Chapter 115 It was fate that brought Yinreng back five days later...
Yinreng returned five days later at noon. When he came in, Cheng Qianyue didn't recognize him at first, because he looked at least one shade darker than when he left.
Cheng Qianyue thought to herself, "This isn't right. How could he get so much darker in just a few days?" But then she thought, "He probably already had a tan, but I didn't notice because I saw him so often before. Now that I haven't seen him for several days, it's more obvious at first glance."
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but smile slightly. Today, Yinreng was wearing an apricot-yellow formal suit. Everyone knows that yellow is a color that makes fair skin look even fairer and dark skin look even darker. So, a quick glance at Yinreng's face made him look even darker. She smiled and quickly walked over to unbutton his collar. Once the buttons were undone, Yinreng slowly exhaled.
The weather outside was gradually getting warmer. Yinreng followed the Emperor to the Confucius Mansion, and then to the Confucius Temple and Confucius Cemetery. Therefore, he wore thick and heavy clothes, and was drenched in sweat on the way back. However, after taking off his outer robe and washing his face and hands, he felt much better. Then, turning his head, he saw Cheng Qianyue's smiling face.
Yinreng came out from behind the screen and sat on the couch. "Have you been staying in the mansion lately?" he asked.
Cheng Qianyue shook her head, casually picked up a round fan to fan him, "No, I went out for a walk too."
She's not stupid. Now that her boss has finally left, how could she not have some fun? So a couple of days ago, she went shopping and visited some famous fabric shops and jewelry stores in Jining City, all well-established local shops with good craftsmanship.
Furthermore, her shopping experience was different from others; she always made sure the area was cleared beforehand. She rode in a sedan chair, followed by guards, and upon arrival, the shopkeepers provided her with attentive hospitality.
Good heavens! She'd lived two lives and only ever seen this kind of privilege in TV dramas; she never imagined she'd experience it in real life.
However, she didn't want to go shopping anymore. Firstly, it was troublesome; she'd have to bring a sedan chair and guards whenever she went out, and it was getting hot, so she'd sweat easily. Secondly, she felt it was a bit arrogant to demand that shopkeepers kick her out of stores. Putting herself in their shoes, Cheng Qianyue wondered if people would gossip about her behind her back. So, from then on, if she wanted anything to eat or drink, she'd have her servants go out and buy it for her, or call the shopkeepers and managers over to ask them to deliver it.
As Yinreng listened to her chattering away, he slowly closed his eyes. He felt that her cheerfulness made him feel as if he were there himself, and he was happy too.
Cheng Qianyue watched him close his eyes and her voice gradually lowered. But soon Yinreng opened his eyes again and asked her, "Why did you stop talking?"
Cheng Qianyue smiled and said, "It's noon, time for lunch." She then ordered someone to bring the meal.
At the dinner table, Yinreng looked at the two bowls of plain white rice porridge and a few side dishes and laughed, "Why were the things for breakfast brought over?"
Cheng Qianyue replied, "It's what I wanted. I bought some local pickles a few days ago and specially prepared them to go with the porridge." Pickles are best enjoyed with porridge. She moved her favorite dish towards him and said softly, "These cucumbers are pickled exceptionally well, so crisp and refreshing. I've been craving them these past few days, so I've had a bowl of porridge brought to me with every meal."
Well, to be honest, the two things look quite nice side by side, all neat and tidy. Since they look good, let's give them a try.
Yinreng had someone bring the porridge to him and found that it wasn't the thick kind, but rather a thin porridge of water mixed with rice grains. Drinking a bowl of this wouldn't make him feel full. He also added some crisp pickled cucumbers to eat with it, and it was quite delicious.
After finishing his bowl of porridge in a few gulps, Yinreng picked up some steamed buns to accompany the cucumber dish, eating two buns before stopping. He put down his chopsticks and said, "It's quite good, very refreshing." Then he instructed someone to bring plain noodles to accompany the cucumber dish the next morning.
