Chapter 92: Guarding Against the Wind? Or Guarding Against Oneself?

  That night in the "Inviting Moon Pavilion", what exactly did the old emperor and Zhao Zun's father and son say, Xia Chuyi didn't know, but when she left the Inviting Moon Pavilion, that eunuch Cui from the Imperial Guard also followed closely behind.

  That is to say, on the high and majestic Inviting Moon Pavilion, there were only those two people left.

  But as for the content of our conversation, only heaven and earth know.

  She didn't sleep well, thinking about Fool one moment, Zhao Ziyue the next, then the prince's illness, and then that Zhao Jun would be going to Beiping Prefecture in a few days but hadn't invited her again. Then she wondered if she could solve the case of Wei Guogong before he left...

  Thoughts were in disarray, pieced together haphazardly by her one night.

  The next morning, she was still sleeping in the doctor's house and was woken up by Mei's knocking on the door. Irritated, she rolled over twice, let out a big yawn, and then got dressed and got out of bed.

  As soon as the door was opened, Mei Zi's bright red eyes came into view.

  "Chu Qi, go take a look at Sister Yue quickly?"

  Yuè yù? Xià chū qī mī le mī yǎn jing, lǎn yáng yáng de yǐ zài mén kuàng shàng bú dòng.

  Translation:

  What's wrong? Xiaoyu closed her eyes lazily and leaned against the door frame motionless.

  "What's wrong with her?"

  She's not in a hurry, but Mei Zi is anxious, "Didn't Grandpa punish her with ten slaps? Her body is so thin, how can she bear ten slaps? And the wound is... on her butt. Besides you, no one else is convenient to take a look."

  After some thought, Xia Qi's eyebrows rose slightly.

  "Alright, who made me the unparalleled in medical ethics?"

  Anyway, as soon as she opened her eyes, it was to deal with trouble. She went to take a look at what had happened to Yueda Jie. Taking some medicine for injuries, she didn't like to bother and carried the medical box to leave Liangyishu with Meizi.

  However, she did not expect that Yuè Yù was not locked in the woodshed, but had already returned to her own room. From Méi Zǐ, she easily learned the truth of the matter. It turned out that Yuè Yù, who had been punished with ten boards and had voluntarily gone to face the wall in the punishment room, was released from the woodshed last night after the old emperor left.

  The one who gave the order was Zhao Kui himself.

  Why?

  If Zhao Zhu didn't want to lock her up, he wouldn't have punished her in the first place.

  There is only one possibility, related to the old emperor.

  But she is suspected of harming Zhao Ziyue, and what about the old emperor?

  The doubts in her heart accumulated one by one, but she couldn't get any answers from Mei Zi. The emperor's mind, who can guess? Besides, she was a lucky survivor of the emperor's wrath, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, she had no idea what program the old emperor had prepared for her, so it was better to take care of herself first.

  "Yue Yu sister, are you feeling better? The prince has arrived."

  Plum entered the house and sat on the edge of Yuè's bed, staring at her with wide eyes.

  Apart from Meizi, there were two other little maids in the house. One was wiping the sweat on Yu'e's forehead, and the other was pouring water to serve tea, both with worried faces, clearly genuinely concerned about her.

  Yuè Rù patted on the bed, tightly biting her pale lip corners, and only lifted her head after hearing Méi Zi's shout, weakly smiling at Xià Chū Qī.

  "Sorry to trouble you, young master."

  In an instant, she shouted at two other maids again.

  "Zhu zi, Lan zi, you two go down first."

  Yuè Yù was indeed held in some esteem within the Jin Wang Fu, and the two young maids listened to her words and left with respect. Of course, before leaving, they also didn't forget to pay their respects to Xiā Chū Qī, the imperial son-in-law.

  What would ten slaps do to a person, Xia Qi had never thought about it before. But when Mei Zi took off Yu's clothes and saw the blurry bloodstains, she couldn't help but gasp.

  The ancestors were really ruthless!

  The person who hit the board must be from Dalishu and has no private relationship with Yuè Yù.

  Her wound can be described in four words at present - skin split flesh burst open.

