Chapter 31 Like a cat hiding from someone (400 nutrient solutions...)
The incense burner in the Chaotian Hall was constantly burning, and the incense and the heat of the charcoal wafted towards us, making our eyes water.
"There is a small-scale famine in the capital region, and the relief grain is insufficient to meet the demand," Zhan Yunmei knelt behind a folding fan. Through the openwork of the fan, she could see the emperor resting his head on his hand, his brows furrowed.
The hall was silent.
With a loud thud, several bamboo scrolls were smashed to the ground, the sound echoing loudly in the quiet room.
The scroll rolled a few times and came to Zhan Yunmei's knees, where it was slowly unfurled, and she could see the contents of the scroll.
In the document, the cabinet minister used the disaster relief issue to subtly criticize Chan Yun-mei for holding a high position and wielding great power, yet being unable to handle even the most basic tasks.
Disaster relief was not originally part of the Beijing Garrison's affairs; they only provided assistance, not fulfilled their primary responsibility. This time, the issue was about food supplies, which had nothing to do with Zhan Yunmei.
The emperor didn't look at her, and he wiped his forehead in distress, so Zhan Yunmei flipped through a few scrolls.
They not only mocked her, but they also dared to mock the emperor. The word "woman" was particularly prominent.
Close it.
Zhan Yunmei said, "Your Majesty, I request to go to the capital region with Princess Rongning to oversee the grain supply."
"Alright," the emperor rubbed his forehead, opened his eyes wearily, and looked around the hall. Incense filled the air, making it feel like he was in a dreamlike, hazy realm.
After Zhan Yunmei left the palace, the emperor summoned He'an.
He An reported the events that had occurred at the teahouse word for word.
"Oh, still as grumpy as ever," the emperor yawned, unsurprised by the situation.
She already knew what kind of person Hua Lang was. If she agreed to his request, he would act as her spy. If he performed well, she could bring him back to the palace and reuse him. But if she didn't agree... she actually managed to discover his relationship with Zhan Yunmei.
Before raising an army, Zhan Yunmei had not set foot in the capital for a long time, and was content to guard the territory. At that time, the emperor was just a scholar who was no different from the common people.
Back then, she could still be considered a young lady, and her family raised her in seclusion, hoping that one day she would marry into a wealthy family and give her brother-in-law a boost in his career.
Aside from the books that women were supposed to read at that time, most of the money for her education came from Zhan Yunmei's secret savings. She would find people to teach her to read and understand principles, and in her spare time, she would also practice martial arts with Zhan Yunmei.
Later, she had a dispute with her family and chose to break with them, going to the capital to take the imperial examination.
Despite her high school education, the previous dynasty did not tolerate her; being a woman and of low birth, she was not allowed to enter the court.
The emperor was born with a fierce temperament, which was intolerable to the environment, so she destroyed the environment. Zhan Yunmei helped her again.
How close we were in the past, but now we are separated as ruler and subject, each of us wary of the other.
As he stroked the jade seal in his hand, a faint smile appeared on the emperor's lips.
The cold and somber hall gained a little warmth.
He'an could tell from the emperor's expression that she was in a slightly better mood, so she grinned and bent down to step forward. "Your Majesty, if you wish, this servant can go and find another Hua Lang. No matter how arrogant he is, he is now just an empty shell. Without the protection of the General's Mansion, he is nothing."
The emperor glanced up slightly, and He An thought he had hit the nail on the head, secretly pleased with herself. Unexpectedly, she felt a sharp pain on her face.
His face was slapped askew by the emperor.
"You dog servant, presumptuously trying to guess the emperor's thoughts," the emperor said gently, without much reproach.
He An, realizing the danger, knelt down and repeatedly confessed his sins.
"Get up and secretly give Zhan Qing's side a push. Those who cause trouble will be punished, or killed."
.
Outside the capital, heavy snow piled up, beneath which lay bones, and on either side stood ragged refugees.
Princess Rongning pressed her face against the carriage window, wanting to look but not daring to, her body trembling slightly, with faint sobs.
Zhan Yunmei reached out and pulled Princess Rongning into her arms, but Princess Rongning tried to dodge her.
“Your nose is red,” Zhan Yunmei said, gently flicking Princess Rongning’s nose with her finger.
She turned her head and snuggled into Zhan Yunmei's arms, "General, I say those people should all be beheaded!"
