Chapter 72 In the twelfth lunar month, Tu He liked this "we".
After two days of snow, the white sky finally cleared up.
It's so cold outside that you can feel the cold seep from your nose all the way to your lungs when you breathe in. If you stand there for a while, ice crystals will grow all over your body from the inside out. Your lower back, hands, and feet will feel sore and numb from the cold.
Once winter arrives, I lose interest in moving around. I spend most of my time feeling lazy and lying in bed, unwilling to get up.
When breakfast was served on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, it was already past midnight.
Xu Zhiyi knew that the princess was a late riser, so he waited until the end of the morning to deliver the imperial Laba porridge, but he did not expect that the princess had not yet gotten up.
Qin An wanted him to stay a while, but Xu Zhiyi waved his hand repeatedly, put down the porridge, and left. It was a good thing that the princess could stay quietly at home instead of causing trouble for Wang Bochang; what did it matter if she slept a little longer and didn't get up to express her gratitude? Even the emperor would be happy if she slept all day.
When the meal was served, the bowl of porridge that had been sitting for too long and had gone cold was nowhere to be found.
Fu Sui ate a few bites of food casually, then slowly drank a bowl of hot Laba porridge.
The kitchen has been busy since yesterday preparing this bowl of porridge. The beans and wheat kernels were carefully selected one by one, and then lotus seeds, dried longan, and dried raisins and dates from the Western Regions were added. The porridge was cooked until it was thick, sweet and fragrant.
"So, the emperor also gave Wang Bochang porridge?"
“Xu Zhiyi said he has been granted the honor,” Qin An replied. “Apart from the several prime ministers of the Council of State Affairs, he is the first to receive this honor.”
There was a type of soybean in the porridge that Fu Sui didn't recognize; it was exceptionally soft. She stirred it with her spoon, picking out the soybeans to eat: "They just dropped it off and left without saying anything?"
"It shouldn't be. The people guarding the Wang family said that the young eunuch didn't stay in there for more than a quarter of an hour from the time he went in until he came out."
Giving this bowl of porridge to Wang Bochang would be a waste; given his suspicious and thoughtful nature, he might even fear that the emperor would poison him.
Fu Sui scoffed: "If it were me, I would send a eunuch to watch him drink, and scare him to death."
Dai Ling, who was waiting to the side, chuckled and said, "Why don't we give him a bowl too, and scare him a little?"
"Hmph, what a waste of my good porridge." Fu Sui put down the spoon, tapped the cloud to fetch water for her to wash her hands, and she splashed the water and asked, "How was it delivered to the Imperial Guard?"
It was nearly noon, and all the deliveries had been made. Qin An replied in order: "The first one is General Zheng of the Right Valiant Guard."
That was Consort Zheng's maternal family, the Second Prince's maternal uncle; both publicly and privately, they had to be ranked first.
"The last one is General Yue. It's cold outside, so the porridge should have been cold by the time it was served."
There was a mishap during winter training some time ago, and Fu Sui had heard about it, so it's not surprising that Yue Shanling was placed last.
Fu Sui didn't want to delve into whether there were any secrets between the emperor and Yue Shanling; after all, that man wouldn't get in her way.
"Where was it sent?" she asked casually.
Upon hearing that he had been sent to Xinghua Ward, Fu Sui was somewhat surprised: "Is he at home?"
If he is not at home, he should be sent to the South Office.
Kouyun laughed and said, "Princess, you've forgotten that today is Laba Festival, and all officials are off duty."
Fu Sui had gotten used to crossing the mountains without going home, and would only go to the South Office to find him if anything happened. For a moment, he didn't realize that the winter training was over and Wei Zhong could take a normal break.
Since he was at home, how could he be left idle? Fu Sui immediately ordered his men to go to Xinghua Ward to abduct him.
"What's fun to do in the capital lately?" After sending people out, Fu Sui began to consider where to go.
Kouyun recalled the various things she had written down: "There is a theatrical performance at Dazhuangyan Temple today."
Fu Sui waved his hand: "If you don't like that, is there anything else?"
"The plum blossoms in the Plum Garden of Dunyifang are in full bloom."
"No, what's so interesting about two old plum trees?"
"Pingkangfang must be very lively today." During festivals, various plays are performed in Pingkangfang.
Although the variety show was fun, Fu Sui changed his mind as soon as he stepped out of the room and was hit by a cold wind.
They were led across the mountains to a house.
He was at home overseeing the defenses of the capital when someone from the princess's residence rushed in, grabbed him, and tried to leave. They had already reached the door when he asked where they were going, which stumped the person. The person had to run back to the princess's residence to inquire again before finally bringing him here.
He pushed open the door, and Fu Sui was already waiting for him inside.
