Xie Wangzhi looked at the bowl and said honestly, "I can't eat so much."
"Then I'll eat with you?" Changsheng didn't mind this and picked up a spoon.
"Is it okay?" Xie Wangzhi felt that what he said was wrong and quickly explained, "No, I mean, after all, it has to be eaten... I was afraid that you would dislike me."
"Why would I dislike you? You don't dislike me either." Changsheng was a little confused. He paused and deliberately said, "Do you dislike me?"
"How could that be!" Xie Wangzhi was anxious. "You took me out to play, bought me lanterns and wontons, and even pulled me out from... from there. If I still despise you, wouldn't that make me really heartless?"
She said it seriously, her brows furrowed, and she looked really anxious, staring straight at Changsheng, like a rabbit that was cornered, which made him laugh. He casually pressed on Xie Wangzhi's brows, smoothed the wrinkles, and said casually: "Eat it."
Xie Wangzhi nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then explained softly: "I really don't dislike you. We're just eating a bowl of wontons together. I used to share food with my brother."
"Yeah." Changsheng said lazily, "I'm two years older than you, you can treat me as your brother."
Xie Yunzhi is such a grown-up, living brother, and he is born of the same mother as Changsheng. When Xie Wangzhi first heard Changsheng say this, he felt that it was not possible, as if he owed Xie Yunzhi something. But after thinking about it again, he felt that this was wonderful and it was simply too good to be true.
She was very happy to be with Changsheng, but sometimes she had some unclear thoughts, but if she put him into the frame of "brother", some things would make sense. It was impossible for a sister to be stable all the time. She would be amused by her brother, but sometimes she would be annoyed by him. A clingy sister would cry and laugh with her brother, so it was normal for her to have some unclear thoughts.
The worries that had been weighing on his heart were swept away. Xie Wangzhi found a reason to calm down and couldn't help feeling happy: "Then I'll treat you as my brother. Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Changsheng smiled, said "hmm", and scooped the first spoonful of wontons.
**
Hall of Elephants.
"... Let me take it in?" Since arriving at Hanxiang Palace, Yao Yupan has been in the small kitchen and rarely entered the main hall. Now what she saw in front of her was a jar of medicinal soup. She was a little confused, "But I, I won't go into the palace to serve..."
"Go in if I tell you to. You are all serving the Imperial Concubine. Who says you can't enter the palace? Besides," Zuichun handed the tray to Yao Yupan, looked around to see if there was anyone around, and lowered his voice, "Once you enter the palace and show your face in front of the Imperial Concubine, won't you be exempted from the reward? Besides, this medicine soup is presented to His Majesty. If it suits His Majesty's taste, will you still worry about not having enough money to send back home?"
Sending the money was done secretly, and was entrusted to Xie Wangzhi. Yao Yupan didn't expect Zuichun to know about it, and was shocked: "... Sister! I, I have no choice. My family is poor, I can't..."
"I know." Zui Chun interrupted her, "It's just money. I sent it too. It's not stolen. It's a legitimate reward or monthly allowance. Who would dare to say anything bad about you if you sent it to your family?"
She touched Yao Yupan's pale face, took off the jade bracelet on her wrist, stuffed it into Yao Yupan's sleeve, and said softly, "Go. I may need your advice in the future."
"... I dare not." The bracelet had good water head, and at least it could be sold for five taels of silver. Zuichun's words were too tempting. Yao Yupan did not seek to be rich, as long as she could send one tael of silver home every month, her brothers and sisters would live happily. She swallowed and whispered, "Thank you, sister. I'm going now."
"Go ahead." Zui Chun smiled, "Be steady."
It was inconvenient to salute while holding the tray, so Yao Yupan nodded and turned to walk towards the main hall.
The main hall of Hanxiang Hall is the sleeping hall, which is separated from the inside and outside by a screen. Somehow, there were no palace guards today. When Yao Yupan stepped into the outer hall, she did not see the imperial concubine or the emperor, and there was no one to ask. She instinctively wanted to retreat, but she still had the tray in her hand. Thinking of the reward promised by Zuichun, Yao Yupan made up her mind and walked into the inner hall.
After walking around the screen, the inner hall was also empty, with curtains hanging down, not a single palace maid could be seen. Yao Yupan shuddered, gritted her teeth, and said in a trembling voice: "… Madam? Imperial Concubine? I, I am here to bring you the medicine."
The window was not closed tightly, and the night wind blew in. A corner of the curtain fluttered, and a figure was vaguely visible behind it. Yao Yupan couldn't see clearly, so he stood there for a while, hesitantly raised his leg, and slowly walked over.
"… Madam?" She didn't dare to speak too loudly and called Concubine Xiao again. Just as she carefully stepped one leg in, a hand suddenly reached out from the side, grabbed her, and dragged her in.
Yao Yupan was startled, his hand shook, the tray fell to the ground, and the jar containing the medicine soup broke into pieces on the ground. The brown medicine juice flowed out, a strange medicinal fragrance gushed out, and various medicinal materials rolled far away.
The person who caught her ignored the medicine spilled on the ground, grabbed her waist and pressed her directly against the wall. Yao Yupan opened her eyes wide, and while struggling, the jade bracelet fell out of her sleeve, with a crisp sound, it broke into several pieces.
"-ah!!!"
"Did anyone go in?"
