Chapter 168 Afternoon Leisure, Floating Shadows
The afternoon sun in the guesthouse was just right, slanting in through the carved window lattices, casting a gridded pattern of light across the blue brick floor. The smoky aroma of the stove, mixed with the fragrance of food, filled the lobby. The laughter of the guests, the shouts of the waiters, and the din of storytelling from the small stools mingled together, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere like simmering chicken soup.
Xiaoyanzi was lying on the table by the window, watching Ziwei teach Jinsuo how to write. Jinsuo's hand, gripping the brush, trembled slightly as she wrote the characters "Bin Lou" on the rice paper. The "Lou" character's roof was crooked, like a crouching turtle. "Look, young lady," Jinsuo said, blushing, pushing the paper toward Ziwei. "I can't write it right. Brother Liu said it looks like a talisman."
Ziwei picked up the pen, held her hand, and wrote slowly: "Don't be afraid, keep the horizontal lines flat and the vertical lines straight. Look—" The tip of the pen slid across the paper, leaving behind beautiful handwriting, "It will look good this way." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liu Qing standing behind the counter, his eyes fixed on them. She couldn't help but wink at Jinsuo, "Someone is reading this very carefully."
Jinsuo followed her gaze and met Liu Qing's. Her hand trembled with fright, and the brush clattered onto the inkstone, splattering ink all over her hand. Liu Qing hurried over, pulled a clean handkerchief from his bosom, and handed it to her: "Wipe it off quickly! The ink won't wash out." His fingertips accidentally brushed against her hand, and they both pulled back as if burned, their cheeks flushed red.
"Oh my!" Little Swallow was watching from the side and laughed so hard that she slapped the table and shouted, "Brother Liu gave you a handkerchief! Jinsuo, hurry up and accept it, it's a token of love!" Little Mosquito came over, still chewing a bun in his mouth: "Good boy, long dong, the matchmaker is tying the red thread, and the handkerchief is handed to you, good things are about to begin!" Jinsuo was so angry that she grabbed the peanuts on the table and threw them at him, but Little Mosquito dodged it nimbly, causing all the guests to laugh.
Yongqi came over with a bowl of sour plum soup and gently placed it next to Xiaoyanzi's hand. "Have a drink to help you feel better after eating so much braised pork." He looked at her dimples and couldn't help but touch them with his fingertips. "If you keep making such a fuss, you might get impeached by the censor for 'disrespectful behavior.'"
Xiaoyanzi glared at him, but then obediently took two sips from the bowl. "Impeach me if you will. I have the Emperor to protect me anyway." She suddenly leaned close to Yongqi's ear and lowered her voice very low. "Honestly, did your brother learn that from you when he was with Liu Hong? Giving chestnuts and candied haws as gifts, isn't that vulgar?"
Yongqi shook his head helplessly, a smile glittering in his eyes. "Is that vulgar? Then I'll give you a jade pendant next time." He untied a white jade pendant from his waist, engraved with a swallow with outstretched wings. "I picked up the material last time I was hunting, and had the craftsman carve it in your image." The jade pendant felt warm against Xiaoyanzi's palm. She was stunned for a moment, then quietly slipped the pendant into her sleeve pocket, saying stubbornly, "Who wants your broken jade pendant... But since you have good taste, I'll keep it for you for now."
In the center of the hall, Xiaodiao was standing on a bench, telling a story, clapping the wake-up stick in his hand. "It's said that Sun Wukong tried to borrow the palm-leaf fan for the third time but failed. He was so anxious that he scratched his head and took out his golden cudgel and smashed it towards the Flaming Mountain—" He suddenly lowered his voice and imitated the tone of Sun Wukong, "Hey! Princess Iron Fan, stop being so arrogant! Look at how powerful I am!"
"Chirp!" Little Bug imitated the monkey's calls, jumping around and scratching his ears, making the children run around him. Little Table, itching to do something, suddenly did a somersault and landed with a show of strength: "Look at my 'demon-slaying kick,' Little Table!" Before he could finish his words, Liu Hong, who was passing by with a plate, tripped him and nearly fell flat on her butt, causing everyone to burst out in laughter.
"You reckless fool!" Liu Hong kicked the small table in anger. Turning around, she saw Ertai running towards her, holding a sugar painting of a majestic dragon, its frosting gleaming with crystal light. "This is for you," Ertai handed the painting to her, a little sugar residue on his nose. "I just queued up to buy it. It's the biggest dragon ever!"
Liu Hong looked at the sugar painting, then at his sparkling eyes, and took it unhappily: "Why buy such a big one? It's too sweet!" But she couldn't help but lick it. The sweet taste spread, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. Ertai looked at her and smiled foolishly, and Xiaoyanzi threw a handkerchief at him: "Why are you standing there like an idiot? Help Liu Hong carry the plates!"
Ziwei looked at the lively scene and whispered to Yongqi beside her, "This feels so good, like a dream." Her fingertips stroked the embroidery thread on her cuffs. "When I was in Jinan, I always dreamed of having a stable home and friends around me. Now it's all come true."
Yongqi was about to speak when Xiao Jian walked in. He was wearing a moon-white robe and a jade pendant at his waist. He looked dusty, but his eyes were bright. "Brother!" Xiaoyanzi jumped up and ran over. "Why are you here? Where's Qing'er?"
