Chapter 41 Chapter 41 is the only genuine version...
Xie Yingchen nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, indicating that he saw it.
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and said calmly, "I see. Wait a minute, I'll ask Master Xie to get us a kite."
After she finished speaking, she smiled even brighter at Xie Yingchen: "Master Xie, our kite has flown to the pavilion over there."
Deputy Commander Zheng of the Jinwu Guard, who was on duty today, also appeared nearby and listened to the two people's conversation in a complicated manner.
A fifth princess, a young lady from the Zhenguo Mansion, would climb over a wall just for a kite? It's not impossible to order them to get it! Zheng Li hurriedly said, "Miss Gu, wait a moment."
God bless you, please don’t fall down!
As he spoke, he quickly ordered his Jinwu Guards to get the kite.
Gu Zhizhuo thanked him with a smile, then turned to Xie Danling and said, "Someone's gone to get us a kite. Please wait a moment."
"I want to go up and take a look, too."
Xie Danling looked at her little cousin sitting steadily on the wall with envy. Feeling itchy inside, she climbed up the stone, raised her hands high and jumped up: "Help me."
"good."
Gu Zhizhuo bent down flexibly and reached out his hand.
Their fingers touched each other, and Gu Zhizhuo grabbed her wrist.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't have enough arm strength and couldn't exert any strength while sitting on the wall. Xie Danling, on the other hand, tried to exert strength. Her face turned red and she wished she could be as light as a feather.
Xie Yingchen watched helplessly as half of Gu Zhizhuo's body fell to the other side, with only his left hand still clinging to the wall to maintain his balance. His heart seemed to skip a beat, and he quickly ordered the Jinwu Guards to bring a ladder.
"Qin Chen."
He winked at Qin Chen, indicating that if he was in danger, he should go and rescue him immediately. He stared at Gu Zhizhuo who was swaying on the wall, not daring to blink.
"That..." Qingmei couldn't help it. She really wanted to say that if it really didn't work, she could take the fifth princess up with her.
These two people, one is too weak, the other is too confident. Why did Miss Gu think that she could pull the Fifth Princess up with her arms that couldn't even draw a crossbow? And the Fifth Princess, who is usually so delicate, how dare she let her pull!
I'm so anxious.
She was so anxious that she was about to jump up and down, and suddenly she caught a glimpse of a familiar bright red color out of the corner of her eye.
Qingmei froze instantly, and turned her head stiffly little by little. When she saw that beautiful yet impatient face, her heart almost jumped out of her throat.
Although she was scared, she still coughed loudly to remind the two people who were still climbing the wall.
Woo woo woo, young lady, I will do my best.
Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows and looked over subconsciously. His body suddenly lost its strength and he almost lost his grip.
Xie Yingchen rushed forward and called out in a distorted voice, "Miss Gu!"
Gu Zhizhuo swayed a few times and then sat firmly again.
She patted her chest and laughed, a smile as bright and dazzling as the sun.
She waved to him, and there seemed to be stars in her clear eyes: "It's okay, it's okay, Master Xie, I'll go first."
After saying that, she slid away and disappeared over the wall. Her movements were so smooth that it seemed as if she had done this countless times.
Huai Jingzhi looked at his own son. The tension in his eyes just now was so intense that it seemed to be about to overflow. After the death of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the son never showed strong emotional fluctuations no matter what happened. He always calmly prepared for everything.
This is the first time.
"Commander Zheng." A Jinwu Guard came hurriedly in from outside and reported, "Outside, it's Commander Shen who has arrived."
What! ?
Zheng Li was shocked. It was that gentleman?!
No wonder even Miss Gu could escape over the wall so swiftly.
Xie Yingchen looked up at the high wall, an unknown meaning in his eyes. He suddenly smiled and said loudly, "Miss Gu, I'll send you the kite later."
Gu Zhizhuo stood at the foot of the wall, his eyebrows curved as he replied, "Okay."
After she finished speaking, she looked up and met a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling. Gu Zhizhuo's heart was pounding wildly, and an indescribable sense of crisis filled his heart.
"Meow."
The tabby cat followed at his feet and comforted her.
"Master." She bowed obediently, "I'm here to pick up a kite."
snort.
Shen Xu's red clothes were as red as fire, and there was a dangerous aura around him.
He snorted coldly, as if to say: Do you think I will believe it?
Gu Zhizhuo smiled calmly.
