Chapter 204: Rumors continue, warmth protects each other
The afternoon sun shone obliquely into Shufangzhai. The crabapple tree in the courtyard was covered with fallen red leaves. Little Mosquito was chasing the fallen leaves with a broom, muttering to himself, "Oh my god, these leaves seem to have legs. I sweep them and they fall, and they fall and they sweep them again!"
"Don't chase it. It's just right to pile it under the tree roots as fertilizer." Xiao Deng squatted on the stone table, holding a branch in his hand to tease the thrush. The bird flapped its wings and chirped happily.
Ziwei sat on a soft couch by the window, embroidering. Silver thread slithered across the pristine white satin, gradually outlining a blossoming magnolia. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath her lids, and a faint smile played on her lips. Erkang stood behind her, a book in his hands, his gaze resting not on the pages but on her slender, white fingers, gripping the embroidery needle. With a gentle poke, the thread flowed smoothly through the satin.
"This magnolia is so beautifully embroidered." Erkang's voice was low and gentle, with a smile on his face. "It's even more beautiful than the real flowers in the imperial garden."
Ziwei's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with stars. "You only know how to say nice things." She put down her embroidery needle and picked up the frame. "Look at the layers of the petals. I always feel like something's missing."
Erkang leaned in for a closer look, his fingertips gently tapping the edge of the embroidery frame, avoiding her embroidery thread. "The silver thread here could be denser, like moonlight shining on flower petals." He turned his head to look out the window. "Just like that night in the Imperial Garden, the moonlight shone on your hair."
Ziwei's face turned even redder, and she quickly lowered her head, pretending to tidy up the silk thread: "Just read your book and stop talking about this." But she couldn't hide the smile on the corner of her mouth, as if she had secretly drunk honey.
"What are you talking about? You're smiling so sweetly!" Little Swallow came bounding in, still carrying the delicate fragrance of plants and trees. She held a bamboo basket filled with a few ripe persimmons, bright red like little lanterns. She wore a salmon-colored jacket, the red silk ribbon at her waist fluttering as she moved. "Just picked them in the Imperial Garden, from the persimmon trees in the Empress Dowager's Palace. They're so sweet!"
Yongqi followed her in, holding a handkerchief in his hand, and smiled helplessly: "Can't you go slower? Your hands are all stained with persimmon juice." He walked to Xiaoyanzi, picked up the handkerchief and wiped her hands carefully, his movements were gentle, and his eyes were full of doting.
Xiaoyanzi held out her hand obediently, but she was still dissatisfied. "What do you care? I picked the biggest and sweetest persimmons, and you're not happy?" She took advantage of Yongqi's inattention and grabbed a persimmon and stuffed it into his mouth. "Try it! Is it sweet?"
Yongqi's mouth was stained by persimmon juice, but he smiled with his eyebrows curved: "Sweet, sweeter than honey."
Ziwei watched them playfully, smiled and shook her head. "Can't you two just be quiet for a while?" She picked up a persimmon and wiped it with a handkerchief. "This persimmon is really good, big and red."
Xiaoyanzi came over to her, picked up the embroidery frame and took a look. "Ziwei, the magnolia you embroidered is really beautiful! Can you embroider one for me too? I want it on my sword tassel!" She untied the sword tassel from her waist. It was a red silk ribbon with a small wolf's tooth hanging on it. "Look, it will look great with the magnolia!"
"Okay." Ziwei nodded with a smile, "When I finish embroidering this handkerchief, I will embroider the sword tassel for you."
As she was speaking, Mingyue came in with tea. Her face looked a little grim, and her steps were hurried. She placed the teacup on the table and said softly, "Princess, there are people outside... there are people gossiping outside."
Xiaoyanzi's smile froze immediately. "Still talking? Didn't the Emperor forbid it?"
"I just went to the Imperial Household Department to collect silk thread and heard a few eunuchs whispering in the corner, saying...that you and Princess Mingzhu were in cahoots to defraud the Emperor of His Grace." Mingyue's voice gradually faded. "They also said that Princess Mingzhu's jade pendant was fake and that you had someone forge it."
"How ridiculous!" Xiaoyanzi stood up suddenly, the copper bells around her waist jingling. "These people are so bold! They dare not obey the emperor's order!" She rolled up her sleeves and was about to go out. "I'm going to confront them!"
"Xiaoyanzi!" Ziwei quickly pulled her back, "Don't go. If you go looking for them now, it will only make us look guilty." She looked at Xiaoyanzi's angry expression and said softly, "Don't be angry. It's not worth it to get yourself hurt."
Yongqi also grabbed Xiaoyanzi's arm and said, "Ziwei is right. These people are deliberately trying to provoke you and make you make a mistake." His eyes darkened. "I've asked someone to investigate. They'll soon find out who's behind this."
Erkang nodded in agreement: "Yes, what we need to do now is to keep calm and not fall into other people's traps." He looked at Ziwei, "Don't worry, I'm here and I will never let you suffer any injustice."
Xiaoyanzi stamped her feet, her anger flaring up. She grabbed a persimmon from the table and took a big bite. The sweet persimmon juice flowed down the corners of her mouth. "I'm so pissed! How can these people be so filthy!"
