On the way to Chang'anfang, snowflakes started falling from the sky again.
The lights were already on when they arrived at Shanchiyuan. Huan Xuan lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. When he saw the two lanterns at the door, he suddenly felt like a traveler returning home.
Strangely enough, neither the royal palace nor the Penglai Palace had ever made him feel this way. He thought about it and thought that it was probably because there was someone here who had no one to rely on and depended on him wholeheartedly.
The carriage stopped in front of Qinghan Courtyard. Huan Xuan got off the carriage and suddenly smelled a faint aroma of food wafting from afar. It mixed with the wind and snow and blew towards him. The cold wind also brought the smell of worldly life.
He paused and looked towards the small courtyard hidden in the maple forest. The twinkling lights there seemed warmer than those elsewhere.
"What is she doing?" Huan Xuan asked the nanny who came to greet him, seemingly casually.
Nanny replied, "Yesterday the palace sent some quails from the south, and Madam Lu was roasting them and getting some ancient loaves."
After a pause, he said, "Your Highness has just come from outside the city. Have you eaten yet? I will ask someone to serve you the meal..."
Huan Xuan hesitated for a moment and said, "Tell them to take them to Tangli Courtyard and have dinner there."
Nanny was stunned for a moment, then she understood something and looked at Huan Xuan's face and said, "Those are the cooking methods of country folk. I'm afraid they are not suitable for your Highness's taste."
Huan Xuan did not refute, but just said "hmm" and walked straight along the path in the maple forest towards the warm courtyard.
When I reached the door, I could already hear the laughter in the courtyard. The slightly hoarse voice of the hunter girl was particularly eye-catching.
He pushed the door open and went in, only to see the hunter's wife and several maids in green sitting in the corridor chatting and laughing. A charcoal basin was burning under their feet, and in front of them were a wind stove and an iron rack. Quails skewered on bamboo sticks were sizzling with oil, and next to them was an iron stove heating an ancient loaf, and next to them was a small bamboo table with wine jugs, wine glasses and bowls of spices.
He had been busy all day outside, but she was living a comfortable life. Thinking of this, he felt a sour feeling inexplicably in his heart. The smile on his lips faded, and he looked arrogant and difficult to please again.
When the people saw His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi coming, they all stood up and saluted. Chun Tiao and Xiao Tong and their maids quickly stepped aside.
Huan Xuan glanced at Sui Sui indifferently and nodded slightly as a greeting.
At this time, Mai and the eunuch who served the meal also arrived with food boxes.
Huan Xuan said to the maids, "You can leave now."
The young ladies in green clothes couldn't help but show their disappointment. They were about to eat Lady Lu's roast quail and guluzi, but who would have thought that His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi would suddenly arrive. They couldn't eat the food that was almost in their mouths. It was so sad.
Especially the Gulouzi made by Lady Lu, which is really unique, even the one made by Baijia Hubing Shop in Xishi cannot compare with it.
But since the master had given the order, they could only watch helplessly as the delicious food that was about to reach their mouths flew away.
Xiaotong was the youngest and couldn't hide the truth, so she almost burst into tears.
Sui Sui saw this and said to Huan Xuan, "Your Highness, these quails are overcooked and the cakes are a little burnt. Can I re-bake them?"
Huan Xuan knew that she was thinking about the servants, and felt that it was pointless, but because he was in a good mood, he did not object and nodded: "Give these to them."
The maids all looked surprised and came forward to express their gratitude.
Just wink at them.
Huan Xuan saw it and just sneered.
After the maids retreated far away, Huan Xuan shook off the snow on his fox fur coat, took it off and handed it to Sui Sui, putting it aside. He glanced at the quail on the iron rack and asked knowingly, "What is this?"
Sui Sui replied: "Your Highness, these are quails sent from the south."
After a pause, she pointed to the sesame-sprinkled dough cake baked in an iron stove until it was golden brown and crispy: "This is the ancient building made by me."
Huan Xuan hummed, walked to the small couch where she had just sat, sat down without any hesitation, and raised his eyelids: "What's the filling?"
"Mutton filling." Sui Sui answered.
Huan Xuan frowned and raised his chin: "I don't eat mutton."
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but saw that the hunter girl just blinked her watery eyes with a hint of confusion in her eyes, and she didn't understand his hint at all.
He could only point to the iron rack and say: "Your quail is almost burnt."
Sui Sui only then realized that he wanted to eat, and couldn't help but laugh. He said he wanted to eat, but he also made people guess his thoughts. This guy is really weird.
She saw that the fire was about right, picked up a roasted quail, and sprinkled a little salt on it: "Your Highness, would you like to try it?"
