Chapter 75: Double Residence 9 I know, you are Zhu Song...
When he got here, Zhu Song realized that there were only two people in the Imperial Master's Mansion. One was Chen Xiao, the brother of the late Empress Dowager Chen Mingluo, and the other was Zhang Chu, the master of the Ghost Valley Divine Doctor Li Qiuting.
Chen Mingluo was already engaged, but the late emperor forcibly took her back to the palace against her will. Since then, Chen Mingluo has been depressed and attempted suicide several times. Even when she became pregnant, she never considered staying in the palace. So when Chen Xiao went to great lengths to deliver the letter to her, she went to Xiangguo Temple without hesitation, wanting to leave with him.
However, things did not go as planned. Their affair was discovered by the late emperor, and Chen Xiao was ordered to be thrown off the cliff. Fortunately, he met Zhang Chu who was practicing hard at the foot of the cliff.
Zhang Chu not only saved him, but also changed his appearance into Chen Mingluo's according to his wishes.
Chen Xiao was eager for revenge, so Zhang Chu accompanied him.
Zhang Chu was an expert doctor with wide connections. He successfully approached the late emperor as a wizard. After he let the late emperor meet Chen Mingluo, played by Chen Xiao, he was named the imperial teacher.
Chen Xiao originally wanted to kill the late emperor, but he didn't want to drag Zhang Chu into it, and slowly he deviated further and further from his original intention.
Zhu Song realized that Wen Fengxuan and Chen Xiao were not familiar with each other, so he didn't say much and just listened quietly. Wen Fengxuan didn't say much either, but simply agreed to Chen Xiao's request to leave Beijing.
After leaving the Imperial Master's Mansion and boarding the carriage, Zhu Song finally embraced Wen Fengxuan and comforted him, saying, "If you miss him, we can always go back to see him, or summon him to the capital."
Wen Fengxuan shook his head. "No, I came to see him just to see what my mother looks like."
That's not right. Zhu Song frowned, "You haven't seen him before?"
Wen Fengxuan responded, "Well, until I was sixteen, I never knew I had an uncle."
Zhu Song was very surprised, "How is this possible?" Then he realized that if the National Master had been able to help him before, Wen Fengxuan would not have had such a miserable childhood. In an instant, his good impression of Chen Xiao disappeared completely.
"But he helped me a lot. He sent Li Qiutong and Xie Ningyuan here, and he also nurtured Xuanyin Pavilion. Perhaps he hates both my father and me, but I just happen to look like my mother."
Wen Fengxuan's tone grew increasingly low, and he leaned against Zhu Song's chest, his spirits somewhat drooping. Zhu Song hugged his shoulders and said loudly, "Let's go home. I'll let my mother cook you a table full of delicious food. I guarantee you'll enjoy the meal and all your worries will be gone."
Wen Fengxuan rejected him, "No."
"Okay then, if you don't want to go then don't go."
Wen Fengxuan realized that he had misunderstood and explained, "How can I go if I don't bring anything with me?"
Zhu Song understood what he meant and immediately made the decision, "You're going back to your own home. What are you taking with you? Come on, go home and take a look. Your mother has prepared your room for you and is waiting for you to move in."
Although Wen Fengxuan felt a little embarrassed, he still yearned for it in his heart.
"good."
As he responded, the sound of the carriage became farther and farther away, and then slowly disappeared in the bustling street.
Arriving at the Zhu Mansion, the servants came to greet the two as soon as they entered the door and bowed warmly, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Wen Fengxuan nodded, and Zhu Song asked, "Where's my mother?"
The servants looked at each other. Some said, "She must be making toys in the backyard." Some said, "But I just saw Madam making snacks in the kitchen." Still others said, "Really? Isn't she embroidering?"
Everyone was talking at once, and for a moment, no one knew what Meng Xiaohe was doing. Zhu Song felt helpless and said, "Okay, let's go find it ourselves and do what we need to do."
The servant eagerly asked, "What kind of tea would you like to drink, Your Majesty?"
Li Qiutong repeatedly warned her not to drink tea while pregnant, so Zhu Song quickly curbed their enthusiasm, "Never mind, go down."
"Oh." The servants responded reluctantly and then retreated.
Zhu Song said, "Let's go to the backyard and take a look."
Wen Fengxuan naturally had no objection, "Okay."
The two of them headed towards the backyard. On the way, Wen Fengxuan jokingly said, "Your servants are quite creative. Why is Master Zhu so timid?"
