46 Red Lips
"You're taking advantage of someone's misfortune!"
At the first light of morning, the palace maids on duty in the corridor had just taken down the palace lanterns when they heard rustling sounds coming from far away.
With a "click".
The girl, who had just woken up, poked her head out, her hair sticking up against the door frame, revealing only a pair of bright eyes. Her voice was still sticky and sleepy, "Fuque, did you take my clothes?"
Fu Que was stunned for a moment, then shook her head slightly and said with her head down: "Replying to the Crown Princess, I haven't taken it yet." The people from the laundry department came to the East Palace to collect clothes every afternoon. They only needed to sort out the master's clothes before noon.
"Ah? Don't..." Tian Nongxi seemed to want to say something but hesitated. In the end, he just waved his hand, closed the door, and left after saying "Go back and rest early."
In the inner hall, in front of the exquisitely carved rosewood bed.
The silk screen that used to stand by the side was moved to the wall by someone with bare hands to "reflect on his mistakes". The person who started this was looking at the situation inside the house with his hands on his waist.
She searched every corner of the palace carefully, even almost counting the number of floor tiles, but she couldn't find the things she brought.
Things were brought from Tianjia Village to the capital city over a long distance.
A few scattered items, two sets of clothes, and most importantly - money.
Her initial capital.
Tian Nongxi took out her inner garment that was tucked into her waist, fell heavily onto the couch and rolled over and over. The brocade embroidered with floral patterns was ravaged and deformed, and the peony and lotus were forced to look at each other.
Before she could even blush, the violent Crown Princess stood up.
She closed her eyes and leaned against the bedpost carved with a Qilin, a bitter smile appearing on Shaoxiu's face.
At least leave her some clothes.
The door suddenly opened softly, and footsteps came closer.
Tian Nongxi hurriedly turned over and lay down, rolling sideways in the bed while pulling the quilt over his head, his long eyelashes were tightly closed for disguise.
After a while, a muffled voice of "Leave it there" was heard, followed by the voice of the eunuch taking his leave.
Immediately afterwards, someone pushed open the door of the inner hall.
There was no movement after that.
The man had clearly entered the house, but one could hear a pin drop inside.
Tian Nongxi couldn't help himself and secretly opened his eyelids. Before his vision could clear, he was enveloped by a black shadow that was getting closer and closer.
The familiar breath was wrapped in a bit of early morning chill, as damp and short-lived as the rain that fell last night. Only the soft touch of the remaining warmth on the cheek stimulated the senses.
Her deliberately slowed breathing paused, and her body under the thin blanket had become stiff.
That person just refused to leave.
The scorching gaze fell on her, and she could feel herself burning.
Suddenly, the fingers entangled in her hair reached up and began to gently stroke her already hot earlobes.
Tian Nongxi couldn't pretend anymore. She covered the half of her face that had been kissed and stood up. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she accused, "You took advantage of me!"
Wen Tingluan didn't show any embarrassment at being caught, he just smiled and said: "The book Xiaoxi gave me said that girls need to be kissed to wake up, I'm just thirsty for knowledge."
Tian Nongxi was dumbfounded by the sophistry skills of the person in front of him and couldn't say a word for a long time.
Finally, she turned her head away from the man who was looking at her wetly, and stretched out her right hand in a begging gesture.
"Why don't you sleep a little longer? It's still early."
"I'm going to check on the shop." Tian Nongxi answered gently, then remembered he was angry. He turned his head further to the side, and his voice became colder. "Where are my things?"
Her jaw was suddenly grasped by a bony hand, and then she was twisted by an irresistible force. She met Wen Tingluan's serious eyes, "I want you to look at me."
"Wha…what."
Wen Tingluan suddenly relaxed, placed his hands on the soft satin, lowered his eyes and sighed, "I'm just afraid that Xiaoxi will leave without saying goodbye."
His tone was light, but it made Tian Nongxi's heart itch.
"Oh, okay, why do you think so much?" She softened her tone instinctively, lifted his drooping head with her hands, and kissed the corner of his lips soothingly, "Give me my things."
"Then you promise."
"Uh, why am I the only one who promised."
"Then I promise I won't leave the creek."
"Comrade, this is very dangerous." Tian Nongxi interrupted him and said earnestly, "How can two people who love each other leave each other? They are always together in their hearts."
“…”
"Then tell me again that you like me."
-
Two steps away, the broker was concentrating on introducing the house in front of him. Tian Nongxi glanced at it and then looked down at his toes.
She was turned over and over and kissed again and again, and every part of her little face was kissed. When she went out, she could see her swollen lips in the bronze mirror.
I clearly said it as I was asked, but Wen Tingluan acted as if I couldn't hear it.
I don't know where I get so much energy so early in the morning.
Tian Nongxi kicked the small stone in front of him, his throat felt uncomfortable, and he coughed lightly twice.
