"I'll give you my life. Everything's yours, even my life..."
Noodles? Suddenly, Qin Weixi turned around, her eyes filled with doubt.
Chu Yening only smiled and remained silent.
The Empress Dowager stared blankly in the direction from which the sudden sound of the erhu came, and murmured, "A bowl of noodles? Is it my birthday?"
"I can smell the fragrance of lotus blossoms. In a few months, Fucheng will marry Zhongting," the Empress Dowager murmured softly.
Chu Yening slightly raised one hand, signaling the royal performers to leave the Lotus Garden. Qin Weixi rose and took the cloak from the arm of the palace maid serving beside the Empress Dowager, draping it over the Empress Dowager's back.
She said softly, "Grandmother, I made some pastries for you. Please try them when we get back to Wansong Pavilion and see if they're delicious."
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, letting her help her up and out of the Little Lotus Garden.
The palace maids attending her looked at each other in bewilderment. In recent years, the old matriarch of Xiaguang Peak had become increasingly eccentric, often becoming stubborn over the smallest things, and even Aunt Baozhu's coaxing and persuasion would not listen to her.
Before dawn today, the old matriarch got up and insisted on listening to opera. She sat there for almost an hour without even taking a midday rest. The Luo family girl persuaded the old matriarch to return to Wansong Pavilion with just a few words.
Baozhu looked surprised when she heard that the group had returned to Wansong Pavilion. She quickly had the palace maids place the prepared almond tea in the pavilion. When Baozhu returned to the palace, she saw a young girl wearing a jade-green silk skirt holding a piece of pastry, which she had broken into four or five pieces. She patiently served the Empress Dowager the pastry.
Meanwhile, the young Marquis of Jingning patiently sat on the armchair beside him, holding a teacup in one hand and watching with a smile.
"Grandma, is it delicious?"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Good, good, good."
Baozhu stepped forward and said, "The almond tea that the two young masters have been longing for has arrived." She then looked at the pastries in Qin Weixi's hand and asked, "Did you make these yourself, Miss?"
Qin Weixi nodded, smiled faintly, and looked at the food box on the flower table, saying, "Of course, Aunt's share is indispensable."
Baozhu asked with delight, "Did you make it for me too, Miss?"
Qin Weixi smiled and said, "Auntie used to treat us the best, how could we forget you?"
Baozhu smiled and said, "The young ladies are all so lovely, and the young men are even more exquisite. Each of you is so intelligent; how can I not feel affection for you?"
Qin Weixi smiled and nodded repeatedly at Baozhu to show her agreement. Then she served the Empress Dowager a few sips of almond tea.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager suddenly said to Baozhu, "Baozhu! I want to eat noodles."
"Noodles?" Baozhu was taken aback.
Chu Yening suddenly stood up and said, "Since Grandmother Zhao wants to eat noodles, Yening will personally cook a bowl for her."
Upon hearing this, Baozhu covered her mouth and smiled: "Young Marquis, can you cook now?"
Chu Yening remained silent and only smiled.
Qin Weixi's eyelids twitched, and she looked at him suspiciously. This guy had asked Grandmother Zhao for a bowl of noodles as soon as he arrived; she had thought it was just a casual remark. At this moment, Chu Yening also walked over, leaned close to her, and said, "Eighth Sister, would you be willing to help Fourth Brother?"
As Qin Weixi watched his smiling face draw closer, her eyelids twitched more and more violently.
The Empress Dowager laughed and chased the two away, seemingly quite sober at the moment: "You two monkeys, hurry up and leave, don't disturb my afternoon rest."
Qin Weixi looked up and saw that the Empress Dowager had closed her eyes, seemingly drowsy, and was dozing off. She lowered her head and smiled.
Baozhu asked, "Should I take the two young masters with me?"
Chu Yening said calmly, "No need to trouble you, Aunt, I know where it is."
Qin Weixi helped the Empress Dowager lie down and covered her with the brocade quilt before leaving the inner palace. The two did not go far, but stayed in the small kitchen of Wansong Pavilion, where the cook brought out the ingredients for the next meal.
Chu Yening waved everyone away without any politeness, leaving only the two of them in the small kitchen.
"Fourth Brother, what do you want me to do for you?" she asked.
Chu Yening chuckled softly, and once the water in the pot boiled, she added the thin noodles and vegetables, along with two eggs.
Qin Weixi's eyelids twitched again as she watched his methodical series of movements. It was also difficult to connect him with the unruly boy who used to be chased all over the mansion by Uncle Chu with a long whip.
"Have you forgotten what day it is today?"
Today is her birthday, but she hasn't celebrated it for many years. She thinks of her mother. In the past, her mother would personally prepare a table full of dishes on her birthday, with her brother and father present, and a few of her childhood friends invited over.
But over the years in Jiangnan, Luo's mother took meticulous care of her daily life, and would often cook many delicious dishes for her, just like her mother used to.
Qin Weixi asked, "Fourth Brother, do you still remember?"