  She wouldn't be so kind as to help Yuè Yù apply the medicine, but instead smiled and handed the ointment to Méi Zi. Just about to figure out how to collect some "consultation fees" and leave, she saw Yuè Yù bite her lower lip, speaking softly with a hoarse voice filled with pain.

  "Master who rides horses, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "Oh?" Xia Chuqi slanted her eyes at her, "Speak."

  It's clear that Yuè Yù is a woman with a gentle appearance, but also has a strong personality. Her buttocks were severely beaten by the board, yet when she spoke, her tone and language remained elegant and polite, without any hint of pain or distortion on her face.

  "This time, Master might have some dislike for me, although he spared my punishment. His thoughts are deep and I'm afraid it won't be easy to dispel his anger in a short while. Moreover, I am bedridden now and probably can't serve Master again for quite some time. Although spring has arrived, the wind is still cool at dawn and dusk, and Master's headache tends to relapse during seasonal changes. Please take good care of yourself, Prince..."

  The seventh day of summer was wrong.

  Is this month's elder sister really silly or just pretending to be silly?

  She's really overdoing it with this "entrustment", who in the mansion doesn't know about Chu Qi and Zhao Zun's relationship? Does she still need to get involved in this kind of thing? Especially when she's being so gentle and affectionate, just like Zhao Shi Jiu's "girlfriend" or something. What is she trying to do?

  She suddenly discovered a problem.

  Every time Yuè Yù spoke to her, she was so gentle and humble, but she always managed to subtly pierce her heart with the most humble attitude. The implied meaning behind her words not only intentionally hinted at her, but also because of her deep relationship with Zhao Zun, he let her off, and even made Chu Qi feel like an outsider between them.

  He raised the corner of his lips, Xia Qi's eyes locked onto hers as he slowly walked closer and lowered his head.

  "Sister Moon, I'll tell you a joke, don't cry!"

  Yu Ru's body was in great pain, and she struggled with all her might before finally lifting her head to look at her.

  "Isn't this a joke? If it's a joke, what is there for me to cry about?"

  "In the early summer, a pair of bright iron pupils dimmed slightly, and then smiled, 'Originally, I was going to drive you out of the house, but I thought about it, no matter what, you were doing this for my sake. You know me, I'm a kind-hearted person, I wouldn't be able to bear it. So last night, I pleaded your case in front of him all night long, and he finally agreed to let you off the hook this time...'"

  Her eyes were dim and she didn't know if she believed it or not, her gaze was a bit distant.

  "Is it? Then thank you, Master Groom."

  She slightly pursed her lips and hooked a smile, Xia Chuqi didn't bother to be polite with her either, and it was rare for him to see her being so pretentious again. He picked up his medical box and carelessly sized her up, "A verbal thank you is something the crown prince has never been interested in. Eldest Sister Yue, if you really have a heart, shouldn't you show some sincerity?"

  Everyone in the Jin Wang Fu knows that Chu Qi loves money like his life, and Yue Yu naturally understands this as well.

  At her words, her lips twitched for a moment before she finally managed to force out a smile.

  "My servant's monthly salary is not high, and I don't have much silver saved up..."

  "Hehe, look at what you're saying, Big Sister Yue! Who's with whom here?" Xia Chuqi chuckled and gazed at her lightly, then let out a sigh. "Looking at you, it's not easy either! Alright, just take as much as you have... As for the rest, I, Ben Junmao, don't dare ask for more."

  How much is it? She also said she was "sorry".

  Yuè Yù listened, her originally pale face turned even paler, and she spoke word by word, almost biting the words out.

  "Thanks for your concern, Master."

  Xia left with a happy heart on the seventh day of summer, carrying silver. Mei Zi was embarrassed and her eyes were red, wanting to help her make amends.

  "Yue Yu sister, Chu Qi's nature is like that, don't mind her, she only likes silver and has no other bad intentions. By the way, I still have some silver money left with me, as an orphan with no one to rely on, I usually can't spend it, so I'll give half of it to you for daily expenses."

  "It's all right."

