Chapter 163 How come he looks like a different person?
Xiaochun lowered her eyebrows and combed Jiang Xue's hair carefully, and whispered, "Your Highness, the people have been settled in the courtyard as you ordered, and they live in the wing room where Wu Anlang is. This morning, I took clothes and changed them."
"They came secretly and went directly back to Wenqingxuan. Last night, Chen Jin and his men brought the woman and the child back. According to your instructions, I had people clean up the west courtyard and put them inside as soon as they arrived. The gate to the courtyard was guarded by Chen Jin and Chen Xiu, so they definitely couldn't see what happened in our courtyard."
Jiang Xue nodded and said, "Did Gu Lintan find me after he returned home last night?"
"Your Highness is right," Xiaochun separated a strand of hair and turned it flexibly with her white and tender hands, and then she tied it into a bun on her forehead. "He arrived not much earlier than Your Highness last night. I followed your instructions and sent someone to stop him in front of the courtyard. I just said that Your Highness asked me not to talk too much tonight and just wanted to be alone. Seeing this, he did not stay for long."
As she spoke, Xiaochun's deft hands had already divided Jiang Xue's hair into two strands and tied them into a bun. She opened her makeup box, found a red agate hairpin with a butterfly-shaped gold thread pendant, and put it on Jiang Xue's forehead. She also pinned two millet jade gilded phoenix hairpins with pearls on each side of the bun. The long pearl tassels fell in front of her shoulders. Jiang Xue turned her head to examine it carefully and praised:
"I've never seen a hair bun like this before. It looks unique and elegant. You're getting more and more skillful."
Xiaochun smiled and said, "This is called Fuxian Longyue Ji. I went back to the palace a few days ago and saw the female official from the Makeup Bureau teaching the palace maids. I learned it secretly. Your Highness is very beautiful, and this bun makes you look even more beautiful and elegant."
Jiang Xue stretched out her hand and said, "Please wipe this ointment off for me. Don't let the queen mother see it and think that I have done something outside the palace."
Xiaochun thought for a moment and said, "There are many kinds of medicines that Master He sent earlier. I remember there was a bottle of medicated oil that can be used to treat external injuries. Once applied, no trace of the medicine can be seen. I will go get it and apply it to Your Highness. After all, you are injured, so don't delay the recovery."
"You are always the most considerate and attentive." Jiang Xue smiled and said gently, "Go ahead, and check out what food is in the kitchenette, and bring some for Qiong Shuang to eat."
"It's been prepared a long time ago," Xiaochun said as she cleaned up the dressing table, "Because your highness and cousin both go to bed late, and your cousin is hungover, I'm afraid she'll be angry and have no appetite, but we can't let her go hungry, so Fudong asked the kitchen to cook some rice porridge early, scooped out the broken rice, and prepared fish slices. Your highness and cousin will eat it boiled later, with some salty, slightly spicy pickled bamboo shoots and fungus shreds, and simmered eggs with shredded gourd. Later, add some light soy sauce and sesame oil, which will warm the stomach and whet the appetite."
"I'm hungry just listening to this," Jiang Xue giggled, propped up her chin and looked at her, saying, "You and Fu Dong are really capable."
Xiaochun felt a little embarrassed by the compliment, so he bowed quickly and went out to look for medicinal oil.
Jiang Xue reached out and picked out the silver hairpin from her dressing box. She held it in her hand and looked at it again and again, with mixed feelings in her heart.
Jingye, Jingye, since you have completely erased the past, why do you still have to be so thoughtful and considerate of yourself?
Jiang Xue tightened her grip slightly, but still pinned the hairpin under her bun.
Xiaochun came in with some medicated oil, and when he saw this scene, he frowned slightly, but didn't dare to say anything more. He just quickly stepped forward and treated Jiang Xue's wound.
Jiang Xue originally thought that Lu Qiongshuang would definitely stay in bed, so she wanted to go to her room to call her in person. However, she was so quick that she had already bathed and washed up while Jiang Xue was dressing up. When Jiang Xue walked to the corridor, she saw her jumping out of the room in a refreshed outfit.
Seeing Jiang Xue, Lu Qiongshuang hurried forward and took her arm, saying, "Cousin, are you going back to the palace today?"
