A Regret in the Jade Pavilion (Part 1)
Time flies, and another two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Hongli and Hongxu, the two men sent by Yongzheng to inspect waterworks in the south and north, had not returned for a long time.
On June 1st, Yunzhu brought Guo Qiang and others to the Fuca Mansion to celebrate Gua'erjia's 51st birthday (50 years old in Chinese age), as Manchu people usually celebrate their 49th or 51st birthdays instead of their actual 50th, 60th...
When Yunzhu left the palace again, Xi Guifei let Qin Yiniang select a few things to send to Qianxi's second residence. Ning Pin Wu Shi, who came to pay respects at Qing'an Palace, smiled and said: "Didn't you just let your personal maid return to her hometown a few days ago? Ah, these four noblewomen are indeed blessed with good fortune, encountering Guifei Niangniang, such a kind and gentle mother-in-law. Even the Emperor is willing to grant their requests." Since Zixiang was assigned to Qi Fei Li Shi's name, Ning Pin had come to resent Yunzhu. If it weren't for her, she would have been able to raise a princess under her knees, and in two years, she could have relied on her wealth to be promoted to the rank of fei. Now, as an infertile woman without children, being able to become Pin was already due to the Emperor's nostalgia for their past relationship.
Although she was also resentful in her heart, Xi Guifei couldn't openly let others take advantage of her like this, so she said with a half-reproachful and half-amused tone: "What's this nonsense about having to cater to everyone's wishes? This is just absurd. Yunzhu has a good temperament, conducts herself in a dignified and restrained manner, the Emperor naturally likes her for that; if she were always causing trouble and being unreasonable, how could she win people over?"
Is this a hint at her own confusion? Ning Pin's heart was angry, but she saw that Xi Guifei, who was in a high position, endured again and listened to Xi Guifei gently stroking her fingernails and saying slowly: "Ning Pin is very clear about the fourth Fu Jin's affairs. A slave leaves the palace, why does he leave clearly?"
"The maid and concubine dare not, it's just that on that day I heard a few words from the Emperor." Ning Gui hastily knelt down.
"Hurry up, or people will think I'm some kind of villain. Just a curious question." Zhi Guifei said with an ambiguous gaze. During this time, the Emperor had been summoning newly entered palace concubines to serve him in bed, unexpectedly, Ning Concubine was still able to get a share, her methods were quite good, it seems that after the little princess's matter passed, she was going to regain favor again.
"A few days ago, it was the wedding of her fifth brother and his fiancée Dai Jia Shi, who had finally come out of mourning. She didn't attend in person due to still being in mourning, so she sent a servant with gifts instead. Today is the 51st birthday of the Marchioness, as her daughter, not attending the banquet to pay respects would be unacceptable, what do you think?"
Ning Pin smiled lightly and sat back in her seat. "The Fourth Lady has always been generous and dignified, it's not something a concubine like me would say."
"The concubine has just entered the palace, but I've also heard that the fourth imperial concubine is a good person, very filial to the emperor and the noble consort." Li Gui Ren smiled and flattered, she lived under Ning Pin in Yanxi Palace, giving her some relief and making herself feel better. Sitting below her, Changchang also echoed, "Looking at the fourth imperial concubine's smiling face, it has a few points of resemblance to the noble consort's appearance, it seems that she has been influenced by the noble consort's teachings... If I didn't know that the noble consort and the fourth imperial concubine were not sisters, I would have thought they were two sisters."
It's really disgusting to fawn on people like that, Ning Pin secretly scolded in her heart, looking at these new palace women with great displeasure, especially the Li Gui Ren in front of her and the Guo Gui Ren from Yonghe Palace. They were promoted to Gui Ren as soon as they entered the palace, what about those who had been waiting in the cold for years?!
These two fox-like beauties also knew their place. The consorts who had accompanied the emperor from his humble abode were all well-versed in the ways of the palace and would not have dared to curry favor with her so openly, lest they incur her displeasure. Although Consort Hui was also on guard, she felt that Liu, a mere palace maid residing in the Chengqian Palace, was even more cunning - a beauty who had managed to win the emperor's favor, this was no ordinary cleverness but rather deep calculation and high-handedness.
"What sister flowers, I'm all old."
"The young lady doesn't look old at all, she looks like she's 18 or 19 years old, in the prime of her youth. This skin is even smoother than that of a maid... " Changchang said hurriedly, with a face that was both pleased and displeased, a voice as clear as silver, just like a small magpie flapping its wings on a branch, she looked lovely no matter how you looked at her."
