Chapter 304: The fragrance is floating, and the storm is rising again
On the stone table in the east courtyard sat a freshly brewed cup of pre-rain Longjing tea. Steam rose from the tea, blurring Xiaoyanzi's slightly furrowed brow. She propped her chin on one hand, the other unconsciously stroking her swollen belly. Her gaze fell on Mian Yi, a toddler not far away. The child, drawn by a string of candied haws, staggered after a small insect, her laughter ringing like a silver bell.
"Don't frown so much." Yong Qi sat down beside her, holding a teacup, and gently smoothed the wrinkles between her brows with his fingertips. "If you get angry and make yourself sick, I'll be very sad."
Xiaoyanzi slapped his hand away and looked away: "Don't try that. If you really care about him, you shouldn't have brought him here."
"Little Swallow," Yongqi's voice deepened, "Mian Yi is still just a child."
"It doesn't matter whose child it is." Xiaoyanzi snorted. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ziwei standing in the corridor and winking at them. Her anger subsided a little, but she still couldn't help but mutter, "I just don't like the look of his mother. It makes me upset just looking at her."
Ziwei came over and tried to smooth things over with a smile. "Okay, what's the big deal? Is it worth a fight between you two? Yongqi means well, he wants the children to get closer." She handed Xiaoyanzi a piece of freshly made almond pastry. "Try it? Jinsuo just learned this recipe. It's sweet but not greasy."
Xiaoyanzi took the almond cake and took a big bite in a bad mood. "You are the only ones with good tempers. If it were Liu Hong, she would have turned the west courtyard upside down long ago."
As he was speaking, Xiao Dengzi hurried in from outside and whispered something in Yongqi's ear. Yongqi's face changed slightly, and he stood up and said, "I'll be back soon."
Xiaoyanzi raised her eyebrows: "What's so mysterious?"
"Nothing," Yongqi said vaguely, "I'll go deal with the news from the palace." He took two steps, then turned back and warned, "Don't run around. Get some rest."
Watching Yongqi hurried away, Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat, feeling something was amiss. Ziwei held her hand and said, "Don't overthink it. Perhaps it's just some ordinary business."
Xiaoyanzi shook her head and was about to say something when a maid from the west courtyard came over with a food box. A flattering smile was plastered on her face. "Princess, Princess Ziwei, the concubine said that the young prince has been staying in the east courtyard for a long time. She was worried that he would disturb your rest, so she sent a servant to take him back. She also made some snacks that he likes for you and Princess Ziwei to try."
Xiaoyanzi looked at the old woman with a cold look in her eyes. This old woman was Zhihua's wet nurse. She usually relied on Zhihua's influence to bully others in the West Courtyard. But now she was acting like this, which made people feel uncomfortable.
"No need," Xiaoyanzi said calmly, "Mianyi is having a great time here. I'll have someone send him back later. As for the snacks, there's no shortage in the East Courtyard. You can take them back."
The smile on the old woman's face froze. She wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the little mosquito: "My dear, our princess said no, don't you understand? Hurry up and pick up your broken box and get back to the west courtyard. Don't be an eyesore here!"
The old woman's face turned pale and blue after being scolded, but she didn't dare to get angry. She could only leave with the food box in embarrassment.
Little Bug came over and whispered, "Princess, this old woman was whispering to the eunuch who bumped into you at the door just now. She was acting very sneaky."
Xiaoyanzi's heart was filled with alarm, and she stood up suddenly. "Oh no!" She said to Ziwei, "Ziwei, please help me look after Mianyi. I'll be back soon!"
"Where are you going?" Ziwei quickly grabbed her and said, "You're pregnant, you can't run around!"
"I'll go see Yongqi," Xiaoyanzi said with a determined look. "I have a feeling something's wrong. Yongqi didn't look like he was handling official business just now." She broke free from Ziwei's hand and said to Xiao Dengzi, "Quick, take me to where Yongqi is!"
Little Dengzi hesitated and said, "Princess, the prince has instructed you to rest well..."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Xiaoyanzi said sternly, "I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong!"
Xiao Dengzi didn't dare to persuade her anymore and quickly led Xiaoyanzi to the backyard. Ziwei looked at Xiaoyanzi's back, her heart was in turmoil, and she said to Xiaochongzi: "Quick, go tell Uncle Fu that the princess went to the backyard and ask him to come over quickly!"
