Chapter 170: Morning Light Martial Arts Field, Secret Investigation
At daybreak, the Forbidden City's corner towers just beginning to take on a pale pale hue, the martial arts training grounds of Shufangzhai were already bustling with activity. Crystal-clear morning dew hung on the branches of the crabapple trees, and with the flutter of an early bird, it pattered onto the bluestone slabs, creating a delicate splash of water.
Xiaoyanzi, dressed in a sharp, lake-blue outfit with a red silk sash tied around her waist, was practicing with her Qingfeng sword. Her movements were as swift as a swallow, the tip of her sword slicing through the morning mist, creating a sharp rustle of wind. With a swish, the sword slashed, sweeping dewdrops from the branches. Using the momentum, she spun and leaped, a light touch of her toes on the trunk of the crabapple tree sending her soaring a foot high like a willow catkin. This was the light skill Xiao Jian had taught her, "Treading Snow to Find Plum Blossoms."
"Alright!" Yongqi's voice came from the sidelines. He was wearing a moon-white riding and archery outfit, holding a lunch box, and leaning against the railing, watching with a smile. Seeing Xiaoyanzi's footing stagger as she fell, he quickly stepped forward and reached out to help her. His fingertips touched the silk ribbon at her waist, and they both pulled back as if burned, their ears slightly red.
"What are you looking at?" Xiaoyanzi coughed lightly and tapped his arm with the scabbard of her sword. "Do you think my lightness skills have improved again?" She raised her chin proudly, and the strands of hair on her forehead were wet with sweat and stuck to her cheeks, like a little fox that had just taken a bath.
Yongqi took out a clean handkerchief from the lunch box and handed it to her with a look of tenderness that could have brought tears to her eyes. "Wipe your sweat. Here's some freshly heated almond yogurt. It'll moisten your throat." He watched her take the handkerchief and wipe her face carelessly. He couldn't help but reach out to brush away the grass debris from her temples. "Did you get a new sword tassel? The pearls are so shiny."
"That's right!" Xiaoyanzi took a sip of almond milk, a sweet warmth sliding from her throat into her heart. "The little table is woven, and it's much sturdier than before. We don't have to worry about it being tampered with anymore." She raised her sword, the newly embellished pearls gleaming in the morning light. "Yesterday I asked Little Stool to keep an eye on the training grounds to see if there were any suspicious people."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiaodengzi came running in from the Moon Gate, carrying a birdcage. The lark inside the cage chirped happily. "Princess! I've found something!" He ran out of breath, sweat on his forehead. "This morning at dawn, I saw Xiaozhuzi sneaking around outside the martial arts training grounds, holding a small cloth bag. When he saw me approaching, he ran away in a panic!"
Little Mosquito followed behind, half a sesame cake still in his mouth. "My dear, long, dong! Mice are afraid of cats, bad guys are afraid of looking at you. Xiao Zhuzi looks so cowardly, he must have bad intentions!" He moved closer to Little Swallow and lowered his voice, "Little Bug and I secretly went to his place to take a look. There was still some unburned silk thread on the windowsill. The color was exactly the same as the crooked stitching on the longevity screen!"
Xiaoyanzi's eyes flashed and she hung her sword on the rack: "It's indeed him! That old woman Li Ma, does she really think that our Shufangzhai is easy to bully?" She turned around and was about to walk out, but Yongqi grabbed her wrist.
"Don't be impatient," Yongqi held her hand, feeling the warmth on his fingertips. "Without concrete evidence, rashly going to Noble Concubine Gao will only alert the enemy. The Emperor said we should be cautious in everything." He pulled a small jade pendant from his sleeve, engraved with the word "peace." "I asked someone to ask for this at the Huguo Temple. Keep it with you."
Xiaoyanzi looked at the warm luster on the jade pendant, and her heart softened, but she still said stubbornly: "I'm not afraid! Last time she wanted to make me look bad at the birthday party, but failed; this time she tried to touch my sword tassel, and was discovered again. Next time I will make sure she knows how powerful I am!" Although she said so, she obediently stuffed the jade pendant into her arms and held it against her chest to keep it warm.
On the other side of the training grounds, Ziwei sat at a stone table embroidering. She wore a lilac-colored skirt embroidered with magnolia blossoms. The morning light filtered through the cracks in the crabapple trees, casting a clear shadow on her face. Erkang stood behind her, holding a freshly picked crabapple blossom and helping her tuck the petals between the pages of her book as a bookmark.
"I've had the longevity screen brought back to the mansion," Erkang's voice was low and gentle, brushing Ziwei's ear. "Mother has hired the best embroiderer in the capital. She said she can remove those crooked stitches and re-embroider them. I guarantee there won't be any marks." He looked at the lotus flowers embroidered by Ziwei, his fingertips lightly tapping the petals. "The stitching is getting better and better. It's even more skillful than the embroiderers in the palace."