Zhu Song knew he was talking about the servants wanting to make him tea, so he smiled and explained, "It's natural for them to want to be close to His Majesty when he comes in person. Not only them, but even I can't help wanting to be close to him."
After all, they were in the Zhu Mansion. Wen Fengxuan's ears turned red when he heard his blunt words. He reached out and gently pushed him, "What are you talking about in broad daylight?"
Zhu Song replied naturally, "Of course I'm saying what's on my mind."
Wen Fengxuan glanced at him and walked forward quickly. Zhu Song rarely saw Wen Fengxuan so thin-skinned, and he found it particularly interesting. He quickly caught up with him and said, "Good Your Majesty, please wait for me."
He spoke loudly, and Wen Fengxuan turned around and glared at him. Zhu Song successfully caught up with the man and naturally held his hand. "Okay, okay, I was wrong. Don't walk so fast. If my mother saw us, she would probably be scared to death."
Speak of the devil, and here he is! As soon as the words fell, Meng Xiaohe appeared in their sight, running. She was running so fast that her voice was a little breathless. When she saw Wen Fengxuan, her face was filled with joy. "I said I heard Zhu Song calling you Your Majesty, and I thought I was hallucinating."
Zhu Song laughed at her, "Think we're hallucinating?"
Meng Xiaohe said to him, "Who missed you?"
Meng Xiaohe walked forward and was about to bow, but Wen Fengxuan quickly supported her, "Madam, there's no need to be so polite. I just came here without an appointment today, so please don't be offended."
The words were so polite that Meng Xiaohe didn't know how to respond. She glanced at Zhu Song and said, "Your Majesty is very polite. It is an honor for our humble home to have you here."
Zhu Song couldn't help laughing at the polite words exchanged between the two. Meng Xiaohe glared at him, "What are you laughing at? You're such a jerk."
"We're all family, so don't be so polite." Zhu Song put his arm around one of them and casually asked Meng Xiaohe, "You've been very busy lately. They don't even know where you are."
Meng Xiaohe replied hesitantly, "It's okay."
Zhu Song said, "Come on, didn't you say you wanted to prepare something for Xuan? Are you ready?"
Meng Xiaohe secretly kidnapped Zhu Song.
Zhu Song let him go, hugged Wen Fengxuan's arms with both hands, and said exaggeratedly: "Oh, if you are not ready, then you are not ready. Why are you kidnapping me?"
Meng Xiaohe looked at Wen Fengxuan and explained, "Actually, I don't know what your majesty is lacking, so..."
Wen Fengxuan quickly said, "I don't lack anything. Don't listen to Zhu Song's nonsense."
Zhu Song asked her, "What are you doing in the backyard?"
Meng Xiaohe replied, "Take out your old toys and let me see them."
Zhu Song didn't understand, "What's so good about toys?"
As they were talking, they had already arrived at the backyard. There was a large table in the yard with some small gadgets on it. Next to the table was a large box, which was also filled with toys. There were also some large toys placed next to it, such as wooden horses, small cars and the like.
Wen Fengxuan walked over, picked up a rattle on the table and shook it, making a crisp sound.
The aftertaste was long, and he raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
It’s great that Zhusong had so many toys when he was a child.
Zhu Song stood beside him and looked at him sideways. Seeing the bitter smile on his lips, he remembered that he had a hard childhood and must have never played with these children's toys.
"If you like it, let's take it all back and play with it to our heart's content. I'll play with you."
Meng Xiaohe said, "These are old. I plan to make them again and give them to Your Majesty."
Zhu Song casually picked up a wooden tiger sculpture on the table and said, "It's still in good condition. Why do you need to make all new ones?"
Meng Xiaohe said, "Most of these were made by your second uncle. I want to make them myself with your father."
Zhu Song didn't quite believe it, "You and Dad would do this?"
Meng Xiaohe said: "Why can't I do it?"
Zhu Song said, "I never saw you do this when I was a kid."
Meng Xiaohe replied, "When you were a kid, your second uncle made so many that he couldn't even play with them all. If he made more, it would just be gathering dust."
Zhu Song said, "Second Uncle will definitely do the same in the future. If there are too many, they will just gather dust."
Meng Xiaohe said, "I'm willing to eat ashes."
Zhu Song was speechless. "Let your uncle give us the patterns. We can play with these first."
Wen Fengxuan said: "No, no, I don't want to play."
Zhu Song said, "I want to play. I haven't played for more than ten years. Let's take it."
