Chapter 78: The shocking words are hard to come by, and the heart is uneasy. Father’s love is like a mountain, temporarily shielding the wind
The air inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation seemed frozen solid, every inch piercing with a bone-chilling chill. Fang Zhihang's back was drenched in sweat, his royal blue court robes clinging to his body with dampness. The icy chill spread down his spine and into every part of his body. He lowered his head, his forehead nearly touching the golden brick floor, the cold, hard surface his only support.
Qianlong's icy words still echoed through the hall: "...if you get into trouble, you'll cling to my legs and cry 'Father, help me!'" Every word was like a hammer, hammering down on Fang Zhihang's tense nerves. He could clearly feel the emperor's eagle-like gaze fixed on him, as if to scrutinize him thoroughly.
"Your Majesty..." Fang Zhihang's voice was dry and hoarse, with an uncontrollable tremor, "Your servant... Your servant is stupid... I really don't know who the 'old friend' Your Majesty is talking about... My daughter Fang Ci grew up in the water town of Jiangnan, and has never set foot in the palace. It is even more... It is impossible for me to know Your Majesty's old friend..." He tried his best to maintain the last bit of composure, but his words were filled with panic that was difficult to conceal.
Qianlong didn't speak immediately. The only sound in the hall was the monotonous, cold ticking of the clock, a death-dealing spell. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the smooth rosewood surface of the imperial desk, producing a dull, regular "tap, tap" sound, each one piercing Fang Zhihang's heart.
After a long moment, so long that Fang Zhihang felt his blood was about to freeze, Qianlong finally spoke slowly, his tone inarticulate, "Oh? Really? Perhaps... my old eyes are blurry, and I must have seen it wrongly?" He paused, his voice softening slightly. "After all, the world is so vast, and there are people with similar personalities."
Fang Zhihang felt relieved suddenly, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He quickly followed Qianlong's words and said, "Your Majesty is wise! This must be the case! My little daughter is naughty and rude, how dare I be compared with Your Majesty's old friend? Your Majesty must be too busy with state affairs and too overworked, so he is a little absent-minded." As he spoke, he kowtowed deeply, his posture extremely humble.
Qianlong looked at his prostrate figure, a complex, indistinguishable light flickering in his eyes: inquiry, understanding, and a subtle hint of... disappointment. He was silent for a moment, then waved his hand. "Forget it, get up. I was only speaking casually." He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "You need to pay more attention to the flooding in Jiangnan. I see that the proposal for post-disaster school reconstruction in the regulations you submitted is very good. The people are the foundation of the country, and education comes first. You must implement this matter as soon as possible."
The topic suddenly turned to business. Fang Zhihang was a little slow to react, but he immediately responded, "I obey your order! I will do my best to live up to the emperor's high expectations!"
"Well," Qianlong nodded, "it's nothing, you can go back first."
"I'll take my leave." Fang Zhihang kowtowed once more, as if granted amnesty. He stood up, almost staggering, and with his head bowed, he quickly exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Only after exiting the heavy palace gates and bathing in the cool morning light did he dare to breathe deeply. The cold sweat on his back, blew by the wind, brought a piercing chill. He glanced back at the majestic palace and felt as if he had just walked through the gates of hell. His legs felt weak.
Meanwhile, outside the palace gates, Xiao Jian waited anxiously. He parked his carriage in a secluded corner not far from the palace gates, his eyes fixed on the gates, his palms sweating with nervousness. Seeing his father appear at the gates, his heart finally relaxed. But seeing his father's pale face and unsteady steps, his heart immediately rose again.
He hurriedly drove the carriage to meet him, and under the surprised gaze of the guards at the palace gate, he whispered, "Dad!"
Fang Zhihang saw his son, and a trace of comfort flashed in his eyes. He calmed himself down and quickly got on the carriage. Xiao Jian immediately whipped the carriage, and it quickly drove away from the palace gate.
The atmosphere in the carriage was solemn. Xiao Jian drove the carriage while anxiously asking, "Dad, what's going on? The emperor...what did he say?"
Fang Zhihang leaned against the wall of the carriage, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. His voice was tired and hoarse: "The emperor... he knows everything."
Xiao Jian was startled, his grip on the reins tightening. "Did he know that Ci'er... called him 'Emperor Father'?"
