The three of them were walking on the corridor outside Yongshou Palace. Facing his childhood friend with whom he had only communicated through letters for ten years, Hongli felt inexplicably nervous and at a loss.
"Yutang, this is Fu Heng. You should have met him." "Yes, Mr. Fu escorted Yu Tang all the way back to Beijing. Yu Tang thanked him here." Fu Heng: "Tang Gege, you don't need to be polite, I also accept it. It's just a matter of loyalty to someone who is entrusted by someone." Hongli: "You two are a bit unfamiliar when you say "sir" and "no" each other. There will be many opportunities to meet in the future, so why don't we call each other by name, and we will be friends from now on." Yu. Tang remembered his attitude on the way and said, "Master Fu, just don't dislike it."
"I'm so worried." Hongli felt that the atmosphere was a little unfavorable, so he changed the subject and started talking to Yutang about trivial matters in the palace as he walked away.
"Going south from this corridor is Huang Ama's Yangxin Palace, and to the east is Qianqing Palace. Let's go to the West Sixth Palace today..." After entering the palace, the two met for the first time like this. It ended in boring trivial matters.
Hongli and Fu Heng returned to Nansan Institute together, and were annoyed that he couldn't express what he meant. Fu Heng had always been free and easy when it came to women, "I say Hongli, you have grown so old, but this is the first time I have seen you so hesitant. Why should the majestic prince of the Qing Dynasty have such a headache for a woman?" "You don't understand, my friendship with her is extraordinary. She is the only person I met in the palace who does not regard me as an elder brother, but as an elder brother. A woman who treats friends sincerely.”
Fu Heng: "Oh?" "Eh? I haven't asked you yet whether you had any misunderstandings on the way to pick her up and why you are so distant today. It's not like you, Mr. Fu." Fu Heng silently took Hui Mo in. The brocade box said, "It's nothing, it's just a trivial matter, innocuous. I'll take the Huimo away right now. You can slowly think about how to get close to this Yutang Princess who has made you miss her so much."
After sunset, the Yongshou Palace was filled with the scent of agarwood. After seeing off Concubine Qian, a tired Concubine Xi was leaning on the small table. The considerate palace servants were helping her beat her legs, and she was full of food. Made of Pu'er.
"Master, I see that you have been listless today. Maybe you caught a cold in the garden in the afternoon. I sent the imperial doctor to come and have a look." Niu Gulu waved his hand, "The root of the disease is not in the body, but in the heart." Man'er. "Master is saying...Tang Gege." "That's right. Ever since Hongli put so much effort into arranging for her to return to the palace on the night of the emperor's birthday, I have been in a state of confusion. Yes, a few days ago he asked Fu Heng to greet Tang Gege in person, just pretending that I didn't know about it. You saw him like that today, staring straight at that girl, ugh..."
Man'er put aside the little palace maid who was beating her legs, and bent down to rub Concubine Xi's legs, "Yinu, I don't think the master has to worry. This Gege seems to be a well-educated and reasonable person. The prince will marry Aunt Fucha someday. It's not a big deal if you still like to have a concubine." Concubine Xi: "It would be fine if she is a conservative person, but she is also a transparent person. I am afraid that Concubine Mi will give her all her life-long knowledge to her. She is here, even the concubines are looking happy today, and there are a lot of sentiments in the Aixinjueluo family."
Man'er: "Master, you have fought fiercely with the Nians and others in the palace these years. You are a little too worried. A girl of only sixteen years old, no matter how she looks or how thoughtful she is, there is no way she can be better than you. And Relax and take a closer look." "I hope it's true as you said. I'm just worrying too much."
The first ray of sunshine in the morning shines through the blue gauze cabinet and shines on Yutang's newly combed bun, reflecting the tassels shining brightly. In the past, there was no need to comb such complicated buns in Shengjing, only a few small braids.
A pair of horse hoof sleeves is all you need to go out, but it actually took half an hour to put on this full-body outfit.
