Chapter 275: Old friends gather together, full of laughter
The crabapple branches of the east courtyard of Prince Rong's mansion leaned over the wall, casting fine shadows on the bluestone slabs. Little Swallow was squatting beside the stone table, watching Little Bug tie a knot in the kite's tail with colored wool. A little gold dust dabbed on her fingertips, making the tip of her nose sparkle.
"Longer! Longer!" She slapped the stone table, her voice as crisp as wind chimes. "It should be dragged to the ground, so that it will look majestic when it flies!"
The little mosquito squatted nearby, winding the thread on a spool. Hearing this, he gasped in surprise: "My goodness, boom! Princess, are you planning to fly a kite or some silk? If it gets any longer, the wind will tangle it!"
Yongqi came over with a plate of freshly cut honeydew melon and reached out to wipe the gold powder off Xiaoyanzi's nose. When his fingertips brushed her cheek, she subconsciously shrank her neck and laughed out loud, "You're the only one who understands! Last year in Shufangzhai, the long-tail kite I flew flew higher than the corner tower of the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"
As he was speaking, a guard's announcement came from outside the courtyard: "Your Majesty, Princess, Master Fu, Master Fu, Princess Ziwei, and Miss Liuhong have arrived!"
Xiaoyanzi stood up with a jerk, the hem of her bright red skirt sweeping across the stone bench, bringing with it a gust of fragrant wind. "Ziwei is here?" She grabbed Yongqi and ran out. After two steps, she turned back and shouted to the four talented scholars, "Put away your kites! Let's fly them together later!"
As soon as they reached the Moon Cave Gate, they saw Ziwei, wearing a lavender dress, being supported by Erkang as she walked in. Liuhong followed beside them, holding a food box in her hand. When she saw Xiaoyanzi, she raised her hand and said, "Swallow! Look what goodies I brought you!"
"Liu Hong!" Xiao Yanzi rushed over and hugged her arms, her eyes first falling on Ziwei, "Ziwei, you're finally here! A few days ago, I asked Xiao Zhuozi to go to the guesthouse to look for you. Jinsuo said you were tailoring clothes for Liu Qing's new employee!"
Ziwei smiled and took her hand, her fingertips soft and tender. "I just finished my work and came here. But you, are you getting used to living in the palace these days?" She glanced across the courtyard and suddenly caught sight of Xiao Dengzi and his three companions moving a kite stand. She was stunned for a moment, "Xiao Dengzi? Why are you here too?"
Little Deng Zigang leaned his kite against the porch pillar. Upon hearing this, he bowed and said with a smile, "Replying to Princess Ziwei, the emperor has graciously allowed the servants to come and serve the princess."
"The Emperor actually asked you all to come here?" Ziwei's eyes flashed with surprise. She turned to look at Xiaoyanzi, her tone full of relief, "That's great. With them here, you'll be happy every day."
"Of course!" Xiaoyanzi raised her chin proudly and walked inside with Ziwei in her hand. "They just arrived yesterday and made me a phoenix kite that's bigger than the one in Shufangzhai. Let's fly it together later!"
Liu Hong placed the food box on the stone table and opened the lid. Inside was braised beef with soy sauce and sesame pancakes wrapped in oil paper. "This is freshly baked in the guest house. Jinsuo asked me to bring it to you, saying you'd love it."
Ertai and Yongqi walked side by side and said with a smile, "I heard the commotion inside just now when I was at the door. It turns out the four great scholars have arrived. No wonder Yanzi's voice is so loud with joy."
Yongqi smiled and nodded: "The Emperor said that they and Yan Zi are the most compatible, and they can make her feel more comfortable in the palace."
As he was speaking, Xiao Jian's voice came from the west corner gate: "The laughter in this yard can be heard from two streets away."
Everyone turned around and saw Xiao Jian wearing a navy blue suit, holding Qing'er's hand. Qing'er was wearing a moon-white dress with a few orchids embroidered on the hem. The two of them had just walked in from the corner gate leading to the Fang Mansion.
"Brother! Sister Qing'er!" Xiaoyanzi ran over again and took Qing'er's arm. "Why did you come just now? My mother asked Sister Qing'er to teach me how to embroider crabapple flowers yesterday!"
