Chapter 73: The aftermath is still unsettling, and the undercurrent is gradually rising.
As the sun crested overhead, the bustle of "Brothers Noodle House" gradually died down. Liu Qing and Liu Hong insisted on packing some sweet cakes for Xiaoyanzi. The oil-paper packages were heavy and still emitting a warm, sweet aroma. Xiaoyanzi couldn't refuse, so she had to hold them in her hands, her fingertips burning from the heat as they gently stroked the corners of the paper.
"I'll take you to the alley entrance." Liu Qing picked up the shoulder pole at the corner and prepared to go buy vegetables for the afternoon. His coarse cloth jacket was soaked with sweat. "Please pay more attention to Sir Liang's matter. If there is any movement, I will let Liu Hong report to the Fang family."
Xiao Jian patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Lord Fu has already taken notice. You should be careful and don't get into conflict with that bully again."
"Got it!" Liu Hong poked her head out from the kitchen, dishcloth still clutched in her hand, "Xiaoyanzi, come back tomorrow to eat the freshly made osmanthus cake!"
Little Swallow waved her hand, and the red ribbon on her braid drew an arc in the air: "I will definitely come!"
Leaving the alley, the bustling hustle and bustle of Qipan Street washed over us. Peddlers carrying loads passed by, shaking rattles. Flower girls, their bamboo baskets filled with juicy gardenias, their fragrance mingled with the smell of dust. But Xiaoyanzi lost the lightheartedness she had felt when she arrived. The sugar cake in her hands was warm, but her heart felt cold, as if a pair of eyes were watching her from behind.
"Thinking about the Emperor?" Xiao Jian slowed down his pace and walked side by side with her, his voice low. The sunlight filtered through his figure and fell on Xiao Yanzi's face, casting a small shade.
Xiaoyanzi nodded, kicking the stones on the roadside with her toes. "Brother, do you think the Emperor really knows where I am? Why did he go to Qipan Street today?"
"Whether he knows it or not," Xiao Jian's voice was as steady as a stone, "be more careful when you go out next time, and don't go to places with few people alone." He paused, looking at Yongqi and the other two who followed behind him, "Thank you very much, Fifth Prince and the Fu brothers for today."
Yongqi took two quick steps to catch up, his royal blue brocade suit glowing softly in the sunlight. He looked at Xiaoyanzi's tense profile and said softly, "Miss Fang, don't worry. The Emperor is very busy with many things and may not pay attention to these little things." Having said that, he knew in his heart that his father's eyes would never stay on a certain place for no reason.
Fu Erkang also said, "Brother Fang Yan, don't worry. I will tell my father in detail about Sir Liang's matter when I return. I will definitely find evidence of his guilt as soon as possible."
Ertai came over, still playing with the straw grasshopper Liu Qing had given him. "That's right! Wait until that corrupt official is caught, and see if he dares to let his nephew do evil! Xiaoyanzi, we'll set off firecrackers to celebrate!"
Xiaoyanzi's smile curled up at his amusement, but the smile faded before it even reached her eyes. She secretly raised her eyes and met Yongqi's gaze. His eyes were filled with concern, like the warm sunshine on a spring day, which made her heart tremble slightly. She quickly lowered her head and said, "Thank you."
At a fork in the road, Yongqi stopped and said, "We're going back this way. Brother Fang Yan and Miss Fang, be careful on the road." His eyes fell on the package of sugar cakes in Xiaoyanzi's hand and he added, "Sugar cakes won't taste good when they get cold. Let's go back quickly."
"Well! Fifth Prince and Erkang Ertai should be careful too!" Xiaoyanzi nodded and watched them turn and leave. Yongqi took two steps, looked back at her, and then disappeared around the corner.
On the way back to Fang's house, Xiaoyanzi said little. Xiao Jian knew she was nervous, so he didn't ask too many questions. He only occasionally pointed to the shops on the roadside to divert her attention. "That shop has good ink. I'll take you there to pick out a few good ones next time." "Those candied haws in front look sweet. Do you want to buy a couple?"
Xiaoyanzi shook her head and clenched the candy bag in her hand: "Brother, I don't want to enter the palace." Her voice was as light as a sigh, "There are so many rules in the palace, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I can't protect our family." The memories buried deep in her heart surged up. The suspicion in the palace, the cold rules, and the helplessness she had no choice about herself made her fingertips cold, but she dared not mention the specific events of the past.
Xiao Jian stopped, squatted down and looked at her, his palm gently covering her head, his movements as gentle as treating a fragile treasure: "Ci'er, no matter what decision you make, I will support you. But if you really can't avoid it, I will accompany you to face it, and will never let you suffer alone." The determination in his eyes was like a mountain, which made Xiaoyanzi's fear fade a little.
After entering the Fang Mansion and passing through the moon-shaped door, the housekeeper Fu Bo came to greet them, holding a gilded lacquer box in his hand: "Miss, Master, the palace just sent a reward. It is said that the emperor gave it to you."
Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat and she stopped in her tracks. "A reward from the palace? Today?"
"Yes," Uncle Fu smiled as he opened the box. Inside was a water-green Hangzhou silk dress embroidered with delicate lotus patterns, and a box of crystal-clear Dongzhu pearls. "Eunuch Su sent it personally. He said the Emperor praised the young lady for the beauty of the flowers she had seen in the Old Summer Palace last time, so he gave it to her specially."
Madam Fang also rushed over after hearing the news. Her eyes lit up when she saw the reward: "Why did the emperor suddenly give us such a gift? Our Ci'er is so lucky." She picked up the dress and gestured, "This material is so comfortable to the touch. It's just right for our Ci'er to wear."
