Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Fireworks Temple Fair, Shura Field (Part 2)...
The brilliant clouds gradually faded away, and a disc that seemed real and unreal emerged, as if covered with a thin veil, with a charming halo.
Xiao Mao came slowly with a black gold-stamped satin folding fan, waving it with every step. With his subordinates leading the way, he walked smoothly, casually and leisurely.
Shen Guyan and Jiang Xiu Luo also noticed the movement here. They were surprised to see the newcomers. In panic, they put down the little gadgets in their hands and were about to pay their respects.
"Today I am just Mr. Xiao, so you don't have to be so formal." Xiao Mao raised his folding fan lightly, with a smile in the corners of his eyes.
The original group of two people became a group of five, and no one knew how many assassins and secret guards were following behind them. Lu Suizhu felt very depressed, but there was nothing she could do but to follow them stiffly.
During temple fireworks fairs, handsome men and beautiful women often meet up to walk together under the moon, so it is not uncommon for them to walk among the bright lights, the sounds of gongs and laughter, and the frolicking of children.
"Master Lu's performance of Yangguan Sandie last time also captured my wife's heart. If there is a chance, I will definitely invite you to play the piano in the East Palace again."
While daydreaming, Xiao Mao took the initiative to talk.
This Donggong Lu Suizhu had only been there a few times, but it was a nightmare that she would never be able to dispel in her life. She was still frightened by the prickly touch of Yingyi's hands on her neck. She felt suffocated when she thought about it, but she was dishonest in her words.
"I am truly blessed to receive the love and care of Master Xiao and Madam.
Then Xiao Mao mentioned the silent Shen Guyan beside him: "Last year, Xu Ruogu also mentioned Mr. Shen, and expressed his regret for your resignation."
"I was born in the countryside and was used to being spontaneous. Ultimately, I failed to live up to Lord Xu's careful cultivation." Shen Guyan had said this countless times, and he could almost blurt it out no matter who asked.
Xiao Mao nodded, looked at Pei Zhiji and said, "Huai Shen has been at the border for some time, right? His elder sister at home misses him every day."
"Huai Shen is doing well. Thank you, elder sister... brother-in-law, you care about me." Pei Zhiji was obviously not used to this address either. It sounded very unfamiliar. Looking at the bright moonlight, he asked, "Did brother-in-law come here specifically to enjoy the folk customs?"
"People always have hard times during the year, but they enjoy temple fairs from time to time. This is a rare opportunity for people to have fun and leisure in a busy year. My father and the empress dowager specially sent me here to understand the people's sentiments and to have fun with them." Xiao Mao gently shook the folding fan in his hand, and the air wafted out the special incense made in the palace. The scent was rich and complex, and it gave people a sense of wealth and luxury.
"It is thanks to the diligence of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, and the tireless efforts of Your Highness, who assists us in governing the country with a benevolent heart, that our dynasty prospers and our people live and work in peace and contentment. This prosperous scene is the best proof of this."
This was a guilty praise of Xiao Mao's benevolence. When Lu Suizhu looked at Pei Zhiji again, she felt a sense of strangeness. Although he was wearing a clean white shirt, he seemed to be wearing a crimson official robe, with a flawless jade crown and black hair. He looked like a dignified, authoritarian, and talkative flatterer.
As the hour of Xu approaches, the aroma of food wafts from the tavern, arousing the appetite. The waiters also start smiling and shouting, going out to attract customers.
Xiao Mao suggested having dinner together, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Let's go to Louyue Pavilion. As the saying goes, where can I wander when a fallen flower steps on it? I'll smile and walk into Hu Ji's wine shop. Although there's no Hu Ji, there's Lu Qinshi playing the zither, which is also a pleasure."
After walking around for such a long time, the rabbit mask in Lu Suizhu's hand was almost crushed, but he still smiled and nodded.
Xiao Mao rarely left the palace and was filled with curiosity about everything outside. He walked slowly. Pei Zhiji stood by and chatted with him, explaining his confusion: "These vendors are divided into two types of business models: sedentary vendors and traveling vendors. Sedentary vendors have fixed stalls and pay rent on time, while traveling vendors are mobile vendors who set up stalls wherever there are temple fairs to sell their goods."
When asked about the origin of this folk fireworks temple fair, Pei Zhiji answered fluently without hesitation.
"People visited different streets and stocked up on different goods at different times of the year: the Lantern Market in the first month, the Flower Market in the second month, the Silkworm Market in the third month, the Brocade Market in the fourth month, the Fan Market in the fifth month, the Incense Market in the sixth month, the Seven Treasures Market in the seventh month, the Osmanthus Market in the eighth month, the Medicine Market in the ninth month, the Wine Market in the tenth month, the Plum Market in the eleventh month, and the Peach Charms Market in the twelfth month. There was also a place specifically for scholars to buy and sell books, called the 'Huai Market.'"
"If there is a chance in the future, we can go and watch it together." Xiao Mao, who had lived in the deep palace for a long time, obviously found it very interesting.
