Jing Xiu Palace!
Princess Lin An's exquisite embroidered shoes stepped on the soft lichens as she held the Crown Prince's Older Brother's arm and entered Jing Xiu Palace.
The room was as warm as spring as the floor heater dispersed the December coldness. A luxuriously dressed Imperial Consort sat at the table and had already laid out a sumptuous meal as she waited for her pair of children with a smile on her face.
Imperial Consort Chen was in her early forties and had long passed the prime of a female's youth and was at the most plump stage of a female.
Her skin was still tight and her eyes were still watery. Her well-maintained figure was not out of shape and the years had precipitated the mature charm of a female.
Not to mention the devastatingly beautiful Empress, among the many beauties in the Inner Palace, Imperial Consort Chen was the best at fighting.
Thus among the four Imperial Ladies, only Lin An could compete with Princess Royal in terms of length … No, it was a contest of superiority.
"It is too hot. Let the servants outside lower the charcoal fire." The energetic Princess Lin An frowned.
She usually only needed to light the charcoal fire but the floor heater was too hot and it gave one the feeling of being in a steamer.
The smiling Imperial Consort Chen immediately instructed, "Listen to Princess Lin An, lower the charcoal fire."
Lin An happily threw herself into her mother's embrace and smiled like a little girl, "Lady Mother, this child will stay here at night and accompany you to sleep, alright?"
Imperial Consort Chen nodded her head with a gentle smile.
Even though this was not in accordance with the rules as the Imperial Consorts might need to serve the Emperor at night, but during the reign of the Yu Anjing Emperor, because the Emperor had been cultivating all year round, he had long forbade female charms, thus many of the rules in the Inner Palace were merely decorations.
The Emperor cared about women so the rules were strict but the Emperor did not care about the beauties in his Inner Palace. Under the premise of not making a mistake of principle, one could do as one liked.
The so called mistake of principle … Hei, hei, hei.
But with the state of the Yu Anjing Emperor, it was not that the Inner Palace was useless. At least the Inner Palace was very harmonious and the Imperial Consorts could not fight even if they wanted to.
The Crown Prince chatted with his Lady Mother and Princess Lin An was also chattering at the side.
"Today the Ling Long suddenly went berserk and almost injured Lin An. Imperial Father and the guards could not rescue in time." The Crown Prince mentioned what happened in the afternoon.
The Imperial Consort Chen turned pale with fright and quickly held Princess Lin An's hands and looked at her in fear, "Is she injured? Let Lady Mother take a look? "
The Second Princess liked to act coquettishly. She made a pitiful expression and said, "I almost couldn't see my mother anymore."
The imperial concubine felt a lingering fear and said angrily, "What's wrong with these servants? They can't even subdue a beast and almost hurt my son."
After she vented her anger, she held Princess Lin An's soft hands, "What happened afterwards? It was the Crown Prince who saved you?"
Chen Lin An's Chen An Li's Prince. The other than the Prince's Lin An's Yan's position. Lin An Prince's status, "Prince's position.
"Lin An Prince Prince Lin An's nose as and complained," Prince 'Tian Brother did not have the ability. Long Lin An's Prince Every Family Every's Prince. every said. "Long when Emperor. Prince
Chen Prince smiled as Chen's.
The Imperial Concubine became even more curious. She looked at the Crown Prince and held her daughter's hand, "Tell your mother?"
Lin An's charming peach blossom eyes suddenly lit up. "I received a small gong today … Yes, it was the day before yesterday. I brought it with me today and was planning to send it out. Coincidentally, I came across this matter. He was the one who saved me."
"Copper Gong …" Imperial Consort Chen frowned, "Is it the night watchman?"
Lin An said, "I know that Lady Mother does not like Night Watchers, because those are Wei Yuan's people. But he is my people." Lin An said, "I know that Imperial Mother does not like people who make night watches, because they are all Wei Yuan's people, but he is my man."
Imperial Consort Chen smiled and nodded, "Did His Majesty reward me?"
"Bengong also have a reward here." Imperial Consort Chen solemnly said, "Later I will send someone to the storeroom to take some jewellery over."
"Ben gong also has to bestow a reward here," Imperial Consort Chen solemnly said, "Later on, I will send someone to the storeroom to retrieve some jewelry and deliver it over."
When the Crown Prince heard this, he suddenly frowned, "When did that Xu Qi 'an become your person?"
Princess Lin An suddenly raised her snow-white chin and said proudly, "I snatched it from Huaiqing."
Princess Lin An immediately raised her snow white chin and said proudly, "I snatched it from Huai Qing."
"Does Huai Qing know?"
"Then she did not teach you a lesson?"
"She dared to teach me a lesson … I … I will go back and bring Xu Qi 'an to see her. There will be protection and I can also anger her." Speaking till here, Princess Lin An was happy with her own wit.
"She dared to teach me a lesson … I … I will go back and bring Xu Qi 'an to see her. There will be protection and also anger her." Speaking till here, Princess Lin An was happy with her own wit.
…
In the season of December, the sky would turn dark at any moment.
When they left the yamen, the sun was still hanging in the western sky, stubbornly dyeing the clouds into its own shape and colour.
