Chapter 68
As soon as a little bit of fish belly white soaked through the window paper, Luo Sanrong's eyelashes trembled.
Last night... I went to bed late, and my sharp ears first caught the movement in the front hall. It was not the usual morning sweeping sound, but more like dozens of bees had their nest poked. The buzzing sound of people was wrapped in the crisp sound of wooden clogs scraping against blue bricks, and it went straight into the inner hall.
She put on her clothes and stepped onto the cool pedals. Just as her fingertips touched the latch, she heard someone outside raise their voice, "What are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear what Eunuch Zhang said?"
Luo Sanrong's hand paused as he pushed the door. The voice belonged to Li, the eunuch in charge of cleaning. He usually bowed and scraped to everyone he met, but now he spoke with an eagerness that was like a fox imitating a powerful force.
Luo Sanzhen straightened his clothes and slowly moved to the corridor. The copper bells on the eaves rang softly in the wind, but they could not drown out the noisy discussions in the front hall.
About twenty eunuchs were crowded in front of a long rosewood table. Some of the young eunuchs holding copper basins didn't even have time to wring out their handkerchiefs. Water droplets dripped down their cuffs onto the gold bricks, staining them with a small dark color.
Luo Sanrong shrank back from the crowd, his gaze passing over the swirling black gauze hats and falling on the figure behind the desk wearing a dark green jacket with a python pattern. Eunuch Zhang was slowly picking at the cracks between his fingernails with a silver pick, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes as his gaze swept across the crowd.
"The Ministry of Rites is planning a grand ceremony, and they're short on manpower." Eunuch Zhang's voice was low, but it was like a block of ice dropped into boiling water, instantly silencing the surroundings. "I've received orders from the Queen to select six skilled individuals to help."
There was an immediate commotion among the crowd. Someone quietly tugged at their companion's sleeve. Everyone knew the Ministry of Rites' duties were complex and tedious, and they were all reluctant to accept them.
Eunuch Zhang looked around and said, "Stop, be quiet. If you think you still have time, please stand up!"
No one moved.
Eunuch Zhang raised his orchid finger and pointed at each of them, saying, "I can tell whether you are living a comfortable life by looking at your greasy faces after eating."
He casually pointed at some eunuchs and said jokingly, "You, you, look at how fat you are after eating, it's you."
Xiaopang was also named. The blood instantly drained from his round face. His eyebrows, which had a bit of naivety just now, were now twisted into a ball. His steps felt as if they were weighed by lead and he couldn't move an inch for a long time.
He was unwilling in his heart, but when he looked up and saw the cold and sullen gaze of Master Zhang and the silence of the people around him, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
His throat heaved before he spoke, his voice trembling unnoticed: "I...I am among them?" But after he had said it, he realized something was wrong and lowered his head, his fingertips unconsciously twisting the corner of his clothes. After a long while, he finally managed to say, "Since, since that's the case, where should I go?"
Lord Zhang: "The Ministry of Rites is where the royal wedding is prepared."
Luo Sanrong stepped forward and asked curiously, "Is anyone planning a wedding?"
Master Zhang responded impatiently, "Who else could it be? Isn't it your East Palace?"
Luo Sanrong's heart trembled suddenly. He had some guesses in his mind, but he didn't dare to ask. To outsiders, it seemed that he was stunned for a moment.
Zhang Neiguan pushed her away and said with an even more impatient look: "Get out of the way, I'm too busy!"
——By the way, did the princess you mentioned last time and the prince finally become friends?
——Married another woman, and finally the princess disappeared.
——What a sad story!
Luo Sanrong thought back to what he had said last night and wondered, "So, did he already know this?" Then what was she?
The bluestone path meandered deep into the rockery. She stepped on the dark-black moss and unknowingly arrived at the hexagonal pavilion covered with ivy.
She leaned her back against the cool pavilion pillar, the coolness of the white marble seeping through her eunuch's robes and causing her fingertips to tremble slightly. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face deep in them. Recalling the promises Li Yin had made her, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Suddenly, a voice in her ear interrupted her thoughts, "Officer Luo, what are you doing here?"
She took a deep breath, suppressed the dryness in her throat, and gently tucked the loose hair on her temples behind her ears with her fingertips. Then she slowly raised her eyes.
The hem of the moon-white gown was stained with the moisture of moss, and the jade belt around his waist swayed slightly as he approached. It turned out to be Ji Zeming.
"Nothing." She felt something was wrong as soon as the voice came out of her mouth. The ending tone seemed to be soaked in morning dew and trembled slightly.
Before she finished speaking, the wind from the corridor happened to sweep past a few fallen leaves, lifting the loose strands of hair that had been tucked away from her temples. Ji Zeming stopped three steps away, his gaze fixed on the corners of her red eyes, where the light of wet water still clung.