There were no chairs in the room, but a thick carpet of brocade covered the floor. Fu Sui knelt before a low table, on which sat a bronze incense burner.
After sitting down over the mountain ridge, he could see that it was an open bronze furnace, filled with charcoal, with a dense iron mesh on top.
"It's the dead of winter, so please have some tea with the general today." When Fu Sui saw him arrive, he lifted the iron mesh on the bronze stove, picked up a long bronze fork, and started poking at the charcoal. "I suppose the general is going back to Yue Prefecture today, so I'll only take up half of the afternoon of your time. I promise it won't delay your return home for the festival."
Yue Shanling raised an eyebrow. He was indeed going back to the Yue residence tonight, but if she wanted him to stay…
Fu Sui poked and prodded, holding the tinderbox with a troubled expression. After a few moments of hesitation, she handed the copper fork to Yue Shanling and instructed him, "Start a fire."
Yue Shanling chuckled as he took the copper fork. He could tell that Fu Sui had no idea how to light charcoal. Fortunately, she had asked him to do it, otherwise Yue Shanling would have been worried that she might hurt herself.
He got up and pushed open a window, and a sharp gust of wind immediately rushed into the room, which Fu Sui turned his head to avoid.
The man noticed this, opened the window a little smaller, turned around and took the cloak that Fu Sui had thrown aside, draped it over her, and sat between her and the window.
"We need to light charcoal in the room and open the doors and windows a little to ventilate it," Yue Shanling explained softly.
Fu Sui tidied her hair. The man had broad shoulders and a wide back, blocking out the cold wind completely, so not a single strand of Fu Sui's hair was affected. She found it somewhat amusing; he was already blocking the wind, so why was he giving her a cloak? Did he think she would freeze while sitting by the stove?
The person being observed was preoccupied with starting a fire. He picked out a piece of charcoal, lit it, put it back in the stove, poked it with a copper fork, and buried the burning charcoal at the bottom.
Soon, the red glow of the fire filled the gaps between the charcoal pieces, gradually staining their surface.
The scorching air enveloped Fu Sui, making it impossible to distinguish whether the heat came from the burning stove or from the silent man beside him.
After crossing the mountain ridge and resetting the iron net, he asked Fu Sui, "What kind of tea would the princess like to brew?"
On the table were two small pots and several boxes, but Yue Shanling didn't know which box to open.
Fu Sui did not serve tea, but instead asked him, "Did you drink the porridge bestowed by the sage?"
"Mmm," Yue Shanling responded softly.
"It's completely cold, why would you drink it? Aren't you afraid of hurting your spleen and stomach?"
Yue Shanling remained silent. The Emperor's favor was not something he could do as he pleased. Besides, he had already suffered enough from ice and snow while guarding the border, and if he was going to be injured, he would have been seriously injured long ago. A few more mouthfuls of cold porridge wouldn't make a difference.
"Stop drinking tea, have some beverage to warm yourself up."
Fu Sui picked up one of the small pots, and Yue Shanling hurriedly took it and placed it on the stove.
The pot contained a warming drink made from Imperata cylindrica root, dried tangerine peel, and a slice of ginger. The tea was cooling in nature, and since he had just eaten cold porridge, drinking tea afterward would be detrimental to his health.
The beverage in the pot was already hot, and it started bubbling soon after being placed on the stove, releasing the refreshing aroma of dried tangerine peel, which even added a touch of freshness to the charcoal fire.
"The water's boiling." Yue Shanling took down the kettle and poured a cup for Fu Sui. "Be careful, it's hot."
The white porcelain cup held a pale yellow drink, steaming warmly. Fu Sui picked up the cup and held it to Yue Shanling's lips, mimicking his tone, "Be careful, it's hot."
As wisps of hot steam rushed into Yue Shanling's eyes, a bold idea instantly seized his mind: to bend down and drink, to drink the water from her hand.
Reason forcefully stopped him from doing so, compelling him to raise his hand to take the glass of water. Just as he was about to touch the glass, Fu Sui raised his hand an inch higher, his fingertips brushing against the glass, and he grasped nothing.
Her slender white fingers held the equally white cup and offered it to him again.
Yue Shanling's rationality was shattered by the lifting and passing of the porcelain, and those crazy thoughts robbed him of all his clarity. He slightly opened his lips, trying to lean down and hold that delicate white porcelain in his mouth, but that warm white color disappeared from his sight.
Fu Sui placed the cup on the table in front of Yue Shanling, as if she had intended to place it there anyway.
Standing frozen in place, Yue Shanling slowly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then awkwardly grabbed the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
The scalding water fell into my stomach, and before my cold stomach could be warmed by the tea, the intense heat spread throughout my body.