What she was doing now could not be hidden from anyone except Shen Xu. Even if he didn't know that she was here to deliver medicine to the young master, he would definitely guess it when the young master became critically ill.
This person was very thoughtful, something she had experienced in her previous life.
"hand."
ah?
Gu Zhizhuo didn't ask, but stretched out his hand and spread it in front of him with his palm facing up. His white palm was covered with black dust, which was picked up when he climbed the wall just now.
Shen Xu endured it again and again, his eyes full of disgust.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Gu Zhizhuo followed his gaze, looked at her hands, then at her skirt. Thinking of Chen Xu's picky temper, she carefully wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, and a black mark appeared on her face.
Then she dusted off her skirt and sleeves, and the flying dust choked Shen Xu so much that he almost coughed.
Chen Xu: “…”
It must be intentional!
Shen Xu angrily flicked his sleeves and walked away with big strides, his face gloomy and clouded.
Qingmei secretly gave her own girl a thumbs up in her heart. She was able to anger her master away in a short time and remain unharmed. This was definitely a first.
"What does he want to do?" Xie Danling asked in a low voice.
"I don't know." Gu Zhizhuo glanced at his outstretched right hand, completely confused.
She whispered to her cousin, "This is called moodiness. People who are moody are the most unreasonable. Stay away from them."
Understand!
"Master, please come in."
The respectful voice of the Jinwu Guard came from the direction of the main gate of Xiyunwu.
"I will not go in. Please come out and talk to you, young master."
Chen Xu stood in front of the gate of Xiyunwu, casually wrapping the Buddhist beads around his hands a few times, with a hint of strong impatience between his eyebrows.
He was still holding a small jade token that was broken into two pieces in his hand, playing with it impatiently. It was the piece that Gu Zhizhuo had given him.
He just wanted to return it to her.
"Young Master."
Xie Yingchen walked out from inside and the Jinwu Guards greeted him one after another.
Chen Xu raised his eyelids and glanced at him as a greeting.
Xie Yingchen nodded slightly to him: "Lord Shen."
Chen Xu gave a wink, and a young eunuch brought a tray with several handwritten books on it.
He said indifferently, "This is what you wanted."
A few days ago, Xie Yingchen proposed to depose the handwritten notes left by the crown prince. The emperor agreed and asked someone to find them.
Originally, this kind of thing did not require Shen Xu to go there in person, but after he asked the emperor for it, he mouthed a word to himself when he left.
Qin Chen took the handwritten note from the young eunuch. Xie Yingchen smiled and said, "Thank you for making this trip, Governor. I will come back after I recover from my illness." He paused for a few breaths and said, "Thank you again, Governor."
Shen Xu understood what he meant. He was saying that he would take the pill today and then become "seriously ill" so that he could leave the palace.
"Master, will the Emperor come to today's flower show?"
His voice was clear and unhurried. Even though he was so sick and trapped in a "cage", his eyes were still clear and bright without a trace of turbidity.
The corners of Shen Xu's mouth curved into a mocking arc.
The Empress loved festivities, and there were at least three or five flower shows like this one a year, but the Emperor never went. He knew this, and Xie Yingchen must have known it too.
However, if he wanted the emperor to go, it was not impossible.
Xie Yingchen wanted him to influence the emperor's heart.
But why should I help him?
He knew exactly what Xie Yingchen and Miss Gu were planning, but he didn't say anything.
Just as Miss Gu said that day in Zhuangzi, Xie Yingchen's life or death was just an extra contribution to him, not a small one, and he did not lack this contribution.
What he lacks is further opportunities.
Now, it was still far from enough. It was very, very far from what he wanted.
So, he just watched to see whether Xie Yingchen was worth his attention.
However, ever since Xie Yingchen returned to the capital, he had been staying in Xiyunwu without making any movement, quietly allowing the emperor to arrange things for him, like a caged bird trapped in the four directions.
If not, he had met him once in Zhuangzi, Shen Xu would have lost interest in this person long ago.
Shen Xu squinted at him sarcastically, and the jade token in his hand made a slight clinking sound as he played with it carelessly.
Xie Yingchen remained calm and said, "I heard that the Empress has recently acquired a pot of peony, a unique piece gifted from Yongzhou. The Yongzhou peony, known as the Thousand Purple, is truly exceptional, with only ten plants cultivated to date. I'd love to see it."
The nonchalant expression on Shen Xu's face suddenly turned cold when he heard the word "Yongzhou".
"Has Lord Shen ever been to Yongzhou?"
