Chapter 218 Bring
With Wang Yu injured, the selection of a concubine was put on hold.
Xiao Qing sat alone by the window, letting the cold wind seep into the warm room through the cracks, while relaxing her body and leaning back, closing her eyes to rest.
The cold air cleared her mind, and she began to think about why she had ended up in this passive situation.
Fu Mingyi wanted her to assume power, which led to preparations for her wedding. The original choices for the wedding were Wang Yu and Fu Lanzhu. Later, Chu Lianzhou was added to the list.
Wang Xiang desired his daughter to enter the palace, ideally to monopolize the harem. This way, he could become even more powerful and influential in both the palace and the court.
Wang Yu desires prestige and status; otherwise, she wouldn't be so proactive and wouldn't have waited until now to remain unmarried.
Fu Lanzhu... since she has someone in her heart, she probably doesn't want to enter the palace. Or, even if she doesn't reject entering the palace, she probably doesn't have any other thoughts about it.
As for Chu Lianzhou... he probably agreed to enter the palace because of Fu Mingyi.
Therefore, she was not very enthusiastic during the selection of concubines.
Feeling troubled, Xiao Qing got up, casually threw on a cloak, and went outside.
Mingxiu, who was guarding the door, followed and asked, "Where does Your Majesty wish to go?"
Xiao Qing waved his hand at her and said, "I'll be alone for a while." Then he walked out.
Mingxiu knew that she meant she didn't want anyone to follow her, but how could she not feel at ease? So she still walked in her direction.
Ma Hong stopped her and said, "I'll go." Then he followed her.
However, he only followed from a distance and did not get close.
Mingxiu sighed, gave up, and turned to go into the warm room to tidy up.
Xiao Qing had just left Chengde Palace and was taking a walk in the small garden when she saw Xiao Yan with one hand behind his back and the other holding a book. He was walking back and forth, looking at the book in his hand, while the chubby little one was playing in the grass nearby.
It looks thinner than before and is much more lively.
Upon seeing Xiao Qing approach, Xiao Yan put down his book, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xiao Qing nodded, looked around, and not seeing Liu Yi or Dan Ying, asked, "Why is Brother Yan here alone?"
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "The fire in the warm pavilion is burning too brightly, so I brought Xiao Xiao out for some fresh air."
Now that the weather is cold, the heated room is always filled with burning charcoal, and people who stay in there for a long time will definitely feel stuffy.
Xiao Qing nodded. "Why didn't I see Dan Ying and Liu Yi?"
"Liu Yi went to the Inner Palace to collect his salary for this month. Dan Ying was worried that my brother was cold, so she just returned to Chengguang Palace and brought him a coat."
Xiao Qing was in a bad mood, but seeing the chubby little one wriggling around in the grass made her feel a little better, so she walked towards the grass.
After she walked past, she thought of some of Xiao Yan's strange habits again—he absolutely didn't like others touching his own things. Fatty was regarded as his most precious private possession. For a while, if she looked at him for too long, he would try to change the angle so that she couldn't see him, let alone get close to touch him or play with him.
Thinking of this, Xiao Qing turned to look in his direction and said, "You seem to have been much more lenient with Fatty lately."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty reminded me many times before, and I thought it made a lot of sense, so I naturally wanted to give it a try. Now it seems that what Your Majesty said was indeed correct. Fatty has become much more lively and happier recently."
The chubby little cat turned its head and saw the two of them talking. It tilted its head and meowed, its cute appearance instantly brightening Xiao Qing's mood.
No wonder people say that petting cats can relieve stress; it's absolutely true.
Xiao Qing squatted down and naturally stretched out her hand.
At first, the chubby little one didn't dodge; it even put its head in Xiao Qing's palm and snuggled into her arms, looking especially adorable.
"My brother seems to be in a bad mood."
Xiao Qing casually plucked a blade of grass and used it to tease the chubby boy.
The chubby boy's eyes lit up when he saw the long grass in her hand.
Xiao Qing smiled, recalling the days when Ying Ziye raised cats in the palace. She thought to herself that Pang Xiao was raised by Ying Ziye since it was a kitten, and had not forgotten Ying Ziye.
Playing with grass to tease the cat was something Ying Ziye often did.
They all really enjoyed playing like this.
"I am in a bad mood."
Xiao Yan's expression turned cold as he watched the chubby boy being amused by a blade of grass, but he quickly clenched his hands and relaxed his expression.
"Is Your Majesty in a bad mood because of Wang Yu?"
Xiao Qing pursed her lips, "Not entirely. There are other things I don't quite understand."
Xiao Yan said, "If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I can take you somewhere. Perhaps that will cheer you up."
Xiao Qing smiled.
She looked at Xiao Yan curiously, "Where do you want to take my brother?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, "Is Your Majesty going?"
Xiao Qing stood up. "Go."
Xiao Yan then walked over, picked up the chubby baby, and said, "Your Majesty, this way please. Before this place was put into use, I would come here whenever I was in a bad mood, especially when the sun was just rising in the morning..."
Xiao Qing followed him deeper into the garden, then crossed the garden again, and arrived at...
Hmm, she seems to have seen this place before.
To be precise, she had been here.
Looking at Yunguang Lake before her and seeing the familiar little pavilion, she couldn't help but smile faintly.
On the other side of Yunguang Lake is where the imperial concubines live. Now, only one Zhongling Palace is used, and all thirty-seven concubines live there.
Xiao Qing looked up at the sky, then at the Rainbow Bridge over Yun Guang Lake, and thought of the injured Wang Yu, his mood becoming heavy again.
"Brother, over here."
Xiao Yan led her toward the edge of Yunguang Lake.
Yunguang Lake is an artificial lake. Originally, there was no lake here. Skilled craftsmen dug a lake here, and that's how it got its name, Yunguang Lake. A bridge was built over the lake, called Feihong Bridge.
Xiao Yan was by the lake, scooping up water with one hand and turning to look at Xiao Qing with a smile.
“Brother, the water here is very cool. Especially in summer, just scooping up a handful of water here feels like it cools you right to the bone.”
Xiao Qing smiled, never expecting that Xiao Yan would have such leisure and refined tastes every summer.
Just as she was about to say something, it seemed someone was walking towards her from the other end of the Feihong Bridge.
Xiao Qing quickly pulled Xiao Yan back, and then looked closely; they seemed to be two palace maids.
Xiao Qing's ears twitched, as if she heard them talking.
Because he studied under Mr. Wu for three years, Xiao Qing's eyesight and hearing were much better than those of ordinary people.
"See? Wang Liangren is really unlucky. He's injured like this, and we don't even know if he'll be able to dance anymore."
Xiao Qing thought to herself, "Why do I have to hear this name when I'm out for a walk?"
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