When it was time to leave duty in the afternoon, Shen Qingchen packed several scrolls in a bundle. They were all records of the lectures given by the Hanlin officials to the Crown Prince. He planned to study them intensively when he got home that night.
It has snowed for the past two days, and the pine trees in the yard are covered with a thick layer of pure white snow. On a branch, someone has folded a small boat out of red paper and placed it on the soft white snow, making it quite conspicuous.
The Lunar New Year is just two weeks away. This is probably a way for some traveler who is longing to return home to express their thoughts.
As Qingchen walked along the corridor, he brushed past the two people who were also discussing buying New Year's goods and visiting relatives.
All around her were people's anticipation for the New Year. Qingchen couldn't help but recall that day at Gu Shaoheng's house, after Song Yue gave her a gift, he said, "It's cold this year. If you'd like, come to my house and celebrate the New Year with us. Bring your father along. My parents aren't in the capital. It'll be more lively with more people."
As he spoke, his eyes were filled with the flickering warmth of candlelight, revealing his thoughtfulness and meticulousness, while the fragrance of lilies emanating from the incense burner filled the room.
Actually, Shen Qian had also wanted Qingchen to stay up with the Lin family to celebrate the New Year last year, but Madam Lin refused because she thought her father suffered from hysteria. No matter how he reasoned with her or said nice things, she wouldn't listen. She held her son and made a scene, repeatedly emphasizing that he belonged to the Lin family. Because of the Lin family, he had to listen to her.
In the end, Qingchen didn't go to the Lin family's house; she spent New Year's Eve with her father. In their simple little house, she cooked dumplings, cut paper-cuts for the windows, and pasted up couplets herself. Outside, firecrackers crackled and popped, but their house remained quiet. During the New Year's Eve dinner, she said "Happy New Year" to her father, but received no response.
This year... As she thought about it, she couldn't help but let out a slight sigh of relief.
As Qingchen passed by the Six Ministries, he saw the officials leaving their posts one after another. Suddenly remembering something, he turned and went to the Ministry of Works.
In Guan Zheng's cell, her original desk was now empty, with only Gu Shaoheng and Xu Silin remaining. Coincidentally, neither of them had left yet, each engrossed in writing something at their desks.
They just ignored each other.
It seems they're still holding a grudge about the conflict that happened at the Gu residence yesterday.
Gu Shaoheng had just put down his pen and was about to pack his things to go home when he saw Qingchen lift the curtain. He immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Qingchen, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Silin's heart stirred slightly. He looked up at her, pursed his lips, and then lowered his head again.
"I... I think I left a book here."
"Come in quickly, have some tea to warm yourself up before you look for anything." Gu Shaoheng said, taking out a small carved wooden box, scooping out some tea leaves and brewing her a pot of tea. "This is called Silver Thread Ice Bud, it is made from the tender buds of tea leaves, washed with spring water. It is rare in winter, my father just gave it to me yesterday. Try it."
Qingchen took the tea, drank it, and said, "Thank you."
Gu Shaoheng replied with a grin, "Does it smell good? Does it taste good?"
"It tastes good."
"I knew you'd like it, so I only gave it to you." As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Silin, his eyes filled with smugness.
This is where Gu Shaoheng differs from Xu Silin. In the three-person room, he can speak freely with Qingchen, while Xu Silin cannot. Even though he knows Gu Shaoheng is trying to anger him, he seems unable to speak, unsure of what to say to her in front of others.
Qingchen sipped her tea and glanced at him. He remained silent, head bowed, writing something. His handsome face was indifferent yet aloof, his lips tightly pressed together, revealing deep lines.
Shen Qingchen recalled their first meeting. They had just entered the Hanlin Academy. Under the banyan tree in the southeast corner of the academy, a gentle breeze blew, and the leaves provided ample shade. He, dressed in a blue robe, leaned against the tree with his arms crossed, chatting and laughing with others. Seeing her arrive, he raised an eyebrow, glanced at her sideways, and said somewhat languidly, "You've been looking at me for so long just now, do you like me?"
Later, Qingchen learned that this somewhat narcissistic rogue was actually the eldest son of the Grand Secretary, a man of noble birth.
He seemed intensely interested in his first-place ranking, teasing, frightening, and bullying her, finding amusement in it. He was often surrounded by henchmen, exuding arrogance and haughtiness, speaking with an air of superiority, and constantly looking at her with a mocking gaze. The aura of a tyrant of the Hanlin Academy and the most prestigious second-generation official in the land was on full display.
But I don't know when it started, he seemed to talk less, and that confident, lazy smile disappeared, sometimes even giving people a feeling of aloofness. This was true when he turned and left the Gu residence, unable to defend himself, and it is also true now as he sits quietly here.
There seemed to be an invisible barrier between him and them; he was like the one who was left behind, which made her feel somewhat guilty.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Qingchen took the initiative and said, "Xu Silin, you have a copy of 'Yingzao Fashi' on your desk. Can I borrow it to take a look? I can't find my copy." As she spoke, she walked over and stopped in front of his desk.
Yesterday's events started because of her. She wanted to break the deadlock between him and Gu Shaoheng, but she couldn't say it directly, so she had to try to find a way around it first.