Xi Guifei heard this and smiled with joy. She wouldn't take Chang Shi's words seriously, but she was also pleased with her own eternal youth. Looking at Ning Pin and Qi Fei, who wasn't older than herself? Yu Fei had also obtained a few Cloud Pearls and Nourishing Orchid Fruits, but after all, couldn't compare to her own dignified self, with ample means, being able to maintain a radiant complexion every day.
"Your Majesty, De Hua's nanny from Yanxi Palace has come to report that Empress Dowager is not well." A palace guard reported.
Xi Guifei and others were shocked, Ning Pin and Li Guiren stood up and saluted: "Concubine Xi, please forgive us for taking our leave first."
"Go, be careful of the influence." This was a warning to them not to overdress next time. "Someone come, go to the Taiyi Hospital and invite Taishi. Zhang Bao, you personally go to the Yangxin Hall and tell the Emperor, see if the Emperor has time to see him."
"Hush." The eunuch Zhang Bao, who was standing nearby, immediately left.
Li Guiren and Chang Chang often scolded Xi Guifei in their hearts, but recently they couldn't even get an invitation to favor. Ning Pin looked at Xi Guifei who quickly recovered her calmness and felt a bit pitiful, the Empress Dowager had passed away, the Imperial Noble Consort had also left, among the consorts who came from the palace, except for Xi Guifei and Yu Fei, who wasn't living silently, one by one they all left.
In the palace, Bolan Cloud Pearl didn't know that she had returned to the mansion and was pulled by Guwalgiya Shi to sit on the couch. The newly arrived fifth sister, Dai Jia Shi, had been guarding her filial piety towards her grandfather and father until she was 20 years old before marrying into the Fuca family. Fortunately, the Fuca family was a trustworthy family, and after waiting for so long, they only arranged two concubines for Fu Kuan, not even having any illegitimate children.
"She has seen her great aunt." Dai Jia's wife handed over a handkerchief she had prepared long ago.
"Thanks, Fifth Aunt. This embroidery is really well done." Yunzhu took the embroidered handkerchief and looked at it, then asked Suwen to put it away. She also asked about Dai Jia's mother and younger brother, and learned that her mother was a bit better now. Her eight-year-old brother was doing well in his studies and had even started learning archery from a tutor. Then she said: "I've asked Guo to prepare some medicinal herbs, Fifth Aunt can take them back with you when you return home and give them to my aunt to help her recover. It's just a small token of my goodwill."
In the past few years, due to Dai Jia's mourning, she didn't come and go much. However, Yunzhu was not unfamiliar with Dai Jia either. Her father Dekeji and uncle Nasutu were both from the Blue Feather Guard, and the two families had a history of interaction. Dai Jia's uncle Natusu succeeded her father Dekeji's title of Cloud Riding Knight and is currently serving as General of Fengtian.
Dai Jia smiled and thanked him.
"This is Ming Yi, isn't she lovely?" From the arms of Third Aunt Xilin Jueluo, Yunzhu took a look at her little niece. Last year during the earthquake, she had only caught a glimpse of her when she was just over three months old, now she's grown so much bigger, "She still looks more like Third Aunt."
Fuca family every generation is a male, like Yunzhu's older brother Fu Guangcheng, married Shu Mu Lu Shi, in the second year of Yongzheng gave birth to Mingliang, in the fifth year of Yongzheng gave birth to Minghui, having two sons; Second brother Fu Qing, married Ma Jia Shi, in the fourth year of Yongzheng gave birth to Mingren, in the eighth year of Yongzheng gave birth to Mingde, having two sons; Third brother Fu Ning, in the third year of Yongzheng married Xi Lin Jueluo Shi, until the seventh year of Yongzheng gave birth to daughter Mingyi, the whole family regarded her as a treasure; Fourth brother Fu Wen (Yunzhu's older brother), married Nian Gulu Shi, currently with a big belly, boy or girl can only be known in August; Fifth brother Fu Kuan, just married Dai Jia Shi... Sixth brother Fu Xin and seventh brother Fu Yu have reached the age of marriage, but have not returned from going out to sea.
After calculating all this, the Fu family not only has a low birth rate for girls, but also the boys generally get married late (averaging around 20 years old before getting married), and having children is also late, with the earliest being two years after marriage to become pregnant...
After several sisters-in-law went out to greet the guests who came to the banquet, Yunzhu took out the birthday gifts for Guajia, including a handkerchief, a warm hat, slippers worn at home, and clothes...