"I was just looking for a break, but I didn't expect to meet you, Luo Neiguan, here. This is really..." His voice was as gentle as usual.
Luo Sanrong was wondering why he didn't continue talking, so he turned around and looked at him in confusion.
Ji Zeming felt a little embarrassed by being stared at. He scratched his head and said with a vague smile, "I don't know why, but the moment I meet you, Luo Neiguan, I feel like slacking off."
Luo Sanrong said casually: "You look very busy!"
Ji Zeming was about to say, "Yes, because we need to prepare..." but he suddenly stopped.
Luo Sanrong seemed completely unaware and said nonchalantly, "I heard about it. There's some big celebration going on, right?"
Ji Zeming laughed and complained to Luo Sanrong, "Yeah! I don't know why there are so many celebrations in the palace? The Ministry of Rites is really busy."
Luo Sanrong lowered his head and picked at the ants under his feet, muttering, "I wanted to pretend I didn't know, but your expression was too obvious, Master Ji. I couldn't pretend I didn't know anymore."
Ji Zeming showed his guilty conscience after being exposed. He stood up, straightened his clothes, looked at the lost Luo Sanrong in front of him, and whispered, "Then I will pretend to be busy! You stay for a while!" After that, he turned around and left.
Ji Zeming looked at Luo Sanrong, his eyes full of pity. His voice was low and firm, as if carrying endless affection and expectation: "Suffer as much as you want! Be sad as much as you want! Then come to me and let me protect you!"
Afterwards, he looked back every few steps, and slowly left with a heart full of attachment and reluctance. His departing back was full of loneliness and concern, as if he had left his heart beside Luo Sanying.
After about an incense stick of time, Luo Sanzhen stood up, patted her clothes, and turned back to the inner chamber. Today, she really didn't want to see Li Yin again. Coincidentally, she ran into Lord Zhang sending someone to deliver the account book to Lord Shang, and Luo Sanzhen volunteered to take on the task.
Luo Sanrong put the account book on Shang Gong's desk, but inadvertently saw a familiar handkerchief, and Luo Sanrong unconsciously moved closer.
Suddenly, a scolding came from behind, "What are you doing?"
Luo Sanying turned around and saw that it was Shang Gong.
She bowed and replied softly, "Master Zhang sent me to deliver the account book." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the handkerchief on the table and added, "I saw the white camellia embroidered on it and couldn't help but look at it a few more times."
Mr. Shang's eyes also shifted to the handkerchief and he said, "It seems you know a lot about flowers. Not many people know this flower."
Luo Sanrong said modestly, "My mother likes this kind of flower very much. She said that this flower is not only beautiful, but she also likes its meaning."
Shang Gong said, "This handkerchief was given to me by an old friend. He said his wife embroidered it for him."
Luo Sanrong felt a strange feeling in his heart, but he didn't show it. He said, "Maybe it's a coincidence! If there's nothing else, I'll withdraw first."
——
After leaving the palace, Li Yin went straight to a teahouse where Lord Chashan was already waiting.
The two chatted for a long time over the curling tea smoke, from the affairs of the court to the anecdotes in the streets, their words full of hidden temptations and tacit understandings.
The tea in the purple clay teapot on the table gradually faded, and the last wisp of heat slowly dissipated along the rim of the cup.
Mr. Chashan's fingers holding the cup gently stroked the warm porcelain surface. The fingertips were covered with thin calluses left by years of tea tasting, which were faintly visible in the afternoon light.
He leaned forward slightly and drank the remaining light brown tea in the cup. A very light swallowing sound as it rolled in his throat broke the moment of tranquility.
The action of putting down the teacup was so gentle that it was almost silent, and only a barely perceptible ripple was created when the porcelain cup touched the wooden table.
He raised his eyes to look at the person opposite him. The fine lines at the corners of his eyes, which had appeared due to the accumulation of time, were softened by the light and shadow. A faint smile played on his lips. His tone was neither hurried nor slow, with a sense of indifference from someone who had seen through the world, but every word was clear and resonant. "If I agree to stand by His Highness's side, His Highness will grant me a high position and generous salary. Is that what you mean?"
Li Yun corrected him: "I never said that anyone standing beside me is mine."
Mr. Chashan's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "So what does Your Highness want from me?"
Li Yin: “A powerful assistant”
"Under no circumstances will one distort the truth and resist temptation."
Mr. Chashan sighed and warned, "Your Highness, if you draw the bow too far, it will break."
Li Yun was not angry. Instead, he showed an expression of appreciation and said, "Yes, just like now, supervising me and urging me, this is what I expect from Mr. Chashan."
Mr. Chashan coughed lightly and changed the subject, "So you said there were two things, so what is the other thing?"
Li Yin paused and said sincerely, "It's a story about a woman."
Then he added, “In order not to miss that woman, I need your help.”
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