Chapter 158: Embroidery Needle Hidden Evil Intentions, Heartfelt Feelings Revealed Under the Moon
The night was as dark as ink, dyeing the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City a deep, dark blue. Warm candlelight shone through the window lattices of Shufangzhai, casting a hazy shadow on the crabapple tree in the courtyard. Occasionally, the evening breeze rustled the leaves, as if someone was whispering something.
Xiaoyanzi was sitting at her dressing table, removing her hairpins and rings. She ripped off the pearl ornaments from her hair and tossed them into her makeup box, where they clattered with a resounding clatter. "These palace rules are so annoying! My neck feels like it's breaking from all the hairpins!" she complained, rubbing her neck. She caught a glimpse of her slightly exhausted face in the bronze mirror, and a lingering fear still lingered in her mind as she recalled the thrilling experience she had that day in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Ziwei walked in, carrying a cup of chrysanthemum tea. She was wearing a moon-white satin nightgown with delicate lotus embroidery on the cuffs. She placed the cup on the dressing table and said softly, "Have some tea! You're exhausted today." She noticed Xiaoyanzi's irritable expression and combed her hair. "Don't be angry. Luckily, we had a close call today."
Xiaoyanzi took the teacup and took a sip. The fragrance of the tea spread across her tongue, calming her restless mood. "I'm not angry, I just feel aggrieved." She turned and looked at Ziwei, her brow furrowed. "We haven't offended anyone, so why are there always people trying to harm us?"
Ziwei put down the comb and held her hand, her palm warm and soft. "That's how it is in the palace. We are so favored by the emperor that it's inevitable that we will attract jealousy." A trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by tenderness. "But it doesn't matter. We just need to be careful. We still have the emperor and Concubine Ling to protect us."
Xiaoyanzi looked at her gentle smile, and her anger subsided. She knew Ziwei was right. This palace was different from the Jiangnan area, and she had to be cautious everywhere. "You're right, we can't let those bad guys succeed." She held Ziwei's hand tightly, her eyes firm. "From now on, we must take care of each other and not give them any chance to take advantage of us."
Yongqi stood outside the gate of Shufangzhai, holding a lantern. The light cast a warm glow on the ground. He wore a royal blue uniform and a jade pendant at his waist. The pendant swayed gently with his movements, making a small sound. He tried to knock on the door several times, but his hand stopped mid-air, his face filled with hesitation and shyness.
"Fifth Prince, what are you doing here?" Xiao Zhan came out with a basin of hot water. Seeing Yong Qi, he quickly bowed and showed an ambiguous smile on his face. "Are you here to see Princess Huan Zhu? She is in the room."
Yongqi's cheeks flushed instantly, and he coughed awkwardly, "I... I was just passing by and stopped by to take a look." He avoided looking at Xiaodengzi, not daring to meet her eyes. "Did Princess Huanzhu get scared in the Taimiao today?"
Xiao Dengzi suppressed his laughter and said deliberately seriously, "The princess is fine, just a little tired. If Fifth Prince is worried, just go in and take a look. The princess will definitely be happy to see you." After he said that, he didn't wait for Yongqi's response, and walked away with the basin of water, smiling.
Yongqi looked at his back, shook his head helplessly, took a deep breath, and pushed open the gate. The yard was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves and the chirping of insects in the distance. He walked slowly forward, lantern in hand, the light casting long shadows on the ground.
Falcon stood outside the window of the Crape Myrtle Garden, holding a freshly picked crape myrtle flower, its petals still gleaming with dew. He wore a moon-white robe, his figure erect, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes filled with unwavering affection. He gazed at the silhouette of the crape myrtle on the window paper, his heart pounding like a fawn.
"Who's outside?" Ziwei heard the noise outside the window, walked to the window and asked softly, with a hint of vigilance in her voice.
Falcon quickly whispered, "Crape myrtle, it's me." He handed the crape myrtle to the window and said, "I just picked it in the Imperial Garden. I thought it looked pretty, so I brought it to you."
Ziwei opened the window and saw Falcon's gentle smile, her cheeks instantly flushed. She took the crape myrtle flower and held it to her nose, sniffing it gently. The elegant fragrance softened her heart. "It's so late, why haven't you gone home yet?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with a hint of shyness and joy.
Falcon looked at her shy appearance, his heart beating faster: "I was worried about you and wanted to see if you were okay. It was really thrilling in the Taimiao today. Fortunately, you are okay." His eyes fell on her face, gentle as spring water, "No matter what happens in the future, you must tell me, I will protect you."