  Yuè Yù Kǔ smiled wryly and let out a sigh, as if it had pulled on the wound, and again made a hissing sound. Méi Zi's heart ached even more at this. The wind quickly went to clean her hands, she took over the ointment that Xià Chū Qī had opened for her, squatted down beside the bed, and was about to apply the medicine to Yuè Yù Kǔ's wound.

  "You go out, I'll handle it myself." Yuè Yù quickly blocked her way.

  Plum blossom thought she was too shy or didn't want to trouble herself, so she hurriedly smiled and grabbed her hand. "Don't worry, Yuexia sister, I'll be careful, where do you want to apply the medicine? Or should I do it?"

  "Mei Zi, go out..."

  Yuè yù tightly grasped her wrist, his forehead covered in cold sweat, but he persisted.

  Plum didn't understand what was going on, but she had always been obedient and didn't say anything else. She carefully instructed a few more sentences and then retreated, closing the door behind her.

  She raised her head, took a long breath and calmly threw the medicine cream given by Xia Chuqi to one side. Only then did she tremble with both hands, tear open her clothes, and bandage the wound that was still bleeding...

  Chu Qi gave her medicine, but she didn't dare use it?

  ……

  ……

  In the blink of an eye, two or three days have passed again.

  The seventh day of summer was no different from usual, still shuttling back and forth between the Jin Wang Fu and the East Palace. With Zhao Zun sitting in the array, the rumors in the mansion had already subsided. However, the romantic story of "the princess and the guard having an affair" had been changed into countless versions, spreading like wildfire throughout the capital city.

  Since ancient times, even emperors couldn't shut up the mouths of the masses.

  On July 7th, a "surprising" discovery was made, and because of those erotic passages, she became even more famous.

  No matter whether it was the Jin Wangfu or the Donggong, although people were respectful in front of her and didn't dare to ask too many questions, the expression between their eyebrows couldn't be hidden. In their hearts, they were probably all guessing that she had done something "unseemly" and been cuckolded, yet her husband still put on a show of being pleased with himself every day. This was simply a classic example of losing face for men everywhere in order to gain high office and wealth.

  The seventh day of summer is not afraid of losing face.

  This person has always only cared about the outcome, now that he's lost face too, Zhao Ziyue, who was lying in bed, didn't show any signs of waking up. At this time, unlike later generations, for a patient who is unconscious and unresponsive, to maintain her vital signs and let her live well, taking care of her would be simply exhausting.

  Looking at the pale-faced little girl lying silently on the bed, she felt a pang of regret and couldn't help but think back to when they first met, that bright red slap. She also remembered how she had forced her to eat spiders, her spoiled and arrogant behavior, and how she had wanted to cling to Zhao Zhu all day for his sake. But it's only when something is lost that its value is appreciated, and thinking back, those annoying things from before had all become Zhao Ziyue's innocence and simplicity.

  Zhao Ziyue is not awake, isn't this husband of hers settled then?

  To be honest, she didn't know whether to cry or laugh, how did she end up with a little princess as a burden?

  The footsteps of the Mid-Autumn Festival are getting closer and closer.

  These days, Zhao Zun seems to be busy all the time, but she doesn't know what he's busy with. All she knows is that he leaves early and returns late, and during the day, his shadow can't be seen in the mansion. Only when he returns to the mansion at night will he send Zheng Erbao to summon her over, either to massage his shoulders or help him press his temples, or simply play a game of chess with her by the window, while also teaching her some chess skills.

  With the "Inviting Moon Pavilion" incident, Zhao Zhen's habit of playing chess with his left and right hands against each other was finally broken. His lonely figure of playing chess alone for years on end had finally become two people.

  On this day, Xia Chuyi heard another shocking news.

  The old emperor originally wanted to marry the eldest daughter of the Song family, the heir of Zhanglie Hou, to Jin Wang Zhao Zun on the Zhonghe Festival. However, she mysteriously died suddenly in her boudoir on a dark and windy night. It is said that she had no illness or disaster, but quietly and silently went to report to Yanwang Ye.

