Chapter 019

Since the earnest conversation with Zhan Yue that day, Jia Shan hadn't seen him for quite some time. Although the two were in the same place, Zhan Yue seemed to be busy with something these days.

At first, Jiashan didn't take it seriously. Although Zhan Yue was ordered to protect her and Yuankang, as the commander, he was a busy man and would naturally be busy with other things.

It was not until one day when Dancui suddenly brought a hairpin that Jiashan felt something was strange.

Compared to Suyu, Dancui was more lively and soft-hearted. After all, Suyu had been a female official in Fengyang Pavilion for many years, while Dancui was just promoted, so if ordinary maids encountered any problems, they would always go to Dancui to plead for mercy.

Jiashan didn't expect that Zhan Yue would actually follow Dancui's path.

Early that morning, Jiashan had just woken up and Suyu was helping Jiashan to put on makeup in front of the mirror when Dancui walked in from outside, holding something suspicious in her arms.

Jiashan took a look at Dancui and thought she was greedy, so he asked someone to buy food for her at the market. He was afraid that if he told others about it, people would laugh at him, so he was very cautious.

Jiashan then jokingly said, "What good things did you get, but you didn't even bother to give them to your princess?"

Dan Cui stepped forward, beaming with joy, and said with a smile: "Your Highness has misunderstood. This is not my thing, it is yours."

Jiashan raised his eyebrows in surprise: "What's going on?"

Dan Cui took out the treasure from her arms. It was an antique box. Judging from its appearance, it probably contained something like hairpins.

Dan Cui said mysteriously, "This was given to me by Master Zhan, who told me to pass it on to you."

Jiashan paused slightly, and even Suyu, who was drawing Jiashan's eyebrows, was stunned. She and Dancui carefully looked at Jiashan's expression before continuing to write.

After Su Yu finished applying makeup for Jia Shan, Jia Shan turned her head to look at Dan Cui. She was surprised and said, "Why would Lord Zhan send something without any reason? Besides this, did he say anything else?"

Dan Cui nodded: "Yes. The master said that he was grateful for your willingness to listen to his heartfelt talk that day. This gift is both a thank you gift and a compensation gift. Please don't refuse it."

Jiashan frowned.

She beckoned Dantrie to her side and turned her gaze to the rectangular box: "Show me."

Dan Cui hurriedly handed the things over.

When he opened it, he found a plain hairpin inside. The body of the hairpin was red gold, with a string of cloisonné colored glass drops hanging from the head, and an elegant orchid-shaped jade in the middle.

The jade was about the size of a thumb, soft to the touch, ivory-white in texture, and had a greasy sheen. Jiashan touched it gently and it seemed to be Hetian jade.

Su Yu was in charge of hairpins and bracelets for Jiashan, and had seen many of these things before. She said, "This hairpin looks like it has been there for many years. I didn't expect Master Zhan to be so generous in giving it to me."

Jiashan closed the box and turned to Dancui, as if helplessly saying, "He gave it to you, and you accepted it?"

Dan Cui shook her head and said hesitantly, "I...see that the master is sincere, it is difficult to refuse him."

Seeing Jiashan's expressionless face, neither happy nor angry, she lowered her head and said, "My lady, if you don't like it, I will return it to you."

"That's not necessary." Jiashan sighed softly, "A gold hairpin is not a valuable item. Giving it back and forth will only make people feel hypocritical. But in the future, if someone gives you something and asks you to pass it on to me, don't accept it first, so as not to cause gossip."

Dan Cui nodded quickly: "Yes."

Dan Cui's personality is still a bit simple, after all, she is younger and not as experienced as Su Yu. It's okay if it's Zhan Yue this time, but if it's someone else, she might get into trouble if she takes on everything again.

Madam Zheng is getting old, Su Yu will be released from the palace next year, and Han Zhu, whom she once trusted, is no longer suitable for her. In addition to Dan Cui, she needs to cultivate a few other reliable and stable people around her.

Jiashan frowned and thought.

Jiashan didn't take this matter seriously. Zhan Yue said it was a "thank you gift and compensation", which was a strange reason, but it was acceptable.

It was not until she returned to the courtyard that day that Jiashan remembered that she had been led astray by Zhan Yue and had completely forgotten that she was the one who should have been held accountable - Zhan Yue did not even give her an answer about the eavesdropping incident.

Instead, I was the one who was dazed by him and lost in the fog.

Therefore, Jiashan thought it was reasonable for him to send a golden hairpin.

It happened that the Princess of Ruyang invited them to have lunch that afternoon. Jiashan asked Suyu to help her pin the gold hairpin sent by Zhan Yue on the end of her hair.

"It's really beautiful." Su Yu said with a smile, "Your Highness's red and blue clothes today match this hairpin perfectly."

Hearing this, Jiashan also looked in the mirror. The person in the mirror was dressed as a girl, with powder and rouge on her face, and looked radiant.

Jiashan couldn't help but curl his lips.

She is only fifteen years old, at such a good age, how can she not be good-looking?

Several people went to Princess Ruyang's courtyard.

Zhao Youze had arrived early and was drinking a bowl of green glutinous rice porridge spoonfully.

"Auntie is here," Zhao Youze raised his head without anyone saying anything, wiped his mouth with a smile, and said, "Auntie wants me to stay in her yard to rest today. I'm almost done copying the scriptures, can I rest here with Auntie for a day?"

Ever since Jiashan realized how smart A-di was, he always looked at him with more heartache and pride.

They have been in Changchun Temple for nearly twenty days. Zhao Youze has been copying books every day without fail. He writes slowly, but now he is almost done. He asked Jiashan for a day's rest.

Jiashan looked at him, and seeing some expectation on Zhao Youze's face, he nodded and said with a smile: "Then Yuankang must accompany aunt well."

"Okay!" Zhao Youze said with his mouth wide open, smiling so much that his eyebrows were hidden.

Today, Princess Ruyang cooked the meal herself, but Jiashan arrived a little late and most of the dishes had already been placed on the table.

When she arrived, the female envoy began to invite them to eat.

Jiashan noticed that there were only three chairs and stools in front of the dining table, which was just enough for Princess Ruyang, Jiashan and Zhao Youze to sit on. This meant that Zhan Yue would not come today.

What has he been busy with recently?

Jiashan couldn't help but feel a little curious.

"Yanqing is busy with official business these days, so let's not wait for him and eat." Before the meal started, Princess Ruyang took the initiative to say with a smile.

Zhao Youze had already smelled the aroma of the food. Upon hearing this, he nodded happily and started eating.

Princess Ruyang had no children in her life, and she always liked his childish temper. After spending some time with him, she found that Zhao Youze was obedient and sensible, and except for his blindness, he was good in every way, so she couldn't help but pay more attention to him.

Seeing Zhao Youze's rosy and tender face, without any sophistication, she felt even happier. As soon as the aunt got excited, she put a lot of dishes into Zhao Youze's bowl.

Seeing this, Jiashan said with a smile: "After living with my aunt for a while, I see that Yuankang seems to be more plump than when he was in the palace. I am afraid that after returning to the palace, Yuankang will not be used to it."

Ruyang also smiled and said, "The mountains and rivers here are good for us, and you, my dear sister, are taking care of us. I dare not take credit for it."

Jiashan smiled and lowered his head, and also picked up a piece of cabbage with chopsticks and put it in his own bowl. The cabbage in Changchun Temple was all grown by the female temple ladies themselves, and it tasted sweet and tender and was very delicious.

When she lowered her head, Ruyang couldn't help but glance at the ends of her hair.

After a moment, Princess Ruyang put down her chopsticks, her lips slightly stiff.