Chapter 48: It’s getting late, so I’ll just bring it here…
It was getting late, so I temporarily took out a soft cotton pillow and placed it in the compartment outside the dormitory as a bed for the puppy.
After settling the puppy, Duoerji stayed where he was to wash and brush his teeth, and asked the princess to go to the bedroom to rest first.
Rong'er led the other maids, brought the bedding over, folded the quilts and made the bed.
She spread out the goose yellow silk sheets, placed the hibiscus mat used in summer on top, and placed two mandarin duck pillows side by side.
Mu Xue finished washing up nearby, and when she saw the nightgown brought by the maids, she ordered, "Go get the purple long-sleeved one with pants."
Summer is always troubled by such small things. Because of the hot weather, she usually wears a loose silk nightgown when she goes to bed to keep cool. But it seems inappropriate to wear it like this when she is in the same room with Dorji. Sometimes the nightgown will roll up inexplicably when she is sleeping. In order to avoid the embarrassing situation, she changed into the pajamas she usually wears in spring.
After everything was ready, Duo Erji also walked into the bedroom. He had also undressed, wearing a red silk robe and black silk trousers, thank God, they were also long-sleeved.
Mu Xue secretly breathed a sigh of relief and ordered, "You all can go down. There is no need to keep watch."
Rong Er agreed and said something in a subtle way, preparing water in the warm bucket behind the screen, and then led a few maids out. The princess used to do the same thing when she was in the same room with her husband, and she was used to keeping him far away. They were not surprised.
The footsteps gradually faded away, and Muxue poked her head out to see if the person had gone far away.
A low laugh sounded in his ears, and Duo Erji said, "They are all gone, Princess can rest assured." As he said that, he sat down on the couch and stroked the hibiscus mat. The mat was made of bamboo, and the pattern of hibiscus flowers could be woven into it. The craftsmen in the Forbidden City were really skillful.
"Thanks to the princess, I can also use such good bedding." Duo Erji said with a smile.
"It's just a cool mat. If you like it, I'll leave it to you."
Duo Erji nodded and said, "Thank you, Princess, for the reward. This way, it will save some trouble for you to stay overnight in the future."
Mu Xue snorted softly and walked over: "Please make way. According to the old rules, I will sleep inside."
She put a mandarin duck pillow inside, distanced herself from him, and then lay down on her side with her back to Dorji. Her long black hair spread out, as smooth as satin.
By the candlelight, Dolji saw everything clearly, and he had an urge to touch her hair, so he said, "The princess's hair is so beautiful, can I touch it?"
I felt a little regretful after saying this, worried that she would think I was frivolous.
After a moment of silence, Mu Xue only said "hmm" softly, and she added: "You can only touch my hair."
This reply was beyond Dorji's expectations. He paused for a moment, then decisively reached out his hand, picked up a strand of the princess's hair, and let it slide through his fingers like silk.
In the ambiguous candlelight, the barking of a puppy suddenly sounded. In such a quiet night, it sounded particularly pitiful.
Mu Xue turned over, her hair was slightly pulled, it hurt a little. Duo Erji immediately let go of the strand of hair that was wrapped around his finger.
"Feel sorry."
"It's okay, why did Qiuqiu suddenly scream?"
Muxue stepped on her soft-soled embroidered shoes, asked Duo Erji to hold the candlestick, and walked quickly to the compartment outside the bedroom. The little dog had already climbed out of the soft pillow, whimpering, and when it saw people, it wagged its short tail desperately and stumbled towards them.
Mu Xue picked up Qiuqiu and checked him: "I don't see any injuries. What happened?"
Dolji moved the candlestick a little further away, fearing that the candle flame would burn the puppy's fur.
"Maybe it's scared? It's still a little too small."
It was just over a month old, so it should be brought back later. Duo Erji felt a little guilty and picked up the basin of goat milk on the ground to make it easier for Qiuqiu to feed.
After eating and drinking, and playing with him for a while, Qiuqiu finally tilted his head and fell asleep.
The two of them felt relieved. They carefully put the ball back on the cushion and went back to the dormitory to lie down.
After all this, Muxue felt a little tired. She didn't want to talk to Duoerji anymore. She closed her eyes and fell asleep gradually.
However, not long after falling asleep, I heard Qiuqiu groaning again.
The two of them got up again and tried to coax the dog. Finally, it fell asleep again.
"How about moving outside?" Duo Erji asked when he saw that Muxue looked very tired.
Mu Xue hesitated: "It's such a small dog, away from its mother, coming to this strange place, it must be scared. Left to a stranger on the first night, it seems..."
She squatted on the ground, looking at the little dog that had fallen asleep again, with a gentle look in her eyes. Although her face looked a little haggard because she was very sleepy, Dorji felt that she was amazingly beautiful.
He could tell there was a hint of empathy in Muxue's words, so he said, "Princess, you're right. We have to take good care of it on its first night with us. Once it gets familiar with us, it will know that this is its home."
This time they moved the ball to the dormitory, thinking that it might be better to have someone to keep it company.
She went back to her bed and fell asleep again. This time, she fell asleep quickly. However, she could still hear the dog barking faintly.
She was about to struggle to get up when her shoulders were suddenly held down.
"Princess, have a good rest. I'll go and comfort you." Duo Erji said, "I was in the army before, so I'm used to it. I fall asleep quickly. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Qiuqiu."
Muxue was really sleepy. Thinking of how Dorji had just taken care of the puppy, she nodded, and her eyelids, which had been so heavy that she couldn't open them, finally closed.
