There was a moment of silence, Le Zhi hurriedly lowered his eyes and backed away, then got up and settled down...
Huo Du subconsciously held her hand and asked, "Where are you going?"
Le Zhi looked at his pale face, pulled out his hand gently, pressed his shoulders to make him lie down, then wrapped him in a quilt, "Wait for me for a while."
Running quickly to the door, Le Zhi opened the door and called Jing Xin, who was on duty at night, "Jing Xin, hurry up and get some hot water, the more the better."
Jing Xin hurriedly responded. She raised her skirt and hurried towards the water boiler. Because she was in such a hurry, she even forgot to take her umbrella. When I think about it, people are already in the snow...
Suddenly, an umbrella rose above the head, covering a large area of flying snow.
Jing Xin looked back, saw the person coming, and was surprised: "An, Lord An?"
An Xuan hummed lightly and said nothing.
After all, he was the person next to His Royal Highness, and Jing Xin had almost never had contact with him, so he couldn't help but feel a little nervous, "Is the lord also on duty at night? The slaves are going to the water room, the lord doesn't have to..."
"Then let's go."
The two walked side by side, Jing Xin had a restrained temperament, and had never walked so close to a man before. She was grateful for An Xuan's kindness in her heart, but she distanced herself from him.
An Xuan, who was beside him, caught a glimpse of her small movements from the corner of his eye, and his heart was full of sadness. It's not a coincidence, it's just that whenever Jingxin is on duty at night, he will be waiting not far away, just because he is afraid that something unexpected will happen at night, so he can help.
An Xuan knew that Jing Xin's attentiveness was always towards others, and he was often very careless towards himself. He sighed silently and quietly moved the umbrella to her side for a few minutes...
Lezhi replaced the incense burner in the bedroom with citrus fragrant slices, and the sweet fruity fragrance wafted away, making the room warm and fragrant. She took the ginger powder again, rinsed it with tea, and walked back to the slump.
"Drink some ginger tea." Le Zhi helped Huo Du up against the embroidered pillow, Rao was tightly wrapped in a brocade quilt, but he was still cold, "His Royal Highness must be frozen, drinking ginger tea is the best ."
Huo Du's eyes were on her from the beginning to the end. He looked at her busy appearance, but felt like his heart was blocked by cotton. He opened his mouth and said in a low voice, "It's just an old problem, it will be fine in a while."
Hearing this, Le Zhi frowned in dissatisfaction and handed the teacup to his lips, "His Royal Highness is no longer a child, why is he still so self-willed? Drink quickly."
This time, Huo Du didn't say anything, but opened his mouth obediently and drank all the hot ginger tea.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door outside the house. Knowing that Jing Xin was back, Le Zhi immediately went over to open the door and brought a bucket full of hot water into the bedroom.
"Are you exhausted? Go back to the house to rest." Le Zhi put a sleeve stove into Jing Xin's hand and said with concern.
"No, how can slaves use the master's things."
Kolazhi insisted on giving her something, but Jing Xin couldn’t refuse, so she had to accept it. She walked towards her house with her sleeves in her arms, but after walking a few steps, she met An Xuan with a lantern...
"I'll take you back."
"No, no..." Jing Xin frowned and replied in a trembling voice.
Seeing her nervous appearance, An Xuan couldn't help laughing: "I am on duty today, and it is my duty to protect the safety of everyone in the Prince's Mansion."
Having said all that, Jing Xin could no longer find an excuse to refuse, so he had to agree. The two were silent all the way until they entered the North Courtyard. An Xuan stopped and said, "If you need help in the future, you can come to me."
Jing Xin was stunned, when did she become so familiar with Lord An
But now, she just wanted to hurry into the room, so she nodded: "Okay, thank you Lord An tonight."
An Xuan watched her enter the room until the candlelight in the room was blown out, making sure that Jing Xin had rested, and then he walked away.
Le Zhi took a clean and soft cotton towel from the bathroom and watched the hot air come out of the bucket. She only waited for a while, then squatted down and dipped the cotton towel into the water.