Qing'er smiled and patted her hands. "I just helped my aunt sort out your dowry list, so I hurried over." She glanced at the four talented people in the courtyard and looked at Xiao Jian with understanding. "I was wondering why I heard pigeons from the Fang Mansion flying to the Wang Mansion so early this morning. It turns out there's some happy news."
Xiao Jian walked over to Yongqi and patted him on the shoulder: "With these four funny guys around, it will be hard for you to have peace and quiet in the future."
"I couldn't ask for more." Yong Qi smiled and shook his head. "I'll feel more at ease if she's more lively."
The little bug fished out a whistle from somewhere, brought it to his lips and blew it, imitating the call of a lark: "Chirp-Chirp-Chirp, Ziwei Gege, does this sound like the lark that built its nest in the locust tree in Shufangzhai last year?"
Ziwei was amused by him and nodded, "It's very similar. Didn't she order you guys to climb trees and rob bird nests these few days in the palace?"
"How could that be!" Xiao Zhuozi waved his hands quickly, but couldn't help laughing. "Yesterday, the princess wanted to pick pomegranates in the west courtyard, but the prince stopped her. They had a quarrel, and in the end the prince picked them himself. The princess even complained that the ones he picked weren't red enough!"
"Xiao Zhuozi, you're talking nonsense!" Xiaoyanzi blushed and grabbed a pancake and stuffed it into his mouth. "If you keep making up stories about me, I'll punish you by making you tie a hundred bells to your kite!"
Xiao Zhuozi dodged away with a smile, mumbling, "I won't dare!"
Erkang looked at the lively scene and whispered to Ziwei beside him, "Look at her. She seems to be more comfortable in the palace than in the palace."
Ziwei nodded, a gentle look in her eyes: "That's great." She turned to look at Liu Hong, "Have you and Ertai decided on a location for your martial arts school?"
"It's settled!" Liu Hong said in a loud voice. "It's located at the old escort agency site in the south of the city. Construction will begin the day after tomorrow. I'll treat you all to a drink then!"
"I'll definitely go!" Xiaoyanzi rushed to agree, and then took Qing'er's hand. "Sister Qing'er, Brother Xiao Jian said you guys are going to Jiangnan next month. Can you take me with you? I want to see the Broken Bridge in West Lake. I heard it's so beautiful in the spring when it's covered with peach blossoms!"
Just as Qing'er was about to answer, Xiao Jian spoke first: "You, you want to run away right after getting married? Will Yongqi let you go?"
Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi helplessly: "If you want to go, you have to wait until this period of time. I will finish the case and go with you."
"Really?" Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up, and she rushed over, hugged his arm and shook it, "You can't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying." Yong Qi scratched the tip of her nose, his fingertips still stained with the gold powder she had just rubbed. "When the time comes, I'll have Xiao Dengzi and the others come along. I'll make you a big kite that can carry a person, and fly it by the West Lake."
"Yongqi, you are the best!" Xiaoyanzi stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. Her face turned red after the kiss and she turned around and hid behind Ziwei.
Everyone laughed. Liu Hong punched Ertai and said, "Look at Yongqi, then look at you. I asked you to accompany me to the martial arts gym to check out the wood, and you said you wanted to reconcile with Erkang!"
Ertai begged for mercy: "I'll go right now! I'll go right now! I'll go with you this afternoon!"
Sunlight streamed through the crabapple blossoms, landing on everyone's face with a warm glow. Little Wenzi squatted on the ground, drawing a kite pattern on the blue bricks with a twig, muttering, "Guai guai long di dong, this phoenix needs two more tail feathers!" Little Bug squatted beside him, occasionally imitating a bird's call. Little Dengzi and Little Zhuozi were moving stone benches, ready for everyone to sit and drink tea. Ziwei and Qing'er huddled together, whispering and occasionally laughing. Erkang, Xiao Jian, and Yongqi stood aside, chatting lightly about matters of the court and the martial arts world.
Xiaoyanzi leaned on Ziwei's shoulder, taking in the sight before her, suddenly feeling a sense of well-being filling her heart. In her previous life, she'd never imagined a life like this—with a lover by her side, sisters by her side, a brother to protect her, and a group of old friends to share her joy and mischief. She secretly glanced up and saw Yongqi looking back at her, the tenderness in his eyes like unmelting spring water, and she couldn't help but smile again.
The perfection of this life is such real warmth.
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