Cheng Qianyue said, "If you like it, I'll have someone buy a jar. If we can't finish it, we can take it with us." She figured they would be setting off soon, and they wouldn't be able to find this kind of local flavor anywhere else.
Yinreng looked at her and smiled gently, saying, "I'll do whatever you say."
After lunch, Yinreng wrote a few words at his desk before preparing for his afternoon nap. Cheng Qianyue was also a little sleepy, so she sat with him on the edge of the bed. As soon as Yinreng took off his boots, her brows furrowed.
Yinreng's socks were soaked with sweat.
Cheng Qianyue asked, "Why are your feet so sweaty, Master?"
Yinreng replied, "Perhaps it's because I've been walking around too much." He then asked someone to bring him new socks. However, before he could put on the new socks, Cheng Qianyue stopped him. She noticed that Yinreng's toes were somewhat pale and looked like they were about to peel.
Seeing that she was frowning and staring at her feet without saying anything, Yinreng said, "Are you sweating? Is there some unpleasant smell?" As he said this, he put on his clothes and got up to go outside.
Cheng Qianyue grabbed him and said, "It doesn't smell bad, but look how pale Master's feet have turned from soaking. This won't do." It's hard to cure athlete's foot if it develops. She looked up and said to the outside, "Boil a pot of water with herbs that dispel dampness and heat for Master to soak his feet."
Yinreng was still saying, "It's alright, just wash with water, it won't cause sores." But Cheng Qianyue said with a serious face, "No, you have to soak your feet properly. After we're on our way, the Emperor might forget about it." Yinreng was always busy with the Emperor, and sometimes he couldn't even come back. If he got busy, he would definitely forget about such a small thing as soaking his feet.
Yinreng was used to her gentle and soft nature, and this was the first time he had ever seen her with a stern face over such a trivial matter. He just looked at her like that, and after a while, he raised his hand to touch her hair, teasingly saying, "The Crown Princess's tone has become quite arrogant these days, and her temper has truly grown."
Cheng Qianyue was taken aback. Oh dear, her tone just now seemed a bit harsh? She hesitated, wondering if she should apologize. However, she quickly dismissed the idea, because Yinreng said, "Now you have some of my authority, which is good." This would prevent her from constantly feeling like she had no status.
Cheng Qianyue sensed a hint of relief in his words, so she stopped thinking about apologizing. She also wondered if he didn't mind her interfering. To be honest, she was quite flattered when the thought crossed her mind.
Before long, the hot foot bath was served, filling the room with a faint herbal scent, which even smelled a little bitter. Yinreng put his feet in, and the scalding water made him want to sweat. However, soaking his feet like this was very soothing.
After soaking his feet, Cheng Qianyue didn't let him wear socks, telling him to let them air out before sleeping. Yinreng nodded in agreement. After a while, Cheng Qianyue turned to face him, listening to his deep breathing.
Is he asleep?
Just as he was wondering, he heard Yinreng say with his eyes closed, "What's wrong?"
Cheng Qianyue whispered, "Did you suspect I was disgusted by you just now?" Otherwise, why would her first reaction be to ask if it smelled bad, and why would she put on her clothes and go outside?
Yinreng couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Cheng Qianyue thought she had guessed correctly and said softly, "I don't dislike you. We've shared a bed for so many years, how could I dislike you just because I'm sweating?" Then she added, "Even if my feet become rotten, I'll only think about whether you're in pain."
Seeing that she was getting more and more off-topic, Yinreng casually said, "Yes, yes, I know. Alright, go to sleep."
Yinreng woke up at two in the afternoon and found himself alone in bed. He prepared to put on his shoes and get out of bed, only to discover that his boots were missing, and there was only a pair of wooden clogs under the bed. He cleared his throat and said, "Someone come here."
