Chapter 89 Warm Curtain "Xie Qinghe, actually I don't see through you at all..."
The New Year will come soon after the Beginning of Spring.
According to the custom of the Jiang Kingdom, on the first day of the first lunar month, the emperor would receive congratulations in the main hall, and then hold court for seven days.
At dawn on New Year's Day, before daybreak, snow lingered on the eaves, and officials in their court boots stepped over the scattered red paper scraps on the bluestone slabs. Officials, in their neat hats and robes, filed into the imperial city.
Only the Xie residence remained tightly shut.
The area in front of the door is deserted and desolate.
Inside the door, a joyous atmosphere filled the air, presenting a completely different scene.
The vermilion peach charms were pasted on the ebony door frame, and the gold-powdered "Fu" (good fortune) stickers were personally written by Xie Qinghe.
The gold-flecked paper banners on the eaves rustled as the sword energy swept by. Ning Lu withdrew her attack and raised an eyebrow at Wei Zhan in a show of defiance.
"how?"
There is still room for improvement.
"What leeway? The leeway to cut a person into eight pieces?"
Before she could finish speaking, Ning Lu rolled her eyes, put her hands in her pockets, sighed, and pretended to regret it.
"That's a pity. I'm afraid I can't improve my skills in slaying guards anymore. You know, my wife at home is very strict and I can't learn any rough moves."
Wei Zhan was furious when he heard Wei Chun's undisguised mockery from behind him.
She turned around and glared at him with displeasure, but seeing that he was holding food that was to be delivered to Xie Qinghe's dormitory, she didn't dare to make a scene and silently gave up.
"Since it is inconvenient for you to learn, then I have nothing to teach you."
At the very beginning of the new year, he was singled out by this great immortal for a duel. Wei Zhan uttered the word "convenient" through gritted teeth.
Ning Lu didn't care about his attitude at all, then smiled broadly and bowed.
"Okay, thank you!"
"Miss Ning!"
"Um?"
"Is there anything else, Guard Zhan?" she asked knowingly, pointing to the sky and saying innocently, "It looks like the master will wake up soon, I have to go check on him."
“You said last night that I would teach you combat techniques, and in return you would instruct me on lightness skills.”
“Me?” Ning Lu raised an eyebrow, seemingly not remembering at all: “Guard Zhan is joking. How could my skills be of any use?”
Wei Zhan's face was ashen. He glanced at Wei Chun, who was watching the commotion from the side, and didn't know how to press for an answer.
He was highly skilled in martial arts, yet he kept getting thwarted by this woman.
First, Liu Yunying stole the Prince's jade while he was on guard, and then Ning Lu sneaked into the master's bedroom right under his nose, without anyone noticing...
Seeing that she had a very close relationship with the adults, defeating her was impossible, but being convinced was far from the truth.
A humiliating disgrace.
Ning Lu walked halfway around Wei Zhan and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, her eyes crinkling with laughter. She swayed left and right and bumped into his shoulder: "If Guard Zhan wants to spar, that's fine too."
Spending a lot of time with Xie Qinghe, I've learned a bit about knowing when to quit while ahead and how to retreat strategically.
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhan immediately cupped his hands and stepped aside, saying, "Please, young lady."
"only……"
A series of low coughs interrupted Ning Lu's words in the dormitory.
Upon hearing this, the three exchanged glances in tacit agreement and composed themselves.
Ning Lu looked up and saw that it was still early, and suddenly felt uneasy.
I stayed up until midnight last night to celebrate the New Year, and I thought he would sleep for at least another half an hour.
Without time to think, Ning Lu hurriedly took the tray from Wei Chun and went inside.
With one foot stepping over the threshold, he leaned back, half-turned around, and stuck his palm-sized head against the doorframe, giving Wei Zhan a slight click of his tongue.
"Slay the guard, and come find me again at dawn tomorrow."
Passing around the screen, one could see Xie Qinghe sitting on the headboard, wearing a plain-colored outer robe, with strands of hair hanging down on both sides of his face, with a few water droplets clinging to them.
They must have already washed up.
"You stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year, why are you awake so early?"
Today is the first day of the lunar month.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing a pair of calm, still eyes.
Turning her head to look in the direction of the sound, Ning Lu entered the room but did not go straight to the bedside. Instead, she casually put down the soup bowl, raised the curtains by the window, and let the morning light into the room.
A few rays of morning light fell on the table, making the plum blossom bonsai shine brightly, and the water droplets on the fruits on the table were crystal clear.
The lifeless ward was brought to life by the fragrance of fruit and flowers.
Seeing her patrol the room like she was surveying her territory before finally hopping to the bedside, Xie Qinghe struggled out of his morning drowsiness and reached out to grab her wrist.