Concubine Qian was in poor health and specifically asked her to eat by herself. She picked up a piece of Shaomai before putting it in her mouth. Prince Bao came over in a hurry and said, "Yutang, don't be in a hurry to eat just yet. Follow me for a meal."
Place!" Before Yutang could answer, she was pulled up by Hongli. The two of them ran along the corridor of Chengqian Palace as they did when they were children, and came to a familiar palace garden.
"Yutang, close your eyes!" Hongli folded a brocade handkerchief into a strip to cover her eyes, gently held her wrist, and led her forward step by step. After about twenty steps, Yu
Tang: "It smells so good!" Hongli said with a smile: "What does it smell like? Smell it carefully." She took a breath quietly, "It's... it's the smell of wisteria flowers!"
Hongli removed the brocade handkerchief on her face, "Smart, Yutang, you said in your fifth letter to me that you like to read and play the piano in the corridor full of wisteria flowers in Shengjing Palace. That year I
I ordered people to find wisteria seeds and plant them all under the corridor, so you can come here to read in the future."
When Yutang heard these words, his eyes were full of emotion. He actually remembered what he said casually. Looking along the long corridor covered with wisteria, there was a study-like room at the end. When he got closer,
Look, there is a plaque on it, "Qinxin Yazhai... When you study in this room, you can smell the fragrance of wisteria and imitate Mr. Ji's feeling of living in a thatched cottage. It is really wonderful. Brother Hongli, thank you."
"
"Between you and me, there is no need for these two words. Look behind the study." Yutang raised his eyes and said, "Here...isn't this the place." Hongli: "Yes, you still remember, this is the place."
The place where I secretly taught you how to read when you were a child collapsed due to disrepair two years ago. I ordered people to renovate it and built this study. Everything in the room was made by me.
It's placed in memory, you go in and take a look."
Yutang smiled and nodded. On the dark red lacquered desk, there were wolf hairs of different sizes, a small square inkstone, and a stack of yellowed rice paper. Yutang touched the corner of the desk.
Hongli: "Do you still remember this place? When you were a child, you were much more naughty than you are now. Once I said that your handwriting was not good-looking, so you ignored me in anger. I stepped forward to pull you, and when you waved your hand, I knocked on it.
There was a big swelling on this corner, and you were so scared that you cried..." Yutang: "But you said, it's not swelling, it's the Golden Horn King in Journey to the West who got on you, specifically to scare you.
A girl with a bad temper like me."
"Yes, you took it seriously at that time. You immediately coaxed me to let me drive away the Golden Horn King..." The two of them laughed out loud in the empty hall. Hongli looked at her smile and was surprised for a moment.
Unable to move his eyes away, Yutang saw him stunned, "What are you looking at? Is there something dirty on my face?" Hongli: "No, Yutang, I haven't seen you in ten years, you have changed."
Yutang asked nervously, "What has changed? Has it become ugly?" "No, she has changed very well. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." Yutang lowered her head shyly: "The beauty in the palace.
There are so many, Prince Bao may be dazzled by this." Hongli's face suddenly became serious, "I don't like you calling me Prince, that is a title for outsiders." "Haha, but I am an outsider.
"Hongli: "You know what I mean. Although you and I have been apart for so many years, I know in my heart that you understand me best. Since that night ten years ago..."
There was a rustling sound outside the main hall, and Yutang hurriedly stopped it, "Stop talking, brother Hongli, I understand everything you said, but today is different from the past. After all, you and I are different between men and women. Like today, you rushed me
It’s better not to do anything about getting out of Chengqian Palace in the future. At this time, it’s time for Yutang to go back and serve her aunt. Say goodbye..."
"Yutang..." Hongli was confused about this. What did he do wrong today? Is it so difficult to guess the woman's thoughts? At this time, although Yutang felt reluctant to give up, she had to give up.
There are a lot of people talking in the palace. Concubine Xi's attitude yesterday and what her aunt said that night are all reminders to her to stick to her duty and not let others talk about her, which could become the reason to expel her from the palace again.