Xiaoyanzi couldn't smile. Her fingertips brushed against the cold orchids, and she felt a weight on her heart. The emperor's reward came at a perfect time, so coincidental that it made her uneasy. This wasn't just a flower appreciation; it was a reminder that he remembered her, that she was in the Old Summer Palace, that she was at the noodle shop today.
"Mom, I'm a little tired." Xiaoyanzi put down her dress and forced a smile, "Let's go back to my room and rest for a while."
"Go, go," Mrs. Fang didn't notice her daughter's strange behavior and continued to mutter to Uncle Fu, "Put the things away quickly, don't bump into anything..."
Back in her room, Xiaoyanzi flung herself onto the bed, staring blankly at the winding branches on the ceiling. Sunlight streamed through the window screens, casting a faint shadow on the ground. The gardenias in the celadon vase on the table had a delicate fragrance, but she felt breathless. She just wanted to stay with her parents and brother, to watch over the green willows, and to live a peaceful and stable life. Why was it so difficult? In those images hidden deep in her heart, the magnificent palaces were always accompanied by storms, and the knife hidden behind the favors. She dreaded the feeling of being forced to do things against her will.
"Knock knock knock—" There was a knock on the door, and Xiao Jian's voice came, "Ci'er, can you come in?"
Xiaoyanzi sat up and rubbed her red eyes: "Come in."
Xiao Jian came in with a bowl of Tremella soup and placed it on the table. "Mom asked the kitchen to make some. Drink some to calm your nerves." He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his sister's listless appearance, and sighed, "Are you still thinking about the emperor?"
Xiaoyanzi nodded, picked up the spoon and stirred the Tremella soup. She said in a muffled voice, "Brother, does he really want me to... go to the palace?"
"It's hard to say right now," Xiao Jian picked up the Dongzhu on the table and held it up to the light. "But we can't guess the emperor's intentions, so we can only take it one step at a time. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on my parents and won't let them embarrass you." He paused, then added, "I've asked someone to inquire about Lord Fu, and they've indeed begun investigating Lord Liang. Maybe there'll be good news soon, which will put your mind at ease."
When Lord Liang was mentioned, Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up. "Really? Then the people won't have to be bullied by him anymore?"
"Yes," Xiao Jian nodded with a smile, "Erkang is a reliable person, and Lord Fu is also an upright official who will not let corrupt officials go unpunished."
Xiaoyanzi scooped a spoonful of Tremella soup into her mouth. The sweet warmth flowed into her heart, relaxing her tense nerves. She looked at her brother and suddenly smiled, with a look of dependence in her eyes: "Brother, it's great to have you around."
Xiao Jian was stunned, then ruffled her hair, a trace of heartache flashing in his eyes. He knew his sister was hiding something, those occasional moments of absent-mindedness, her inexplicable resistance to the palace, all concealing a hidden fear. But he never asked too many questions, only whispering, "Silly girl, of course I'm here."
In the evening, Fu Erkang sent a messenger with news that Lord Fu had discovered evidence that Lord Liang had withheld relief funds for the Jiangnan disaster and was collecting evidence from the account books, reassuring Xiaoyanzi. Xiaoyanzi clutched the note, feeling both warm and heavy in her heart—warm at the thought of someone standing up for the people, yet heavy at the undercurrents of officialdom that had finally caught up with her.
During dinner, Fang Zhihang noticed his daughter had no appetite and asked with concern, "Ci'er, what's wrong today? Is it because of the heat that you have no appetite? Ask the kitchen to make you a bowl of sour plum soup?"
"Dad, I'm fine." Xiaoyanzi took a bite of vegetables and said, "I'm just tired from playing outside this afternoon."
Madam Fang suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Oh right, today Eunuch Su came to give me some gifts and said that the palace will hold a lotus banquet next month and invite all the young ladies and gentlemen of marriageable age to attend. It's time for our Ci'er to go see the world."
"Lotus Banquet?" Xiaoyanzi almost dropped her chopsticks. She looked up, her eyes filled with panic. "Mom, I don't want to go!"
"How can you not go?" Madam Fang scolded. "This is a palace banquet, an opportunity many people would beg for. It would be good for you to meet the Emperor and Empress and get to know some young ladies your own age."
Fang Zhihang also nodded: "Madam is right, it's good to go for a walk, don't stay at home all the time."
Xiaoyanzi opened her mouth to retort, but met Xiao Jian's gaze, a look that contained both soothing and resignation. She swallowed her words, knowing full well that she couldn't avoid the Lotus Banquet. The Emperor had already offered a reward as a test of the waters; this banquet was the next invitation, one she had no choice but to accept.
The evening breeze blew in through the window, carrying the fragrance of the gardenias in the yard, but Xiaoyanzi felt a chill in her heart. She looked at the food on the table and suddenly lost her appetite. She put down her chopsticks and said, "Dad, Mom, I'm full. I'm going back to my room first."
Back in her room, she sat by the window, watching the sunset fade into the horizon. Clutching the handkerchief Yongqi had given her that day, embroidered with delicate orchids, the stitches delicate. She recalled Yongqi's gentle eyes, Erkang's unwavering promise, and Xiao Jian's steady protection. From the swamp of fear in her heart, tiny sprouts of hope seemed to sprout.
Perhaps, this life could be different. Perhaps, with these people around, she could maintain the peace she desired. Perhaps, the Lotus Banquet wouldn't be all about turmoil.
But in the distance, the lights of the Forbidden City gradually brightened, like a dormant giant, silently watching her in the night. Little Swallow knew that her peaceful days were truly coming to an end, and she must muster the courage to face the inevitable storms. She gently stroked the orchid grass on her handkerchief, as if drawing a ray of strength from it, and her fingertips gradually warmed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
