Except for having lunch at a restaurant in the town and taking a short rest at noon, Huayang and Chen Jingzong spent almost the entire day in the carriage.
Because he had nothing to do and his hands were too cold even to read, hiding on the couch with Chen Jingzong became his only entertainment.
In the afternoon, Huayang fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, the light in the car was dim. Chen Jingzong was sitting on the right side seat, tidying up his clothes.
"Did it bother you?"
Chen Jingzong asked in a low voice, and he just got up.
The eldest princess, who had just woken up, looked out the window lazily and asked, "What time is it?"
Chen Jingzong: "It's already dark outside. We'll be there in about another quarter of an hour."
Huayang hummed, grabbed the quilt beside his ear with one hand and wrapped himself tightly.
This meant that she didn't want to get up yet. Chen Jingzong looked at her folded dresses and jackets on the low cupboard opposite, knelt down in front of the couch, supported the couch with his left arm, and touched the top of her head that was exposed with his right hand: "Get up, it will take a while to put on clothes and comb your hair, and you have to get used to the cold outside, otherwise you will catch a cold easily if you get out of bed and get out of bed."
Huayang understood and just didn't want to leave this warm bed.
Chen Jingzong took off her clothes: "I'll help you put them on."
Huayang still didn't move.
Chen Jingzong pulled back the quilt and picked her up, and then quickly put the clothes on her layer by layer. When Huayang put on the warm and light fox fur jacket with rouge red satin, she was still shivering a little, so Chen Jingzong took her cloak and wrapped her tightly, leaving only her messy long hair exposed.
The eldest princess's face was flushed, and there was a layer of water in her phoenix eyes. She was less arrogant than usual and more charming.
Chen Jingzong was afraid that she was sick, so he kept his palm on her forehead for a while, and only let go after making sure it was not hot.
"You're so pampered. You'd better stay in the capital and spend the winter there." Chen Jingzong said helplessly as he untied her hair. He felt more and more that he was so blessed that he had accumulated merits in several lifetimes. Only two years ago, he could have allowed this precious and pampered ancestor of his to go to the army with him without any complaints.
Huayang stretched out her cloak with one hand, holding a peep show the size of a plate. Chen Jingzong had just turned on the light, and the mirror clearly reflected her flushed face, as well as Chen Jingzong's not very skillful movements in arranging her hair.
After his hair was smooth, Huayang asked him to get out of the car and let Chaoyun and Chaoyue, who were in the car behind, come over.
Chen Jingzong held her long hair in his hand, kissed her jade-white ear, and then left.
While he was getting out of the car, Huayang noticed that there were sporadic snowflakes falling outside.
Soon, Chaoyun and Chaoyue came over and skillfully helped the eldest princess to tie her hair into a bun, put on her gold hairpin and other jewelry.
After drinking half a bowl of warm water, Huayang opened the curtains and saw Chen Jingzong riding on Bai Xueta's back, three steps away from the window. The wind was so strong and he was only wearing that robe.
We just got out of bed together, is he really not afraid of the cold
Huayang gave Chaoyue a wink.
Chaoyue smiled and picked up the cloak that the prince consort had placed in the carriage and handed it out through the window. At this time, Huayang had already sat in the middle of the main couch.
Chen Jingzong smiled, took the cloak and put it on.
There were hills of varying heights all around, with occasional villas with white walls and red tiles scattered among them. Eunuch Liu, who was in charge of the villa for Princess Anle, had already picked up the princess outside Tangshan, and was now riding a horse in front of her leading the way.
When night fell, the group finally arrived at the villa.
Chen Jingzong looked around outside and found that the Grand Princess's villa covered a large area and was very grandly built.
Zhou Ji was at home with his new wife, and Wu Run did not come with them. Chen Jingzong got off the horse and personally helped Huayang get off the car.
The snow was not heavy, but the wind was strong. Huayang, wearing a hood, had no intention of looking around and hurriedly followed Eunuch Liu inside.
As they walked, Eunuch Liu said, "The Grand Princess has two best courtyards. One is called Yaochi Fairyland, and the other is called Yuegong Yunwu. Both have hot spring pools and are now ready. The Grand Princess said that you and your husband can live in whichever one you want."
Huayang: "Where does my aunt usually live?"
Eunuch Liu: "The eldest princess likes the fairyland of Yaochi the most."
Huayang said: "Let's live in the Moon Palace Clouds."
Eunuch Liu led the way for them with a smile.
Chen Jingzong said beside Huayang's hood: "This name really suits you."
Huayang glared at him.
After walking for a while, a house appeared in front of us. There was nothing special about the house, but the strange thing was that the whole house was surrounded by a circle of interconnected hot springs. Clouds of white mist rose up and merged with the gradually growing snowflakes. It was as ethereal as a fairyland on earth, and it really looked like the Moon Palace in the world.
Even Huayang, who was well-informed, was amazed by the scene before him and slowed down his pace unconsciously.
She went to see Chen Jingzong again.
Chen Jingzong was very steady, and looked like he would not be moved even if Chang'e really emerged from the pool.
There is a stone bridge over the hot spring pool. After crossing the bridge, the group entered the "Moon Palace in the Clouds".
Eunuch Liu arranged eight maids to stay in the three-story courtyard, but Huayang brought four maids, two large and two small, so the eight people on my aunt's side only needed to be responsible for cleaning the courtyard.
"Princess, Prince Consort, please take a rest. Dinner will be delivered soon from the kitchen."
After Eunuch Liu finished his service, he tactfully left.
Chaoyun took the eight maids away and told them the rules they needed to follow when serving the princess in the next few days.