Her craftsmanship is excellent, and the things she makes are elegant and luxurious in style. She has also taken care of both warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Guwalgiya looked at them with a mixture of admiration and reluctance in her heart, "It must have taken you a lot of effort to make these. You're not having an easy time now, so don't put all your energy into this in the future. Even if you do make things, make them for Fourth Brother and Empress Shu as well."
"You don't know me yet, I can do these things quickly and well, they were done during my free time... it's not a waste of effort, others have them too. I also brought this year's new batch of flower tea and dried fruit, you and Ama must eat some every day, I specifically brought them."
"Alright, alright, I know, your Ama and I are both fine." This child has always been worried about her and her Ama's health in recent years. Wasn't she frightened by her Ama's illness back then? Gualjiasi smiled and held her hand, "Don't think too much usually, go out more often, take care of yourself, and after you get married, try to have a child as soon as possible..."
"Got it." Yunzhu responded, suddenly thought of something, her eyes slightly reddened, "Mother, do you blame me? Six Ge and Seven Ge still have no news until now. Will they encounter a storm or pirates at sea? Are they safe?"
Sometimes she also worries, Fu Yu is the brother who has the best feelings for her except Fu Heng, and Butterfly's fate is good or bad for him. The historical Fu Yu not only served as a general in Heilongjiang, Guangzhou, and Xi'an, but his performance in local military and political affairs was also outstanding.
"Stop daydreaming!" Guajia scolded, slapping her hand. "Aren't your second brother and ninth brother in danger on the battlefield? It was you who suggested it, but whether they go or not is their choice. The family has made all sorts of preparations for them, and whether it's good or bad is up to their fate. From now on, you should learn from your mother and let things go, don't think about some decisions after they're made... do you understand?"
"Uh-huh."
After chatting with Li Rongbao in the study for a while, Yunzhu bid farewell to her family and returned to the palace with Guo Yiniang and others.
After two days, Consort Song died. The Yongzheng Emperor ordered her burial according to the rites of a consort.
At the end of June, Hongli and Hongdiao returned from inspecting the water conservancy of the north and south rivers, and went straight to the Qianqing Palace to report their work. By the time they could return home and sleep soundly, the sky was filled with stars. Looking at the thick stack of documents on his desk, Yongzheng smiled and rested in the Nourishing Heart Hall.
Hongli rushed back to his heart like an arrow and hurried to Qianxi's second place, "Yunzhu!"
A small, delicate octagonal palace lamp on a high-legged plum blossom table by the bed emitted a soft yellow glow. The beloved woman, dressed in a moon-white silk long gown, sat sideways on the cool bamboo couch, holding a book and intently reading, her raven-black hair hanging down behind her back, its softness and luster making one want to reach out and touch it gently.
The originally clear and beautiful portrait of a beauty reading, under the soft glow of the lamp, had an inexplicable warmth and tenderness. Hongli rushed forward in three or two steps, suddenly embracing the person into his arms, smelling the faint scent of jasmine, clear and quiet, with a sense of satisfaction that this life was worth living.
Yunzhu let out a soft "ah" and came back to her senses, struggling slightly as she gazed into his eyes with a faint hint of surprise: "You... you're back!"
"It's been a long time since I got back!" He rubbed his nose against hers, drew close and lightly kissed her lips.
"Are you back to normal?" She patted his shoulder slightly annoyed, "You didn't even let me say a word." Then she carefully looked him up and down from head to toe, pinched him again, checking for any injuries. "And just like when you came back from the northwest, you're darker and thinner too." Actually, it was just his usual fair skin tone.
"I've got a surprise for you." He smiled, his eyes fixed intently on her as she rummaged through his things.
After checking, Yunzhu tiptoed and kissed him lightly, "I'll go tell someone to prepare hot water for you to bathe, then I'll... are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"
Hongli's eyes lit up, "You made it yourself? A bowl of flatbread soup is fine." In fact, he had already had dinner in the Qianqing Palace, but he didn't mind having another midnight snack.
"Then I'll go and do it, you take a good bath and relax."
"Good." He replied, looking at her and calling Su Xin to come in, letting her instruct people to prepare water. He himself tied his hair back with a jade pin, put on a light blue short jacket with shallow yellow thread and dark flowers, and even poured him a cup of flower tea before lifting the curtain and going out.
It wasn't until her figure disappeared outside the door that he sat down, picked up the book she had just been reading, and found it to be a copy of "Xu Xiake's Travel Diary", which made him laugh involuntarily.
