Year-end
After seeing most of the sick people, Lu Fengping, who had some free time, noticed that Ping An was not with Cui Shenzhi.
A thought struck him, and he tentatively started talking about Ping An.
"Shenzhi, how is Ping'an doing lately? Ever since that incident, I've felt guilty towards her. Although we've talked things out, I'm the one who caused her to go through that ordeal, and I still feel a bit guilty. That's why I haven't been to the East Palace much, and I don't know how she is doing."
Choi Shin-ji smiled as he thought of An Ping's energetic appearance.
"Don't worry, Ping An is fine now. She's the kind of person who doesn't take things to heart. Even if something is really big, she can just sleep it off. Although she still can't forget what happened that day, she doesn't seem scared at all anymore. She keeps saying things like she'll beat that brute up if she sees him again."
rest assured?
Lu Fengping looked at the barely suppressed smile on Cui Shenzhi's face and didn't know what to say.
Although nothing actually happened that day, what girl could recover from such an incident in a short time and then bring it up again without batting an eye in less than a month? Didn't Cui Shenzhi find such an obvious oversight a little strange?
"Really?" Lu Fengping chuckled dryly. "It's good that you're safe and sound. I'm relieved."
"By the way, I heard from Ling Xian that you teach the Thousand Character Classic of Peace. How is she learning it? Has she finished it yet?"
“How could that be? Ping’an has only been in the East Palace for about three months, and there have been occasional incidents in between. She’s only now learning the importance of ‘making friends with similar values and learning from each other’s advice.’” Cui Shenzhi’s smile deepened: “She even said that this is what she’s talking about with you and me.”
Something happens every now and then?
Ignoring Cui Shenzhi's words, Lu Fengping asked anxiously, "Something keeps happening every now and then? What is it? Is it related to Ling Xian?"
Choi Shin-ji nodded.
"It's related to Ling Xian. Do you remember the hand injury you treated for Ping An before? That wasn't the first time she injured her hand. In order to make a birthday gift for Ling Xian herself, she made sachets and palace lanterns, but in the end, all she made was two hands riddled with holes."
Hearing this, Lu Fengping felt that something was wrong.
If Ping An really wanted to harm Ling Xian as she said, then why would she do something to hurt herself for Cui Ling Xian?
Just as Lu Fengping was wondering, Cui Shenzhi continued, "That's why I didn't allow her to use scissors or anything like that. In the end, she could only make a peace knot to send to Ling Xian. Although it was a bit simple, you know Ling Xian's personality. She never cares about the value of a gift, she only cares about the sentiment behind it. Not only did she not dislike it, she treasured it like it was something special. I couldn't even let her take a look."
So, Ping An's self-harm was ultimately to please Ling Xian, get closer to him, and thus make it easier to harm him? That makes sense.
Lu Fengping was preoccupied with his own thoughts and didn't pay attention to Cui Shenzhi for a moment, which made Cui Shenzhi feel that something was wrong.
“Fengping,” Cui Shenzhi looked at Lu Fengping, whose expression was somewhat unusual, with a serious expression: “You’re not going to tell me that after you provoked Ling Xian, you’ve fallen for Ping An?”
“I don’t object to you pursuing Ling Xian because I know your character and how you treat people. I can also see how deeply you love Ling Xian and I think you are worthy of her. But I don’t want you to treat Ling Xian like a commodity to pick and choose from. Not to mention Ping An, she’s still a child who doesn’t understand anything. If you have feelings for her, how are you any different from a beast?”
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Lu Fengping quickly retorted, "I only have Ling Xian in my heart. I only asked a few more questions because I felt sorry for Ping An about what happened last time, but I didn't mean anything else."
"Then why haven't you asked Ling Xian about it yet? She's been sick for quite some time now."
When this was mentioned, a hint of guilt inevitably flashed across Lu Fengping's face.
"Why would I ask you about Ling Xian's condition? I am the imperial physician. Although I am not in charge of Ling Xian's health, I visit her every day. I know her condition better than you do."
That's true.
Choi Shin-ji's expression relaxed.
"Alright, I was just being petty and judging you by my own standards. I hope you, Dr. Lu, will be magnanimous and not hold it against me."
Lu Fengping forced a smile, but his heart sank.
Shen Zhi, are you sure you're judging others by your own petty standards, and not judging me by your own standards?
*****
After seeing that the elderly, women, and children in the slums had warm clothes and were eating hot porridge, Cui Shenzhi got up and returned to the palace.
He arrived in such a hurry that he hadn't even had time to change out of his apricot-yellow prince's robes. Standing here would only draw too much attention and cause trouble for the disaster-stricken people if he stayed any longer.
After returning to the palace, Cui Shenzhi originally planned to visit Cui Lingxian at Chengqian Palace, but considering that Cui Lingxian needed to rest, he took a detour and returned to the East Palace instead. There, he met Ping An, who was waiting for him at the entrance of the sleeping quarters.
Upon seeing Choi Shin-ji return, Ping An immediately greeted him with a smile.
