Chapter 303: Wind Rises in the West Courtyard, Shadows Float
The crabapple petals in the east courtyard were scattered all over the ground, like a layer of pink and white brocade. Xiaoyanzi took off her shoes and stepped barefoot on the petals. The cool touch mixed with the wetness of the soil made her squint in comfort. Yongqi chased out with a moon-white cloak, looking at her helplessly: "The ground is cold, be careful not to hurt yourself."
"It's okay, it's okay," Xiaoyanzi waved her hand, her skirt sweeping across the flowers, startling a few butterflies. "Look how beautiful these flowers are, they feel like clouds when you step on them." She turned around and was about to throw herself into Yongqi's arms, but he reached out to stop her.
"Slow down," Yongqi held her waist, his eyes full of doting, "You're pregnant, don't be so rash." He put the cloak on her shoulders, and his fingertips accidentally touched the skin on the back of her neck. Both of them shrank back as if they were burned.
Xiaoyanzi blushed and glared at him: "Aren't you afraid of being seen?"
"If I see it, I will see it." Yong Qi lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "You are my princess, what are you afraid of?"
"You're such a smooth talker!" Xiaoyanzi pushed him away, but couldn't help laughing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Dengzi leading a maid from the west courtyard over, and the smile on her face faded a little.
The maid lowered her head, holding a gilded lacquer box in her hands. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "Your Highness, Your Highness, the Concubine said...that Mian Yi has woken up and is clamoring for Your Highness to come over and see her."
Yongqi's brow furrowed slightly. Xiaoyanzi took the lacquer box and opened it. Inside were several delicate plum blossom pastries, each delicately crafted. "Got it," she said calmly, closing the lid. "Go back and tell the concubine that the prince will be there later."
The maid hesitated and didn't leave. "The concubine also said...she also said that Mian Yi learned to call me 'Ama' today, and she must call me that in person for the prince to hear."
Xiaoyanzi raised an eyebrow and was about to speak when Yongqi spoke up, "I understand. I'll be there once I've dealt with the matter."
The maid bowed and turned to walk towards the west courtyard. Little Mosquito came over and said with a pout, "Goodness, this West Courtyard is well-informed. They know that the prince is free right now."
The little bug squatted on the ground and imitated Mian Yi's voice: "Ama... Ama..."
"Go, go, stop learning nonsense." Xiao Zhuozi patted him and handed Xiao Yanzi a cup of hot tea. "Princess, it's cold, drink something to warm yourself up."
Xiaoyanzi took the teacup, her fingertips touching the warm wall, but her heart felt like ice. She looked at Yongqi: "Are you really going?"
"Well," Yongqi nodded, "After all, it's Mian Yi... It would be unreasonable not to go." He held Xiaoyanzi's hand, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon and watch the stars with you tonight."
Xiaoyanzi pulled her hand back and turned to walk into the house: "Go ahead, don't forget to have dinner in the East Courtyard."
Yongqi looked at her back and sighed. Little Dengzi whispered beside her, "Your Highness, do you want me to follow you?"
"No need," Yongqi shook his head, "I can go by myself."
The door to the west courtyard was ajar. When Yongqi pushed it open, he saw Zhihua standing in the corridor, holding Mianyi. She was wearing a lilac cheongsam with a few orchids embroidered on the collar. Her hair was loosely tied up, fixed with a jade hairpin, making her look more delicate than usual.
"The prince is here." Zhihua looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, then lowered her head again, "Mianyi, quickly call Ama."
Mian Yi blinked her big eyes and looked at Yong Qi, not saying a word for a long time. A trace of embarrassment passed across Zhi Hua's face, and she gently pinched Mian Yi's arm: "Come on, call out, Ama is here to see you."
"Ma... Ma..." Mian Yi finally uttered two vague syllables, and Zhi Hua immediately laughed: "Look, he called me! Your Majesty, Mian Yi can call me Ama now!"
Yongqi walked over and patted Mian Yi's head. The child, unfazed by the stranger's presence, reached out and grabbed his finger, popping it into his mouth. "Have you just had milk?" Yongqi asked casually.
"Yes," Zhihua nodded, her voice gentle, "I just fed him. He just woke up not long ago. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea, Your Highness?"
Yongqi wanted to refuse, but when he saw Mian Yi looking at him with those dark eyes, his heart softened: "Okay."
After entering the room and sitting down, Zhihua personally served tea and asked someone to bring some dried fruits and snacks. "These are Mian Yi's favorites," she said with a smile, "Your Highness, would you like to try some?"
Yongqi didn't move, just watched Mian Yi crawling around on the carpet. The child, wearing a small red jacket, looked like a round dumpling, which was indeed adorable. "How are you feeling lately?" Yongqi asked for conversation.
"I'm fine, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern." Zhihua lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief between her fingers. "It's just that Mian Yi keeps talking about Your Highness, saying that she hasn't seen her father in a long time."
Yongqi hummed a "hmm" and didn't respond. The room was so quiet that only Mian Yi's babbling could be heard. Zhihua secretly looked up and saw Yongqi looking out the window. His profile looked a little cold and hard in the sunlight, and her heart couldn't help but tighten.