Chaoyue made the bed inside.
Chen Jingzong: "Shall I go to the back and take a look?"
Huayang knew that he was going to find a real hot spring pool for their use, so he just reminded him to pay attention to his manners and not to be so jumpy that the maids would laugh at him.
Chen Jingzong gave her a look that said "don't worry".
After leaving Huayang, Chen Jingzong went to the backyard.
There was a rockery here, with varying heights, so even someone of his height could hardly see what was going on inside the mountain.
Chen Jingzong walked along the quiet and narrow path in the middle of the rockery for a long time, and finally the view in front of him suddenly opened up, revealing a hot spring pool with white mist. The banks of the pool were all paved with smooth and polished stones of various sizes to imitate natural waterscapes. There was a lush bamboo in the north of the pool, and an old plum tree was planted in the east and west of the pool. These two old plum trees were obviously transplanted here on purpose, and the treetops stretched towards the middle of the pool, with the longest ones interlaced in the air.
Chen Jingzong walked around the pond and returned to the south bank. He felt his blood boiling and he wished he could pick up the princess and throw her in again.
In the front room, Huayang had just washed his hands and face and was applying facial cream.
The door curtain was lifted and Chen Jingzong walked in.
Huayang noticed that his face was a little red, and asked worriedly: "Did you catch a cold?"
People who just wake up in winter are indeed more likely to catch a cold, and blushing is the most common symptom.
Chen Jingzong answered irrelevantly: "The food has been delivered over there, come out and eat."
Huayang was really hungry. The restaurant she encountered at noon was just ordinary and the food was almost inedible for her.
Eunuch Liu personally led the dinner delivered by several young eunuchs. Even without the instructions from the Grand Princess, he would have served the Grand Princess and her husband diligently as if they were his own masters.
"It's cold, I took the initiative to prepare fruit wine for you, would you like to try it?"
Eunuch Liu lifted the exquisite celadon teapot from the hot pot, his face full of smiles.
Huayang appreciated his kindness: "Half a cup will be enough."
The wine cup is not big to begin with, and half a cup can only hold three sips.
Eunuch Liu poured the wine with a smile.
Huayang told them to leave and not to come again tonight.
The dinner was sumptuous and Huayang ate with great pleasure. Chen Jingzong also had a good appetite and drank a full pot of wine.
After dinner, Huayang put on his cloak and followed him to the back to look at the pond.
The snow was getting heavier and the wind stopped. The hot spring, surrounded by rockery on all sides, looked even more quiet and peaceful.
The more particular Huayang was, the more satisfied she was with her aunt's arrangement of the pond, especially the two blooming red plum trees, which made her feel that the trip was worthwhile.
Her eyes were full of elegance, and suddenly a hoarse voice came to her ears: "When are we going to take a bath?"
Huayang glanced at him and said, "After sitting in the car for a whole day, I just want to sleep tonight. You can go to the bathroom first."
Chen Jingzong: "I have no experience, and I don't know how long I should soak for, so it's safer to wait for you to join me."
The two of them went back to the house first.
There was another bath in the west room, which only had warm water. Huayang washed first, dried his hair, and went back to the inner room to rest.
After taking a bath, Chen Jingzong put out the lotus bowl and looked at the eldest princess who was already lying in the tent. He directly put five people in it to be prepared.
.
Huayang slept soundly in the first half of the night, and then perhaps because he slept too much in the car during the day, in the second half of the night, he didn't know when, Chen Jingzong next to him moved, and Huayang woke up.
As soon as she turned over, Chen Jingzong hugged her, kissed her ears, and breathed rapidly.
Huayang: "... You haven't been asleep yet, have you?"
Chen Jingzong: "It's okay, I just woke up a little earlier than you."
Huayang was silent.
Chen Jingzong: "I want to go take a dip in the pool."
Huayang began to feel hot.
Chen Jingzong wrapped her in a quilt: "I'll carry you over."
Huayang: "Wait! I'm thirsty, pour me a bowl of water."
Chen Jingzong immediately let her go. While Huayang was drinking water, he ran to the washstand and brushed his teeth carefully.
Huayang: …
After getting dressed, she brushed her teeth and washed her face.
His long hair was still messy. Although he knew it would get wet soon, Huayang still combed it. At this time, Chen Jingzong went out with the lotus bowl.
When Chen Jingzong came back, he directly held Huayang in his arms.
Huayang was a little nervous.
Chen Jingzong said: "Don't worry, no one will come."
The two doors leading to the backyard can be locked from the inside to prevent dishonest servants from eavesdropping while the owner is taking a hot spring bath.
Huayang watched Chen Jingzong lock himself up, but his heart was still pounding.
At least there is a shed on the boat to provide shelter, but there is nothing on top of the hot spring.
Chen Jingzong carried her down the corridor. He had placed lanterns on the road in advance. The faint and soft light illuminated the snowflakes falling from the sky, and the entire rockery was covered in silver.
When they arrived at the pool, Chen Jingzong did not give the princess a chance to be shy and helped her take off her outer clothes in no time.
When only a thin red silk undershirt was left, Huayang slapped his hand away and entered the pool first.
She swam swiftly like a savage red carp towards a plum tree where the light was the darkest.
When he was halfway through the swim, he heard a louder sound of falling into the water in the distance. Huayang looked back nervously, but there was no one on the shore or in the water.
But there was a slight sound of water, and the mist on the surface of the pool was shaking uneasily.
Huayang swam faster.
Just as her hands were about to touch the round and smooth stones on the shore, her waist suddenly tightened. The next moment, the man who emerged from the water suddenly flipped her over and bullied her.
(End of this chapter)