Chapter 41
After traveling day and night, they finally arrived in the capital on the afternoon of the third day.
The two carriages passed through the majestic city gate and traveled along the smooth stone road for about half an incense stick of time before stopping in front of a courtyard with white walls and black tiles.
This place is the guild hall set up by the imperial court specifically for receiving foreign envoys. It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites and is also the residence of special envoys from the Western Regions after they come to Beijing.
There are red gates and high walls, with a gilded plaque hanging under the eaves. Unlike the simple architecture of ordinary inns, the buildings in the courtyard incorporate many exotic elements. The pillars are carved with Western-style creature patterns. The houses are spacious and bright. Each room is equipped with cashmere cushions and copper incense burners. There are also several quaint pottery towers in the corners. Even the servants leading the way understand some simple Western languages.
There was an unusual respect.
As soon as Ashina Yu helped Shen Aheng get off the carriage, several officials from the Honglu Temple came up to him, holding the roster of the post station in their hands, and said respectfully: "The special envoys have worked hard on the journey. The upper rooms have been prepared in the post station, and the accompanying carriages and horses are under the supervision of special personnel. You can rest here with peace of mind."
It turned out that this guild hall not only provided them with food and lodging, but was also responsible for registering and keeping the envoys' tributes and luggage. Even the food was specially prepared according to the tastes of the Western Regions, which could be said to be very comprehensive and appropriate.
Dinner was served in the flower hall of the guild hall. The table was filled with Western-style grilled lamb chops and Central Plains-style braised chicken. The aroma of oil mixed with the delicious soup filled the entire room.
Shen Ah Heng held the chopsticks, concentrating on eating until his cheeks flushed slightly, and he didn't even notice that the corner of his mouth was stained with sauce.
Ashina Yu sat next to her, adding a bowl of hot soup for her from time to time. Seeing that she couldn't bite the sheep tendon, he used his knife to help her cut it off.
The movements were so natural as if they had been done a thousand times.
Several officials from the Honglu Temple who were sitting with him couldn't help but secretly exchange glances.
They had heard before that this special envoy was extremely powerful in the Western Region Wulun Kingdom, ruthless in his methods, and had a temperament as cold as ice. But when they met him today, he seemed to be quite different from the rumors, especially since he was accompanied by a woman from the Central Plains.
Someone secretly glanced at the girl opposite, then quickly lowered his head. He couldn't help but wonder, this girl looks like a wandering woman, what kind of relationship does she have with this special envoy that makes him care so much about her.
After the meal, Shen Ah Heng secretly took a few pieces of leftover mulberry cake and slipped back to the room. He lay down on the soft couch, crossed his legs, unwrapped the oil paper, and began to eat leisurely. The cake crumbs fell all over his hands. When he was eating comfortably, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" she asked vaguely, holding a cake in her mouth.
Ashina Yu's familiar voice came from outside the door: "It's me."
Shen Aheng had no choice but to get up and open the door reluctantly just when he wanted to take a break.
As soon as the door opened, Ashina Yu at the door saw the black cake crumbs on the corner of her mouth and half a piece of uneaten cake in her hand. Her lively and unpretentious appearance made a gentle smile instantly spread in his eyes.
"Ah Heng." His voice softened: "Are you free now?"
Shen Ah Heng was moved when she heard the words. Seeing that there was some seriousness in his tone, she knew in her heart that he must have something to ask her, so she said straight to the point: "Tell me, what do you want to ask me?"
Ashina Yu curled her fingertips in her sleeves, her Adam's apple rolling slightly before she spoke in a slow voice, "That's not a big deal. Tomorrow morning, you will accompany me to the palace to see the emperor. The Honglu Temple just sent word that you can bring your trusted attendants with you during the audience. You should express your gratitude according to the custom. I've made inquiries, and it's just a matter of formalities. You won't be wronged in the slightest."
As soon as the word "enter the palace" fell, Shen Ah Heng immediately shook his head like a rattle, waving his hands, and even shrank back: "No, no, I'm just an ordinary citizen. The palace is a place that ordinary people like us have never been to in our lives, so I won't join in the fun. Besides, if I'm impolite, it will be bad for you."
Seeing her cheeks flushed with anxiety, Ashina Yu reached out and held her flailing hands, her voice softer, "I'm here, so what's the use of etiquette? I'll teach you a few times. Besides, the snacks in the palace's imperial kitchen are incomparable to those outside. There are many new and fresh foods you haven't tried. Wouldn't it be a pity if you don't go?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Ah Heng did not refuse outright, and it was obvious that he had some thoughts on this.
Seeing this, Ashina Yu leaned forward again and lowered his voice: "Just think of it as accompanying me. I will protect you in the palace, and you can just eat at the banquet. If you feel bored, we can meet the gift, receive the reward and leave, okay?"
At this moment, Shen Ah Heng's mind was full of "palace special snacks" and "breaking into the Tian family". After a while, his appetite finally defeated his face shamefully, so he bit his lip and whispered: "Then... then you have to teach me etiquette carefully. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of so many ministers."
Ashina's eyes lit up instantly, and he replied softly, "Okay, I promise I'll teach you until you can."
