Chapter 295: Rain and Wind, Walking Hand in Hand
The sunlight after the rain seemed to have been washed by the branches and leaves of the crabapple tree, casting mottled light and shadows on the bluestone slabs. The air was filled with the smell of moist earth and the faint fragrance of flowers, which was refreshing and refreshing.
Xiaoyanzi stood in the porch, fiddling with a freshly plucked crabapple leaf, still shimmering with glistening water droplets. She wore a lilac-colored silk cheongsam, delicately embroidered with lotus flowers at the collar and cuffs, which accentuated her fair complexion. Her hair was tied loosely in a bun, accessorized only by a small pearl hairpin. She lacked the princess's formal elegance and instead exuded a certain agility.
Her gaze fell on the gate of the courtyard, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, and a hint of imperceptible expectation in her eyes.
"Princess, the prince is back!" Little Dengzi trotted in with uncontrollable excitement on his face, like a little magpie announcing good news.
Xiaoyanzi looked up and saw Yongqi appear at the courtyard gate. He was still wearing his navy blue official uniform, but a corner of his outer robe was wet from the rain, clearly in a hurry. His hair was a little disheveled, the strands of hair on his forehead, damp with sweat, plastered to his smooth forehead. His eyes held a hint of anxiety and uneasiness, like a child awaiting judgment.
Seeing the little swallow in the corridor, he was obviously stunned for a moment, and his pace slowed down, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. He stood there, adjusting his clothes awkwardly, looking at her timidly, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Seeing him like this, Xiaoyanzi's remaining awkwardness vanished, and she found it rather amusing. She deliberately put on a stern face and said loudly, "What are you standing there for? Come in! Do you want me to invite you in?"
Yongqi finally woke up from his dream and hurried in. He stopped a few steps away from Xiaoyanzi, his hands clenched slightly, his palms sweating with nervousness. "Xiaoyanzi, you...you're looking for me?"
"If not you, who else should I look for?" Xiaoyanzi raised an eyebrow and deliberately turned around, facing away from him, looking at the crabapple tree in the courtyard. "Could it be that person in the west courtyard?"
"No, no!" Yong Qi waved his hands hurriedly, his voice a little anxious. "I didn't stay in the West Courtyard for long. As soon as I heard you were looking for me, I came back immediately!" He paused, lowered his voice, and asked cautiously, "Are you... not angry anymore?"
Xiaoyanzi turned around and looked at his red ears and eyes filled with anticipation. The haze in her heart completely dissipated. She sighed, took a step forward, and gently patted his arm. "What's the point of being angry? Can anger drive away all those messy people and things?"
Yongqi's eyes lit up instantly, like ignited stars. He looked at Xiaoyanzi, his lips moving, too excited to speak. He just nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! You're right!"
"However," Xiaoyanzi changed the subject, her eyes becoming sharper, like a vigilant little fox, "there are some accounts we still need to settle."
Yongqi's heart sank suddenly, and the joy that had just risen was poured down again. He lowered his head and said in a frustrated voice: "I know, it's my fault, I shouldn't have..."
"Do you think I'm going to settle your account?" Xiaoyanzi interrupted him, a sneer on her lips. "Your account, I'll put it aside for now. I want to settle Chen Zhihua's account."
Yongqi was stunned and looked up at her in confusion.
"Doesn't she want us to have a quarrel and for you to go to her place more often?" A sly glint flashed in Xiaoyanzi's eyes. "We won't do what she wants. From today on, you stay in the East Courtyard and don't go anywhere else, especially not the West Courtyard!"
"Okay, okay!" Yongqi nodded quickly, fearing she would regret it. "I'll do whatever you say! Not to mention the West Courtyard, I won't leave you even for a moment!"
Seeing his eagerness, Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but burst out laughing. In the sunlight, her smile was like a blooming crabapple flower, bright and dazzling, instantly dispelling all the anxiety in Yongqi's heart.
"Silly!" she said angrily, reaching out to straighten his messy collar. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed across his chest, feeling his warm body temperature and strong heartbeat. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Yongqi's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Xiaoyanzi's blushing cheeks, a gentle smile in his eyes. He subconsciously reached out and wanted to hold her hand, but was afraid of offending her. After a moment's hesitation, he finally held back.
When Xiao Dengzi, Xiao Zhuozi, Xiao Chongzi and Xiao Wenzi in the corridor saw the two of them reconcile, they all breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged glances with each other, and sneaked away, but they couldn't help but peek in, their faces full of curiosity and excitement.
"Little Mosquito, look, have the prince and the princess reconciled?" The little bug lowered his voice, his eyes wide open.
"Wow, boom! This is more exciting than watching a show!" The little mosquito also responded in a low voice, with an excitement on his face.
Little Dengzi patted them lightly, signaling them to be quiet, but he couldn't help grinning.
