Chapter 421 The Cunning and Charming Girl (Two Updates)
Princess Xinyang neither said to throw it away nor not to throw it away, seemingly indifferent, and turned to go into the house.
Yu Jin gazed at her aloof and lonely figure, thought for a moment, and then carried the food box inside.
...
When Xiao Liulang returned to Bishui Hutong, Xiao Jingkong had just returned from the other end of the hutong. He had gone to deliver mooncakes. Everyone usually took good care of them, so Jiaojiao also made mooncakes for the neighbors.
Xiao Jingkong was very happy after delivering the mooncakes, and she jumped up and down.
At the door, I unexpectedly ran into my wicked brother-in-law.
He immediately dropped his excited expression and became serious and stern: "Where did you go? I couldn't find you just now."
Hearing his patriarchal tone, Xiao Liulang was both amused and annoyed: "He went to deliver mooncakes, just like you."
"Oh." Xiao Jingkong was clearly not satisfied with this vague answer. He asked, "Where did you deliver it?"
"In the palace," Xiao Liulang said, "for my aunt."
"Anything else?" Little Jingkong asked, tilting his head to look at him with his hands behind his back.
Xiao Liulang asked, "Why do you think there's something else after what I said?"
Xiao Jingkong snorted, "I just think there's still some!"
The little guy's intuition was terrifyingly strong. Xiao Liulang steadied himself and shifted his short hair: "Let's go in."
"Does it exist or not?" Xiao Jingkong asked.
"Why are you asking this?" Xiao Liulang asked.
Little Jingkong puffed out his little chest and said, "I want to know who sent the most mooncakes!"
Xiao Liulang made him laugh in exasperation again: "Why do you even have to compare this? How childish."
Little Jingkong, hands on hips and stamping his feet, exclaimed: "I'm not childish! At least I won't wet the bed like you, who's your age!"
Xiao Liulang tapped his little head with a half-smile: "Are you sure it was me who wet the bed, not you?"
Xiao Jingkong brushed his hand away from his head: "It's you, it's you, it's definitely you! Hehehe!"
After sticking out his tongue, the little guy made a face at Xiao Liulang and dashed into the house.
Xiao Liulang chuckled: "You still say you're not childish."
The family had a lively meal and enjoyed the moon in the courtyard. Feng Lin and Master Lu got quite drunk, and the two put their arms around each other's shoulders, almost to the point of becoming sworn brothers on the spot.
This is something you absolutely cannot worship, otherwise Xiao Liulang's seniority will be lower, and he won't be able to call Feng Lin "Feng Lin" anymore when he sees him in the future; he'll have to call him "Uncle-Master Feng."
Xiao Liulang promptly slipped Feng Lin a mooncake filled with five kinds of nuts, preventing this unexpected sworn brotherhood ceremony.
“Feng Lin has had too much to drink. Keep an eye on him tonight,” Xiao Liulang said to Lin Chengye.
Feng Lin still lives in Lin Chengye's house and pays a small monthly "friendship rent".
"I will," Lin Chengye said.
It was getting late, so Lin Chengye helped the heavily intoxicated Feng Lin to his feet to say goodbye.
On the other side, Nanxiang and Master Lu were also preparing to say goodbye.
Master Lu was drunk and confused. He patted Xiao Liulang on the shoulder and said, "Your master's wife said she's seen you before, hehehe."
Nan Xiang smiled and said to Xiao Liulang, "He's drunk, don't listen to his nonsense."
"It's nothing." Xiao Liulang didn't take it to heart.
Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Yan helped the drunken Master Lu into the carriage. Gu Xiaoshun was worried about his master and mistress going back like this: "I'll go and take care of Master tonight."
He was worried that his teacher's wife wouldn't be able to handle him being so drunk.
Nan Xiang, who could handle even ten drunkards, smiled slightly: "...Okay."
Taking my son back home wouldn't be a bad idea.
“Xiao Shun is coming back with us. I’ll take him to class tomorrow morning,” Nan Xiang said to Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang.
The young couple had no objections.
Xiao Jingkong waved goodbye.
Goodbye, Master Lu!
"Goodbye, Madam Nan!"
Goodbye, Brother Feng Lin!
Goodbye, Brother Chengye!
The whole alley was filled with his soft farewell.
The next day, there were no classes at the Imperial Academy's elementary school. Gu Jiao took Xiao Jingkong to the palace to visit her great-aunt. On the way, they detoured to the residence of the Minister of War to pick up Xu Zhouzhou, who was also on holiday, and took him into the palace.
Qin Chuyu's princely disguise had already been exposed on a dark and windy night. Now, Xiao Jingkong and Xu Zhouzhou both knew that he was the Empress's son. In order to cover up his dishonesty, Qin Chuyu decisively turned the blame on Xiao Jingkong: "The Empress Dowager is his great-aunt! He, he, he kept it a secret for even longer than I did!"
Xiao Jingkong was admitted to the Imperial Academy first, and by then he already called the Empress Dowager "aunt," while Qin Chuyu was a transfer student.
When it comes to the history of deception, Xiao Jingkong's is indeed more senior than Qin Chuyu's.