"Don't be angry." Yong Qi picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth gently. "I'll take you to the guesthouse tonight to eat Liu Qing's braised fish and calm you down."
When mentioning Binlou and braised fish, Xiaoyanzi's expression softened a bit: "Really? Liu Qing's braised fish is the most delicious!"
"Of course it's true." Yong Qi nodded with a smile, "I've already asked someone to talk to Liu Qing and ask him to make a few more of your favorite dishes."
Ziwei looked at them, feeling warm in her heart: "Then Erkang and I should go together? It's a good opportunity to see Jinsuo and Brother Liu."
"Let's go together!" Xiaoyanzi immediately smiled, forgetting all her anger. "It's more fun with more people! Let Liu Qing kill another chicken and make another beggar's chicken!"
In the evening, lanterns along the palace path lit up one by one, their orange glow dispelling the chill of dusk. Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei changed into casual clothes: Xiaoyanzi in a navy shorts for ease of movement, Ziwei in a light blue dress, simple and elegant. Yongqi and Erkang also changed into casual clothes. Under the bright moon and colorful clouds, the four of them quietly left the palace through the corner gate.
The hotel was already bustling with activity. Red lanterns hung throughout the corridors, waiters bustled about busily, and the air was thick with the aroma of delicious food. Liu Qing was standing behind the counter, calculating the bill. When he saw them enter, he immediately greeted them with a smile, "Here are the ladies! Come in!"
Jinsuo came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly baked sugar cakes. Seeing Ziwei, her eyes lit up: "Miss! You're here!" She placed the sugar cakes on the table, "Freshly made osmanthus sugar cakes, come and try them!"
Little Swallow picked up a piece of candy cake and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "Delicious! Jinsuo, your cooking skills are getting better and better!"
Liu Hong came down from upstairs, holding a newly sewn cloak in her hand. Seeing Ertai following them, she glared at him: "Why are you here too? Didn't you say you were going to practice archery today?"
Ertai smiled and took out a windmill from his pocket and handed it to her: "I just passed by the temple fair and saw this beautiful windmill, so I bought it." The windmill was colorful and spun very fast when it was blown gently. "Look, it's spinning so happily."
Liu Hong's face turned slightly red, and she reached out to take the windmill: "Who asked you to buy these useless things." But her fingers gently fiddled with the windmill blades, and the corners of her mouth secretly raised.
"Come upstairs and sit down. The food is almost ready." Liu Qing led the way with a smile. "The private room upstairs is warm and has a view of the street."
The windows of the upstairs private room were open, revealing the street lights. Lanterns twinkled like stars in the twilight. The waiters quickly brought out the dishes: braised fish, beggar's chicken, sweet and sour spare ribs... The table was overflowing with delicious aromas.
Xiaoyanzi picked up her chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up, "Brother Liu's cooking skills are still so good! It's much better than the ones in the imperial kitchen!"
"If you like it, eat more." Liu Qing smiled and poured her a bowl of soup. "This is black chicken soup, it's good for your health."
Ziwei drank her soup and whispered, "Brother Liu, Jinsuo, have you heard the rumors in the palace?"
Liu Qing's face darkened. "I heard that some guests were complaining in the guesthouse a few days ago. I've already taught them a lesson. If anyone dares to speak ill of the princesses in the guesthouse, I'll kick them out!"
Jinsuo held Ziwei's hand and said, "Don't worry, Miss. Everyone knows that you are a good person. Those rumors must be false."
"That's right!" Liu Hong put down her chopsticks. "If anyone dares to say bad things about you in front of me, I will beat him up!" She waved her fist, looking very serious.
Ertai smiled and patted the back of her hand: "Don't always think about fighting, I'm here."
Xiaoyanzi looked at the table full of relatives and close friends, and her anger had long since dissipated. She raised her glass (which was filled with juice): "Come on! Let's drink! Don't let those messy rumors affect our mood!"
"Cheers!" Everyone responded in unison, and the wine glasses clinked together lightly, making a crisp sound.
The night deepened outside the window, and the streets gradually became more crowded. The cries of hawkers, laughter, and the clatter of wheels intertwined into a lively and warm atmosphere. The lights in the private room were bright, reflecting everyone's smiling faces, like a warm flame, dispelling all the cold and gloom.
Ziwei looked at Xiaoyanzi beside her, the gentle Erkang, and the busy Liuqing Jinsuo, and her heart suddenly calmed down. She thought, no matter how many rumors there are outside, as long as she has these people around her and this warmth, she has nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, in Jingren Palace, Concubine Gao was listening to Nanny Li's report, her face darkening. "How dare they leave the palace and go to the guesthouse?" Her fingers, gripping the teacup, turned pale. "It seems they don't take me seriously."
Nanny Li whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I have sent someone to pass on the message to Lord Chen. Tomorrow morning, Lord Chen will mention Mingzhu Gege's background in the court, forcing the Emperor to conduct a thorough investigation."
Concubine Gao curled her lips into a sneer: "Good, well done. I want to see if they can still laugh this time." The wind outside the window blew up the fallen leaves, and they hit the window paper, making a rustling sound, which sounded like the sound of footsteps, and in the silent night, there was a chill.
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