When they reached the Xu residence, the sky was completely blue and lanterns were lit up, reflecting the pedestrians returning late and the pavilions and tiled houses.
Blue sky, bamboo lanterns, antique buildings … Every time Xu Qi 'an saw this scene, he would hate himself for not learning painting in the beginning.
At this time, the Xu residence was already closed. The gatekeeper, Old Zhang, knew that Xu Dalang would never enter through the doors.
So when Xu Qi 'an knocked on the doors, Old Zhang's face was full of surprise.
"Call the residence's people over to move the things." Xu Qi 'an instructed.
Move things?
Old Zhang's gaze swept over Xu Dalang's shoulder and looked at the three horse carriages behind, as well as the accompanying night watchmen.
…
In the front hall, a family of four was eating. Xu Lingyue still did not manage to wait for her Eldest Brother to eat together and missed him. She hung her head down and asked, "Eldest Brother did not return home on time for many days."
The candlelight swayed, and her long eyelashes caught the light. Her sharp oval face shone with a jade-like luster.
She had a fair and beautiful oval face, and a pure and delicate posture. If she wore a sailor suit, she would be in line with the public's taste of beauty.
Well, she was a mixed-race school beauty. Xu Lingyue's facial features were more profound and three-dimensional than ordinary girls.
"I will leave some food for Eldest Brother to eat." Xu Lingyin and her sister were completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Without her Eldest Brother, no one would snatch food from her.
Her short and thick hands held the chopsticks, and she ate them as if they were flying. Her talent was amazing.
"In a few days, is it time for the monthly salary?" Aunt glanced at Second Uncle.
The second Uncle Xu lowered his head to eat and made a sound of "yes".
In fact, he had already overdrawn this month's salary. It was close to the end of the year, and socializing with colleagues and giving gifts were all in the form of shiny silver.
… Since Ning Yan did not have a wife, he would first borrow his salary to deal with it. The second Uncle Xu thought.
"At the end of the year, I still have to make clothes for Lingyue, Lingyin, Dalang, and Erlang. I don't have enough money." Aunt sighed.
Last month, before going to Yunlu Academy, the family still had a few dozen taels of silver in savings. In the end, when they came back, it was empty …
Aunt wanted to tear Second Uncle apart on the spot, asking if he went out to fool around.
It was Xu Dalang and Xu Erlang who vouched on their honor that the money was used to run through their connections to handle official business, and was not spent fooling around.
Aunt believed them.
Although Xu Dalang was an irritating person, he was stubborn and never lied. Xu Erlang was a scholar. He was a sensible child and had always followed the rules since he was young.
"It's just a matter of a few taels of silver." The second Uncle Xu didn't care.
Aunt glanced at him, "I want to buy a bolt of cloud brocade."
The second Uncle Xu raised his head in surprise. He didn't think that with the current financial situation of the family, they could afford to use one foot of cloud brocade.
Aunt calculated for him, saying that if Erlang passed the spring examination, his status would be different, and he couldn't always wear the old robe. No matter how precious it was, it wouldn't be enough to support him.
Lingyue was of marriageable age, and the clothes in the cupboard should be refurbished.
Second Uncle Xu listened to them absent-mindedly, mumbling perfunctorily.
Pa!
Aunt slammed the chopsticks on the table, and everyone looked over.
Aunt picked up the chopsticks expressionlessly, "Let's eat."
The second Uncle Xu said helplessly, "During the tax case, we used up all our money. The first month's rice was borrowed from my colleagues. Let's wait for next year, we'll definitely buy it next year."
Aunt lowered her head, not letting him see her slightly red eyes.
"Be careful, be careful … Don't touch the wall, or else I'll cut you."
The gatekeeper, Old Zhang, scolded.
The second Uncle Xu wasn't in a good mood, and frowned as he looked over. The servants of the mansion were holding bolts of silk, and under the guidance of the gatekeeper, Old Zhang, they carefully came in.
Aunt Katzilan's eyes widened as she looked incredulously at the bright and beautiful satin being carried in.
"So beautiful …" Xu Lingyue exclaimed.
Lv 'e also opened her eyes wide, drooling.
Only Xu Lingyin was loyal to her love of food, her little face buried in the bowl, and her cheeks bulging.
"Where, where did these come from?" The second Uncle Xu asked blankly.
The gatekeeper, Old Zhang, unfolded a piece of coarse cloth, and spread it on the ground. He ordered the servants to put down the satin, and answered, "Dalang brought them back, and said that His Majesty gave them to him."
His Majesty gave them? The first reaction of the second Uncle Xu was that the Sampo Case was solved?
As a baihu of the Imperial Blade Guards, he usually guarded the outer city, and didn't know what was going on in the inner city. The Sampo Case had caused a stir in the inner city, but people with low status couldn't get any relevant information.
Thinking about how he had been stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for almost 20 years, the second uncle's heart was gloomy. But soon, this sense of loss was washed away by joy, "Where's Ning Yan?"
"Outside the door … His Majesty gave him a total of 500 bolts of silk," the gatekeeper, Old Zhang, said happily.
"Clatter!"
Aunt's chopsticks fell on the table.