Wen Fengxuan turned his head to glance at Zhu Song, pursed his lips and smiled, "Okay then."
Meng Xiaohe quickly called out to the servants, "Come, collect all these and put them on the carriage."
The servant came to clean up. Wen Fengxuan was about to put the rattle back on the table when Zhu Song took it and said, "Here."
Meng Xiaohe said, "You guys just wander around, I'll go cook."
Zhu Song was very surprised, "You want to cook?"
Meng Xiaohe asked, "What happened?"
Zhu Song recalled the time when he ate Meng Xiaohe's meal in Lingyang County. He really didn't want Wen Fengxuan to suffer the same hardship, so he quickly advised, "Mom, let professionals handle professional matters."
Meng Xiaohe knew he was being sarcastic when she heard this, and quickly said, "I've been studying cooking hard lately. I even hired a chef from Suzhou to be my teacher."
Zhu Song asked, "Where's the chef?"
Meng Xiaohe replied, "The son of his fellow villager is getting married in the next two days. He will come over after he finishes his work."
Zhu Song nodded, "Oh, I haven't learned the meaning yet."
Meng Xiaohe took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll make it for Your Majesty after I learn how to cook it."
Zhu Song laughed, "What if Your Majesty doesn't like Suzhou cuisine?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Xiaohe said to Wen Fengxuan, "Your Majesty went to Suzhou to recuperate. Did you like Suzhou cuisine?"
But she didn't know that Wen Fengxuan hadn't been to Suzhou at all. When he asked her this, Wen Fengxuan was a little confused for a moment, and then he said, "I like it very much, but Madam, you don't have to learn it just for me. Yunqing's dishes are very good."
After staying for a while, seeing that Wen Fengxuan was not as distant as he was at the beginning, Meng Xiaohe finally spoke, "I was thinking of preparing something for His Majesty as a token of my appreciation, but after thinking about it, I didn't know what His Majesty needed, so I decided to prepare something that could be used in the future."
Zhu Song then took over, "Just those toys?"
Meng Xiaohe said, "Besides toys, I'm also planning to make some small clothes and shoes. I'm also going to buy some phoenix eggs to hatch chicks and raise them at home. I heard from your Aunt Zhang that phoenix chickens are more nutritious than ordinary chickens, and it's convenient to raise them and eat them yourself."
Zhu Song disagreed with this statement, "It's convenient to eat them wherever they are raised."
Meng Xiaohe glared at him, and Zhu Song knew she had made up her mind. "Okay, okay, you raise them, raise more, I want to eat too."
Meng Xiaohe then smiled, "Then please feel free, Your Majesty. I'm cooking now."
"You really want to cook?"
Meng Xiaohe looked at him again.
"Go! Go! Go."
Meng Xiaohe then hurried away. Zhu Song couldn't help laughing as he looked at her back and shook the rattle in his hand.
Wen Fengxuan followed him and looked over, whispering, "I shouldn't have come. It's too troublesome."
Zhu Song leaned over to him and said, "It's not a big deal. I'm just worried that I don't have a place to express my passion." Then he asked, "Do you want to sit in the room for a while?"
"Um."
The two of them went to Fengya Courtyard. On the way, Zhu Song chatted, "It's true that generations are close. I can't remember what my childhood was like, but when Zhu Lingye and Zhu Lingwang were just born, my mother was eager to let her wet nurse take them home to raise them."
Wen Fengxuan asked curiously, "Why?"
Zhu Song laughed and said, "I guess you're tired of taking me with you."
Wen Fengxuan jokingly said, "I can't believe that Master Zhu is so calm now. He was so noisy when he was a child."
Zhu Song smiled as he recalled his childhood, and couldn't help but think of Wen Fengxuan's childhood. The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He placed the rattle in his hand and said, "I wish I had been to Changqiu Palace when I was a child."
Wen Fengxuan held the rattle in his hand. He lowered his eyes to look at the slightly shaking drum beads and murmured, "It's not too late now."
Hearing his words, Zhu Song's heart ached even more. He knew that the past could not be retrieved, but he could not help but feel regret. When he was young, he often followed the Marquis's wife to the palace to play because of Gu Huaiyu. He knew that there was a sickly prince living in Changqiu Palace, but he never once thought of sneaking over to take a look.
It is because I could have done it but didn’t, so I feel so regretful when I think about it now.