The broker was always sharp-eyed. He saw that the girl in front of him didn't like this house. He quickly stepped back until they were shoulder to shoulder, rubbing his hands and laughing, "Girl, I'll take you to see another one on the next street. That one is quite exquisite."
Tian Nongxi glanced at him, his tone freezing cold: "If it still doesn't meet the requirements, then I'll change someone else."
She had specifically asked before coming, as her budget clearly allowed her to rent a decent house, but this man took her to a shabby room in the downtown area.
"How could that be!" The broker looked at the girl's elegant attire and said flatteringly, "Girl, if you give me an extra ounce, I'll definitely find you a nice guy!"
Tian Nongxi stopped and said emphatically, "One tael of silver is enough to rent a good house in the capital. Are you lying to me?"
Although the house rental in Yan Dynasty was different from that in modern times, customers would go to a fixed agency, and the agency would then send its staff to help the customers.
She was looking for the most cost-effective agency in Beijing.
If the one in front of you is not good enough, you can tell his superior and get a new one for free.
Seeing that he failed to deceive the girl, Yazi chuckled twice and said that he had no choice but to support his family. He also said that the girl must be from a wealthy family since she was dressed so elegantly, and he could just give her some money as a reward when she found a good place to live.
Tian Nongxi was speechless and choked with emotion.
The clothes she was wearing were made in the palace, so they looked more noble.
In fact, I am poor and stingy.
The guy over there was still praising her.
It would have been fine if she hadn't praised him, but once she did, Tian Nongxi would think of the moment after the kiss when Wen Tingluan handed her the dress like a magic trick from somewhere.
She gasped and asked what this meant.
Wen Tingluan's expression was normal, and his tone seemed as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
"I sent a letter back to the palace, and my mother sent someone to rush it."
Before she could respond, he continued.
"I had nothing to do yesterday, so I washed these clothes."
Tian Nongxi looked very surprised at that time, which made Wen Tingluan laugh for a while, and then he pecked the corner of her lips before continuing to say that the clothes she brought were also taken away by him to wash.
…
When Tian Nongxi thought that the clothes on her body were washed by Wen Tingluan himself and every part of them was carefully caressed by his hands, her mouth became dry for some reason.
"Miss, Miss?" Seeing that he was ignored, Yazi waved his hand in front of her, "Are you sick? Your face is a little red."
As soon as he finished speaking, he shouted as if he had discovered something new, "Wow, why is there a break at the corner of your lip? Is it because it's too hot?"
Tian Nongxi came back to his senses, "Yes, it's too hot."
Yazi led the way while telling her some folk remedies for treating lip injuries, and soon they arrived in front of a house.
There are two rooms inside, one is used as a kitchen and the other is a bedroom.
The furniture inside, including the stove, table, chairs, beds, etc., were all intact, but they were covered with a thick layer of dust as no one had lived there for a long time.
Tian Nongxi looked it over from top to bottom and soon made the decision.
After signing the contract, she took the key from the broker, gave him five cents as a thank you, and sent him out.
He casually blew away the dust on the table, then placed the package he had taken from Wen Tingluan on it and opened it in no time.
He found a square handkerchief, wet it, and wiped one side of the dormitory without much care. He also opened the doors and windows of the two rooms for ventilation.
When she didn't want to work, even if a god came, she wouldn't be able to stop her. But now she was full of confidence and made the house look brand new in less than a moment.
Stepping on the rustling fallen leaves, the gate of the yard locked with a "click".
This alley is quite old, and the walls of the surrounding houses are mottled gray and yellow from being burned by cooking smoke. People come and go, and the air is filled with the smell of fireworks.
The street is right outside the alley, and it is well connected and convenient to go anywhere.
Tian Nongxi pocketed some change and prepared to buy some tools. Apart from anything else, she would have to dance every day when she walked without a broom.
We followed the same path we came from, walked straight along the small river beside the house, and after a quarter of an hour we were out of the alley.
When I looked up again, there were crowds of people and endless shouting.
She went into the nearest grocery store and bought a broom and a copper kettle.
Although there are many shops in the capital, the prices are similar to those in Ruiyang County, and there is still some money left after buying these.
While waiting for change, Tian Nongxi asked the boss which restaurant nearby was good.
The boss was a kind old woman, but her hearing was not very good. I couldn't hear what she said clearly because she was hunched over.
Tian Nongxi was deflated. He waved his hands and said loudly that it was okay. His clear voice instantly dominated the crowded shop.
"Hey - I ate -" the old woman replied slowly. Because her voice was not clear, her voice was no less loud when she spoke.
"It's okay—" Tian Nongxi wanted to end the folk song duet, took the change and was about to leave.
A bony hand suddenly picked up the item she had left on the shelf. Tian Nongxi looked up and saw a familiar handsome face.
"What a coincidence."
Tian Nongxi: “…”
Coincidence, it’s better to be more coincidental.
