Chapter 102 Gifts Hmm, they're some novelties.
Hazard took out a rather large box with a dark blue lid and silver trim, which looked very exquisite.
"You can open it after I leave. There's a letter inside that I wrote myself. I'd feel embarrassed if you read it now."
When Azar saw Zhao Liangxu about to open the wooden box, he quickly stopped her.
Zhao Liangxu listened to Hazar and said "thank you" to her.
"But this wooden box looks very valuable..." Zhao Liangxu worried that there might be something even more valuable inside the box.
Hazard waved his hand: "It's not about gold and silver jewelry as you think. I think suitability is more important than its value. Don't refuse it just because you're worried about its preciousness."
Zhao Liangxu felt slightly relieved, and she also prepared some small gifts for Hazard.
Considering that Azar possessed many rare treasures, she couldn't decide what to choose from Anhe's storeroom, so she simply took Azar's favorite forehead ornament and included a copy of "Analyzing 100,000 Strange Behaviors of Cats," which she had personally recalled and written.
She joked that it was a book, but it was only five or six pages long.
Zhao Liangxu noticed that Hazard also really liked kittens, but sometimes he didn't quite understand some of the cats' behaviors. So she recalled some popular science articles she had occasionally read and wrote some interesting things.
It has a certain degree of scientific popularization and entertainment value.
Zhao Liangxu doesn't guarantee it's completely accurate, but it can at least be read as an interesting anecdote.
Hazard was quite surprised when he received it, and nodded repeatedly as he looked at some of the key points written inside.
"I see..." Hazar only knew some of the cat's habits based on her intuition from raising cats, but after seeing some clear points on Zhao Liangxu's paper, she understood even more.
This was quite novel to her, and Hazard thanked her with a smile: "This is much more interesting than ordinary gifts!"
The carriage gradually came to a stop, and Zhao Liangxu got off.
It was supposed to be a farewell, but it was really just a conversation with Hazard while riding in the same carriage to the post station.
Zhao Liangxu looked up at the few people peeking out from the small window of the carriage.
Hazard said, "Goodbye, my friend. I hope we'll have a chance to meet again in the future!"
The carriage disappeared into the distance with the sound of hooves, and there was no scene of sad farewell. Neither Zhao Liangxu nor the Persian caravan were the kind of people who would wallow in melancholy.
It's enough if we had a pleasant few months together and the time we spent together is something we'll cherish in the future.
As Zhao Liangxu was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard Yu Yan's shout coming from the departing carriage.
"Oh, right!" she exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you, Xiao Liu'er said she would redeem me from my servitude. Just tell her that I don't need her to redeem me anymore, and that she should just live her own life. Not everything needs a farewell to be considered complete. That's all!"
Yu Yan finally recounted this small matter, and then she and the Persian caravan grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared at the end of the road.
Her voice faded into the distance, carried away by the wind.
Xia asked from the side, "Do you want to go to the post station to rest? His Majesty has already instructed the post station to prepare carriages and horses. You can leave whenever you want tomorrow."
Seeing that it was still early, Zhao Liangxu decided to go to the post station to rest for a while.
This post station was the closest to the capital, so it was well-built, and there was even a tower standing to the side, offering a view into the distance.
She was about to go up and take a look, to enjoy the view from a high vantage point.
The inn had already prepared a room for Zhao Liangxu, and Chunyi's room was next to hers, so that they could hear the commotion and arrive in time if there was any danger.
The two of them naturally searched Zhao Liangxu's room first to make sure there was no danger inside.
After all, it was Anhe who ordered the two of them to protect Zhao Liangxu, so naturally they had to be thorough in every aspect and leave no hidden dangers.
Zhao Liangxu placed the wooden box that Azar had given her on the table and pondered over it alone.
She had planned to go back and see what "suitable" gift was inside, but the box, though not small, didn't feel like it contained anything very heavy.
Finally, unable to contain her curiosity, she prepared to open the box.
Zhao Liangxu turned the button in the middle of the box, and with a "click," it opened easily.
She lifted the lid of the box and peered inside.
The inside was lined with light and delicate velvet, piled up in several layers, taking up most of the space inside the box.
No wonder the wooden box is so lightweight.
Inside the box, on top, was a handwritten letter from Hazard.
The velvet cloth contained Hazard's gift. Zhao Liangxu first took out the letter and put it aside, then began to unwrap the velvet cloth.
Zhao Liangxu blinked.
The next moment, he casually put the lid back on.
She looked around, a rare hint of inexplicable guilt in her expression.
Chun was already carefully searching the items in the room and didn't notice Zhao Liangxu's actions for the time being.
Xia Yi then went next door to tidy up the two people's room.
Zhao Liangxu felt that she hadn't seen it clearly before, so she opened the wooden box again.
The velvet cloth was divided into two parts, wrapping two different things.
After Zhao Liangxu lifted the lid, she saw an object that occupied a large portion of the space and was embedded in the velvet.
It is very eye-catching.
"......"
Why don't we catch up with the Persian caravan now and give Hazard a piece of our mind?
Zhao Liangxu had this thought in mind.
It turns out that the gift that both she and Anhe liked was this "like".
