They said this is the center of the street, with a lot of people. The dignitaries all go here. This is the best place to open a shop, and it's also close to home."
Yu Huatang forgot to go in and stayed outside and asked, "...When did you buy it?"
Zhao Yan took her in and said, "I started looking at it after returning to the capital. I finally waited until the owner returned to his hometown, and then I bought it."
Yu Huatang looked around and said, "Isn't it too big? I just saw outside that there are three floors."
He looked at her and smiled, "You are a great craftsman appointed by His Majesty himself, a female Lu Ban, with apprentices spread all over Quanzhou and Fuzhou. You need a bigger place."
Listening to what he said, I felt like I was some big shot, and I felt very embarrassed.
The two continued walking forward and found a well behind the shop.
The original owner must have been a refined person, as he even planted plum trees in the yard. He said, "I originally wanted to plant something else, but this plum tree is nice too, so I'll leave it there for now."
Yu Huatang looked at him and smiled. "Don't you like plum blossoms? Even in winter, they still have a cool fragrance here. Let's do this. I remember there were plum blossoms behind the bamboo forest in Orchid Garden. This will make you feel right at home."
He listened to her talk about her hobbies and everything about her family, then hugged her and said softly, "You are so good to me."
She hugged him, and after a while she took something out of her bosom and handed it to him. "I originally wanted to embroider clothes, but the children are too naughty and I really don't have the time, so I thought of making you a handkerchief first."
She looked at him expectantly, even a little shyly.
He took it and looked at it. It was a water bird and a fish, so he remembered the first time they went hiking. At that time, a water bird happened to catch a fish and flew away. She looked at it with joy. Later, the two of them met again and reunited. At that time, he was very happy, thinking that this was a chance given by God to let him start over with her.
He touched it gently with his hand, and the embroidery thread revealed a luster and the stitches were fine and delicate. It was obvious that a lot of thought had been put into it.
He took the handkerchief into his arms and hugged her again, "When did you do this? How come I don't know?"
She placed her hand on his and said, "You did this when His Majesty sent you to Jingu after returning to the capital."
He hugged her tighter, leaning against her neck and shoulder, and smiled softly, "Is that so? Then you've decided to be with me for the rest of your life, and you can't run away anymore."
She smiled faintly.
The warm wind blew, and the sunlight had a golden hue. At this moment, after so many years, she once again clearly expressed that she still loved him.
He was so lucky to have her as his wife.
…………
The shop opened again. Yu Huatang and her shop assistants were busy all morning. In the afternoon, after all the orders were sorted out, she received an invitation to this year's palace banquet. It was sent by Eunuch Cao, who said that His Majesty also wanted to see the craftsmanship of Madam Qiao Deng, and all the palace lanterns for this year's palace banquet would be made by Changming Pavilion.
She thanked him and gave some silver to Eunuch Cao. After Eunuch Cao left, she went to the second floor alone. From here she could see most of the scenery of the capital. After a while, someone came up behind her. The familiar fragrance made her lean back.
He came over and hugged her, murmuring over her head, "What are you looking at?"
She pointed at the swallows that had flown back again, and crushed the wind tea in her hand, "I'm watching the traces of time passing by."
In the blink of an eye, the swallows built a new nest.
The spring water rises, and the capital welcomes spring again.
(End of full text)
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