Chapter 100 Complaint
Qing Wu gracefully departed, leaving Xiao Ji alone in the courtyard. He pursed his slightly swollen, watery lips, feeling rather annoyed at being pecked instead of stealing her sweetness. But then he thought, wasn't this sweet lesson exactly what he had asked for?
"Master, you look so happy..." Zhao Tong tried to hold back his laughter but couldn't help but make another joke.
Xiao Ji raised his eyes and met Zhao Tong's teasing gaze calmly: "My wife and I are in love, so naturally I look radiant." He raised his chin slightly, his expression surprisingly without a trace of embarrassment. "Why, are you envious?"
If it were the former Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, he would never have said such words in front of his servants. But now, in this temporary palace, the young man who had experienced the disaster of a broken leg had long since shed his former reserve and became even more shameless.
Zhao Tong was speechless for a moment, amused and relieved. The two Zhu'ers couldn't help but laugh at what they heard, and hurriedly lowered their heads to pick up the rewards on the ground and headed towards the main hall. When they reached behind Xiao Ji, they smiled at each other, pursing their lips tightly.
After all the things were moved into the side hall, another quarter of an hour passed and Qingwu came back from the backyard pretending to be calm. His steps were leisurely, but there was still a faint blush on the tips of his ears.
She walked past Xiao Ji without looking sideways, heading straight for the side hall, muttering, "I'll go see what goodies His Majesty has given me..."
She had just kissed him impulsively and then ran off. Now that she had calmed down, she felt that she had been a little too reckless. But then she thought, it was clearly this guy who had teased her first, and she was just fighting back! With this thought, she straightened her back a little.
Xiao Ji looked at her pretending to be calm, and a smile appeared in his eyes. He turned his wheelchair to follow her, and deliberately dragged out his voice: "Qingqing——"
Qing Wu paused, then quickened his pace without looking back: "Liu Lang, is there something wrong?"
"Yes." Xiao Ji followed her slowly, "Qingqing ran too fast just now, I didn't have time to say anything..."
"Xiao Liulang!" Qing Wu turned around abruptly, his face full of feigned anger, "There are some things you shouldn't say outside!"
Xiao Ji immediately raised his hands in surrender, his peach blossom eyes full of innocence: "I just want to say that those herbs are for Qingqing to open a clinic." He tilted his head, a sly look in his eyes, "Qingqing, what are you thinking about?"
Qing Wu was speechless and could only glare at him before turning and entering the side hall. Xiao Ji followed him in with a smile. She had already opened the boxes one by one and was looking through the herbs inside.
Qingwu held a ginseng plant, about two fingers thick, between her slender fingers. She examined it carefully, then brought it to her nose and sniffed it gently. Her shy expression had completely faded. Now her brows were calm, her eyes focused, a stark contrast to her impulsive self.
"This old ginseng is of excellent quality, truly top-grade." She whispered to herself, then took a bird's nest from the side and examined it carefully with her fingertips. "The blood bird's nest has a pure color, it's a good thing, and there's nothing wrong with it."
Xiao Ji quietly watched her serious profile. The sunlight streaming in from the door made her face as bright as jade. The slight frown on her face and the pursed lips as she examined the herbs made him fascinated, and his eyebrows couldn't help but arch.
"These..." Qing Wu suddenly turned around and met Xiao Ji's gentle and smiling eyes. He couldn't help but be startled. The two looked at each other for a few breaths, and then Qing Wu lowered his head and smiled and said, "They are all good things. They have not been tampered with."
Xiao Ji turned his wheelchair and slowly approached, "That's good. Qingqing is in need of medicinal materials for her clinic, so take them all."
He had said this twice, and Qingwu couldn't help but say angrily, "It can't even be called a clinic, it's not even a medical hut. It's just a convenience for the people and a response to emergencies. They are all for minor illnesses and pains. There's no need for these precious medicines. Even if they did, how could they afford them..."
The last sentence was almost inaudible, but Xiao Ji heard it and couldn't help but startle. His fingers tightened slightly on the wheelchair armrests. Qing Wu's sigh, as light as a mosquito's whisper, was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, stirring ripples in his heart.
Xiao Ji sighed again that he still had not completely gotten rid of his old habits. How could ordinary people in the Dayu Dynasty afford this? He almost made the mistake of "Why not eat meat porridge?" again.
Qing Wu didn't notice Xiao Ji's momentary emotion, and stroked the brocade with his hand: "These materials are also very good. Even if they are made into clothes, they can't be worn. It's really a great reward..."
Not to mention that ordinary people cannot wear brocade, even if the life in the palace is simple, there is no need for gorgeous clothes made of these materials. If they really wear them, it would be a waste of resources and it would be more convenient to wear ordinary fine cloth.
Now, in the entire palace, except for Xiao Ji who was still wearing his old clothes, everyone else was wearing fine cloth clothes, which made no difference. What's more, Fugui, who did some rough work such as chopping wood and farming, had already learned to wear some linen clothes without any instruction, and even praised them for being sturdy and durable.
Qing Wu sighed to himself, and Xiao Ji listened to these words thoughtfully. When he felt something in his heart, he heard Qing Wu ask doubtfully, "Is His Majesty really just concerned about you?"
She grew up in the countryside and most of the time she only had to listen to her grandmother. Three meals a day and collecting herbs to treat illnesses were her whole life. It was only after she returned to the Xi family that she began to understand some of the twists and turns, and now she has finally realized it.
Xiao Ji's eyes dimmed slightly, and he temporarily pulled himself out of his previous thoughts and explained to Qing Wu in detail: "It's true that he cares about me, but it's hard to say whether he hopes for my good or bad..."
His appearance made Qingwu curious. It seemed that his resentment towards the emperor was not just because the emperor abolished his position as crown prince.
Perhaps seeing the curiosity and worry in Qingwu's eyes, Xiao Ji thought for a moment and decided to tell her something - she told him about her past, and he should do the same.
Where to start? The boy paused, lowered his eyes and looked at his legs.
*
The old butler walked into the study holding the account book, his steps a little heavier than usual.
"Sir, this is the account book for this month." He handed it over respectfully, his wrinkled hands trembling slightly.
Song Yunhe took the account book and noticed the old housekeeper's expression was strange when he looked up: "Uncle Song, are you feeling unwell?"
The old butler hesitated to speak, and finally shook his head: "This old servant is fine..."
Seeing this, Song Yunhe put down the account book and said softly: "You have been in my Song family for more than 40 years. Feel free to say whatever you want." Could it be that he had a conflict with Tong'er again?
However, what the old housekeeper said had nothing to do with him. He sighed and then said, "Yesterday... I passed by the flower hall and heard the lady talking to the lady of my family... The lady asked how the young master treated her." He paused, as if weighing his words, "The lady said... that the young master was busy with social engagements all day and never accompanied her to play..."
Song Yunhe's expression changed slightly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the account book, but he said nothing.
The old housekeeper glanced at him, knowing that this statement was not enough to move the young master, so he continued, "Madam also said... that the appointment of an official in the Ministry of Personnel is imminent, and the young master should not associate with those peers... The peers are of no help to the young master, and in the end, he still has to rely on the Xi family. It is better to accompany her for an outing..."
The last sentence was, of course, added by him, but the old butler felt that he was not exaggerating. Wasn't that what the new lady meant?
As expected, Song Yunhe suddenly stopped flipping through the account book.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
