A raincoat wind and snow to the small garden

Chapter 15: Closeness (Part )

Chapter 15
After finishing the banquet in Xiaoyuan, he walked out of the palace for almost an hour and finally found the Xuanqisi Academy according to the address.

It was already dusk, the sky was dark, and people in the narrow alleys hung lanterns to illuminate the streets. Smoke rose from the kitchens in the mansions, and the air was bustling with noise.

Xiang Xiaoyuan took out the key given by Grandpa Fusheng and opened the lock of the school door.

Every Xuanqisi official had a key to the main door and a key to their room. They bolted the door when someone was inside, and locked it when no one was, ensuring no delays. After all, the skilled individuals recruited from the public might have skills, but their character wasn't always high, so it was important to be on the safe side.

Xiang Xiaoyuan lives in the Shuizi House in Courtyard No. 9.

Yards No. 1 to No. 8 were all full of people, and there was a lot of noise along the way. Some were roasting meat around the fire, and some were chatting in the teahouse. Only Yard No. 9, where Xiang Xiaoyuan lived, had few people coming and going. She walked through the moon-shaped gate, walked along the winding corridor, and entered the room with a sign that said "Water".

To avoid going into the wrong place, Xiang Xiaoyuan tried the lock with the key. Fortunately, the key and lock were compatible and she didn't get them confused.

Xiang Xiaoyuan opened the door and looked around.

The room had been cleaned early in the morning, leaving the window frames and floorboards spotless. The bedroom was fully furnished with bookcases, trunks, and a step-out bed, all made of expensive rosewood and inlaid with talc and mother-of-pearl in floral patterns, a truly luxurious experience.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was surprised and couldn't help but sigh: "The treatment at Xuanqisi is really good..."

She opened the box again and found two newly knitted quilts and a thick fox fur blanket stacked inside.

There were several pieces of clothing hanging in the closet, including the Xuanqi Division's special disciple uniforms and the light green official uniforms of a sixth-rank coroner.

Xiang Xiaoyuan took a look at the two dresses. Although they were simple Chunmei red-bottomed jackets and skirts, they were made of soft and tender silk, and felt very good to wear.

However, there were no servants in the yard, but there was a public kitchen, so there was naturally no shortage of firewood and coal, and they could use them at will.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was tired after a day of work, so she boiled two pots of water and brought them back to her room to take a bath and change clothes.

After taking a shower, Xiang Xiaoyuan originally planned to wear the clothes she brought with her, but then she remembered that she was now an officer of the Xuanqi Division, and she didn't want to bring disgrace to the government office, so her clothes shouldn't be too simple.

After much thought, Xiang Xiaoyuan took out the jacket and skirt with the butterfly pattern.

The top was made of a simple and elegant light peach pink satin with fine stitching and excellent workmanship. Xiang Xiaoyuan had never worn such a fine dress before. At most, she had seen the silk used to make wedding dresses in her cousin's room.

The sunlight shines on the fabric of the wedding dress, reflecting golden light, like the shimmering surface of a lake, dazzling.

Xiang Xiaoyuan never thought that one day she would be able to wear such fine material.

Wearing gorgeous clothes, Xiang Xiaoyuan felt emotional. She now had a job that could support her life, a bedroom where she could sleep peacefully without being disturbed by her aunt, and a salary that she could use for her own expenses and did not have to hand over to support her family... Her life got better day by day, and she waved goodbye to her former self who had struggled to survive in hardship.

Her trip to Beijing did not mean she gained nothing.

Xiang Xiaoyuan put on her dress with her head down. She had not expected that the skirts of wealthy families would have so many pleats, so much fabric, and such long laces.

Xiang Xiaoyuan had no one to teach her, and no maids or servants to help her, so she was inevitably in a mess when dressing herself. Just when she was about to trip over the silk ribbon around her waist, she finally tied the knot.

Xiang Xiaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and planned to go out to buy a few more things.

The moment the gap in the door widened, she vaguely caught a glimpse of a tall figure passing through the hall.

The ends of his hair were black and cold, his eyes were as sharp as swords, and his long hairband was rustling in the wind under the corridor, hooked around the boy's shoulders, and caressed the Mingyue Sword on his waist.

When Xiang Xiaoyuan saw his features clearly, she shouted in surprise, "Huai Yu!"

The young man paused, then stopped, his solitary and elegant figure gradually approaching.

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt the joy of meeting a close friend in a foreign land, especially since she was new to the capital and unfamiliar with the city. Crown Prince Xie Yunxue, whom she supposedly knew, had long since forgotten her. Neither Xiang Xiaoyuan nor her unjustly deceased parents stirred the slightest ripple in the hearts of those superiors who looked down upon the lower world... A human life could be so easily forgotten.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was depressed, puzzled and unwilling to accept her fate. At this low moment, seeing Huaiyu, with whom she had once shared hardships, was undoubtedly a great psychological comfort to her.