  When she heard the news, it was the day before the Lantern Festival, January 30th of Hong Tai's twenty-fifth year. Strangely enough, she had also learned about this from Prince Zhao Zhen, who was bedridden at the time.

  It's strange, she couldn't help but think: this bedridden crown prince seems to be too bored, specially sending people to dig up all sorts of gossip in the Yongzheng Emperor's residence? Otherwise, his news sources are too quick. It seems that if he weren't a crown prince, he could also make a career as the editor-in-chief of the "Beijing Daily".

  "Alas, nineteen years old..." Zhao Ke sighed and smiled wryly at her. "Truly a master with a bitter fate, another princess has died under his care. This will only serve to confirm the rumors outside that he is a murderer, with too much killing energy, and that ordinary women cannot get close to him."

  "Isn't that bad?" Xia Chuyi stirred the medicinal soup with a spoon.

  "Hmm?" Zhao Ke turned his face to look at her.

  "Oh." Xia Chuqi was taken aback for a moment, then came back to her senses and smiled slyly, "I mean, hehe, I'm saying that those people who didn't have fate with him, since they didn't have fate, it's okay if they died early... No no no, what I want to say is that this just proves that our Prince Jin shouldn't marry an ordinary woman, but should marry someone extraordinary instead."

  "Hmph!" Zhao Ke let out a snort, shaking her head as she looked at her with a smile. "You, these words can be said in front of me, but don't go spouting nonsense outside. If they fall into the ears of someone with ill intentions, who knows what kind of trouble it'll stir up?"

  "Heh" chuckled, Xia Qiuzi was now extremely familiar with Zhao Zhen, slyly sticking out her tongue, "This humble official is now the current crown prince's son-in-law. Ordinary people... they can't touch me."

  With a faint smile, Zhao Ke hesitated for a moment, his tone becoming much more serious.

  "It's just that, the marriage of Old Nineteen, is probably going to be difficult again. You see, all the princesses who were promised to him didn't end up well, how can Your Majesty easily arrange another marriage for him and offend those high-ranking officials? But if it's a girl from an ordinary family, she wouldn't be a match for Old Nineteen either, this is really a headache-inducing problem."

  Zhao Zhen's concern for Zhao Zun is beyond words.

  It can be seen that he is indeed concerned about his younger brother.

  At the beginning of summer, it was impossible to say such cruel words as "You married the princess that everyone wanted to marry, who would they marry?" While secretly speculating about the real cause of Song's death, she smiled and said "Yes, yes" a couple of times, then handed the bowl of medicine to Zhao Zhe, interrupting his inquiry into Zhao Zhu's marriage.

  "Your Highness should drink the medicine first, the temperature is just right, if it's cooler, the medicinal properties will be diluted."

  "Okay."

  Zhaoyi smiled slightly and cooperated to take the medicine, then handed the medicine bowl to Huang Mingzhi who was standing by, furrowed his brow and instructed him in a light tone.

  "Huang Mingzhi, go bring him in."

  Huang Mingzhi responded with a "yes" and retreated. Xia Chuyi didn't know what kind of medicine Zhao Ke's gourd was selling, nor did he ask more questions. He just went out to carefully wash his hands and personally helped him deal with the scabs on his body.

  Watching her focus, Zhao Ke couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

  "Thanks for everything these days."

  Xia Zhi Qi smiled and said, "Your Highness shouldn't say that, this is what I should do." After thinking for a moment, she raised her head again, "Your Highness, there's also some good news to tell you. The day after tomorrow, no, it has to be after the Dragon Raises its Head on February 2nd, I'll be able to bring new medicine over. As long as there's no allergic reaction, your illness will recover quickly."

  "Is the new medicine ready?"

  Gentle smile asked, but on Zhao Ke's face, there wasn't as much joy as she had imagined.

  He probably took too much medicine and doesn't believe it anymore.

  Xia didn't explain the efficacy of Qingmei medicine to him on the seventh day of summer, but just happily blinked her eyes.

  "Don't worry, I've got it covered."

  "Good!" Zhao Ke smiled and suddenly changed the subject, "The person you want to see, I've brought them here for you."

  Who does she want to see?

