Chapter 62 Chapter 62 In late winter, the mountains are cold and the water is cold, and the sky is just...
In late winter, the mountains are cold and the water is chilly, and the sky is just beginning to brighten.
In front of the Duke Jingguo's Mansion, thick snow fell on the bluestone slabs.
Xie Qingshu's eyes were very red and the tip of her nose was pink from the cold. She stood in front of the carriage and was reluctant to get in.
"Mother, can you please ask Grandmother, the Princess, or my Second Uncle? I don't want to go back to Boling."
Qin's expression wasn't much better. She gathered Xie Qingshu's cloak and tucked the hand warmer into her arms. Her voice was thick with nasal twang, "Be careful not to freeze. If you're any later, you won't be able to catch the post station at night."
"It's only about half a year. It will pass if we persevere. Once your grandfather's death is over, we'll pack up and come back."
Xie Qingshu was deeply unwilling, but she had no choice. She looked back every few steps as she boarded the carriage. Before leaving, she couldn't help but lift the curtain, tears streaming down her face. "It was clearly Father who made the mistake, so why should we be punished together?"
"Don't let anyone else hear what you're saying." Qin quickly pulled Xie Qingshu aside, managing to calm herself down. "Your brother and sister-in-law didn't say anything. What's there to cry about?"
Xie Qingshu lowered her head, still feeling aggrieved: "I'm afraid I'll have to stay in Boling and won't be able to come back."
Qin was startled and clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, not knowing whether to comfort Xie Qingshu or to convince herself: "No, your grandmother is just angry. After the New Year, you will be sixteen years old and old enough to get married. How could you not come back?"
Speaking of marriage proposals, Xie Qingshu couldn't help but feel a little shy, and she even forgot about crying. She held Qin's arm with a gloomy look and asked in a low voice: "What kind of husband will mother find for me?"
"It depends on your father's opinion. It won't be worse than your elder sister's marriage. Don't worry."
The carriage had already left the city. Xie Qingshu knew she couldn't get any information, so she lost her temper. "Then we have to go through Yongzhou to get to Boling. Should we go see Big Sister?"
Xie Qingwan, the eldest daughter of the first wife, married in Yongzhou to Luo Xian, the son of the governor of Yongzhou. Although the Luo family was not as noble as the Xie family, it was also a prominent family in Chang'an.
Qin frowned, but said nothing. After a while, she sighed, "If there's still time, I'll definitely go. The last time I saw her was three years ago when she gave birth to Run'er."
Xie Qingshu was somewhat happy, but she also reminded him, "When my daughter gets married in the future, please don't marry me too far away, otherwise I'll be like my elder sister, who may not be able to return home for several years."
*
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the sage entertained court officials in the Hanyuan Hall.
Sheng Puzhu went out with Princess Shoukang early in the morning and first went to Xingqing Palace to pay a visit to the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager was not in good health. It was said that she had been injured when she was young. Later, when the cold winter came, her legs became so swollen that she could hardly walk. However, she seemed to be in good spirits.
After Sheng Puzhu kowtowed, the empress dowager called him over and looked at him carefully for a long time. Although she didn't praise him, she was obviously very satisfied. She ordered the palace servants to take out a box of gems that had been prepared long ago.
"I don't know what you like. I asked your mother, and she said you just like shiny things."
"Take this little box for yourself and make some jewelry out of it for fun."
Sheng Puzhu took it with both hands and thanked him warmly.
The Queen Mother patted her hands, a look of kindness in her eyes: "It's not as lively here as outside. If you feel bored, go for a walk outside. If you have time in the future, you don't have to come with your mother. You and Sanlang can come together. It would be nice if you can chat with me."
Sheng Puzhu nodded and agreed with a smile.
Princess Shoukang joked, "Mother, just pamper her. Everyone knows that this box of treasures was found specifically for you by our father when he was still alive."
The Queen Mother was not angry, but instead smiled faintly: "When he was here, I didn't want to get close to him. After he left, I often think of his kindness."
"Splendid jewelry, now worn by a young and beautiful lady, is a real delight to me."
The Empress Dowager was the biological mother of Princess Shoukang, and the Saint was born to the late Empress. Unfortunately, the late Empress was not blessed and died of hemorrhage due to difficult labor.
Recalling the past, the Queen Mother looked indifferent.
Soon she regained her spirits, reached out and pulled out another hairpin from her bun, and personally pinned it on Princess Shoukang: "Don't say I'm biased. Even though it's the Little New Year today, I can't forget you."
Princess Shoukang was already forty years old. In front of her daughter-in-law, she was teased by the Queen Mother. Her cheeks flushed red. "Mother, that's not what I meant."
The Queen Mother waved her hand and asked, "I heard that Duanyang stayed with you at Tianchang Temple for over a month?"
"That's right."
"She's usually such a lively person, but she's suddenly changed her personality. My daughter is also very surprised. Yesterday, I heard Huaiqian say that Sanlang took your oral instructions and tied her up and took her to Tianchang Temple, saying that she should calm down."
The Queen Mother glanced at Sheng Puzhu meaningfully, and said with a half-smile: "Duan Yang is much crazier than when he was in the palace. Maybe something has irritated San Lang."
"Sanlang is a protective person. Even if he's angry, he won't say anything. Instead, he'll just hold back and make trouble."
"Puzhu, don't you think so?"
"Yeah." Sheng Puzhu responded in a low voice, but because of her guilty conscience, she didn't even dare to raise her head, and her cheeks were covered with a cloud-like blush.
