Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Could it be that... you are scared?
"Uncle, would you like to eat something?"
The sun was setting and there was still an hour or so before nightfall. Duan Wenpei's coming to Jingyuan at this time was both unexpected and expected to her.
Nan Xu was really just making small talk.
Unexpectedly, someone picked up the dried fruits on the plate and started eating them absentmindedly.
"not bad."
Um?
This is the Kyoto flavor, it's sweet and sweet. Is it really that delicious?
She felt something was wrong. Could something have happened in the court today?
"My Lord, did your court session go smoothly today?"
"Instead of asking Liu Hui about the servants in the mansion, why not ask me directly?"
They both spoke at the same time, stunned.
He looked at her, her figure reflected in his dark pupils. Nan Xu tried to find some emotion in his eyes, but only saw an elusive silence.
A Niang said that if you want to understand a person, you must first look into his eyes.
Nan Xu turned her head slightly and looked away.
"Uncle, please speak first."
The search in her eyes just flickered, but then died down in an instant.
Duan Wenpei raised his eyebrows and pretended not to know.
"The power structure in Kyoto is complicated. I am not from a noble family and I have no backing. Naturally, some people are eager to put some spies in the mansion. Since it is impossible to guard against them, we might as well let them all in." After saying that, he took the tea handed to him by the maid, drank it all, and looked at Nan Xu meaningfully.
Why are you looking at her like that? Nan Xu felt a little annoyed.
It's not like she's those eyeliners!
"In that case, can we find a reason to kick them out?"
Now that she is the housekeeper, she will naturally not sit idly by like before.
As the saying goes, if you walk by the river, you will get your feet wet. Don't let these people take advantage of you.
"No." Duan Wenpei shook his head, rejecting Nan Xu's suggestion. "If Mother Wang is gone, Mother Chu and Mother Yuan will still come in... Didn't you just register them? Knowing their public background is better than bringing in another stranger."
Nan Xu lowered her head and said nothing.
"Could it be... you are scared?"
The sky had completely darkened, and the mansion's lighting officer came in to light the lamps. Under the bright candlelight, the woman's outline was stained with a soft candlelight, flickering alternately, with a faint blush.
She bit her lower lip, raised her neck and retorted, "Who... who is afraid!" She was so excited that she almost wanted to pat her chest, but her good manners made her hold back for the time being, "Just a few servants with ulterior motives, how can they defeat me!"
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Madam."
He stood up and bowed, his crimson official robe outlining his powerful arms, his slender fingers interlaced in the most elegant etiquette in the world.
She sat and he stood. She looked up and he bent down. Nan Xu could smell the scent of soapberries on the official robe. It was not strong, but lingered around her body faintly, refreshing and cold.
The young men in Kyoto know how to use incense. Li Zhan likes to use the elegant frankincense. In the past, when I leaned on his shoulder, I could always smell the refreshing fragrance and feel drowsy.
However, the smell of Duan Wenpei made her extremely clear-headed, and she clearly realized where she was and what she should do.
Nan Xu's eyelashes trembled, and she accepted the gift calmly.
She is not stupid and is not interested in such a simple provocation. It is just the beginning of the cooperation, so she naturally has to show some skills to appear sincere.
*
A maid outside asked if the meal was served. Duan Wenpei nodded and told the kitchen to make a few more dishes that Nanxu liked.
Nan Xu touched her half-full stomach and stopped the messenger, "I'm not very hungry, I can't eat much. It's hot today, so let's cook less."
Duan Wenpei looked her up and down and said with great disapproval, "You're too thin. You don't look good. You should eat more. Don't let my mother-in-law think I'm being harsh on you."
There was a rare hint of mockery in his eyes, causing the blush that had finally faded to creep back onto his cheeks.
She quietly pinched her slender wrist. It wasn't too thin!
Nan Xu curled her lips secretly.
In the circle of noble ladies in Kyoto, thinness is considered beautiful. Only a willow-like figure swaying in the wind can attract famous painters to paint their portraits; with thousands of layers of clothing tied around the waist, thin gauze wrapped around the arms, and the gentle breeze blowing on the body, they look like fairies descending from the clouds.
In the past, Li Zhan always found the finest shark silk yarn to make the most fashionable dresses for her to take out...
"Try this. I heard it is the most famous food in Kyoto now." He pushed a plate of food in front of her, interrupting Nan Xu's memories.
Nan Xu was about to refuse, but when she remembered what she was going to say next, she had to compromise silently.
"Master hasn't told me yet, is there something going on in the palace today?"
The food in his mouth was indeed delicious, but Nan Xu had more important things to do at the moment.
Duan Wenpei put down his chopsticks, stirred the soup in his bowl, and said without thinking: "You worry too much."
Is this because you don't want to say more?
Although she didn't know much about her cheap husband, she thought that if there was really something big, he would not hide it from her. Since he didn't say anything, she didn't ask.
Seeing the soup bowl empty, Nan Xu prepared herself for it and finally said softly, "There's one more thing I need to tell you, Master."
"What?"
He stood up and was about to leave, but when he heard that the food in her bowl was not even half eaten, he quickly threw the dish and the bowl in front of her away.
Nan Xu's eyes twitched slightly, and she felt that this person was very strange today.
"Ruizhu asked me, Banyuehou, to accompany her to the Big Buddha Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings." Nan Xu observed his reaction as she spoke. Seeing that he was not displeased, she continued, "Although it's not a big day, Aunt Yin's birthday is coming up, and Ruizhu is my best friend. I can't refuse her just because I'm married..."
She stared at him closely, already thinking of a plan for what to do if he objected.
The only regret was that the incense burning happened so suddenly. Otherwise, she would have brought her horn crossbow with her, and if he dared to object, she would have used the same trick again...