Ziwei's eyes flushed slightly, and her heart felt warm. She looked at Fu Erkang's sincere eyes and nodded gently. "I understand. Thank you, Erkang." She placed the crape myrtle flowers in a vase on the windowsill, and the petals looked particularly beautiful under the light. "It's getting late. You should go back quickly and don't let your uncle and aunt worry."
Falcon looked at her reluctantly: "Then you should go to bed early, I will come to see you tomorrow." He left, looking back every few steps, his heart full of sweetness.
Ziwei watched his back disappear into the night, a happy smile on her face. She gently stroked the crape myrtle flowers on the windowsill, her heart as sweet as honey.
The lights in Concubine Gao's chambers were brightly lit, the air thick with the scent of cosmetics and a hint of alcohol. Concubine Gao reclined on a soft couch, a glass of red wine in hand, her eyes coldly gazing out the window at the night. She wore a bright red palace dress embroidered with a phoenix pattern in gold thread, appearing elegant and regal, yet also possessing a certain fierceness.
"Your Highness, it's late. You should rest." Nanny Li stood by and advised cautiously, holding a cloak in her hand. "If today's plan fails, we can find a way later. Please don't hurt yourself."
Concubine Gao slammed her wine glass to the ground, spilling the red wine like a pool of glaring blood. "Rest? How can I sleep?" she shrieked, her face filled with anger and jealousy. "Those two little bitches are enjoying themselves, while I can only watch from here. How can I rest?"
Nanny Li quickly knelt on the ground, her head bowed. "Your Majesty, please calm down. I deserve to die for not being able to help you." She was trembling all over, not daring to look Noble Concubine Gao in the eye. "But your Majesty, don't worry. I've come up with a new idea. I'm sure I'll make them look bad!"
Concubine Gao snorted coldly and sat up from the couch, a fierce look in her eyes: "What's the solution? Tell me!" She walked up to Nanny Li, looked down at her, and said threateningly, "If you can't do it, you'll be beheaded!"
Nanny Li quickly said, "I've bribed the embroiderers who made the two princesses' court robes to embroider inauspicious designs on the hems of their robes. When they kneel at the enthronement ceremony, the Emperor and all the civil and military officials will undoubtedly see them. Even if they aren't punished, they'll be humiliated in front of everyone!" She let out a sinister smile. "And I've added something to their rouge that will cause a rash on their faces if they sweat. Guaranteed to make them look utterly disgraceful!"
Concubine Gao finally smiled, her eyes filled with pride. "That's a good idea!" She clapped her hands, her tone filled with excitement. "I want to see how they can still act so arrogantly in front of me!" She looked out the window towards Shufangzhai, her eyes icy. "Just wait, the real show is yet to come!"
Moonlight, like water, quietly sprinkled on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, casting a hazy veil over the solemn palace. Little Swallow and Ziwei sat side by side in the courtyard of Shufangzhai, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. The moonlight cast a soft halo over them.
"The moon is so round tonight." Ziwei said softly, with some emotion in her eyes, "I wonder if my mother in heaven can see me and see how happy I am now." She was holding a jade pendant in her hand, which was just given to her by Emperor Qianlong. The jade pendant shone with a warm luster in the moonlight.
Xiaoyanzi held her hand and comforted her softly, "You will definitely see it. Your mother will surely bless you in heaven." She looked at the bright moon in the sky and thought of her family in Jiangnan. "I also hope that my parents and brother can be safe and sound, and that we can all live happily."
Ziwei leaned on Xiaoyanzi's shoulder, a happy smile on her face: "With you here, and with the emperor protecting me, I feel very happy." She looked at Xiaoyanzi, her eyes full of gratitude, "Xiaoyanzi, thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know where I would be suffering now."
Xiaoyanzi smiled and shook her head: "We are good sisters, it's too formal to say such things." She looked at Ziwei's sincere eyes, and her heart was warmed. "From now on, we are a family. Let's live happily like this forever."
Under the moonlight, the two young girls snuggled together, each with a happy smile on their face. Unbeknownst to them, a new conspiracy was brewing in the shadows, and even more severe tests awaited them. But at this moment, their hearts were filled with only each other and their beautiful visions of the future, believing that as long as sisters work together, there is no obstacle they cannot overcome.
The night deepened as the night watchman's call echoed in the distance, "dong-dong!" In the courtyard of Shufangzhai, the shadow of the crabapple tree swayed gently in the moonlight, as if guarding this moment of tranquility and warmth.
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