He opened the door to Xiaoyuan and grabbed Huaiyu's slender sword tassel.

She wouldn't let him go. She circled around him like little birds, chirping, "Huaiyu, why are you here? You don't have anywhere to live, do you want to live in the dormitory? I live in the Shuizi room, where are you going?"

Huai Yu hesitated to speak and glanced at the Xuezi room next door.

Xiang Xiaoyuan followed his gaze, her face filled with even greater joy. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright as she asked happily, "You live next door to me? I didn't expect that we were neighbors in Xuanqi Division!"

Huaiyu pursed her lips and said nothing.

He really found it difficult to understand Xiang Xiaoyuan's enthusiasm. Although they had met several times in childhood, after growing up, the two of them were at most "taking refuge for a few days and taking care of each other for a while". Why did she always smile when she saw him?
Xiang Xiaoyuan didn't know that Huaiyu had thought so much. For her, the time they spent together, the two of them depended on each other, and their affection was extraordinary. She also knew that although Huaiyu looked cold, he was actually a good person at heart. He took care of her all the way and healed her wounds. Even when he had to carry out a secret mission, he did not deliberately abandon her.

Huaiyu didn't understand that Xiang Xiaoyuan had received very little kindness since she was a child, so she would treasure and remember any little bit of sweetness in her heart.

Xiang Xiaoyuan said, "I need to go out and buy some supplies. My shoes are worn out, so I need a new pair. I also want to see if there's any livestock I can use for transportation... I definitely can't afford a horse. I only have two taels of silver, but I can buy a donkey!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan had made up her mind that lions, tigers, wolves and dogs would not be allowed to run around in the inner city to avoid colliding with important people. She couldn't afford a tall horse, but a donkey was more than enough.

Donkeys are small in size, and people usually buy them to grind mills and make tofu. Xiang Xiaoyuan is a little girl, short in stature and light in weight. She is afraid of falling off and breaking her neck when riding a horse, so a donkey is the most suitable for her.

For a moment, Huai Yu suspected that he had misheard. He thought for a long time and spoke with difficulty: "You mean...donkey?"

"Yes."

Xiang Xiaoyuan smiled at him, and two shallow dimples appeared on her face. After leaving her aunt's house, she no longer had to worry, and gradually returned to the innocent and noisy personality of her childhood.

"I'm thinking of buying another basket of carrots and some hay to feed the little donkey, and keeping it in the stable outside our yard. I can ride it on duty during the day, and the soles of my shoes won't be worn out anymore."

Donkeys are naturally prone to braying loudly when they are frightened.

Huaiyu's face turned pale when he thought of there being another donkey outside the backyard.

In that case, when he took off his disguise in broad daylight today and returned to the East Palace to entertain the newcomers of Xuanqi Division as "Xie Yunxue", he should not have given Xiaoyuan the protective jade pendant.

Giving her a practical horse or a pair of suitable shoes would be better than asking her to go out late at night and pull a donkey back to the school.

Huaiyu's face turned pale and he remained silent for a long time.

Xiang Xiaoyuan thought that he was silent because he was not feeling well, after all, he was still injured.

Xiang Xiaoyuan shrank his neck and his voice became weaker: "Huaiyu, your injuries are not healed yet? Then I won't disturb your rest. I'll go out first..."

"Wait a minute." Before Xiang Xiaoyuan could finish her words, the young man looked gloomy and hooked his finger at her.

He blinked at Xiaoyuan, hesitated for a while, and took a step closer. "What's wrong?"

Huai Yu lowered his long eyelashes, and his silent gaze fell on Xiang Xiaoyuan's waist and abdomen. He leaned against the door panel, holding the cold hilt of the sword with one hand and pointing at the little girl's belt with the other.

"Your belt is tied wrong."

"I... I have never worn such a jacket and skirt, and I don't know how to tie it." She looked down at Xiaoyuan, feeling embarrassed, but she didn't think it was shameful that she didn't know how to wear these exquisite clothes.

Huaiyu frowned slightly and asked, "Shall I teach you?"

"Okay." Xiang Xiaoyuan was willing to learn humbly. She moved an inch closer and stood in front of Huaiyu.

Xiang Xiaoyuan pressed down her skirt to prevent it from slipping down, leaving only the messy knot, and signaled Huaiyu to teach her carefully.

Huaiyu: "Come a little closer."

Xiang Xiaoyuan said slowly: "Oh... OK."