Fang Zhihang slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with worry. "Hmm. The Emperor kept mentioning 'old friends' and even mentioned that Ci'er called me 'Emperor Father'. His words... were full of temptations. I desperately denied it, saying that Ci'er was young and ignorant and spoke without thinking, so he stopped asking. But I can feel that the Emperor... doesn't believe it at all."
Xiao Jian's expression instantly grew serious. "Then did the Emperor... say what to do?"
"Not yet," Fang Zhihang shook his head. "The Emperor finally turned the topic to the floods in Jiangnan, seemingly... letting it go for now. But I know this is only temporary. The Emperor's mind is unfathomable. Now that he's suspicious, I'm afraid he won't let it go."
Xiao Jian fell silent, his brow furrowed. He knew his father was right. Now that Emperor Qianlong knew Xiaoyanzi's secret, he would never let her go easily. The palace turmoil had finally drawn in their Fang family.
"Dad, don't worry." Xiao Jian took a deep breath, his eyes becoming firm. "No matter what, I will protect Ci'er and our Fang family."
Fang Zhihang felt a little more at ease when he saw his son's resolute eyes. He patted Xiao Jian on the shoulder and said, "Good boy, you've worked hard. Don't tell your mother and Ci'er about this for now, so they don't worry."
"I know." Xiao Jian nodded, drove the carriage, and sped up towards the Fang family.
The carriage jolted along the way and soon arrived at the gate of Fang's mansion. Fang Zhihang straightened his clothes and tried to look normal before getting off the carriage with Xiao Jian and entering the mansion.
At this moment, in the Begonia Courtyard of the Fang family, Xiaoyanzi was sitting restlessly. She had been feeling uneasy since waking up that morning, always feeling that something was about to happen. Seeing her father and brother return, she hurried to greet them, her face full of concern: "Dad, brother, you're back? How are you? Did the emperor give you any trouble?"
Fang Zhihang looked at his daughter's worried eyes, and his heart warmed. He forced himself to cheer up and smiled gently, "Silly child, what are you worried about? The emperor just wanted to talk to me about some floods in Jiangnan. He didn't make things difficult for us."
Xiaoyanzi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing her father's pale face and tired expression, she still felt a little doubtful: "Dad, you look very tired. Did the emperor talk to you for a long time?"
"Well," Fang Zhihang nodded and continued, "The emperor attaches great importance to the flood in Jiangnan and asked a lot of details, so the conversation took a while. Okay, Dad will go back to his room and rest for a while, and you don't have to worry."
After saying that, Fang Zhihang, supported by Xiao Jian, went back to his room to rest. Xiao Yanzi watched them leave, her doubts growing even stronger, but she didn't ask any more questions.
Back in her room, Xiaoyanzi sat restlessly, her mind replaying the scene of her shouting "Emperor Father" on the street that day, filled with regret and fear. She didn't know if the emperor would blame her for this, and she didn't know what consequences this incident would bring to the Fang family.
"Miss, what's wrong with you? You have been absent-minded since you woke up this morning." Chuntao walked in with a bowl of freshly made lotus seed soup. Seeing Xiaoyanzi's sad face, she asked with concern.
Xiaoyanzi took the lotus seed soup, but she had no appetite. She just sighed softly: "Nothing, I'm just a little worried about Dad."
Chun Tao comforted her, "Don't worry, young lady. The master is a lucky man and will be fine. Besides, the young master is here. The young master is so powerful and will definitely protect you and the young lady."
Xiaoyanzi forced a smile and nodded. Although Chuntao's words made her feel a little relieved, the feeling of unease still lingered in her heart.
In the evening, Madam Fang prepared dinner and asked the maid to invite Fang Zhihang and Xiao Jian to come for dinner. The family sat around the table, but the atmosphere was a little dull. Madam Fang noticed something was wrong and asked with concern: "Master, what's wrong with you today? Is there something wrong in the palace?"
Fang Zhihang looked at his wife, then at Xiaoyanzi, and forced a smile: "It's nothing, I just talked about things with the emperor in the palace for a long time today, and I'm a little tired."
Mrs. Fang was skeptical, but she didn't ask any more questions. Xiaoyanzi looked at her father's exhausted appearance and felt even more guilty. She silently picked up a piece of his favorite braised pork and whispered, "Dad, please eat more."
Fang Zhihang looked at his daughter's sensible appearance, and felt a warm feeling in his heart. He nodded: "Okay, okay."
After dinner, Xiao Jian found an opportunity and called Xiao Yanzi to his room.
"Brother, do you have something to talk to me about?" Xiaoyanzi looked at Xiao Jian's serious expression and her heart tightened.