Chen He, who was guarding outside, hurriedly led his men in to serve, when he heard his master ask, "Where are the boots?" Chen He was also in a bit of a predicament, and his eyes involuntarily darted outside. After counting a few times in his mind, the "culprit" came over.
Cheng Qianyue came in slowly after she learned that Yinreng had woken up. When she heard the question, she replied, "I had someone take it out."
Yinreng asked with a smile, "Then why didn't you bring another pair? Instead, you left behind the wooden clogs you wear in the rain?"
Cheng Qianyue said matter-of-factly, "These are breathable. I think it's better for you to wear these indoors, so your feet won't get sweaty." Cheng Qianyue woke up early from her afternoon nap and started thinking about changing his shoes. Yinreng's shoes were mostly boots; although made of cloth, the heavy embroidery layers made them not very breathable, so his feet would get soaked if he sweated. Then she thought she'd let him wear slippers here—slippers are much more breathable and cool.
As for ancient slippers, well, aren't they just wooden clogs?
So Cheng Qianyue tiptoed and took Yinreng's shoes, and asked Chen He to find a pair of wooden clogs and put them under the bed.
Yinreng had long suspected that this was Cheng Qianyue's doing, but since she did all this for his own good, he was happy to openly show his love for her, so he readily went along with her wishes.
After he put on his shoes and stepped out, the sound of his footsteps was like the clatter of a horse's hooves. Cheng Qianyue smiled and praised him, saying, "It sounds so crisp and clear. Isn't this what they call 'riding a horse on a spring breeze'?"
Yinreng walked over and flicked her nose, "If the horse's hooves are too fast, then wouldn't I become a horse?" Cheng Qianyue just laughed there.
As evening approached, Yinreng was reviewing memorials and writing in the side room. Cheng Qianyue sat on the couch next to him, embroidering a handkerchief. After a while, she felt her neck getting sore from looking down, and glancing outside, she saw that the sun was about to set. She gestured for Ruoyun to come over and said softly, "Tell the kitchen to prepare something light and easy for today's meals."
Ruoyun was about to ask if there were any other instructions, but Chen He came out from the side room and said, "No need to trouble Master Cheng's people, this servant will send someone to give the order."
Cheng Qianyue was taken aback for a moment, but since Chen He had already said so, she didn't insist and said, "Alright, thank you for your trouble."
Chen He lowered his head and replied, "This servant dares not."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Cheng Qianyue remembered something else and said, "After you leave, tell them to boil a pot of water for foot baths, just like at noon."
Chen He said "Ah," and seeing that there was nothing else, he went out.
After Cheng Qianyue left, she and Ruoyun exchanged a glance, and then the two of them smiled. Cheng Qianyue thought to herself, why did this feel like Chen He was making a move on her?
Chen He went out and told the young eunuch to go to the kitchen to deliver a message. After giving the order, he didn't rush back. He remembered what had happened around noon. At that time, Master Cheng said to only put a pair of wooden clogs under the bed, and Chen He said with difficulty, "The Crown Prince has many shoes, why not put a pair of boots next to the clogs?" That way, the Crown Prince could wear whichever he wanted, and it would be considered that he had taken care of everything.
But to everyone's surprise, Master Cheng shook his head and said, "No need, just put on the wooden clogs. If there's anything else, I'll tell you."
Chen He thought to himself that if the Crown Prince really got angry, no one could persuade him. But then he thought again, it seemed that the Crown Prince had never objected to Master Cheng's ideas. Moreover, the Crown Prince had indulged Master Cheng's words just now.
As Chen He had predicted, the Crown Prince didn't mind Master Cheng's meddling at all. His mind started to race. What servant wouldn't want to make good connections? Before, he served the Crown Prince in Yuqing Palace but couldn't get close to Xiefang Palace; now that he had this opportunity, why not seize it?
Chen He smiled slowly as he thought this, but quickly shook his head again.
Oh my, who would have thought that a little princess who was once out of favor would be where she is today? It really is all about timing and fate.
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