  After hearing this sentence, Xia Qi's heart was secretly lifted up.

  Could it be...

  She was thinking anxiously, and soon enough, she saw Huang Mingzhi lead a man in. He was over sixty years old, with white whiskers and wrinkles on his face that could crush flies, with a humble and servile demeanor, from the moment he entered the Crown Prince's bedroom, his waist had never straightened up again, until he walked to the front of the Crown Prince and knelt down heavily to kowtow.

  She didn't know the old man, but she recognized the doctor's gown on him.

  "This is..."

  She had just hesitated and spoken out, when Zhao Ke opened his mouth lightly.

  "He is Choi Liangbo you're looking for."

  As expected! Xia Qiuzi pretended to be surprised and took a step forward, cupped her hands together in greeting, and called out "Good doctor Cui", but the old man seemed not to have heard at all, ignoring her completely without any reaction.

  Zhao Ke let out another sigh and emphasized his tone.

  "Huang Mingzhi, tell him, this is the husband of the princess."

  Hwang Myung-jik bowed his head and approached Choi Liangbo who was kneeling on the ground.

  "Old Cui, don't you hurry up and pay your respects to the imperial son-in-law."

  Choi Liangbo raised his head, looked at Huang Mingzhi, and muttered "ah ah wu wu" in his mouth, but didn't make it clear. He quickly pointed to his own ear again, revealing a puzzled face.

  "He is a groom on horseback!"

  Huang Mingzhi's voice was low and even, but that originally neutral tone suddenly rose an octave, making it sound especially jarring.

  "Ah ah ah ah ah......"

  Choi Liangbo kept pointing at his mouth and then pointed at his ears, after several rounds of "battle" with Huang Mingzhi, he finally managed to make out what was being said. He moved his knees on the ground, kowtowed to Xia Chuyi a few times, but still couldn't speak.

  "Isn't his ears also not very good?"

  Zhao Ke pondered for a moment, and said somewhat helplessly, "Yes, Imperial Physician Cui is old, and now in the Donggong Pharmacy, he only does some miscellaneous tasks. Originally, two years ago, he was supposed to be dismissed from the palace, but this palace took pity on his advanced age and the fact that he has several mouths to feed at home, so I specially requested an edict from Your Majesty to bring him over."

  Lost voice is not counted, and became half-deaf?

  This Choi Liangbo is quite unlucky, of course, she believes that he won't be actively seeking misfortune.

  Just as she was thinking, Zhao Ke smiled calmly and came up with a solution, "Chu Medical Officer, if you have any prescriptions to discuss with Cui Taishi, you can write them down for him to see. His eyes are still useful."

  Right, how come she didn't think of it?

  Xia Chuqi's eyes lit up, and she sincerely bowed to him.

  "Thank you, Your Highness."

  Zhao Ke gave her a warm and gentle smile with a slight smile.

  "You may withdraw, I am tired."

  "Yes, I'll go now——"

  She slowly walked out of the bedroom, and Xia Chuqi seemed to have felt his focused gaze behind her back, and turned around coldly. Indeed, that thin and unassuming man was still looking at her with that warm and gentle smile she had become very familiar with.

  That smile was like a kind father looking at his own child.

  There is indulgence, there is care, and a kind of inexplicable protection.

  That was a warmth that Xia Zhi had never felt before on the seventh day of summer...

  ……

  ……

  Thinking of Zhao Zhen's seemingly all-knowing eyes, Xia Chuyi felt a little uneasy. But soon, she calmed down in the face of reality and followed Anzi Gonggong to sit down with Cui Liangyu, who was visibly nervous, in the side hall outside the bedroom.

  In the side halls, there were also many palace maids and eunuchs waiting in attendance.

  Xia Qi glanced around, then had An Zi bring over Zhao Zhu's recent medical records. He looked them over with Cui Liangbi, then began to write and draw on the paper An Zi had prepared, describing the patient's condition in detail.

  With the help of paper and pen, she was able to communicate with the old doctor who was both mute and deaf. And that Cui Liangbi looked humble and courteous, but for her inexplicable "consultation" today, except for some normal confusion, he didn't ask anything else, just seriously discussed with her on paper about her questions.

