Chapter 89 Second Update
It was already evening when Zhuang Wan returned from the racecourse.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw two boxes in the room, and Lixia was standing beside them holding a list.
Zhuang Wan was puzzled. These...
"Miss," Lixia said, "Master has sent these things back, along with this."
She handed over a box.
Zhuang Wan took it, opened it, and saw the Guanyin jade pendant she had given away lying quietly inside.
Stunned for a moment, Zhuang Wan asked, "What's going on?"
Lixia said, "Master said that these things do not need to be returned. Since they were given to the young lady, they belong to her."
Zhuang Wan was silent and looked at the box on the ground. It contained clothes that she had bought from Jinxiu Pavilion, and there was a silver note on top.
Lixia added, "The master also asked me to pass on a message to the young lady."
"What?"
"My Lord said that if Miss Zhuang wants to leave, then it's up to her."
Zhuang Wan nodded and whispered, "Thank you."
She didn't look at the things in the box again, but picked up the Guanyin jade pendant and walked to the pavilion in the east.
The lake surface was shimmering with ripples, reflecting the sunset at dusk, and even the air felt a little more lonely.
Zhuang Wan felt vaguely guilty.
In the end, Pei Xingju didn't ask her to pay back a penny, but she felt like she owed him a lot, a debt that was ten or a hundred times more valuable than the things in the house. She was afraid that she would never be able to pay him back in her lifetime.
She lay down in the rocking chair and slowly covered her face with a handkerchief.
.
Under the candlelight, Pei Xingju was reading files at his desk. After a while, Guard Lu knocked on the door.
Pei Xingju stopped and asked: "Did she see the things?"
Guard Lu said, "Miss Zhuang has already seen it."
"What...did she say?"
"Miss Zhuang didn't say anything."
Guard Lu was a little sad. He didn't understand why Miss Zhuang left when she was fine. If Miss Zhuang left, who would make cakes for his master and who would urge him to take his medicine?
Seeing the lonely figures of these adults at this time, he actually felt a little sympathy.
He finally found a girl he liked, but the girl he loved left him.
Pei Xingju suddenly raised his eyes and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Guard Lu quickly put away his sympathetic look and stood up straight: "I didn't think anything of it."
Pei Xingju put down the file and said, "Where is Chen Yi? Go and call him."
"Yes." Guard Lu hurried over.
Pei Xingju rubbed his brows, looked at the dark night for a while, closed his eyes and leaned back.
Just a woman!
She can leave if she wants!
.
On this day in mid-July, the Royal Polo Tournament begins.
The polo field was located on the shores of Liyin Lake, surrounded on three sides by the water and enjoying a cool breeze. The vast field was divided into three sections. On one side, a raised platform with a sunshade was built for viewing by officials, both civil and military, as well as their wives and daughters. On the other side, a drum was placed for counting matches and providing a temporary resting place for players. The largest lawn in the center was reserved for polo matches.
The main attraction of this polo match is naturally the emperor and the young masters of noble families, but the polo match of the noble ladies is put in the front, which serves as both the beginning and the end and also to add to the fun.
Therefore, the ladies would get up early in the morning to put on their makeup. Those not participating in the competition would dress up beautifully, while those participating would dress up in polo uniforms to look dashing and heroic.
Before daybreak, Zhuang Wan heard the excited voices of other noble ladies in the same courtyard.
"Do I look good in this outfit?"
"Sister Su has a good appearance and outstanding temperament. This polo uniform is perfect for you. I think when the game comes, Master Yao will have no time to watch the game. He will be too busy watching Sister Su."
After that, several people laughed and made noises.
Miss Su, who lived in the same courtyard with Zhuang Wan, was the youngest daughter of the Minister of Personnel. Last year, she became engaged to the son of the Earl of Yiyang.
Not long after, someone scoffed, "Today we're going to a competition, not a beauty contest. I'm afraid you're not just dressing up for Young Master Yao alone."
All the people who came today were young masters from aristocratic families, even the emperor was here. The implication was that Miss Su was flirting with other men and had no self-control.
It was Wei Shuiyun who was speaking. Standing on the steps, she looked at everyone with disdain. She took one last glance at Zhuang Wan's closed door, snorted, and left.
Miss Su's eyes were red with tears after hearing what Wei Shuiyun said, but she didn't dare to refute.
After Wei Shuiyun left, the others comforted her, "Sister Su, don't pay attention to her. She's been like this to everyone since she got the firecrackers. Let's go, the competition will start soon."
Zhuang Wan lay in bed and listened for a while until it gradually became quiet outside, then she got up out of boredom.
Qiu Tan came in to help her wash up and asked, "Miss, are you going to watch the polo match later?"
Zhuang Wan shook her head. She didn't have time to watch a polo match. She was very busy.
"Is Uncle Li from the kitchen back?" she asked.
Qiu Tan knew that she had been trying to find out about Uncle Li these past two days. Uncle Li was the head steward in charge of purchasing for the palace's kitchen. She thought the young lady wanted to make something that needed Uncle Li's help, so she said, "I heard he came back early this morning and is busy in the kitchen."
Zhuang Wan nodded, had breakfast, and went straight to the kitchen.
Uncle Li was a man of about fifty who had been at the palace for many years, primarily responsible for procuring for the kitchen. When Zhuang Wan came to inquire about him yesterday, he had already left the palace for He County and had only returned this morning.
Upon learning of Zhuang Wan's intentions, Uncle Li was apprehensive: "I dare not agree to anything Miss Zhuang asks. I am only a merchandiser. Although I have a token to enter and leave the palace, I cannot make the decision if you want to take Miss Zhuang with you."
Yes, that was Zhuang Wan's plan. It would be difficult for her to leave the palace alone. Not only was there no carriage, but even if there was, she would have no idea where to go.
The only people who could enter and leave the palace every day were the messengers and the people who worked in the kitchen, but the messengers and the people who worked in the kitchen were not allowed to get in, so they could only ask the people in the kitchen who worked in the kitchen.
Zhuang Wan asked, "Who can make the decision then?"
"I...I want to ask Master Cheng."
"What official position is Lord Cheng?"
"Master Cheng is in charge of our West Garden. He is in charge of the daily life and diet of all the eunuchs and guards in the palace."
It seemed he was a low-ranking official. After thinking for a moment, Zhuang Wan took out a silver ingot from her waist and handed it to him. "Please ask him for me. Tell him that the women from Lord Pei's family want to visit the county town. Ask him to be flexible."
When he heard Pei Xingju, Uncle Li was so frightened that he quickly returned the silver: "Miss, this is not possible. I dare not accept it."
Zhuang Wan pushed it forward again. "Just accept what I'm giving you. No one will know. Please tell Master Cheng exactly what I said."
Life in the palace was dull, and some of the sons of noble families would sneak out to seek pleasure. This was common, and even if the palace servants saw it, they turned a blind eye. Zhuang Wan was no exception; it was normal for her to feel bored in the palace and want to go out for some fun.
"This..." Uncle Li weighed the silver ingot in his hand and said hesitantly, "Then I'll go and ask for the girl?"
"Thank you, Uncle Li." Zhuang Wan bowed.
After finishing this matter, Zhuang Wan left the West Garden.
After she walked away, a maidservant in green clothes slowly walked out from behind the pillar and looked at her back thoughtfully.
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