After Sui Sui returned to the Zen temple, the effect of the medicine in the tea had just worn off, and Chun Tiao slowly woke up. He took a look at the sky and was shocked: "Ah, the sun is setting. If I don't go back now, the city gate will be closed."
As he said this, he quickly got up and tidied the bedding.
Sui Sui said: "No hurry, I checked the time and I can make it in time."
The two of them left the courtyard and went to the monk in charge of reception to discuss the bill for tea and snacks. The monk in charge of reception brought a basket of persimmons and said to Sui Sui, "I saw that you two benefactors like to eat persimmons, so I picked a basket for you to take back. Please don't despise it."
Sui Sui said, "Master, you are too polite."
The monk in charge of reception said, "Few people come to our temple. There are so many persimmons in the woods behind us that we can't eat them all."
Sui Sui winked at him and took it with a smile: "Thank you very much, Master."
The monk in charge of reception had red cheeks, looked a little terrified, and lowered his head, not daring to look at her.
Chun Tiao took the basket from Sui Sui, and the master and servant said goodbye to the monk in charge of reception and left the mountain temple.
The monk in charge of reception stood outside the mountain gate for a long time, until the master and servant disappeared from his sight, then he bowed deeply to the ground.
It was already dusk when we entered the city. Amid the sound of evening drums echoing throughout Chang'an, the carriage rumbled towards the south of the city.
When we returned to Shanchiyuan, it was already dark and lanterns were lit in the corridor.
Grandma Gao asked, "Why did you take so long?"
Chun Tiao felt a little embarrassed and said casually: "We had some vegetarian food, I felt a little tired, so I took a nap."
He smiled and pointed at the basket in Harujo's hand: "We brought back persimmons, Mammy, have a try."
It is not advisable to hit a smiling person. Grandma Gao pursed her lips and stopped pestering him. While preparing the meal, she asked about the grand occasion of the Buddhist meeting.
Sui Sui washed his head and face, changed his clothes, and took out the amulet he had obtained from the temple and gave it to Grandma Gao.
Grandma Gao asked, "Can you please ask for His Highness?"
Sui Sui nominally went to pray for Huan Xuan, so of course he had a share. She took it out and showed it to Madam Gao. This one was no different from the others, except that it was made of silver-gray silk.
Grandma Gao looked through the small silk bag and frowned in disdain: "You are just going to give it to His Highness like this?"
Sui Sui was surprised and asked: "What else?"
Grandma Gao squinted her eyes, feeling a little disappointed. As for this woman, she was indeed coquettish, but she seemed to be born with a little bit of stupidity. She didn't know how to please others, and it seemed like she had no intention of pleasing others at all.
The old maid said, "Your Highness never uses needlework from outside."
Sui Sui said, "Then please change a bag and put it in for His Highness."
Grandma Gao really wanted to rip open the woman's skull to see if it was solid inside.
She didn't expect her to understand it on her own, so she said directly: "Madam, why don't you embroider one yourself, so that you can show your feelings."
Sui Sui said: "I don't know how to sew."
What she said was the truth. She was sent to the border to live with her father when she was three or four years old, and her mother was left in the capital as a hostage. There was no female elder around her.
The nanny had received instructions from her father and no one dared to restrict her in anything. When other young ladies were picking up needles and thread, she was picking up small bows and sharp swords.
"If you don't know how, you can learn. I can teach you." said Grandma Gao. In her opinion, a woman not knowing how to do needlework is as incomprehensible as a person not knowing how to use chopsticks to eat.
Sui Sui was not opposed to needlework, because she had never had the opportunity to hold a needle and thread since she was a child. She felt a little envious when she saw other girls sewing. She even thought about appearing in front of that man wearing a wedding dress embroidered by herself.
She nodded: "Then I'll trouble you, Madam."
Early the next morning, Nanny Gao came to her with several scrolls and unfolded the powder manuscripts which were covered with embroidered patterns.
Sui Sui was quite self-aware and chose a simple bamboo leaf pattern.
Nanny Gao matched her with a smoky gray water-wave silk base and taught her step by step how to thread the needle, how to start, and how to move the needle.
Listen carefully and learn seriously.
She sat in the corridor holding the embroidery frame, slowly threading the needle. The pair of gentle and smiling eyes kept appearing in her mind. She couldn't help but have some dazed illusions, and the silk thread in her hands seemed to turn into wisps of longing.
Grandma Gao was watching from the side. She saw her lowering her head slightly, pursing her lips tightly, concentrating and yet clumsily threading the needle, with affection flowing in her beautiful eyes. She felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.
Although this hunter girl is born with a seductive side, she seems to be a decent person these days. Most importantly, she is truly infatuated with His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi and cannot hide it at all.
If a daughter from a good family could enter the palace and become a concubine, she would have a secure life.
It’s a pity that she is of low social status and has such a beautiful appearance. Can the future mistress really tolerate such a person
If the princess does not want her to enter the palace, will His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi drive a thorn into the bride's heart for a substitute
It's possible that they would be given some money and sent away.