Along the way, there was constant drum music and the colors of the lights changed in various ways. Lu Suizhu was walking slowly when she suddenly felt a push from the crowd.
The force was so strong that she was pushed out heavily, falling squarely into Pei Zhiji's arms.
"Be careful."
Feeling the big hands gently caressing her waist, bringing a fleeting itch, Lu Suizhu nodded with a red face.
When he stood up, where no one was paying attention, Xiao Mao winked at her.
"?"
Lu Suizhu was filled with resentment and really wanted to curse. Even if he wanted to match her and Pei Zhiji, he wouldn't have to use such clumsy means. Did he really think everyone was a fool?
She had been walking beside Pei Zhiji just now, and was carefully keeping a distance from him, but was suddenly knocked back to where she was by someone who suddenly rushed out.
After barely stabilizing himself, Pei Zhiji released his support, a puzzled look on his face: "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"sorry."
Lu Suizhu stood up awkwardly, her earlobes blushing, tears trembling in her eyes. She didn't know what to do. She had never felt so embarrassed before.
Emperor Xiao Maotian was a nobleman, and the women he loved had always been offered to him by others. He had no experience of love between men and women. It was absurd for him to use such crude means to deal with a young man from a noble family like Pei Zhiji.
She was about to walk away with her head down when she heard Pei Zhiji say, "Just stand next to me, so you don't get squeezed again." After saying that, he took a slight step and made room for himself inside.
Xiao Mao was smiling and in a very good mood.
Seeing this, Lu Suizhu also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Xiao Mao should stop tormenting her. He naively thought that he was helping her get close to Pei Zhiji and bring them closer to each other, but he didn't know that he would make her go further and further on the undercover path.
Everyone walked into Louyue Pavilion one after another. Qin Wuniang came out, wearing a gorgeous peony in her hairpin. "What a pity, ladies and gentlemen, the place is full today. Please look somewhere else."
Lu Suizhu, who was completely blocked by several tall men, poked her head out from behind, stepped forward and whispered to Qin Wuniang, "These are all distinguished guests. Please quickly arrange for a quiet window-side box."
The word "distinguished guest" was emphasized very seriously. Qin Wuniang was clear-headed and calm, and immediately sent someone to give more money and invite the guests to leave.
"Dear objective people, please follow me."
The second-floor box is isolated from the joy of singing and dancing, and you can take in the prosperity and bustle of today's Shangjing. Without the noise of carriages and horses, it feels as if you are living in a human world.
Fearing that the hospitality was not good enough, Qin Wu Niang deliberately served the orange sand dumplings bought from Xiaorenfang, abalone and snail pastries from Shixifang, and Cui Ji's sugar cakes before serving the other dishes.
Looking at the plate of snow-white and lustrous sugar cake, Pei Zhiji's hanging hands moved slightly.
Seeing that the atmosphere was not lively for a while, Shen Guyan took the initiative to jump into the conversation: "I heard that Taifu Li fell into the water a while ago. I have always been deeply saddened. I remember that I and the other candidates who went to Beijing to take the exam together had the honor of listening to his lectures."
"But I always feel that this matter is strange, as if I was harmed by a bad person. I don't know who is so vicious."
The atmosphere was more solemn than ever before. Lu Suizhu's breathing stagnated. How could it be such a coincidence that this matter was brought up?
Pian Chen wanted to continue talking.
Xiao Mao sat in the center of the dark gray wenge round table, with Pei Zhiji and Shen Guyan sitting next to him. Lu Suizhu and Jiang Xiu Luo sat next to each other.
He stretched out his foot and kicked Shen Guyan who was talking across from him, but he didn't notice it at all.
As cup after cup of liquor went down his throat, his emotions surged and Chen Guyan became more and more excited. Lu Suizhu felt anxious and uneasy, fearing that he had completely offended Xiao Mao and brought about his own death.
At this moment, she finally understood that Shen Gu's statement that he was not suitable for being an official was not a humble remark, but an indisputable fact.
"The person who could kill Li Taifu must be ruthless and cruel. The officials involved must be corrupt officials who closed the case so hastily."
The man was killed by Xiao Mao, and the case was settled by Xu Ruogu at the request of Pei Zhiji... Lu Suizhu looked at the expressions of the two suspects, one of whom was accused of being cruel and ruthless, and the other of being a corrupt official. He was not in a hurry but remained calm and composed, and he drank with ease, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
At this moment, Lu Suizhu really admired their composure that they had developed after staying in the court for a long time.
After kicking several times without any effect, Lu Suizhu was anxious and angry, and had no choice but to give up.
"Mr. Chen is young and energetic after all. He got drunk after just two glasses of wine. He needs more training in the future." Xiao Mao laughed dryly.
The people below were very tactful and carried Chen Guyan out, regardless of whether he was sober or not, they just said that he was drunk. Jiang Xiu Luo also left first on the pretext of feeling unwell. Pei Zhiji nodded and asked her to bring a message after returning home.
