Chapter 41 [41] Damn it, her heart was moved. …
【41】/First release on Jinjiang Literature City
The next morning.
Although he had studied erotic paintings so hard last night that his eyes were red and his brain was yellow, but when he thought about how he accidentally "tease" Sima Jing last night, Yun Ran felt that he still had to sincerely apologize to him.
So after finishing his morning exercises, Yun Ran rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen, intending to make a meal himself to show his sincerity.
The cooks watched with trepidation, repeatedly advising her, "Princess, please go back and rest. Let the servants handle these things."
"Yes, you are a precious person, how can you do such rough work? If your hands are hurt, it will be the fault of us servants."
"It's okay, I'll just make some vegetable cakes, it's not tiring."
Seeing them all standing there in a state of panic, Yun Ran rolled his eyes and said in a serious tone, "Instead of standing there trying to persuade me, why don't you help me out?"
"Here, someone come and light the stove, and someone else go wash two cabbages. Didn't I bring back some Chinese sausages yesterday? Cut two of them off and dice them along with the cabbages, tofu skin, and mushrooms."
After she finished her instructions, she also started kneading the dough without any rest, while calculating how many to make -
In the past, when she was at Shuiyue Temple, she would make a hundred of them at a time, which was enough to feed the audience for seven or eight days in winter.
But at that time, supplies were scarce and there was nothing to eat, so they had to eat vegetable cakes every morning. Now that he was in the palace, he had three different meals a day, so Sima Jing probably just wanted to try something new.
If you want to try something new, give him six. It will look nice if six are arranged on a plate.
But now that the dough has been kneaded and the vegetables have been cut, it will be easy to make a few more.
Yun Ran also included Zhanlu Hall and Changxin Marquis Mansion.
After all, her parents had never eaten the food she cooked after she was found. It would be bad for her to forget her parents after she had a husband.
The cook was there to help with kneading the dough, chopping the stuffing, and lighting the fire. Yun Ran only had to mix the stuffing and wrap the cakes, which was much easier.
A hundred vegetable cakes that used to take a whole day to make can now be completed in just one morning.
"Thanks to you guys for helping me today, you can also take two and try them."
Yun Ran smiled as she spoke to the cooks. She then instructed the maids to plate the steaming hot vegetable cakes, "Send these two plates to Zhanlu Hall and have Nanny Lan Gui divide them. I'll box these two plates and personally take them to Shenliu Hall. Once the rest are boxed, send them to the Marquis of Changxin's residence by express horseback. Have them heat them up before eating, so they'll taste even better."
The cooks all thanked him and the maids quickly got to work.
After a while, the four large baskets of vegetable cakes were packed into boxes.
Yun Ran was carrying a red lacquer food box and was about to go to Shenliu Hall when she saw the eunuch from the front yard hurried over and said, "Princess, someone from the palace has arrived and is waiting in the front hall."
Someone from the palace?
Yun Ran frowned slightly, and after a moment of thought, she handed the red lacquer food box to Qing Ling: "You can take it to His Highness."
Qing Ling was stunned: "Princess, you've been busy all morning making this. It would be more sincere if you hand it to His Highness personally."
"I know, but it's just an unfortunate coincidence."
Yun Ran sighed, "By the time I sent it over, it was already cold and tasted bad. We're all family, so there's no need to be so particular. The most important thing is to eat it while it's hot."
Qing Ling: "But..."
Yun Ran waved his hand: "Go ahead, I'll be there when I'm done."
Since the master said so, Qingling had no choice but to obey and took the vermilion lacquered food box.
Yun Ran straightened his clothes and went to the front hall with the eunuch.
It turned out that Queen Zheng had sent someone to deliver a Laba Festival gift and to ask her if she had made a decision regarding the hot spring palace.
"The day for the Emperor to leave the palace has been set. It will be the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. He will be gone on the fifteenth day and will return on the day of the Little New Year."
The eunuch who delivered the festival gift to Empress Zheng, Eunuch Xiao Lu, was the second-in-command of Fengyi Palace. He was fair-skinned and beardless, in his early twenties, and spoke in a gentle, pleasant voice. "The Empress asked me to tell the Princess that she and His Majesty are both looking forward to you and Prince Jing joining us this time. The Hot Spring Palace has also prepared Feiluan Hall for you and Prince Jing. It's right behind the Xingchen Hot Springs. You can walk a hundred steps or so and you can bathe in the hot springs. Besides, there's a large plum blossom forest behind Feiluan Hall, and the flowers are in full bloom right now..."