Thinking of this, Grandma Gao felt a little more sympathy for her.
Sui Sui had no idea that in a moment Grandma Gao had already planned her miserable end, and she was just concentrating on embroidering the sachet.
She was not very dexterous when it came to needlework, but she was not too clumsy either. But she was a beginner after all, and she ruined three pieces of silk. It took her two whole days before she could make the clump of bamboo leaves look half-assed.
Grandma Gao has a picky eye, so Sui Sui's embroidery work is naturally not to her liking. But in fact, no matter how well she embroiders, His Highness would not wear it on his body.
He always wore an old sachet close to his body. The sky-blue heavy lotus silk had been washed so much that it turned white. A branch of crabapple was embroidered on one corner with silver thread. Some of the silver thread had been worn off, but the fineness of the needlework could still be seen.
People are incomparable. Some are born in the clouds, and are the ladies of aristocratic families surrounded by stars. While others are lonely and helpless, with an uncertain future, not much better than willow catkins and floating duckweed.
Grandma Gao sighed secretly: "That's it, His Highness knows that my wife has this intention. You keep this sachet, and when His Highness has time to come over, you can present it to him."
Sui Sui put the amulet into the sachet, and Nanny Gao got some scented powder for her to put into the sachet. Sui Sui could tell that the scent of the scented powder was similar to the scent that Nanny Gao used to fumigate her clothes and the scent that was burned in Qinghan Courtyard when they had sex that night.
She heard that Ruan Yuewei was best at making incense. The "Begonia Fragrance Under the Moon" she made was said to be worth one ounce of gold per ounce, and there was no place to buy it.
You can guess the origin of this incense without having to think about it.
He put the sachet into the box without even looking at it again.
Ten days passed since that day, but Sui Sui still had no chance to give away the sachet.
Huan Xuan seemed to have forgotten her existence and never came to Shanchiyuan again.
Grandma Gao comforted her: "Your Highness is busy running between the palace and the government, so you may not be able to take care of this place."
This was of course an excuse to fool her. If she really wanted to, she would not be so unable to come over once every ten days or half a month. If she really thought the journey was too far, she could also be summoned to serve in the palace.
The only explanation for Huan Xuan's not coming is that he doesn't want to come and is unwilling to come.
As for why she was unwilling to come, there could be thousands of reasons, but there was only one result - Lu Suisui, this vixen, was a flash in the pan and fell out of favor as soon as she was favored.
While Grandma Gao felt sympathy for Sui Sui, she was also secretly relieved. After all, their prince was a royal highness, not the kind of dandy boy who could not walk at the sight of a beautiful woman.
Because His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi was as loyal as a man, Grandma Gao began to like this "fox charmer" Lu Suisui much more. She would order the kitchen to cook some nourishing soups for her every now and then. As a result, her complexion became rosy, her skin as white as snow, and she became even more beautiful.
Chun Tiao was as anxious as an ant on hot pan.
After waiting for a long time, the clouds finally cleared and the moon appeared, but as soon as the moon peeked out, it hid back into the clouds.
It would be better for her not to sleep with the emperor. At least she can remain a virgin and it will be easier for her to get married when she leaves this house.
When she thought of the two boxes of silk that Lu Suisui had given away lavishly, she felt even more heartbroken.
Chun Tiao was anxious and angry, but Lu Suisui was living a happy and contented life. It was unclear whether he was calm or heartless.
After she recovered from her injuries, she resumed her old habits, getting up early every morning and wandering around in the garden. Recently, she spent more and more time in the woods, and no one knew what she was doing.
But every time she would pick some wild mushrooms and vegetables.
She was good-looking and had a calm temperament, so even if she fell out of favor, no one would treat her unfairly.
On the contrary, because she generously gave away the box of silk, everyone thought she was loyal and were willing to help her with harmless matters.
Even if Huan Xuan never came to Shanchiyuan again, her life would not be too difficult.
…
Suddenly it was mid-November.
On this day, Huan Xuan had dinner with his father in the palace and then returned home.
As usual, Gao Mai presented last month's account books to him for review.
Of course, he would not personally inquire about the details of the mundane affairs. He would just take a quick look and make sure there were no major discrepancies.
However, this time, he asked for the first time: "Where are the accounts of Chang'anfang?"
Chang'an Fang naturally refers to the Shanchiyuan in Chang'an Fang.
It was just a garden house that had been abandoned for many years, with no output and no income. Although a few more people were added now, the expenses were not even a fraction of those in the royal palace.
When His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi asked about the accounts, he certainly had other intentions.
Gao Mai patted his forehead and said, "Look at my poor memory. How could I have forgotten the account book of Shanchiyuan? I will ask someone to get it now."
Huan Xuan hummed, lowered his eyelids, flipped through the account book, and asked casually, "How is it going over there recently?"