Chu Yening raised an eyebrow, then ladled out the cooked noodles: "How could I not remember? Is my memory that bad? The other bowl is for Grandmother Zhao."
Seeing that there were only two bowls of noodles on the stove, Qin Weixi asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
Chu Yening didn't answer, but suddenly leaned closer to her again, his eyes full of smiles: "Today you are the birthday star, not your fourth brother. Eat it while it's hot. Grandmother Zhao must be pretending to be dozing off. I'll go and take the noodles over."
Qin Weixi looked at the bowl of steaming soup noodles on the stove and felt a pang of sadness. But she didn't touch it until Chu Yening returned to the small kitchen.
Chu Yening's eyes flickered, and upon seeing this, he said, "Is it not tasty?" As he spoke, he was about to boil water again and start a new pot.
She quickly stopped him, laughing, "Fourth Brother's noodle soup is the most delicious thing in the world. We're waiting for you to eat with us."
Since there were no palace maids to serve them in the small kitchen, the two of them did everything themselves. As they were talking, Qin Weixi had already taken another large bowl and slowly ladled out more than half of the noodles.
Chu Yening smiled at her and did not stop her. He simply said, "Since we have shared this bowl of longevity noodles, I will bear all the suffering you may endure in the future."
Qin Weixi said, "Fourth Brother, have you forgotten that day by Haizi Lake when you told me that there would only be sweetness and no bitterness in the future?"
The two returned to Wansong Pavilion, where Baozhu had already served the Empress Dowager a small amount of steaming hot soup noodles. The Empress Dowager's face remained very kind, and she looked loving as she heard their footsteps from afar.
Inside the hall, a young palace maid was brewing tea. Baozhu saw the two of them and her face lit up with joy. She then pretended to complain, saying, "Grandmother has not had a good appetite lately. No matter how I try to persuade her, she won't listen. She hasn't even drunk her usual almond tea. But today she drank almond tea and ate the soup noodles that the young marquis made himself. I think it's clear that Grandmother doesn't like me serving her."
The Empress Dowager chuckled upon hearing this. Qin Weixi also smiled as he looked at Baozhu.
Just then, the young palace maid who was brewing tea brought over a cup filled with hot tea with both hands. Qin Weixi suddenly had a bright idea and stepped forward to the young palace maid, saying, "Let me do it."
The palace maid respectfully withdrew as instructed, while Chu Yening watched the scene unfold without showing any emotion.
Qin Weixi's eyes shone brightly, and she smiled as she passed by, serving tea while looking at Baozhu: "Aunt has served Grandmother for over a decade, and she misses Grandmother even more than we younger generations do. If she were truly separated from Grandmother, I'm afraid she wouldn't even be able to rest peacefully during her afternoon nap."
"Auntie, please have some tea."
Baozhu seemed flattered but dared not accept the gift. She turned her head to look at the Empress Dowager, who was leaning against the soft cushions on the couch.
The Empress Dowager laughed and said, "Even if Xing'er gave it to you, just drink it. Why are you putting on airs like an elder?"
Baozhu quickly stepped forward and replied, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."
At this moment, Chu Yening suddenly moved his elbow, which was resting on the armchair, and then his long, slender hands, which had calluses from holding a sword for a long time, stretched out slightly.
In that instant, just as Qin Weixi saw Baozhu take the teacup, he suddenly felt his foot step on something hard. His mind raced, and without hesitation, he walked onto it.
A gleaming gold ingot slid off his shoes as he moved, and Qin Weixi lost his balance and nearly fell to the ground because of this sudden hard object.
In the blink of an eye, an arm suddenly reached out from the side and pulled her into its embrace without fail.
Qin Weixi immediately understood.
In that instant, Baozhu, who was holding a cup in one hand, subconsciously reached out and pulled it because of the sudden accident, but forgot that she was still holding a cup full of hot tea. She unknowingly wet the jade-green silk dress that Qin Weixi was wearing today.
The Empress Dowager asked anxiously from the side, "Did you get burned?" Her face was full of worry.
However, Baozhu paused for a moment before saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Miss Xing tripped by accident." Then, noticing the eye-catching gold ingot that had suddenly appeared on the ground, she asked in surprise, "Huh? Where did this come from?"
Looking at the inscription engraved on the gold ingot, it clearly reads: "In the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of Wantai, after the battle to quell the Japanese pirates, this ingot was presented to Ye Ning."
Chu Yening suddenly stood up, his face composed and carefree. He smiled and said, "I'm sorry, this was a gift from my grandfather Jiang. I cherish it very much and have never taken it out of my sight over the years. Perhaps the pouch broke and fell out." As he spoke, he took off the dark brocade pouch hanging from his waist.
Sure enough, there was a tear at the bottom of the purse.
Baozhu nodded, recalling the scene just now, and hurriedly asked Qin Weixi, "Did you get burned? Do you want to change your clothes? In the spring, when you come up the mountain, I have already received the old master's permission to prepare new clothes for you to change into."
