Chapter 108: Qianqiu

  But she could feel the malice contained in that gaze.

  The fourth prince returned, and the atmosphere in the mansion changed instantly.

  When he's not around, everyone is doing their own thing. But there's no vitality, it always makes people feel that the big mansion is sluggish and quiet. However, as soon as the Fourth Prince returns, the number of people increases, not to mention, the atmosphere is clearly different.

  The master is not around, who are you showing off to? You can work yourself to death and it's all in vain. Everyone is listless and unenthusiastic. But as soon as the master returns, everything changes. From top to bottom, everyone becomes like a tightly wound spring, trying to snatch away other people's tasks to show that they are the most hardworking and diligent. Others are just pretending to work.

  Chao Sheng was somewhat unwell all day, she hadn't slept well the night before last and had stayed up all night again, although she had dozed off a bit, but it wasn't enough to make up for it. At first, she relied on her energy to hold on, but after serving lunch, Chao Sheng was staggering as she walked.

  "Look at you, go take a rest. I saw that when the pot was just lifted earlier, your hand almost went into the boiling water."

  Chao Sheng rubbed his eyes: "Auntie is joking again, how can the master not rest? I'll go find an excuse to sneak away first."

  "I said there is, there is." Aunt Li said: "You don't have to go back either, just rest in my room for a while. If something happens later, Xiao Shun will naturally know to come find you here, and I'll call you again, it won't be late."

  This proposal is great.

  It's better to be lazy at Aunt Li's place than to sleep all day at home. If someone comes looking for her, Aunt Li will naturally "arrange" a task for her and then call her up.

  Who doesn't want to be lazy? Even if the tide is very dedicated, it doesn't mean that dedicated people can work day and night without sleeping.

  Auntie Li's house is not big, in her words, what's the point of living in such a big house? As long as it can fit a bed, that's enough.

  The tide was born to wear slippers, and the clothes were laid down. On the east wall side, there was a narrow alley, where people passed by, talking... The tide was born to sleep drowsily - not his own bed, after all, couldn't sleep soundly.

  Some people walked heavily, some talked, and there were vehicles carrying goods passing by, with the sound of wheels creaking.

  Chao Sheng felt as if he had just closed his eyes and was woken up by someone.

  Auntie Li's hand gently pressed on her forehead, she had been sitting by the bed for a long time.

  Aunt?

  "Are you awake?"

  "What time is it?"

  "Not long." Aunt Li brushed the hair on her temples: "Are you thirsty?"

  At this question, Chao Sheng really felt thirsty.

  Li Auntie poured tea and brought it over, Chao Sheng took a big gulp and almost choked.

  "Is anyone looking for me?"

  "Xiao Shun has been here." Aunt Li said: "I told you that you were too tired and took a rest, he left."

  "Why didn't Auntie wake me up?" Chao Sheng hurriedly thought of getting down from bed.

  "If it's something important, he'll definitely say it. Since he didn't say anything, that means nothing's wrong." Aunt Li thought openly: "Did you do it earlier? Look at your furrowed brow."

  Did I dream? It seems like it.

  But none of them can remember the tide.

  Dreaming at this time is a very luxurious thing. When I'm too tired, there are no dreams - even if there are, they're often not good dreams.

  Let's count it up, in these years she has hardly had any time when she was carefree and happy.

  A few years of experience was more turbulent than her past twenty years.

  It's also bitter.

  "What's on your mind?"

  He smiled and shook his head.

  Her eyes were still half-closed, and her slightly disheveled hair framed her face with a lazy charm, making it look even more delicate and beautiful. Even Li Aunt was stunned for a moment.

  Aunt?

  "Oh, wake up, I'll help you tidy your hair."

  Chao Sheng smiled and put on his shoes: "No need, doesn't Auntie know? My hairdressing skills aren't just bragging."

  She didn't even use a comb, she smoothed her hair with her fingers, twisted it around and secured it with a hairpin.

  "Really a pair of clever hands." Li Aunt also smiled.

  Chao Sheng asked Xiao Shun what he was looking for her, and Xiao Shun waved his hand and said: "It's not that important, the prince wants to find something, you're not here, and I couldn't find it for a while, so I went to look for you."