Princess Rongning had assisted the emperor in preparing relief grain, and the preparations were done very well, but when the grain was needed, there was still not enough.
No need to overthink it, someone is behind this.
Zhan Yunmei patted Princess Rongning on the back and drew the carriage curtain, saying, "When dynasties change, we always have to face things like this."
"If I were your aunt, I would drag those people out and behead them in public," Princess Rongning said, unable to stand the scent of incense on Zhan Yunmei. She felt as if Zhan Yunmei had become intoxicated by the fragrance. She sat up and moved to the side.
Princess Rongning was so angry that she frowned. During the day, she had to work under the emperor and practice martial arts in her spare time. She was too busy to shave her eyebrows, so they were messy and somewhat rough. When she frowned, they made her look fierce.
"He deserves to die."
Zhan Yunmei draped a cloak over Princess Rongning and said, "Get out of the carriage."
Helan Wan also came to inspect the area. The three of them went to the disaster relief site to count the amount of relief grain and the scale of the refugees, and made records.
With their participation, there was no shortage of the newly arrived relief grain, and the food was distributed quickly and in an orderly manner.
During this time, she seemed to hear some commotion. Confused, Zhan Yunmei went to check behind the tent, but she didn't see anyone.
Upon closer inspection, an anomaly can be found: the open snowfield is splattered with black marks, resembling bloodstains.
The wind and snow swept by, blowing across the golden tassels. She stepped forward, picked them up, and recognized them as the tassels that would hang on the robes of the emperor's eunuchs.
Silently watching the official road, occasionally a carriage or horse passes by, it is desolate.
“General, the refugees have all received relief supplies and medicine today. Let’s go back first,” Princess Rongning said after searching for Zhan Yunmei for a long time before finding her standing there motionless.
She tugged at Zhan Yunmei's sleeve.
Zhan Yunmei smiled and turned around, "Okay."
Helan Wan was returning to the palace to report to the emperor on the situation in the disaster relief area, and she did not accompany the two of them.
Since the autumn hunt, Princess Rongning has been under the watchful eyes of all sorts of people whenever she makes a public appearance. Now that it is getting late, Zhan Yunmei is worried about letting her return to the mansion alone, so she asks her to return to the General's Mansion with her and return to the capital camp the next morning.
Zhan Yunmei summoned her attendant and instructed him to ride a fast horse back to the mansion to inform Hua Lang, "Tell Hua Lang to arrange some late-night snacks for the princess, and also to prepare the guest room and tell him that the princess wants to rest for the night."
The servant whipped his horse and rode away into the distance. The princess peeked back out of the window and asked, "Is the eunuch in charge of household affairs?"
"Yes," Zhan Yunmei said without hiding anything.
He then fastened the collar and cloak of the princess to prevent her from catching a cold.
Because of the princess's arrival, the general's mansion was brightly lit at night, with lanterns hanging high and people moving around.
The midnight snack is ready: a pot of barley porridge, boiled eggs, and warm goat milk in the kitchen. It's not extravagant, nor is it sloppy; it's perfect for a late-night meal.
The guest room had also been cleaned and tidied up. A thick quilt was neatly folded on the tatami mat, and an extra quilt was placed in the closet so that the princess could add more if she felt cold. All kinds of toiletries were also neatly arranged.
Although I didn't organize it myself, the fact that it was arranged to this extent shows that I was very careful and attentive.
"Eunuch Hua Lang is so considerate. He even carried out the general's casual message," Princess Rongning said, her eyes darting around as she sipped her barley porridge.
Zhan Yunmei nodded, looked around, and saw that Hua Lang was not there.
"Princess, please use this place first. I'll go to the main room."
I got up, walked through the corridor, and pushed open the door.
It was completely empty.
Zhan Yunmei asked, "Shuniang, where did he go?"
Yao Shuniang pointed to the dark side room and lowered her voice, "Father-in-law went over there."
“Oh,” Zhan Yunmei suddenly said, a little annoyed, “what’s wrong?”
"This servant does not know."
The side room was at the end of the corridor, where moonlight could not enter and the light from the main room could not reach it. Without an oil lamp, the whole room was shrouded in darkness.
Zhan Yunmei pushed open the door, tiptoed inside, closed the door, left the bright courtyard, entered the darkness, and slowly approached the chair.
