Chapter 17 Is Anhe admiring the epiphyllum flowers in the middle of the night?
When Zhao Liangxu woke up, she felt extremely refreshed. She hadn't had such a deep and comfortable sleep in a long time.
Indeed, human happiness is particularly evident when one experiences hardship before enjoying the reward.
Zhao Liangxu rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Um?
She has returned to the small courtyard of the An family mansion.
Zhao Liangxu rubbed her forehead and recalled that after Anhe brought her back, Anhe woke her up, and she was taken back by Zhumu, who was guarding the door, while she was half asleep.
She turned her head to look out the window; although it was still bright outside, the sun had already moved to the west.
She slept all day.
Such a mortal's routine.
As soon as Zhu Mu pushed open the door, she found that Zhao Liangxu had already woken up. Overjoyed, she rushed to Zhao Liangxu and began to say, "Princess Zhao, you're finally awake! Did you suffer any grievances in the palace? I didn't dare to wake you because you were sleeping for so long, but you've been asleep for almost a whole day. I was so worried that I couldn't help but come to check on you. You're finally awake!"
Zhu Mu looked at Zhao Liangxu with concern. There were no major injuries, so she was alright.
She realized she had overstepped her bounds and was about to stand up when Zhao Liangxu grabbed her and pressed her back down onto the bed.
Zhu Mu nervously twisted his fingers: "Is this okay?"
"Alright, alright, no need for so many rules. Go on, I'm listening."
Hearing this, Zhu Mu's face immediately fell into a mournful expression: "This servant is truly afraid you won't come back. You only said you were going to see the Emperor, but you've been in the palace for several days without coming out. This servant doesn't know what happened to you, I'm so afraid... so afraid..."
She hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "I just don't know what happened to you in the palace?"
She cautiously observed Zhao Liangxu's expression, feeling both worried and afraid.
Zhao Liangxu patted her and told her directly what had happened in the palace.
Anyway, this can't be kept secret.
From meeting the Empress Dowager to staying at the Imperial Concubine's place, and then to Li Ying's assassination attempt, Zhu Mu listened with great alarm. Finally, she patted her chest and said, "It was so dangerous! Fortunately, you are alright. The Imperial Concubine is so kind. Princess, don't be afraid. After all this, things will get better!"
After hearing about these things, Zhu Mu firmly encouraged Zhao Liangxu, though it was unclear whether he was encouraging Zhao Liangxu or himself.
"By the way, Princess, the people in the manor have suddenly changed their attitude today. The kitchen staff personally delivered lunch to us, and it was quite delicious. I wonder why they are treating us so well."
Oh? That's unusual.
Before entering the palace, it was enough to have a meal at home. Now they are personally delivering food. I wonder what the reason is.
"I saw you were still asleep, so I left it there for now. It's autumn now, so I figured it wouldn't spoil. But it's still not good to leave it cold. Should I go ask them for another one?"
"It's alright, just leave it there. They'll deliver it once at noon, and maybe again in the evening. Just give them the cold food then."
She just woke up and isn't very hungry yet.
She began to think about how to kill time at night. She had slept all day, so she probably wouldn't be able to sleep at night even if she wanted to.
"By the way, Princess, I saw you were carrying something when you came back. What is it? Is it something valuable?"
Zhu Mu pointed to the wooden box on the table and asked.
Zhao Liangxu then remembered: "That was the medicine given to me by the Empress Dowager. The female physician in the palace also examined my body and said that this illness is not easy to cure and requires both internal and external application."
The previous injuries have almost all scabbed over; they just need to heal slowly.
The illness was mainly a physical condition. People in the Northern Zhou Dynasty were generally strong and healthy, but they couldn't withstand the depletion caused by the irregular eating habits of fleeing famine. She wanted to take good care of her health and make herself healthy again.
"Apply externally? Then this servant will apply it for you."
Zhao Liangxu politely declined and indicated where the medicine should be applied.
Bamboo and wood seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Her face turned bright red, and she didn't know what to say.
Just then, Zhao Liangxu heard a commotion outside and, not knowing why, pulled the red-faced Zhu Mu out to see what was going on.
Only then did they see Zhang Sheng dressed in a formal python robe, directing people to move things box by box.
"Eunuch Zhang, what is this?"
Zhang Shengzhou bowed deeply and replied, "This is His Majesty's reward. You have rendered meritorious service in saving the Emperor. His Majesty's words are not enough to express his gratitude."
It turned out to be a reward.
As Zhao Liangxu watched the servants carrying the rather heavy gifts, she counted them. There were fifteen boxes, each reaching knee-high. Having never experienced the extravagance of imperial power before, Zhao Liangxu was truly amazed. She asked somewhat uncertainly, "So many?"
Zhang Sheng laughed: "Hey, you're right. Your merit in saving the emperor is probably worth more than double these things."
As he spoke, he took out a finely crafted white object from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Zhao Liangxu: "Princess Zhao, this is a pass specially bestowed upon you by His Majesty. With this, no one will stop you from entering the palace whenever you wish."
Such a large-scale investment?
Zhao Liangxu took it. The ivory plaque was carved from ivory, with auspicious cloud patterns carved on it, and gold inlaid between the clouds. The rest of the plaque had some characters on it, and it looked very valuable.
Bringing it out so conspicuously would probably attract too much attention.
Zhao Liangxu glanced at it twice and accepted it, politely returning the favor: "Thank you, Eunuch Zhang."
She glanced at the gifts on the side and said with some annoyance, "But with so many gifts, this small courtyard might not be able to hold them all?"