Xiao Jian closed the door, turned around, looked at Xiao Yanzi, and said solemnly: "Ci'er, Dad was in the palace today, and the emperor mentioned you."
Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat, and she asked nervously, "Your Majesty...what did your Majesty say about me?"
Xiao Jian took a deep breath and said slowly, "The emperor mentioned that you called him 'Emperor Father' on the street that day."
Xiaoyanzi's face turned pale instantly. She staggered back a step, her eyes filled with fear. "Brother... Is the Emperor... Is he angry? Will he... Will he blame our Fang family?"
Xiao Jian quickly stepped forward to support her and comforted her, "Don't worry, Dad has already explained to the Emperor that you were young and ignorant and spoke without thinking. The Emperor didn't pursue the matter any further."
Xiaoyanzi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the fear in her eyes had not completely dissipated: "But...will the emperor believe it?"
"Whether the Emperor believes it or not, this is all we can say now." Xiao Jian looked at Xiao Yanzi with a firm gaze and said, "Ci'er, from today on, you must be very careful and cautious. You must never mention this matter in front of anyone again, and you must never call the Emperor 'Huang Ama' again. In public, you are just Miss Fang Ci of our Fang family. You have no relationship with the Emperor. Do you understand?"
Xiaoyanzi nodded vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes: "I understand, brother. I will be careful in the future and will never cause trouble for our family again."
Xiao Jian felt a pang of heartache when he saw his sister's aggrieved expression. He gently patted Xiao Yanzi's shoulder and said, "Okay, stop crying. I'm here, and nothing will happen to you."
Xiaoyanzi sniffed, held back her tears, and nodded.
Back in her room, Xiaoyanzi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. She gazed out the window at the bright moonlight, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She knew the secret between her and the Emperor was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. All she could do now was carefully guard this secret and protect her family.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Qianlong stood by the window, gazing out at the dark night, fiddling with the bright yellow silk handkerchief stained with Xiaoyanzi's blood. Su Peisheng stood nearby, not daring to breathe.
"Su Peisheng," Qianlong said slowly, his voice low and hoarse, "Tell me, am I... too impatient?"
Su Peisheng quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not make any rash comments. But I can see that Your Majesty truly loves Miss Fang."
Qianlong sighed softly, "I just... don't want to lose her again. In my previous life, I owed her too much. In this life, I just want to make it up to her and protect her. But I didn't expect that she would be so scared."
Su Peisheng consoled her, "Your Majesty, Miss Fang is still young and has lived in Jiangnan for her entire life. It's natural that she's a little afraid of palace matters. Once she gets used to it, she'll understand your Majesty's painstaking efforts."
Qianlong was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. Perhaps I should give her some time." He paused, then continued, "Pass the order down. Ask them to take better care of the Fang family in the future, but don't be too obvious, or it will make her even more uneasy."
"Yeah!" Su Peisheng responded quickly.
Qianlong looked at the silk handkerchief in his hand, his eyes gentle and complex. He knew that it would not be easy to get Xiaoyanzi to let down her guard and return to his side. But he was patient and confident. He believed that one day, Xiaoyanzi would understand his feelings and accept him as her "Emperor Father."
As the night deepened, the Forbidden City was shrouded in silence. Yet, in the Fang family's Begonia Courtyard, Xiaoyanzi remained awake. Unbeknownst to her, a storm had just begun, and her fate would undergo a drastic change in this storm.
The next morning, when Little Swallow woke up, it was already bright. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, feeling uneasy. But when she saw the bright sunshine outside the window and heard the crisp birdsong in the yard, the gloom in her heart dissipated a little.
"Miss, are you awake?" Chuntao came in carrying a basin of water. The clear water in the copper basin was reflected by the morning light, making her smile look particularly sincere. "The weather is really nice today. Madam asked you to accompany her to sit under the grape trellis in the front yard after breakfast. She said the newly transplanted grape vines have sprouted new buds and she wanted you to take a look."
Xiaoyanzi looked at the soft lilac handkerchief draped over Chuntao's hand, her fingertips unconsciously curling. The fear of last night still surged in her heart like a tide. She took the hot towel Chuntao offered and applied it to her face. The warm touch relaxed her tense nerves a little. "I know. Mother has been talking about those grape vines lately, saying they're the variety she brought from Jiangnan last year. She's looking forward to having grapes this year."