The side room is small, and burning charcoal would make it stuffy and difficult to breathe, so charcoal is not used.
The person lying on the table was shivering slightly from the cold, making one think that the general's mansion was extremely dilapidated, with people being so cold.
Zhan Yunmei took off her cloak and draped it over Hua Lang's shoulders. As soon as it fell, he woke up, still sleepy and disoriented.
Unconsciously, he opened his arms and hugged Zhan Yunmei. The position was just right, and he buried his head in her lower abdomen.
"Wake up," Zhan Yunmei rubbed the back of Hua Lang's head. He was sullen and reluctant to wake up, but after a while, his mind cleared up and she let go.
Hua Lang sat up straight, unwilling to raise his head.
“Even cats hide from people like this,” Zhan Yunmei bent down and poked Hua Lang’s forehead.
He was forced to look up, and all he could see was the shadow of her palm.
Zhan Yunmei turned to light the lamp. Hua Lang squinted to adjust, and only after the dryness and stinging in his eyes subsided did he slowly open them.
"What cats and dogs?" Hua Lang muttered under his breath.
“That’s true. You’re missing a tail, so you’re not like a cat or a dog,” Zhan Yunmei said in a light tone. Hua Lang’s eyes lit up as she heard her words, and a blush slowly rose to her ears.
It is beautiful.
We need to get a tail as soon as possible.
Zhan Yunmei thought.
Hua Lang secretly glanced at Zhan Yunmei, but she kept bending over. As soon as his eyes passed over her, she caught them. He froze for a moment and said stiffly, "Unfortunately, I don't have any. I'm sorry to disappoint the general."
Only later did he realize that Zhan Yunmei was talking nonsense to tease him, and he still eagerly welcomed her teasing.
He was sulking to himself.
"Hua Lang, you've made excellent arrangements," Zhan Yunmei smiled, straightened up, took off her official uniform, casually placed it on the couch, put her hands in her pockets, and leaned against the headboard.
Across a table, their eyes met, just as Hua Lang, who was looking away, was turning his head away.
He then turned his head to the other side.
Zhan Yunmei said, "What are you doing running to the side room? The princess sleeps in the guest room, I won't fight you for the main room this time."
"I just suddenly wanted to sleep here..." Hua Lang said.
“That works too. If it’s close to the skin, it’ll be warmer,” Zhan Yunmei nodded thoughtfully.
Knowing that Hua Lang had something on her mind, Zhan Yunmei knew she wouldn't get anything out of her by asking directly, so she didn't say anything more and got up to wash up.
Hua Lang felt frustrated as he watched Zhan Yunmei walk away.
He opened his hand, holding the crumpled paper that the princess had thrown to him.
The princess was undoubtedly on Zhan Yunmei's side. Her intention was most likely to get Hua Lang to help her. As a princess, she couldn't easily make a move, while he remained in the shadows.
However, he did not choose to help the princess.
He hid in the general's mansion, enjoying the peace that Zhan Yunmei had bestowed upon him.
The princess must have already told Zhan Yunmei about it. Will Zhan Yunmei be... angry?
Princess Rongning was currently wrapped in her blankets, having completely forgotten about the autumn hunt.
In her heart, Hua Lang was Zhan Yunmei's person, so they were on the same page. She couldn't take revenge on Geng Qi, which made her feel resentful, so she could only secretly tell Hua Lang.
It wasn't that I wanted to use Hua Lang's remaining power, but I just wanted him to whisper in Zhan Yunmei's ear so that she could secretly punish Geng Qi.
Princess Rongning shrank deeper into the quilt, curled up into a ball, and was about to fall asleep when she suddenly felt someone staring at her from behind.
Suddenly, he rolled over.
"General?"
As soon as Zhan Yunmei finished showering, she sat down, and the steam and incense filled the air.
Princess Rongning shrank further into the couch. "What's wrong?"
Zhan Yunmei tucked the blanket in. "Come tell me, did you say anything to Hua Lang? Or did you let him know something in private?"
Princess Rongning paused, then laughed and said, "Ha, no."
Oh, really?
She lowered her head and wrapped herself up in a ball, knowing that her little scheme had been discovered.
All she knew was that Geng Qi had been punished and exiled to the frontier, and she assumed that Hua Lang had done as she wished.
I was quite surprised.
Why is Eunuch Hua Lang acting like this?
How did I manage to sway her like that?
Unfair!
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