He was dressed in plain clothes and a tight-fitting robe, his long hair was tied into a ponytail and swayed behind him, and beads of sweat had not yet dried from the tip of his nose.
He exuded the fragrance of earth...
It smells exactly like a puppy rolling around and playing in the grass in spring.
"What's wrong with the first day of the lunar month? It's only the first day of the lunar month that you have to sleep. If you're free today, you'll be free all year round."
Ning Lu cupped his cheeks in her hands and gently rubbed them. Before he could react, she planted several loud kisses on his lips.
"Happy New Year, Mr. Xie."
"This is a New Year's gift."
If it were someone else, they might complain that the gift was cheap. But Xie Qinghe was the one who accepted the gift, and she was most susceptible to this.
His sleepy eyes suddenly snapped open, one hand encircling her waist, the other stroking her hair, their foreheads touching, their ears rubbing together.
Happy New Year, Ning Lulu.
The warmth of the other person's body seeped into the skin through the pores.
Xie Qinghe bent his knuckles to wipe the sweat from her nose and asked her about the noise outside.
"Who was chosen today?"
The person in his arms paused slightly, awkwardly turned over and sat up, muttering softly, "I wasn't teasing them. We were just exchanging ideas and learning from each other."
Lately, she's been so bored that she's been dragging Wei Chun and Wei Zhan along to practice martial arts and chat, ostensibly to hone their skills and deepen their relationship.
Xie Qinghe was unaware of the situation at first, but last night, on New Year's Eve, everyone sat together, giving them a chance to complain to him.
Having been a slave herself, Ning Lu could somewhat understand Wei Chun and Wei Zhan's feelings.
If a boss pays a salary, no one would be willing to work for the boss's wife.
She casually turned around, placed her hands on her lap, and explained with a smile, "I really intend to ask them for help with something."
Xie Qinghe tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, following up on her question: "Oh? What is it?"
“Look at our huge Xie Mansion, it’s like a shop. The staffing and management all require careful planning. Since I’ve said I’m going to take care of you, I will never let you show your face in public again. But if I’m going to take charge, our management strategy will have to change, right?”
“Your guards are all talented. Talented people shouldn’t be wasted. We need to discover their new abilities and put them where they are needed.”
"Right now, I'm getting to know these talented people thoroughly and reassigning them based on their strengths."
It seems logical and well-reasoned, but in reality it's all very confusing.
"I understand." Xie Qinghe smiled slightly. "Madam wants to take my people for herself."
He paused for a moment, then went on to define the matter further: "They're undermining me."
Ning Lu's smile froze on her face. She was about to explain when she realized that her actions seemed to be the prelude to a power grab.
"Hey! We're family, why are you and I dividing things?" She moved closer to him, raised her hand and swore, "Don't worry about entrusting yourself to me, I'll definitely treat you well."
Before the words were even finished, Xie Qinghe didn't need to do any reading comprehension; she herself felt that the statement sounded like the talk of a scumbag who would take advantage of someone who had no children.
To make matters worse, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a better excuse. Ning Lu had no choice but to grab Xie Qinghe's sleeve and shake it, hoping to get away with it by acting cute.
She was jumping and hopping around, becoming more and more lively and adorable. Xie Qinghe's smile deepened as he leaned against the bed and let her do as she pleased.
A few days ago, Wenxi came to report that Ninglu is very clever and quick-witted, and also lively and enthusiastic in her work.
Not only did she manage the shop perfectly, but she also managed to find time every few days to come to the teahouse and compete with the storyteller for business. She had only been in the capital for a little over a month, yet she had already gained some fame.
As she said, as long as she is willing to learn and do, she can handle anything with ease.
He believed her from beginning to end.
Moreover, she was referring to our Xie family, that we're all one family, with no distinction between you and me...
He liked it very much.
A smile played on his lips, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and he tilted his head and listened patiently as she gesticulated wildly as she described her visions for the future.
It's as if, as long as we stay away from the chaos of the court and everything in front of us, and hand over the helm to her, the future will surely be bright.
As the sun shifted, large swaths of morning light streamed in, making her exceptionally radiant.
Suddenly, the sound of bells and drums rang out from the direction of the imperial city, accompanied by continuous chanting.
Xie Qinghe's smile faded, and he silently raised his eyes.
The words she was about to say were interrupted, and Ning Lu shivered for no reason.
As the bell tolled, goosebumps covered her skin. She gasped and clung to the arms of the person in front of her.
At the beginning of the new year, all officials entered the palace to offer congratulations.
Xie Qinghe is still claiming illness and not coming out today, his attitude is self-evident.
