Chapter 149
Princess Lin an’s exquisitely embroidered shoes stepped on the soft ground clothes, holding the arm of her brother the Crown Prince, and entered the jingxiu Palace.
The room was as warm as spring, and the warmth of the floor dispelled the cold of December. A luxuriously dressed imperial consort was sitting at the table, waiting for her son and daughter with a smile on her face.
Noble Consort Chen was in her early forties and had long passed the prime of a woman’s life. She was at the most plump stage of a woman.
Her skin was still tight, her eyes were still watery, and her well-maintained figure was still the same. Time had settled on her body and she had the charm of a mature woman.
Apart from the devastatingly beautiful Empress, among the many beauties in the harem, noble Consort Chen was the best at fighting.
Therefore, among the four princesses, only Lin ‘an could compete with the eldest Princess ... No, it was a competition.
“It’s too hot, let the servants outside cool down the charcoal fire.” The energetic Princess of Lin an frowned.
Usually, she only needed to keep the charcoal on fire. The floor was too hot, and it felt like she was in a steamer.
With a gentle smile, noble Consort Chen immediately ordered, “”Listen to the princess of Lin an, lower the charcoal fire.”
Lin ‘an happily threw herself into her mother’s arms and smiled like a little girl, “”Consort mother, this child will sleep here tonight and accompany you to sleep, alright?”
Noble Consort Chen nodded with a gentle smile.
Although this was not in accordance with the rules, after all, the concubines might have to serve the Emperor at night. However, in Emperor Yuan jing’s dynasty, because the Emperor cultivated all year round, he had long banned women from being lecherous. Many rules in the harem were just for decoration.
The Emperor cared about women, so the rules were strict. However, the Emperor didn’t care about the beauties in his harem. As long as he didn’t make any mistakes in principle, he could do whatever he wanted.
The so-called big mistake ... Hehehe.
However, Emperor Yuan jing’s state was not completely useless. At least the harem was very harmonious, and the concubines could not fight even if they wanted to.
The Crown Prince accompanied his consort mother to chat, and the princess of Lin an was also chirping at the side to interrupt.
“Today, the Spirit Dragon suddenly went berserk and almost hurt Lin ‘an. Father and the guards were not able to save him in time.” The Crown Prince brought up what had happened in the afternoon.
The Buddhist-style imperial consort turned pale with fright and hurriedly held the princess of Lin an’s hand and looked at her in fear,”Are you hurt somewhere? Let Imperial mother take a look.”
The second Princess was a spoiled brat, so she took the opportunity to put on an aggrieved and pitiful expression.”The child almost didn’t get to see Imperial mother.”
The Imperial consort felt a wave of lingering fear. She said angrily, ” what’s wrong with this group of servants? they can’t even subdue a beast. They almost hurt my son.
After she finished throwing her temper, she held the soft hands of Princess Lin an,”What happened after that? was it the Crown Prince who saved you?”
The status of the Crown Prince was completely different from that of the other princes. Except for the Empress, all the other concubines in the harem had to call him the Crown Prince and could not call him “my son” or “Prince.”
The Crown Prince of Lin ‘an wrinkled his nose and complained,”Brother Crown Prince doesn’t have this ability. Every time huaiqing bullies me, he only uses his mouth and doesn’t help me hit huaiqing.”
The Crown Prince shook his head with a bitter smile.
The Imperial consort became more and more curious. She looked at the Crown Prince and held her daughter’s hand.”Tell mother?”
Lin ‘an’s charming peach blossom eyes suddenly bloomed, “”I received a small gong today ... Yes, it was the day before yesterday. Today, I brought him with me and was planning to send him on a mission. Coincidentally, I encountered this incident and he was the one who saved me. ”
“Copper Gong ...” “The night watchman?” noble Consort Chen frowned.
“Yes.” “I know consort mother doesn’t like night watchmen because they are all Wei Yuan’s people, but he is my person,” Lin an said.
“Your Majesty, do you have any rewards?” noble Consort Chen smiled and nodded.
“Naturally, there are.” The Crown Prince replied.
Noble Consort Chen solemnly said, “”I’ll send someone to the warehouse to get some jewelry and send it over.”
The object of a consort’s reward naturally could not be an official. It should be a female relative of the official’s family.
When the Crown Prince heard this, he suddenly frowned. when did Xu Qi ‘an become your man? ”
The princess of Lin an immediately raised her Snow White chin and said proudly,”I snatched it from huaiqing.”
“Does huaiqing know?”
“I know.”
did she teach you a lesson? ”
she dared to teach me a lesson ... I ... I’ll bring Xu Qi ‘an to see her. That way, she’ll be protected, and I can also anger her. ” When she said this, the princess of Lin an was happy for her own wit.
.....
It was the season of December, and the sky was dark as one wished.
When they set off from the Yamen, the sun was still hanging in the Western sky, stubbornly dyeing the clouds in its own shape and color.
By the time they arrived at the Xu estate, the sky had turned completely blue. Lanterns were lit up, reflecting the pedestrians returning late and the attics and tile-roofed houses.
In the sky of the netherworld, there were bamboo lanterns and ancient-looking buildings ... Every time Xu Qi ‘an saw this, she hated herself for not learning how to draw.
