Chapter 47: The aftermath is still unresolved, and the hidden thread is first connected
As the Fang family's carriage pulled into the alley, Xiaoyanzi eagerly lifted the curtain. The evening breeze ruffled her slightly disheveled hair, dispelling some of the oppression brought on by the palace banquet. She took a deep breath. The air was filled with the unique aroma of the city, mixed with the fragrance of flour wafting from the bun shop next door, which made her feel more at ease than the incense in the Imperial Garden.
"Slow down, be careful not to bump into anything." Xiao Jian reached out to help her. The cuffs of his moon-white gown were stained with dust, but the worry in his eyes remained. He watched his sister leap for joy, like a bird finally freed from its bonds, and felt both relieved and slightly uneasy.
Xiaoyanzi jumped out of the car, the hem of her lilac skirt sweeping across the bluestone pavement, stirring a gentle breeze. She looked up at the familiar gatehouse of the Fang family. The red lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed gently in the twilight, their warm yellow glow dispelling the chill in her heart. "Home is still good," she muttered softly, running briskly into the courtyard. The red silk ribbon on the end of her braid (she had quietly replaced it) drew a cheerful arc in the air.
Mrs. Fang had been waiting at the door. Seeing her daughter return safely, her heart finally settled. She was wearing a casual lake-blue jacket, a simple silver hairpin in her hair. She quickly stepped forward and took Xiaoyanzi's hand. "You're finally back. Are you hungry? The kitchen has made your favorite lotus seed soup." Her fingertips touched her daughter's cold hand, and she frowned. "Why are your hands so cold? Come in and warm up."
Xiaoyanzi let her mother lead her inside, the familiar aroma of food and the faint scent of ink lingering on her nose. Fang Zhihang was sitting on the armchair in the living room, reading. Seeing his daughter return, he put down the scroll, the collar of his navy blue brocade robe opening slightly as he moved. "Are you used to being in the palace today?" His tone was calm, but his eyes were scrutinizing, clearly concerned about his daughter's performance at the palace banquet.
"Dad, Mom, I'm fine." Xiaoyanzi sat down next to her mother, took the hot tea handed to her by the maid, held the teacup with both hands to warm her hands, and the misty hot steam blurred her eyebrows. "It's just... there are too many rules in the palace, it's a bit stuffy." She avoided her father's gaze, not daring to say that she had been stared at by the emperor for a long time like that, and even more so, she didn't dare to mention the "Emperor Father" that she almost blurted out.
Xiao Jian sat down aside and poured himself a cup of tea, the sleeves of his blue cotton robe shaking gently: "Ci'er behaved very well today, but was a little restrained. The emperor... also rewarded her with osmanthus cake." He deliberately downplayed Qianlong's special attention to Xiaoyanzi, not wanting to make his parents worry too much.
Fang Zhihang nodded and tapped his fingers lightly on his knees: "The emperor is very busy with state affairs, and it is a grace that he remembers the Fang family. But Ci'er, if there are any court banquets in the future, you must be more cautious in your words and actions. You can't be as casual as you were in Jiangnan." He spoke earnestly, knowing that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, especially today when the emperor seemed to pay special attention to Ci'er. This is both an opportunity and a hidden risk.
Xiaoyanzi held the teacup and whispered, "I understand, Dad." She looked down at the tea swaying in the cup, and her slightly pale face was reflected in the water. However, Qianlong's deep eyes kept appearing in her mind. The complex emotions in them were difficult for her to understand, and she felt flustered.
At dinner, Xiaoyanzi couldn't taste the food. The exquisite dishes were placed before her, but she kept thinking about the pancakes from the courtyard and the pickled radish Liu Hong had made. Seeing her absent-mindedness, Madam Fang offered her a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and said, "Ci'er, eat more. You must be exhausted from being in the palace today."
"Mom, I want to go see Liu Qing and Liu Hong tomorrow." Xiaoyanzi suddenly spoke, her eyes shining. "Their pancake stall has been doing a lot better lately. I want to help out and... try some of their new pickles."