His cold eyes stared straight at Xie Yingchen.
Facing this biting gaze, Xie Yingchen replied with a faint smile: "Back then, my father traveled west along the Wei River and stayed for some time in Heishuibao, a city on the border of Yongzhou. After returning, he wrote this note."
"Here is this volume of the Yongzhou Chronicles, which I compiled with my father some time ago. My Lord, please take a look at it and give me some pointers."
"In my lifetime, I long to follow in my father's footsteps and visit Yongzhou."
"Master, what do you say?"
Xie Yingchen said the last three words with profound meaning.
Chen Xu's face was filled with gloom. The Jinwu Guards standing nearby couldn't help but shudder and quietly took half a step back.
Xie Yingchen took out a book from a pile of books, which had the words "Yongzhou Chronicle" written on it.
The pages of the hand-bound book are a little yellowed, at least ten years old.
Yongzhou.
I really underestimated him.
No one knew that he was from Yongzhou.
He was imprisoned in the deep palace, but in just one month, he actually found his way to Yongzhou.
Chen Xu was still holding the broken jade token, and no one knew that the sharp edge of the jade token had already cut his palm.
Therefore, Xie Yingchen asked for the deposed prince's handwritten note just for the sake of this Yongzhou Records.
Is there anything you want to know here?
He used this to make this deal with himself.
Xie Yingchen coughed lightly. His serious illness made him look very thin, but he was still as tall and straight as a pine tree, and looked very noble.
Chen Xu raised his hand and took the Yongzhou Records, his fingers trembling slightly inadvertently.
Yongzhou.
Blackwater Castle.
Shen Xu's bright red clothes shone with flowing brilliance in the sunlight, reflected in his pupils.
His peach blossom eyes lost some of their sparkle, but now held a more enchanting, bloodthirsty light. He said calmly, "Since there's Qianchong Zi, the Emperor would be happy to see her."
He accepted the deal.
That's all. If Xie Yingchen can't get out of this cage, then a waste will still have no value in living.
If he could get out...
After Shen Xu finished speaking, he left, his sleeves dancing gently with his movements, red as fire.
Xie Yingchen called out to him, saying, "Lord Shen, your raccoon slave."
Shen Xu glanced at the cat that was excitedly circling around Xie Yingchen's calf. Its golden cat eyes were full of excitement, just like the last time he was almost hit.
interesting.
"If it doesn't want to leave, it can just stay."
Xie Yingchen looked down at the meowing cat and asked, "What's its name?"
"cat."
No, he asked for the name, not the species!
“…” Shen Xu said impatiently: “Shen Cat.”
Xie Yingchen: "..." During this pause, could it be that he was naming it on the spot?
Anyway, the cat has a name.
With its tail erect, Shen Mao happily followed Xie Yingchen into Xiyunwu.
After standing in the wind for so long, Xie Yingchen was almost exhausted. When he returned to the house, he leaned on the back of the chair with one hand, took a breath, and then slowly sat down.
Meow. The cat jumped onto his lap, curled up comfortably, and purred.
"Young Master."
Chongjiu handed over a pill.
Chongjiu and Qin Chen are about the same age, and have been following Xie Yingchen since the Eastern Palace.
When Xie Yingchen went out to meet Chen Xu, Chongjiu avoided the eyes of the Jinwu Guards and picked up the pills without anyone noticing.
After Xie Yingchen took the pill, Chongjiu stood aside without saying a word, with no expression on his face.
The pills are sealed with wax.
Xie Yingchen pinched open the wax, revealing a piece of silk paper inside, which contained a brown pill.
He spread out the silk paper and looked at the beautiful calligraphy with flowers on it. The corners of his mouth curved up in joy and his brows relaxed.
He finished reading it, gave it to Huai Jingzhi, and swallowed the pill directly with warm water. The pill exuded a strong bitter taste, but it was not difficult to swallow and went down the throat easily.
"Young Master!"
Huai Jingzhi blurted out, his face pale for a moment.
He was still looking at the piece of silk paper, on which were written the various reactions that would occur after taking the pill. He was taking notes and had no idea that the young master would take it just as he was told.
Xie Yingchen smiled faintly and asked, "Did you find the kite?"
It's already this time, why bother with kites! Huai Jingzhi asked nervously: "Sir, how does it feel after taking this pill?"
Huai Jingzhi had originally planned to quietly scrape some off to try the medicine after it arrived.
