Chapter 33: Snatch
The word "pay money" successfully angered the young master of Cheng'en Mansion and Asui finally got some peace.
Asui didn't see the other person again for the next few days until the end of the ten days, when he returned home on vacation.
There are still three hours before school ends. Classes are over in the morning and students can make their own arrangements in the afternoon.
Asui sat in his seat and carefully completed the homework assigned by the bachelor in the morning, with a small white jade porcelain bottle at hand.
It is easy to feel sleepy in spring, especially after noon. Asui would unscrew the cork of the bottle from time to time to smell it, then put it aside and continue doing his homework.
The young master Pei Qian appeared at this time. He saw the small porcelain bottle in Asui's hand, which he opened and smelled from time to time, and immediately became curious.
He sat down in the seat opposite Ah Sui with a familiar look, stared at the white porcelain bottle on the table and asked, "What's in this small bottle?"
Asui said without raising his head, "Refreshing dew."
Pei Qian: "Awakening Dew? What's it good for?"
Asui paused, a rare look of disgust on his pretty face. He thought to himself that this young master really wasn't very smart. If it was already said to be a wake-up dew, what else could it be used for?
"Wake up." He said concisely.
After a moment of silence, Asui added, "It can also repel mosquitoes and keep you cool."
Pei Qian was surprised: "There's such a good thing? How come I haven't heard of it?"
Given his family background and status, he should have used such a good thing a long time ago.
Hearing this, Ah Sui raised his head, his chin slightly raised, and a look of pride appeared on his slightly chubby face: "My mother made this, you can't buy it outside."
I heard that there was a forest behind the dormitory where Asui lived, and mosquitoes would occasionally fly in. Fumigating with mugwort was useless, so Yun Wan spent several days figuring out this refreshing dew.
He steamed the tea in a jar with spices such as mint, lemongrass, borneol, and asarum many times, and finally got this small bottle, which he asked Asui to carry with him.
Pei Qian uttered an "oh" and looked down at the densely packed words on the rice paper on the table. He couldn't help but ask with a headache, "Are you writing the homework assigned by the bachelor?"
"Um."
Pei Qian tutted his words, not quite understanding. "Why rush? I have a day off tomorrow anyway, so I can still write."
For example, no matter how much homework he has, he can always finish it on the last night and use the rest of the time to play.
Ah Sui shook his head, his tone firm: "I want to spend my day with my mother and not do my homework."
This homework was nothing to him. Instead of taking it home, he might as well finish it while he had time. It was just something he could do easily.
Pei Qian gritted his teeth. Is this even human language?
Could this be the power of a child prodigy? It's so terrifying!
At the same time, he couldn't help but feel regretful. If only Lu Changsui was in the same class with him, he could take the work home and copy it after he finished it!
Ah Sui had no idea what he was thinking. After speaking, he uncorked the bottle, dabbed some invigorating lotion on his temples, and continued writing with a calm mind.
Pei Qian looked skeptical. "Is it really that effective? Let me try it!"
He reached out and snatched the awakening dew and tried it himself.
The scent of the invigorating dew was fresh and elegant, with a minty coolness and a hint of sweetness. Pei Qian exclaimed, his expression suddenly brightening.
“It’s really a good thing!”
He found it amusing, so he said bluntly, "Lend it to me for a while, and I'll return it to you next time! It's a deal!"
Maybe he will be able to write like a god after he uses it up.
Before Asui could react, Pei Qian snatched Xingshen away like a little bully.
Asui was so angry that he stomped his feet.
........
Pei Qian left Hongwenguan and, after being reminded by the servants who served him, he remembered his mother's instructions and went to the Forbidden City.
In the Qinzheng Hall, Jiang Fusheng, who was guarding the gate outside the hall, yawned, saw the person coming, and greeted him with a smile.
"Why is the young master here?"
Pei Qian held his head high and chest puffed out, full of energy and vigor, and said, "Eunuch Jiang, I need to see my uncle the Emperor!"
Jiang Fusheng: "Your Majesty is attending to court affairs. Please allow me to go in and report."
Pei Qian nodded and stood outside the door waiting.
After a while, he was allowed to enter the Qinzheng Hall.
"Pei Qian pays his respects to the Imperial Uncle." He saluted Emperor Jingxuan in a formal manner.
I have to say that apart from his image of an unreliable little dandy, at first glance he is indeed a young man in brocade clothes, full of nobility.
Emperor Jingxuan, who was quite close to his nephew, raised his head and asked, "What do you want from me?"
Pei Qian lowered his head and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a golden invitation. He said with a grin, "Uncle Emperor, my mother's birthday party is coming up in a few days, and she specifically asked me to invite you."
Since the current emperor Jingxuan ascended the throne, among his brothers and sisters, only Princess Yongshou, who was not born from the same mother, could speak a few words in front of him, which brought honor to the Cheng'en Mansion as well.
As the only son of Princess Yongshou, Pei Qian was a well-known bully in the capital, often acting arrogantly in the capital and the palace.
Emperor Jingxuan hummed, tapped the table with his knuckles, and said in a calm tone: "Put it here."
Pei Qian came forward holding the golden note, and just as he was about to put it down, he heard:
"What do you smell like?"
Emperor Jingxuan frowned, lowering his brows, and Pei Qian's hands trembled in fear.
Raising his sleeve to sniff, Pei Qian suddenly understood and explained, "Uncle Emperor, what you smell should be the scent of the Awakening Dew."
He quickly pulled out a white porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it to Emperor Jingxuan. "This is it. It's quite interesting. It was made by Lu Changsui's mother. I thought it was interesting, so I borrowed it to use."
Emperor Jingxuan glanced at him and asked, "Borrowed or robbed?"
Pei Qian touched his nose guiltily. "Hehe, they're all pretty much the same. Uncle, smell it, it's really refreshing!"
He was saying polite words, but he didn't expect that Emperor Jingxuan actually uncorked the bottle and sniffed it, and then watched the other party hold it in his palm.
"Yes."
Pei Qian stood there in a daze, and seeing that Emperor Jingxuan had no intention of returning it to him, he hesitated to speak.
His fingertips stroked the smooth wall of the bottle. Emperor Jingxuan's narrow eyes slanted at his troubled nephew, "Anything else?"
Pei Qian was about to speak when he heard Emperor Jingxuan's voice leisurely say:
"How are you doing with your studies these days? I heard from Yongshou that you don't read books or practice calligraphy at home. You just play with swords and guns all day long..."
Seeing his expression becoming increasingly stern, Pei Qian couldn't help but shudder and blurted out, "No, nothing."
He swallowed his saliva in fear and forced a smile, saying, "Uncle Emperor, Pei Qian suddenly remembered that he forgot to pick up the homework assigned by the master. If I go to the study room any later, I'm afraid it will be closed. I'll be leaving now!"
He finished speaking in one breath and slipped away scratching his head.
As for the refreshing dew, he even forgot to ask for it back.
Although the emperor's uncle wouldn't beat him, he was more terrifying than beating him.
The hall fell silent. Jiang Fusheng came in from outside and saw His Majesty putting something into his arms.
He asked softly, "Your Majesty, I just saw the young master leaving in a panic. What happened?"
Emperor Jingxuan: "That boy is very guilty."
"Go check what Pei Qian has been doing these past few days."
Jiang Fusheng responded doubtfully.
After checking it out, I suddenly realized that it was related to Mrs. Lu's child.
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