Nanxi Town is very quiet at night.
The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, making a dull sound.
At first, Yuan Yao was a little worried that she might disturb the townspeople, but she was relieved to occasionally encounter other caravans returning to town for the New Year.
She poured a glass of warm water, handed it to the Ninth Prince, and said with a sweet smile, "Father, have some water."
The Ninth Prince took a sip of water and looked at Yuan Yao with concern: "You've been traveling non-stop for months, and little Yao has lost weight."
Yuan Yao pinched her cheek and asked happily, "Daddy, has Yao'er really lost weight?"
"Silly dumpling." The Ninth Prince extended his index finger, slightly bent it, and lightly flicked her forehead: "Father feels sorry for you, yet you're so happy. Don't you have any conscience?"
Yuan Yao hugged the Ninth Prince's wrist, just like when she was a child, and rested her head lightly on the Ninth Prince's arm, saying coquettishly, "Yao'er just wants to be loved by Father!"
Yao'er has traveled a long way, so Father must make sure to nourish Yao'er properly!
Yao'er wants chicken soup, fish soup, and venison hot pot!
The Ninth Prince gently stroked her head and asked affectionately, "Is there anything else?"
"Yes!" Yuan Yao's eyes shone brightly as she said softly, "Yao'er also wants to eat soft and sticky sweet cakes, drink sweet and savory milk tea, and also wants to drink crab roe porridge..."
Yuan Yao counted on her fingers, listing all the foods she could think of.
Say whatever comes to mind.
Each time something was mentioned, the Ninth Prince would smile and reply, "Alright, Father will do as you say."
Even though she hadn't tasted the sweet cake yet, Yuan Yao felt that the days spent by her father's side were truly sweet!
Unrestrained and carefree, I can do whatever I want and eat whatever I want. These are probably the most relaxed and carefree days I've had in over a decade...
"Father," Yuan Yao said slowly, gazing at the street scene outside the carriage, "Yao'er saved a person named Kong Qing."
His family originally supplied medicinal herbs to the imperial palace; one of the herbs used to poison his father and the late emperor came from his family.
His father was sentenced to death for greedily supplying medicinal herbs at exorbitant prices.
He was selected to enter the palace because of his good looks and suitable age.
Apart from him, all his clansmen had been exiled...
"Father, I've entrusted Kong Qing to the Emperor, arranged accommodations and caretakers for him, and even enrolled him in the Imperial Academy..."
"Kong Qing?" The Ninth Prince repeated the name, then smiled and said, "This name sounds quite nice."
Yuan Yao smiled and said, "Kongqing is a medicinal herb that can improve eyesight and remove corneal opacity."
To improve eyesight and remove corneal opacity?
This has a good meaning.
The Ninth Prince smiled and said, "Perhaps, the one Xiao Yao'er saved is a future pillar of the Great Qi."
Yuan Yao smiled brightly: "That's what Yao'er thinks too!"
The Ninth Prince raised his hand, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to Yuan Yao: "If Kong Qing makes a name for himself in history, little Yao, you will be his mentor."
Cheers to the future pillars of the Great Qi!
Yuan Yao took the teacup and clinked it against the Ninth Prince's cup: "Father, cheers!"
The father and daughter drank tea instead of alcohol and had a very happy time.
It was as if the two of them had already witnessed the bright and beautiful future of Kong Qing...
By the time they arrived at the house, it was already late at night.
Outside the house, Xie Ning's soft, snow-white hair was lazily draped over her shoulders. Holding a lantern, she yawned, and then her eyes lit up when she saw the carriage.
He carried a lantern in one hand and a robe in the other, descended two steps, and smiled gently and brightly: "Little Yao'er, you're finally back!"
"My uncle has been waiting for a long time. If you don't come back soon, I'll get sleepy."
"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle!" Yuan Yao jumped off the carriage, lifting her skirt, and smiled sweetly and obediently.
Xie Ning said with a smile, "Seeing our little Yao'er return home safely, Uncle didn't feel bitter at all!"
You must be tired and sleepy from the journey, right? Your uncle has prepared food and hot water for you.
Yuan Yao said happily, "Thank you, Uncle!"
"We're family, why thank me?" Xie Ning smiled at the Ninth Prince: "Brother, it's chilly at night, let's go home."
The Ninth Prince nodded: "Let's go."
The items Yuan Yao had previously ordered the assassins to bring had already been delivered: brocade bedding, jade pillows, and even silver charcoal, the kind only found in the palace…
The room was warm and cozy, with a faint scent of incense burning in it.
Yuan Yao ate a late-night snack, took a bath, and slept soundly through the night.
The next day.
Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers could be heard outside.
Yuan Yao closed her eyes, lazily turned over, and grabbed the blanket to cover her head.
With a creak, the door opened.
Aruo brought in a basin of water: "Princess, are you awake? Would you like to sleep a little longer?"
If you want to sleep a little longer, I'll go and chase the children away who are setting off firecrackers outside.
Yuan Yao poked her head out, revealing sleepy eyes, her voice still hoarse from just waking up: "Aruo, what time is it?"
Aruo glanced at her, smiled, and placed the silver basin on the shelf: "Your Highness, it's almost noon."
Wow!
She actually slept for almost six hours?
She can sleep so much!
Yuan Yao, wrapped in the blanket and with her slightly frizzy hair disheveled, sat on the bed and asked, "Aruo, have Father and Uncle had lunch yet?"
"Not yet," Aruo said with a smile. "His Highness said that we'll have lunch together after the Princess wakes up."
Yuan Yao immediately regained consciousness.
She threw back the covers, yawned, and got out of bed: "Let's wash up!"
The climate in Nanxi Town is not cold in winter.
However, the wind was blowing, and the air was slightly damp and chilly...
Yuan Yao put on a cloak and went out of the courtyard. Xun Chun came to lead the way: "Princess, His Highness and the others are waiting for you in the warm pavilion."
"A warm pavilion?" Yuan Yao asked, somewhat puzzled.
Xun Chun knelt down and said, "Your Highness, it is a pavilion that was built after you left."
Yuan Yao became somewhat curious.
She smiled and said, "Let's go."
The so-called warm pavilion is a pavilion built in the backyard.
The pavilion was built to be very large, and could seat about ten people. Next to it was a crystal-clear pool with steam rising from the water.
Before Yuan Yao even got close, she asked curiously, "Is this a hot spring?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the three people sitting in the pavilion looked at her.
Xie Ning stood up and smiled gently: "This is not a hot spring, but warm water discharged from the underground canal of Nuanting Pavilion."
Underdrain?
Yuan Yao blinked, her face full of curiosity: "What kind of underground channel?"
Xie Ning explained, "Underneath this pavilion, there are two underground water channels, with water inlets and outlets at both ends."
In the cold winter, hot water was boiled and channeled from the large pot in the woodshed into the underground drain. With hot water in the drain, the pavilion could be kept warm as spring.
"On hot summer days, adding cool water to the pool will make the pavilion very cool..."
Isn't this just a heating system?
Yuan Yao gave a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Uncle is amazing!"
Xie Ning smiled and said, "Once spring arrives, I will have people search the entire house thoroughly, digging up all the rooms, living rooms, and flower halls and building underground drainage ditches!"
Next winter, we won't be able to stay warm without lighting a charcoal fire.
After saying that, Xie Ning winked and said as if to take credit, "Little Yao'er, your uncle risked getting his legs broken by your father to prepare a wedding night for you and Yun Chan!"
"The...bridal chamber?"
Yuan Yao almost bit her tongue.
Her face flushed, and in a moment of confusion, she stammered, "Is 'bridal chamber' a noun or a verb?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com