"It's getting colder today. It's freezing outside. Come in quickly. It's warmer inside because it's drafty."
"That's right. I was frozen after taking two steps. Why is it that it's not snowing this year?"
The two jailers walked through the prison corridor while talking, bringing in a gust of cold wind.
The figure hidden in the darkness moved and shivered in the wind.
Qi Changyi was in a daze for half a day before he was awakened by the wind.
It’s really cold.
He just had a dream, and it was winter in the dream as well.
That was five years ago. He was eleven years old, just a half-grown child. Because he was a little dumber than ordinary people, he was always bullied.
At that time, Pei Zheng was ten years old and had already taken over his father's official position, becoming the young prime minister.
That winter, he met Pei Zheng in the palace for the first time.
It snowed heavily that day. After the morning court session, the emperor discussed state affairs with several court officials in the palace. Pei Zheng was also there.
The palace door was suddenly pushed open, and snow mixed with wind and snow drifted in, interrupting the conversation of people in the room.
Everyone looked towards the door and saw a small white ball lying at the entrance of the hall. It seemed that it was hurt from the fall and was shaking without getting up.
The emperor's expression immediately darkened. "Yier, why are you so reckless? Get up and leave quickly."
Several eunuchs nearby hurried over to help him, but were stopped by the emperor.
"Don't help him! Let him stand up by himself! There should be a limit to playing around. Can't you see that I'm dealing with important matters? If you dare to disturb me like this next time, don't blame me for punishing you!"
Qi Changyi obediently tried to stand up on his own. He was tricked by the Third Princess Qi Yirou into coming to this door and then pushed in violently. In fact, his knee was still hurting.
After finally standing up, he stepped on the snowflakes floating in from the floor and slipped and almost fell.
—A scent of sandalwood wafted by, and Qi Changyi did not fall to the ground again, but fell into a warm embrace.
After Pei Zheng supported his waist and helped him stand steadily, he immediately withdrew his hand.
The little person standing in front of him was wearing a white robe with gold thread and a furry collar. There were snowflakes on his body and hair. He was shivering and his eyes were red, like a frightened little white rabbit.
"Your Majesty, it's snowing heavily outside and the roads are slippery. Why don't I take the prince back?"
The emperor highly values Pei Zheng's talent, so he would certainly not refuse such a small request, especially since the request was to escort his stupid son back.
The emperor sighed, agreed, and sent a few people to follow.
"Go back and take good care of the prince. Ask the imperial physician to check on him and make sure he doesn't catch a cold."
After leaving the palace, the wind and snow hit my face. The snow on the ground was quite thick and it made a crackling sound when I walked on it.
Pei Zheng, with a cloak wrapped around his shoulders, was tall and had long legs, and was walking far ahead.
Although it was the first time he saw this prince, he was able to recognize him at a glance, simply because he looked so similar to the Fourth Prince.
But now the Fourth Prince has begun to come to the fore and is the Emperor's favorite son, even more favored than the Crown Prince. No one can touch him.
But this innocent, ignorant and uncared-for little rabbit can be easily pinched in the palm of your hand and rolled into a flat shape.
Just as he was thinking, Pei Zheng suddenly stopped walking. The little guy who had been following him with his head down had no time to react and bumped into his back.
"ah… "
With a small cry, the little body was knocked back and was about to hit the ground on its butt.
Pei Zheng reached out and grabbed the person, then easily pulled him into his arms.
"You guys go down first."
The eunuchs and palace maids withdrew in response.
Now that there was no one watching around, Pei Zheng kept his hand on his waist and did not let go. Instead, he pulled him closer to himself.
Feeling that the little guy's body was shaking even more violently, Pei Zheng found it very interesting. He lowered his head and moved closer to him, brushing away the snowflakes on his long eyelashes.
The two were now at the entrance of the plum garden. Unlike the white flowers outside the garden, the red plum blossoms in the garden were like fire, a blood-red existence. The plum blossoms were fragile, and the petals would fall off easily if touched, but they were also tough and charming in the freezing cold.
Looking closer, the little guy had flawless white skin and tender red lips. Pei Zheng's fingers unconsciously pinched his delicate chin, forcing him to raise his head slightly.
The gloom in his eyes disappeared, and Pei Zheng tried his best to look less cold.
Under the red plum blossoms covered with snow, Pei Zheng showed a captivating smile.
"Your Highness, my name is Pei Zheng. Please remember this."
Qi Changyi's heart was pounding so hard that it was about to jump out of his mouth. He grew up in the harem and his father never allowed him to go out. He had never come into contact with anyone except the palace maids and eunuchs.