Wen Fengxuan patted his shoulder and joked, "Master Zhu is so worried about me, why don't I turn into a small child and let Master Zhu make up for his regrets."
Zhu Song's mood improved because of his joke, "Forget it, I still cherish the present more."
Arriving at Fengya Courtyard, the two of them walked around the room where Wen Fengxuan had lived before. Everything was exactly the same as when he left. Zhu Song said, "See, I told you that mother has been waiting for you to come back and live here."
Wen Fengxuan laughed and pointed it out, "Master Zhu, did Madam know that we would be together when I left?"
Zhu Song replied honestly: "I don't know, but mother likes you very much."
This surprised Wen Fengxuan a little, because when he was in the Zhu Mansion before, he didn't feel that Mrs. Zhu had anything special towards him.
"oh?"
Zhu Song smiled and said, "Mom thinks you are good-looking."
Wen Fengxuan smiled and replied, "So Lord Zhu looks like Madam Zhu."
"Not bad." There was nothing interesting in the room. Zhu Song thought for a moment and said, "Do you want to eat red bean cakes? I'll make them for you."
Wen Fengxuan was bored, so he agreed and said, "Let's go together."
The two of them went to the kitchen together. On the way, Zhu Song said, "If Mom knew you went into the kitchen, she would definitely scold me."
Wen Fengxuan said, "In order to prevent Master Zhu from being scolded, I will not go in."
"Then I would like to thank Your Majesty very much." Zhu Song smiled widely, and it was obvious that he was in a very good mood.
Wen Fengxuan nudged him, and Zhu Song laughed even louder.
When she arrived at the kitchen, Meng Xiaohe was busy in the kitchen. When she heard people outside greeting each other, she hurried out to see. Seeing Zhu Song and Wen Fengxuan walking towards the kitchen, she thought they were worried about her cooking and said, "I can cook now."
Zhu Song said, "I'll make red bean cakes."
Meng Xiaohe said, "I can also make red bean cakes. Please accompany His Majesty."
Wen Fengxuan replied smoothly, "I'll help."
Meng Xiaohe was so anxious that she almost jumped up. "How can that be possible?" She pushed Zhu Song and said, "You should accompany His Majesty to take a look around the palace."
Zhu Song said, "Nothing has improved in the mansion. You don't have to worry about us anymore, go and get busy."
Meng Xiaohe looked at Wen Fengxuan, who smiled gently at her. Meng Xiaohe knew she couldn't persuade them, "Okay, but the kitchen is slippery and there are so many things. Your Majesty must not be allowed in."
Zhu Song readily agreed, "I know, I know."
There were more than seventy people in the Zhu Mansion, and the kitchen was quite large. Meng Xiaohe finished her instructions and went to the other side. Zhu Song turned around and looked at Wen Fengxuan, "Do you want a chair?"
Wen Fengxuan replied: "No need, I'm learning from you at the door."
Zhu Song smiled and said, "Then you've found the right person. I'm an expert at making red bean cakes."
Zhu Song was not exaggerating when he said this. He was taught how to make red bean cakes by the best chef in the mansion. When he made them and showed them to the people in the mansion for tasting, everyone said they were better than those sold outside.
Zhu Song was kneading dough in an orderly manner in the kitchen. Wen Fengxuan leaned against the door frame and looked at his rolled-up sleeves and slightly bent waist, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.
He watched Zhu Song knead the dough. It was still raw, but he could already smell the aroma of red bean cakes, a sweet taste filling his mouth. At this moment, he finally tasted the red bean cakes that had been a part of his childhood.
The warm yellow spring sunlight hit his body, giving him a gentle golden hue. Even his hair was glowing in the sunlight. This was the scene Zhu Song saw when he turned around. Although he was often shocked by beauty, he was still stunned now.
Seeing Zhu Song's stunned look, Wen Fengxuan's smile deepened. He walked into the kitchen, stood in front of Zhu Song, leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Master Zhu, your saliva is flowing."
Zhu Song came back to his senses and subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth with his fingertips. It was clean. He couldn't help but laugh, "It seems that I really do look like my mother."
Wen Fengxuan laughed and said, "Do you need help?"
Zhu Song quickly stopped him, "Don't."
Wen Fengxuan thought he was worried about what Meng Xiaohe would say, so he whispered, "Mrs. Zhu won't see it."
Zhu Song raised his hand, "That won't work either. You must be tired of standing. I'll get you a chair. Do you want to sit inside or outside?"
Wen Fengxuan replied: "Inside."
