Chapter 432: This Princess and She... Have No Relationship
Qian Duoduo nodded, his expression heavy. "Yes, Yueyue, you may not understand. The snow this month is too heavy. I heard that in some villages outside the city, many people's thatched houses and adobe houses were collapsed by the thick snow, leaving them with no shelter from the wind and snow.
My father told me that the situation around the capital is relatively good, but the disaster in places further away is probably even more severe, with people freezing to death or starving to death..."
She paused and looked at Lan Xiyue, "Yueyue, let's set up a porridge stall at the city gate and give porridge to those poor people. Any help counts."
Lan Xiyue heard this and nodded without hesitation: "Okay. I'll have someone do it when I get back."
"Okay, the Qian family has a grain store in the capital, Yueyue can just send someone to get it."
After returning to the palace, Lan Xiyue immediately called An Yi.
"What are your orders, Princess?"
Lan Xiyue's expression was solemn. "An Yi, you must immediately take your men to all the Qian Mansion's grain stores in the capital and collect grain. Then, choose suitable locations at the four city gates and set up porridge stalls to distribute porridge to the refugees pouring into the capital on a regular basis every day. You must act quickly and ensure the hot porridge is always available. No one should be left out."
"Yes! I obey your command!"
"Wait." Lan Xiyue suddenly called him.
An Yi paused, turned around swiftly, and asked inquiringly, "Princess, do you have any further instructions?"
A mischievous smile appeared on Lan Xiyue's face. She turned around, with her back to An Yi, and took out another coarse pottery bottle of the same size from the space, which was filled with clear spiritual spring water.
She turned around and handed the bottle to An Yi, a smile on her lips: "Here, it's for you."
“This…what is this?”
"Didn't you watch me eagerly as I gave the bottle to An San? And you were still complaining that I was partial?" Lan Xiyue deliberately put on a stern face, but there was a smile in her eyes. "Here, I'm giving you the big one. It's a good thing, so you don't have to say I'm stingy behind your back."
An Yi quickly took the bottle with both hands, as if it were a rare treasure, and held it tightly in his arms. His face was filled with surprise and satisfaction, and his voice became louder: "Thank you, Princess, for the reward!"
Lan Xiyue looked at his overjoyed and even silly look, and couldn't help laughing: "Okay, take it and drink it. Drink it whenever you want. No need to be frugal. After you finish it..." She deliberately dragged out her tone.
An Yi immediately pricked up his ears, his eyes full of anticipation.
"I'll give it to you after you finish drinking it." Lan Xiyue looked at his eyes that lit up instantly and added with a smile.
"Ah?" An blurted out unconsciously, his tone full of incredible surprise. Then he seemed to remember something and muttered softly: "Princess... didn't you say last time that you wouldn't give it to your subordinates..." The tone was a little aggrieved and accusing.
Lan Xiyue raised her eyebrows upon hearing this, and asked in a feigned displeasure, "Why? In your heart, am I a stingy person?"
An Yi was frightened and kept shaking his head while holding the bottle, his head shaking like a rattle: "Not stingy! Not stingy! The princess is very generous! Your subordinate, your subordinate will go and do the task right away!" He was afraid that Lan Xiyue would change her mind and take the treasure back, so he hugged the bottle and left as fast as he could, almost "escaping".
Lan Xiyue looked at his hurried and somewhat funny back, shook her head helplessly and laughed, this guy...
Lan Xiyue walked in and leaned on the small couch by the window, with a thick fox fur cushion beneath her. She leaned sideways and looked out the window.
Fine snowflakes fell silently, and the sky and the earth were covered in silver, outlining the soft contours of the dead branches and rockery in the courtyard.
She was a little absent-minded, her eyes were blank, as if her thoughts were drifting away with the falling snowflakes.
Chuchun tiptoed over with a cup of freshly brewed hot tea and placed it on the small table beside the couch.
Seeing her princess's dreamy expression, she couldn't help but ask softly, "Princess, what are you thinking about? I saw you staring blankly outside for quite a while. The tea has gone cold, so I changed it."
When Lan Xiyue heard the voice, her eyelashes trembled slightly and her thoughts were pulled back.
She lazily averted her gaze, her voice lazily tinged with the winter air. "I wasn't thinking of anything important, I was just a little bored." She raised her hand and pointed out the window. "Just looking at the snow falling all over the sky, I suddenly felt something. This kind of scenery, in the eyes of scholars, would probably inspire poetry, but for ordinary people... it's the real hardship of making a living, and it brings me to a bleak state of mind."
Chuxia was squatting beside the gilded bronze beast heater, carefully stirring the red-hot silver charcoal inside with tongs to allow the warmth to be distributed more evenly.
Hearing this, she raised her head and suggested with a smile, "If your princess is feeling bored, why not go to the plum garden to relax? I heard that the red plum blossoms in the garden are in full bloom. Every year at this time, many talented men and beautiful women go there together to admire the plum blossoms and recite poems. It's both lively and elegant."
Upon hearing this, Lan Xiyue immediately shook her head like a rattle and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, revealing only her delicate face. Her expression was filled with resistance: "I'm not going! It's freezing outside. Why would I go out and suffer in the cold wind?"
She snuggled deeper into the cushions, like a cat seeking warmth. "How can it be more comfortable than nestling in this warm bed? Doesn't this smell good?"
Chuchun looked at her lazy appearance and couldn't help but chuckle, "When did the princess become so bed-loving? Just now you said you were bored and asked me to go out for some fresh air, but you refused."
Before he finished speaking, Chuchun caught a glimpse of the butler standing respectfully in the corridor outside the door with his hands hanging down, as if he had something to report.
She quickly suppressed her smile and walked out quickly.
"Butler, is there something wrong?" Chuchun asked softly.
The housekeeper wore a warm smile and presented an invitation with both hands: "Miss Chuchun, please present this invitation to the princess. This has just been delivered by the servant from Princess Nalan's residence, inviting the princess to go to the plum garden to appreciate the plum blossoms tomorrow."
Chuchun took the invitation with a chill and said, "Okay, I'll give it to the princess right away."
The butler nodded and left.
Chuchun returned to the house with the invitation, a charming smile on her face. "Princess, you see, it's true. Speak of the devil, and he'll appear. Chuxia had just suggested we go enjoy the plum blossoms, and now this invitation has arrived." She handed the invitation to Lan Xiyue, "It was sent by Princess Nalan."
Lan Xiyue took it nonchalantly, opened it, and glanced at it. The elegant handwriting on it read "Plum Blossom Viewing Appointment." She casually tossed the invitation onto the table beside her, her red lips curled slightly, and with a hint of playful sarcasm, she said, "Nalan Mei? This princess and her... don't have much of a relationship."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