Actually, the two incidents are different in nature. Qin Chuyu deliberately concealed his identity, while Xiao Jingkong had no idea about his aunt's identity at all.
But Xiao Jingkong didn't think of that for a moment.
For the first time, the logical genius Xiao Jingkong encountered a situation he could not refute.
Fortunately, Xu Zhouzhou is a very forgiving friend, and he quickly let the matter drop: "Let's go play!"
The three scoundrels from the Imperial Academy have once again set off to wreak havoc on the palace!
The autumn air is crisp and clear, with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine.
Gu Jiao and Empress Dowager Zhuang rode in a phoenix palanquin to the Imperial Garden to bask in the sun.
Yesterday was the Lantern Festival, and all the princes and princesses entered the palace to celebrate. Princess Ning naturally came as well, accompanied by the two young princesses born to Prince Ning.
The two little princesses are both two years old, a truly adorable age.
Consort Zhuang liked them and allowed the young princess to stay in the palace overnight.
Today, Prince Ning and his wife entered the palace to welcome the young princess home.
The two young princesses had just run into the three scoundrels from the Imperial Academy and went to play with them.
Consort Zhuang and Prince Ning and his wife came to the Imperial Garden to wait for them, but unexpectedly they encountered Empress Dowager Zhuang and Gu Jiao.
"Empress Dowager!" Consort Zhuang stepped forward with a smile and bowed, then turned to look at Gu Jiao, "Jiao Jiao is here too."
After learning that Gu Jiao had gained favor with the emperor, Consort Zhuang changed how she addressed Gu Jiao.
"Grandmother." Prince Ning bowed to Empress Dowager Zhuang and nodded to Gu Jiao beside him, "Doctor Gu."
In contrast, his address was much more formal, neither overly warm nor too distant, but rather very natural.
Gu Jiao then greeted him naturally: "Your Highness Prince Ning."
Subsequently, Princess Ning also paid her respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang.
"Please sit down."
At Empress Dowager Zhuang's command, palace servants set up tables and chairs for them.
Eunuch Qin said, "Empress Dowager, Miss Gu, please sit."
Consort Zhuang pursed her lips. She, a consort, was here, and Prince Ning, a prince, was here too, yet Eunuch Qin was serving an outsider first.
Gu Jiao and her aunt sat down.
"Why didn't you even offer the Empress Dowager a helping hand?" Consort Zhuang muttered to Gu Jiao, though she could tell the Empress Dowager was in good health and didn't need anyone's assistance.
"Your Majesty, it's so sunny here, why don't you go sit in the pavilion?" Consort Zhuang said.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, "Go if you want. I'm just here to bask in the sun."
Consort Zhuang remained silent.
Prince Ning gently smoothed things over, saying, "The sun is so bright; we probably won't be able to enjoy it after winter. Please, Mother, have a seat."
Consort Zhuang sat down on the other side of Empress Dowager Zhuang, while Prince Ning and his wife sat down opposite the three of them.
Eunuch Qin served tea, snacks, and light meals.
Unaware that they would encounter Consort Zhuang and Prince Ning, Eunuch Qin prepared all of Gu Jiao's favorite foods.
Consort Zhuang frowned as she looked at the table full of spicy dried meat, crispy peanuts, and spicy broad beans: "Eunuch Qin, can the Empress Dowager eat all of this?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't used to eat spicy food.
"Ah, this..." Eunuch Qin hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Consort Zhuang instructed her maid, "Go and fetch some pea flour cake and water chestnut cake."
The palace maid quickly brought out several plates of pea flour cake and water chestnut cake from the imperial kitchen. They were brightly colored, exquisitely presented, and clearly tasted exceptional.
Consort Zhuang smiled and placed a piece of pea flour cake on the plate in front of Empress Dowager Zhuang, saying, "Your Majesty, please try this."
Gu Jiao picked up a piece and took a bite.
Consort Zhuang looked somewhat displeased. The Empress Dowager hasn't even eaten yet, when is it your turn?
Gu Jiao put down the pastries and said, "They're too sweet. The Empress Dowager can't eat them."
Consort Zhuang's face darkened. She put her chopsticks on the table and said, "That's still better than these spicy things!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at Consort Zhuang impatiently: "It's not like I'm asking you to eat! Why are you talking so much!"
Consort Zhuang choked.
Fortunately, the three rascals from the Imperial Academy and the two young princesses arrived in a row, which promptly eased the awkwardness of the situation.
The group was covered in sweat from running.
Consort Zhuang forbade the two young princesses from going out to play anymore, lest they lose the dignity of the imperial family.
"Xiao Qi is really something. As his older brother, you should keep an eye on him and stop him from always playing around like this. It makes His Majesty unhappy."
These words were clearly addressed to Prince Ning.
Prince Ning glanced at Qin Chuyu, who was darting around in the flower bushes, and smiled helplessly: "Father said that Xiao Qi is too fat, so it's good for him to move around a bit."
Consort Zhuang felt even more upset.
She's not usually like this; it's just that she's been menstruating these past few days and is feeling irritable, finding fault with everyone.