  Time slips away bit by bit.

  On the seventh day of summer, Xia wanted to find a way to test his tone.

  Miss today, and I don't know when to wait again.

  Maybe, I will lose the opportunity forever——

  Today Zhao Ke unexpectedly came to see her without warning, and it's hard to guarantee that no one will be suspicious.

  Normally, what should those people do? Must they kill him to silence him?

  She wrote and drew, spoke and stopped, occasionally glancing at Choi Liang's expression, her mind constantly turning over. How should she ask to ensure safety while getting some clues?

  After some thought, she wrote a line on the paper.

  "Chui Ta-yi, the flavor of Fangfeng is pungent and sweet, while that of Fangji is pungent and flat. The Bencao Chongyuan says: Wind-cold symptoms are stored in the kidneys and manifest as a warm malaria with initial fever and subsequent chills. Therefore, I think that for a stubborn and hard-to-treat wind-cold like yours, Your Highness, we must use this 'Dispersing Cold Decoction' made from 22 ingredients, among which Fangji is essential, in addition to Fangfeng."

  Defend against the wind? Defend oneself?

  Although they were all Chinese herbal medicine names, her strange combination still caught Cui Liangyu's attention.

  "Ah... uh...... ah..."

  He looked over, with a hint of panic in his eyes.

  At the beginning of summer, her eyes narrowed slightly and nodded at him affirmatively, then wrote again.

  "Or, add another flavor... Huanglian?"

  She stopped her hand with a pen and stared at Choi Liangbo's slightly frightened eyes without blinking.

  Those few words had cost her a good deal of thought.

  Twenty-two refers to the twenty-second year of Hongtai, and "flavor" is equivalent to "Wei". Therefore, the Twenty-Two Flavor Powder for Dispelling Cold is actually referring to the Wei Guo Gong case in the 22nd year of Hongtai. As for Fang Feng and Fang Ji, apart from triggering this Cui Taoyi's medical knowledge conflict, it also means telling him that if he doesn't speak out, his life will be in danger. At the same time, it is also warning him to beware of being silenced by others.

  Of course, adding a bit of Huanglian makes the meaning even clearer - dumb eating Huanglian. Cui Liangyu is dumb, why is he dumb? He can't say it out loud. If you don't tell her the truth, I guess there's no need to "guard against wind and oneself" anymore, it won't take long before he'll be "suffering in silence" again.

  Apparently, Choi Ryang-eol understood the "clever intention" in her sentence.

  A pair of turbid old eyes stared at her eyes, he seemed to recognize her, the hand holding the brush trembled slightly, even his lips quivered.

  On the seventh day of summer, Xia was afraid he would lose his composure, so she gave him a warning look and wrote again.

  "Chui Taiyi thought this prescription of Ben Zhongma was how?"

  He lowered his head and, with trembling hands, dipped the ink from the inkstone and first wrote a single character: "good". Hesitating, fine sweat broke out on his forehead as if he was wondering whether to say something or how to say it...

  In early summer, on the seventh day of the month, Xia was intently focused on Cui Liangyong's brush when she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

  "What's being discussed?"

  That familiar voice as soon as it entered her ears, Xia Chuyi's heart "thudded" heavily once.

  How did Zhao Mianze come?

  Damn it! She muttered under her breath.

  It was just about to be achieved, but this guy came out of nowhere and ruined it. She couldn't help but feel a bit resentful in her heart. Seeing Cui Liang still clueless, she suddenly had an idea and smiled sweetly as she called out, "Brother-in-law, how did you come here?"

  She said, then pushed the inkstone in front of her, got up coldly and turned around, deliberately bumping heavily into Zhao Mianze's body, using a great deal of "killing father's revenge" force, bumping him into a stumble, retreating several steps.

  "Y...ou..." Zhao Mianze called out softly.

  "Oh dear...... Crown Prince Chángsūn......"

  It's as if he didn't know Zhao Mianze at all, Xia Chuyi was also shocked, with eyes wide open like bronze bells, shouting and staggering, his feet unable to stand still, and he fell towards him. The two hands waving in the air, holding that inked brush, "swish swish swish" impolitely painted Zhao Mianze's face.