- Wipe your body, you need a little hotter temperature.
The slender hands were immersed in the hot water, and Lezhi couldn't help but "his", quickly picked up the cotton towel, endured the slight pain in his hands and wringed it dry, and then quickly walked back to the slump. She lifted the quilt and reached out to untie the belt of Huo Du's bedclothes. Without being ashamed, she put a hot cotton towel over his body and wiped it gently.
From the chest to the shoulders, to the arms and back... As soon as the temperature of the cotton towel was a little cold, Lezhi soaked it in hot water again and wrung it dry, and the cycle went on and on until she wiped Huo Du's body all over.
Finally, she put a hot cotton towel on his injured leg and held it down with her hand.
Unexpectedly, Huo Du was ridiculously obedient, and cooperated with her obediently from beginning to end.
"Is it better now?" Le Zhi looked up at him.
Just now, she was obsessed with wiping his body for him, without looking at his expression, when she raised her eyes at this time, she met his burning gaze. I don't know if it was because of the ginger tea, Huo Du's eyes became warm.
After waiting for a while, he didn't answer. Le Zhi didn't care, just turned her eyes and continued to look at his legs... She moved the cotton towel away and saw that the originally cold white skin on his legs began to turn red.
Although I know that his legs may still not feel the slightest warmth, at least the cold blood should start to activate, right
Suddenly, the cotton towel in his hand was taken away, Le Zhihao's wrist was buckled, and he tugged on the bed. The whole person was pulled into the warm embrace, Jin was covering her whole body, only then did Le Zhi realize that her body was already unbelievably cold...
Huo Du raised his hand, and the bed curtain was automatically lowered, blocking out the light of the candlelight.
After a while, Le Zhi exposed his head a little and took a few breaths. She was caught tightly just now, almost making her breathless.
"Go to sleep."
There was heat in his ears, and Le Zhi snorted, and closed his eyes with tiredness.
She was really tired after working for most of the night.
After a long time, Huo Du slowly let go of her, and after listening to her gradually even breathing, he said, "Lezhi, tomorrow is Laba."
But the sleeping man couldn't answer him.
"Will you accompany me?" This sentence was even lighter.
For him, Laba Festival is black. For so many years, he has been through this day alone. But this year, he suddenly hoped that Le Zhi could accompany him...
Even if you don't do anything, as long as she's there.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..." The man in his sleep murmured twice as if he had heard it.
Huo Du approached her, as if afraid of waking her up, and gently kissed her on the forehead.
- If you don't refuse, then I'll take it as your promise.
He closed his eyes, held her red-hot hand in the quilt, rubbed his fingertips, and felt her temperature with his heart...
Sleep all night.
When Le Zhi woke up, he was surprised to find that Huo Du had not woken up yet. She slowly pulled her hand out of his palm, and then she saw his eyebrows lightly frown...
She stared at his sleeping face, and found that he was less cold and more gentle when he was asleep than when he was awake.
She raised her hand and rubbed his eyebrows, then leaned down on the bed and covered the bed curtain.
Huo Du rarely got a good night's sleep, and Le Zhi naturally hoped that he could sleep a little longer.
And she has something to do today.
Raising her legs and stepping into the bathroom, Lezhi changed her clothes and did a simple grooming.
When she gently pushed open the door, Li Yao was already waiting outside the house.
"Master, Laba porridge is ready." Li Yao said softly.
"Okay." Le Zhi nodded.
Just after he finished speaking, the sound of the bed curtain being lifted came from his ears. She instructed Li Yao to put everything in front of the carriage, then turned around and walked back to the slump.
Huo Du just woke up, and a pair of sleepy peach eyes stared at her.
Le Zhi was wearing a water-red chest-length skirt today, and a snow-white cotton cloak was already covered on the outside. She curled her lips and said, "Your Highness is awake? Today is Laba. There is a lot of Laba porridge cooked in the pantry. Your Highness will eat some later."
"Are you going out?"
"Yeah!" Le Zhi's brows and eyes were curved, and her smile was like flowers, "I'm going to Xia Feitai to celebrate the festival with my sister."