Chun Tao helped her comb the hair that had fallen across her shoulders, smiling as she said, "That's right. Madam said this grapevine is just like you, young lady. Coming from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital, you've adapted to the climate and environment, and you look so energetic." She picked up a mahogany comb and gently combed through the tangled hair. "Young lady, what color dress are you wearing today? Could I find you the moon-white one embroidered with magnolia flowers? It'll go well with the beautiful weather."
Xiaoyanzi blinked at herself in the bronze mirror. The girl in the mirror had curved eyebrows, but a hint of green still lingered in her eyes. She shook her head. "I'd better wear the light green one. It's lighter." Light green was a color she often wore in this life. It wasn't as eye-catching as aquamarine, nor as plain as moonlight white. It always made her feel more secure.
After washing up, Xiaoyanzi walked through the corridor in the morning light. The wisteria below was in full bloom, with strings of lavender flowers hanging down. The breeze blew the petals down, staining the hem of her skirt. From a distance, she could hear her mother, Li's voice, speaking to the gardener, her tone full of care for the flowers and plants.
"Mom." Xiaoyanzi walked over quietly and saw Li bending over to look at the new seedlings under the grape trellis. She touched the tips of the tender green buds carefully with her fingertips, as if she was afraid of damaging them.
Li turned around and saw it was her. She immediately smiled and waved, "Ci'er, come quickly. Look at this bud. It was curled up yesterday, but today it's stretched out. How energetic!" She took Xiaoyanzi's hand and placed it next to the tender bud, gesturing, "Look at the color. It's the same as the one you planted in the Jiangnan courtyard when you were a child."
Little Swallow's fingertips touched the cool vines, and her heart suddenly warmed. The memory of Jiangnan was like sweet osmanthus cake soaked in honey, soft, sticky and sweet. Back then, she didn't know what the palace looked like. She only knew to follow her parents in the courtyard chasing butterflies and her brother climbing trees to dig out bird nests. She nodded vigorously: "Yes, it's exactly the same as Jiangnan! When the grapes are ripe, we can make wine to drink."
"You only know how to eat." Mrs. Li tapped her nose, the smile in her eyes so gentle it could melt spring water. "Let's just hope it can get through this spring cold weather safely. Oh, and I made your favorite lotus seed and lily porridge for breakfast. Go quickly, your father and brother must be waiting anxiously."
The dining room was indeed filled with the delicate fragrance of lotus seeds. Fang Zhihang was sitting in the main seat, flipping through a thread-bound book, his brows slightly furrowed, as if pondering something. Seeing Xiaoyanzi come in, he slowly closed the book, the weariness in his eyes being concealed by his calm expression: "Awake? Come and sit down."
Xiao Jian had already served the porridge. The white porridge in the celadon bowl was steaming, sprinkled with a few bright red goji berries. He pushed the porridge towards Xiaoyanzi and said in a steady voice, "It's freshly poured. Be careful, it's hot." As her fingertips touched the rim of the bowl, Xiaoyanzi noticed some lingering red marks on the back of his hand—probably from the reins rubbing against him last night while driving the carriage.
"Brother, what's wrong with your hand?" Xiaoyanzi quickly put down her chopsticks and grabbed his wrist to take a closer look. The red marks on the back of his hand, which had a darker complexion, were particularly conspicuous.
Xiao Jian calmly withdrew his hand, picked up a warm meat bun and stuffed it into her hand: "It's okay, I accidentally bumped into it while driving last night. It will be fine in a couple of days. Eat your porridge quickly, it won't be sticky if it gets cold."
Mrs. Li walked in with a dish of pickled vegetables. Upon hearing this, she gave Xiao Jian a reproachful look. "You're so old, and you're still not careful? Ask the kitchen to bring some lard ointment to rub it on, so it doesn't leave a scar." She placed the pickled vegetables on the table and served Fang Zhihang a bowl of porridge. "Master, why didn't you eat any vegetables this morning? This pickled cucumber is your favorite. I asked the kitchen to pickle it yesterday."
Fang Zhihang picked up his chopsticks, took a small bite of pickled cucumber, and chewed it slowly. His eyes fell on Xiaoyanzi. Seeing her sipping porridge with her long eyelashes drooping like a frightened little bird, his heart softened. "Ci'er, if you have nothing to do after breakfast, why not go out for a walk with your brother? I heard that the temple fair in Xicheng has started, and they're selling sugar paintings and windmills. Let's go and see what's going on."