Duo Erji pulled the thin silk quilt up to cover her belly, and then immediately went to comfort Qiuqiu.
This little thing is really annoying.
He held Qiuqiu in his arms and stroked its fur, thinking that it was a good thing he didn't send the dog to the princess to raise, otherwise he would not have a good sleep for at least half a month.
…
As the sun shone into the big tent, Mu Xue slowly woke up. She turned over, and her side was empty.
Where is Duo Erji?
She sat up, looked around, and finally saw a figure.
On the carpet beside the couch, Dorji was resting his head on the soft pillow that Qiuqiu had slept on, while Qiuqiu was curled up in his arms. A man and a dog, one big and one small, were sleeping soundly in the warm sunlight.
Perhaps because she was afraid that Qiuqiu would start barking again if she was left alone, disturbing her sleep, Duoerji just slept on the floor holding the dog.
He is a very responsible person.
Mu Xue laughed silently, but it was like a cloud fell on her heart, unusually soft.
The sky gradually brightened.
The midsummer sun shines on my body and it feels a little hot.
Something furry was sticking to his body and spinning around. Dorji opened his eyes and saw a snow-white ball of fur rubbing against him affectionately, and it barked twice out of excitement.
Duo Erji finally woke up, rubbed his balls, and looked up at the bed - the princess was no longer there.
Have you left?
The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned down, and he sighed softly, then looked down at the ball, which was running around his feet.
"You are still so happy, the princess has left us both behind again."
He bent down and picked up the puppy. Qiuqiu was completely unaware and was just happy. Its tail was still wagging as it was lifted into the air.
Just when I was feeling lost, I suddenly heard a familiar voice: "Are you up?"
Duo Erji was stunned and turned around holding the ball.
Outside the curtain, Mu Xue personally came in from the darkness, carrying a vermilion lacquered tray, followed by four maids.
On the tray was a bowl of milk porridge, two baskets of steamed buns, and fresh milk.
Seeing that Duoerji was still sleeping, she went out and asked people to prepare breakfast. On a whim, she cooked some porridge herself and brought it in excitedly.
I happened to see Duo Erji waking up and playing with the dog.
He? He really likes dogs, Muxue thought.
The next moment, Duoerji put the ball on the ground, stretched out his long arms and hugged Muxue.
Eh hey hey?
"No, I'm carrying something!"
The maid, who was trying to hold back her laughter, hurried forward, took the tray, and stepped aside.
Without this troublesome thing, Duo Erji hugged Muxue tightly in his arms.
Qiuqiu thought they were playing some game, so he let out a whoosh and ran up to them, circling around their feet, wagging his tail.
"That's great. You're still here and haven't left." Duo Erji gently rested his chin on her shoulder and rubbed it.
Mu Xue smiled and said, "Okay, let's have breakfast together."
Really, how can it be as clingy as a ball when it is so big?
During breakfast, she ordered Rong'er to ask if there was anyone who knew how to raise a dog, and she actually found one among the eunuchs and brought the dog over.
This person taught the dog many tricks, such as putting the owner's worn clothes in the puppy's kennel. When the dog smells the familiar scent, it will not be so uneasy.
Mu Xue left her changed pajamas behind and asked someone to find some old clothes to prepare for Qiuqiu to sleep in. At the same time, she also asked the eunuch who knew how to train dogs to stay in the prince consort's tent temporarily to help raise the dog.
After breakfast, although Duoerji was reluctant to leave, he had to go to practice horse racing as the Nadam Festival was approaching.
After he left, Muxue returned to the tent and dressed up again.
Because she didn't know when Erji would wake up, she didn't leave for too long. She just washed her face with clean water and didn't put on any makeup.
"Also ask the embroiderer to make two pieces of clothing for Qiuqiu, so she can wear it when the weather gets cold." Mu Xue ordered.
"Yes," Rong'er put the earrings on her and said, "When you were having dinner with your husband, the embroiderer came to report that the embroidery you ordered earlier was ready and some was delivered."
When Mu Xue heard this, she said, "Change me into some clothes to meet guests."
Because the sun was so hot, she chose a gauze hat to wear.
After everything was packed, Mu Xue rode out on horseback and led his men straight to the Huang Palace, the Lama temple where the great Lama lived.
Occasionally, you can see believers prostrating themselves on the road.
The incense is burning, and colorful prayer flags painted with gold-painted Mongolian "Six-Character Mantra" flutter in the wind.
Muxue first turned the prayer wheel with a pious attitude, then went to the main hall. After she finished her worship, the great lama, who had received the news, ordered someone to lead her to the tent at the back.
The grand lama's tent was even grander than Tushetu Khan's royal tent.
Whether it is the area or the interior decoration, it is magnificent.
No wonder it is said that one of the reasons why the Tushetu Khanate in the northern desert is so powerful is because of the presence of the great lama. The power of Buddhism here should not be underestimated.
The great lama presented a yellow hada to Muxue. Only the royal family or the nobles wore hadas of this color, while the rest wore white hadas.
"When we were in the capital, the emperor and the empress dowager loved to worship Buddha," said the great lama, "the princess also has a deep affinity with Buddhism, and will surely be blessed by the Buddha."
Mu Xue waved her Hada and said with a smile: "I hope so. Now I am far away from my hometown and come here. I only hope that the Buddha will bless me and everything will be fine."
The great lama smiled but said nothing, wondering why the princess came. Perhaps she wanted to get close to him?
Unexpectedly, the princess suddenly said: "I am willing to donate one thousand taels of silver to build a golden body for the Buddha to do my best."
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