She and Princess Shoukang were supposed to go to Changxing Palace to pay their respects to the Queen, but unexpectedly, while they were talking in the palace, the Queen and Xiao Heyin had already arrived outside the palace.
After several people exchanged greetings, Sheng Puzhu received a box of jade stones from the Empress. "I don't know what you like, so I asked He Yin to pick out a few stones for me."
These jades are of good quality and have excellent water content, and are no worse than the jewels given by the Queen Mother.
Although Sheng Puzhu remained calm on the surface regarding the attitudes of the Empress Dowager and the Queen, she couldn't help but feel somewhat flattered in her heart.
The Empress Dowager is considered Xie Zhiyan's grandmother, but what about the Queen? In fact, they are not related, so why is she so enthusiastic?
Princess Shoukang was not surprised by this and just smiled and asked Sheng Puju to accept it.
The Queen patted Xiao Heyin's hand and said, "The lotus pond outside the palace is frozen. A few days ago, we asked craftsmen to carve the ice into lotus pods and lotus leaves. Now that the sun is out, it's a beautiful sight."
Xiao Heyin stood up: "Cousin, do you want to go with me?"
Sheng Puzhu had a decent demeanor and sat quietly, always giving people the illusion of tranquility and dignity. When she stood up, she exuded a lively look that was not often seen in the palace.
"Let's go for a walk while the weather is nice, but don't play for too long, or you'll get caught in the wind." The Queen Mother waved to the two of them.
"I heard that Xie Juyuan was punished with a hundred lashes and sent to Boling by Old Madam Xie in the name of recuperation?" After leaving the palace, Xiao Heyin whispered to Sheng Puju.
"Um."
"My father is the one who is in charge of the whip, so it is unlikely that he will show partiality."
“Tsk.”
"It's a great relief." Xiao Heyin showed a satisfied smile on his face. "It was he who suggested to my father that I be sent to Yumen Pass."
“?” Sheng Puzhu blinked in confusion.
Seeing that no one was around, Xiao Heyin lowered his head and whispered, "I was actually born a quarter of an hour earlier than Jiulang, but the Imperial Astronomical Observatory was afraid that my fate was too difficult and would suppress Jiulang's future blessings."
"So Jiulang and I swapped birthdays. He's the elder, and I'm the younger."
"Ever since I can remember, Jiulang has not been in good health, often suffering from high fever. Xie Juyuan then reported to my father, saying that since we are incompatible, it would be better to send me away so that Jiulang can grow up safely."
"These ministers who are always talking in fine language make it seem like I was born to die."
Sheng Puzhu's hair stood on end when she heard this. She tightly grasped Xiao Heyin's hand and said, "My Lord, be careful with your words."
Xiao Heyin smiled nonchalantly: "It's okay, even Yumen Pass can't kill me, let alone Chang'an."
"But you, did you really grow up in Chang'an?"
"Although Chang'an's feng shui is good for people, it can't produce a girl like you who rides a horse well and doesn't look like a weakling."
Sheng Puzhu touched the ice sculpture outside the pond with his hand, his thin eyelids drooping, but he did not deny: "I lived in Luoyang for a few years."
"Luoyang?"
Xiao Heyin became interested and said happily: "Have you ever seen Pei Shilang?"
Sheng Puzhu looked at the jade bricks on the ground nonchalantly. Her profile gave people a gentle and delicate feeling, and her eyes were filled with a faint smile like mist. "I have seen many peonies in Luoyang, but Pei Lang has never seen one before."
Xiao Heyin felt deeply regretful. "I've never seen one either. They say that the peonies are in full bloom in Luoyang. I wonder if this famous young man from the Pei family, known throughout Dayan, will participate in the imperial examination next year."
"I don't know either." Sheng Puzhu crushed the snow on the ground with her toes. She didn't know whether it was because of the cold or some other emotion, but she stamped her feet vigorously. "Your Highness, the wind is too strong. How about changing places?"
"Then let's go to my palace?" Xiao Heyin suggested.
Sheng Puzhu was about to nod in agreement. As long as they didn't mention Luoyang or the Pei family, anything would be fine.
Although it was a memory from many years ago, she still couldn't help feeling annoyed whenever it was mentioned. What else could be good about Mr. Pei except that he was good at studying?
"Madam, aren't you cold?" Xie Zhiyan didn't know when he came, or he had been standing there for a long time.
He was wearing a crimson official uniform, with snow falling on his shoulders, and his dark eyes were fixed on her without blinking.
"My dear." Sheng Puzhu slowly held her breath and curled her lips towards him.
"Puzhu is saying it's cold, I'll take her to another place to play." Xiao Heyin said.
Xie Zhiyan didn't even look at her. Instead, he took Sheng Puzhu's soft little hand and said, "Then I won't bother you, Your Highness."
“Hey hey hey…”
"Don't go." Xiao Heyin couldn't stop him.
"Where are we going?" Sheng Puzhu asked.
Xie Zhiyan pursed his lips. If he hadn't been concerned about the palace banquet today and the people surrounding it, he would have probably carried her horizontally.
"Go to where I usually rest."
"It's not cold."
"It's close to the library. If you're bored, you can read a book or sit inside and enjoy the snow. Wait until the evening palace banquet is about to begin before you go over there."
Normally, men from outside the family were not allowed to stay in the palace, but as the saint's nephew, Xie Zhiyan had been in charge of both the Xie family's Xuanjia Army and the Beiya Forbidden Army since returning to Chang'an. Even if he stayed in the palace after reaching adulthood, it would not be considered a violation of the rules.
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