  Something unfortunate happened...

  Only the imperial grandson, who didn't seem like a mortal being, had his white face, as smooth as jade, stained with black ink by the chaotic hands of the seventh day of summer. Moreover, he "coincidentally" drew an "x" on his right cheek and an "o" on his left cheek. His elegant appearance, paired with these strange letters "xo", looked extremely comical.

  Things happened too fast, nobody had time to react.

  For a moment, the palace maids and eunuchs widened their eyes in unison, hardly daring to believe it.

  Looking at Zhao Mianze who was also stunned on the spot, Xia Chuqi wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, and could only hold back the laughter in her stomach. She hastily "accidentally" dropped her brush, furrowed her brow with a very "apologetic" expression, and gave him a deep bow.

  "I'm so sorry, Crown Prince! I was just discussing the prince's condition with Imperial Physician Cui and didn't expect it to be you. You, you're not hurt or anything, are you? Ah, next time please make some noise when you come in, look at your face... I'm really too embarrassed..."

  "It doesn't matter." Zhao Mianze couldn't see his own face, and naturally he would never know how miraculous the comedic effect was. After a slight pause, he elegantly cleared his throat, not wiping his face randomly, but politely responding instead.

  "It was I who told them not to make a noise and disturb you, this matter, can't blame you."

  "Oh. You're not angry? That's good, haha, that's good."

  While the eunuchs were in a flurry, shouting for someone to quickly prepare water and towels for the Crown Prince, Xia Chuyi suppressed her laughter and exchanged a few pleasantries with him. Seeing Cui Liangbi had composed himself and was now kneeling there, his face tense as he paid his respects to Zhao Mianze, she couldn't help but feel a small pang of disappointment.

  It's just a little bit short!

  That damned Zhao Mianze——

  She was furious enough to want him cut into a thousand pieces, but her face still wore a smile.

  "Your Highness Crown Prince, you're looking for me, is there something going on?"

  "There's nothing major, just came to see my father. By the way, I'd like to ask you, how is my father's health these days? Can we go to the Zhonghe Festival tomorrow?"

  "The crown prince's body has recovered well, occasionally going out for a walk and getting some fresh air is also good."

  "Now that you mention it, I feel relieved."

  Zhao Mianze finished speaking politely, and seeing that her expression was a bit distorted as she tried to hold back her laughter, he finally put away his warm smile and furrowed his brow, asking, "Officer Chu, what are you laughing at?"

  "Pffft!"

  She couldn't help but laugh, and Xia Chuqi looked at Zhao Mianze's face with an "X" and an "O", she was truly about to admire herself to death. At such a thrilling moment, she could still accurately perform her artistic talent show, who else could do it besides her?

  "No, nothing, it's just that I think Long Sun's demeanor today is even more impressive than usual."

  She coughed slightly, laughing as she explained, unaware of the brilliance of her smile. It was different from her usual cold smile, playful laughter and sarcastic smile, but rather the whole person seemed to be basking in the sunlight, with a sense of triumph after teasing others, with a hint of cunning and slyness, and more of a joy that came from the heart.

  Zhao Mianze took the handkerchief handed over by Ya Tou and looked at her with a deeper gaze.

  "Chu Yiguang is so carefree, truly beyond ordinary people."

  He seemed to be asking, but more like he was talking to himself.

  Xia Zhi Qi tilted her head, suppressing a smile as she looked at him, saying with implication, "Your Highness Chang Sun, don't wipe your face. When you get back and look in the mirror, I'm sure you'll feel just as delighted as I do."

  Zhao Mianze's hand holding the handkerchief paused for a moment, seeing her smile happily, also smiled slightly, but didn't continue wiping, "My face is all painted with flowers, right?"

  "There's a bit of embellishment, no, it can't be called embellishment, this is art. Prince Changsun, art is a sacred thing, it cannot be forced, only encountered by chance. Don't rub it off, trust me, once you do, your joy will be gone."

  What she said is right, this xx and oo, indeed are men's happy roots.

