Chapter 63: Worldly Joy

It was not yet daybreak, but the stars in the sky were still shining brightly.

The early autumn morning is already a little chilly. After a night, the flowers and plants are covered with dew, waiting for the sunrise to shine.

Nian Xi and Gu Ci sat side by side in the small pavilion in the garden, each holding a bowl of hot almond yogurt. They looked up at the dark sky and drank the yogurt slowly, feeling a peaceful and subtle homely warmth.

Gu Ci turned his head to look at Nian Xi and said with a smile, "Are you not sleepy now?"

I got up too early. I was thinking about something and couldn't stop yawning. Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't see the road clearly and almost fell down when I went up the stairs.

Thanks to Gu Ci's quick eyes and hands, he supported her in time.

Nian Xi drank the sweet yogurt, nodded and shook her head, "My head is still numb and I can't think."

Seeing her adorable confused look, Gu Ci couldn't help but laugh, "Who was it yesterday who vowed that she must get up early to drink this bowl of sweet syrup?"

Yesterday, the two of them were eating sea bass stew at Fanlou, and they overheard someone talking about Fan's almond cheese. Everyone praised it highly, and Nianxi was tempted.

Gu Ci grew up in Beijing and knew most of the food in the streets and alleys. Hearing this, he said, "The almond milk from that shop is really good. A bowl of it in winter can warm people's hearts. Even someone like me who doesn't like sweets often misses it."

"But there is one bad thing about this place, which is that they sell out very early every day, and they are all sold out in half a day."

He and Pei Jian had often visited the place when they were young. On winter days, with the sky full of stars behind them, the two handsome and tall boys would finish a bowl of rice and then go to the school side by side.

Gu Ci put aside these past events and smiled at Nian Xi, "When you wake up in the morning, you probably won't be able to eat it."

Nian Xi was not convinced, "I can ask someone to get up early and buy it for me."

He looked at her with disdain, "It would have already clumped into a lump by then, how could it still taste good?"

I am speechless.

She made her own syrupy drinks, so she knew that hot drinks would lose their flavor after they cooled down. As the weather got colder, "Half a Cup of Life" would also launch autumn hot drinks. She really wanted to try Fan's almond yogurt to see how good it was.

Just as I was thinking about getting up early tomorrow, Gu Cixian smiled and said, "I haven't had a drink in a long time. How about this, I'll bring it to you early tomorrow morning, and you can drink with me, how about that?"

Nian Xi immediately smiled happily and raised her hand to swear, "I will definitely not ask you to wait for me this time."

Gu Ci finished a bowl of almond milk and turned to look at Nian Xi. She was drinking it in small sips like a chicken pecking at rice. Her eyes were dull and she had two pools of tears after yawning. He couldn't help but find it a little funny and said softly, "If you can't finish it, don't drink it. It's good to taste it."

Nian Xi turned back a little late, "I'm drinking just fine."

She rarely shows such a childish side.

The young girl was always cautious and calm, and Gu Ci had never seen her get angry. She was always smiling, and could immediately detect the slightest changes in his mood and comfort him without leaving any trace.

That's good.

But even his three sisters would occasionally lose their temper, and Gu Ci felt that Nianxi seemed to have a lot of things in her heart, or had suffered a lot of grievances, making it difficult for her to act recklessly.

Come to think of it, she had never really asked him for anything.

Even though they were close enough, she still restrained herself to be perfect.

But this moment is different.

She was not yet fully awake, and was drinking sweet syrup in a daze, with her legs stretched out under the table, her toes sticking out from under her skirt, and she was unconsciously closing them.

The cold air outside had left a milky white film on her beautiful upper lip. Gu Ci couldn't help laughing, and he moved closer to her and wiped it off with his hand. "Why are you like a child?"

Nian Xi looked down at the white pulp on his thumb, her mind gradually cleared up, but her face slowly turned red, "In front of you, I really become like a little girl."

Gu Ci was wiping his hands with a handkerchief. Hearing her incoherent words, he found them even more amusing. He rubbed her head and said, "You are four years younger than me. How come you are not a little girl?"

"By the way, isn't your birthday coming up soon? What do you want?"

Nian Xi spoke faster than her brain and blurted out, "Your birthday is earlier than mine."

"I actually forgot about this." Gu Ci's smile deepened. "I will be coming of age on the 28th of next month. I would like to invite Miss Wen to attend the ceremony."

Nian Xi said angrily, "Gu Xiaoliu, you are becoming more and more scheming."

Gu Ci held her hand and said modestly, "Where, where."

At this time, the east was slightly brighter, and the lantern hanging in the corner of the pavilion cast a hazy warm color. Nian Xi and Gu Ci laughed and joked for a while, and the sleepiness had gone away. They sat in the morning light with a refreshed mind, watching the sun slowly climb over the courtyard wall. The grass and trees in the yard woke up, and it was a new day.