By then, Qin Wuniang had already brought the guqin over, and Lu Suizhu sat down. Her posture was particularly upright, with a long and elegant neck. She became one with the guqin, putting aside her worries. Her soft hands roamed freely on the strings, and the strength of her wrists was sometimes soft and boneless, silky and silent, and sometimes as strong as a mountain, unable to move.
The sound is lingering and melodious.
The sound of the piano was pleasant, and when the wine was in high spirits, Pei Zhiji and Xiao Mao clinked cups and exchanged glasses, always moving forward and backward appropriately while drinking.
"Your Highness, I really can't drink anymore." Pei Zhiji refused repeatedly. He was already drunk, his body was no longer straight as before, and he stammered a few words while speaking.
After three rounds of drinking and the music was at its peak, Pei Zhiji finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell drunk on the table.
"Master Pei is drunk, and I should go back to the palace. I have a wonderful day today!"
Xiao Mao's body was a little unsteady, and when he waved his hand, the folding fan did not open fully. He walked up to Lu Suizhu, patted her shoulder, and smiled creepily when he tilted his head slightly.
"You are responsible for sending Lord Pei back, hahahahaha."
When he left drunk, he still kept saying it was interesting.
Fortunately, Qin Wuniang had been prepared and sent someone to prepare a carriage. She and Lu Suizhu helped Pei Zhiji up.
"Suizhu, can you do it by yourself?" Qin Wuniang looked at them, a man and a woman alone, riding in the same carriage, and felt a little worried.
"It's okay. Someone will come to pick you up when we get to Pei Mansion."
Qin Wuniang watched Lu Suizhu leave helplessly, after all, she was still a child who had not grown up.
The carriage rolled through the market, leaving shallow ruts. After a long time, it completely left the downtown area, and the originally bustling streets slowly became quiet.
Pei Zhiji leaned aside with his eyes closed, looking very quiet. Although this light-colored dress was for his cousin Jiang, it really suited him, and his eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as the snow.
Lu Suizhu bravely stepped forward.
Suddenly, their eyes met.
It turned out that Pei Zhiji was pretending to be drunk and had been dozing off. At this moment, his eyes were clear and he didn't look drunk at all.
Knowing that she had been deceived, Lu Suizhu put one hand firmly on the cushion of the carriage at the back and suppressed her panic: "I am worried about your injury. You drank so much wine today."
"I'm fine."
Pei Zhiji's voice was a little low and hoarse. He always felt a little uncomfortable after drinking. His brows were tightly furrowed, his breathing was a little heavier than usual, there was still a smell of alcohol on his body, and the clothes around his waist were wrinkled and a little saggy.
"Miss Jiang is very beautiful."
What Lu Suizhu said came without any warning.
"really."
The people who answered were also lazy and casual.
Jiang Xiu Luo looks most like Pei Zhiji's mother and is naturally beautiful. At this moment, he still has one hand on his forehead and his eyes are not open. Now he has a severe headache after coming out in the cold wind.
Lu Suizhu sat aside without saying a word. After a long time, Pei Zhiji noticed something strange and asked in a low and hoarse voice.
"Why aren't you talking?"
"It's already past the hour of Xu, and I'm afraid I'll be punished if I go back." Lu Suizhu was exceptionally calm, and his tone was indifferent.
Suddenly, the carriage ran over a stone, making a clicking sound. The carriage body shook violently, and Lu Suizhu lost her balance and fell backwards.
When the noses are facing each other, a faint smell of wine enters the nose, which seems to be Wu Niang’s latest blend of cherry Biluobai.
This wine must be the most intoxicating.
Otherwise, why would her face turn red when she smelled it?
Too many "accidents" happened today, and Lu Suizhu looked obviously flustered and confused. She thought Pei Zhiji would be as cold and sarcastic as before, and say something to ask her to behave herself, but he didn't.
"Don't be afraid, today is an exception."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "I won't be punished."
After being stunned for a long time, Lu Suizhu heard the sedan chair bearer's repeated apologies, and then she realized that her ears were burning.
Our noses brushed against each other as we left.
Suddenly, he glanced down and saw several women's footprints on Pei Zhiji's dirty trouser hem. Lu Suizhu's heart was immediately in turmoil again. He wanted to escape and find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
I wanted to open the car curtains and get some fresh air.
But Pei Zhiji was seen covering his shoulders with his hands with a pale face, slowly leaning back on the chair, with veins on his neck visible from his breathing.
"But does the wound hurt?"
Maybe it was because of the drinking, but Pei Zhiji felt the wound tearing. He endured the pain and still supported himself with one hand, rejecting Lu Suizhu's kindness.
She didn't take the initiative to step forward again.
Just listen to Pei Zhiji.
"I have made careful plans to help you get a status on the old lady's birthday."
Then he repeated it in a low voice, no one knew who he was talking to this time. His voice was so soft that even Lu Suizhu couldn't hear it clearly: "Yes...it's Huai Shen's woman."
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