Looking into Pei Zheng's eyes, Qi Changyi nodded obediently.
"I...I understand..."
White snow and red plums, the visual impact created by Pei Zheng in a black robe was so shocking that the little guy has remembered it for so many years.
Recalling these past events was too stressful. After Qi Changyi regained consciousness, he couldn't help but feel pain all over his body.
The energy that Pei Zheng gave him could not last long. Now Qi Changyi's eyes went dark and he fainted again.
He didn't know how long he was unconscious this time, but in his dream he saw a pair of cool and soft hands gently playing with his hair.
I slowly opened my eyes, and saw an unfamiliar dark bed curtain above my head. Everything in my body was dark, which was a bit depressing.
Where is this
Qi Changyi moved his body, and the wounds on his body seemed to be less painful. Someone had applied medicine on him and changed his clothes into clean, soft and warm ones.
The person looking at her was Pei Zheng. When she saw that he woke up, she turned her hand that was fiddling with her hair to touch her cheek.
Pei Zheng said hoarsely, "Awake?"
This must be a dream. I dreamed that I got out of the cell and even slept in Pei Zheng's bed.
Qi Changyi thought he was dreaming, and relaxed for a moment, then he cried out in a soft and tearful voice, "Brother Pei..."
It had been a long time since he had heard him call him like that. Pei Zheng's heart trembled for a moment. He helped the man up and leaned him against his shoulder, patting the back of his head. "Well, I'm here. Don't cry, dear. I'll hug you and you won't cry."
Qi Changyi felt as if he had suffered a great injustice. Tears could not stop flowing. He buried his face in Pei Zheng's neck, and his tears flowed all over his collar.
Pei Zheng was actually in a bad mood today. After having a secret conversation with the emperor, he left the palace and executed the two prisoners in the secret prison as soon as he returned home.
Chengfeng reported to him that His Highness had fainted again, and he was still shouting "Brother Pei" while unconscious...
Pei Zheng was possessed by some evil spirit and suddenly ordered someone to pick him up, not to the small building, but to his own bedroom.
He cleaned up the blood-stained little man himself and did not allow the servants to touch him, and he moved very gently and slowly throughout the process.
He lowered his head slightly and kissed the little guy's lips.
"Don't you always want to go to the streets? I'll take you there tomorrow, okay?"
The door of the Prime Minister's Mansion opened, and a cold wind suddenly blew in, bleak and biting.
Qi Changyi was dressed warmly, with a fur collar on his collar, but he still felt a little cold, and he couldn't help shivering.
Pei Zheng pulled him into his arms, covered the little guy with his warm cloak, supported the soft little body with his strong arms, and slowly walked out.
He didn't let anyone else go with him, only Chengfeng followed behind him not too close.
Pei Zheng did not choose to bring him out during the day, as his bright little face would be too conspicuous if exposed outside. It would be better at night, as it would be too dark to see clearly.
Despite the cold weather, there are still many people on the streets, shops are brightly lit, and small stalls along the street are doing well.
The two walked slowly on the street. Although the air was frozen, it was clean and fresh, without the bloody smell and turbid air of the cell.
Qi Changyi seemed to have finally perked up a bit. In the few times he went out of the palace, he had never had the chance to take a good look at this prosperous and bustling imperial capital.
Those novel little gadgets attracted his attention. As long as his eyes stayed on them for a while, Chengfeng would come forward to buy them. Soon, Chengfeng had a lot of things in his hands.
After walking for a while, Qi Changyi was a little out of breath. Although Pei Zheng almost half-carried him along the way, his body was really weak.
Suddenly, the scent of powder wafted into his nose. Qi Changyi looked up and saw that the building in front of him seemed familiar. It was the small restaurant he had visited before, Zuichunfang.
This place did not leave him with a good impression. Qi Changyi pulled Pei Zheng's sleeve imperceptibly and frowned.
Pei Zheng reached out and held the cold little hand. His own hands were usually cold, like those of a cold-blooded animal, but now the little hand was even colder.
Pei Zheng put the little hand in his palm, but unfortunately the temperature was not enough, so he held the little hand and put it into his sleeve, using the heat from his arm to warm it.
Sensing the little guy's resistance to this, Pei Zheng hugged him and turned to leave, but was suddenly grabbed by the arm.
"Mr. Pei, you haven't been here for a long time. How are you these days?"
The pink-dressed man from Zuichunfang waved a scented towel and looked at Pei Zheng with a charming smile, "By the way, have you found that little beauty from last time? There are a few new little people who look like little balls in our building. Mr. Pei, do you want to come in and sit with us?"