Xu Silin paused slightly while writing, shifting his gaze from the pen to the top book on the desk. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Shen Qingchen's robe, but he didn't look at her.
He put down his pen, gently tucked in his sleeve, and was about to hand her the book when he saw the person in front of him being pulled back again.
Gu Shaoheng said with a grin, "Qingchen, I have that book here too. Why go to all this trouble? Here, take it."
She reluctantly accepted the book he handed her, and clearly saw Xu Silin's hand freeze in mid-air for a moment before falling back down and picking up his pen again.
Unwilling to give up, she took another step towards his desk, "I want to borrow more..."
Gu Shaoheng grabbed her again, saying, "I have everything you need. Other people are busy, so don't bother them. Just bother me, I'm happy to."
"..."
Seeing through it but not saying it, Gu Shaoheng's words made the atmosphere even more awkward.
Qingchen had no choice but to say, "By the way, Shaoheng, didn't you say you had some questions for me yesterday? Since the three of us are here, you can ask them and we can discuss them together."
"Really? No. You must be mistaken, Qingchen."
"..." Qingchen failed to break the ice. Xu Silin's eyelashes seemed to blink twice, his lips were still pursed, and his indifferent profile on the soft, thick fur collar showed no emotion.
Suddenly, he threw away the brush washer, stood up, took the gloves from the table, and left through the door.
She stared blankly at his back, tall and aloof, yet with an indescribable sense of loneliness.
"Qingchen, you don't need to pity him. When he bullied you, did he ever pity you?"
"Shaoheng, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. We're classmates after all, so let's not let things stay this way."
Gu Shaoheng pouted, "I know you mean well, but let's talk about it in a few days."
Xu Silin left the cell and stepped into the chilly north wind of the twelfth lunar month, but felt a slight warmth in his heart.
His heart skipped a beat when she walked up to him. He hadn't expected her to speak to him first, let alone use it as an excuse to be friendly.
Does his desire to resolve the impasse between himself and Gu Shaoheng mean that he cares about his own feelings?
That night, in the study of Grand Secretary Xu Yan.
Xu Yan, dressed in a dark brown robe, walked out from behind the desk with one hand behind his back. Looking at the Shuntian Prefect who was still panting, he asked, "It's so late, and it's snowing outside. What do you want with me?"
The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture lowered his head slightly, looking ashamed, and said, "I didn't dare to disturb the Grand Secretary's rest so late at night, but there's something I've been worried about since I didn't ask for his permission earlier."
Looking at his usual flustered demeanor, Xu Yan felt a sense of helplessness, as if he were a hopeless case. If this man's sister hadn't been Consort Zheng, he wouldn't have helped him to the position of Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture in the first place.
"Sit down, what is it?" Xu Yan asked, sitting down first in the armchair.
"It's... about Lan Tan. Lan Tan's transfer to the Eastern Palace was no accident. I've been investigating who leaked the information these past few days, and yesterday my good-for-nothing son said that he let it slip, and a magistrate overheard it." The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture said somewhat fearfully, "That person knows our plan, knows that the Grand Secretary, the Imperial Concubine, and I are working together to deal with Zhao Qiran and Lan Tan..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Yan interrupted, "What's that judge's name?"
"Shen Qian. The son-in-law of Lin Xiaojin, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. Oh, right, he's also the second uncle of Shen Qingchen, who recently took on four new positions, though they're related by blood." The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture paused, then continued, "The Imperial Concubine said that the Emperor has been somewhat cold towards her lately. It's best not to let word of this leak out and reach the Emperor's ears. In your opinion, Grand Secretary, how should this person be dealt with?"
"Shen Qingchen's second uncle..." Xu Yan narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's frame him and arrest him. He's a judge, in charge of criminal cases, and he's handled so many cases. I don't need to teach you how to do it, do I?"
The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I understand. I will make the arrangements when I return tomorrow."
"No rush. The New Year is almost here, let's wait until after the New Year." Xu Yan looked at him, his eyes somewhat cloudy, "Let's accumulate some good karma for our descendants."
"Yes, yes. Your Excellency is so kind. I will remember this. I will take care of it as soon as the year begins, and I will make sure it is done perfectly. Your Excellency can rest assured."
After the Shuntian Prefect left, Xu Yan picked up his teacup and took a sip, but his mind was filled with thoughts of his son.
He sent him to subdue Shen Qingchen, but it seems there's been no progress so far. Now that Shen Qian has come along, let's use him to help my son.
That night, Qingchen read books until very late before going to sleep, and it took him a long time to fall asleep after lying down in bed.
She didn't sleep well that night either, having a series of chaotic dreams involving Song Yue, Xu Silin, Gu Shaoheng, and her second uncle. When she woke up in the morning, she felt even more tired than if she hadn't slept at all.
Today was the day she was to report to the Eastern Palace. As soon as she started her shift, she went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. After meeting with the Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, someone led her to the Cining Palace, where the Crown Prince resided.
As soon as Qingchen entered Cining Palace, she saw a young man standing under the eaves in the southeast corner of the main hall.
He wore a crimson robe embroidered with gold, with four-clawed yellow dragons embroidered on both shoulders, and his handsome face held an indifference beyond his years. He happened to turn his head as Qingchen entered.
She hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Shen Qingchen, Assistant Minister of the Left Spring Palace, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Kneel down."
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