box of hearts

Chapter 106
Qi Shezao slammed his hand, and the teacup in his hand splashed on the ground into tiles and water splashes, "Since you say that, you can't provide me with food, drink, whoring and gambling here, and I don't have to stay any longer." He strode like a star Going out, dozens of attendants guarding outside the hall flocked to follow, like a gust of wind blowing fallen leaves, the big sedan chair went away in an instant.

The two concubines bowed their knees to send them off in front of the palace, and Concubine Wan straightened up first, with a strong complaint in her voice: "Wishing for the stars and hoping for the moon, it's so easy to bring people here, and then they leave with a few words, sister, why bother to come?" ?”

Concubine Shun also stood upright unsteadily, her deep eyelashes glistening with light, "Didn't you hear when I was still eating today? The prince went to Huaihua Hutong again! The previous dynasty was so busy, Leave us all deserted, but still miss the little class waiter, he doesn't care here, why should I keep him?"

Concubine Wan shook her head and sighed slightly.

On the other side, Qi She's sedan chair had already followed the stone pillars and copper lamps along the way to the Taoist Hall - the white box and the vermilion pen in front of the hall.

Others were not allowed to stay as usual, so Qi She wiped a couple of hands on his face, sat down at the desk, and accompanied by the sound of frogs in the window, opened the secret booklet to read.Some read it and put it aside, while others wrote a pen to answer, or a few words, or a long article.Half an hour later, the approved papers were neatly stacked on the corner of the table, and only the last three or two were left unread.

Qi She took out one of the books, hung the pen in one hand, and looked at the ten lines at a glance.The more he looked at it, the tighter his eyebrows became, and finally, he threw the plain paper memorial far away, "You bastard!"

Zhou Dun, who was guarding the door, heard the movement, stretched his head to take a look, and hurried in to take back the folder that fell on the ground, with a clever smile on his face, "Let's have a rest first, eat something before reading, if you want If you are not hungry, it is easier to get angry."

Qi She was also noncommittal, and just leaned back on the back of the big carved chair.Zhou Dun shouted out: "Pass the rice!"

Outside the curtain, the fragrant wind is soft, and in a blink of an eye, you can hear the pattering of the rings, and the big maids, You Yan and Cui Yi, come in, one holding a basin, the other holding tea, and the weak willows come in front of Qi She.Youyan took a towel and gently wiped Qi She's face and hands.Cuiyi put the tea on the table, and took out a small round box with pinched silk and gold from her sleeve, opened the box lid, picked out some peppermint oil and rubbed it open, called "Master", and pressed Qi She's sides with her hands temples.Qi She closed his eyes for a moment to rest his mind, and suddenly pulled away the previous booklet, grabbed the pen and began to write.

At this time, several eunuchs serving food had brought a dining table and a red lacquer food box into the door to set up. Zhou Dun dismissed them silently, and personally selected two small dishes to put on the desk.The rich fragrance wafted out all at once, Qi She held the pen and took the silver chopsticks.

In front of him is a pumpkin snow clam. The pumpkin is hollowed out and carved into a chrysanthemum. The flower core is a handful of crystal clear snow clam meat, with almonds and sauce dripping in between, creating an autumn scene of Gaogang. Covering the teeth, what is the artistic conception of being alone and sad" [7].There is also a stewed cod belly with rose juice in a yellow-ground pastel fine porcelain bowl. The side dish is two bunches of small green vegetables, the tip of the vegetables are wrapped in fish glue, and a grain of sesame seeds is dotted on each side for eyes. Picking a piece of red rose silk as the crown, it turns out to be a pair of lively little mandarin ducks, and the vegetable leaves dragged in the thick juice are mandarin duck tails, one in front of the other behind, chasing and playing in the water.Qi She stretched out her chopsticks while laughing, "The small kitchen is a bit interesting today."

Zhou Dun also chuckled beside him: "My lord has shown a smiling face anyway, and this heart is not in vain."

Qi She glanced at him, and stopped her hand in the air, "What did you say?"

Zhou Dun scratched the back of his neck pretending to be naive, "Didn't the concubine make the prince unhappy? Some people heard that they felt distressed, saying that the prince has worked too hard these days, and he is hungry and full. If he is not happy, he will eat more." I don't have anything left to eat, so I will cook myself, I hope the prince's appetite will improve and he can eat more."

Qi She already had eight or nine thoughts in his heart, and put the silver chopsticks between his fingers, "Who is it?"

Zhou Dun peeped at his master's face, and boldly said: "Shifei Shouniangniang."

Youyan and Cuiyi who were serving by the side were stunned for a moment, especially Cuiyi stared straight at Zhou Dun.

Zhou Dun continued unhurriedly: "Your Majesty told the slaves ten thousand times, don't tell the prince too much, for fear that the prince will know that the empress made it, and he will not eat it as a disappointment."

Qi She paused for a moment without speaking, and then slightly raised his hand towards Gaoli.