The author has something to say: The following is the main text:
Time flies, another two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Hongli and Hongxiao, the two men sent by Yongzheng to inspect waterworks in the south and north, had not returned for a long time.
On June 1st, Yunzhu brought Guo Qiang and others to the Fuca Mansion to celebrate Gua'erjia's 51st birthday (50 years old in Chinese age), as Manchu people usually celebrate their 49th or 51st birthdays instead of their actual 50th, 60th...
When Yunzhu left the palace again, Xi Guifei let Qin Yiniang select a few things to send to Qianxi's residence. Ning Pin Wu Shi, who came to pay respects at Qing'an Palace, smiled and said: "Didn't you just let your personal maid return to her hometown a few days ago? Ah, these four noblewomen are indeed blessed with good fortune, encountering Guifei Niangniang, such a kind and gentle mother-in-law. Even the Emperor is willing to grant their requests." Since Zixiang was assigned to Qi Fei Li Shi's name, Ning Pin had been resentful of Yunzhu. If it weren't for her, she would have at least been able to raise a princess under her knees, and in two years, she could have relied on her wealth to be promoted to the rank of fei. Now, as an infertile woman, being able to become Pin was already due to the Emperor's nostalgia for their past relationship.
Although she was also resentful in her heart, Xi Guifei couldn't openly let others take advantage of her like this, so she said with a half-reproachful and half-amused tone: "What's this nonsense about having to cater to everyone's wishes? This is just absurd. Yunzhu has a good temperament, conducts herself in a dignified and restrained manner, the Emperor naturally likes her for that; if she were always causing trouble and being unreasonable, how could she win people over?"
Is this a hint at her own confusion? Ning Pin's heart was angry, but she saw that Xi Guifei, who was in a high position, endured again and listened to Xi Guifei gently stroking her fingernails and saying slowly: "Ning Pin is very clear about the fourth Fu Jin's affairs. A slave leaves the palace, why does he leave clearly?"
"The maid and concubine dare not, it's just that on that day I heard a few words from the Emperor." Ning Gui hastily knelt down.
"Hurry up, or people will think I'm some kind of villain. Just a curious question." Zhi Guifei said with an ambiguous gaze. During this time, the Emperor had been summoning newly entered palace concubines to serve him at night, unexpectedly, Ning Concubine was still able to get a share, her methods were quite good, it seems that after the little princess's matter passed, she was going to regain favor again.
"A few days ago, it was the wedding of her fifth brother and his fiancée Dai Jia Shi, who had finally come out of mourning. She didn't attend in person due to still being in mourning, so she sent a servant with gifts instead. Today is the 51st birthday of the Viscountess, as her daughter, not attending the banquet to pay respects would be unacceptable, what do you think?"
Ning Pin smiled lightly and sat back in her seat. "The Fourth Lady has always been generous and dignified, it's not something a concubine like me would say."
"The concubine has just entered the palace, but I've also heard that the fourth imperial concubine is a good person, very filial to the emperor and the noble consort." Li Gui Ren smiled and flattered, she lived under Ning Pin in Yanxi Palace, giving her some relief and making herself feel better. Sitting below her, Changchang also echoed, "Looking at the fourth imperial concubine's smiling face, it has a few points of resemblance to the noble consort's, it seems that she has been influenced by the noble consort's teachings... If I didn't know that the noble consort and the fourth imperial concubine were not sisters, I would have thought they were two sisters."
It's really disgusting to fawn on people like that, Ning Pin secretly scolded in her heart, looking at these new palace women with great displeasure, especially the Li Gui Ren in front of her and the Guo Gui Ren from Yonghe Palace. They were promoted to Gui Ren as soon as they entered the palace, what about those who had been waiting in the cold palace for years?!
These two fox-like beauties also knew their place. The consorts who had accompanied the emperor from his humble abode were all well-versed in the ways of the palace and would not have dared to curry favor with her so openly, lest they incur her displeasure. Although Consort Xi was also on guard, she felt that Liu, a lowly palace maid residing in the Chengqian Palace, was even more cunning - a beauty who had managed to win the emperor's favor, no less; this was not just cleverness but deep calculation and high-handedness.
"What sister flowers, I'm all old."
"The young lady doesn't look old at all, she looks like she's eighteen or nineteen years old, in the prime of her youth. This skin is even smoother than that of a maid... " Changchang said hurriedly, with a face that was both pleased and displeased, a voice as clear as silver, just like a small magpie flapping its wings on a branch, she looked lovely no matter how you looked at her."