Xiaoyanzi paused holding the spoon and looked up. "Temple Fair? Dad, didn't you say that the streets are crowded lately and you told me not to run around?"
"Silly child," Fang Zhihang smiled, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes relaxed a little. "What are you afraid of with your brother accompanying you? It's not good to be bored in the yard all the time. Go buy some of your favorite osmanthus cake, and bring back two strings of candied haws for your mother." He deliberately spoke lightly, as if he really just wanted to let his daughter relax, but Xiaoyanzi saw the worry that flashed in his eyes, and she knew it clearly in her heart - her father was afraid that she would have wild thoughts at home.
After dinner, Xiao Jian brought out a docile, red-brown horse. The saddle was thickly padded, and a small bamboo basket hung from it. Xiao Yanzi stroked the horse's soft mane and asked softly, "Brother, are we really going to the temple fair?"
"Let's do what Dad said." Xiao Jian jumped onto the horse, then bent down and pulled Xiaoyanzi in front of him to sit firmly. "Sit tight, we'll go slowly." The horse's hooves clattered on the bluestone slabs, passed through the side door of Fang's house, and merged into the bustling crowd on the street.
The streets were bustling with activity. Peddlers carrying loads on their shoulders shook rattles, and flower girls filled their bamboo baskets with juicy peonies, their fragrance mingling with the burnt aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts. Little Swallow, clinging to the saddle, watched an old man making sugar paintings on the side of the road. His wrists flew, and in a blink of an eye, he fashioned a vivid phoenix. Her eyes lit up.
"Want it?" Xiao Jian looked down at her and saw that she was staring at the sugar painting and swallowing her saliva, and the seriousness in her eyes faded a little.
Little Swallow nodded quickly: "Yes! I want the rabbit one!" She always felt that the rabbit was more stable than the phoenix, and not as eye-catching as the phoenix.
Xiao Jian reined in his horse and had the old man make a snow-white sugar rabbit and hand it to her. Xiao Yanzi held up the sugar painting, the sunlight shining on the transparent sugar coating, making it shimmer. She took a small bite, the sweet taste melting on her tongue, and the haze in her heart seemed to fade a little.
As I was walking, I suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from the front: "Little Swallow! Is that you?"
Xiaoyanzi looked up and saw Liu Qing standing by the roadside carrying a load on his shoulder. Liu Hong was standing on tiptoe, waving at them. On the load were some embroidered handkerchiefs; they were clearly setting up a stall. Her eyes lit up, and she patted Xiao Jian's arm, "Brother, it's Liu Qing and Liu Hong!"
Xiao Jian reined in his horse, dismounted, and helped Xiao Yanzi down. Liu Qing and Liu Hong had already hurried over. Seeing the sugar painting in Xiao Yanzi's hand, Liu Hong smiled and joked, "Oh, the eldest daughter of the Fang family also likes to eat this? I thought you wealthy families only eat those exquisite snacks."
"What do you care?" Xiaoyanzi held up the sugar painting and shook it in front of Liu Hong, saying childishly, "It's sweet, do you want to try it?"
Liu Qing smiled and shook his head, "Why are you here? There's a lot of people at this temple fair, be careful of the crowds." His eyes fell on Xiao Jian, who wore a sword at his waist and looked around warily. He couldn't help but drop his joke and whispered, "Oh, by the way, yesterday I went to deliver embroidery work to the Liang Mansion, and I heard his housekeeper say that Lord Liang has been hanging out with people from the Ministry of Revenue recently. He seemed to be checking some account books and mentioned the words 'Jiangnan Disaster Relief'."
Xiao Jian's eyes glared. "Check the Jiangnan disaster relief account book?"
"Yes," Liu Qing nodded, lowering his voice. "That housekeeper was speaking in a sarcastic tone, saying something like, 'Some people, relying on the emperor's favor, dare to tamper with disaster relief funds. Sooner or later, they'll be in trouble.' It didn't sound right to me, and I was just looking for an opportunity to tell you."
Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat. Disaster relief funds for Jiangnan? Didn't the Emperor specifically mention the flooding in Jiangnan when Dad was in the palace yesterday? Why was Lord Liang suddenly investigating this? She looked at Xiao Jian and saw that he was frowning, clearly realizing the connection.
"I understand," Xiao Jian said in a deep voice, "You should be careful recently and don't interact with people from the Liang Mansion. If you hear any movement, send someone to report to the Fang family immediately."
