On a fine day in mid-autumn, the sky is clear and azure, and the high roofs with designs of flying dragons and phoenixes, and the carved beams and painted buildings with images of soaring unicorns are hidden among the bright yellow leaves of the flat land.
The bleak wind blew, and butterfly-like leaves swirled and fell, covering the ground with a golden carpet. The exquisite pointed-toe shoes rustled on the carpet, and the fluttering skirts brushed past, picking up one or two fallen leaves and making them fly up like fluttering butterflies.
As soon as Shen Xihe sat down, Xiao Huayong brewed a cup of Pingzhong leaf tea for him. Just as he said, the tea was oily green and had a crisp fragrance. The refreshing scent of Pingzhong leaves came to Shen Xihe's face along with the hot air, soothing his brows.
She couldn't wait to pick it up and take a deep sniff for a moment, then took a sip. She thought it would be bitter at first but sweet later, but she found it smooth and sweet at the entrance, which made her unable to resist taking another sip.
"Your Highness is very clever. This tea has a unique flavor." Shen Xihe, who didn't like drinking tea, inexplicably liked the taste.
"It's worth my effort to win the favor of the princess. I still have a lot here, and I'll let the princess take some back later." There was a gentle smile in Xiao Huayong's eyes.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Xihe did not refuse.
Firstly, she really liked the taste, and secondly, she was reluctant to ask for the recipe. She had never intended to be distant with him before, and she couldn't do that now.
Third, she came here today to help Xiao Huayong. She had a feeling that if she refused the tea, Xiao Huayong would probably refuse to let Ah Xi help him with his eye treatment.
It sounded unwise and somewhat ridiculous, but Shen Xihe inexplicably felt that it must be so. She didn't want to try it, lest Xiao Huayong really thought so. If she accepted the tea again, she was afraid that Xiao Huayong would mistakenly think that she was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to be cruel to him.
She insisted on letting Sui Axi treat Xiao Huayong's eyes, hoping that she would owe him less.
"I came here today to get some live bees and asked Ah Xi to sting your eyes with needles." Shen Xihe never beats around the bush.
Xiao Huayong's eyes fell on the special medicine box that Sui Ah Xi was carrying, and he could hear a buzzing sound.
"Your Highness, it is more effective to use live bee stings, but live bees are a bit painful." Sui Axi whispered, "You can also use acupuncture points."
In front of Shen Xihe, would Xiao Huayong be afraid of pain? Of course not!
"Use a live bee to sting you." Xiao Huayong said.
"Your Highness, please lie down in the inner room."
Shen Xihe couldn't go with them, so he could only stay here and wait, eating the snacks prepared by Xiao Huayong.
He sat there for half an hour. When he saw Xiao Huayong again, he saw that there were many small black dots around his eyes, which were exactly the same as the mole at the corner of his eyes. He looked a little festive.
Shen Xihe couldn't help but move the corners of his lips.
"Yoyo, just laugh if you want to. As long as I can please you, I won't feel that my appearance is unhealthy." Xiao Huayong touched the mole at the end of his eye with his little finger, and a seductive charm flowed from his fingertips to the corners of his eyes.
Shen Xihe's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Your Highness, is the matter of the ancestral temple intended to force Prince Xun out?"
"You are so smart. I think you already know the reason." Xiao Huayong nodded, "The one who leads the private army for your majesty is Prince Xun."
"Was Prince Xun forced back to Kyoto by His Majesty?" Shen Xihe had never understood. Prince Xun must be with His Majesty's private army. These people, including Prince Xun, should not leave their posts without the emperor's order.