Huan Xuan then nodded modestly: "Okay." He looked like he was condescending.
Sui Sui knew his temper and didn't take it to heart. She placed the quail on a silver plate and presented it to him along with the bamboo skewers: "Your Highness, please."
Huan Xuan picked it up and took a look: "No seasoning?"
Sui Sui said: "The quail is slaughtered alive. Fresh quails are delicious just by sprinkling salt on them. Adding seasoning will only cover up the taste."
After saying this, both of them were slightly stunned. They vaguely seemed to have said or heard this somewhere before, but they couldn't remember where at the moment.
Just then, a burnt smell came from the iron stove. Sui Sui let out a low cry of surprise, quickly got up and ran over, took the guluozi down and put it on a plate, then cut it into several slices with a small beard knife. The blade cut through the crispy dough, and the air was filled with the fresh and salty aroma of the meat filling.
Huan Xuan didn't like mutton because it smelled fishy. Usually, the chefs in the palace used pork or chicken as stuffing when making Gulouzi. But the mutton cooked by the hunter woman didn't smell fishy. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's added to the mutton?"
Sui Sui's eyes twitched slightly: "This is the way the Hu people cook mutton."
Huan Xuan nodded. Her hometown was a mixed place of Hu and Han people, so it was normal for her to learn some strange tricks from the Hu people.
He didn't ask any more questions, but lowered his eyelids and took a sip of wine.
His eyelashes are very long but not curled. When he slightly lowers his eyes, they almost completely cover his eyes, making it impossible to guess what he is thinking.
Sui Sui asked him, "Your Highness, would you like to try it?"
Huan Xuan originally did not want to taste it. He had always been very clear about what he liked and disliked. Once he started to dislike something, he would dislike it till the end. Even mutton without any mutton smell had no interest in him.
There were three brothers in their family. He and his eldest brother followed their mother and could not stand these fishy things. His eldest brother went to the northwest for two years last year and still suffered terribly when he talked about it.
But he raised his eyes inadvertently and met the woman's eyes. Her amber pupils flashed a strange light under the light, full of hope, as if what she was holding in her hand was not an ancient building, but a piece of heart.
Even if Huan Xuan had a heart of stone, he could not bear such a look, let alone the woman with whom he had had physical contact.
He took it and took a small bite. The meat filling was cooked till soft and tender, and the fat melted between his lips and teeth. Not only did it not have the fishy smell of mutton, but it also had the fragrance of some unknown spice. The fragrance lingered on his teeth and cheeks, and he couldn't help but flash a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He just didn't want to see the light in her eyes dim, so he planned to take a bite and stop there, but he took another bite without realizing it, and then took another bite after another, and finally ate the whole piece.
Sui Sui curved her eyebrows and looked pleased: "Does Your Highness like it?"
Huan Xuan just said that he didn't like mutton, and he looked a little embarrassed. He said "hmm" lightly: "Not bad."
After a pause, he continued: "… "
He thought of the chicken soup and drunken pine mushrooms she had sent him, but suddenly remembered that not only did he not appreciate it, but he also poured out her food, so he stopped talking.
Mai knew what his master was thinking, so he took over the conversation: "Mrs. Lu is really kind-hearted and kind-hearted. Even her cooking is so good. By the way..."
He paused and said, "That drunk mushroom is not common, how is it made?"
Huan Xuan squinted at him coldly, but Dama was still looking at Sui Sui with a smile.
Sui Sui said, "That's pine mushroom, picked from the pine forest on the hillside in the back garden."
Huan Xuan did not say anything, and Xi Mai continued, "Your Highness, you have used it very well. Madam Lu, would you please make some more next autumn?"
Sui Sui's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled and said, "This kind of mushroom is not often found. This autumn is warm and rainy. I wonder if it will grow again next year."
Wang Mai said: "Next year is not long, there is still the next year, Madam Lu is by your side, there will always be a chance."
Sui Sui lowered her eyelashes slightly and smiled faintly, but did not answer.
She will probably be gone by next autumn, so if it is not necessary, tell as few lies as possible.
Huan Xuan glanced at her expressionlessly, and seeing her lower her eyes, he thought she was shy, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
After eating a roasted quail and a piece of ancient loquat, Huan Xuan felt full. He had not slept all night, so his appetite was not as good as usual. The delicious dishes sent by the kitchen of Qinghan Courtyard were cheap.
Huan Xuan wiped his hands with a wet towel and asked the eunuch to make some tea. He drank the tea while watching Sui Sui eat. Seeing that she was eating with relish, he could not help but pick up the jade chopsticks again and ate two pieces of gold and silver flowered flat cakes, and had a small bowl of jujube porridge.