Xiaoyanzi was tickled by his hesitant look and said with a deliberately stern face, "What? You still want to be polite to me?" Then she took his hand and walked into the house. "Come in and talk. Are you going to stand here and be a target for the West Courtyard to see?"
Yongqi's hand was wrapped in her warm palm, and he felt a warm current flowing from his fingertips to his heart. His previous nervousness and anxiety instantly disappeared. He hurriedly followed her footsteps, his mouth curled up uncontrollably, and his steps became much lighter.
The four young eunuchs in the corridor were immediately in an uproar when they saw the two of them walking into the house hand in hand.
"Oh my! Have the prince and princess reconciled?" Xiao Zhuozi rubbed his hands, looking excited.
Little Dengzi stroked his nonexistent beard and pretended to be serious: "Of course. Who is our princess? The prince only has the princess in his heart. What does this little disturbance matter?"
"Wow, bang bang! I told you, Concubine Chen's tricks can never compete with the love between our prince and princess!" Little Mosquito slapped his thigh and couldn't help but raise his voice a little.
Little Bug quickly covered his mouth and glanced nervously towards the west courtyard: "Keep your voice down! If the people in the west courtyard hear us, there will be trouble again!"
The four of them chatted one after another until the clear laughter of the little swallows came from the house. Then they smiled at each other and tiptoed to guard the corridor, like four small animals guarding their nest.
Inside the house, Xiaoyanzi pressed Yongqi onto the pearwood chair, turned around, took out the snacks Mingyue had brought from the food box, and pushed them in front of him: "Here, Ziwei asked me to bring this. She said it's the lotus cake you like."
Yongqi picked up a piece but didn't put it in his mouth. He just looked at Xiaoyanzi and said, "You eat it too."
"I won't eat it," Xiaoyanzi raised an eyebrow and picked up a piece herself, but didn't eat it. Instead, she walked around behind him, put her hands on his shoulders and gently massaged them. "Look at your frown. Did you get choked up in the West Courtyard?"
Yongqi squinted his eyes as she pressed him comfortably, his voice lazily saying, "No, when I think about you still being angry, how can I care about anything else?" He paused, his tone becoming graver, "Xiaoyanzi, Zhihua's glass of wine... I really don't know what was in it."
Xiaoyanzi paused for a moment, then continued moving again, her voice calm and composed: "I know."
"You know?" Yongqi turned around suddenly, his eyes full of surprise and disbelief.
"Of course I know," Xiaoyanzi rolled her eyes at him, walked around to him, and said with her hands on her hips, "I don't know what kind of person you are. If you knew there was something fishy in the wine, you would probably flip the table right there and then." She picked up a piece of lotus cake and stuffed it into his mouth. "But you're also stupid. If you feel something wrong after drinking, you should have returned to the East Courtyard immediately. But you let yourself be pestered."
Yongqi chewed the cake and looked at her angry face. He felt warm and itchy in his heart. He reached out to hug her, but she dodged him nimbly.
"Don't touch me," Xiaoyanzi glared at him, but a smile flashed in her eyes. "I'm talking to you seriously. Since Chen Zhihua dared to use such despicable means, she will never be content. If she plays pitiful and acts tricky again in the future, don't be soft-hearted."
"I'll listen to you." Yong Qi nodded immediately, his eyes firm. "I'll try not to go to the West Courtyard from now on. If I have to go, I'll definitely bring someone close to you with me and won't give her any chance to play tricks."
Xiaoyanzi nodded in satisfaction, sat down beside him, picked up a piece of cake and ate it slowly. "That's more than enough. By the way, what are you going to do with that maid who drugged you, and those gossipers in the West Courtyard?"
"They've been tied up," Yongqi's eyes grew colder. "Once we find out who ordered this, we'll send them all to the clan office. We won't show any mercy."
"You're still somewhat useful." Xiaoyanzi patted his arm and suddenly leaned close to his ear, lowering her voice very low. "But I don't think this matter necessarily requires alerting the clan affairs office."
Yongqi saw the cunning light flashing in her eyes and knew that she must have come up with some new idea. He quickly moved closer and asked, "What do you have in mind?"
Xiaoyanzi hooked her finger, motioning him to come closer. Their heads were touching, like two little foxes plotting something. Sunlight streamed in through the window lattice, landing on their intertwined sleeves. The warmth seemed to dispel all the gloom.
Little Dengzi, who was sitting in the corridor, caught a glimpse of this scene and whispered to the other three, "It seems that the good days of our East Courtyard are coming back."
Xiao Zhuozi and Xiao Chongzi nodded repeatedly, while Xiao Wenzi put his hands together and muttered to himself, "Good boy, long and hard! I hope the one in the west courtyard will behave himself and stop making trouble!"
The crabapple blossoms in the courtyard swayed gently in the breeze, and water droplets dripped from the petals, splashing tiny water droplets, as if playing a gentle melody for the east courtyard after the rain.
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