"Go ahead."
Nan Xu felt a little relieved.
"Don't tell me about this kind of thing in the future."
Nan Xu's mouth curled up, and she felt relieved. This cheap husband was really good!
"However, Kyoto has been quite unstable lately, and I'm worried about you going alone. I happen to be on leave the day after tomorrow, so I'll go with you."
Well, not only is he a nice person, he is also very responsible...
What!
Nan Xu reacted and the smile on her face froze. She was neither laughing nor crying.
What does it mean to accompany her?
Naturally, they had endless private conversations among their close friends, so what was he going to do? He couldn't possibly be the powerful uncle who accompanied them to burn incense and worship Buddha, or to travel and enjoy the scenery!
He was happy, but she still felt uncomfortable!
"Uncle's kindness... Hey, don't leave yet... Listen to me..."
"Duan Wenpei! Stop!"
He stepped out of the hall with his long legs and disappeared in a few steps.
Nan Xu stared at the direction he left with wide eyes, feeling so angry that she was scratching her heart and liver.
*
"The 23rd isn't a big day, why are you going to the Big Buddha Temple?"
When Princess Jingyi returned from the palace, she happened to see Li Zhan ordering people to prepare things for burning incense. Upon asking, she found out that he wanted to go to the Big Buddha Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings.
The rich and powerful usually enshrine small Buddha statues in their homes, and will not go to the temple to pray unless it is a big day.
Firstly, they had to send someone to the temple to make arrangements and then calculate an auspicious day for the trip, which was very cumbersome; secondly, due to their status, if they didn't sometimes want to have good luck, why would people like them pray to gods and Buddhas? There would be people in the world to support them, and even someone would be willing to offer the moon in the sky with both hands.
Li Zhan lowered his head and just urged the servant to make sure he didn't forget to bring anything. He didn't pay any attention to Jingyi's question and just said in a low voice, "I want to go for a walk."
The palace maid was helping Jingyi change her clothes. When she was removing the necklace from her neck, she accidentally caught her hair. Jingyi snorted and slapped the palace maid in the face.
"Useless thing, you don't know your own weight! You even forgot how to serve others!"
The palace maid was beaten so hard that she covered her face and begged for mercy. Jingyi winked at the eunuch waiting outside, and two expressionless guards came in and dragged the palace maid out.
Li Zhan knew that these two people were specifically responsible for "dealing with" people who made Princess Jingyi unhappy, and that if someone fell into their hands, their life or death would be in danger.
"Stop!" Li Zhan couldn't bear it anymore and called out to them, "Princess, we are all erring. Please spare her."
Jingyi was talking about the palace maids, but in fact every word she said was pointing at him. Why let innocent people die because of him?
Jingyi wasn't surprised that he was pleading for the maid. She smiled, raised her hand and blew gently on her bright red nail polish, a piercing chill in her eyes.
"You, for her? Beg me?"
Li Zhan nodded.
“Hahahahahahahaha…” Jingyi covered her lips and laughed so hard that tears came out.
Li Zhan pursed his lips.
There were palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and chief secretaries in the princess's mansion... These people just watched, and in full view of everyone, Li Zhan was stripped of his already limited dignity by Jingyi's smile.
"Li Lang, this isn't the way to beg for help." Jingyi tapped the ground and waved at him, "If you crawl over here and kneel at my feet, perhaps I can show some mercy."
Cicadas chirped outside the courtyard, and Li Zhan's heart was desolate.
His palms were clenched into fists, and they hurt, but it was not as painful as the humiliation Princess Jingyi had inflicted on him.
He hesitated, felt timid, and wanted to escape.
But in my ears was the maid's constant pleading voice, "Prince Consort, Prince Consort, please, save my life, please!"
He wants to save.
But... who will "save" him!
"Princess." He called out, this time sincerely, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay in the mansion with Your Highness."
He finally gave in, just as he had agreed to marry the princess, and succumbed to the princess's tyranny.
"It's a pity... it's too late!" Jingyi said coldly.
"Li Zhan, you know Nan Xu is going there. Do you want to go see her? Let me think about it, what do you want to say? Do you want to tell her about your longing for her? Or do you want to tell her about your own difficulties?"
Jingyi stood up and walked towards him arrogantly. "Is it for the future of the Li family that you have to abandon your childhood sweetheart?" She walked closer and pinched his chin, forcing him to look down at her. "Or, for your own future, you voluntarily climbed onto my bed!"
“That’s enough!”
"Pa!" Five finger marks appeared on Li Zhan's cheek. Jingyi shook her hurt hand and looked at him contemptuously, "What are you barking about?"
"Either she dies, or you kneel down and beg me."
"Choose one of the two. Make your choice."
"Either marry me, or become the son-in-law of the Yong'an Marquisate and let the entire Li family be buried with you. Choose one of the two, Li Zhan, it's your choice."
The words of yesterday are still ringing in my ears.
Li Zhan smiled bitterly, as if there was a big hole in his heart, and blood and tears were about to drown him.
He slowly, slowly knelt down. Since his dignity was already gone, why should he be afraid of being tortured again?
It's better than having other people's blood soak his clothes.
He crawled over and, like the eunuchs, begged the princess for forgiveness.
Jingyi smiled, and this time there was a hint of pride in her eyes.
"What are you still standing there for? Why don't you help the Prince Consort up?"
The palace maids then came forward with a smile and helped Li Zhan up.
"but…"
The palace maids suddenly let go of Li Zhan, who lost control and almost fell.
Jingyi spread her hands innocently, but her embroidered shoes stepped on Li Zhan's shoulders, "Forget it, I have nothing to do anyway. Since Li Lang wants to go, I will accompany you."
The author has something to say:
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1. A servant who lights lamps, changes wicks, and lamp oil
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