Chapter 209: Warmth in the Guest House, Love and Planning
The afternoon sun filtered through the carved wooden windows of the guesthouse, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. Inside, a large charcoal basin burned, its warm steam mingling with the aroma of food, dispelling the winter chill. The waiters were busy polishing the tables and chairs, polishing the mahogany tabletops until they gleamed brightly, reflecting the shadows of the red lanterns hanging overhead.
As soon as Xiaoyanzi lifted the door curtain, she shouted, "Brother Liu, Sister Jinsuo, we are here!" She was wearing a pomegranate red short jacket, a red silk ribbon around her waist, and the jade pendant on her neck jingled as she ran and jumped. Behind her followed a group of people, filling the small entrance hall.
"Princess Xiaoyanzi is here!" Liu Qing poked his head out from the back kitchen. He was wearing a navy blue shorts with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a spatula in his hand, and a little flour on his face. "Come in and sit down. The mutton soup is freshly cooked and it's piping hot!"
Jin Suo came out of the inner room carrying a plate of freshly fried Sanzi. She was wearing a light green cloth skirt and her hair was neatly combed. When she saw everyone, her face flushed and she said softly, "Princess, please sit down. I'll go make tea." When she turned around, Liu Qing's eyes followed her until she entered the kitchen, then he chuckled and scratched his head.
"Brother Liu, that look in your eyes, tsk tsk tsk." Xiaoyanzi winked and nudged Yongqi's arm. "Even more clingy than when you looked at me!"
Yongqi blushed and reached out to pinch her cheek: "You are the only one who talks too much." He took off his mink cloak and carefully put it on the back of the chair. He also took off Xiaoyanzi's cloak, folded it and put it aside. "Did you catch a cold outside just now? Why are your hands so cold?" As he said that, he stuffed his hand warmer into her hand.
Ziwei was supported by Erkang as she walked in. She was wearing a moon-white cloak trimmed with white fox fur at the collar. She held a thread-bound book in her hands and said softly, "It's really warm in the guesthouse. It's more lively than the palace."
"That's right!" Erkang helped her straighten the collar of her cloak, his eyes so gentle that tears could drip from her eyes. "When spring comes, let's come here more often and let Liu Qing make you your favorite sweet and sour fish."
Xiao Jian and Qing'er walked at the end. Xiao Jian was wearing a black tight-fitting suit, with an upright posture and a wooden box in his hand; Qing'er was wearing a sky blue jacket and skirt, with a pearl hairpin on her head. When she walked in, her eyes unconsciously fell on Xiao Jian. When she saw him looking back at her, she quickly lowered her head, and her ears turned red.
"Brother Xiao Jian, please come and sit down, Princess Qing!" Liu Qing brought two chairs and called out in a gruff voice, "We just bought some new tea, and Jin Suo said she wanted to give it to Princess Qing to try."
Qing'er took the teacup handed to her by Jinsuo, her fingertips touched the warm cup wall, and she whispered, "Thank you, Sister Jinsuo." She secretly raised her eyes and met Xiao Jian's gaze. They were both stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly looked away. The hot steam in the teacup rose, blurring each other's slightly red cheeks.
"Let's get down to business!" Xiaoyanzi slammed the table, the hand warmer resting on her lap. "How's the site selection for our academy going? I've mentioned it to the Emperor, and he said if we're short on money, the palace can allocate some!"
"We've picked a good location!" Liu Qing put down his spatula and leaned over to say, "It's in that old house in the south of the city. The yard is large, and there's an old locust tree. It could be used after some renovations. I asked Zheng Biaotou to find out. It's where a scholar used to live. It's a perfect place for teaching!"
"I've been there," Xiao Jian opened the wooden box, which contained several blueprints. "This is the renovation drawing I drew. Three classrooms are separated on the east side, and two rooms are left on the west side as study rooms. We can also grow some vegetables in the backyard so the children can eat fresh food." The lines on the blueprint were neat and the markings were clear, even the style of the window lattices was drawn out.
Ziwei looked at the blueprint, her eyes sparkling. "We can even clear a plot of land in the backyard to plant flowers and plants. When the children are tired from studying, it would be relaxing to look at the flowers and plants." She pointed at the empty space on the blueprint and said, "We can build a grape trellis here to provide shade in the summer."
"Ziwei is really thoughtful." Erkang smiled and helped her tidy up her hair. "I've also asked about the teachers. Mr. Zhou from the east city and Mr. Li from the west city are both willing to teach for free. They said that teaching an orphan girl is a good deed."
"Great!" Xiaoyanzi clapped her hands and laughed. "Then I'll be in charge of recruiting people! There are many young palace maids who have never been to school in the palace's small kitchen and laundry department, as well as children from the slums. They can all be sent here!"
"I'll make a plaque!" Ertai pulled out a wooden plaque from his pocket. Carved on it were the words "Mingzhu Academy" in powerful and vigorous handwriting. "I'll ask the best carpenter in the palace to carve it. Once it's painted, it'll definitely look magnificent when hung at the door!"
Liu Hong came in carrying a lunch box. She was wearing a short, dark-colored jacket and an embroidered apron. When she saw Ertai, she glared at him, "How could you be so good? You've been out for so long, and now you're slacking off here!" She put the lunch box on the table and said, "I just bought some sugar paintings at the street corner. Let everyone try some."
The food box was filled with various sugar paintings, including little rabbits, little tigers, and even the image of Sun Wukong, all crystal clear and glittering. Ertai picked up a sugar painting and handed it to Liu Hong: "Look, I bought Sun Wukong especially for you. He's as powerful as you."
Liu Hong's face turned red. She snatched the sugar painting and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "Who asked you to buy it? It's so sweet!" But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
"Sister Jinsuo," Xiaoyanzi took Jinsuo's hand. Her hands were a little rough from years of work, but they were very warm. "I'm leaving the needlework of the academy to you. If the children's clothes are torn, can you help mend them?"
Jinsuo nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling: "I can also teach them needlework, so that they can have a skill in the future." Liu Qing watched from the side, smiling from ear to ear, and quietly handed her a piece of freshly baked osmanthus cake.
Xiao Jian saw that Qing'er's teacup was almost empty, so he stood up and refilled her with hot water. He whispered, "When the academy opens, I'll take you there. The old locust trees there are covered with snow in winter, which is very beautiful."
Qing'er held the hot tea, her fingertips warm, and replied softly, "Okay."
Yongqi helped Xiaoyanzi straighten her wind-blown hair and said softly, "If you're short of manpower, I can ask the eunuchs in the palace to help with the repairs. They're very skilled."
Erkang held Ziwei's hand, his eyes firm: "I go to the academy to teach after leaving court every day, and I will never let the children suffer any injustice."
The sunlight grew brighter, shining through the window lattices onto everyone's face, bringing warmth. The crackling of the charcoal pot in the guesthouse, the aroma of mutton soup mixed with the sweet fragrance of sugar painting, and the sound of everyone's laughter and chatter kept the winter chill out.
Little Swallow looked at the room full of people, her heart warming as if she were carrying a stove. She raised the hand warmer in her hand and said with a smile, "Our academy will definitely succeed! Let those gossipers see that we are not the kind of people who only care about enjoying life!"
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices full of confidence.
The sunlight outside the window was just right, shining on the red lanterns in the guest house, making it appear bright red, as if foreshadowing that the days to come would be prosperous and warm.
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