"Shenzhi, Shenzhi, you walked too fast just now, there's something I didn't have time to tell you."
"What's up?"
“I heard from Sister Ju’an that the heavy snow that fell a while ago caused many people’s houses to collapse. They are so pitiful. So I want to give you the things that you and the fairy gave me so that you can use them to build houses for them.”
Before she finished speaking, Ping An raised her hand as if presenting a treasure, her hand full of things that Cui Shenzhi and others had given her over the past few days, valuable and worthless mixed together.
Looking at Ping An's innocent and kind appearance, Cui Shenzhi smiled and ruffled her hair.
“Ping An, I know you mean well, but you don’t need to worry. The court and I will take care of things outside. You just need to be safe and happy.”
*****
Less than half a month before the New Year, Siwei's birthday arrived. As Cui Shenzhi's personal maid, she received gifts from Cui Shenzhi, Qi Kang, and Ju An. Ping An didn't want to bother with anything, but since Cui Shenzhi had already given her a gift, it would be unreasonable for her not to. So she gave Siwei the "Fortune Before Your Eyes" brocade that she had prepared for Cui Shenzhi.
Siwei was overjoyed to see the net and immediately tied it around his waist to show Ju'an, who was standing next to him.
After showing off enough, she took Ping An's hand and said with a smile, "Ping An, when is your birthday? I'll make you a new dress for your birthday."
Everyone then realized that Ping An had been in the East Palace for four months, but no one had asked about her birthday, and she hadn't brought it up either. They all felt a little embarrassed.
Ping An didn't think it was a big deal. After all, her birthday wasn't a good day. It was just the day she was born into this world, the day she and her daughter Qingya were abandoned like trash. What difference did it make whether she knew or not?
So Ping An smiled without a trace of gloom and said, "Okay, okay, my birthday is November 13th, there's still a whole year to go, Sister Siwei, you can take your time, there's no need to rush."
November 13th…
Upon hearing this date, which everyone in the palace knew, the eyes of several people present subconsciously turned to Cui Shenzhi.
— Choi Shin-ji's birthday is November 13th.
So Ping An's birthday is the same day as Choi Shin Ji's birthday?
In other words, while both were birthday celebrants, Cui Shenzhi was surrounded by admirers, while Ping An was ignored. Cui Shenzhi's side was filled with laughter and joy, while Ping An's side was desolate and silent. In fact, because she was worried that Ping An might cause trouble due to her lack of manners, she was even locked up in her residence that day until the birthday banquet ended.
Ju'an and Siwei exchanged a glance, both looking at each other with a hint of heartache.
Although they were palace maids, before coming to the East Palace, the matrons would give them half a day or a full day off on their birthdays and prepare a bowl of longevity noodles for good luck. After arriving at the East Palace, rest was a given, and Cui Shenzhi would even bestow many rewards upon them. In comparison, Ping An…
Qi Kang didn't think it was a big deal. He had entered the palace at a very young age and was already used to the strict rules and clear hierarchy of the palace. Even if Ping An was favored by Cui Shenzhi, she was still just someone of unknown origin. It was already a great favor that Cui Shenzhi gave her the status of a palace servant. What was the big deal about making way for Cui Shenzhi on her birthday?
Choi Shin-ji felt a deep sense of guilt.
He had personally witnessed how hard and thoughtful Ping An was in preparing a birthday gift for Cui Lingxian. On his birthday, Ping An also gave him a gift that suited his taste perfectly, but he never thought of asking about Ping An's birthday. In fact, he even locked Ping An up for almost the entire day on Ping An's birthday.
What kind of thing is he doing!
Cui Shenzhi pursed his lips and said to Ping An as gently as possible, "Ping An, since that was your birthday, why didn't you tell us?"
"It's not an important day, why say it?"
Ping An's words left everyone present speechless.
It's not an important day...
How could anyone think their birthday isn't an important day?
Siwei glanced at Cui Shenzhi, who seemed unsure how to speak, and gently patted Ping An's head, saying softly, "Ping An, how could your birthday not be an important day?"
Ping An looked at the expression on Cui Shenzhi's face that seemed to indicate he owed her something, and a thought struck her. She first looked blank, and after thinking for a moment, she suddenly realized and said, "Ah, I know what you mean, Sister Siwei. You've got it wrong."
"A mistake?" Siwei glanced at Ju'an, but only saw the same confusion in the other's eyes as she did: "What did I mistake?"
"You think my birthday is important because Shinji's birthday is important because it's the same day as mine. But you're wrong. Shinji's birthday is important not because it's that day, but because so many people care about it. No one cares about my birthday, so of course it's not important."
Hearing Ping An say such pitiful words in a lighthearted tone, Siwei was speechless for a moment.
She wanted to tell Ping An that she cared about Ping An's birthday, but saying that would only make people think she was trying to cover it up. After all, if she really cared, how could she only think of asking Ping An after receiving her gift on her birthday?
The others remained silent for similar reasons, and an eerie silence fell over the study.
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