The young man stretched out his slender, white hand and gently hooked it around the coiled silk ribbon. The ribbon was tied so tightly that he couldn't pull it out with one hand, so he had to use both. The rouge-red ribbon was narrow and slender, wrapped around Huai Yu's jade-carved fingers, like a ball of red thread wrapped around the young man's fingertips.

He was clearly just helping Xiang Xiaoyuan tie a beautiful new knot, but his movements were delicate and his technique was gentle, as if he was helping Xiang Xiaoyuan undress.

In fact, Xiang Xiaoyuan had thick silk pants under her skirt to keep warm, so she was not naked. No matter how Huaiyu tied the belt, it would not offend her.

But at this moment, they are breathing close to each other and are inseparable.

The bitter fragrance of orchid gradually became stronger.

The boy's bent joints were very hard, and occasionally they would press against Xiang Xiaoyuan's waist. Although it was a touch and didn't stop, the itch was still there. Huaiyu's fingers seemed to actually touch the soft flesh of Xiang Xiaoyuan's waist, brushing past it through the cloth.

It caused a shudder to run through her, and lightning ran up her back.

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt like she had difficulty breathing.

As soon as she lowered her head, she could see Huaiyu's long eyelashes drooping. He was too close, so close that Xiang Xiaoyuan could even see the small brown mole at the corner of his eye.

The boy has regular facial features, but he is only pretty. He is nowhere near as graceful as Xie Yunxue, but he still gives people the illusion of being beautiful and almost enchanting.

After a long time, Huaiyu tied the belt and released her, "Okay."

Xiang Xiaoyuan hurriedly retreated as if he had been pardoned.

I thanked Xiaoyuan solemnly: "Huaiyu, thank you for teaching me how to tie a flower knot."

"It's a small matter." Only Xiang Xiaoyuan cared about it, Huaiyu didn't care at all.

The boy turned around and went back to his room to rest, ignoring Xiang Xiaoyuan.
-
The next day, Xiang Xiaoyuan really rode a donkey and galloped towards Xuanqisi.

In the depths of winter, the snow was thick, and the vast palace was covered with deep snow. Although the palace paths were often swept by eunuchs, the weather was so changeable that there would always be a clump of snow on the ground.

Taking this into consideration, Xiang Xiaoyuan bought some thick cloth and cotton and made four foot covers for her beloved donkey "Ejiao", and also sewed waterproof leather on the outermost layer.

Ejiao stepped into the snow with his hoof and didn't feel cold at all. There was a radish hanging in front of him, so he raised his mane and shouted excitedly.

“Aa ...

The high-pitched cry of the little black donkey startled the horses traveling with it, and the carriage shook violently. The tea that the nanny had prepared was not held firmly and accidentally splashed on Wu Jingnu's face.

Wu Jingnu in the carriage screamed in fear. She waved away the handkerchief offered by the maid to wipe her face, lifted the curtain and cursed: "Who is this blind and unruly person who dared to disturb this county lady!"

In addition to being the daughter of the Jiedushi of Beiting, Empress Wu also granted her the title of Shuyang County Lady at birth. Yang represents the golden crow, and Shu represents moral character. The title also implies accompanying the emperor and educating the harem with virtue and goodness. This demonstrates the Empress's fondness for her niece and her high hopes for her future marriage to the Crown Prince.

Now, Wu Jingnu has suffered two setbacks at the hands of a vulgar village girl. How can she swallow this humiliation when she plans to become the wife of the noble crown prince in the future?
Wu Jingnu wanted to teach Xiang Xiaoyuan a lesson, but then she remembered Huaiyu, the head of the secret guards who disliked the bullying of his Xuanqisi colleagues. She was afraid Huaiyu would support Xiang Xiaoyuan, so she could only swallow her anger and sneer, "Coroner Xiang is so elegant, riding such a rural animal into the palace. He's really unconventional!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan pulled the reins of Ejiao and stopped.

She asked in confusion, "Is riding a donkey so elegant? You city people are quite short-sighted... Uh, it's a rare opportunity to open your eyes. Senior Sister Wu, please take a closer look."

After saying that, Xiang Xiaoyuan looked at Wu Jingnu with pity.

She truly sympathized with Wu Jingnu.

Wu Jingnu vomited a mouthful of blood in her heart. She had failed in her mission today and was going to die first. She had originally wanted to engage in a verbal battle with Xiang Xiaoyuan for three hundred rounds, but Xiang Xiaoyuan did not play by the rules at all. He blocked her sarcasm with just one sentence!

Some of the children of the aristocratic families who came to the capital with Wu Jingnu were disgusted by her contempt for the common people and disliked her. Seeing Wu Jingnu suffer a loss, they secretly lifted the curtain to peek in, secretly laughing behind her back.

