Chapter 80 Cruise
Bustling market streets
The noisy voices, the dazzling array of goods, and the aroma of food instantly pulled Shen He out of the suffocating atmosphere just now.
Xiao Jingchi was indeed like a child who had been freed. He held Chen He's hand, pointing at the dough figurine stall in amazement, and then being attracted by the stall selling windmills next to it.
"Sister He! Look at that rabbit lantern! So cute!"
"Sister He! I want to eat that candied haws! The biggest one!"
He was jumping up and down, his face lit up with pure joy.
Chen He was led by him through the crowd, and his pace gradually slowed down.
The chaotic and shocking scenes just now began to replay and sort out in her mind.
The torrent of emotions receded and rationality began to return.
Xue Minglan was not valued by the Queen, but was threatened and trampled upon!
This also overturned Shen He's cognition!
I once thought that Xue Minglan chose the queen for the sake of interests and power.
Later, it was thought that he was taking revenge because he couldn't get his love for Shen He.
Now it seems that he has no choice.
His relationship with the queen was not what he imagined.
The owner of Renxinzhai was not dead. Xue Minglan faked his death and set fire to the shop.
What on earth was he trying to do? He was using her to expose the queen and bring her down!
What a good trick to kill with a borrowed knife!
Chen He's heart sank little by little.
But is now the time to overthrow the Queen?
No, absolutely not.
The queen's power is complex and her mother's family is even more powerful.
With the little power she has now, and with Xue Minglan, her "ally" with unknown background and unclear motives, trying to challenge the Queen is like a moth flying into a flame, courting her own destruction!
The "chess piece" that reveals the queen's true face - the living owner of Renxinzhai - cannot be moved yet!
Thinking of this, Chen He suddenly felt that it was not a bad thing for Xue Minglan to hold this chess piece in his hand for the time being.
At least, Xue Minglan has his own plans, and he will not easily reveal this trump card before he is absolutely sure.
This actually gave her time to breathe and prepare.
Yes! Time! She needs time!
Her gaze looked into the distance, her eyes gradually becoming firm and sharp.
The National Fa Conference, which takes place every three years, is coming soon!
According to custom, all royal relatives and ladies of high rank had to go to Putuo Temple in the suburbs of Beijing to pray for blessings.
In order to please the queen, the mother and daughter Chen Jiao and Shan Zhuyu had been jumping up and down. They volunteered to go to Putuo Temple to fast for a month on behalf of the queen to prepare for the ceremony and to "pray for blessings and accumulate virtue" for the queen.
It was the same in their previous life, and they won more favor from the queen by doing this.
The corners of Chen He's mouth slowly curled up into a cold arc.
***
On the other side, Xiao Jingchi seemed to have endless energy!
From the sugar figurine stall on East Street to the acrobatic troupe on West Street, he dragged Chen He everywhere.
He bought sugar paintings, dough figurines, and even an ordinary windmill on the roadside with great interest.
Children’s happiness is so simple and direct!
But it was hard for the two guards following behind.
The tall and mighty man now had all kinds of snacks and toys hanging on his hands, such as candied haws, rattles, small masks, rabbit lanterns... a dazzling array of things.
His face was filled with the expression of helplessness and the question of "Who am I and where am I?"
This little ancestor really treated these two well-trained royal guards as human shopping racks! And they were the kind that could stand up for a long time and never get tired!
Chen He looked at his carefree and happy appearance, with a smile on her lips, but a hint of complexity flashed in her eyes.
Putuo Temple, Shan Zhuyu, Chen Jiao...the plan of revenge is taking shape step by step in his mind.
Before I knew it, the sky gradually darkened.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm golden hue on the bustling market, and the street lanterns lit up one after another.
Chen He rubbed his sore ankle, looked at Xiao Jingchi, whose face was still flushed with excitement, and said softly:
"Jing Chi, are you done playing?"
"It's getting late, we should go back to the palace."
Go back to the palace? " Xiao Jingchi's face immediately fell, and his mouth pouted.
At this moment, his eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new world!
He pointed to the sparkling river dotted with lights not far away and jumped up and down excitedly:
"Boat! Sister He! Look! There's a cruise ship!"
"I want to take a boat! I want to take a boat!"
Without saying anything, he pulled Chen He's sleeve and ran to the river bank, acting like a spoiled child, as if saying, "If you don't take me with you, I'll cry in front of you."
"Sister He, let's go take a boat ride. Just for a little while, okay?"
Chen He was a little amused and helpless.
Looking at his big eyes filled with desire, I couldn't say no.
"Okay, okay, as you say, let's go take a boat ride." Chen He sighed, his tone filled with indulgence that he himself didn't even notice.
When the two of them reached the riverbank, a simple-looking and honest boatman immediately came up to them with a smile on his face:
"Miss, would you like to take a boat ride? The price is reasonable and we'll take you to see the night view of the river..."
Before he could finish his words, a guard behind Shen He took a step forward with an expressionless face.
With a "pop" sound!
A heavy ingot of silver was stuffed into the boatman's hand with unquestionable force.
The guard's voice was cold and hard, and he said simply, "We've booked this boat."
Simple and crude!
The boatman's eyes widened as he held the heavy silver that almost hurt his hand!
My goodness! That's as much as he'd have to row a boat!
Before he could react to the surprise of this "windfall", Chen He and Xiao Jingchi had been "invited" by another guard to board the cleanest and most elegant boat in an almost "escorted" manner.
The boatman opened his mouth, wanting to ask "Where are you going?" or "How long will it take?"
But when he met the cold and sharp eyes of the two guards, which seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts, he swallowed all the words back in an instant!
This wasn't just any ordinary young man or woman. Their demeanor, their aura... they looked like powerful figures he couldn't afford to offend! Safety first! Saving your life was paramount! Money and goods agreed, now shut up and get on the boat!
He nodded and bowed quickly, forcing a smile even more enthusiastic than before: "Alright, alright! Please, distinguished guests! I'll start the boat right away! I guarantee it will be stable and safe!"
The small cabin was cleaned very cleanly. Although simple, it was also elegant. There was a small wooden table in the middle, on which was lit an oil lamp that emitted a soft and warm light.
Chen He and Xiao Jingchi sat opposite each other.
The two guards were like two silent door gods, one on the left and one on the right, guarding outside the cabin, isolating themselves from the noise of the outside world and the possible inquiring glances of the boatman.
The boatman was so oppressed by the invisible aura of the two evil spirits that he dared not even breathe. He could only shrink at the stern, silently and carefully rowing the boat with his head down, for fear of making any noise and upsetting the nobles.
After a long journey, coupled with the highly tense confrontation with Xue Minglan in the teahouse, at this moment, the boat was rocking gently, the surroundings were quiet, and only the sound of oars could be heard. Chen He felt a strong sense of fatigue coming over him.
She sighed softly, relaxed her body, and leaned lazily against the wooden wall of the cabin, closing her eyes slightly and enjoying this moment of tranquility.
Being with Xue Minglan is suffocating. Being with Xiao Jingchi, although I still need to act, at least at this moment, I feel relaxed.
"Sister He?" Xiao Jingchi's voice sounded softly, with a hint of caution.
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