Whether it was an illusion or not, Le Zhi suddenly saw a lonely look on Huo Du's face that he had never seen before. In just a moment, it disappeared. He was still as usual, with a cold expression on his face.
Le Zhi vaguely felt that something was wrong with Huo Du, and she asked cautiously, "Does your Highness have anything to tell me?"
"No, you go."
Lezhi nodded and repeated: "Then remember to drink Laba porridge, Your Highness!"
Without hearing an answer, she bowed her head helplessly and turned to leave.
— She was reluctant to delve into his emotions.
Huo Du watched Le Zhi leave until she stepped out of the bedroom. He curled his lips and smiled, and continued to lie back on the slump.
That's normal, isn't it
It was the lack of sobriety last night that made him have delusions that he shouldn't have.
Long time no see, Le Jin's complexion is getting better and better.
Because Li Yao often manages, the warden and guards in Xia Feitai all take care of Le Jin. Money, indeed, can get through a lot of things.
"Sister, eat more." Le Zhi scooped a spoonful of Laba porridge with a smile and brought it to Le Jin's lips.
Le Jin's consciousness was still chaotic, but a smile gradually appeared on his face. Seeing the porridge handed by Le Zhi, he naturally drank it...
Le Zhi was so happy that even the end of his eyes couldn't help but turn red. She put the porridge bowl aside, hugged Le Jin, and whispered, "Sister, it's not very dangerous outside, there will be branches to protect you in the future..."
- Can you stop closing your heart up
On the other side, Li Yao chatted with the jailers familiarly. From a young age, Li Yao learned to know people's hearts and understand people, and soon found out a lot of things from these people.
"I heard! Since King Jingxian got married, he has been neglecting the princess, but he favored a maid of the house."
"Come on, who doesn't know what you're talking about!" Another jailer looked disdainful and said with a smile: "I heard that the princess is so heartbroken that she is clamoring for divorce!"
"Really or not? Can't you?"
"Really! What are you doing?" The jailer was questioned and felt unhappy, so he sternly said, "Even Shen Xiang was disturbed. It's not like you don't know, our Shen Xiang has a very stubborn temper. He is only the daughter of Princess Jingxian, how can he not be angry?"
"..."
On the way back to the mansion, Li Yao told Le Zhi all the news he found. Le Zhi hooked her lips, no wonder Huo Xu never wanted to see her recently, he was busy with these things.
She remembered that in the inn that day, Huo Xu tightly protected the woman who looked like her...
Color blinds the mind.
Le Zhi's face sank, thinking whether he could use this opportunity to attack Huo Xu. At least, let him stop taking care of Xia Feitai's affairs...
Only in this way can she find an opportunity to rescue her sister.
Shen Xiang, Shen Qingyan...
Le Zhi knew that Huo Xu married Shen Qingyan just for the power of Shen Xiang, but it was self-defeating to make such a fuss. The jailer's words, although some are based on rumors, may not be very accurate, but they can be roughly judged—Shen Qingyan is definitely a woman with a strong personality.
Heh, Huo Xu, a hypocrite, is trying to take advantage of women, and I'm afraid that he will eventually lead to fire.
The noise outside the carriage pulled Le Zhi's thoughts back. She couldn't help but lift the curtain and look out, only to see a lot of people outside a shop, "Li Yao, what are you doing?"
"Master, this is the tradition of Daqi. Every Laba Festival, this Laba shop will be open for one day only. This shop has everything, and people can buy their favorite things or choose gifts. Give it to your loved one or relatives and friends... "
Only open for one day
This is interesting.
Le Zhi couldn't help but think of the loneliness on Huo Du's face when he left in the morning... Without thinking too much, she picked up the curtain on the side and said to Li Yao: "Go, let's go down and have a look too. Look."
Finally squeezed into the shop, through the hanging yarn of the hood, Lezhi looked at it carefully—
until I saw a lilac stone.
She walked over curiously, picked up the stone, and felt a warm feeling in her palm.
This purple stone actually heats up.