She stepped over the threshold, resisting the urge to look at that alluring face, and said with a somewhat complaining tone, "Stop letting people look at me, okay?"
"...Okay." Wen Tingluan responded aggrievedly, his wide sleeves fluttering as a flash of cold light shot out. The birds scattered in a hurry, and the brief noise seemed like an illusion.
He tilted his head to look at the calm and composed girl, with a look of begging for praise.
"...very good." Tian Nongxi stretched out his hands and gave a thumbs up.
Wen Tingluan's tone was very long, and he asked in confusion: "Why don't you kiss me anymore?"
"You, you, you, there are so many people."
As soon as he finished speaking, the playful children came running over chasing the butterflies.
Tian Nongxi grabbed Wen Tingluan's sleeve and pulled it aside, asking him to watch the road with concern.
After saying "OK" very obediently, the man moved closer to her again. It was obviously a wide road, but they were squeezed together with their shoulders touching.
Tian Nongxi opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing and just took him to his newly rented house.
After turning a corner, Tian Nongxi pointed the way: "Walk a little further toward the river. You'll see a house that's whiter than the surroundings. That's where I live."
"Okay, I'll remember that." Wen Tingluan nodded.
She uttered an "oh" and remembered something. She glanced over with a cold, suspicious look and snorted, "You don't need me to tell you. Master Wen already knows it."
"Mr. Wen doesn't know." He rushed over before he had time to know about this.
Without waiting for Tian Nongxi's answer, Wen Tingluan looked up and saw her frowning and looking at something not far away.
A little girl, about six or seven years old, was walking alone by the river, looking absent-minded and not looking at the road.
Seeing that she was about to fall into the riverbank if she walked any further, Tian Nongxi strode over and grabbed the little girl and pulled her to the side of the road.
She bent down to look at the little girl who had come back to her senses, wiped the dirty dust off her face, and said, "Remember to watch the road, little sister."
There were still tears in the little girl's eyes. She responded in a muffled voice and ran away.
She looked thoughtfully in the direction the little girl left, then ran back to Wen Tingluan and continued the conversation.
The two chatted for a while and then walked to the house rented by Tian Nongxi. She took out the key to open the door, stepped aside to invite Wen Tingluan in, and was frightened by his gloomy face.
Wen Tingluan frowned slightly and said in a low voice: "Why don't you live in the house I gave Xiaoxi?" It doesn't matter if you don't live there, but you actually chose this kind of house.
She smiled with the corners of her mouth, thinking that if she moved in, she would still be doing business. If she was unlucky, everyone would think that she was a sucker and that was her fault.
"Isn't this house nice?" Tian Nongxi was genuinely puzzled. She opened her almond-shaped eyes wide and looked around the house she had carefully selected.
Wen Tingluan wanted to say something, but was blocked by her.
"I live here." Wen Tingluan's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he managed to say something after a long while, "Shall I live in the same room with Xiaoxi?"
His eyes fell on the two rooms with open doors and windows. The furnishings inside the rooms were simple and clear.
A kitchen and a bedroom.
Tian Nongxi: “…”
Good question,
She only rented two rooms.
It took her a long time to utter, "Isn't this place far from the palace?" The implication was obvious.
Wen Tingluan turned around and closed the door, inexplicably saying, "There's no one here now."
Hearing his hidden meaning, Tian Nongxi's face turned red with embarrassment. She threw a handkerchief at him and told him to shut up and get back to work.
Wen Tingluan glanced at her innocently, holding the handkerchief and muttering to himself: "What I mean is that now that there's no one around, we can naturally work."
Tian Nongxi: “…”
The house is indeed not big, and it doesn’t take long to clean it, not to mention that Tian Nongxi had already cleaned it roughly before leaving.
It didn't take long for the two of them to clean it up and make it look brand new.
She had wanted to invite Wen Tingluan to dinner and see how the restaurant business in Beijing was going, but he refused on the grounds that he was busy.
Hiding his reluctance, Tian Nongxi said goodbye to Wen Tingluan and turned back to his dormitory.
There was a new object on the table, and she walked over to it and took a closer look.
It is a small flat round jar made of warm mutton-fat jade. When you open it, you can see the delicate paste inside. The faint medicinal fragrance is bitter but pleasant.
Not knowing what this meant, Tian Nongxi's eyes fell on the envelope pressed by the medicine jar.
It was unsigned, but she opened it without hesitation.
A piece of paper inside fell out.
As soon as it was opened, Tian Nongxi's breathing stopped and a thin layer of red appeared on the tips of his ears.
Lifelike portraits
——The smiling girl had a face like a lotus, and the small crimson wound on her red lips was particularly conspicuous.
【Author’s words】
It's so good... Women need to see young couples loving each other every day to have the energy to make a living! (wipes tears) I've been so drunk that I don't know what the world is... I feel so good writing this for myself (holds my chin in thought)
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