At this time, the Xu residence was already closed. The gatekeeper, old Zhang, knew that eldest brother never left through the door.
Therefore, when Xu Qi ‘an knocked on the door, old Zhang was surprised.
“Call the people in the residence to come over and move things.” Xu Qi ‘an ordered.
Move things?
Old Zhang’s gaze swept past Xu dalang’s shoulder and looked at the three carriages behind him, as well as the night watchman.
....
In the front hall, the family of four was eating. Xu lingyue still didn’t get to see her eldest brother today and missed him. She lowered her head and asked,”Big brother hasn’t been home on time for dinner for many days.”
The candlelight flickered, and her long eyelashes held the light. Her sharp oval face flickered with a warm Jade-like luster.
She had a fair and beautiful oval-shaped face, and a pure and delicate posture. If she wore a sailor’s uniform, she would be a school beauty in line with the public’s aesthetic.
...
Well, she was also a mixed-blood School Belle. Xu lingyue’s facial features were more profound and more three-dimensional than ordinary women.
“I’ll leave some food for big brother to eat.” Xu lingying and her sister were two extremes. Without her brother, no one would fight with her for food.
His short and thick hand held the chopsticks, and he moved his chopsticks as if they were flying. His talent was amazing.
“Won’t you receive your monthly salary in a few days?” Auntie looked at second uncle.
Second uncle Xu lowered his head to eat and hummed in acknowledgment.
In fact, he had already overdrawn this month’s salary. As the new year was approaching, the social interactions and gifts between colleagues were all white silver.
..... Ning Yan didn’t have a wife anyway, so she would borrow his salary to deal with it. Second uncle Xu thought.
“At the end of the year, I still have to give lingyue Bell and Dalong and Erlang to make clothes. I don’t have enough money again.” His aunt sighed.
Before he went to Yun Lu Academy last month, his family still had a few dozen taels of silver in savings. In the end, when he returned, it was all empty ...
Auntie wanted to tear second uncle apart on the spot and say that he was out fooling around.
It was Xu dalang and Xu Erlang who vouched on their integrity that they had used all their money to use their connections to do proper work and that they were definitely not fooling around.
...
His aunt believed him.
Although dalang Xu was a nuisance, he was stubborn and never lied. Xu Erlang was a scholar. He had been a prim and proper child since he was young and was a sensible child.
“It’s just a matter of a few taels of silver.” Second uncle Xu didn’t care.
“I want to buy a cloud brocade,” his aunt said as she glanced at him.
Second uncle Xu raised his head in surprise. He didn’t think that the family’s current financial situation could afford to use a foot and a tael of cloud brocade.
His aunt read his fortune and said that if he could win after his Childe, his status would be different. He couldn’t always wear the robe he used to wear. No matter how precious it was, it wouldn’t be able to hold up his reputation.
Lingyue had reached the marriageable age, and the clothes in the cabinet should be refurbished.
Second uncle Xu listened absent-mindedly and gave perfunctory hums.
Pa!
The aunt slammed her chopsticks on the table, and everyone looked over.
His aunt picked up her chopsticks again expressionlessly. let’s eat.
Second uncle Xu said helplessly, ” during the tax and silver case, we’ve already emptied our pockets. For the first month, I borrowed the rice and noodles from my colleagues. Let’s wait until next year. I’ll definitely buy them next year.
His aunt lowered her head, not letting him see her slightly red eyes.
“Be careful, be careful ... Don’t touch the wall, I won’t kill you if you dirty it. ”
The gatekeeper old Zhang’s scolding came.
Second uncle Xu was not in a good mood. He frowned and looked over. The servants in the manor were holding rolls of silk and satin. Under the command of the gatekeeper, old Zhang, they carefully entered.
Xuxu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the rolls of bright and beautiful satin being moved in.
“It’s so beautiful ...” Xu lingyue exclaimed.
Lu er’s eyes were also wide open and she was drooling.
Only Xu lingying was loyal and loved food. Her little face was buried in the bowl, and her cheeks were puffed up.
“Where, where did all these come from?” Second uncle Xu asked in confusion.
The gatekeeper, old Zhang, unfolded a piece of coarse cloth and laid it on the ground. As he instructed the servant to put down the silk, he replied, “”Eldest brother brought it back and said it was a gift from His Majesty.”
His Majesty gave it to him? Second uncle Xu’s first reaction was that the Sang Bo case had been solved?
As a Centurion of the Imperial saber guard, he was usually on duty in the outer city. He didn’t even know about the people in the inner city. The Sang Bo case had caused a huge commotion in the inner city, but those with low status couldn’t get access to the relevant information.
Thinking about how he had been stuck in the Qi refining stage for nearly 20 years, second uncle’s heart sank. But soon, this disappointment was washed away by joy.”Where’s ningyan?”
“Outside the door ... His Majesty has bestowed a total of five hundred Rolls of silk.” Old Zhang said happily.
“Pa da!”
The chopsticks in her aunt’s hand fell on the table.
[ PS: there’s one more chapter at 12 o ‘clock. Seeing that I’ve worked so hard, please give me a monthly ticket. ]