Chapter 54: In front of Shufangzhai, the wind sways the shadows
The morning light filtered through the eaves of the palace walls, casting a jagged pattern of light and shadow on the bluestone pavement. Xiaoyanzi's fingers, holding the food box, were slightly stiff, the rosewood box slightly damp from the sweat of her palms. Xiao Jian stood beside her, the sleeves of his moon-white gown fluttering in the morning breeze. The bronze ornaments on the sword at his waist gleamed coldly in the sunlight. His eyes warily scanned the guards at the palace gate.
"I'll wait for you here for half an hour." Xiao Jian lowered his voice and stuffed a small silver whistle into her palm with his fingertips. "This whistle has a special sound, I can hear it." The cold touch of the silver whistle spread along his fingertips, but strangely calmed Xiaoyanzi's panicked heart.
She nodded, took a deep breath, and followed the eunuch leading the way inside. Lush pines and cypresses lined the palace path, their shadows swaying as the glazed tiles of the distant palace reflected a dazzling light. The eunuch's steps were brisk, his shrill voice echoing from time to time: "Miss Fang, hurry up! The Emperor is waiting in Shufangzhai."
Xiaoyanzi clenched the handle of her lunch box, her knuckles turning white. Shufangzhai… the name was like a fine needle, gently piercing the depths of her memory. The days of laughter, tears, and playfulness within the red walls of her past life suddenly came back to her, making her steps feel heavy.
The gate to Shufangzhai stood ajar, its vermilion lacquer doors carved with lotus patterns, and its brass knocker polished to a shine. As she approached, she heard the soft clinking of porcelain from within, accompanied by a gentle yet commanding voice. It was Qianlong. Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat, and she paused subconsciously, her food box teetering slightly in her hands.
"Miss Fang, why don't you go in?" Steward Liu had caught up with her at some point, a formulaic smile on his face, but a shrewd look hidden in the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. "The Emperor specifically ordered you to go in directly."
Xiaoyanzi bit her lower lip and pushed open the heavy courtyard door. Several crabapple trees were in full bloom, their pink and white petals drenched in morning dew, shimmering in the morning light. Under the main hallway, a figure in a bright yellow dragon robe stood with his back to her. The golden dragon pattern swayed in the sunlight, like a dormant giant.
"Are you here?" Qianlong turned around, his face somewhat relaxed, his hair slightly ruffled by the morning breeze. When his eyes fell on her, they were like warm spring water. "I've been waiting for your pancakes for quite a while."
Xiaoyanzi quickly knelt in greeting, her knees hitting the kneepads beneath her skirt with a slight thud. She lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, masking the emotion in her eyes. "Your Highness, I, Fangci, pay my respects to you."
"No need for formalities." Qianlong waved his hand, his eyes fixed on the food box she was clutching tightly, his smile deepening. "Have you got it?"
"Yes." Xiaoyanzi raised the food box above her head, her arms trembling slightly. "Vulgar food may pollute the holy mouth."
Eunuch Su stepped forward to take the food box and carefully opened it. The hot air, carrying the aroma of chili peppers and sesame seeds, instantly spread, adding a touch of homely flavor to the elegant floral scent. Qianlong walked to the stone table in the corridor and sat down. His bright yellow dragon robe, spread across the stone bench, was particularly eye-catching. He gestured to the seat across from him: "Sit down, and let me taste your cooking."
"Your humble servant dare not." Xiaoyanzi waved her hands hurriedly, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her lilac skirt. "There is a difference between the ruler and the subject. Your humble servant will just stand."
Qianlong didn't force it, picking up a piece of pancake with his bamboo chopsticks. The golden crust was stained with bright red radish cubes, and it was steaming hot. He took a bite, and the spicy flavor exploded on his tongue. A flicker of nostalgia flashed in his eyes. "Not bad, spicy and fragrant enough, just like the taste of the old days."
Xiaoyanzi's heart suddenly sank, and her nails dug deep into her palms. The taste of the past... He really did remember it. In their previous life, in the compound, when she first brought him pancakes, he had said the same thing with a smile. She lowered her eyes, her voice as low as a mosquito's: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I just made it carelessly."
"If something cooked casually tastes this good, how good will it be if it's cooked with care?" Qianlong took another bite, his eyes fixed on her tense profile. The end of her braid, tied with a red silk ribbon, swayed gently in the morning light, reminiscent of the ethereal figure in his memory. "Miss Fang, did you often make these when you were in Jiangnan?"
"No... not often." Xiaoyanzi hurriedly shook her head, her fingertips wrinkling the hem of her skirt even more. "It's just... I just saw my friends in the compound doing it, and I learned a little bit."
"A friend from the compound?" Qianlong put down his chopsticks and picked up the teacup handed to him by Eunuch Su. The heat blurred his eyes. "Is it Liu Qing or Liu Hong?"
Xiaoyanzi looked up suddenly, her eyes filled with astonishment. How could he know about Liu Qing and Liu Hong? She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She could only stare blankly at Qianlong. The morning light fell on her face, reflecting the panic in her eyes, like a frightened deer.
Qianlong looked at her like this and secretly laughed in his heart. This girl, she still can't keep secrets. He took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Last time Su Peisheng reported, he said that you often go to the south courtyard to help them. You are a kind-hearted child."
So it was Eunuch Su who said that. Xiaoyanzi breathed a sigh of relief, but a cold sweat broke out on her back. She lowered her head and whispered, "They...they took good care of me. I'm just doing my little bit to help."
"It's a good thing to repay a favor." Qianlong's eyes swept over the pearl hairpin in her hair. She had given him that hairpin yesterday, but it didn't look as vibrant as the red silk at the end of her braid. "I heard that you even helped them sell their shop?"
Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat. How did he even know this? She clutched her sleeves, her fingertips cold. "It's just... I just saw how hard their business was, so I offered a little help. I didn't want to worry the Emperor."
Qianlong looked at her, her expression as if she were facing a formidable enemy, and his smile deepened. He put down his teacup and stood up, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the stone table, stirring up a breeze. "That's all right. It's my wish that the people live and work in peace and contentment. You've done well, and you deserve a reward."
Xiaoyanzi quickly knelt down and said, "I dare not accept the reward. It is my duty to help the emperor."
"Oh?" Qianlong raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her face, inquiring, "Then if I ask you to come to the palace more often and talk to me, would that count as sharing my worries?"
Xiaoyanzi's pupils suddenly constricted, and she abruptly looked up at Qianlong. His eyes were gentle, yet held an undeniable power that made her heart tighten, and she even forgot to breathe. The morning breeze blew through the crabapple blossoms, petals rustling and falling, landing in her hair like a silent warning.
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