After dinner, it was already late at night and the wind and snow started to get stronger again.
Huan Xuan asked, "Have you memorized the chess records that I gave you?"
Sui Sui nodded: "I've remembered it." She was good at chess, and the score was simple, so she remembered it as soon as she played it. It was not difficult at all.
Huan Xuan ordered his men to put away the tea table and set up the chessboard.
"See if you have made any progress in the past few days," Huan Xuan said, "I will grant you eight sons now."
As he spoke, he placed the eight black pieces in the star positions.
Both of them were quiet and taciturn people, and all that could be heard at this time was the crisp sound of chess pieces hitting the chessboard.
By the middle of the game, Huan Xuan was a little surprised. This woman's chess sense was unexpectedly good.
After all, she had only learned chess for a short time, so she lacked some local attack and defense, but she had a good overall view. Although her moves were unfamiliar, every move she made had a response. She memorized few chess records, and she was not rigid in using them, but she often made unexpected moves.
The last time they played against each other was a few days ago. They were also given nine pieces, and he could already feel that her chess skills had improved significantly.
He raised his eyelids and looked at Sui Sui. The woman's thoughtful expression made her look quiet and elegant.
"You have a very good sense for chess." He has always been reluctant to give compliments, and it is not easy to hear a "not bad" from him.
Sui Sui raised his head and smiled faintly: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness."
The sense of chess is hard to describe, but it is largely innate. Ruan Yuewei worked very hard in the beginning and memorized almost all the chess records she could find, but the gap between her and him kept widening. She was not naturally good at layout, always staring at the corners, and sticking to the chess records. Therefore, despite a lot of hard work, her chess skills were still far from top-notch.
His mother was good at chess. When his elder brother was still alive, his mother had not yet avoided him. When he went to the palace to pay respects, mother and son would occasionally play chess. They spent little time together and had little affection for each other. When they sat opposite each other, they often had nothing to say. Playing chess avoided embarrassment. This was also the rare time when his mother praised him.
"Among the three brothers, you are the best at chess," his mother once said, "Your eldest brother is calm and composed, he doesn't like to fight, doesn't care about winning or losing, and his style of play is gentle and slow. Your second brother is too impatient, he attacks and kills fiercely, but he lacks a sense of the overall situation. But you are good at both planning and attacking, you have a strong position and are determined. Given time, I'm afraid I won't be your opponent."
"Watching chess is like watching people," said his mother.
Her own style of playing chess is strong and stubborn, just like her personality.
Huan Xuan came to his senses and pinched his brows: "The winner has been decided, this game of chess ends here."
Sui Sui put away the chess pieces as he was told.
Huan Xuan stared at her quietly. This woman impressed him time and again, which was beyond his expectation.
"You are good at riding and shooting, and from your chess moves, I can see that you have some talent in deploying troops," he suddenly said, "If you were in the army, you would be a promising talent."
Sui Sui's heart shuddered. Could it be that he had noticed something
She thought she had hidden her chess skills very well, and even a novice like Huan Xuan could not tell that she was good at chess.
She calmed herself down and blushed, "Your Highness, you are joking. How can a woman join the army?"
Huan Xuan said, "I'm not kidding. Dayong has a female army."
However, it was not affiliated with the imperial court, but was located in Heshuo. This army was established by Xiao Ling over several years after he took over the military power of the three towns. Most of the women in the army were poor and orphans who had lost their fathers, brothers, and husbands in the war.
At that time, Xiao Ling's formation of this army was undoubtedly a shocking move, and there were many voices of opposition even in the Heshuo Army. However, in subsequent wars, this female army was brave and good at fighting, and was not inferior to men in any way. Their tenacity was even better than that of men, and those voices of opposition gradually disappeared.
Before she died on the battlefield, there were many female generals and staff in her army and shogunate, and many women among her personal guards.
Huan Xuan glanced at the woman opposite him, thinking of her graceful figure on horseback today, and somehow he was reminded of Huan Minggui's "pearl covered in dust".
He swept the thought out of his mind and rubbed his forehead. Why think about such meaningless things? She couldn't go anywhere else anyway.
When Sui Sui heard him mention the female soldiers, her eyelids twitched. She waited for a moment, but he didn't mean to continue talking, but it didn't seem like he was testing her. She suppressed her uneasiness and put away the chess box.
Huan Xuan said, "I'll give you this chessboard and chess box."
Sui Sui was slightly stunned. Not to mention the black jade and mutton-fat white jade chess pieces, even the red sandalwood chessboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl was an imperial item. He was not a person who was extravagant, so how could he just give it to others as a reward? But anyway, she couldn't take these things away, so she accepted them calmly.