Fang Zhihang put down his chopsticks, frowning slightly. "You just came back from the palace, you should get some rest. There are differences between men and women, and you always go to the slums. It won't be good if it gets out."
"Dad, Liu Qing and Liu Hong are good people, they..." Xiao Yanzi wanted to argue, but was stopped by Xiao Jian's eyes.
Xiao Jian picked up a piece of green vegetables for his sister with chopsticks and said gently, "Dad is doing this for your own good. How about this, I'll go with you the day after tomorrow and bring them some charcoal for the winter." He knew that his sister could find true happiness in the compound and he couldn't bear to let her down too much.
Xiaoyanzi then smiled and took a big mouthful of rice: "Big brother is still the best!" She picked up the chopsticks, and her appetite seemed to return a little. However, the uneasiness in her heart caused by Qianlong's gaze was like a stone thrown into the lake. Although it did not cause huge waves, it caused ripples.
The lights in the imperial study were bright.
Qianlong sat on the dragon throne, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist, his eyes fixed on the painting of the courtyard before him, which had been carefully framed by Eunuch Su. The old locust tree in the painting was crooked, and the little people under it were so lifelike that you could almost hear their laughter.
"Your Majesty, it's late. It's time to rest," Eunuch Su cautiously reminded him, holding a cup of freshly brewed ginseng tea. He had watched the emperor, lost in thought, staring at the painting for a long time, his expression sometimes gentle, sometimes complex, and he didn't dare disturb him easily.
Qianlong ignored Eunuch Su's words, his gaze still fixed on the little figure in the painting, her pigtails tied with a red ribbon. Her features, her expression—it was clearly Xiaoyanzi! He was almost certain Fang Ci was Xiaoyanzi, the Xiaoyanzi who had returned to his life, carrying with her memories of a past life.
"Su Peisheng," he suddenly spoke, his voice low and filled with a subtle excitement. "How's the progress of Fang Zhihang's edited volume, 'Jiangnan Scenery'?"
Eunuch Su was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly replied: "Your Majesty, I heard that it is nearing completion. Lord Fang is rigorous in his academic research, and this book is quite detailed. His colleagues in the Hanlin Academy all praise it." He muttered to himself, why is the emperor suddenly concerned about this?
Qianlong's lips curled up into a smile, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne. "Oh? So, Fang Zhihang is a talented person. Tomorrow... summon him to the palace. I want to personally inquire about the editing situation."
Eunuch Su's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood the emperor's intention. This wasn't about caring about local customs; it was clearly about wanting to see the Fang family again. More precisely, he wanted to see Miss Fang! He quickly bowed and replied, "Your servant obeys your order. I will convey it tomorrow morning."
Qianlong nodded in satisfaction, his gaze returning to the painting, his eyes softening. He could almost see Xiaoyanzi carefree in the courtyard, hear her sweet laughter. In this life, he would never let her suffer any more injustice, never let her slip away from him again.
"Hang this painting in my bedroom." He ordered, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone.
"I obey your command." Eunuch Su carefully removed the painting, his heart filled with emotion. He had served the Emperor for many years, but he had never seen him so devoted to a painting, or even a woman. This Miss Fang might truly be about to rewrite the landscape of the harem.
As the night deepened, the Fang family had long since turned off the lights and retired to sleep. Little Yanzi lay in her soft blankets, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat, beat after beat, like the gears of fate at the end of Chapter 6, turning quietly in the still night. Little did she know that an imperial decree from Emperor Qianlong would soon shatter the peaceful life she longed for, once again tying her to the magnificent yet perilous Forbidden City.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a dappled shadow on the ground, a reflection of her turbulent emotions. She clutched the jade pendant bearing the Chinese character "义" hidden beneath her pillow. The coolness of the jade brought a sense of calm. No matter how many storms lay ahead, she would protect her family and friends. This was her most important wish in this new life. Little did she know that the path to fulfilling this wish would be even more tortuous than she had imagined.
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