Chapter 173: The warmth of the fireworks in the guesthouse, the hidden arrows are hard to guard against
The carved wooden windows of the guesthouse stood half-open, filtering the afternoon sunlight into a golden dust that fell on the braised pork elbow and beggar's chicken on the eight-immortals table. The aroma of oil, mixed with the fumes of Liu Qing's newly brewed rice wine, filled the room, making even the air sticky and sweet.
"Try this beggar's chicken!" Liu Qing, wearing a greasy apron, tore open the crispy chicken skin with his bare hands, and the golden oil immediately flowed down through his fingers. "I specially asked the kitchen to wrap it with three layers of lotus leaves and stuffed it with mushrooms and glutinous rice. I guarantee it will be more delicious than last time!" He stuffed the chicken leg into Xiaoyanzi's bowl and didn't care about the oil splashing on his cuffs.
Xiaoyanzi was already drooling with greed. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, Ziwei gently held her hand back, "Eat slowly, be careful of the heat." She picked up a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sauce from the corners of Xiaoyanzi's mouth. The gentleness in her eyes was like the water of a spring lake. "Look at you, you eat like a little cat."
"What do you care!" Xiaoyanzi said unconvinced, but she waited obediently for Ziwei to tear the chicken leg into small pieces. She picked up the chicken leg and put it into her mouth with her chopsticks, mumbling incoherently, "The beggar's chicken in the guest house is still delicious. The one made in the palace's imperial kitchen doesn't taste like this!" She winked at Yongqi as she spoke, "Isn't that right, Fifth Prince?"
Yongqi was helping her peel shrimps. He smiled and nodded when he heard her say, "It's indeed delicious. Let's ask the chef from the imperial kitchen to learn from Brother Liu later." He put the peeled shrimps into Xiaoyanzi's bowl. His fingertips accidentally touched her hand. Both of them drew back as if they had been electrocuted, and their faces flushed.
Erkang sat beside Ziwei, a collection of poems in his hand, his eyes fixed on her. He noticed her sleeve slip down while she was picking up food, revealing her fair wrist, and he quickly reached out to fix it, his movements as gentle as if it were fragile porcelain. "Be careful not to catch a cold; it's windy this afternoon." Ziwei's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to take a sip of rice wine, unable to hide the smile in her eyes.
"Wow, boom! These shrimps are even more delicious than the koi in the Imperial Garden!" Little Mosquito jumped up, chopsticks in hand, rubbing his greasy hands on his clothes. "Miss Liu Hong, the fried meatballs you make are even more delicious than those in the best restaurants in the capital. Whoever marries you in the future will be in for a treat!"
Liu Hong was handing a plate to Jinsuo. Her face turned red when she heard this. She picked up a meatball and stuffed it into Xiao Wanzi's mouth: "Eat yours! If you talk nonsense again, I'll tie your tongue!" Xiao Wanzi dodged with a "woof", making everyone at the table laugh.
Ertai seized the opportunity and thrust a freshly bought sugar painting into Liu Hong's hands. "Try this! It's freshly made by the master craftsman at the preserves shop. It features the phoenix you said was beautiful last time." The sugar painting was crystal clear, gleaming amber in the sunlight. Liu Hong pinched the bamboo stick holding the painting, her fingertips burning slightly. She muttered, "What a waste of money! Only children eat sugar paintings." Before she could finish her words, she couldn't help but lick the tip.
Xiaoyanzi was so amused by what she saw that she leaned over to Yongqi's ear and whispered, "Look at your brother, his eyes are glued to Liu Hong and he can't tear them away." Yongqi shook his head helplessly and pushed the lotus seed soup in his bowl towards her, "Mind your own business. Didn't you say you wanted to eat this?"
Just as the place was bustling with activity, Xiao Jian walked in carrying a lunch box. His grayish-blue gown was dusty, clearly having just returned from outside. He placed the lunch box on the table and said with a smile, "I just stopped by the pastry shop in the south of the city and bought your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus cake." He opened the box, and the sweet-scented osmanthus cake inside was still steaming, its sweet aroma instantly filling the air.
"Brother Xiao Jian still loves me!" Xiao Yanzi cheered and rushed over, grabbed a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a crabapple petal on Xiao Jian's sleeve. Suddenly, she thought of Qing'er in the Imperial Garden and blinked mischievously, "Where did you go today, brother? There are flowers on your sleeve. Did you go to meet your sweetheart?"