Kneeling for too long was uncomfortable, so Fu Sui shifted his position, sitting sideways. Sitting sideways brought him closer to Yue Shanling. The frayed edge of his cloak was already rubbing against his chest, and even through the thick cotton coat, Yue Shanling still felt itchy.
When she changed positions, the hem of her skirt was pulled down, making Fu Sui uncomfortable. She tilted her body to adjust the hem, swaying back and forth, and almost fell into Yue Shanling's arms several times.
His chest itched even more; he didn't know if it was the fur trim on her cloak that was particularly ticklish, or if she herself was subtly scratching at his heart. Yue Shanling was somewhat relieved that the window behind him was open, the cool breeze keeping his remaining rationality intact.
Several boxes were opened, and the fire was reduced in size over the mountain ridge, where chestnuts and water chestnuts were placed.
"Oh, there are oranges too." Fu Sui opened the last box and picked up the oranges with some surprise.
Oranges are not in season, but with the wealth of the Princess's mansion, it is not difficult to eat oranges in the cold winter.
These boxes were prepared by Kouyun and the others. Fu Sui originally thought they contained foods suitable for roasting, such as persimmons and water chestnuts, but she did not expect that there would be fruits that were not suitable for roasting.
"Has the general ever eaten roasted oranges?" Fu Sui asked excitedly. Before Yue Shanling could answer, she continued, "Let's roast some oranges."
Yue Shanling liked this "we," and in Fu Sui's eyes, he was also a part of her.
Chestnuts need to be roasted slowly, and so do oranges. While turning the chestnuts over over the mountains, Yue Ling told Fu Sui some local legends and strange tales.
When the wind stopped outside, the sound of burning charcoal became exceptionally clear. When we stopped over the mountains, it was as if we could even hear the chestnuts expanding.
He turned his head and saw that Fu Sui had fallen asleep, propped up on his arm. He extinguished the fire, got up to close the window, and sat back down in his original spot, sitting upright, silently and intently watching the person he missed day and night. Until that person's arm became more and more crooked, and his body became more and more slanted, Yue Shanling, quick as a flash, stretched out his arm before Fu Sui could fall off the table.
Fu Sui was startled awake, hummed a few times in dissatisfaction, and then closed his eyes again. The person who had been sleeping on the table slowly slid into his arms.
A pair of soft arms wrapped around the man's strong, slender waist, and Fu Sui fell into a deep sleep amidst the scorching heat.
The rustling sound hit the windowpane; it seemed to be snowing outside again.
Yue Shanling peeled the softened orange and put it in his mouth. The soft, mushy texture combined with the warm sourness made Yue Shanling frown. He had never eaten such an unpalatable orange before.
The aroma of roasted oranges filled the warm little house. He embraced the sleeping person in his arms and slowly peeled a second roasted orange.
When Fu Sui woke up, the sun was already setting. Fu Sui was used to being lazy at home and couldn't break the habit of taking a nap. He actually dozed off in front of him.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Fu Sui said reproachfully.
Yue Shanling smiled but did not answer, secretly hiding his own thoughts.
"Where are the oranges?" Fu Sui then noticed that all the oranges she had placed before bed had turned into peels; not a single one had been left for her. Fu Sui glared at the person who had stolen the oranges. "Were they good?"
"It's delicious." Yue Shanling's tone was very sincere.
She hadn't even gotten to eat those delicious roasted oranges. Fu Sui pouted and stood up, saying, "General, please escort me back to my residence."
If we delay any longer, he might miss the time to return to the Yue residence.
"Okay." He replied cheerfully, and together they stepped into the orange-red glow of the sunset.
The Ministry of Justice prison had no windows. After being locked up for a long time, one could no longer distinguish between day and night, and could only guess whether another day had passed by the food delivered each day.
"Hey!" the jailer shouted to the figure in the corner.
The shadow raised its head, revealing a beautiful but thin and haggard face.
Xue Guangting was tortured every few days. The interrogation in prison had some unique methods. The skin was unharmed, but the inside was badly injured, which was the most torturous.
Xue Guangting glanced at it once and then lowered his head. It wasn't mealtime yet, so the jailer calling him probably meant they were going to torture him again.
There was no sound of the door opening. The jailer pushed a bowl of porridge through the bars of the door: "This was brought in by someone from outside. It's Laba porridge. Drink it quickly."
It turned out that it was already Laba Festival, but the porridge was still hot, served in a small glazed bowl that only wealthy families could afford, and the sweet aroma filled the entire cell almost instantly.
Xue Guangting leaned against the prison wall, motionless, not even glancing at the bowl of porridge.
The prison cell was bitterly cold at night. The faint warmth vanished before it could even appear. The bowl of porridge, so out of place in the cell, sat forlornly on the ground, gradually turning into a handful of ice.
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