"Your Highness," she mustered up the courage to speak, "A few days ago, the old Buddha was here, and I...did I make Your Highness angry?"
Yongqi turned around and looked at her, his eyes calm: "No."
"But the prince hasn't come these past few days..." Zhihua's voice was a little aggrieved, "I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those words in front of the old Buddha and upset the princess..."
"Let's not talk about the past." Yong Qi interrupted her, "Taking good care of Mian Yi is better than anything else."
Zhihua bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "I understand. It's just...it's just that I'm taking care of Mianyi all by myself, and sometimes I really feel...I feel so tired. If His Majesty could come visit us more often, Mianyi would be happier."
Yongqi looked at her red eyes, feeling a little uncomfortable. He knew Zhihua's life in the palace was not easy, but he really couldn't warm up to her. "As long as you are all well, I will come naturally." He stood up, "It's getting late, I should return to the East Courtyard."
Zhihua also stood up quickly: "I am here to see you off, Your Highness."
When they reached the door, Mian Yi suddenly got up from the carpet, staggered towards Yongqi's legs, and shouted: "Ma...Ma..."
Yongqi was stunned for a moment, then bent down and picked him up. Mian Yi giggled and reached out to grab the jade tassel on his hat. "This child..." Yongqi couldn't help but smile.
Zhihua stood aside, watching the father and son. A gentle smile flashed across her face, but a calculating look flashed through her eyes. She whispered, "If the prince likes it, please come visit him often."
Yongqi held Mian Yi in his arms, feeling a pang of excitement in his heart. He nodded, then walked out with the child in his arms. "I'll take him to the East Courtyard to play for a while and bring him back later."
Zhihua's smile froze on her face, then she regained her composure: "Okay, then I'll wait here."
Seeing Yongqi carrying Mian Yi out of the West Courtyard, the smile on Zhihua's face instantly disappeared. She turned back to the house and said coldly to the maid behind her, "Go and see what the prince is doing with the young prince in the East Courtyard."
The maid replied and left. Zhihua walked to the window, looking towards the east courtyard, her fingers gripping the window frame tightly, her knuckles turning white. She simply refused to believe that Mian Yi alone wouldn't win Yongqi back.
Under the crabapple tree in the east courtyard, Xiaoyanzi was watching Yongqi hugging Mianyi and making her laugh, her brows knitted into knots. Ziwei came over and handed her a handkerchief: "Wipe the sweat off."
"Do you think he's stupid?" Little Swallow whispered. "As soon as Zhihua hooked it, he brought the child here."
"The child is innocent." Ziwei sighed, "Yongqi also feels sorry for Mianyi."
"I know," Xiaoyanzi waved her hands irritably, "but I just feel uncomfortable! Look at Zhihua's attitude, it's obvious that she wants to use the child to trap Yongqi!"
Ziwei was about to speak when she saw Yongqi coming over with Mian Yi in his arms. He smiled and said, "Xiaoyanzi, look how cute Mian Yi is."
Xiaoyanzi turned her head away in annoyance: "Just hold on to it if it's cute, don't give it back to her."
"Are you jealous?" Yong Qi came closer with a smile, "My princess, are you jealous of even a child?"
"Who's jealous!" Xiaoyanzi glared at him, "I think... I think this child is just like his mother, with bad intentions!" As soon as she said it, she regretted it - why get angry with a child.
Yongqi's face darkened: "Xiaoyanzi, Mianyi is innocent."
"I know!" Xiaoyanzi was also angry. "I just can't stand Zhihua's behavior! She acts pitiful every day, as if someone bullied her!"
The two of them started arguing, and Mian Yi was startled, pouting, and burst into tears.
"Look at you, you scared the child and made him cry!" Yongqi hurriedly coaxed Mian Yi.
"He is the one who likes to cry!" Xiaoyanzi turned her head away, her eyes red.
Ziwei advised from the side: "Alright, alright, stop talking. The child is still here."
Little Mosquito came over, scratched his head and said, "My goodness, why are you quarreling for no reason? Don't cry, little brother, let me show you a magic trick!" As he spoke, he took out a small ball from his arms and started changing it around, which really made Mian Yi laugh.
Seeing Mian Yi burst into laughter, Xiaoyanzi felt a little relieved, but she still couldn't bring herself to lose face. Yongqi glanced at her and said to Ziwei, "Ziwei, please look after Mian Yi for me. I want to talk to Xiaoyanzi."
He pulled Xiaoyanzi to the corridor and whispered, "Stop making trouble, okay? I know you're feeling wronged, but Zhihua is Mianyi's mother after all. I can't just ignore her."
"I'm not making a fuss," Xiaoyanzi said in a muffled voice, "I just... I just feel uncomfortable."
Yongqi sighed and hugged her: "I know. I will spend more time with you from now on and go to the West Courtyard less often, okay?"
Xiaoyanzi leaned against his chest, smelling the familiar scent of ink on him, and the grievance in her heart gradually dissipated. She muttered, "That's better."
The wind blew through the crabapple tree, dropping a few petals onto the two of them. Yongqi lowered his head, looking at the little swallow in his arms, his eyes filled with tenderness. He thought the storm had finally subsided, but he had no idea that the shadow of the west courtyard was quietly approaching them.
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