Behind the study, there is a small courtyard with three rooms and hatchbacks, which is the small kitchen for the regent king to eat at night.The door of the room was knocked open with a "bang", and Nanny Yao rushed in with panic and joy. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" She pressed her chest with one hand, and pointed backwards with the other, "My lord is facing—" Before she finished speaking, she was so startled that she knelt down on her knees, "My lord Wanan!"

Among the servants, a beautiful figure standing out from the crowd turned her face away.Xiangshou pressed his hands into a small pot of tender tofu soaked in ginseng soup, stared blankly at the man standing behind the door, forgot to kneel down, and forgot to say anything.

Qi She didn't blame her, just looked at her and said softly: "Wash your hands and come with me to the teahouse."

After a short wait, Xiangshou followed.Nanny Yao pushed her into the living room, bowed to Qi She and retreated.Qi She smiled kindly, "Sit down." Xiangshou replied "Thank you, my lord", and sat down on a grand master's chair five steps away.

The warm light in the tea room made Qi She remember once again how beautiful this girl he had almost forgotten was, even with the tricky eyes he had seen all over the world, he couldn't pick out the slightest flaw in her.Especially the look at the moment: sweeping the moth eyebrows lightly, a single hairpin with broken cold gold tassels in the plump black hairpin, a small gold comb inserted obliquely, and a crimson eight-panel skirt embroidered with dots of crabs. Clawed chrysanthemum, with pale and slender hands on the skirt, eyes hidden behind heavy eyelashes, like a frightened deer half-hidden among banana leaves.

Deer Kiss poked out shyly from Ye Jian, Xiang Shou looked over, his cheeks were blushing, "What is your lord doing looking at your slaves like this?"

Qi She couldn't help but feel a little distracted, rubbed her nose and smiled, "Long time no see, I see that you have grown a lot taller and more beautiful."

"It's been a long time," she also smiled, but the blush on her cheeks climbed up her eyes, "three years and seventeen days."

Once reminded, Qi She seemed to have some impression.Last time, concubine He Fu probably celebrated his birthday or something, and he caught a glimpse of Xiangshou from a long distance away, and even further away was the gluey time they had spent together.How old was she then?fourteen?fifteen?It was not as high as his shoulders and head, and was placed in a mandarin duck quilt on a step-by-step bed. His eyes and body were so clean that his breathing stopped suddenly.During that Pinellia, he watched her tiny breasts bloom like flowers in his hands, becoming a pair of budding breasts of a real woman.She wrapped her slender and soft arms around his neck, wanting this and that, and he would agree to all her demands. In his eyes, she was just a lovely girl who deserved a lot of favors. Drowning child.He rewarded her, canonized her, and lifted her up like a bird for nine days, and then when her mistake finally touched his bottom line, he let go of this flightless bird and let her plummet.He can tolerate a child who is self-willed, acting like a baby, and playing tricks... But he can't tolerate a child who carelessly ignores human life behind his back, and then stares a pair of innocent eyes in front of him.

Even so, seeing you today, Qi She still felt a little uncomfortable.Growing up in a harem where women fought openly and secretly, he was used to the disappointment of exchanging swans for fine wine, dancing clothes and carving dragons[8]. For a person of humble origin, the days of falling out of favor will only be more difficult.She must have been teased and humiliated by the other concubines, neglected and complained by her own people. She needed to be pawned or sold off secretly in exchange for a good look and a decent meal.The hardships of life have turned the pretty and proud little girl into the cautious and restless woman in front of her.

Xiangshou's story should have ended here, like every woman who has fallen into the cold palace.Qi She knew that the reason why she could appear again was nothing more than - "the matter of the dragon robe", he said very sincerely, "It's all thanks to you, I haven't thanked you personally since I came back for so long."

Xiangshou's tears became heavier, and he only used two hands to slowly rub the silk sash around his waist, "Slaves dare not take credit for it, it is the prince who is so blessed."

Qi She looked at her with pity, and kept smiling, "How much money did you bribe those servants to enter the small kitchen, tomorrow you will go to pay the bills by yourself."

Xiangshou's eyes widened in embarrassment, she was so pitiful and heart-pounding, but when she saw her opponent, she sighed normally: "Shou'er, with the kindness you and I have in the past, all I can give you is food, clothing and wealth. If you have too much, you don’t have to think about it, and you don’t have to do anything. It’s getting late, so go back early and rest.”

Before he left, Xiangshou could no longer see him.Her sight was completely swallowed up, and a big wave came up, her own tears pouring rampantly on a face that had been favored by three thousand in the past.

Zhou Dunshou was outside the hall, when he saw Qi She came out alone, he scratched his head for some reason, "My lord, today—, that—, don't you ask Concubine Shou to attend the bed?"

Qi Shexuan glanced at him, "I won't ask her to sleep with you, and you don't have to return the red envelopes you receive from others. What's the rush?"

Zhou Dun smiled shyly, "Hey, lord, what you said made me feel embarrassed."

(End of this chapter)