Although she didn't have any prejudice against these things, on the contrary, she maintained a positive, optimistic and approving attitude.
but......
Zhao Liangxu even scratched her head in distress.
Even if she could accept this symmetrical "human" shaped object, Anhe probably couldn't.
He won't even take off his clothes now.
Another smaller bronze object, which Zhao Liangxu also did not know what it was.
But looking at the things around her, she figured it wasn't anything respectable.
Zhao Liangxu then casually closed the wooden box again.
Just then, Xia returned from next door and saw Zhao Liangxu closing the wooden box. She asked without hesitation, "Princess Zhao, what did the Persian caravan give you? Could it be more valuable than what Your Highness has?"
She assumed that the Persian caravan was wealthy and powerful, and must have brought some rare and precious treasures as gifts.
Zhao Liangxu picked up the letter on the table, paused for a moment, and said, "It's some... novel and valuable stuff. Don't open it or touch it carelessly."
Zhao Liangxu tried to make the box seem more valuable, at least to make the two of them more cautious and less curious about it.
Upon hearing Zhao Liangxu's words, Xia immediately became respectful.
Zhao Liangxu had already seen so many fine things in the An family mansion, and the items in this wooden box could still be described as "valuable," so they must be truly precious.
I dare not touch it.
As Anhe's subordinates, they have the sense to know what they can and cannot touch.
Zhao Liangxu cleared her throat and said, "You guys go and rest first, and come find me again around 3 PM."
It's best to read this letter alone.
Having received their orders, the two left Zhao Liangxu's room.
With Zhao Liangxu alone, she opened Hazard's letter.
The first thing I noticed was her crooked handwriting; it was written in the style of Southern Weekly, so I suppose she had put some thought into it.
The letter contained few words and no polite phrases; the main point was immediately made at the beginning.
This also made Zhao Liangxu understand what the other object was.
"...The small copper beads were exchanged with us by the Siamese caravan. They always have strange and unusual things, in some way."
"This thing seems to have a name in Southern Zhou, something like... Mianzi Bell."
The name itself doesn't seem strange at all; in fact, when Zhao Liangxu first heard it, she thought it was some kind of peculiar bell design.
But this wasn't the first time Zhao Liangxu, who was well-informed, had heard of it.
The copper sphere, shaped like a dragon's eye, has seven layers inside, with mercury that can roll between the layers.
She knew it had the same effect as something else.
Hazard added a few words at the end.
"I wish you happiness."
It was a perfectly normal and heartwarming statement, but since it was a letter taken out of a box, Zhao Liangxu knew what Azar meant by writing it.
Zhao Liangxu rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Hazard was a bit too enthusiastic compared to the people from Southern Zhou.
She set the wooden box aside and didn't look at it. The contents were fine, but she would deal with the aftermath later.
When it was Shen Shi (3-5 PM), Chun Yixia called Zhao Liangxu out.
Zhao Liangxu quickly put the matter out of her mind and enthusiastically climbed the tower.
As a building with a lookout function, standing on it is naturally very different from standing on the ground.
She had also climbed to high places in the capital, but those were just rows of buildings of varying heights, where people belonged.
But from the tower, far from the capital city, and thus far from the crowds, all you can see is nature.
The lush green trees and rocks are spread out in front of you, and the wind on the tower is fresher and cooler.
She also saw a maze of paths intertwined beside the main road.
Zhao Liangxu pointed to a spot and asked, "That road runs along the water; does it also lead to the capital?"
Chun replied, "Yes, but that road leads to the west gate, which is a bit secluded, so fewer people use it."
Zhao Liangxu was very interested: "West Gate? I've never been there. Let's take that road back to the city tomorrow."
Spring had no reason to refuse. Although it was a bit far, it was still safe, so they naturally obeyed Zhao Liangxu.
Zhao Liangxu was most happy to enjoy quiet moments; she could feel comfortable and wonderful just looking at the scenery from the tower.
Spring and Summer watched Zhao Liangxu's retreating figure and exchanged a glance.
The two couldn't help but recall the first time they followed Zhao Liangxu. At that time, their words and actions were very serious and distant, almost offending Zhao Liangxu completely.
Zhao Liangxu seemed like a very easy-going person, and in fact she didn't secretly cause them any trouble. However, Chunyi and Xiayi were also there when they were cleaning up the mess in Zhao Chengxin's courtyard.
They also remembered that the two corpses had died in a way that suggested they hadn't died a very pleasant death.
Xia quietly said to Chun, "I heard that the secret eunuch was taught a lesson by the Emperor half a month ago."
Chun also whispered, "He went to see the Emperor himself; it has nothing to do with us." They had been speaking ironically to the eunuch at the time, saying they supported him in reporting to the Emperor, but they never expected him to actually go like that.
As a result, he was punished.
Although this was indeed a case of many secret investigations, given Anhe's temperament in the past, even if it was a lie, Anhe would have become suspicious because of these clues.
His methods have always been ruthless.
But Zhao Liangxu was unharmed.
"Thank you, Princess Zhao, for your great kindness and for not holding it against us. Princess Zhao is a very kind person."
Perhaps it is precisely because of Zhao Liangxu's temperament that Anhe cherishes her so much.
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Author's note: (Let's keep the things Hazard gave us as they are.)
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