When Wu Jingnu heard the mocking laughter, her face flushed for a moment. She knew that she had not changed her dirty clothes yet and was arguing with Xiang Xiaoyuan in public, which was too embarrassing.

She snorted coldly, slammed the curtain, and ignored Xiang Xiaoyuan.

After Wu Jingnu left, Lin Qiyu's carriage quickly caught up with Xiang Xiaoyuan.

The handsome young man opened the carriage curtain and shouted towards Xiaoyuan: "Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan! Why are you riding a donkey in such a cold weather? Come on, get on the carriage, I'll give you a ride."

Xiang Xiaoyuan shook his head and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin, for your kindness. I just bought this donkey. If I don't ride it to make back my investment, my two cents of silver will be wasted. I'd better make a few more trips and wait until spring comes."

The donkey that was hooked and didn't get any carrots all the way: "..."

Yan Yun came riding over and looked at the little black donkey curiously. "Xiao Yuan, what's the name of your donkey?"

He bowed his head to Xiaoyuan, touched the donkey's head, and said seriously, "Ejiao."

Lin Qiyu spat out a mouthful of tea.

"Shennong's Herbal Classic" says: "Donkey-hide gelatin, ginseng, and deer antler are all top-grade products for nourishing the body and blood", and donkey-hide gelatin is a holy medicine made from donkey skin.

Xiang Xiaoyuan is really cruel to give his little black donkey this name.

Yan Yun laughed heartily: "That sounds great! Let's go! If we walk quickly, we can still make it to the Xuanqi Division cafeteria. They have red bean porridge and candied crabs this morning. If we're late, they'll be gone!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan loves to eat fresh river food. After hearing this, he immediately caught up with her and said, "Let's go together."

Lin Qiyu stared at Xiang Xiaoyuan's receding back and thought to himself: Oh, Junior Sister Xiang is so cute and her face looks harmless, so why is she such a black-hearted person?
The news of Xiang Xiaoyuan riding a donkey to work soon spread throughout the entire Xuanqi Division through the mouth of Wu Jingnu.

Wu Jingnu originally thought that since everyone in the Si Mansion was the son or daughter of a wealthy family, they would naturally detest the behavior of the common people. However, she did not expect that a group of sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys and girls would have so many thoughts and calculations.

They heard that Xiang Xiaoyuan rode a small black donkey named "Ejiao" and braved the snow to enter the palace, standing out among the carriages and good horses.

Everyone immediately yearned for this, sighing with regret. How could they not have come up with such a great idea? In all these years, who has ever come to the government office on a donkey?! Xiang Xiaoyuan was the first of his kind... so cool!
Everyone looked at each other.

The next day, there were no more healthy horses in Xuanqisi's stable. Instead, the horses lined up in a row and tied to the pillars were clearly short-legged donkeys!
As soon as it was time for the instructors to teach, the donkeys would raise their manes and bray loudly. The sudden and unruly noises came one after another, making the teachers uneasy and complaining, and even alarmed the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, Xie Yunxue.

Xie Yunxue has been very busy with military lectures and mountain tours recently, and has not appeared as "Huai Yu" for many days.

Occasionally, news about Xiang Xiaoyuan was heard, and he was still brought to justice on the charge of "undermining the law and disrupting order."

The cold young man picked up his pen to write the document, without even looking up, and said calmly: "Deal with it according to the regulations."

The next day after the Crown Prince's order came down, Zhou Jiming, the most knowledgeable scholar in Xuanqi Division, grabbed Xiang Xiaoyuan, the troublemaker who had corrupted the atmosphere in the office.

"The Eastern Palace has ordered that all of you tie your donkeys to the side of the official road and not bring them into the Xuanqi Division again! Violators will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane! As for Xiang Xiaoyuan, you instigated your fellow disciples to cause trouble and disrupted the government's discipline. You will receive three lashes!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan, the instigator, was caught on the spot by the old gentleman and was used as an example to scare others in the government office.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was punished because it was Xie Yunxue who ordered it, and he felt a little unwilling.

But she knew that she couldn't beat the opponent, so she dared not argue and could only admit her mistake.

At noon that day, Xiang Xiaoyuan made room for Ejiao and gave it an extra carrot to eat, just to appease the donkey.

Just as Xiang Xiaoyuan turned to leave, Ejiao was frozen in the cold wind and let out a wail as he looked up.

“Ahhhhh—”

The sound was so sorrowful that it penetrated into the bones and was unbearable to hear.

Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed, but the whip wound on her back was aching slightly... Three more whips would be enough, and if she was whipped again, it would really leave a scar.

So she strode forward without looking back once.

(End of this chapter)