"Changsheng? Why are you here?" Xie Wangzhi had just steamed two baskets of dim sum and was washing her hands outside the kitchen. When she saw Changsheng, she was stunned for a moment, "...did you find out?"
Changsheng thought for a moment and said nothing.
"... Don't you know?" He was not in a position to say it out loud, but Xie Wangzhi thought that he hadn't asked. This matter was mysterious to begin with, and she didn't hold out much hope after hearing so many excuses. She smiled casually, "It's okay. I'll think of a way. It won't be completely..."
"Come with me." Changsheng interrupted her.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm here to deliver a message." Changsheng closed his eyes and said the excuse he had prepared on the way. He also took out the jade pendant he had taken off early in the morning from his sleeve. "The Seventh Prince of Qingsi Palace has sent a message, saying that he wants you to go to the palace."
"Now?" Xie Wangzhi was puzzled and took the jade pendant from Changsheng.
This jade pendant is the same as the one she got before, both are made of the finest mutton-fat jade. After all, it is a valuable item, and it came in a strange way. Xie Wangzhi has played with it many times, and she had previously guessed that the pendant looked thin, with the lotus pattern wrapped around one side, and it should be two halves biting together. The half in her hand now also has a lotus pattern on the corresponding part, which just confirms her guess, it is indeed a pair.
Obviously, it was done by the Seventh Prince. Xie Wangzhi couldn't understand it and scratched his face. "Why did I ask you to deliver the message? Do you know what I was asked to do? To make snacks or something else?"
"The Seventh Prince is acquainted with Princess Changning, so he also knows me. The music academy sent someone over this morning, and it happened to be me. He sent me here out of the blue." After the first lie was told, the rest became smoother and smoother. Changsheng looked serious, as if it was really true. "As for what he wants you to do, I don't know."
Xie Wangzhi stared at the jade pendant in his hand for a while, frowning: "Does that mean I should go there now?"
"Well." Changsheng said, "Pack your things."
Xie Wang was stunned.
"That's what His Majesty the Seventh Prince said." Changsheng continued, "Look at it in a positive way. Maybe he wants you to work in the small kitchen?"
Not to mention that Xie Wangzhi didn't seek a future and didn't like to live under the wishes of others, not to mention the matter of Yao Yupan. She instinctively rejected going to the small kitchen and wanted to refuse, but looking at the boy in front of her, Xie Wangzhi suddenly hesitated, with the words of refusal stuck in her mouth.
Although she had never met the Seventh Prince of Qingsi Palace, the previous few events showed that he was not a bad person, and he had saved her once by accident. Xie Wangzhi didn't dislike him, but he didn't know the Seventh Prince, and he didn't know what he would face when he went there.
However, it was Changsheng who delivered the message. If she refused outright, Changsheng's life would not be easy when she returned to report.
Rather than letting Changsheng suffer, it would be better for her to bear it herself. She is alone anyway, and if things don't work out, she can always ask her father and brother for help.
After a moment of silence, Xie Wangzhi nodded: "Then I'll talk to the people from the Shang Food Bureau first."
"good."
The people in charge of the kitchen today were Sun Dianshen and Zhang Dianshen. Xie Wangzhi was familiar with both of them, and they didn't like to make things difficult for her. They carefully examined the jade pendant in her hand, asked a few more questions, and then let her go.
Xie Wangzhi felt very nervous and walked out of the kitchen: "Then I'll go pack up."
"Are there a lot of things?" Changsheng asked casually, and followed him, "Let me help you get it."
It was just something, so Xie Wangzhi didn't plan to avoid suspicion and started to think seriously about what to bring. After thinking for a while, she really didn't understand the situation in Qingsi Hall: "... Um, Changsheng? What do you think I should pack?"
Changsheng had no idea what the young lady was going to pack. He always rolled up his quilt and could sleep anywhere. He held it in for a while, then said tentatively, "You don't need to prepare quilts or anything like that. You can take care of the rest."
"And the towel and basin for washing?"
Changsheng thought, how could I possibly owe you this? He hummed, "I think I will always prepare it. Just bring some personal belongings with you."