Xiaoyanzi followed Xiaodengzi to the corner gate of the backyard and saw Yongqi talking to a eunuch from a distance. The eunuch lowered his head and his appearance could not be seen clearly, but Xiaoyanzi recognized the jade pendant around his waist at a glance - it was the token of Eunuch E!
Eunuch E was E Min's confidant, so how could he suddenly appear in Prince Rong's mansion? Xiaoyanzi's uneasiness grew stronger and stronger. Just as she was about to step forward, she was stopped by Xiao Dengzi.
"Princess, no!" Little Dengzi lowered his voice, "The prince specifically ordered that no one be allowed to approach!"
Xiaoyanzi shook off his hand and was about to take a step when she saw Yongqi turning around and looking at her with a serious expression. He was startled when he saw Xiaoyanzi and walked over quickly: "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to rest well?"
"If I don't come, will you be deceived?" Xiaoyanzi looked at him directly. "Who is that eunuch? Is it Eunuch E?"
Yong Qi was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. He came... to say that E Min wanted to see him about something important."
"Emin?" Xiaoyanzi sneered. "What could be his big deal? He's just trying to use your connections to secure a good future with the Emperor! Yongqi, don't forget how he treated Ziwei back then!"
"I know," Yong Qi sighed, "That's why I didn't agree to meet him. It's just... he said he had news about your brother Xiao Jian."
Xiaoyanzi's heart tightened: "What happened to my brother?"
"He didn't say anything, he just said he would tell me in person." Yongqi held her hand. "Don't worry, I won't believe him easily. I've asked someone to check to see if what he said is true."
Xiaoyanzi looked at Yongqi, and her anger gradually subsided, replaced by a trace of fear. She knew that Yongqi was not a foolish person, but when it came to Xiao Jian, he had to be cautious.
"I'm sorry," Xiaoyanzi lowered her head, "I shouldn't have lost my temper with you just now."
"Silly girl," Yongqi ruffled her hair, "I know you're worried about me. Okay, stop thinking about it and let's go back."
Just as they were about to turn around, they saw the maid from the west courtyard rushing over with Zhihua. Zhihua's face was filled with anxiety: "Prince, Princess, Mian Yi suddenly started crying and said her stomach hurts. Please go and see her!"
Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition came over her. She and Yongqi exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of vigilance in the other's eyes.
"Let's go and take a look." Yongqi said in a deep voice.
The group hurried to the East Courtyard and saw Mian Yi lying in Ziwei's arms, crying non-stop, her face flushed red, her forehead covered in cold sweat. Little Chongzi was so anxious that she was running around in circles: "She was fine just now, I don't know what happened, she suddenly cried out in a stomachache!"
Xiaoyanzi stepped forward and touched Mianyi's forehead, which was burning hot. Her heart sank, and she looked at the woman carrying the food box with her eyes as cold as ice: "What did you just give Mianyi to eat?"
The old woman shuddered with fear and waved her hands repeatedly: "Nothing... nothing, it's just some snacks that Concubine Fujin asked me to bring. The young prince hasn't eaten them yet..."
"Really?" Xiaoyanzi sneered. "That's strange. He was fine, why would he suddenly have a stomachache?" She turned to Yongqi, "Quick, go get the imperial physician!"
Yongqi immediately ordered Xiao Dengzi to fetch the imperial physician. Zhihua hugged Mianyi, weeping bitterly: "Mianyi, my child, please don't get hurt..."
Xiaoyanzi looked at her, her heart full of suspicion. It was such a coincidence that Mian Yi suddenly had a stomachache just after Eunuch E left. It seemed like someone was behind this.
She quietly tugged at Ziwei's sleeve and winked at her. Ziwei understood and nodded slightly.
The imperial physician arrived quickly, took Mian Yi's pulse, and frowned, "Your Highness, Princess, the young prince has been poisoned!"
"What?!" Yongqi and Zhihua exclaimed at the same time.
Xiaoyanzi's face turned pale instantly. She subconsciously covered her belly, her eyes filled with fear and anger. She knew that this time, the enemy's target might not only be Mian Yi, but also the child in her belly.
The crabapple blossoms in the courtyard had fallen to the ground, leaving a blood-red carpet. A new storm was quietly unfolding.
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