Eunuch Lu was eloquent and described the hot spring palace in Mount Li as a fairyland.
"...In short, Princess, the Queen sincerely hopes you will come along."
Eunuch Lu bent down and looked at Yun Ran sincerely.
Yun Ran: “…”
Damn it, she was really moved.
She has never even seen a hot spring in her life, let alone soaked in one!
but……
Thinking of Sima Jing's indifferent expression that day in the Imperial Garden, and his stern warning on the way back, Yun Ran hesitated for a moment, but finally turned away with a look of deep sorrow: "Your Majesty, I shouldn't refuse your kindness. However, this matter is not something I can decide alone. I still need to consult my prince..."
"How about this, I'll ask His Highness later. If Eunuch Lu is not in a hurry to return and report, can he have lunch at our house?"
Eunuch Lu could naturally see that the young princess was interested, and his master also sincerely invited Prince Jing and his wife to join him. If he could make this happen, it would be a good thing for him.
"Then I'll trouble you at your house." Eunuch Lu bowed and responded.
Yun Ran smiled and told the eunuch to take Eunuch Lu down to rest. He also ordered people to carry the two boxes of Laba Festival gifts sent from the palace to the warehouse and register them.
Shenliu Hall, study.
Sima Jing looked at the plate of steaming vegetable pancakes on the table and frowned slightly: "Did the princess make this?"
Chang Chun crossed his arms and replied, "Yes, I heard that the princess went to the kitchen after breakfast, and she sent it to you as soon as it was ready."
Sima Jing: "Where is she?"
Chang Chun was stunned for a moment, but still forced a smile: "Miss Qingling said that the princess wanted to deliver it herself, but coincidentally, the palace sent someone, so the princess went to the front to deal with it."
Sima Jing's expression turned noticeably colder upon hearing this: "Why is there another person coming to the palace?"
Chang Chun said, "It's almost Laba Festival, and the palace has sent us festival gifts."
Sima Jing's brows were still furrowed.
No matter whether it is Laba or New Year's Eve, it is just another ordinary winter day to him.
But when he thought about how the princess was supposed to bring him food, but was delayed by palace matters, his aura felt low.
"Your Highness, this dish... this vegetable cake is still hot, would you like to try it first?"
Chang Chun gently advised, "After all, this is a token of the princess's good intentions, as she worked so hard all morning. She hurriedly asked Miss Qingling to bring it over, and she also wanted you to have a taste of it warm."
This is consistent with her temperament.
Sima Jing lowered his eyes and looked at the food that was shaped like leaves, each one stuffed bulgingly, looking like dumplings but not dumplings, like pancakes but not pancakes.
This vegetable cake is probably a specialty of the Jiangnan area.
"You step back."
"yes."
Chang Chun noticed that His Highness seemed to be in a bad mood, so he didn't dare to say anything more and turned around and left quickly.
When we walked outside the yard, Qingling was still waiting at the foot of the wall.
Chang Chun walked over quickly and asked, "Are you sure the princess will come over when she's done with her work?"
Qing Ling nodded: "Yes, that's what my wife said."
Chang Chun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Qing Ling was puzzled: "What happened? Did His Highness eat?"
Chang Chun glanced at the tightly closed wooden door and guessed, "He should be able to eat it."
After a short pause, he looked out the courtyard gate with anticipation: "Even if I don't eat now, I will eat when the princess comes."
After all, in the past, when His Highness ate dinner alone, he often put down his chopsticks after eating half a bowl.
But since dining with the princess, the couple always finishes their meals. In just half a month, the princess's face has become visibly rounder, and His Highness's complexion has also obviously improved a lot.
Chang Chun and Qing Ling stood at the foot of the wall, staring at the door in anticipation.
Finally, when the petite figure against the azure sky and water came into view, their eyes lit up.
"Long live the princess!"
Yun Ran was startled when she saw the two people at the foot of the wall. When she realized what was happening, she couldn't help but laugh: "Qingling, Eunuch Chang, what are you two doing standing here? Aren't you cold?"
Qing Ling replied, "Not cold," and Chang Chun led Yun Ran inside: "The princess is finally here. His Highness was just asking about you."
