Chapter 70 Falling into the Water
Du Huaizhi glanced at her and said, "You are very thoughtful."
Han Qingli raised her eyebrows generously, "Of course."
Du Ruozhi stared at the falling pear blossoms, gently picking up a piece with her fingers and playing with it. "I heard that there are pink crabapples and yellow winter jasmines in the imperial garden. Together they look like a painting."
An Nian also nodded, remembering the anecdotes from the palace that the old man from the Imperial Hospital had told her. "I also heard that at last year's flower banquet, a young lady played a song that caused the peacocks in the Imperial Garden to spread their feathers. It was quite impressive."
"Hmph, that's nothing. What's the use of playing the piano well? He's a sickly person with a bad character. All he does all day is to keep complaining." Han Qingli said angrily, as if she had some deep hatred with this person.
"The Su Wanwan I just met is this man's sister, born of the same mother. However, she's a little slow-witted and didn't receive the true teachings. Otherwise, she would have been a huge disaster."
Du Ruozhi heard this and agreed: "You're talking about Su Miaomiao, right? I also think she's not that good. When I'm with her, I'm always worried that I'll fall into the trap she sets."
To receive such high praise from the two of them, there must be something wrong with this person. However, Du Huaizhi did not have the mind to gossip, but they did.
Han Qingli said, "Yes! I just can't stand her weak appearance. She loves to act pretentiously and always drags others into trouble."
An Nian hesitated a little: "That being said, to be able to make a peacock spread its feathers, one must be a master of the zither."
"Playing the piano and moral character are two different things after all." Du Huaizhi interjected silently.
"Exactly! You think too little of the people in this circle."
An Nian: "Your circle is really messy."
Du Huaizhi nodded silently.
Han Qingli picked up the teacup and took a sip. "But on the bright side, the twists and turns in this capital are much more exciting than the storybook."
Du Huaizhi: “…”
An Nian: “…”
What kind of benefit is this?
Du Ruozhi was very excited. "Yes, yes, many storybooks are based on those strange stories and secrets."
Du Huaizhi looked at her and asked, "Does that kind of storybook about talented men and beautiful women have prototypes in Beijing?" This piqued her interest.
"Ah?" Du Ruozhi was stunned. When she realized what was happening, her cheeks flushed slightly. "Well... of course there is..."
"What talented man and beautiful woman?" Han Qingli came over and asked.
"Nothing." Du Ruozhi waved her hand. "It's just a very ordinary, common storybook."
"Oh." Han Qingli nodded, obviously unconvinced, and turned to ask Du Huaizhi, "What is this storybook?"
Du Huaizhi's face was expressionless, and he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the stone path below, beside the river. Han Qingli also looked down, and saw a bright moon-white figure below, followed by two guards.
"Hey, isn't that my cousin?" Han Qingli walked to the side of the guardrail, waved down and called out, "Hey - my cousin!"
The moon-white figure looked up when he heard the voice, and seeing that it was Han Qingli and a familiar figure behind her, he walked up the stairs.
"Why are you here?" Xie Sui asked, his eyes falling on Du Ruozhi, then turning to Han Qingli.
Han Qingli also looked at Du Ruozhi and curled her lips. "Of course we came here to have fun. Shouldn't we be the ones asking you this?"
"I just finished my official business and passed by here."
"That's a coincidence." Han Qingli stepped unnoticed over to Du Ruozhi and put his hands on her shoulders. "The scenery outside is beautiful. It's not a good idea to stay here bored. Zhizhi, come and take a walk with your cousin."
Du Ruozhi was unexpectedly pushed in front of Xie Sui, and her cheeks flushed immediately. She turned around and looked at Du Huaizhi uncertainly, "Sister..."
"Go if you want to, but don't play too late." Du Huaizhi sighed secretly, thinking that girls cannot be kept at home when they grow up.
Du Ruozhi nodded with a red face.
Han Qingli looked at the two men's backs and said to Du Huaizhi, "Don't worry, my cousin's character is still trustworthy."
Du Huaizhi glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.
"They seem to be a good match. Their family backgrounds are also compatible. The second young lady won't be treated harshly after she marries him." An Nian comforted her.
Du Huaizhi gritted his teeth and said, "The couple hasn't even started dating yet, and you two are rushing to be matchmakers."
"Not engaged yet?" Han Qingli was stunned for a moment. "I remember my aunt mentioned a few days ago that my cousin has fallen in love with a girl from the Du family and is planning to pick a good day to propose."
Han Qingli's aunt is Xie Sui's biological mother, Han. Du Huaizhi had met her at the welcoming banquet before and had some impression of her.
"That means it will be soon, but not now." Du Huaizhi followed the two of them closely, until they disappeared into the pear blossoms. He had an inexplicable bad feeling in his heart.
"I'll go check out the wing room first." Du Huaizhi said.
An Nian followed closely behind, "I'm going too."
"Wait for me!" Han Qingli also lifted her skirt and followed, "You all left, it would be so boring to leave me alone."
As the three of them reached the gate of the wing courtyard, they saw Xie Sui, who was soaked all over, rushing over with Du Ruozhi in his arms, who was still dripping with water.
Du Huaizhi's heart tightened, "What happened to Zhizhi?"
Xie Sui said anxiously, "Help Erzhi change his clothes first, and then I'll tell you in detail later."
An Nian pushed open the door of the wing room and said, "Send someone to cook ginger soup, Sir Xie, and bring the person in." After a rough examination, Du Ruozhi was found to be cold all over and her lips were purple, obviously she had caught a cold.
"It's okay, she just caught a cold, nothing serious." An Nian took out the silver needle, "I'll help the second young lady dispel the cold first."
Du Huaizhi dug out the clothes, drove Xie Sui out, and changed Du Ruozhi's clothes himself. "Sister..." Du Ruozhi opened her eyes slightly, clutched Du Huaizhi's sleeve with her small hands, and spoke weakly.
"It's okay." Du Huaizhi patted the back of her hand, "Just stay here and leave everything to me."
Du Ruozhi nodded weakly and fell into a deep sleep again. Du Huaizhi tucked in the quilt for her, his eyes gradually turning cold.
Xie Sui stood outside the door, completely unaware of his soaking wet state, staring anxiously at the closed door. Du Huaizhi pushed the door open and walked out, his face as calm as water.
"Thank you, sir. Zhizhi has gone to bed." She glanced at his wet clothes, "You should go change your clothes first."
Xie Sui then realized his own embarrassment, but he was still worried, "Erzhi..."
"Nothing serious, just a bit of a cold."
At this time, Han Qingli hurried over, holding a steaming cup of ginger soup in her hand, "Ginger soup is here!" She saw Xie Sui's still wet clothes and asked, "Cousin, why are you still here?"
Du Huaizhi's eyes fell on him, "After you change your clothes, explain to me why Zhizhi fell into the water as soon as she went out."
Xie Sui twisted his lips slightly, his eyes reddening slightly, "It was my negligence."
Du Huaizhi waved his hand to drive away the annoying person, turned around to take the ginger soup, handed it to An Nian, and then walked out of the room.
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