"That's a good trick, Hua Zhaoyi..." Xiao Shushen stared at the red hairpin in her hand, and occasionally glanced at the person standing below, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. She leaned on the phoenix couch, her bright red palace dress outlined with gold thread, elegant and luxurious.
"I am not as good as you, the Empress. I only know some petty tricks that are not worthy of being shown on the stage." Hua Zhaoyi smiled and looked flattering, completely different from the generous and strong person she was during the day.
Nanny Gui brought over the tea and poured it, glancing towards Hua Zhaoyi.
Seeing the flattering look on her face, Xiao Shushen felt a little satisfied. She leaned back slightly and leaned lazily on the beauty couch.
"In front of Her Majesty the Queen, I am just showing off my skills and making a fool of myself." She raised her eyes slightly and looked at Xiao Shushen who was holding the teacup and taking a sip. She raised her eyes slightly, expressing her satisfaction with her knowledge and obedience.
"Hua Zhaoyi is enjoying the emperor's favor, so why should she belittle herself?" She parted her red lips slightly, hiding the barely visible sarcasm in her eyes.
Hua Xiangwei smiled indifferently, knowing that the Queen was just testing her.
"I have no one to rely on in the harem, and I feel very close to you today when I see you." She looked at her in a cooperative manner, showing her admiration and respect. "Your Majesty is virtuous and dignified, and she is also the master of the harem. I have admired you for a long time."
Hua Xiangwei's words not only praised Xiao Shushen, but also showed her intention to surrender.
How could Xiao Shushen not hear it? She swept her body with a scrutinizing gaze, as if she wanted to see through her and see if she was sincere.
Seeing that she was silent and suspicious, Hua Xiangwei immediately stood up and knelt in front of her, "Your Highness, I am willing to serve you!"
Regardless of whether she was sincere or not, as she was just a small Zhaoyi, she couldn't cause any trouble, and it wouldn't be a bad thing to have one more chess piece to send out.
"Hua Zhaoyi is truly a refined and exquisite person." Although he expressed admiration on her face, there was indifference and disdain in his eyes.
Fortunately, she was sensible and knew that she was the queen and came to her for help. If she had gone to Shen Qingwan, she would have lost all her face!
Shen Qingwan, who was in the general's mansion, felt bored staying in the house all day, so she found some time today to go for a walk on the street.
General Shen was worried and wanted to send a few people to follow her, but she felt that was too conspicuous, so she just asked the guards to protect her in the dark; she didn't want to attract attention.
After changing into light women's clothing and taking off her complicated headdress, she looked like an unmarried girl. She actually missed the time when she didn't have to get involved in the gossip in the palace.
She went to a few shops she used to love to go to. The owners there still remembered her and talked to her for a while. She also looked at the stalls in the street market and found a few small toys interesting so she bought them. There were all kinds of things in the palace, but only these simple toys were missing. It was a good choice to bring them into the palace.
Contented, Shen Qingwan was about to return home, but she heard a slight noise in a narrow alley. She stopped in confusion, wondering if there was a beggar.
She put her ear against the wall and listened. The sound became even more obvious, like a suppressed gasp.
Curiosity prompted her to take a step forward and walk along the narrow alley. When she was about to turn, she felt that the sound was getting closer.
Her natural vigilance made her silently hold down the dagger in her sleeve, and then she appeared at the corner.
His frown deepened, and his vigilant eyes became more worried, because the person in front of him was not a beggar, nor a killer, but...
"Mr. Quan." She called out his name anxiously and ran to his side.
Hearing this, Quan frowned almost imperceptibly, but the moment he saw it was her, his brows relaxed and a gentle smile appeared on the corners of his mouth involuntarily.
She squatted beside him and saw that his face was a little pale, and blood was flowing from his arm, staining his white clothes red.
"Are you hurt?" She subconsciously climbed up his arm and looked at the blurred bloodstain. Her cold eyes were already filled with worry.
He is very skilled in martial arts, how could anyone hurt him
"Nothing." He curled his lips, not wanting to make her worry.
But how could she not worry? He was her savior, but now he was injured.
"Why are you here?" There was always a smile on his face and his eyes were pure, unwilling to let anyone refuse him.
Even the calm Shen Qingwan was distracted for a moment, then frowned, "I just came out for a stroll."
Seeing that he wanted to ask something else, Shen Qingwan quickly interrupted him, "Let me bandage you, otherwise the bleeding may not stop."
Hearing this, Quan was a little surprised, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked with a hint of surprise, "You know medical skills?"
"I read some books, so I know how to bandage the wound." As she said this, she tore off a piece of cloth from the hem of her skirt, approached him and bandaged his wound under his slightly shocked gaze.
"How did you get hurt?" she asked subconsciously, and then realized that maybe he didn't want to tell her.
As expected, Quan just smiled and looked into her eyes, "These are not important."
How could it not be important? To be able to injure you means one has great martial arts skills, and besides, who would fight for no reason
Shen Qingwan looked at him deeply, and was sure that he was unwilling to tell her.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."
Shen Qingwan said coldly, and before he opened his mouth, she asked the next question, "Are you the owner of the manor?"
Wen Yanquan looked at her with a strange look again, but did not deny it. He just smiled lightly and said in a soft voice, "How did you know?"
"I heard your subordinates call you that before, so I made a note of it."
After hearing her say this, he just nodded in understanding and didn't explain any more.
Shen Qingwan's bandaging technique was pretty good and it healed in a short while.
Looking at the green cloth on his arm, his heart warmed up, and his eyes turned softer towards her. He wanted to chat with her for a few more words, but he had something to do and couldn't stay any longer.
"Thanks for today."
"Mr. Quan, it's too polite to say that. You saved me several times, and I just did a little favor."
The two smiled at each other. Quan looked at the sky and saw that it was getting late. "I have something to do, so I'll leave first."
"Take care, Mr. Quan." Shen Qingwan watched him leave. Although she had some doubts in her heart, she did not think too much about it.
She knew he was not an ordinary person, so she told him to take care of himself.
Everyone in this world has secrets and unknown sides. This is their right, and she doesn't want to cross the line.
It was already late, so she calmed herself down and returned to the general's mansion.
General Shen had been waiting at the gate of the mansion for a long time and was worried about this woman.
"Why does father still treat me as a child?" Shen Qingwan couldn't help but find it funny and walked in with him.
General Shen was not good at speaking and didn't say anything, but his eyes told it all, Shen Qingwan smiled faintly. As he walked, he suddenly asked a little unusually, and stared at her strangely.
"What's the matter, father?" Noticing his gaze, she slowed down her pace.
"Why do you smell like blood?" He had been on the battlefield so many times, there was no doubt that he was smelling blood.
There was even more worry in the old man's eyes. Could it be that he had encountered some danger? But the guards did not report it.
Hearing this, Shen Qingwan raised her arm and smelled it as if it was nothing serious. There was indeed a smell of blood, perhaps left over from when she bandaged Quan.