Chapter 299 Ziwei's visit, the storm is about to rise
The window lattices of Shufangzhai were carved with delicate lotus patterns. The morning light filtered through the carvings, casting tiny specks of light on the blue brick floor. A pot of jasmine blossomed on the windowsill, its snow-white petals wet with morning dew, emitting a sweet fragrance that blended with the elegant aqua cheongsam of Ziwei.
Ziwei stared into the diamond-shaped mirror, Mingyue tucking her hair into a graceful bun, adorned only with a pearl tassel hairpin. She gently stroked the round pearl dangling from the hairpin. Her reflection in the mirror was gentle, yet a hint of worry for Xiaoyanzi couldn't be concealed. "Xiaoyanzi said there's going to be something interesting. It's probably that the one from the West Courtyard is getting restless again," she whispered to herself, her fingertips tightening slightly.
"Princess, the carriage is ready." Caixia came in to report, holding a plain handkerchief embroidered with orchids in her hand.
Ziwei took the handkerchief, twisted the cold silk handkerchief with her fingertips, and stood up: "Let's go."
Outside the red lacquer gate of Prince Rong's mansion, guards dressed in dark blue uniforms, long swords at their waists, stood tall and straight like pine trees. As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Xiao Zhuozi from the east courtyard hurried over, a shrewd smile on his face. "Princess Ziwei, our princess has been waiting for you for a long time!"
Ziwei stepped onto the hand stool provided by her maid and got out of the carriage. She glanced at the pair of majestic stone lions in front of the palace gate and asked softly, "Xiaoyanzi...Is the princess okay?"
"I'm fine!" Xiao Zhuozi led her inside and said in a low voice, "I'm just a little angry. Whenever I think about what the guy in the west courtyard did, I clench my fists."
Passing through the winding corridor and skirting a grove of crabapple trees in full bloom, they arrived at the East Courtyard. From afar, they could hear Xiaoyanzi's clear laughter, mingling with Yongqi's gentle words. Ziwei quickened her pace and saw Xiaoyanzi sitting on a stone bench beneath the crabapple tree, playing with a string of red agate beads. Yongqi stood behind her, brushing petals from her shoulders.
"Ziwei! You're finally here!" Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up when she saw her, and she jumped up like a happy little bird. The golden crabapple embroidery on her skirt sparkled with her movements. She rushed to Ziwei and grabbed her hand. Her palm was warm and slightly sweaty. "Hurry up and sit down. I have something exciting to tell you!"
Ziwei was pulled to sit down by her. Her eyes inadvertently swept over Xiaoyanzi's slightly bulging belly. A gentle smile flashed in her eyes: "Seeing you look so energetic, I feel relieved." She paused, looked at Yongqi, and knelt in greeting, "Prince Yongqi."
"Ziwei, stop being so polite." Yongqi smiled and waved his hand. He was wearing a moon-white casual uniform with dark patterns today, which made him look even more upright. "Xiaoyanzi is so happy that you can come. She has been waiting here since morning."
Xiaoyanzi glared at Yongqi in anger, then turned to Ziwei, the smile on her face faded a little, and she lowered her voice and said, "Ziwei, you don't know how much Chen Zhihua has gone too far! She actually bribed the maid who delivered wine to Yongqi and put that shameless drug in the wine!" As she spoke, she clenched her fists in anger, her knuckles turned white, and her apricot sleeves were wrinkled by her.
Upon hearing this, Ziwei's brows furrowed instantly, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled into a ball: "Is there such a thing? That maid..."
"The maid has confessed!" Xiaoyanzi rushed to say, her eyes full of pride, like a victorious little rooster. "After being frightened by Xiao Dengzi, she confessed everything! She said Zhihua gave her the medicine personally and promised her a hundred taels of silver to find her a good family!"
Yongqi added, "The maid is now under our custody, waiting for the right opportunity to let the Empress Dowager know the true face of this 'virtuous' concubine she has chosen." When he mentioned Zhihua, his tone was filled with obvious disappointment and his eyes were a little colder.
Ziwei picked up the tea that Xiao Zhuozi had just served her. When her fingertips touched the warm wall of the cup, she slowly calmed down: "So, you are planning to..."
"Let's talk about it after the Buddha arrives!" Xiaoyanzi said. She picked up a piece of lotus cake from the table, but didn't eat it. She just twisted the icing on it with her fingers. "I've asked someone to invite the Buddha. I told her I wasn't feeling well and wanted her to come and sit down. She'll definitely come, and she'll be able to see Chen Zhihua's performance with her own eyes!"
Ziwei looked at the cunning light flashing in her eyes and shook her head helplessly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise slightly: "You, you still have so many ideas. But...will this make too much of a fuss?"
"Not a big deal, not a big deal!" Xiaoyanzi shook her head like a rattle. "To deal with someone like that, we have to let her know how powerful we are! Otherwise, she'll always think we're easy to bully and keep playing tricks on us!" She leaned closer to Ziwei and lowered her voice. "Last time, I lost my child, and I always feel that she was responsible. No matter what, I can't let her succeed this time!"
Talking about her lost child, Xiaoyanzi's voice choked up, and her eyes reddened slightly. She blinked quickly, forcing back the tears, and put on a resolute expression.
Yongqi reached out and patted her shoulder gently, his gesture gentle: "Don't think too much, I'm here this time, and I won't let you suffer any more grievances."
Ziwei looked at the look in their eyes, and felt a warm feeling in her heart, but also a little distressed for what Xiaoyanzi had been through. She held Xiaoyanzi's hand and said, "I'll wait with you."
At this moment, Little Mosquito ran in from outside, his face showing a panicked yet excited expression, and he shouted, "Guaiguai Long Di Dong! The Buddha's carriage has arrived at the second gate!"
Xiaoyanzi and Yongqi exchanged a glance. Xiaoyanzi took a deep breath and straightened her back. "Here we are!" She stood up, adjusted the hem of her skirt, and smiled at Ziwei. "Let's go and greet the Empress Dowager."
The three of them walked side by side out of the courtyard, crabapple petals blown by the wind, landing on their shoulders and hair. Besides the fragrance of flowers, the air in the East Courtyard seemed to be filled with a hint of tension. A storm targeting Zhihua was about to unfold in Prince Rong's mansion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com