There are two flourishing red maple trees at the palace gate. The fiery leaves flutter in the wind and are reflected in his warm pupils, as if ignited by flames. His gaze is burning.
"Zhao Ning meets His Highness..."
"No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite." Before Shen Xihe could kneel, he was helped up by Xiao Huayong.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Xihe broke free from his arms without leaving a trace.
"Crack, crack, crack..." Xiao Huayong seemed to have run in a hurry just now, and he couldn't stop coughing.
"Your Highness, it's windy here. Please talk inside the palace." The eunuch beside Xiao Huayong said hurriedly.
Xiao Huayong coughed and was supported to turn around and go to the palace. Shen Xihe, who originally just wanted to say hello and leave:…
Forget it, don't bother with someone who is terminally ill.
Shen Xihe could only follow Biyu and Hongyu in.
As soon as Shen Xihe entered the East Palace, his eyes lit up. The East Palace looked magnificent from the outside, but it was full of greenery and vitality inside.
There are many exotic flowers and plants in the East Palace, many of which are species that Shen Xihe has never seen before. There is a fresh scent floating in the wind, which makes people close their eyes and take a deep sniff.
For a moment, Shen Xihe felt that he was no longer in the gloomy and depressing palace, but in a paradise full of flowers.
"Hey, why is this yard full of moss?" They passed by a garden covered with moss, and Hongyu couldn't help but ask Shen Xihe in a low voice.
Shen Xihe looked at the golden round fruits of different sizes on the moss, which radiated dazzling light like the warm sun: "This is the creeping golden moss."
"My princess has good eyesight." Xiao Huayong stopped in front and coughed twice. "When the golden crow sets in the west, the whole garden will be full of brilliant light, which is beautiful. I like to come here at night. If there is a chance in the future, I will invite you to come and enjoy it together."
This sentence is somewhat suggestive. As a court lady, Shen Xihe cannot stay in the palace. How can she accompany the Crown Prince to appreciate the garden at night
unless…
Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Huayong inquiringly. His eyes were as gentle and even clear as ever, and he was so frank that even those who doubted him felt ashamed. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
She did not respond. Xiao Huayong was visibly sad, but still gentle: "Kakaka, Princess, please come in."
Up to this point, Xiao Huayong left Shen Xihe with the impression of a good-tempered man. He had the elegance and nobleness of a royal son, but without the aggressiveness of a royal darling.
Xiao Huayong had obviously made a lot of preparations. The palace where guests were received was on a high platform, from which one could see the outline of half of the East Palace, with an excellent view.
The high platform is entwined with flower vines and fruit vines, and the grape vines are hung with round and crystal grapes. There is no need to smoke any spices. The fragrance of flowers and fruits lingers in the nose, making people relax unconsciously.
"It's almost noon. I have prepared some snacks for you, Princess." Xiao Huayong sat down and asked Tian Yuan to bring the palace servants from the East Palace to serve plates of snacks.
Kyoto has a rich variety of snacks, with five or six kinds of cakes alone. All of them are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fragrant but not overly sweet.
There is also a dish called Xiaolingzhi that is being roasted. This is a dish made with only 4 taels of the most essential meat from the lamb leg and is roasted using a secret palace recipe. It is a precious snack that only the royal family can have.
Shen Xihe had eaten it twice and never forgot it. He studied it privately many times, but he never figured out the recipe.