Chapter 140: Shufang Night Talk, the Sound of Wind Chimes
By the time I returned to Shufangzhai, dusk had already crept over the palace walls. The bamboo wind chimes in the corridor tinkled in the evening breeze. Mingyue was directing the eunuchs to light the palace lanterns under the corridor eaves. A warm yellow glow filtered through the gauze lampshades, casting tiny specks of light on the bluestone slabs.
"Princess, Miss Ziwei, you're finally back!" Mingyue came over with a smile and took the cloak from Xiaoyanzi's arm. "The kitchen has stewed some white fungus and lotus seed soup, and it's just warming on the fire."
Caixia brought a basin of warm water and knelt down, saying, "Girls, wash your hands. You must have gotten some dust on your hands from walking on the road." Her eyes fell on the jade pendant on Ziwei's wrist, and her eyes lit up. "This jade pendant is really beautiful. The orchid pattern on it looks like life."
Ziwei's fingertips gently stroked the jade pendant, and she smiled gently: "It was given by the Queen Mother. She said that wearing it will keep you safe."
Xiaoyanzi washed her hands, shaking off the water droplets that splashed all over the back of Xiaowenzi's hands. "The Empress and Concubine Ling are so nice! Unlike those stories about the harem I heard before, where everyone was so fierce." She suddenly leaned close to Xiaowenzi and lowered her voice. "Especially Concubine Ling, her smile is like my mother's, so warm."
Little Mosquito was helping Little Bug straighten its wind-blown collar when he heard this and shook his head, "Wow! This is great news! I heard that when the concubines in the past saw the newcomers, their eyes would turn to the tops of their heads!" Little Bug squatted on the ground and imitated the chirping of crickets, but Little Dengzi pulled him up and said, "Stop imitating. Go check on the lotus seed soup and see if it's ready. Miss Ziwei loves it."
Everyone chatted and laughed as they made their way to the main house. Just as they reached the door, they were greeted by a sweet aroma. Xiao Zhuozi emerged from the kitchen, carrying a white porcelain bowl. The white fungus and lotus seed soup in the bowl had a faint sheen, with red dates and longans floating on top. The very sight of it warmed the stomach. "Princess, Miss Ziwei, try this!" He handed the bowl over like a treasure. "The chef in the imperial kitchen said these lotus seeds were freshly shipped from Jiangnan, and they're very glutinous."
Ziwei took the bowl and stirred it gently with a silver spoon. The fragrance of lotus seeds mixed with the sweetness of rock sugar lingered in her nose. She scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, her eyes curved into crescents. "It's really sweet, even softer than what I drink at home."
Xiaoyanzi snatched the other bowl from Xiaozhuozi and gulped down most of it, not caring that a little soup stained the corner of her mouth. "Of course! The Emperor specifically ordered it, how could it not be delicious?" She put the bowl down and suddenly clapped her hands. "Oh, right! I brought some lotus pods and golden locks from Jiangnan. Take them out and let everyone try them!"
Jinsuo pulled a bamboo basket from her bag. Inside was a dozen emerald green lotus pods, their seeds so full they were about to burst from their shells. Xiaoyanzi picked one up, expertly peeled it, and took out a tender white lotus seed, popping it into her mouth and chewing it crisply. "Sweet, isn't it? My mother picked this herself. She says it's the tenderest right out of the water."
Yongqi and Erkang had been standing at the courtyard gate for some time, and seeing her face covered in food, they couldn't help but laugh. "What delicious food smells so good?" Yongqi walked in, his royal blue riding coat softly lit by the palace lanterns. "I just passed by the Imperial Garden and heard that Shufangzhai was bustling with activity."
Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she picked up the largest lotus pod and threw it over: "Here! Lotus pods from Jiangnan, try it!" Yongqi reached out to catch it, and his fingertips touched the fine hairs on the lotus pod. He couldn't help laughing: "You are still so clumsy." He imitated Xiaoyanzi's way of peeling lotus seeds, but he was clumsy and broke the lotus seeds, which made everyone laugh.
Erkang walked over to Ziwei, his eyes falling on the bowl of Tremella Soup she had just put down, and asked softly, "Is it to your taste? If you don't like sweet food, I can ask the imperial kitchen to make something lighter." Ziwei blushed slightly and nodded, "It's delicious, thank you."
"Why should I thank him?" Xiaoyanzi came over and stuffed a peeled lotus seed into Ziwei's mouth. "If you want to thank someone, thank the Emperor. He had it prepared according to our taste." She suddenly remembered something and tugged at Yongqi's sleeve. "By the way, where's the kite you said you owed me last time? When are you going to pay it back?"