The three scoundrels from the Imperial Academy had run off again. The two young princesses wanted to follow, but were forced to stay behind due to Consort Zhuang's imposing presence.
Gu Jiao originally thought that Qin Chuyu, whose nature was fully unleashed, was the norm for royal children, but after meeting the two young princesses, she realized that he was probably an anomaly.
The two-year-old princess is already very sensible. She and her husband are the daughters of two concubines of Prince Ning, and they are less than half a year apart in age.
They were all very close to Prince Ning, snuggling in his arms and refusing to leave.
It was a deep-seated dependence, showing that Prince Ning was a loving father to his daughters.
"Would you like some snacks?" Prince Ning asked his two daughters gently.
The two young princesses nodded in unison.
Prince Ning told them to take it themselves.
One princess took a piece of pea flour cake, while another princess took a piece of spicy dried meat.
She was so spicy that she stuck out her tongue.
Prince Ning's eyes were full of smiles.
Gu Jiao rested her chin on her hand, watching Prince Ning dote on his daughter with a leisurely air. His smile was like ice and snow melting in the cold winter. He held a high position and power, possessed a handsome appearance befitting an emperor, and exuded an aura of righteousness.
Gu Jiao couldn't help but think of Prince An. Prince An was also a gentle and refined man, but he had more of a youthful air than Prince Ning, who had the charisma of a ruler and the charm of a mature man.
Few women wouldn't be captivated by a man like that, right?
Gu Jiao looked at Princess Ning beside her.
The two children were clearly fond of her; they would go to her when they wanted water or to wipe their faces. After acting coquettishly with Prince Ning, the two children went to her.
Princess Ning fed them water and wiped their hands, acting like a biological mother.
But they're not your own children, so don't you really feel any resentment at all?
Gu Jiao thought of Princess Ning's illness.
The most painful thing in the world is not that I care, but that I care but have to pretend I don't. This will cause me double the pain.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said to the wet nurse beside her, "Take the little princess out to play. Children shouldn't be too restrained."
"Yes!" The wet nurses dared not disobey Empress Dowager Zhuang's order and took the two little princesses to play with the Three Scoundrels of the Imperial Academy.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Gu Jiao felt that Princess Ning seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief.
While they were sunbathing in the Imperial Garden, a little incident occurred—the Crown Prince and Crown Princess happened to pass by.
With my aunt here, they couldn't possibly not come over to say hello.
No matter what the members of the royal family think, they generally won't show it on their faces. The Crown Prince and Prince Ning seem to be quite brotherly and respectful.
Unexpectedly, Qin Chuyu snatched Xu Zhouzhou's spoils—freshly picked dates from the tree—and ran wildly all over the Imperial Garden, accidentally knocking over two of them.
One was the Crown Princess who hadn't had time to sit down, and the other was the Princess of Ning who had just gotten up.
The Crown Prince was separated from the two by Qin Chuyu, while only Prince Ning was closest to them.
Because of Qin Chuyu's reckless actions, the Crown Princess was actually closer to him, and he could easily support her with just a gentle reach.
But he didn't do that. He didn't even seem to glance at the Crown Princess. Instead, he took a long way and stepped forward to catch the Princess Ning, who was about to fall face-first to the ground.
"Are you alright?" He hugged his wife tightly.
Princess Ning, still shaken, gasped, "I'm alright."
The Crown Princess was not so lucky; she fell sideways to the ground, scraping her arms and legs.
"Qin Chuyu! Are you asking for a beating again?!"
The Crown Prince's furious roar echoed through the Imperial Garden.
"Oh!" Qin Chuyu, who had caused trouble, quickly hid behind Gu Jiao and Empress Dowager Zhuang.
The Crown Prince couldn't bypass the Empress Dowager to beat Qin Chuyu, and with the Crown Princess having fallen badly, he couldn't care less about anything else and quickly helped her up.
The Crown Princess twisted her ankle and can no longer walk.
“I’ll have someone call a sedan chair,” said Prince Ning.
"No need!" The Crown Princess was so badly injured that the Crown Prince didn't want to wait a moment longer. He bent down, picked her up in his arms, and quickly returned to the East Palace after bidding farewell to Empress Dowager Zhuang and the others.
Apart from calling for the sedan chair earlier, Prince Ning spent the entire time concerned about Princess Ning's injuries. Consort Zhuang, on the other hand, couldn't bear to watch and muttered under her breath, "It seems like she fell quite hard."
Prince Ning's performance was truly outstanding; he was a perfect father and an even more perfect husband.
Gu Jiao tapped her fingertips lightly on the table a few times, then suddenly stood up and said, "I am a doctor, I will go to the East Palace to take a look."
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave Gu Jiao a strange look.
Gu Jiao returned quickly. Prince Ning and his wife, as well as Consort Zhuang, were all there. Only Qin Chuyu was reprimanded a few times before going to his father, the Emperor, to apologize.
"Why are you back so soon? Is the Crown Princess seriously injured?" Consort Zhuang asked.
“Ah, it seems I went at the wrong time. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are not very convenient right now…” Gu Jiao glanced at Prince Ning.
Prince Ning paused in his teacup.
It means it's not very convenient... you know what I mean.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