These days, he has used up all his intelligence and spies, but he can't find out where Miss Gu learned the art of medicine. It's as if she suddenly got enlightened one day and learned it without a teacher.
Xie Yingchen's smile faded slightly, and he repeated, "Where's the kite?"
Huai Jingzhi was silent for a moment, then went in and took out the kite: "It was just delivered by the Jinwu Guards."
Xie Yingchen moved the cat away, stood up and walked up to him: "Jingzhi, can you trust me?"
He was half a head taller than Huai Jingzhi, and his tone was not as gentle as usual when he spoke. Even the shadow cast on his body was so sharp and intimidating.
Huai Jingzhi couldn't help but look solemn, and said only one word: "Letter."
Far better than your own life!
Xie Yingchen patted his shoulder and said without question, "In that case, you should trust Miss Gu as much as you trust me. She won't harm me."
It is a feeling that wells up from the depths of the soul.
"It will take an hour and a half for this pill to take effect. Don't let unnecessary suspicion mess you up."
"yes."
Huai Jingzhi bowed and agreed.
After saying that, he hesitated and said, "Sir, are you sure you want to do it today..."
In fact, I have taken the medicine, but I am not sure whether it can be changed.
But Huai Jingzhi couldn't understand. At the beginning, they had agreed that the time would be the end of next month, the birthday sacrifice for the late prince.
Now that it's early, they are not fully prepared.
Xie Yingchen looked out the window, his gaze seemed to pass through the pavilions and towers and see the high wall.
He wanted to leave here and couldn't wait a moment.
He didn't want to stand on the other side of the wall anymore, watching her crumble, powerless to do anything.
He also wanted to reach out to her and tell her: Don't be afraid, even if you fall, I can catch you.
"right."
The corners of Xie Yingchen's mouth curved up in joy, and his narrow eyes held an unquestionable attitude.
Huai Jingzhi bowed deeply.
"Sir. Eunuch Li is here."
Qin Chen came in to report, and after getting the young master's nod, he brought Li Deshun in.
Li Deshun smiled at everyone he met, and after greeting them, he said, "My dear young master, the emperor has summoned you to the Shuangyue Waterside Pavilion."
He smiled and said, "Today the Empress is holding a flower show. The Emperor said that it's getting boring for you to stay in Xiyunwu all day. Why don't you go and see the flowers together?"
This Governor Shen is really amazing. It's only one stick of incense, right? Huai Jingzhi thought secretly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xie Yingchen agreed with a smile.
After Li Deshun left, Huai Jingzhi placed the silk paper and the wax sealing the pill in a glass lamp and burned them until the wax was completely melted. Chongjiu took out a cloak from inside and helped Xie Yingchen put it on.
Seeing them about to leave, the cat stretched, jumped off the chair, circled around his feet, hooked its tail around his ankle, and called out in a coquettish voice: "Meow."
"You want to go too?"
"Meow."
"Then we'll go together."
Xie Yingchen walked out, and only Huai Jingzhi followed him.
Since returning to Beijing, Xie Yingchen rarely stepped out of Xiyunwu, as if even the warm breeze blowing towards him brought a comfortable atmosphere.
"Meow meow."
The cat followed him around, walking with a haughty defiance.
It only takes the time of an incense stick to walk from Xiyunwu to Shuangyue Waterside Pavilion.
The Shuangyue Waterside Pavilions are two parallel waterside pavilions, both located on Shuangyue Lake, with a covered bridge in the middle. It takes only a hundred steps to walk from one waterside pavilion to the other.
The Queen's flower party was held at the waterside pavilion on the west side. Many noble ladies from famous families were summoned to the palace, and clusters of flowers could be seen from afar.
The emperor is now in the waterside pavilion in the east, and he has brought only a few princes and some close relatives of the royal family.
When Xie Yingchen walked into the water pavilion, the actor was playing the piano, and the melodious music echoed in the water pavilion.
The cat didn't follow him in because there was a smell in there that it didn't like.
It rubbed against his calf and left with regret.
Xie Yingchen embraced his cloak, his eyes dark, and he exuded a natural nobility, as if he had stepped out of an ancient painting. He had a gentle temperament, without any aggressive or aggressive intentions, but the moment he appeared, he easily captured everyone's attention.
There was silence in the pavilion.
After Xie Yingchen returned to Beijing, he rarely appeared in public except for that welcoming banquet.
The emperor smiled and waved at him: "Chen'er, you are here, come and sit down."
The emperor's gaze lingered on his tired, pale face for a few moments before he said gently, "You seem to be feeling better today. Are you still coughing?"