Ziwei's cheeks flushed slightly as she put down her embroidery frame. "I'm still worried the Queen Mother will see through it." She remembered what Xiaoyanzi had said yesterday and frowned slightly. "It's no use always being on guard like this. I wonder what tricks they'll pull next time."
"I'm here, don't be afraid." Erkang held her hand, his palm warm and dry. "I've asked the guards in the palace to pay more attention to the movements of Concubine Gao's residence. If Nanny Li bribes the palace servants again, there will definitely be traces." He took out a brocade bag from his bosom, which contained dried albizzia flowers. "This is for calming the nerves. You haven't been sleeping well these past few days. Putting it next to your pillow will help."
Ziwei took the brocade sachet, her fingertips touching his hand. She hummed softly, lowering her head to continue embroidering, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips. In the white porcelain bowl on the stone table, the lotus seed soup that Erkang had brought was still warm, its sweet fragrance mixed with the crisp aroma of crabapple blossoms, gently wafting in the morning breeze.
"Uncle Fu! Princess Huanzhu!" Xiao Zhuozi ran in from outside, holding a note in his hand. "This was secretly sent by Eunuch Su, saying it was the emperor's wish."
Xiaoyanzi took the note and unfolded it. On it were a few words written by Emperor Qianlong himself: "The crabapple blossoms in the Western Palace are in full bloom. Come enjoy the scenery in the Imperial Garden this afternoon." Her eyes lit up, and she patted Yongqi's arm: "Father Emperor, you're here to see me! It must be good news!"
Yongqi took a closer look, his brows furrowed slightly. "The Imperial Garden is close to Concubine Gao's Jingren Palace, so be careful when you go there." He untied a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to her. "This is the warm jade left by my mother. Wearing it can calm your mind. If you feel any unusual movements, crush it and the guards will come immediately."
Xiaoyanzi held the warm jade pendant in her hand, feeling warm inside. "I know. My Qinggong skills are so good. If anything happens, I can take Ziwei with me!" She turned and winked at Ziwei. "Sister, come with us too. The Emperor will surely want to see you, too."
Ziwei smiled and nodded. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Xiao Chongzi hopping over, holding a newly caught butterfly in her hand. Its wings were as blue as a gem. "Princess! Look! Xiao Zhuzi just released a butterfly outside the wall, and I scared it away! The butterfly's wings are still covered in pollen, just like the one on the longevity screen!"
The little desk clerk followed behind, holding a petal in his hand: "I checked, this is the pollen of the crabapple tree. Just as the princess said, Madam Li often goes there to appreciate the flowers!"
Little Swallow put the butterfly into the small cage, her eyes shining like stars. "Evidence! This is the evidence!" She shook the cage and said, "When I see the Emperor later, I'm going to ask him if this butterfly wants to imitate Sun Wukong and deliver messages for the monsters."
The little stool got excited when he heard that, and started saying while clapping the wake-up stick: "Speaking of Sun Wukong, his fiery eyes can identify demons. No matter it's a butterfly spirit or a pollen monster, he can show its true form with one hit of his stick--" The little bug immediately cooperated and imitated Sun Wukong's cry, "Squeak! Where can the demon escape!" which made everyone laugh.
The morning light gradually rose, filling the entire training ground. Xiaoyanzi sheathed her sword and handed the butterfly cage to Xiaowenzi. "Look, this is important evidence!" She straightened the collar of her formal attire and raised her chin to Yongqi. "Let's go change into something nice. We can't be too casual when we meet the Emperor!"
Yongqi watched her skipping towards the bedroom, his eyes full of smiles, and reached out to brush away the crabapple petals that had fallen on his shoulders. Erkang walked over to him and whispered, "I'll go with Ziwei this afternoon so I can keep an eye on her."
"Thank you." Yongqi nodded, his gaze turning towards Concubine Gao's Jingren Palace, his expression gradually darkening. The morning breeze rustled the leaves of the crabapple tree, whispering of the undercurrents deep within the palace. But the laughter and warmth of Shufangzhai, like the morning light, were too bright to ignore.
Ziwei picked up the embroidery frame and watched the twin lotus flowers gradually take shape on it, feeling a sense of peace in her heart. No matter how many plots might be hidden in the dark, as long as they were united in purpose, with the protection of the Emperor and those around them, they would always be able to bloom beautifully in the sunlight, just like the crabapple blossoms after the morning dew. She lowered her head and embroidered the last stitch. The dewdrops on the petals shimmered, as if they contained the warmth of the entire morning.
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