Yun Ran exclaimed, "Ask about me?"
Chang Chun told the truth, and then said at the end: "I saw a dish of vegetable cakes in the food box. I think the princess kept it for herself. Your Majesty, please go in quickly, don't wait until the food gets cold."
Besides, that plate was indeed left by Yun Ran for herself. She thought that she and Sima Jing would each have a plate, so there would be no shortage of food.
She raised her hand to stroke her hair, then lowered her head to adjust her skirt. After making sure that nothing was wrong, she walked to the wooden door and knocked gently: "Your Highness, it's me."
The room was silent for a moment, and then a man's voice responded: "Come in."
Yun Ran then opened the door and stepped inside.
The window lattices in the house were half-open, and the accumulated snow shone brightly. Sima Jing, wearing a loose dark blue robe and with his long hair half tied up, sat behind a long rosewood carved table with a calm expression.
Thinking that he was here to apologize, Yun Ran deliberately behaved in a dignified manner: "Long live Your Highness."
Normally, she would stand up on her own without waiting for Sima Jing to call her, and at the same time chatter about her trivial matters of the day.
Today, she kept her eyes downcast and maintained a half-squatting posture of salute.
Seeing this, Sima Jing frowned and said, "Get up."
Yun Ran bowed her head gracefully: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Sima Jing: “…”
Seeing her stand up, she said nothing, only looking at him softly with her bright black eyes. Sima Jing was silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help but asked: "What are you doing here?"
Yun Ran heard his cold tone and assumed he was still angry about what happened last night. She felt a little frustrated, but she didn't show it on her face. She just asked, "I asked Qingling to bring some vegetable cakes to Your Highness. Have you tried them? How is it?"
As she spoke, she also saw the Ru kiln white porcelain flower-shaped plate on the table, with six vegetable cakes on it, and four left.
He actually ate two, it seems he liked it!
She was secretly happy, but then she heard the man behind the table say calmly, "Not bad."
Yun Ran smiled and said, "It's okay. I was worried that my craftsmanship was not good enough and the things I made would not be worthy of Your Highness's praise."
Sima Jing: "...Don't change the words randomly."
Yun Ran: "How can it be changed? Your Highness usually eats delicacies and delicacies, dragon liver and phoenix marrow. It is an honor for your Highness to have such a humble country snack enter his stomach. This is the peak of his life!"
The flattery in her words was so obvious that Sima Jing couldn't ignore it.
When he looked up and saw the young lady in a green jacket and skirt, standing in front of him gracefully, her eyes curved——
It was clearly the kind of frivolous, servile behavior he hated the most, but when she acted like that, it wasn't something he hated.
"Chang Chun said you made this yourself?"
Sima Jing raised his eyelids and looked at her: "Why are you suddenly cooking in person?"
Yun Ran heard his tone soften a bit and took two steps forward. "I know I was wrong about what happened last night. I've deeply reflected on it. I will never offend you again out of a momentary curiosity."
As she spoke, she placed her hands in front of her and bowed deeply to Sima Jing. "I was wrong. Your Highness, please forgive my fault and don't be angry with me. This dish of vegetable cake is my apology. If you think it's not enough, I... I'll buy you something nice when I see it while shopping someday as an apology."
Anyway, she is very rich now and has so much money that she can't spend it in several lifetimes. Let alone buying one gift, she can buy ten.
Sima Jing looked at the young lady in front of him who was bowing deeply. Her black head was round and seemed... good to touch.
The long fingers on the table moved, and after a while, he said in a deep voice: "Get up."
Yun Ran didn't get up, but only raised his head slightly and glanced at him with one eye open: "Then Your Highness is not angry anymore?"
Seeing her sneaky appearance, Sima Jing thought of the scene of her hiding books yesterday.
The accompanying secret guard had already reported everything to him. Yesterday, she first went to a small, remote clinic that was about to close down to seek medical treatment, and then went to a bookstore to buy a lot of erotic erotica books on the market...
No wonder she always talks about "yin and yang intercourse" and "yang reaction". It turns out that she is reading these things in private.
They even know to buy the most fashionable new versions.
Thinking of her curious posture when she sat in his arms last night, and seeing her pretending to be honest now, Sima Jing felt a little stuffy in his chest.
She really knows how to irritate people.
"Get up."