"Yes," Jiang Xue reached out and brushed the loose hair on her forehead, and asked with concern: "Are you feeling unwell today? Do you have a headache?"
Lu Qiongshuang shook her head sensibly and said, "I usually have a good alcohol tolerance. When I was in the East China Sea, I could drink eight bottles by myself! I don't know what happened last night. I drank so little and I got drunk. Did my cousin worry?"
Jiang Xue was about to answer when she caught a glimpse of Jiang Qibin suddenly walking towards her from not far away. He seemed to be inspecting the courtyard, but when he turned around and saw Lu Qiongshuang and Jiang Xue, he turned around in a panic and tried to leave.
"Guard Jiang!" Lu Qiongshuang also saw him and raised his hand and shouted, "Here!"
Jiang Qibin could no longer walk away ignoring the situation, so he had to step forward and pay his respects.
Lu Qiongshuang smiled and said to him, "I heard from Sister Fudong that you carried me back last night?"
Jiang Qibin lowered his head and said, "My dear cousin, yes."
Lu Qiongshuang reached out and patted his shoulder, laughed heartily and said, "I am grateful for your kindness. If you need any help from me in the future, just let me know!"
Jiang Qibin kept his head down the whole time, maintaining a salute posture without moving.
Seeing this, Jiang Xue said softly, "Go down. You were tired last night. Go back and have a good rest today. You don't need to be on duty anymore."
Jiang Qibin said, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I am not tired. I will go patrol the courtyard first."
After saying that, he immediately turned around and left without even a glance.
Lu Qiongshuang was surprised and said, "Why does he seem like a different person today? He is not as interesting as before."
Jiang Xue looked at her with a complicated expression, feeling a little sad for Jiang Qibin, and could only say calmly: "Maybe you were too drunk last night and scared him."
"Is that so?" Lu Qiongshuang scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, "Then I will go to Huijianglou after leaving the palace later to buy him some delicious food and make amends."
Jiang Xue smiled helplessly and said, "Let's go, have breakfast first and go to the palace early. I have something to do with my mother today."
Lu Qiongshuang nodded obediently.
After they finished their breakfast, they immediately had someone harness the carriage to go to the palace. Before leaving, Jiang Xue gave Xiaochun a few more instructions. Xiaochun nodded and said, "I'll remember that."
Jiang Xue stepped onto the stool and looked towards the street. It seemed that it was time to end the court session. When Gu Lintan got the news about Huang Fu, he would also be rushing to her side.
Jiang Xue looked at Xu Chong who was driving and said, "Go faster later."
When the two arrived at the gate of Yi'an Palace, they saw Ningyun standing at the gate waiting for them.
Ningyun was a senior palace maid under Empress Lu. She was brought up by Dong Shupei and was considered her apprentice.
Ning Yun saw Jiang Xue and Lu Qiongshuang's sedan chairs and bowed from a distance. After Jiang Xue got off the sedan chair, she stepped forward to help her up and asked in a gentle voice, "Why are you waiting here today?"
Ningyun lowered her eyebrows and said respectfully: "Your Highness, my aunt is busy at the moment, and the Queen asked this servant to come out to pick you up."
Jiang Xue smiled and said, "What is Aunt Dong busy with?"
"The mother and son were sent here this morning and are now being interrogated by Aunt Dong." Ning Yun said, "Your Highness, please go in quickly. The Queen is waiting."
Jiang Xue nodded and took Lu Qiongshuang into Yi'an Palace.
"Miss Cousin," Ningyun suddenly called out to Lu Qiongshuang when they reached the main hall entrance, "We got some new satin the other day, and the queen asked me to take you there to choose some."
Lu Qiongshuang was surprised and said: "Me? Satin? I..."
She glanced at Jiang Xue, and suddenly understood. She nodded and said, "Let's go. Sister, take me there first. I'll come back to have lunch with my aunt at noon."
Jiang Xue saw the two people walking away. The palace servant in front of her pushed open the palace door, made a gesture, and whispered, "Your Highness, please come in."
Jiang Xue nodded silently and stepped in.
There was no one in the hall except Empress Lu, who was sitting high on the phoenix throne.
Jiang Xue was a little confused. When the palace door behind her closed, she was about to bow to greet her, but suddenly she heard Empress Lu say:
"Kneel down."
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