They both enjoyed this leisurely early morning time.

After sitting quietly for a while, he had to leave.

Nian Xi sent him to the corner gate, smiled and said softly, "It's pitiful that you got up so early today. Go back and take a nap for a while."

Nian Xi shook her head and said, "After you leave, I will go to the kitchen and try to make a bowl of almond yogurt to compare with Fan Ji's."

Gu Ci knew that she was here for the autumn new product of "Fu Sheng Ban Guan", so he smiled and agreed, "Then wait until after lunch and take a nap in the afternoon."

"I understand."

After they finished speaking, they were both stunned for a moment.

Such an ordinary and natural conversation was as soothing as warm spring water flowing over the heart. Not only Gu Ci, but also Nian Xi felt a long-lost throbbing in her heart.

The trivial busyness and warmth and joy of this world are nothing more than this.

"I'm leaving."

Gu Ci looked at her deeply again before speaking softly.

After Gu resigned and left, Nian Xi felt a little lost.

Once upon a time, she had sent Pei Jian to the yamen in this way, watched him walk away, and happily prepared to celebrate his birthday.

It really was a long time ago.

…

East Palace.

Crown Prince Xiao Heng patiently listened to Pei Jian's progress over the past few days, and when he finally stopped, he couldn't help but ask, "Shi Zhang, what's wrong with your face?"

From the moment Pei Jian entered the hall, Xiao Heng noticed his face for the first time.

Pei Jian had a refined appearance and was a calm and restrained person. Xiao Heng found it hard to imagine that he would fight with others and be beaten like this. "You've worked hard on this trip to Lan County."

Apparently, the prince misunderstood that Pei Jian was injured because of the investigation into the case of County Magistrate Liu Shao.

Pei Jian did not explain much, but asked, "I heard that the Duke of Zhenguo will return to the capital soon, but did the spies find something in Beiliang?"

"Thanks to your advice and reminder," Xiao Heng smiled and told me about Hu Yantuo's secret training of cavalry. "Duke Zhenguo returned to the capital to meet with my father, probably to re-draft the battle plan against Beiliang."

Pei Jian pondered for a moment and said, "Northern Liang relies on its strong army to harass our border time and again. Our dynasty has also been training war horses in Hexi for many years. It would be better for us to fight Northern Liang with cavalry."

"Gu Chengye has come up with this plan," Xiao Heng was delighted, "Shi Zhang is truly a master at foreseeing things."

Pei Jian bowed his head, not daring to accept it, "Your Highness is very observant."

Xiao Heng waved his hands, chatted for a few words, and then said something else, "It will take some time for the Duke of Zhenguo to return to the capital. In a few days, it will be the annual hunting season for the king."

"Due to the unstable war situation in the north this year, the hunting trip will be shortened to half a month."

Xiao Heng looked at Pei Jian and said slowly, "My father ordered me to supervise the country and assist him as the left prime minister."

The Left Prime Minister, the father of the current Empress, the grandfather of Prince Jing, Lu Xiuyuan.

Xiao Heng paused when he said this.

Pei Jian raised his head. His pupils were clear and black. When he looked at people, he always appeared serious and calm, giving people a sense of reassurance.

Xiao Heng looked at him and continued, "This is the first time that my father has ordered me to supervise the country. I am a little worried..."

Pei Jian could understand Xiao Heng's concerns.

The prince is getting stronger, and your majesty's move is both a training and a test. If the 15 days of supervision are peaceful, everything can be done according to the old rules. If something happens and the prince fails to handle the situation properly, it will lead to doubts and criticisms from your majesty and even the court officials.

The court officials headed by the left prime minister would not provide any assistance to the prince, and would not even set traps for him, which was considered to be very kind.

What’s more important is that Prince Jing is still watching closely.

Pei Jian suggested, "Your Highness, why don't you go with His Majesty to Quzuo Autumn Hunt?"

Xiao Heng's eyes lit up, and after a moment he hesitated and said, "It is rare for the emperor to trust me. If I refuse, will I..."

The prince is now more dependent on him.

Pei Jian looked straight into Xiao Heng's eyes and said, "If Your Highness trusts me, just go with me on the autumn hunt. In the past, the royal hunting was a custom in the court. The Left Prime Minister is virtuous and will not make any mistakes."

Your Majesty is suspicious and in the prime of his life. He is showing his brilliance at this time and is determined to make great achievements in the position of crown prince. It would be better for him to be a filial and obedient son.

Xiao Heng was raised as the heir apparent since childhood, so he naturally understood what Pei Jian said. However, he was indecisive by nature and found it difficult to make a decision.

Pei Jian saw that the prince had made up his mind, and then said, "Princess Wenshu is bored in the palace all day. Your Highness, why don't you bring the princess with you on this trip?"