Xi Guifei heard this and smiled with joy. She wouldn't take Chang Shi's words seriously, but she was also pleased with her own eternal youth. Looking at Ning Pin and Qi Fei, who wasn't older than herself? Yu Fei had also obtained a few Cloud Pearls and Nourishing Orchid Fruits, but after all, couldn't compare to her own dignified self, with ample means, being able to maintain a radiant complexion every day.
"Your Majesty, De Hua's nanny from Yanxi Palace has come to report that Empress Dowager is unwell." A palace guard reported.
Xi Guifei and others were shocked, Ning Pin and Li Guiren stood up and saluted: "Concubine, please forgive us for taking our leave first."
"Go, be careful of the influence." This was a warning to them not to overdress next time. "Someone come, go to the Taiyi Hospital and invite Taishi. Zhang Bao, you personally go to the Yangxin Hall and tell the Emperor, see if the Emperor has time to see him."
"Hush." The eunuch Zhang Bao, who was standing nearby, immediately left.
Li Guiren and Chang Chang often scolded Xi Guifei in their hearts, but recently they couldn't even get an invitation to favor. Ning Pin looked at Xi Guifei who quickly recovered her calmness and felt a bit pitiful, the Empress Dowager had passed away, the Imperial Noble Consort had also left, among the consorts who came from the palace, except for Xi Guifei and Yu Fei, who wasn't living in silence? One by one, they all left.
In the palace, Bolan Cloud Pearl didn't know that she had returned to the mansion and was pulled by Guwalgiya to sit on the couch. The newly arrived fifth sister, Dai Jia Shi, had been guarding her filial piety towards her grandfather and father until she was 20 years old before marrying into the Fuca family. Fortunately, the Fuca family was a trustworthy family, and after waiting for so long, they only arranged two concubines for Fu Kuan, not even having any illegitimate children.
"She has seen the great aunt." Dai Jia's wife handed over a handkerchief she had prepared early on.
"Thanks, Fifth Aunt. This embroidery is really well done." Yunzhu took the embroidered handkerchief and looked at it, then asked Suwen to put it away. She also asked about Dai Jia's mother and younger brother, and learned that her mother was a bit better now. Her eight-year-old brother was doing well in his studies and had even started learning archery from a tutor. Then she said, "I've asked Guo Mama to prepare some medicinal herbs. Fifth Aunt, please take them back with you when you return home and give them to my aunt to help her recover. It's just a small token of my goodwill."
In the past few years, due to Dai Jia's mourning, she didn't come and go much. However, Yunzhu was not unfamiliar with Dai Jia either. Her father Dekeji and uncle Nasutu were both from the Blue Feather Guard, and the two families had a history of interaction. Dai Jia's uncle Natu succeeded her father Dekeji's title of Cloud Riding Knight and is currently the General of Fengtian.
Dai Jia smiled and thanked him.
"This is Ming Yi, isn't she lovely?" From the hands of Third Aunt Xilin Jueluo, Yunzhu took over her little niece. She looked at her and thought that last year during the earthquake, she had only taken a quick glance at her when she was just over three months old, now she's grown up so much, "She still looks more like Third Aunt."
Fuca family every generation is a male, like Yunzhu's older brother Fu Guangcheng, married to Shu Mulu, gave birth to Mingliang in the second year of Yongzheng, and gave birth to Minghui in the fifth year of Yongzheng, with two sons; Second brother Fu Qing, married Ma Jia, gave birth to Mingren in the fourth year of Yongzheng, and gave birth to Mingde in the eighth year of Yongzheng, also with two sons; Third brother Fu Ning, married Xilin Jueluo in the third year of Yongzheng, but did not give birth to a daughter until the seventh year of Yongzheng, and everyone treated her like a treasure; Fourth brother Fu Wen (Yunzhu's older brother), married Niuhulu, is currently pregnant with a big belly, whether it's a boy or girl will have to wait until August to know; Fifth brother Fu Kuan, just married Dai Jia... Sixth brother Fu Xin and seventh brother Fu Yu are also at the age of marriage, but they have not returned from going out to sea.
After calculating all this, the Fu family not only has a low birth rate for girls, but also the boys generally get married late (averaging around 20 years old before getting married), and having children is also late, with the earliest being two years after marriage to become pregnant...
After several sisters-in-law went out to greet the guests who came to the banquet, Yunzhu took out the birthday gifts for Guajia, including a handkerchief, a warm hat, slippers worn at home, and clothes...