Xiao Jian blushed and coughed lightly, changing the subject. "I just checked some things. Nanny Li has been hanging around Shufangzhai a lot lately. You should be extra careful in the palace." He looked at Xiaoyanzi, his eyes becoming serious. "The eunuch she bribed has confessed. He said he wanted to tamper with the empress dowager's birthday gift."
The smile on Xiaoyanzi's face faded a little, but she patted her chest and assured him, "Don't worry, brother, I know what's going on. If she dares to make trouble again, I'll have Xiaodengzi tell her the story of Sun Wukong fighting monsters and scare the hell out of her!"
The little stool straightened up immediately, picked up the wake-up stick and slammed it on the table, imitating the storyteller's tone: "It's said that the White Bone Demon changed her disguise three times, but Sun Wukong saw through it every time and hit her with a stick -" He slammed the table so hard that the teacup in the little bug's hand almost fell to the ground, "She revealed her true form and turned out to be a thousand-year-old demon!"
"Well said!" Xiaoyanzi clapped her hands vigorously, but a hint of caution flashed in her eyes. She quietly touched Ziwei's hand, and seeing the understanding in her eyes, she felt relieved - some things didn't need to be said explicitly, the two sisters already understood each other.
The afternoon sun filtered through the carved wooden windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Liu Qing and Jinsuo busied themselves in the kitchen, adding dishes. The clinking of pots and pans was melodious and crisp. Xiaodiaozi was reciting Journey to the West, while Xiao Chongzi imitated monkey calls. Ertai and Liu Hong leaned against each other, looking at the sugar paintings. The sun shone on them, bringing warmth and warmth.
Xiaoyanzi leaned back in her chair, looking at the table full of family and friends, her heart as if filled with sweet osmanthus cake, sweet as a syrup. She secretly glanced at Yongqi, seeing him smiling at her, and suddenly grabbed a meatball and stuffed it into his mouth. Yongqi was caught off guard and choked. He patted his chest and coughed, but his eyes were full of doting.
"It's getting late. We should go back to the palace." Ziwei looked at the sky, which was already dyed red by the setting sun. "Otherwise, the palace gates will be closed." Xiaoyanzi reluctantly put down her chopsticks, mumbling, "Just one more piece of osmanthus cake."
Xiao Jian handed the packed snacks to Yong Qi: "Take some back for the people in the palace to try. There's almond cake in there for Qing Gege, she said she liked the taste." As he spoke, his ears turned red. Yong Qi understood and took the food box with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely deliver it."
The crowd gathered and walked out of the guesthouse, the setting sun stretching their shadows out long. Liu Qing stood at the door and waved, "Come back next time! I'll make you beggar's chicken!" Jinsuo stood beside him, blushing as she helped him straighten his crooked apron, her movements natural and intimate.
Xiaoyanzi walked ahead, holding Ziwei's hand. Her skirt swept across the bluestone pavement, stirring up a fine cloud of dust. She glanced back at the bustling guesthouse, then at the smiling Ziwei beside her, thinking to herself: This life is wonderful. I have family, friends, and... She stole a glance at Yongqi behind her and saw him looking at her. She quickly turned her head away, but couldn't help but smile.
On the way back to the palace, the setting sun stained the palace walls a golden red. Little Swallow skipped along ahead, playing with the jade pendant Xiao Jian had given her, its tassels swaying gently with her steps. Yongqi and Erkang walked side by side behind, whispering about court affairs, occasionally chuckling.
Ziwei suddenly stopped and pointed at the sunset glow in the sky. "Look at those clouds. Do they look like the phoenix I saw last time in Jiangnan?" Xiaoyanzi looked in the direction she pointed. The sunset glow was indeed like a phoenix spreading its wings, dazzling and brilliant. The two smiled at each other, the friendship in their eyes warmer than the sunset itself.
At this time in Jingren Palace, Nanny Li was kneeling on the ground, holding a silk thread soaked in pollen in her hand, and her voice was sharp: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I have already tampered with the Empress Dowager's birthday gift, and this time I will make those two little bitches pay for it!" Concubine Gao was sitting by the window, her nails digging deeply into the mahogany armrest, watching the sunset gradually setting outside the window, a cold smile on the corner of her mouth.
The evening breeze blew through the palace walls, carrying the fragrance of crabapple blossoms, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in the darkness. But the laughter from Shufangzhai still echoed in the wind, like a warm fire, illuminating a corner of the Forbidden City and also illuminating Xiaoyanzi's new path.
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