"Your Majesty, I'm going in." Zui Chun lowered his head and whispered, "Should we notify the Shangqin Bureau?"
"What's there to notify? She's just a little maid. What else can she do?" Concubine Xiao rubbed her brows, obviously a little annoyed. "Besides, Your Majesty has been taking pills and medicines these days... How old is that little maid?"
Zui Chun didn't know why Concubine Xiao suddenly asked this, and was stunned for a moment: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, she just turned fifteen."
"Fifteen years old..." Concubine Xiao thought of something and smiled sarcastically, "Whether he can withstand the ordeal is another matter. Who knows, tomorrow..."
… She might be dead on the spot, just like the little palace maids who were sent in several times before.
"Okay, it's already this late, let's talk about it tomorrow. I'm tired, leave a few people waiting over there, His Majesty, in case there's no one to serve." Concubine Xiao covered her mouth with her hands, yawned a little, and stood up, "Remember to go tomorrow morning... I don't remember, anyway, go and tell the little maid where she came from, and you can handle it yourself."
Zuichun hurried over to support Concubine Xiao: "I understand."
Concubine Xiao smiled and let Zuichun support her as she walked to the inner hall. This place was not far from the main hall, and the windows were not closed. As she walked by, she could faintly hear the girl's shrill and hoarse cries. Concubine Xiao felt that the hand supporting her was not stable, so she paused and said, "Why, are you heartbroken?"
"I dare not." Zui Chun lowered his head, "It's fate, that little palace maid just had bad luck."
The first time she did this, she was terrified and had nightmares for several nights in a row. In her dreams, the little palace maid who was the scapegoat came to take her life. After so many times, Concubine Xiao's heart was numb. She originally had no sympathy for Yao Yupan, but after hearing Zuichun's words, she felt a little desolate.
"Yes, it's fate and time. She's just unlucky... What about me?" Concubine Xiao moved her hand away, "I lost two children... I can't stand it anymore."
"My Lady..."
"I'm tired." Concubine Xiao raised her hand to signal Zuichun to shut up, "Let's do it as before."
"yes."
Concubine Xiao did not speak again. She gathered the shawl in her arms and ignored Zuichun. She walked slowly past the curtain, leaving Zuichun with only a lonely back.
This woman was the most favored woman in the harem. No one knew how much money, grain, and treasures were spent on her, just to please her. Even before falling asleep, Concubine Xiao would not remove her makeup in front of others. Her makeup was exquisite, with a bright red flower ornament on her brow and collarbone, like a crabapple flower fairy.
But she walked over so slowly, with her black hair, red clothes, and a long shawl dragging on the ground, and she looked a little lonely.
Zuichun looked for a while, then suddenly lowered his eyes and sighed almost inaudibly.
**
Last night, after wandering around the Lantern Festival, having supper, and watching fireworks, Xie Wangzhi returned to the palace at almost midnight. Children sleep a lot when they grow up, so she quickly washed up, climbed onto the couch, and fell asleep. She slept until noon the next day. She got up with her hair messed up, still groggy, and almost bumped into the door when she went out to get hot water to wash up.
Fortunately, I said hello to everyone before going out last night, so I don't have to worry about the big kitchen suddenly needing someone. Xie Wangzhi half closed his eyes and slowly rinsed the taste of green salt from his mouth.
Just after spitting out the last mouthful of water, Lou Hanyue entered the yard. Xie Wangzhi thought she was coming to make lunch: "I didn't check yesterday. I don't know what's left in the small kitchen."
Lou Hanyue was stunned for a moment, and then said after a while: "Ah... Oh. It's okay, I... I'll just take a look."
"If there's nothing left, go to the big kitchen and borrow a stove." Xie Wangzhi rubbed his eyes and poured out the remaining water in the basin. "I'm a little hungry too... What are we having for lunch?"
"... Let's see what happens. I remember there are some vegetables and fish left, how about I make you some sour soup..." Lou Hanyue mumbled, turned around and walked towards the kitchen, "I'll go and see..."
"Wait." Xie Wangzhi had a bad feeling and grabbed Lou Hanyue's elbow.
Lou Hanyue was startled, his shoulders stiffened, he turned his head and looked at Xie Wangzhi: "Wangzhi...what's wrong?"
She was a very generous person, and she was rarely so vague. Xie Wangzhi felt something was wrong: "What happened?"
"What can I do? Don't let your imagination run wild."
"I'm not imagining anything. It's obviously you who are wrong." Xie Wangzhi let go of his hand and said bluntly, "Touch your face. Your eyes are still red."
Actually, these words were said casually in order to deceive Lou Hanyue. Xie Wangzhi thought that Lou Hanyue had encountered some injustice, which was why she looked absent-minded. Unexpectedly, when Lou Hanyue heard what she said, his expression changed, his eyes actually turned red, and two lines of tears flowed down.
"… What happened?" Xie Wangzhi was shocked and licked his lips. "Tell me slowly. If there is anything, we can discuss it and we can solve it."
Lou Hanyue shook his head, sniffed, and said hoarsely: "Wangzhi, let me tell you. Yupan... is gone."
The author has something to say: I have already said that Yu Pan is a tool person, and her story ends here, with unfulfilled wishes, hopes for the future, and a little bit of love that cannot be expressed in words. Alas, the three realms are in turmoil like a burning house, and no one can escape (.)
Thanks for the nutrient solution!!!