So that night, Shen Aheng followed Ashina Yu to learn the etiquette of kneeling and kowtowing when entering the palace tomorrow.
But she grew up in the mountains and had little education, so she couldn't stand all these formalities. After only two grand ceremonies, she couldn't help but feel impatient.
These broken rules in the palace are so annoying. Even the height you stand up to is regulated.
As he thought about it, his waist couldn't help but slump down.
Ashina Yu saw this, but didn't show any anger. She stepped forward, gently supported her arm, and straightened her crooked sleeve. "No hurry, let's take it slow. Look, when you bow, keep your back straight and your hands on your knees. When you stand up, lift your hips first and then straighten your back. This is the correct way to behave."
He demonstrated as he spoke, his movements so slow as if he was afraid she would miss something, even his breathing was so light, revealing an innate courtesy and dignity, his back was straight, he really looked like a royal from some country.
Shen Aheng looked at his standard figure, as beautiful as a white crane. As a leader of the demon sect, he was so willing to kneel on the ground and teach her these extremely complicated etiquette.
Thinking of this, Shen Ah Heng couldn't help but burst out laughing. He stretched out his hand and poked his straight waist, clicking his tongue: "You look very standard, really like the royal nobles in those storybooks. Do you think you were a noble lady in a palace in your previous life? Well... at least you must be a concubine!"
Ashina Yu's waist and abdomen sank slightly after being poked by her, and a smile appeared in his eyes. Far from blaming her for being rude, he agreed with her and said, "Even if that's the case, I will only be your subject. You are the one who can control me. I should call you 'Your Majesty'."
When Shen Ah Heng heard this, his cheeks became hot. How could this little Hu man say these words so directly and naturally? He looked away in a panic, pretended to be calm, patted his collar and said, "Well, let's continue practicing, otherwise we will make a fool of ourselves tomorrow."
Ashina Yu looked at her, the smile in his eyes faded a little, and when he lowered his eyes, his eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes. But in a moment, he raised his eyes to hide the emotion, and just replied softly "Okay". He reached out to hold her arm again, and his tone was as patient as always: "Let's go slower this time."
Just like this over and over again, from the "seven bows when getting up" to the high and low tones when responding, two hours passed, and Shen Ah Heng finally managed to complete a set of etiquette coherently.
I couldn't wait to collapse on the chair, breathed a long sigh of relief, rubbed my sore eyes, and saw that the sky outside the window had already darkened, and even the chirping of insects outside the yard had become weaker.
"You've worked so hard tonight." Shen Ah Heng had been very healthy in the past few years. He was already extremely sleepy. He yawned and said, "It's getting late. You should go back and rest."
Ashina Yu didn't move, his pale, slender fingertips unconsciously stroking the corner of the table. His gaze fell on her misty eyes, his Adam's apple rolling slightly as he suddenly spoke, "Let me teach you again. When you bowed just now, your hand position was still a little off."
"Ah?" Shen Ah Heng was stunned, and couldn't help wondering in his heart: Why is this person nagging and pestering like an old teacher in a college? But then he thought, going to the palace to meet the emperor tomorrow is not a trivial matter, and if he makes a wrong move, it will be no joke.
At that moment, I had to force myself to resist the sleepiness and sit up straight: "Well... then okay, you tell me to practice."
This time, Ashina Yu was extremely detailed, even emphasizing how far the forehead should be from the ground when bowing. Shen Ah Heng's eyelids were drooping as he listened, and he finally couldn't help but interrupt him: "This time I really learned it. Look, didn't I make any mistakes just now? How about... forget it today?"
Ashina Yu paused, his gaze suddenly fixed on her face, staring into her eyes without blinking.
Shen Ah Heng couldn't help but feel hairy when he looked at her, and subconsciously asked: "Why are you staring at me?"
The light in Ashina Yu's eyes dimmed, and after a long while, she whispered in a tone of resentment, "Why haven't you kissed me these past few days?"
Shen Ah Heng was originally so sleepy that his eyelids were heavy, but after being stimulated by these words, he instantly woke up as if a red-hot charcoal was thrown at him.
She suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Ashina Yu. Seeing that there was no joking expression on his face, but instead a serious stubbornness, her ears turned red.
Thinking of the scene when he kissed him in a hurry that day, Shen Ah Heng's hands were a little stiff, and his voice was a little unnatural: "You... why are you still mentioning this? The situation that day was special, in public, and you were furious and kept talking. If I hadn't done that, you might have talked until dark, and then I would have no place to put my face."
She became less and less embarrassed as she spoke, and just wanted to end the topic quickly. In the end, she could only hurriedly say, "I was too reckless. I apologize. Please don't take this matter to heart, okay? Just... just pretend it never happened."
Ashina Yu's eyes suddenly dimmed, and the light in his eyes seemed to be blown out by the wind, and a clear sense of loss came over him.
He lowered his eyes to stare at the table, the candlelight casting a faint shadow on his cool and beautiful profile. He was silent for a long time before he gently pursed his lips. Even his ears were slightly flushed. His voice was low, but full of seriousness: "I don't blame you. That day... I liked it very much."
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