Chapter 212: Dawn Breaks, Undercurrents Surge
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the Shufangzhai window lattice, scattering onto the wintersweet branches in the courtyard, making the glistening dewdrops sparkle. The charcoal fire in the warm room had long since burned out, leaving only a hint of warmth. The air was filled with the faint scent of ink and flowers, blending into a tranquil atmosphere.
Xiaoyanzi woke early in the morning. She wore a lake-blue shorts, her hair neatly tied into a ponytail, and was practicing with a longsword in the courtyard. The blade's light traced silver arcs in the morning light as she moved, and her fluttering sleeves evoked a dashing, chivalrous air. She was still preoccupied with the rumors of the previous night, and her swordplay was more ferocious than usual. The tip of her sword pierced the morning mist, leaving behind a whirring sound.
"Practicing so early?" Yongqi's voice came from the corridor. He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe and holding a plate of freshly baked osmanthus cake in his hands. A smile crossed his brows. "I just asked for it from the imperial kitchen. It's your favorite."
Xiaoyanzi sheathed her sword, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. She hopped onto the porch, took the plate, and shoved a piece of food into her mouth, mumbling, "You really understand me!" Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the dark patterns embroidered on Yongqi's sleeves. Suddenly, she remembered something and leaned close to his ear, whispering, "My brother and I agreed last night to meet at Jiaomen at midnight. Don't tell anyone."
Yongqi reached out and wiped the cake crumbs from the corner of her mouth. His fingertips touched her warm skin, and his eyes were so gentle that tears could drip from his eyes. "Of course I won't tell you, but you must be careful. If you make any noise, retreat immediately. Don't be so stubborn." He paused, took out a small whistle from his bosom and pressed it into her palm. "This is what my mother left for me. Blowing it will attract my people. Keep it with you."
Xiaoyanzi held the cold whistle tightly, her heart warmed. She raised her head and smiled at him, revealing two small canine teeth: "I know, you can rest assured!"
At this time, Ziwei and Erkang also came out of the house. Ziwei was wearing a lavender jacket and skirt, covered by a plain cloak. Although her face was still a little pale, her eyes had regained their clarity. Erkang followed her, holding a thick folded cloak in his hand. Seeing her standing in the corridor, he hurried forward to put it on her and said, "The dew is heavy this morning. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"I'm fine," Ziwei gently gathered her cloak, her eyes fixed on Xiaoyanzi, worried, "Xiaoyanzi, do you really want to go with Brother Xiaojian..."
"Don't worry, sister!" Xiaoyanzi patted the soft sword at her waist and smiled confidently, "I'm very good at light work. I'll be back in no time. I guarantee that no one will notice!"
Erkang frowned and said in a deep voice, "I've already asked Xiao Zhuozi to keep an eye on the movements of Jingren Palace and report back as soon as there's any news. When you go there at night, don't go near the main hall. Just listen for any movements from the periphery."
As they were talking, Xiaodiao came out of the side hall carrying a basin of water. Seeing them all in the corridor, he quickly said with a smile, "Prince, are you up so early? The kitchen has stewed some candied pears. I'll bring it over right away!"
"Wait a moment, little stool," Ziwei called him and asked softly, "Is anyone discussing anything in the palace today?"
Xiaodeng scratched his head, a look of confusion on his face. "It seems... some eunuchs and palace maids gathered together to whisper. When they saw us approaching, they quickly dispersed, still muttering. Xiaowenzi went to ask around, and he said... they said they were saying bad things about our Shufangzhai. I didn't hear what they said exactly."
Xiaoyanzi clenched her fists upon hearing this, a flicker of anger in her eyes. "It must be that old bitch Li Ma'am! Once I find the evidence, I'll make her pay!"
"Don't be impulsive," Yongqi quickly held her back, "Now is not the time to alert the enemy." He turned to Erkang, "Is there any news from Lord Fulun? What does the emperor think of this rumor..."
Erkang shook his head. "My father said that the Emperor looked normal when he came to court this morning. He just mentioned that he would thoroughly investigate the rumors in the palace. I think he has something on his mind."
Ziwei finally breathed a sigh of relief. She walked into the courtyard, looked at the wintersweet in full bloom, and whispered, "I hope this rumor can be quickly put to rest, so as not to alarm the Queen Mother and too many people."
"Don't worry, Ziwei," Erkang walked to her side with a firm look, "I am here and will never let you suffer any injustice. No matter how fierce the rumor is, I will stand by you." As he spoke, he quietly held Ziwei's hand, his palm warm and strong.
Ziwei's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gently held his hand back, the worry in her eyes gradually replaced by warmth.
At this moment, Xiao Jian walked in from outside. He was wearing a dark robe and a jade pendant at his waist. He looked normal, though his eyes were sharper than usual. "The rumors in the palace have spread," he said softly, walking over to Xiao Yanzi. "I just came from the Fang Mansion. Father told you to be careful and not fall into any traps."
"I know, brother," Xiaoyanzi nodded, "Have you arranged everything for tonight?"
Xiao Jian hummed and glanced at everyone: "Meet at the corner gate at 11:00 PM. Bring some self-defense gear." His gaze lingered for a moment on the dagger Qing'er had given him - that was the dagger Qing'er had secretly slipped to him yesterday, saying it was a style commonly used by palace guards and was very sharp.
Yong Qi looked at Xiao Jian and said seriously, "Be careful. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately. Safety comes first."
Xiao Jian nodded in agreement, turned around and told Xiao Yanzi some underworld codes and ways to escape, his voice was very low so that only the two of them could hear it.
The sun gradually rose higher, casting dappled shadows through the branches and leaves, falling on everyone. The courtyard of Shufangzhai seemed peaceful as usual, but in reality, everyone's heart was tense. Xiaoyanzi nibbled on a sweet-scented osmanthus cake, her eyes occasionally glancing towards Jingren Palace; Ziwei sat on a stone bench, embroidery frame in hand, but she hadn't sewed a single stitch in a while; Yongqi and Erkang conversed in low voices, their brows furrowed from time to time; Xiaojian stood in the corridor, gazing towards the palace wall, lost in thought.
Only Little Stool and Little Mosquito were still busy. Little Mosquito came out of the house carrying a medicine bowl. Seeing Little Swallow, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wow! Princess, you were really good at sword training today, just like Sun Wukong!"
The little stool chimed in, "That's right! Our princess is a master of both civil and military skills! Tonight I'll tell you the story of Sun Wukong's three battles with the White Bone Demon. No matter how cunning the White Bone Demon was, he couldn't escape the Fiery Eyes of the Golden Eyes!"
Little Swallow was amused by them and started to laugh. The haze in her heart dissipated a lot. She reached out and patted Xiaodeng's shoulder: "Okay! I'll listen to your lecture when I come back tonight. If you don't explain well, you will be punished by copying the book!"
The atmosphere in the warm room gradually relaxed. The sun shone warmly on us, carrying the delicate fragrance of flowers. Although the shadow of the rumors still lingered, looking at the people around them who cared about them, everyone felt a surge of warmth in their hearts. No matter how many storms lay ahead, as long as we worked together, we would be able to overcome them.
Xiaoyanzi took a deep breath, gripped the whistle Yongqi had given her, and touched the soft sword at her waist. Her eyes became determined. This time, she would never let the tragedy of her previous life repeat itself. She would protect everyone around her and protect this hard-earned warmth and happiness.
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