Zhang Sheng smiled and led Zhao Liangxu to the treasure chests. Then he clapped his hands and told the servants to open all the chests: "It's alright, it's alright. Your godfather has also made arrangements for this matter. Among the rewards are real gold and silver as well as porcelain and coral beads. Your godfather instructed that Princess Zhao should pick out two or three chests that she likes first. Your godfather has already cleared out a small storeroom for the rest. If Princess Zhao needs anything, she can go and get it."
Pick out two or three boxes? Put the rest into the warehouse?
Zhao Liangxu had already extracted the key point from the sentence, and seeing that Zhang Sheng's hands were folded together and he didn't seem to be going to take anything out, she understood.
This means they're going to embezzle the goods.
Although two or three boxes of things are not a small amount, fifteen boxes of rewards should clearly have been hers.
Good news, Anhe.
Zhao Liangxu first let Zhu Mu pick out what she liked, then asked casually, "Is Eunuch An not going to give me the rest?"
She picked up a bright, luminous pearl, rubbed it, and looked at Zhang Sheng with a half-smile.
Zhang Sheng still had a smile on his face, but he was secretly suffering inside.
"How could that be? My godfather said that once he finishes his business in the next few days, Princess Zhao can go and find him herself. He will definitely prepare the key to the small storeroom."
Why should I go looking for him myself?
It seems Anhe has made up his mind to keep it.
Zhao Liangxu pondered for a moment, but didn't deliberately make things difficult for Zhang Sheng. She picked out three boxes of things first, and then let Zhang Sheng take the rest away.
She still needs to find a way to get the remaining twelve boxes back.
Zhu Mu was already beaming with joy just looking around at the three boxes of things he had left behind.
“Princess, these are such wonderful things. His Majesty is very generous to you.”
Although she regretted what had been taken away, what she had now was quite substantial.
Zhao Liangxu and Zhu Mu ate their dinner amidst the dazzling jewels.
Now she eats well, sleeps well, and even has a little savings. She's been here for half a month, and in these aspects alone, she can be considered a semi-winner in life.
But that's not enough; her current residence in the An family mansion is the biggest hidden danger.
Anhe has her uses, but who knows what will happen after she's been used?
She had enough money to buy a house outside, but Anhe was a "Nine Thousand Years Old," so if she were in the capital, it would be almost the same as living in Anhe's mansion.
As for going to other provinces, the journey is long and it's not something that can be done in a day.
Then she had no choice but to work on the root cause.
We should conduct more research on Anhe.
She recalled the past of Anhe, which the Dowager Consort was unwilling to mention, and she found it quite interesting.
After dinner, Zhao Liangxu had a rare moment to lie on a deck chair in the yard, looking at the stars and enjoying the evening breeze.
The autumn evening breeze was very cool.
Zhao Liangxu lay down for a while, enjoying the quiet night, but then realized she really couldn't fall asleep. She took a lantern and prepared to stroll around the An residence.
In fact, this time is not late in modern times; many people are just starting their nightlife. But in ancient times, it would have been almost time to go to sleep.
Some rooms in the An residence were still lit, and she encountered several passing servants and maids along the way.
The other party was startled, bowed, and then hurriedly left.
Perhaps because most people were asleep, the large An Mansion seemed deserted.
Zhao Liangxu, on the other hand, was quite pleased with herself; she preferred a quiet environment.
Speaking of her impressions of the An family mansion, she used to go to Anhe's study at night, but now it seems she is more familiar with the An family mansion at night.
After all, the same place often presents completely different scenes during the day and at night.
Zhao Liangxu wandered around aimlessly, and no one stopped her.
Unconsciously, she walked to the vicinity of Anhe's study. Zhao Liangxu remembered clearly that Anhe's study was a little further to the right.
Zhang Sheng told her in the afternoon that she didn't need to find An He to practice calligraphy anytime soon, as An He was busy.
She turned left, carrying the lantern, lest he accuse her of being a spy again if she went to the study.
She walked and stopped until she came to a lotus pond.
By this time, most of the lotus flowers had withered, with only a few yellow and pink blossoms struggling to stay afloat.
What attracted her was not the lotus flowers, but a cluster of epiphyllum flowers that occupied a considerable area next to the lotus pond.
It's almost the end of October, and we've almost missed the last bloom of the night-blooming cereus.
I never expected Anhe to have such refined tastes, planting epiphyllum flowers here.
As Zhao Liangxu muttered to herself, she noticed a figure ahead.
He had his back to Zhao Liangxu and didn't notice her for the time being, but Zhao Liangxu could see him clearly.
Isn't that Anhe in the back view?
I'm outta here.
She quietly backed away, never expecting that Anhe was neither in the palace nor in the study, but instead admiring flowers in the middle of the night.
She wanted to see how the epiphyllum slowly bloomed, but it wasn't a must.
Although she was somewhat immune to Anhe's sharp tongue, who likes to hear someone spew daggers?
Anhe happened to turn around at that moment and bumped right into Zhao Liangxu, who was walking back.
"who!"
His first thought upon seeing the figure was that it was an assassin, influenced by the emperor's assassination attempt.
However, the person was carrying a lantern, and their attire did not resemble that of an assassin.
He looked up by the light of the lantern and saw that it was Zhao Liangxu.
This is truly absurd. Zhao Liangxu acts as if no one else is in the An family mansion, yet she's out strolling around with a lantern at this hour.
"Zhao Liangxu, come here."
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