Chapter 104 She is unreasonable, what's wrong?
After Song Tangning walked around Huang Li's lattice door and entered the inner room with the food box, she found that the temperature around her had dropped surprisingly. The room was still simply furnished at first glance. The only thing that surprised her was that Xiao Yan was in a place with an extended waterside pavilion.
Next to it stood a screen with the words "Heming Jiugao" (Heming Jiugao) inscribed on it. There were gaps in the window railings at the back, and the sound of gurgling water could be heard from a distance. Further outside was the Back Lake.
A slight cool breeze blew in from the lake through the window, diluting the heat from outside and making the house cool.
Xiao Yan was wearing a long gown and sitting in front of the railing, writing something. There was a thick stack of book pages on the table in front of him, papers spread out on the writing desk, and hot tea was bubbling on a small fire beside him.
Seeing her come in, Xiao Yan put down the pen in his hand and looked up: "Did you sleep well last night?"
Song Tangning's originally accumulated momentum of "raising an army to hold the culprit accountable" was instantly suppressed. Before she could reply, she saw Xiao Yan take out a food box from the table, put it on the table and pushed it towards her.
"A few days ago, I heard you say you wanted to try the peach blossom pastries from the West Tower. I happened to buy some on my way back from the morning court. They also have the sugar-steamed cheese pastries and abalone cakes, which are also flavors that my young lady likes. I thought they were new, so I asked someone to pack some for you too. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
Song Tangning: "..."
The full name of the West Tower is Xijue Tower. Because it is located in the west of the city, some people in the capital jokingly call it the West Tower.
The imperial palace was in the east of the city, and Jiyun Lane was in the south. No matter how Xiao Yan went to the palace to attend court, it was impossible for him to go to the west of the city. He clearly went to Xijue Tower specifically to buy some snacks.
Song Tangning maintained his remaining momentum: "Brother, you did it on purpose."
She walked forward angrily, put the food box in her hand on the table, and just as she put her hands on her hips, she wanted to tell him that it was wrong to do so, and that she would not be bribed by these sweet cakes.
But before he could finish his words, Xiao Yan casually pulled over a cushion embroidered with a weeping crabapple and placed it on the side of the table. He pointed upwards and said, "You came here to tire your feet. Sit down and talk."
“…”
It is said that a man’s courage in battle weakens after the first battle, and is exhausted after the third battle.
Song Tangning glared at Xiao Yan's gentle profile, which was covered with a faint smile. She couldn't continue with her hands on her hips. Her eyes drooped, and she sat at the table with a sullen look, muttering to him angrily, "Brother, you clearly promised me that you would stay at the mansion and recuperate."
Xiao Yan replied seriously, "There are some things in the palace that cannot be evaded. I must go when His Majesty summons me."
Song Tangning's momentum dropped again after hearing this, and he even felt that he was being unreasonable with the little bit of energy he had left.
My brother is a close minister of the emperor. He was first a eunuch and then a court official.
She knew that with Xiao Yan's status, it was impossible for him to stay in the mansion to recuperate and completely ignore the palace. Apart from anything else, as long as Emperor An summoned him, he would have to crawl into the palace even if his legs were broken. She just felt a little sorry for the person in front of her. He was obviously so seriously injured but still had to take care of these things. His face was pale but he couldn't rest.
Seeing her eyes drooping in frustration, Xiao Yan took out a piece of peach blossom pastry and placed it in front of her: "Don't be angry, there will be nothing to do in the afternoon, so you don't have to leave the house."
Song Tangning felt that he was being unreasonable because of his indulgence, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Brother, have you changed the medicine?"
Xiao Yan said, "I changed it early in the morning and drank the medicine that Madam Qin ordered."
Song Tangning felt a little relieved after hearing this. She glanced at Xiao Yan's waist and found that there was nothing unusual. Although his face was a little pale, he was in good spirits. She quickly opened the food box she had brought.
"Sister Qin said that my brother's blood and energy were damaged yesterday and he needs to be nourished. I asked someone to make some ginseng soup yesterday. I used old pigeon meat and stewed it for the whole morning. Brother, please try it."
The little girl placed the stew pot in front of him and took the spoon while mumbling.
"This soup is thick. Sister Qin said that your body is different from that of ordinary people, so you need to take your tonics slowly. Don't eat the ginseng in this soup yet, or you might not be able to handle it."
"Sister Qin said to keep an eye on the wound. Brother, did you feel dizzy when you woke up this morning? Is the wound still bleeding? Did you take the carriage to the palace? Sister Qin said that your wound is close to your vitals. Although it's not fatal, you can't move freely. You can't ride a horse or fight anyone until the wound heals..."
Song Tangning's eyes were fixed on him, and he wished he could follow Madam Qin's medical advice in every detail.
Xiao Yan saw her busy like a little bee, tidying up the table for him with her hands while chattering non-stop. He didn't feel impatient at all, but instead found her look very interesting.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, a smile etched in his sword-like eyes. He drank a mouthful of ginseng soup with a tolerant look and said, "This governor is not idle. I will not fight with others unless they provoke me."
Song Tangning glared at him when he heard that.
Xiao Yan immediately covered his face with a spoon: "Okay, I won't fight even if I provoke you."
Song Tangning was unhappy when he heard this: "That won't work. What if someone pushes the rules and bullies me? I'm injured and won't fight anyone. Let Canglang do it. If anyone provokes me, let Canglang beat him up."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan burst into laughter and leaned on the table with a smile.
"Xiao Haitang, if people see you being so protective of your shortcomings, they will say you are unreasonable."
Song Tangning curled her lips and said, "Let them talk."
She is unreasonable, what's wrong?
Xiao Yan laughed even louder, leaning against the table and looking at the rare arrogant look of the little girl opposite him.
His little Haitang's unreasonable behavior is exactly the same as his, which makes people happy just by looking at her.
Seeing a thin layer of sweat on the little girl's nose and her cheeks flushed, Xiao Yan reached across the table and took her arm, asking her to sit down: "Okay, stop working and eat the cake."
Song Tangning sat at the table and wiped his sweat: "Brother, why is it so hot here?"
Xiao Yan turned around and lifted the curtain hanging by the railing, then casually picked up a folder on the table and fanned herself. "There's a geothermal area underneath Heli Hall. Two layers down from this side, there's a medicinal spring inside. I wasn't feeling well in the first few years after I arrived in Beijing, so I've been living here. With the medicinal spring and the warm jade geothermal area, Heli Hall is a little warmer than outside."
Song Tangning was surprised: "There's a medicinal spring buried under this small building?" She was quite curious: "Then during the hottest summer, wouldn't it be too hot to stay here?"
Xiao Yan handed her a handkerchief to wipe her face. "Not really. The temperature of the medicinal spring has always been that way. Warm jade is also cold jade. It's usually warm in winter and cool in summer. Plus, Leaping Carp Terrace is connected to the inner lake of the mansion, and the lake breeze brings coolness. During the hottest summer, it's actually cooler here than outside."
"Warm in winter and cool in summer? So good?"
Song Tangning's eyes were filled with surprise, and he couldn't help but reach out and touch the ground beneath his body, his eyes seemed to want to see through the stone slabs to see below.
Xiao Yan laughed: "Wait a few days when the weather gets warmer, you'll know when you come over and sit for a while."
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