Before Qin Weixi could answer, Chu Yening bent down and picked up the gold ingot, saying first, "Eighth Sister, why does this dress look somewhat familiar?"
Qin Weixi turned around and winked at him, her expression quickly returning to calm. She asked somewhat blankly, "Why does this look familiar? I don't remember. Does anyone like this jade-green color?"
When she turned around, she saw Baozhu smiling at her.
The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke up: "You two monkeys, you've gotten your almond tea and eaten your noodles. It's getting late, so hurry down the mountain."
Qin Weixi smiled and walked past Baozhu, sitting on the edge of the bed. She took the Empress Dowager's hand and whispered, "Grandmother, are you going to send people away again?"
The Empress Dowager just chuckled and remained silent.
Qin Weixi gently squeezed those withered and thin hands again and said with a smile, "Can Xing girl not leave?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager sighed softly: "Why should I stay with these old bones of mine? Xing'er, there are so many beautiful sights in this world. You should go out and see them for me. You should live life to the fullest."
Qin Weixi tucked the brocade quilt in further, turning his back to everyone and trying his best to restrain himself: "Then another day, I will leave Fenghua at Xiaguang Peak to take care of Grandmother. Grandmother must agree."
The Empress Dowager paused for a moment, then asked, "Fenghua... is that the little girl who has been with you since childhood?" After a short while, she decisively replied, "I prefer peace and quiet."
Qin Weixi was about to speak again, but the Empress Dowager repeatedly urged him on: "It's getting late, change your clothes and hurry down the mountain."
Baozhu said gently from the side, "Grandmother is worried that it will be difficult for the two young masters to travel in the dark."
On the other side, Chu Yening also stood up, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and took his leave. He smiled and said to Baozhu, "Aunt, please take good care of Grandmother Zhao. I will come up the mountain again another day."
Baozhu respectfully replied, "Yes."
Halfway down the mountain, Jiuqu, having somehow gotten wind of the situation, once again appeared out of nowhere, leading his carriage and horses to wait by an old tree.
Jiuqu still grinned, bowed to Qin Weixi, and said respectfully, "Madam, please get into the carriage."
Qin Weixi had just stepped onto the carriage floor, one hand holding onto the edge of the carriage, when he heard this, he was stunned and turned around to look at him.
Jiuqu quickly changed her words: "Please get in the carriage, young lady." Turning back to look at her master, whose face was beaming with pleasure, Jiuqu felt even more smug. She thought to herself that she would be spared the punishment of being flogged from now on.
The carriage was filled with the faint scent of tangerines. Seeing that she was not as cheerful as when she first arrived, Chu Yening pondered for a moment, then picked up a handkerchief from the low table to wash his hands. He then took a lychee from a plate on the table and peeled it off in a few quick movements.
"Thinking of Grandmother Zhao? I often send people up the mountain." He handed over the lychees, speaking very earnestly.
Qin Weixi shook his head: "Aunt Baozhu and Eunuch Ding have both been very devoted to Grandmother Zhao."
"That is..."
"I was thinking about what Lawyer Cui said."
Chu Yening's brow twitched slightly, sensing a hint of melancholy in her voice. He then offered her another piece of the cleanly peeled, white, and translucent lychee: "Didn't you used to dislike fruit with its outer skin? Do you want me to feed you?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Weixi quickly snapped out of her reverie, snatched the food, and hurriedly put it into her mouth.
Chu Ye gazed at her quietly and said, "There's something fishy about that palace maid. I'll send someone to investigate. There's something else I haven't told you yet. A month ago, I sent someone by fast horse to deliver a message to Bitan in Jiangnan. Bitan said that when A-Xia learned that you were still alive, she was so happy that she couldn't sleep all night."
Mentioning A-Xia, Qin Weixi's eyes softened slightly. Then Chu Yening said towards the curtain, "Hurry up, there's something important to do tonight."
Upon hearing this, Qin Weixi looked up at him again, but did not say what important matter it was. She then saw him take a wooden box made of golden nanmu wood from under his boots and place it on the table, which was much larger than a dressing case.
Then he said, "Open it and see, it's a birthday gift for you." He then took out the gold ingot from his pouch at his waist: "Here, and this too."
Qin Weixi was taken aback upon hearing this. Chu Yening had already pushed the wooden box in front of her, as if urging her to open it quickly.
She looked at the gold ingot and said, "That was a gift from Grandfather Jiang."
What's mine is yours. What's yours is still yours.
As the two were talking, Qin Weixi slowly opened the wooden box. What came into view was not pearls and jade ornaments, nor silk dresses, but a box full of white silver notes worth a thousand taels, seemingly about to overflow.
Good heavens!
In a brief moment of distraction, the young nobleman who had been sitting opposite her quietly slid down the soft couch to her side and said, "All the savings I've accumulated over the years are here. Your fourth brother... has only this much left."
"I'll give you everything, even my life."
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