Xie Yingchen greeted him and said with a smile, "My cough is better now. The prescription the imperial physician prescribed this time is excellent." As he spoke, he took off his cloak and handed it to the eunuch.
"That's good, that's good," the emperor said with relief. "My child, your health hasn't improved for a long time, and I've been worried sick. Your royal grandfather loved you the most when he was alive. How could you have tortured yourself like this?"
Xie Yingchen bowed and said, "I am your nephew, I am sorry to have caused Your Majesty to worry."
"You are so sensible, unlike your cousins, who are always giving me trouble." The emperor glared at his sons and said, "When you recover, please help me teach them well. You are the eldest brother, and in the folk, the eldest brother is like a father. You should be punished when necessary and scolded when necessary."
Several princes hurriedly stood up and stood with their hands behind their backs.
Xie Yingchen said, "Since Your Majesty has said so, of course I will agree, as long as you don't feel bad."
The emperor laughed heartily and said, "I don't feel bad."
"Come here and sit next to me."
Xie Yingchen walked over, but instead of sitting directly next to the emperor, he sat down in the empty seat below.
There was no wine on the table, only some easy-to-eat cakes, a pot of warm milk, and a pot of scented tea, which was refreshing.
The eunuch served him scented tea. After he drank some, the emperor asked amiably, "I asked Ah Xu to send you your father's handwritten note. Did you receive it?"
"Nephew received it."
Xie Yingchen smiled faintly as he recalled, "Back then, my father was ordered to leave the capital and travel from Yizhou, Liangzhou, all the way to Yongzhou, a journey that took a whole year. Grandfather, the Emperor, said that these handwritten notes he left behind should be carefully organized so that officials who would later be assigned to these states would be able to learn about local customs in advance. I only compiled one volume back then, and now that I'm living in Xiyunwu, I have some free time, so I'd like to share some of the Emperor's worries."
The emperor's face showed no emotion, he only said with relief: "That's very good. I will wait until you have sorted it out and then take a closer look."
Xie Yingchen bowed slightly, and the uncle and nephew talked and laughed happily.
"emperor."
Li Deshun received a report from the Empress's eunuchs and came over to report with a smile, "The Empress has placed all the peonies brought by the various mansions in the garden near the waterside pavilion. The Empress said that everyone should be given a piece of silk and should pick out the one they like best. The one with the most silk will be the Flower King."
"The Queen also sent some silk."
“This is good.”
The emperor praised them with great interest, and then said, "Zhuo'er, Lang'er, Jing'er, you should go and enjoy the flowers too. And you, why are you all sitting here with me? Go out for a walk. You are all so old and can't even find a wife. It's no wonder that I despise you. Go quickly. If there is a girl you like, come and tell me and I will make the decision for you."
Several young men of similar age went out laughing and each picked up a piece of silk from the eunuch's hand.
The pavilion suddenly became much emptier.
The emperor took a few sips of wine and asked with a smile, "Chen'er, what about you? You've reached adulthood, and it's time for you to get married. Do you have any girls you like?"
Xie Yingchen said lightly, "Your Majesty, my nephew's life span is short, please don't bring trouble to the girl from a good family."
"You're just talking nonsense." The emperor glared at him. "You should go out for a walk. It's no use staying cooped up all day."
"Go quickly."
So Xie Yingchen also left the pavilion. He stood by the lake and looked at the garden not far away.
Among the clusters of flowers, he immediately saw the girl in the floral dress with hundreds of butterflies. In his eyes, she was like a ball of light, shining brightly.
He called a eunuch over.
"Go hang this kite on the waterside pavilion."
The eunuch went as ordered.
Soon, the tabby cat's kite fluttered over the water pavilion, causing the emperor to take a few more glances and couldn't help laughing.
Everything in Xiyunwu was under his eyes. The emperor had already been informed of the incident in which Dan Ling and Gu Zhizhuo picked up a kite and found one climbing over the wall, so he didn't know what to say.
These two girls are just like when they were little, climbing up the roof and stirring up trouble all day long.
"Your Majesty, I promised to return the kite to my fifth cousin." Xie Yingchen walked in again and said with a smile, "Now they can always see it and send someone to get it."
"You."
The emperor laughed and shook his head.
Xie Yingchen sat back down, seemingly not interested in what was happening outside.
He was talking to the emperor, and no one noticed that his back was covered in sweat.
My internal organs are burning hot.
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