Gao Mai understood the meaning of the music, but he did not dare to mention Lu Suisui rashly: "The other day, Uncle Fu came to deliver the account book, and I asked casually. It turned out that Gao Ma is doing well there. She is freer than in this mansion, and she is in good health."
Huan Xuan still looked down at the account book: "Not bad. Where are the others?"
Gao Mai said: "Your Highness, are you talking about Lady Lu?"
Huan Xuan raised his eyelids and gave him a cold look.
Gao Mai hurriedly said, "Madam Lu is also safe and sound. I heard that on that day when the Qinglong Temple held a Buddhist relic ceremony, Madam Lu even rushed outside the city to pray for His Highness."
Huan Xuan paused, the woman he saw from the Buddhist tower that day was indeed the hunter girl.
Gao Mai said cautiously, "That lady Lu is a thoughtful person... If I remember correctly, the Qinglong Temple's ceremony will be on the 17th, right?"
Huan Xuan snorted lightly but did not refute.
Seventeen, which was the second day after they had sex.
He thought of the bloodstains on her snow-white dress that day and her pale and haggard face the next morning, and felt a little uncomfortable.
He closed the account book and frowned.
Gao Mai said: "I heard from Madam Gao that Lady Lu asked for a peace amulet for Your Highness, and I think she is looking forward to presenting it to Your Highness."
"Yeah." Huan Xuan said.
Gao Mai was afraid that he might have misunderstood, and waited anxiously for further instructions.
Huan Xuan gave him a cold glance.
Gao Mai hurriedly said, "I will go and prepare the car right away."
…
It was already late at night when Huan Xuan's carriage arrived at Shanchi Garden.
Sui Sui did not expect that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi would suddenly visit him, so he went to bed early as usual. When he was sleeping soundly, he was suddenly woken up by Chun Tiao.
As soon as he opened his sleepy eyes, he knew that Huan Xuan had come again.
No one would feel good if they were dragged out of bed on a winter night, but Sui Sui didn't have much temper. When she thought of Huan Xuan's face, she lost all her temper.
As usual, Grandma Gao helped her dress up.
Catching a glimpse of her longing eyes in the bronze mirror, the old nanny's heart softened. She put down her eyebrow ink and said, "There's no need to paint in the middle of the night. Don't let Your Highness wait too long."
Sui Sui nodded: "Okay."
Grandma Gao sighed secretly, what a pitiful and infatuated person! If she knew that the prince was willing to look at her because of Ruan Yuewei, she wondered how she would feel.
She changed into fairy-like clothes, put on a quilted blue cloth robe, and went to Qinghan Courtyard.
When she reached the door of Huan Xuan's bedroom, she took off her cloth robe and handed it to the maid guarding the door, then walked into the room wearing a thin silk dress.
In Huan Xuan's bedroom, the curtains were drawn and the lights were dim. A familiar fragrance was rising from the golden beast incense burner beside the bed. It was almost invisible at the door, and it seemed more and more quiet and distant, with a sense of loneliness and coldness.
She bowed from a distance and said, "I pay my respects to Your Highness. May Your Highness be blessed."
The figure behind the glass screen moved slightly, and a man's deep voice came: "Come here."
Sui Sui walked forward and around the glass screen in front of the bed.
Huan Xuan looked at her in the candlelight, and saw that she had her hair in a fairy bun, a silver crabapple hairpin, a light cherry-colored silk dress with wide sleeves, and a pomegranate skirt. Her jade-like skin and the majestic mountains were revealed under the misty gauze shawl.
As she walked forward, the straight and slender lines of her legs appeared and disappeared under her dress, but her waist seemed so thin that it could be held in one hand.
Obviously, the clothes were the styles that Ruan Yuewei usually wore, but her figure was too enchanting. The clothes looked elegant and refined on Ruan Yuewei, a lady from an aristocratic family, but on her, they looked like a spirit in the mountains and swamps that could lure men into the mud and suck their marrow.
Today, Grandma Gao had a sudden inspiration and imitated Princess Shouyang's plum blossom makeup. She used cinnabar to paint a crabapple flower on her forehead, which made her look more charming.
She never learned to walk like a lady, and her gait was still casual and natural, like a sated leopard.
However, there was no gloom in her watery eyes, just like a docile doe, unaware that the ferocious hunter had drawn his blade.
Does the banshee in the forest also use such clear eyes to seduce men
Huan Xuan didn't drink any alcohol, but his chest seemed to be burning with liquor. His throat tightened and his breathing became disordered.
He remembered the graceful figure beneath the thin silk dress.
What's more, she still has the face that he has been thinking about day and night for the past three years.
Huan Xuan unconsciously tensed his back.
Sui Sui walked to the edge of the couch, three steps away from Huan Xuan, and did not move forward any further.
The first two times we met, we were both drunk, but this time he was completely sober, without any drunkenness covering his face, which was a bit awkward.
Huan Xuan cleared his throat, looked down at her, and asked coldly, "Did you go to Qinglong Temple the day before yesterday?"