  No matter how she did it, it was just a prank, but unexpectedly, Zhao Mianze responded, his gaze paused on her smiling face for a moment, and he directly returned the handkerchief to the maid, smiling at her indifferently.

  "Alright, I won't wipe it off, just a moment..."

  Before he could finish speaking, a shrill cry of "Ah" came from the entrance of the side hall.

  Xiachuizi reflexively turned her head, only to see Xiawen tightly clutching the handkerchief in her hand, standing there stiffly, and behind her was the maid Nongqin who had just let out a sharp cry but now stood there with a dumbfounded expression.

  "What's wrong with your face, Meng Ze?"

  After a while, Xia asked Qiu Ming, who knew the reason for the question, and hurriedly came up to take the handkerchief to wipe it for him.

  Wiping the ink off her hands, Xia Chuyi looked at Zhao Mianze's suddenly somewhat heavy face and blinked at him with "profound meaning", then innocently spread out her hands as if nothing had happened, ignoring the icy gaze that flashed in Xia Qiuyu's eyes, picked up the brush again, continued to spread out the paper, lowered her head and started painting with Cui Liangbi.

  Oh!

  This time she didn't mean it.

  Accidentally planting a willow tree yet it grows into shade, another time asking summer about autumn gets me so angry that I spit blood.

  So she could only say it was... fate?

  ……

  ……

  No matter how fiercely Zhao Mianze and Xia Wenqiu fought, Xia Chuyi was only concerned about the "communication" between her and Cui Liangbi. However, she did not expect that after Zhao Mianze and Xia Wenqiu left, a eunuch named He Cheng'an stayed behind to "serve" her.

  It can be seen that Zhao Mianze has become vigilant.

  In that case, there was no point in discussing it further. She gave Cui Liangbi a "good luck to you" look and bid farewell to the Crown Prince, returning to the Jinwang Mansion.

  She no longer lives in the ear-room of Chengde Temple.

  One morning's success, and people turn their horses' heads.

  It is said that the old emperor personally ordered, in the days when the son-in-law had not yet left the Jinwang Mansion, to "entertain" him according to the standard of the son-in-law. Therefore, Tian Fu, the steward of the Jinwang Mansion, chose another courtyard for her, which was relatively far from the residence of the Jinwang Hou, in order to avoid gossip.

  After these days of renovation, the courtyard has been renovated. The carvings are exquisite and the colors are elegant. There is refinement and uniqueness, with flowers and grasses, as well as fish swimming in the winding paths that lead to secluded spots, creating a beauty that cannot be described.

  Compared with the previous ear room, it's like going from hell to heaven.

  "Ah, being a husband is actually not bad." Too bad she's not a man.

  With her hands on her hips, she gazed at her own courtyard, and couldn't help but sigh.

  "Your Majesty's Son-in-law—"

  The sound from behind interrupted her train of thought.

  As she turned her head, it was Mei's smiling and chubby little face. And by her side, there were two more maids, who had in their hands several sandalwood boxes of different sizes and colors, as well as a soft silk package.

  "This is the clothes that Grandfather has prepared for you to wear tomorrow on Mid-Autumn Festival. Also, Second Treasure's servant came earlier with a message saying... " She bit her lip, and Mei Zi seemed a bit embarrassed, walking closer to her before continuing in a low voice, "Saying that tonight, he wants you to go to Tangquan Bathhouse to wait for him."

  Hot Spring Bathhouse?

  Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, not the Pig Slaughtering Festival, do I still need to soak it clean first?

  Digression

  A girl asked me... why some chapter titles have "chapter" and others have "meters"?

  Haha, I only realized when I looked back that indeed, getting used to something is not good. After digging such a deep hole for so long, calculating chapters in meters, suddenly writing "chapter" honestly, occasionally still making mistakes!

  Suddenly, I had another idea. If all of you are used to watching Er Jin and feel anxious if you don't watch him every day, that would be great... (covering my face and sneaking away, who is poking me in the back?)

  Acknowledgments:

  Dear [Ye Wu Qiu Feng], upgraded to Yuan, hug! Momo.