Xie Wangzhi responded and stopped talking.
Changsheng didn't know what to say, so he just kept silent. He arrived at the courtyard where Xie Wangzhi lived, stopped at the door, and watched her push the door open. Her slender figure disappeared behind the door in a flash.
This wasn't his first visit to this place. The first time was in September, and in the blink of an eye it was already the first month of the following year. The flowers on the trellis had already withered, and the thin withered vines were trembling in the cold wind, looking a bit bleak.
Changsheng raised his hand slightly, turned his palm over, and looked down at his hand.
After so long, the whip marks on his palms faded completely, and the new skin was delicate and white, like jade carvings. But standing here again, he was a little dazed for a moment, as if his hands were full of purple whip marks, and he was waiting for the girl to come out holding a porcelain bottle, which contained green ointment, and when applied to the wound, it would exude the smell of grass and trees after rain.
Changsheng suddenly closed his eyes and loosely clenched his fingers, as if he was holding something very lightly in his palm.
**
There was no need to bring bedding, and Xie Wangzhi didn't pack much, just two small boxes, which contained a few sets of clothes, some jewelry, perfume, and other miscellaneous items. The boxes were not heavy, but Xie Wangzhi couldn't carry one in one hand. When Changsheng took over, she didn't refuse, but just thanked him.
Changsheng helped him on the way. When he saw the main gate of Qingsi Palace from afar, Changsheng stopped and said, "We are almost there. If they don't tell me to go in again, I won't go in."
"Well, thank you for helping me." Xie Wangzhi probably understood and thought for a while, "In fact, I didn't know what I would encounter. I just came out of the Shangshi Bureau like this... I'm in Qingsi Palace, so will I not be able to see you much?"
This is a good question. Changsheng knew what would happen if he lied too much. He licked his lips and said, "Maybe there will be a chance. We will meet again."
“… Yeah.” Xie Wangzhi had no idea what he was thinking, thinking it was just a polite remark. For a moment, his mind was filled with so many thoughts that it seemed like a farewell between life and death. On the one hand, he found the thoughts that popped up funny, but on the other hand, he could hardly control himself and felt a little reluctant to let go.
She gritted her teeth and said sorry to Coal Ball in her heart, "Then Coal Ball won't be stopped, right?"
"… It shouldn't be." Changsheng was convinced and followed Xie Wangzhi's words, "See what it can do, maybe I can still send a message."
Xie Wangzhi hummed, not feeling very happy. Then he thought that it was a separation, and it would be awkward, so he tried to smile brightly: "Okay! We are all in the palace anyway, let's think of a way, we can always play together."
"Okay." Changsheng was anxious to get away, so he responded and turned to leave.
As soon as he left, the man had to drag the suitcase by himself. Xie Wangzhi walked a short distance, but before he reached the door, several eunuchs came out. The one in the lead had a smile on his face, and judging by the style of his clothes, he was a young eunuch.
The palace is divided into different classes. Xie Wangzhi was about to kneel down to salute, but Changzu hurriedly helped her up, still smiling: "We are all servants, how can you salute me? Let someone carry this box for you, I will take my wife to the house."
The two eunuchs beside him understood and each of them picked up the boxes for Xie Wangzhi.
The kindness came strangely, and Xie Wangzhi didn't believe there was nothing wrong with it. He stared at Changzu for a while, and suddenly a perfect smile broke out on his face. He still performed the greeting, and when he bowed his head, his eyelashes drooped, which seemed to mean that he was humble and pleasing to the eye.
"Thank you, Young Master." She still lowered her head and tried to take off the bracelet on her wrist.
Chang Zu didn't dare to accept this. He was at the door just now, but he saw with his own eyes that the Seventh Prince helped Xie Wangzhi carry the box. This young lady was invited back by Li Qishen himself. He dared to take this money because he thought his life was too long. Chang Zu coughed and slightly moved aside: "Then let's go. My lady, you have come here for a long time, so you should rest early."
This was even more strange. It didn't sound like he was calling someone to do something, but rather like he was inviting someone to be a guest. Xie Wangzhi pondered for a moment and replied, "Then I'll trouble you, Junior Supervisor."
