Hongli came to put bamboo jars in the imperial garden. Last time he heard from his third brother that tea brewed with dew is the most refreshing, but it is too troublesome to collect dew every time, and the third brother also specified
The dew on the bamboo leaves was needed. In this way, even if the palace people came to collect it in the bamboo forest at the northeast corner of the imperial garden before dawn, sometimes the harvest would only be half a cup, and it would be almost gone as soon as it was boiled, let alone
I often can’t drink tea, which is really sad.
He secretly remembered it in his mind after hearing it last time. He has been thinking about ways to collect dew these past few days, and he actually came up with it. Cut hollow bamboo sections, drill holes in them, and then string them together with silk threads to hang them.
At the lower end of the bamboo leaves, you must look for bamboo leaves that are connected to each other, so that even if the dew drops from other bamboo leaves, it will flow down and not be wasted.
"Brother Si, do you think this location is okay?" Xiao Zhengzi asked, pointing to one of the clumps of bamboo leaves. He was holding several bamboo jars in his hand, all of which were ready to be placed throughout the bamboo forest.
Hongli put his hand on his forehead to block the dazzling skylight and took a serious look at the position pointed by Xiao Zhengzi and said: "That's okay, let's put one here."
"Hey!" Xiao Zhengzi agreed, and quickly took out a bamboo pot strung with silk thread, and hung it on a bamboo branch. The soft bamboo branch drooped a little due to the sudden increase in weight.
"Brother Si, what do you do with collecting all this dew? Do you want to make tea?" Xiao Zhengzi asked curiously. He had had this question since yesterday when Si Brother asked him and several young eunuchs to chop bamboo. Now he really can't bear it.
I couldn't help but ask.
"It's for making tea, but not for myself, but..." When he was saying that it was for Hong Shi and E Niang, he suddenly saw Nian walking towards him, he quickly stopped and saluted, and said respectfully: "Hongli
I have met the imperial concubine, and I am very blessed."
Nian Shi smiled faintly and said: "Brother Si, you're welcome. Get up. It's such a cold day. If you don't study in the house, why are you going to this unattractive bamboo forest with so many bamboo jars?"
Hongli knew that Nian didn't like his association with his third brother, so he didn't dare to say that it was to collect dew for Hongsheng, so he lied and said: "When I got back to my empress, Hongli was a little bored from reading the book of Li, so he came here to play. I just got the bamboo jar."
It’s fun, what’s the use of it, but even I know it.”
"Really?" Nian obviously didn't believe what he said. Where was the palace and who was Hongli? Under the influence of Concubine Xi, a good mother who knew how to please Yinzhen, now she would have no luck.
You came here to play with bamboo jars? It’s a joke.
But she was more concerned about another thing at the moment. She narrowed her bright eyes and landed on Hongli's waist, which was tied with a dark blue belt, and said casually: "This jade pendant on your waist is very beautiful. Can you take it off and let me take a closer look?"
Do you want to take a look?"
As soon as he heard this, Hongli's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Oops, today I hung up the jade pendant given to me by my third brother because I liked it. I didn't expect that I would bump into Nian by such a coincidence. Could she be?
Do you recognize this jade pendant? I hope not, otherwise we will be in big trouble.
With this in mind, Hongli slowly took off the octagonal jade pendant hanging on his waist. Before he could hand it over, Nian said coldly: "Brother Si, didn't you hear what I said clearly? It's a jade pendant.
Rather than an octagonal jade pendant.”
"Yes, Hongli misunderstood for a moment." Seeing that Nian was keeping an eye on the jade pendant, Hongli had no choice but to take off the jade pendant with the turtle and crane pattern and handed it to Nian.
After Nian looked through it carefully for a few times, he determined that this jade pendant belonged to the set of jade pendants given to Hong Sheng by his brother. Hong Sheng liked it very much at the time, so how could it appear on Hong Li's body? Could it be...
Thinking of this, Nian's face darkened and asked, "I wonder where this piece of jade pendant Si A Ge came from?"
Hongli clenched his fingers and didn't know how to answer. He hesitated for a while and said: "I...I don't remember. Maybe it was awarded by Emperor Ama."
How could Nian not see that he was nervous? He also confirmed his suspicion, Hong Sheng, he was serious... Humph!
Nian suppressed the anger in her heart, returned the jade pendant to Hongli, and said coldly: "Since it is a reward from the emperor, then keep it carefully and don't lose it."
"Yes. Hongli knows." Seeing that Nian didn't ask further, Hongli secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that she really didn't notice. He took the jade pendant and said to Nian who turned to leave, "Hongli sends your concubine a respectful greeting."
Empress."
After Nian left, Xiao Zhengzi wiped the sweat from his head and whispered: "Fourth elder brother, look at how the imperial concubine is doing. Do you realize that the jade pendant was given to you by third elder brother?"
"I don't know, I hope not. Let's not talk about this anymore. Hurry up and hang up the bamboo jars so that you can collect dew tomorrow." Hongli shook his head. He was also very worried in his heart, but Yi Kun Palace was worried.
I have no choice but to wait until class tomorrow to ask Third Brother.
When Hongli returned to Chengqian Palace, it was getting dark. Shuixiu was leading the palace people to light the lanterns. When she saw Hongli approaching, she saluted with a smile and said, "Brother Si, you must be hungry. After holding the lanterns, I will go to the imperial kitchen."
Pass the meal."
"There's no rush." Hongli thought for a moment and then said, "By the way, let the small kitchen cook a bowl of purple sweet potato and millet porridge. Yesterday, I heard E Niang say that sometimes you get a little hungry after going to bed late."
Shuixiu smiled and agreed: "Yes, I have taken note of it. I am envious of my fourth elder brother for caring so much about your empress." Hongli, like Ling Ruo, was very tolerant towards his servants, so they were always in the palace.
He also speaks more casually.
She meant her words as a joke, but she didn't want Hongli to remember them in her heart, and said: "Aunt Shuixiu, you and Aunt Shuiyue have served E Niang for so many years and have never left the palace or married. When you get old, I will be like you."
How about I serve you like my elders?"
No one expected that Hongli would say such a sentence. Shui Xiu and the others were moved and frightened, waving their hands and saying: "Slaves are humble people, how dare you be the fourth elder brother? The fourth elder brother is really killing the slaves."
Yes, please don’t make such a joke..."
Hongli said seriously: "I'm not joking, it's all true. In my heart, Aunt Shuixiu and Aunt Shuiyue are like relatives, and it is natural to support their relatives."
Shuixiu almost shed tears when she said this. She quickly wiped her face and pretended to be nonchalant and said: "Even if it is true, it will take more than twenty years for the slaves to grow old. It's too early for Fourth Brother to say this now.
." After that, he added: "Brother Si, please go in quickly. The servants have to hold the lamps. If it's too late, it will be difficult to see the way inside the palace."
"Yes." Hongli agreed, then turned around and said, "Little Zhengzi, I don't need to wait here anymore. You can hold the lamp with Aunt Shuixiu and the others."
Entering the hall, they saw Ling Ruo sitting in a chair reading a book. There was a lamp in her hand, covered with a lampshade with a wisteria pattern.