"Madam has a good eye." The shopkeeper walked over with a smile and said, "This amethyst stone is warm and pleasant, and the temperature will never dissipate. If you carry it on your body for a long time, you will not be cold in winter!"
Le Zhi nodded in appreciation and asked, "How much is this?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said the price.
Le Zhi's smile froze, this... is it too expensive? She is still in debt now...
"Don't think it's too expensive, Madam, this amethyst stone is really a treasure!"
After thinking for a moment, Le Zhi gritted his teeth, "Okay, I want it!"
Carrying the mahogany box, Lezhi collapsed onto the carriage. She couldn't help thinking, if the 15,000 taels owed to Huo Du were not paid in a year, she wondered if he would give her some extra time as appropriate...
Because she was thinking about something, she didn't realize that in a corner not far from her, a man dressed in white and a scholar looked at her for a long time... But Li Yao found out, she frowned and looked over, but Seeing the man lowered his head, he left.
Looking at the man's appearance, he didn't shrink his head, but he was in good spirits. Are you thinking too much about yourself
Li Yao took his eyes back and didn't care.
When we returned to the Prince's Mansion, it was past noon.
"Has Your Highness finished lunch?" Le Zhi asked casually when he happened to meet An Xuan when he entered the mansion.
But An Xuan shook his head and sighed softly.
"No lunch? What about breakfast?"
An Xuan still shook his head.
Le Zhi frowned and her face fell down, "You don't even drink Laba porridge, do you?"
"I didn't eat anything."
"Where is Your Highness?"
An Xuan hesitated, thinking for a moment, he replied, "Study..."
Le Zhi immediately raised her legs and walked towards the study, but when she thought of Huo Du's strangeness in the morning and An Xuan's solemn expression, she stopped again, turned around and asked, "Did he... disturb?"
"Yeah." An Xuan said solemnly, every year during the Laba Festival, His Highness would lock himself in the study, not eating or drinking, and not letting anyone disturb him.
However, he always felt that if the Crown Princess went, His Highness would not be angry.
"Prince Concubine, go see His Highness. Your subordinate thinks that if you go, His Highness will be very happy."
After pondering for a moment, Le Zhi nodded, "Then you go to prepare some food and bring it directly to the study."
study.
Huo Du was sitting by the window, with the cold wind blowing, his eyes dazed.
In the morning, Le Zhi went out with a smile and said that she would spend the festival with her sister.
Huo Du just remembered in a trance, what was the distance between them. As the princess of Li Guo, she would be nice to him because she was grateful to him, but it didn't stop there.
The longer they got along, the better he got to know her.
Before, he would have worried that she would be soft-hearted towards Huo Xu, but now it is impossible to think about it. She is such a principled and responsible person, her childhood love for Huo Xu has long been cut off by Huo Xu...
Lezhi is soft on the outside and tough on the inside, she will never allow herself to be trapped in feelings. Even though she may have a little affection for him now, it is pitiful compared to the pain of subjugation.
She would never allow her to like someone from the Huo family, let alone that he was Huo Changyun's son. Even if she likes it a little in her heart, she will erase it without hesitation when she reacts.
For the first time in Huo Du's 20-year life, he felt deep regret in his heart.
At the beginning, Huo Changyun wanted to destroy the country of Li, he didn't know it. But he watched everything with a cold eye at that time, he didn't even care about himself, how could he be unpredictable and predict the current situation
Now, Huo Du watched Le Zhi live in the pain of subjugation every day. Sometimes, he could see the pain and struggle in her eyes looking at him.
From the beginning, he was not qualified to be liked by her.
As long as there is Huo Changyun's blood flowing on his body, he will never be qualified.
Yes, not eligible.
He closed his eyes resignedly and let himself go.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door. Huo Du thought he was hallucinating and ignored it.
But then, the door was pushed open a little, and a familiar voice came—
"May I come inside?"
Huo Du opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the door. Le Zhi didn't enter the door, just stuck his little head in, looked at his face, and blinked.
He fixed her eyebrows, and the dead heart seemed to start beating again.
Again and again, joy and suffocation.