Huan Xuan asked the eunuch to put it away and went to his bedroom.
It was windy and snowy outside, so he naturally stayed in Tangli Courtyard. The two of them washed, bathed, changed clothes, and went to bed.
Huan Xuan didn't feel sleepy, but his mind was calm, which was unusual for him. Perhaps it was because he hadn't slept all night and had been traveling all day. At this moment, he didn't have any other thoughts. He just hugged her from behind and listened to the rise and fall of her long breathing.
Things in the palace, things about his elder brother, things about his childhood, all flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope. He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally closed his eyes in peace.
…
In front of the study in the main courtyard of the East Palace, the slanting wind blew the snowflakes onto the corridors, and gradually accumulated into a thick layer.
Ruan Yuewei stepped on the snow in her embroidered shoes, and the wetness seeped into her silk socks, but she didn't care at all.
Since the plum blossom banquet that day, the prince often stayed in Penglai Palace on the pretext of being busy with government affairs. Even when he occasionally went to the East Palace, he usually stayed in the front yard.
Although he seldom summoned others to sleep with him, Ruan Yuewei was still nervous.
When she heard that he had left the East Palace and went into the study today, she did not dare to disturb him and remained silent for half a day. When it was time, there was still no news from the prince. Finally, she could not bear it any longer and came to the front yard with the ginseng soup she had made herself.
The Crown Prince was governing the country on behalf of the Emperor, and there were many court documents in the study room in the front yard. Originally, Ruan Yuewei was not supposed to set foot there, but the servants all knew that the Crown Prince loved the Crown Princess like a treasure, so she could come and go as she pleased and no one dared to stop her.
The eunuch opened the curtains, Ruan Yuewei took the food box and the scroll from Shuzhu, walked into the room, and asked the maid to wait in the corridor.
When the prince saw her, he was not as affectionate as usual. He just raised his eyes and asked, "Why are you here?"
Ruan Yuewei felt a little aggrieved, but she didn't show it on her face. She said gently, "I heard that Your Highness was very busy with government affairs, and I didn't know if you had a good dinner, so I made some ginseng soup and sent it to you."
The prince said, "That's thoughtful."
After a pause, he continued, "Just ask the servants to bring it to you. Why bother coming here in the snow?"
Ruan Yue was startled for a moment and said, "I also want to see Your Highness."
The prince's face lightened up a little, and his frown relaxed a little. He stood up and walked to her, holding her hands and said, "Look, your hands are so cold. You are weak, what should you do if you catch a cold?"
Seeing that he had returned to his usual attitude, Ruan Yuewei felt relieved and continued, "At the Plum Blossom Banquet, the guests wrote many poems. I have nothing to do these days, so I asked someone to copy the poems into a scroll and add annotations. Please have a look, Your Highness..."
The prince was fond of poetry and prose, so she would always use poetry to test the waters, and it always worked.
However, the prince was not interested at all and just said, "Put it aside for now. I have other things to do right now."
Ruan Yue glanced at the desk. It was clean and tidy, without any memorials. When she entered the room just now, the prince was just sitting there doing nothing.
She felt more and more aggrieved, bit her lip, and whispered, "Your Highness, did I do something wrong?"
The prince squeezed her hand soothingly and said, "Don't think too much. There were a lot of things going on in the court recently, so you were left out."
Ruan Yue glanced at the prince and saw that he looked tired. She asked cautiously, "But what happened in the court?"
The prince said, "Nothing, the affairs of the previous dynasty have nothing to do with you, just be at peace, if you feel lonely, call your sisters and friends to accompany you, and I will come to accompany you when I am free."
Ruan Yuewei said: "I am overstepping my authority. I just want to share your worries."
She was raised by the Empress Dowager and had her sights set on becoming the Crown Princess from the very beginning. She was well versed in poetry and literature, and had dabbled in classics and history. She believed that her vision and knowledge were not inferior to those of the Jinshi Hanlin scholars.
The prince continued, "You are not in good health and cannot think too much. Don't worry about these things."
Ruan Yuewei could only say: "The ginseng soup is getting cold."
After serving the prince the ginseng soup, Ruan Yuewei said, "Let me grind the ink for your Highness."
The prince shook his head and said, "No need, it's getting late, you should go to bed early and let the servants do these things."
Ruan Yuewei had no choice but to leave.
The prince looked at her back, and the warmth in his eyes gradually faded, like two cold ancient wells.
…
After a few snowfalls, it was New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye. Huan Xuan was going to enter the palace, so he changed into a brocade robe and a fox fur coat early in the morning and went out.