Sima Jing lowered his eyes, suppressing the dark undercurrent in them, and said calmly, "The dish in the food box is still a little warm. Eat it quickly if you want."
When Yun Ran heard this, he knew that he had calmed down.
In the past, she had upset her master and senior sisters at the Taoist temple, and they had a quarrel and a cold war. Her master and senior sisters always used "eating" to break the ice.
She said, there is nothing that can’t be solved by food!
"I knew that His Highness was the most generous and tolerant!"
Yun Ran smiled brightly at Sima Jing, turned around and opened the lunch box.
Sima Jing sat on the mother-of-pearl chair, thinking of her sweet smile just now, his eyes were dazed for a moment.
When he came to his senses, he looked at the young lady in green clothes sitting beside the couch and eating with big mouthfuls of food.
Even though it was just simple food, she could always taste the most delicious pleasure.
Just like her, even the smallest thing can satisfy her.
Yun Ran ate two pieces of vegetable cake in one go before he finally satisfied his craving. "You know what! It's even more delicious with the Chinese sausage, diced tofu, and mushrooms! We didn't have such a good deal before. The vegetable cakes were filled with nothing but chopped cabbage."
She was talking to herself when she turned around and saw Sima Jing looking at her intently.
"Your Highness, what are you looking at me for?"
Is it that her eating manners are unsightly? Or... is she dressed very nicely today?
Yes, although she didn't put on any makeup today, her dress was newly made and the color was fresh, and she liked it very much.
Thinking of this, her face flushed quietly. She glanced at the man at the table and secretly felt that in terms of appearance, she was still inferior to him.
Just as Yun Ran was making up her mind, deciding that if he praised her beauty, she would immediately praise him back, she heard the man say calmly, "Next time the palace sends a festival gift, let Changchun or Nanny Lan Gui receive it. You don't have to go in person."
Yun Ran was slightly stunned. He didn't expect that he would say this.
"After all, they are sent by the palace, and they are here to give gifts, so it's okay to receive them."
Having said that, Yun Ran also remembered that there was a eunuch named Lu waiting in the guest room.
She held the warm cup, hesitating for a long time before finally taking a deep breath and looking up. "Your Highness, it's...it's the Empress who sent someone to ask, saying that they're going to the Lishan Hot Spring Palace on the ninth day of the first lunar month, and that they've cleared out a palace for us. Do you want to join us?"
Sima Jing frowned slightly, but did not say anything.
Seeing this, Yun Ran hurriedly repeated Eunuch Lu's praise of the Hot Spring Palace. Finally, she said earnestly, "It's only fifteen days, not too long. Besides, it's so boring to stay in the palace all day. If I can go out for a walk, see the beautiful scenery, and breathe some fresh air, it will be good for both body and mind."
"And I heard that the hot spring water is always at a constant temperature year-round, so you won't feel cold no matter how long you soak in it. Look, it's freezing outside, it would be so relaxing to soak in a big pool—"
Her mouth was dry from talking so much, but the man behind the table still looked indifferent.
Yun Ran was puzzled. Is Shenliutang really that good?
A large, empty and cold courtyard, with a young eunuch who dared not even breathe loudly, and no other signs of life.
In other words, Sima Jing could stay there. If it were her, she would feel that life was hopeless within seven days.
It is said that people who practice Taoism do not show their emotions on their faces, but Yun Ran is not well versed in academics, and all seven emotions are on his face——
Sima Jing understood her inner complaints immediately. After a few breaths of silence, he said, "If you want to go, go ahead. I won't stop you."
Yun Ran didn't seem to be excited about his words. Instead, her brows knitted even tighter. "Your Highness, do you really not want to go?"
If she remembered correctly, Nanny Lan Gui had said that the late emperor had agreed to take Sima Jing to the Hot Spring Palace, and he was very happy...
Although it didn't happen that year, but...
Now that he has the opportunity to make up for his past regrets, why is he unwilling to do it?
"In no mood."
Sima Jing opened his thin lips slightly, and the expression between his jade-like eyebrows and eyes became increasingly indifferent: "I've said it before, I like quietness, I don't like going out, and I don't want to interact with people. If you want to go out, I won't restrict you."
"Your Highness said that he doesn't want to deal with others. Doesn't that mean he doesn't want to deal with me either?"