"Don't worry," Liu Hong patted her chest, "We two siblings know what's going on. You guys go shopping while we set up our stall over there. We'll come find you later after we close it."
Watching Liu Qing and Liu Hong disappear in the crowd, Xiaoyanzi bit her sugar painting and asked softly, "Brother, is Lord Liang's investigation of disaster relief funds related to Dad?"
Xiao Jian patted her head, trying to be as relaxed as possible. "Don't let your imagination run wild. Dad comes from a respectable background, and even if they check the accounts, they can't find anything wrong with us. Sir Liang is probably looking for trouble to benefit himself." He led the horse. "Let's go buy some candied haws, then go home. Don't let Mom and Dad worry."
As they reached the candied haws stall, they saw the owner deftly stringing bright red hawthorns onto bamboo skewers. The syrup shone an amber hue in the sunlight. Little Swallow was about to speak when she heard the sound of horse hooves approaching, accompanied by the guards' cries: "Make way! The Imperial Household Department's carriage is here!"
Xiaoyanzi's heart tightened, and she subconsciously hid behind Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian immediately stepped forward and protected her behind him, his eyes warily looking towards the door. He saw several eunuchs dressed in the uniforms of the Imperial Household Department surrounding a carriage parked next to the stall. The leading eunuch shouted in a shrill voice: "Is the young lady of the Fang family here? The gifts given by the Emperor have been delivered to the mansion. Eunuch Su specifically asked us to bring a message, saying that if the stitching of the aqua-green Hangzhou silk suit doesn't fit, please report it to the palace and ask the needlework bureau to make changes."
As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the surrounding stall owners and passersby all fell on Xiaoyanzi, with curiosity, envy, and a subtle hint of inquiry. Xiaoyanzi's face flushed instantly, embarrassed and embarrassed, with a hint of panic that could not be hidden. She clutched Xiaojian's sleeve, her fingertips trembling, "I... I don't know... Maybe the emperor remembered it wrongly..."
The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department smiled, with flattering wrinkles on his face: "How could the Emperor remember what Miss Fang said wrongly? Last night he was still talking about how unique your playing of 'The Lotus Picking Song' was, and he specially asked someone to pick out this material, saying that it suits you best. Well, the word has been passed on, and we have to go somewhere else." After that, he left with his men in a mighty manner, leaving the streets full of whispers.
The sugar painting in Xiaoyanzi's hands was almost melting, sticking to her fingertips. She lowered her head, feeling the gazes from everyone around her piercing her like needles. Seeing this, Xiao Jian said in a deep voice, "Don't worry about them. Let's buy the candied haws and leave." He paid, picked up the two largest bunches of candied haws, stuffed them into Xiaoyanzi's hands, and quickly left with her.
When I returned to the mansion and just entered the hanging flower gate, I saw Uncle Fu coming towards me hurriedly, holding a vermilion lacquer tray with a gold-embossed letter on it.
"Master, Miss," Uncle Fu said, his face pale. "The palace just sent them an invitation...an invitation to next month's Lotus Banquet, specifically requesting Miss's attendance."
Xiaoyanzi looked at the invitation sealed with a golden dragon, her hands and feet feeling cold. The candied haws in her hand fell to the ground with a thud, rolling far away. The bright red hawthorns rolled into the cracks between the blue bricks, a perfect reflection of her own flustered heart. She finally understood that the emperor's temptations were never casual; this invitation to the Lotus Banquet was the real beginning. And she couldn't escape.
Fang Zhihang had unknowingly stood behind the moonlit gate, his grayish-gray figure stretched out by the setting sun. He looked at his daughter's distraught expression and sighed deeply. In the morning light, he had said, "Let's go to the temple fair to relax," simply to give her a moment of peace and quiet. But the emperor's thoughts, like the wind, eventually blew to the small Begonia Courtyard, stirring up the very storm he feared most. He stepped forward and gently patted Xiaoyanzi's shoulder, his voice gentle but with undeniable strength: "Don't be afraid, Daddy is here."
A father's love is as strong as a mountain. Even if the road ahead is turbulent, he will always hold up a clear sky for his daughter to temporarily avoid the wind and frost. But he didn't know that the wind in the Forbidden City was far stronger than he imagined. This bond called "family affection" has already dragged their entire family into the whirlpool of fate. As the night deepened, the lights in Haitang Courtyard gradually lit up, but they could not illuminate the heavy haze in Xiaoyanzi's heart caused by the invitation to the Lotus Banquet.
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