Zhu Song asked the servant to bring a chair, but the servant ended up bringing a recliner, which had to be carried by two people. Zhu Song was about to scold him when Wen Fengxuan intervened, "It's better to lie down."
Zhu Song then said, "Put it in the kitchen."
The servants put the recliner in the kitchen. Zhu Song raised his chin at the two men, and they left.
Zhu Song and Wen Fengxuan said, "Your Majesty, please lie down for a while. You will be well soon."
"Yeah." Wen Fengxuan responded and lay down. The recliner was shaking and squeaking. It used to be noisy, but now it sounded pleasant.
Zhu Song worked quickly, kneading the dough, spreading it out, and spreading candied red beans on it. Because Zhu Song made red bean cakes every day, candied red beans were always available in the Zhu Mansion's kitchen.
Roll up the dough with the candied red beans, cut it into even-sized pieces, and place it in the steamer. After a while, the aroma of the red bean cake fills the air, filling the entire kitchen with a sweet aroma.
"Soon..." Zhu Song looked up from under the stove, only to find that Wen Fengxuan had fallen asleep without him noticing. He leaned his head against the recliner, a satisfied smile on his face. Zhu Song's heart softened. He hurried out the door and whispered to the servant to bring a thick blanket.
This time, the servant made no mistake and quickly brought it over. Zhu Song gently covered Wen Fengxuan with a thick blanket. Wen Fengxuan seemed to have had a beautiful dream, and the smile on his face deepened.
In the dream, Wen Fengxuan returned to his childhood.
Momo twisted his arm today because he didn't eat the green peppers. His little arm was covered with bruises. He was very sad and angry, so he slipped out of Changqiu Palace while Momo was taking a nap.
Although he had never left Changqiu Palace, he walked to the Imperial Garden smoothly. At that time, Emperor Liang was flying kites with other princes and princesses in the Imperial Garden.
Little Wen Fengxuan hid behind the flowers and looked at Emperor Liang. He was wearing bright yellow clothes and looked at his children with smiling eyes. He looked kind and gentle.
After a while, Qin Shidong brought a plate of red bean cakes. Emperor Liang brought it over and said with a smile, "The imperial kitchen has just made some red bean cakes today. Come and try them."
The princes and princesses in gorgeous clothes all ran over when they heard the news. They ran very fast, with smiles on their faces and light bodies, like happy butterflies.
"Let me try." "Let me try."
The freshly baked red bean cakes were sweet and fragrant, with an alluring aroma. All the princes and princesses had received some, but there was still one left on the plate. Wen Fengxuan looked at the remaining red bean cake. It was clearly the same as the other red bean cakes, but it was left out.
It’s never Red Bean Cake’s fault to be left behind.
Wen Fengxuan turned around and ran away. He no longer wanted to get close to Emperor Liang, nor did he want the red bean cakes.
Wen Fengxuan was tired from running and squatted on the ground, gasping for breath. Suddenly, he heard footsteps in his ears and buried his head in his arms in fear.
"Hey, why are you squatting here?"
A hoarse voice rang out, sounding somewhat strange. Wen Fengxuan looked up and saw that the person coming was a teenager in his teens, wearing a bright brocade orchid dress, with a prominent expression on his face. At this moment, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
Wen Fengxuan suddenly felt like crying. He lifted his sleeves to reveal his arms covered in bruises. "They beat me."
The young man's brows knitted together, and he said sternly, "Whoever hit you, I will avenge you."
Wen Fengxuan's eyes were red as he shook his head, "No, I want to go home."
The young man was very generous, "Come on, I'll take you back."
"good."
Wen Fengxuan stood up. When he stood up, he was only as tall as the squatting boy. He was so thin and small that he looked like he would fall over if the wind blew. The boy turned around and said, "Come on, I'll carry you."
Wen Fengxuan obediently lay on his back, and the young man carried him out of the palace. The two of them, one big and one small, cast long shadows on the palace path.
On the way, the boy jokingly asked him, "Do you know who I am if you trust me so much?"
Wen Fengxuan replied, "You are the little immortal official sent by my mother to pick me up."
The young man laughed and said, "No."
"Who are you then?"
"I won't tell you."
"It doesn't matter."
Wen Fengxuan wrapped his short little arms around his neck and pressed his whole body against his back.
I know, you are Zhusong!
Love makes flesh and blood grow wildly. From now on, I will be just as you wish, with long-lasting happiness and peace, and the wind and wheat will bloom.
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