The man in pink thought he had figured out Pei Zheng's preferences and hurriedly showed his courtesy.
Qi Changyi huddled under Pei Zheng's cloak. Upon hearing these words, he tightened his grip on Pei Zheng's sleeves.
Pei Zheng whispered, "Don't be afraid, I won't go."
"Mr. Pei, you have someone with you, bring them in with you, I will also find a wonderful person for that young master..."
"roll."
Pei Zheng waved his arm and the man in pink was thrown to the ground, falling flat on his face.
He was thrown into tears, not knowing what he had said to offend the old man.
Pei Zheng had already turned around and left with his men. People were coming and going around them. The man in pink quickly wiped his tears and tried to get up from the ground, but someone stepped on the corner of his clothes and he couldn't get it out.
"If I can't afford to offend him, then why can't I afford to offend others? Let me see who dares to step on my clothes again!"
Chengfeng was holding a variety of things in his hands, his black boots did not move at all, and his face was expressionless.
"Tomorrow, take your people and disappear from this city."
Gradually, more and more people appeared on the street. It seemed as if there was a street light parade tonight. Pedestrians on the road were holding or holding small and exquisite lanterns of various shapes, which looked very beautiful.
Several children chased the vendor selling candied haws and shouted, and after their parents bought them, they happily ran away with the candied haws.
Qi Changyi looked at the little red balls coated with red sugar and stuck on straw sticks, and his eyes clearly showed that he wanted to eat them.
Last time, he had the tempting sweet and sour candied haws in his hand, but Pei Zheng angrily knocked it away and pierced his hand. As a result, although Qi Changyi really wants to eat candied haws now, he obviously has some psychological trauma about the bamboo stick.
Pei Zheng certainly knew what he was thinking. Even though he still felt that the candied haws were not made cleanly and didn't want to give them to him, he still asked Chengfeng to buy a bunch.
The thick sugar coating looked greasy sweet at first glance, but Pei Zheng took a small bite and found it tasted quite good with its sour and sweet flavor.
Pei Zheng handed the candied haws in his hand to the little guy's mouth, but didn't let him take it. Instead, he held it for him.
Qi Changyi licked his lips and looked at Pei Zheng eagerly.
Pei Zheng curled his lips and said, "Eat it. I allow you to do so."
Qi Changyi then opened his small mouth and bit the big one in between, but he couldn't bite it off no matter how hard he tried. Finally, he had to open his mouth, and a circle of sugar coating stuck to the edge of his lips.
Qi Changyi looked up at Pei Zheng and wondered how he had bitten it off in one bite. It was clearly as hard as a small stone.
Pei Zheng pointed at the one on top that he had taken a bite of, "You have to start eating from the top. Eat this and spit out the core..."
Before he finished speaking, Qi Changyi took a bite of most of the small red ball, swallowed it all into his mouth, held it in his cheek and licked it, eating the sugar coating on the outside.
"Chew it while you eat it, or it will be very sour inside later."
The little cheeks moved obediently, and the sound of biting could be heard continuously.
While chewing, the little guy suddenly stopped, tears welled up in his eyes, and his mouth stopped moving.
"Biting the core?"
The little guy nodded with tears in his eyes, his teeth aching.
Pei Zheng put his hand to his lips and said, "Spit."
The little cheeks began to move again, wriggling, and two small hawthorn seeds fell into Pei Zheng's palm.
"You're so good. Do you want to eat more?"
Qi Changyi's teeth relaxed and recovered a little. He licked his sticky lips and nodded.
Pei Zheng ate another half and fed the rest to Qi Changyi. Before he started chewing violently, he gently pinched his cheeks with his fingers.
"Eat slowly and spit out the core first."
After eating four or five of them, Pei Zheng threw the candied haws to Chengfeng.
Qi Changyi's eyes kept following the movement of the candied haws thrown in the air, and Pei Zheng turned him over and stuffed him under his cloak.
"Don't eat it anymore, your teeth will rot."
Qi Changyi could only smack his lips, savoring the sweet and sour aftertaste.
Pei Zheng looked at the little guy's unconsciously pouting mouth, with red sugar juice hanging around it, and put his arm around his waist and turned around and slipped into a dark alley. Chengfeng followed him and stood at the entrance of the alley to block the light.
Being pressed against the wall and feeling a little breathless, Qi Changyi pushed Pei Zheng's chest with her small hands, but Pei Zheng lifted one of his hands and pressed it on top of her head.
"Be good, don't move. Your mouth is dirty, you need to clean it."