Her craftsmanship is excellent, and the things she makes are elegant and luxurious in style. She has also taken care of both warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Guwalgiya looked at them with a mixture of admiration and reluctance in her heart, "It must have taken you a lot of effort to make these. You're not having an easy time now, so don't put all your energy into this in the future. Even if you do make things, make them for Fourth Brother and Empress Shu as well."
"You don't know me yet, I can do these things quickly and well, they were done during my free time... it's not a waste of effort, others have them too. I also brought this year's new batch of flower tea and dried fruit, you and Ama must eat some every day, I specifically brought them."
"Alright, alright, I know, your Ama and I are both fine." This child has always been worried about her and her Ama's health in recent years. Wasn't she frightened by her Ama's illness back then? Gualjiasi smiled and held her hand, "Don't think too much usually, go out more often, take care of yourself, and after you get married, try to have a child as soon as possible..."
"Got it." Yunzhu responded, suddenly thought of something, and her eyes turned slightly red. "Mother, do you blame me? The sixth brother and seventh brother still have no news until now. Will they encounter a storm or pirates at sea? Are they safe?"
Sometimes she also worries, Fu Yu is the brother who has the best feelings for her except Fu Heng, and Butterfly's fate is good or bad for him. The historical Fu Yu not only served as a general in Heilongjiang, Guangzhou, and Xi'an, but his performance in local military and political affairs was also outstanding.
"Stop daydreaming!" Guan Jia's mother slapped her hand angrily, "Are your second brother and ninth brother not in danger when they go to the battlefield? It was you who suggested it, but whether or not to go is their choice. The family has also made all sorts of preparations for them. Whether it's good or bad is their fate. You should learn from your mother and be more open-minded about things. Some decisions are made and shouldn't be thought about again... Do you understand?"
"Uh-huh."
After chatting with Li Rongbao in the study for a while, Yunzhu bid farewell to her family and returned to the palace with Guo Yiniang and others.
After two days, Consort Song died. The Yongzheng Emperor ordered her burial according to the rites of a consort.
At the end of June, Hongli and Hongdiao returned from inspecting the water conservancy projects on the north and south rivers. They went straight to the Qianqing Palace to report their work. By the time they could return home and get a good night's sleep, the sky was filled with stars. Looking at the thick stack of documents on his desk, Yongzheng smiled slightly and took a rest in the Yangxin Hall.
Hongli rushed back to Qianxi's two places, "Yunzhu!"
A small, exquisite octagonal palace lamp was placed on a high-legged plum blossom table beside the bed, emitting a soft yellow glow. The beloved woman, dressed in a moon-white silk long gown, sat sideways on the cool bamboo couch, holding a book and intently reading, her raven-black hair hanging down behind her back, its softness and luster making one irresistibly want to touch it gently.
The originally clear and beautiful portrait of a beauty reading, under the soft glow of the lamp, had an inexplicable warmth and tenderness. Hongli rushed forward in three or two steps, suddenly embracing her in his arms, smelling the faint scent of jasmine, quiet and serene, with a sense of satisfaction that this life was worth living.
Yunzhu let out a soft "ah" and came back to her senses, slightly struggling, looking at him with faint surprise in her eyes: "You... you're back!"
"It's been a long time since I got back!" He rubbed his nose against hers, drew close and lightly kissed her lips.
"Have you arrived at Huang Ama's place?" She was slightly annoyed and patted his shoulder, "Not even letting people say a word." Then she carefully looked him up and down from head to toe, and pinched him again to check if he was injured. "You've become as dark as when you came back from the northwest, and also thinner." Actually, it's just a light honey-colored skin.
"I've got a surprise for you." He smiled, his eyes fixed intently on her as she rummaged through his things.
After checking, Yunzhu tiptoed and kissed him lightly, "I'll go tell someone to prepare hot water for you to bathe, then I'll... are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"
Hongli's eyes lit up, "You made it yourself? A bowl of flat noodle soup is fine." In fact, he had already had dinner in the Qianqing Palace, but he didn't mind having another midnight snack.
"Then I'll go and do it, you take a bath and relax."
"Good." He replied, looking at her and calling Su Xin to come in, letting her instruct people to prepare water. He himself also tied his hair back with a jade pin, put on a light blue short jacket with shallow yellow thread and dark flowers, and even poured him a cup of flower tea before lifting the curtain and going out.
It wasn't until her figure disappeared outside the door that he sat down, picked up the book she had just been reading, and found it to be a copy of "Xu Xiake's Travel Diary", which made him laugh involuntarily.