Yongqi shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were full of smiles: "I'll send it over tomorrow. I guarantee it will be more beautiful than the phoenix kite from last time." He looked at Xiaoyanzi and saw that there were lotus seed crumbs on the corners of her mouth. He couldn't help but raise his hand to help her wipe it off, but he withdrew his hand embarrassedly in mid-air and scratched his forehead instead.
A small stool was brought to a bamboo table in the courtyard, and freshly cut watermelon was placed on it. Moonlight filtered through the branches of the elm-leaf plum tree, falling on everyone. Cui Yu, sent by Concubine Ling, walked in with a food box and said with a smile, "Your Majesty was worried that the girls would be hungry at night, so she asked me to bring some snacks. They are all freshly baked lotus cakes."
"Empress Ling Fei is so thoughtful!" Xiaoyanzi took the food box and opened it. The lotus cake was snow-white, sprinkled with white icing sugar. "Come and sit down and eat together!" Cuiyu smiled and waved her hand: "I still have to go back and answer the questions. Enjoy yourselves, girls."
After Cuiyu left, Xiaoyanzi suddenly lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "I'm telling you, I saw the Twelfth Prince in Kunning Palace today! He was standing behind the Empress and gave me a furtive look, as if he knew me."
Ziwei asked curiously, "Twelfth Prince? What does he look like?"
"He was fair and clean, and looked very gentle," Xiaoyanzi recalled. "He was a little thinner than Yongqi, and his eyes were very similar to the Empress's, very gentle." She nudged Yongqi and said, "Your brother is much more quiet than you."
Yongqi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Ji'er is only twelve years old this year and has a quiet personality. He rarely leaves the palace. Maybe he heard the Empress mention you and is just curious."
As they were talking, the wind chimes in the corridor rang a few times, and the evening breeze blew into the courtyard with the fragrance of orchids. Ziwei looked at the crescent moon in the sky and said softly, "I didn't expect the palace to be so quiet at night, and there are such beautiful wind chimes."
Xiaoyanzi lay on a bamboo chair, her hands behind her head, a lotus seed in her mouth. "That's right! The Emperor said that this Shufangzhai will be our territory from now on. We can do whatever we want with it!" She suddenly sat up, her eyes shining. "Shall we go to the Imperial Garden to fly kites tomorrow? Have Yongqi bring the kite he owes me!"
"Okay!" Ziwei nodded with a smile, "I've never flown a kite in the palace before."
Erkang looked at her smiling face with a gentle gaze: "The peach blossoms in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom. They will surely look beautiful when flying a kite."
The little mosquito shook its head: "Good boy, long dong! It's great to fly a kite! The servants can help pull the strings to ensure that the princess's kite flies the highest!" The little bug immediately imitated the sound of a wild goose and pretended to be a kite flying into the sky.
As the night deepened, the glow of the palace lanterns stretched long across the ground. Yongqi and Erkang stood up to say goodbye. As they reached the courtyard gate, Yongqi glanced back at Xiaoyanzi, who was talking to Ziwei, her eyes curved with a smile, and his heart suddenly softened.
"Go to bed early. I'll bring the kite to you early tomorrow morning." He said softly, his voice a little drifting in the evening breeze.
Little Swallow waved her hand: "Hurry up! Don't be late!"
After they left, Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei finished washing up and lay down on their carved beds side by side. Moonlight streamed in through the window lattice, casting faint shadows on the bedding. Ziwei tossed and turned for a moment, then whispered, "Xiaoyanzi, tell me... can we really stay this safe and sound in the palace forever?"
Xiaoyanzi leaned over and took her hand, her palm warm. "Of course! With me here, the Emperor protecting us, and Empress Ling and the Empress looking after us, no one can bully us!" She paused, her tone becoming serious. "Besides, I have the self-defense kit that Brother Xiao Jian gave me. Even if something really happens, we won't be afraid."
Ziwei looked into her sparkling eyes, and the uneasiness in her heart gradually dissipated. She smiled and nodded: "Well, with you here, I'm not afraid of anything."
The wind chimes in the corridor continued to chime softly, mingling with the distant night watchman's call, making them especially clear in the quiet palace night. Little Swallow yawned, then, cuddling Ziwei's arm, drifted off to sleep, a faint smile playing on her lips. Ziwei gazed at the crescent moon outside the window, listening to the steady breathing beside her, and slowly closed her eyes.
This was their first night in the palace, and without the fear they had imagined, there was only warmth from those around them and hope for the future. The orchids in Shufangzhai quietly spread their leaves in the night, as if protecting the sisters' new life.
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