As the person closest to him, Ning Lu was naturally relieved that he kept his promise and withdrew from the limelight.
But the wonder of love is that the more you stand beside Xie Qinghe and see him, the less selfish and simple-minded you become.
She would worry, she would be afraid, and she would wonder if the person in the Forbidden City truly wanted to let Xie Qinghe leave.
Or perhaps, are there any aspects of their agreement and tacit understanding that she, as an outsider, is unaware of? Will her Xie Qinghe have to pay an even greater price for this?
Was his lover forced to withdraw because she was physically and mentally exhausted, or was he forced to do so to make her happy?
The bell rang again. Seeing that she was preoccupied, Xie Qinghe chuckled silently, tilted his chin slightly toward the window, and called out softly.
Did you hear that?
"What?"
"A sound of prosperity. As you said, every day from now on will be a good day."
The more nonchalant he seemed, the more suffocated Ning Lu felt. She forcefully pulled his hand to her face, pretending to wince from the cold, trying to scare Xie Qinghe into pulling his hand away.
Feeling pleased that he had been tricked, she acted decisively, grabbing his hands on either side and then pulling him to her neck to cover them.
Warmth emanated from his palms, the clash of hot and cold creating a delightful smile on the young woman's face. Xie Qinghe's body went limp, and he sighed softly.
Before he could even catch his breath, he heard Ning Lu's sarcastic tone in his ear again: "The sound of a prosperous age, every day is a good day~"
"You really trust his ability to govern the world that much?"
"Ning Lulu".
Looking down at her clearly uneasy yet amusing expression, Xie Qinghe gave a helpless bitter smile.
"Using yourself as a stepping stone to give the emperor a reputation for being pure and innocent. Surely it's not just because he saved your life?"
Despite the provocative tone, Xie Qinghe clearly heard the heartache and indignation in the voice.
"In this whole world, only you feel that I've been wronged."
The emotion in his eyes vanished in an instant, and he skillfully contorted himself into a pitiful and innocent expression, leaning in to nuzzle Ning Lu's nose.
"cut."
Having long been familiar with Xie Qinghe's moves, she wasn't fooled by his tricks this time. After a cold snort, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his collar.
My breath hits my neck, and I feel a dull pain in my collarbone.
Just as he was about to bow his head and negotiate with her, he suddenly heard a muffled, hoarse voice.
"Xie Qinghe, it's actually not difficult to see through you at all."
She clenched her teeth and rubbed them incessantly against his prominent collarbone, muttering angrily.
"You have a particular fondness for doing things that harm others without benefiting yourself."
Having frequented teahouses and heard Xie Qinghe's story countless times, coupled with her own background as a storyteller, how could she not notice the clues?
Several types of press releases in Beijing each have a distinct style.
The remonstrance officials, led by Qin Zhang, were supposed to be upholding the proper order between ruler and subject, but they were simply dwelling on the trivial matters concerning the Xie family.
Those who dared to speak ill of the relationship between the Emperor and Xie Qinghe were either instructed by Jiang Xu or tacitly approved by Xie Qinghe. The two were practically inseparable in the past; even if it was Jiang Xu's instruction, Xie Qinghe would carry it out.
The more she thought about it, the angrier and more heartbroken she became.
"I'm just worried that he won't let you off easily."
Upon hearing this, Xie Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ning Lulu. I'm so glad."
"What's there to be thankful for?"
She looked up, puzzled, and frowned.
"It's good that you don't like politics."
"I guessed right again?"
Her limp body suddenly sprang to her feet, and she knelt by the bed, her eyes wide: "What else does he want to do?"
Xie Qinghe pressed his fingertips against her lips, about to explain, when he suddenly heard a commotion of footsteps outside the courtyard.
Wei Chun knocked on the door urgently, and before receiving a response from inside, he began to speak, his breathing uneven and his speech extremely fast.
"My lord, there is an urgent message from the palace. His Majesty has issued an imperial decree promoting you to Grand Secretary and bestowing upon you a jade belt and a gold fish emblem."
"The imperial proclamation procession, led by Wu Quan, has already left the palace gates and will arrive in no more than a quarter of an hour."
"What...what is he trying to do?!"
After staring at the door for a while, Ning Lu's gaze fell back on Xie Qinghe.
The charcoal fire crackled and popped.
Compared to her pale face, the man seemed to have expected this moment, showing no surprise or anger, and his emotions remained unreadable.
The sickbed person composed himself, sat up steadily, and leaned forward to pull Ning Lu, who had already jumped several steps away.
Xie Qinghe traced the lines with his fingertips and gently shook the corner of her sleeve: "Ning Lulu, now that we're here, will you put on a show with me again?"
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