"No trouble, no trouble." Chang Zu breathed a sigh of relief, "Let's go."
Xie Wangzhi responded and followed Chang Zu to where the palace maids lived.
Compared with the Shang Food Bureau, there were far fewer palace servants in the Qingsi Hall, and the room was smaller than that of the Shang Food Bureau, but fortunately it didn't seem cramped. Xie Wangzhi thought she would have to share a couch in one of the rooms, but Changzu took her around and finally into one of the rooms.
This room was just right for two people, and a little empty for one person, but there was indeed only one couch in the room. The room was cleaned tidy, the bedding and pillows on the couch looked new, the table and shelves were polished to a shine, and there was even an incense burner, so it really looked like a place to entertain guests.
Xie Wangzhi was a little flustered, but pretended to be calm: "Only one couch? I'm not used to sleeping with others."
"… You live alone in this house." Changzu said with a smile on his face, "If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, tell me and I will change it immediately. If you are not used to living here, you can ask someone to tell me."
This was really a sudden concern. Xie Wangzhi was sweating coldly on her back. She wiped the sweat from her palms while adjusting her skirt. She considered: "Can I ask you something?"
"Ask." Chang Zu was actually panicking. This young lady was nothing special except that she was pretty. God knows why Li Qishen was so interested in her. He dared not neglect her. "Just ask whatever you want, madam."
"… Thank you. Then I will ask." Xie Wangzhi swallowed and looked up at Chang Zu, "I want to know, what on earth did His Majesty the Seventh Prince ask me to come to Qingsi Palace for?"
Chang Zu was choked up, and really couldn't answer. After thinking for a while, he lowered his voice and said, "This... His Highness didn't tell me. How dare I guess what the higher-ups are thinking? I guess they want you to make some snacks or something..."
"dessert?"
"Dim sum... Oh, yes, it's dim sum." Chang Zu was an honest man, not good at talking nonsense, so he just went along with it and said, "I guess His Highness likes the cakes you make, and he's too lazy to send someone to the Imperial Food Bureau, so he transferred you here."
Xie Wangzhi still didn't believe it, but there seemed to be no other explanation, so she said "um", "I understand."
Seeing that she was not going to speak again, Chang Zu secretly exhaled: "Then take a rest, I'm leaving first."
He was very efficient and did what he said. He walked out immediately. The two eunuchs who had helped carry the box earlier also followed him out and closed the door for Xie Wangzhi.
The room was quiet, and the newly filled incense was burning, smelling like the truth. Xie Wangzhi didn't want to tidy up his things, so he sat down on the couch for a long time, then fell on the quilt.
The author has something to say: Changsheng: You can’t imagine my happiness.jpg
I feel like the questions in the comment section are quite concentrated, and I can’t seem to see any comments recently, so I’ll just answer them in words.
The "red lead" and "Peach Wine" mentioned in the previous chapter are indeed references to the deeds of a certain miraculous (not in a positive sense) emperor in the Ming Dynasty. If you don't know, you can search Baidu for what these two things are (…) This book does have some plot lines that are adapted from historical facts. Overall, it's a hodgepodge. I just use the plots I need, not sticking to a specific period_(:3)∠)_
The reason for mentioning this plot is to match the previous discussion of politics, and to slightly reflect the characteristics of the current emperor, that is, he has no talent for governing and no empathy. He was able to ascend the throne purely because there was no choice. It is true that "when there are no heroes, the young ones become famous", and it also paves the way for future plots. However, there is no way to get rid of him for the time being, as anger and resentment will slowly accumulate. I won't say more here because it involves spoilers.
Then there is the issue of family lineage. This is not Lianzhu. How could this be Lianzhu? Lianzhu is very miserable, please don't cue him! At this time, Lianzhu is already the former emperor Liao, but he should be called Emperor Pingxing, and Wuyou is the previous generation Zhaoxuan_(:3)∠)_The current emperor is indeed the one who burned Qingning Palace, and is Lianzhu's only moth (… )