Xiao Jian smiled and ruffled her hair. "Qing'er is accompanying the Empress Dowager at Fayuan Temple. I stopped by to see her." His eyes swept across the laughter in the room, finally landing on Qing'er's bookcase that was secretly watching him from behind the counter. His eyes softened a little. "I just saw a familiar figure on the street corner. It looks like Eunuch E's man. Be careful outside the palace."
Xiaoyanzi's smile faded a little, and she nodded, "I know that old woman Li Ma has bad intentions. But with us here, she can't do anything." She patted Xiao Jian's arm, "Don't worry, I'm very good at light combat. If anything happens, I can take Ziwei with me!"
"You're talking nonsense again." Ziwei came over and handed Xiao Jian a cup of hot tea. "Brother, you've had a hard journey, take a break. Liu Qing said he left some drunken crabs for you, shipped from Jiangnan, and they're just what you like."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing immediately called out to the waiter, "Bring up the drunken crabs! And cut up two pounds of braised beef!" He wiped his hands and walked over, bowing to Xiao Jian. "Brother Xiao, you've arrived just in time. I've just made some old hen soup. Would you like to try it?"
Xiao Jian had just sat down when he saw Xiao Dengzi running over with a storybook in his hands: "Brother Xiao! Last time you said that the part about Wu Song fighting the tiger in "Water Margin" was not described in detail. I specially checked the storybook and would like to tell you about it today?" Xiao Jian smiled and nodded. Xiao Dengzi immediately cleared his throat and began to talk. Xiao Chongzi imitated the roar of a tiger on the side, which attracted everyone to gather around again.
As the sun gradually set, the guests at the guesthouse changed in waves. Xiaoyanzi helped Jinsuo settle the bill for the day and then pestered Liuhong to teach her how to knead dough: "I want to learn how to make dumplings so I can show them to the emperor back at the palace!" As a result, flour got all over her face, making her look like a kitten. Yongqi laughed so hard that he took out his handkerchief to wipe her face.
Ziwei sat by the window, embroidering a handkerchief in the setting sun. The jade pendant Erkang had given her shone faintly beneath her lapel. She watched Xiaoyanzi and Yongqi playfully, watched Liu Qing pass snacks to Jinsuo, watched Ertai help Liuhong clear the dishes, her smile gentle as water.
Xiao Jian sipped his tea, his eyes occasionally glancing out the window. The suspicious figure on the street corner had long since vanished, but his brows remained slightly furrowed. He pulled a small sachet from his bosom and thrust it into Xiao Yanzi's hand. "This is made with mugwort and mint. It repels insects and is also invigorating. You and Ziwei should keep it with you."
Xiaoyanzi took the sachet, put it to her nose and sniffed it: "It smells so good! Big brother, you're the best!" She turned around and stuffed it into Ziwei's hand, "Wear it, you're most afraid of mosquito bites."
Ziwei held the sachet, and a faint herbal fragrance came from her fingertips, and her heart was warm: "You should wear one too, it can refresh you when practicing sword." The two of them pushed it to each other, and the tassels of the sachet swayed gently in the sunset.
When it was time to return to the palace, Xiaoyanzi clung to the doorframe, reluctant to leave: "Liuhong, I'll come back tomorrow to learn how to make buns!" "Jinsuo, don't get too tired practicing calligraphy. I'll bring you some ink from the palace next time!" "Liuqing, the drunken crabs are so delicious. Pack me two more to take away!"
Yong Qi pulled her helplessly, "If you don't leave now, the palace gate will be closed." He bowed to Liu Qing and the others, "We will return to the palace first. You should also rest early and be careful."
As the carriage left the guesthouse, Xiaoyanzi lifted the curtain and looked back. She saw Liuqing and Jinsuo standing at the door, waving. Ertai was helping Liuhong move the door panel. The setting sun stretched their shadows very long. "Look," she turned and smiled at Ziwei, "how nice they are."
Ziwei nodded, her eyes sparkling: "Yeah, we are all fine."
The carriage wheels rolled over the cobblestones, gradually leaving behind the laughter and chatter of the guesthouse. The carriage fell silent, with only Little Swallow still muttering, "Wow, long, long, dong! Today's buns are so delicious! I'll come again next time..." Little Swallow didn't respond. Her fingertips rubbed the sachet Xiao Jian had given her, and she suddenly remembered Qianlong's words: "The palace is not like the south of the Yangtze River. Be more careful in everything."
She looked out the window. The lights of the capital gradually lit up in the twilight, and the vermilion palace walls loomed in the distance. The warmth of the guesthouse lingered in her heart, but the lurking shadows, like the dusk, crept up on her. But she tightened her grip on Ziwei's hand, glanced at Yongqi, who smiled beside her, and her heart settled again: with sisters, friends, and the Emperor protecting her, no shadow, no matter how dark, could block her path forward.
As the carriage passed the corner, the eunuch reappeared, gazing from afar at the lights lining the palace walls as the carriage merged, then quickly vanished into the twilight. The lights in Shufangzhai had already been lit for them, their warm glow filtering through the window lattices, waiting at the end of the silent palace road.
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