Chapter 1187 Spices
Zhu Chengxuan happily took a step forward, but immediately, as if remembering something, he stopped and said, "These days, Queen Mother won't let me go out and only allows me to study in Chengqian Palace. I haven't been able to come visit you. Are you okay?"
“…”
Nan Yan didn't speak for a while.
She felt that when Zhu Chengxuan said these words, his eyes flickered and his expression seemed very cautious.
Of course she knew that the child had a kind and gentle temperament. Because he was different from herself, Zhu Feng didn't like him very much, so he was always very cautious in front of his father.
But other times, he wouldn't.
Nan Yan even remembered that when she first met him in Prince Yan's Mansion, his words still showed his own confidence, especially when he was helping her to expel the corpse qi from her body, he was even more calm and confident.
At that time, he was still so young, just a prince. Now he has grown up so much, looks like a young man, and has been enthroned as the King of Wei.
It should be better than before.
However, right now, he is less confident than before.
It was like—
It's like a small animal that, after being frightened or hurt, wants to get closer to the surrounding environment and people, but is also afraid.
Seeing Nan Yan staring at him in a daze without saying anything, Zhu Chengxuan's expression gradually became embarrassed.
He lowered his head.
Nan Yan frowned slightly.
Although she hated Qin Ruolan to the point of wanting to break her bones, she felt complicated when it came to Zhu Chengxuan, Qin Ruolan's son.
After all, she could vent her anger on Qin Ruolan, but she couldn't vent her anger on the child.
Especially seeing how cautious he was.
Nan Yan coughed lightly and said, "Your Highness, long time no see. You have grown a lot taller."
Upon hearing her say this, Zhu Chengxuan's face immediately broke into a smile, and he looked up at her: "My Lady Concubine, are you okay? I've always wanted to come see you, but my mother wouldn't let me."
Nan Yan said, "This is the cold palace, and it's not a place for Your Highness to come."
"oh……"
"Why is Your Highness here today?"
Zhu Chengxuan said hurriedly, "Oh, because we are leaving for Jinling the day after tomorrow, I wanted to ask my mother if I could bring everyone with me. However, when I went to Yonghe Palace, she was not there. They said that my mother went to the cold palace to visit the imperial concubine, so I followed her and wanted to see the imperial concubine as well."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Nan Yan nodded and said, "It's just a coincidence that the Queen just left."
"oh……"
Zhu Chengxuan lowered his head again.
Although he should have turned around and left at this point, returning to Yonghe Palace to find Xu Miaoyin, he looked hesitant, as if he was reluctant to leave.
Nan Yan looked at him for a while, then sighed inwardly: "Your Highness, come in and have a cup of tea."
Zhu Chengxuan immediately raised his head and said with a smile, "Sorry to bother the Imperial Concubine."
"No."
He followed Nan Yan in and saw the furnishings inside. He opened his eyes wide in surprise, but seemed relieved and said, "As long as the queen is living well here, I won't worry anymore."
Nan Yan said: "It was all arranged by the Queen."
Zhu Chengxuan nodded hurriedly and said, "My Queen Mother is kind-hearted and treats everyone in the palace very well. But—"
"Just what?"
"It's just that, since you came back from Crane City, maybe Mother has been too busy, so I haven't been able to see her."
“…”
Nan Yan's breath sank for a moment.
Of course she knew it wasn't because Xu Miaoyin was busy.
It was because of the things Qin Ruolan did in Hecheng that annoyed her. Although Xu Miaoyin had not taken action yet, she must have wanted to replace her. Otherwise, she would not have immediately arranged to select concubines to enrich the harem within a few months after she came back.
Although Zhu Chengxuan didn't know the reason, his mother's estrangement must have made him very sad.
That's why he had that expression just now.
Although she gritted her teeth in her heart and coldly cursed Qin Ruolan for "bringing it upon herself", she could not continue to grit her teeth in front of Zhu Chengxuan. She could only say, "You know, your father has been facing so many major events these days. The harem is entirely supported by the Empress. She is so busy that she can't take care of everything."
“…”
"As a son, please be more considerate of her."
“…”
"Also, find an opportunity to get closer to her."
After all, he was the child she raised, so it was impossible for Xu Miaoyin to have no feelings for him at all. Otherwise, with the Queen's methods and the fact that Zhu Feng did not appreciate this son in the first place, he might not be able to hold on to his position as the King of Wei.
Hearing her say this, Zhu Chengxuan smiled and nodded immediately, "I understand."
Ran Xiaoyu, who came over to serve tea, glanced at Nan Yan.
At that glance, Nan Yan understood that she was asking herself why she still wanted to help Qin Ruolan's son.
Nan Yan thought to herself that she was not helping him, but perhaps because of her own experiences as a child, when she saw a child like Zhu Chengxuan who was not loved by his parents, she felt pity for him and said these words to him unconsciously.
No matter how hateful Qin Ruolan is, the child is always innocent.
"well……"
"Huh?"
Hearing her sigh, Zhu Chengxuan raised his head and said, "Why are you sighing, Madam? Are you troubled by something?"
Nan Yan hurriedly shook her head to cover up and said, "It's nothing, just a small matter."
"What's going on? Can I help?"
"this--"
Nan Yan's words were originally just to please him, but she didn't expect that the child would ask her so seriously, which made her speechless for a moment.
But suddenly an idea flashed in my mind.
She said, "Your Highness, I remember the incident with Concubine Li before. Your Highness seemed to have said that you are more knowledgeable about exotic spices, right?"
Zhu Chengxuan was stunned for a moment.
I don’t know why Nan Yan mentioned this.
But he immediately said, "I don't know much about it. I just like reading medical books, so I know a little about medicinal fragrances. Later, I dabbled in some medicinal herbs from the Western Regions, so I also learned about some spices there."
“…”
"Plus, in recent years, trade with the Western Regions has been restored, and these spices have begun to become available to the people, so I have become more familiar with them."
"That--"
Nan Yan said carefully, "If there is a sachet that has been there for at least ten years, can Your Highness still distinguish the spices used in it?"
"More than ten years?"
Zhu Chengxuan was startled: "What kind of sachet has been left for so long?"
Nan Yan winked at Ran Xiaoyu.
Ran Xiaoyu immediately went to the inner room, carefully took out a purse from the cabinet, and placed the sachet in front of them.
Zhu Chengxuan said: "This is——"
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