Yun Ran put down the teacup and walked to the desk in two or three steps. He supported himself on the table with both hands and frowned at him: "Or has Your Highness not treated me as a human being during these days together?"
Sima Jing: "...I didn't mean that."
Yun Ran: "Then what does Your Highness mean? You keep saying that you don't like dealing with people, but when you hug me and kiss me so hard at night, isn't that dealing with me?"
Sima Jing: “…”
Yun Ran pursed his lips slightly. "Yes, I know you like quietness and don't like going out, but you stay in the mansion like this, not even trying to manage your life properly. You have a cold and lifeless face all day long, shutting yourself in your own world and refusing to contact the outside world. You are really...really..."
She frowned, trying to find a word, but was afraid to say something too harsh.
Although she sincerely felt that Sima Jing's condition was too bad.
In the words of Nanhua Zhenren, his body is like a dead tree and his heart is like dead ashes.
But he is clearly a living person.
A flesh-and-blood person, hugging a warm person.
Why did it turn out like this? Why did we have to live such a good life and such beautiful days?
Time is so precious, and being alive is so rare.
She didn't want to see him like this.
Especially knowing his past and having spent many days with him, she felt that he deserved a better life.
Before I knew it, rain clouds gathered in the sky, and the light in the study became dim.
But the pair of black eyes in front of me are so bright.
It is like the sea surface illuminated by golden light, sparkling and surging with endless vitality.
Sima Jing suddenly felt embarrassed.
Just like snakes, insects, rats and ants hiding in the gutter, they have nowhere to hide under this gaze that can illuminate all filth.
"That's just who I am. If you don't like me, just stay away from me."
He turned his face away, his voice slightly hoarse: "I won't stop you."
Looking at the man's cold and distant profile, Yun Ran felt a tightness in his chest for a moment.
This cold, unyielding wood, this hard, stubborn, and stinky stone!
For a moment, she really wanted to walk out and ignore him.
The thought just came to her mind. She thought of the medicine and lotus seed candy he brought her when she was sick, the seriousness with which he taught her to play the piano, and the many nights when he held her in his arms with dependence and intimacy...
Although I also left my hometown at a young age and was separated from my family, I am undoubtedly lucky. Although my life is poor, I have the love and care of my master and senior sisters.
But he was stranded in an enemy country, suffering great torture. His only friends were those cold and slippery snakes. No one taught him how to be kind, and no one showed him kindness...
That's all.
Yun Ran took a deep breath and said, "Since you don't want to go, then I won't go either."
Sima Jing's expression paused slightly.
"Why?"
He turned his face away: "I said, I won't restrict your freedom."
Yun Ran spread his hands and shrugged. "My mother told me that husband and wife are one, sharing weal and woe. Besides, we're newlyweds, how could I leave you and go out on my own? That would be so disloyal."
As she spoke, she pounded her fist against her chest and said, "My conscience will be uneasy, and I won't be able to have fun. I might as well stay in Chang'an."
Sima Jing automatically ignored her words about "loyalty" and "guilty conscience," and only listened to her words about "husband and wife are one, sharing honor and disgrace" and "how can I leave you behind?" For a moment, his heart felt slightly hot and his throat tightened. "But... don't you really want to go?"
"I do want to go, but after all, I haven't been to a hot spring or Mount Li yet. Life is short, and I want to see and experience more so that my life is worthwhile."
Yun Ran looked at him: "But compared to going to the Hot Spring Palace, I would rather not leave you alone in the mansion."
There is no one to eat with, no one to talk to, and I am alone in a big yard. It’s so desolate just thinking about it.
She couldn't do such an unkind thing.
"Okay, that's it!"
Yun Ran let out a long sigh: "Your Highness, please continue reading. Eunuch Lu is still waiting for my response. I don't want to keep him waiting too long."
She turned around and was about to leave, but before she took a step, her wrist was grabbed.
Yun Ran paused: "Your Highness?"
Turning back, she saw the man on the armchair looking up, his dark eyes fixed on her: "Okay."
Yun Ran: “……?”
What's good?
The hand that was gripping her wrist suddenly tightened, and the man said in a hoarse voice, "I'll go to Mount Li with you."
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The author has something to say: Ran Ran: Loyalty, conscience, blah blah...
A Jing: My wife loves me and doesn’t want to leave me.
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A small red envelope is dropped in this chapter, happy Friday everyone!
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