  "Ah, that won't do at all." Chao Sheng said somewhat urgently: "What is it? I'll go find it right away."

  "It's all right, Your Highness said it's not necessary to look for it anymore."

  Chao Sheng still felt somewhat insecure.

  Xiao Shun said in a low voice: "Chao Sheng, I think you should be more careful usually. If you don't have to leave the study room, then don't go anywhere else."

  Cháo shēng zhī dào tā shì shén me yì si.

  Translation: Chao Sheng knows what he means.

  This isn't the first person who has reminded her to be careful.

  Chao Sheng nodded: "But some things can't be helped."

  Madam Wen is the mistress, if she sends someone to deliver a message, can Cao Sheng not go?

  The gaze that pierced into his body like a thorn during the day...

  Chao Sheng can imagine what she is like in Wen's heart.

  Kitsune... hmm, maybe it's a nice name to be called.

  "By the way, I went to the Second Prince's mansion today."

  Ah, the tide of life suddenly came back to him.

  "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have also passed a message to Han Xiang."

  Xiao Shun sneered: "Who told you to hide and be lazy, Li Auntie has a mother hen protecting her chicks posture, I don't dare offend the tiger's prestige."

  "Tiger's Might?"

  "The might of the mother tigress."

  Regret comes after the tide.

  If I don't go to sleep, I'll be able to catch up with Xiaoshun when he leaves.

  Xiao Shun didn't joke around: "I was just kidding, anyway it's convenient for me to go to the Second Prince's mansion, I know a few people at their gate, it's easy to deliver messages or items, otherwise I'll make another trip for you in two days."

  "Then, have you seen Huan Xun?"

  Xiao Shun shook his head and said: "I haven't seen her, but I know you two are close, so I asked around, she's pretty good."

  Three words "all right" can't comfort the birth of a tide.

  But even if Xiao Shun is a eunuch, it's still not right for a eunuch to enter the inner courtyard to look for a maid.

  Chao Sheng nodded: "If you're going again next time, be sure to tell me."

  "I know."

  Two people sat on the railing of the veranda outside the study, and the evening breeze blew over, not as hot as during the day, with a hint of coolness.

  Xiao Shun stretched out his hand: "If you want me to serve you, I won't serve for nothing, you have to give me some benefits."

  "Don't worry, it's on me."

  Suddenly someone behind him asked: "What's the benefit?"

  The fourth prince returned at some unknown time, with Xiao Su carrying a lantern and following behind him.

  These two people walk very quietly.

  Chao Sheng and Xiao Shun stood up together.

  The fourth prince smiled and asked: "I heard you talking, what's good about it? Tell me and I'll listen."

  Cháo shēng xīn lǐ jué dé qí guài ——

  The fourth prince has been away from the capital for so long, this time he came back to the mansion, according to emotions and reason, he should have rested in the main house, why did he come back to the study?

  In her heart, Cai Sheng responded with a smile: "What benefits can I get out of it? It's just making some desserts and snacks..."

  The fourth prince nodded and said, "Those who see it have a share, Xiao Shun can't think of swallowing it all alone."

  He entered the study room, and Chao Sheng and Xiao Shun exchanged a glance.

  Uh...

  The Fourth Prince - was he just joking?

  Xiao Shun dragged Xiao Su to one side, and Chao Sheng turned his head to take a look, also following them for two steps.

  "Your Highness, how did you get back? Hey, say something!"

  Xiao Su's mouth is too tight, he doesn't want to say anything, even if Xiao Shun pesters him to death.

  Chao Sheng entered the house with tea, and the Fourth Prince had already taken off his outer garments. Chao Sheng hastily took them over.

  The tide was born with a keen sense of smell, and on the clothes of the fourth prince, there was a faint scent of rouge powder.

  She held her clothes and was distracted for a moment.

  She came back to her senses and put away her clothes.

  A long window is open, and in the backyard, the bamboo shadows are swaying gently. The sound of running water is faint and subtle.

  Chao Sheng turned around and saw that the Fourth Prince was leaning against the couch with his eyes closed, looking very calm and relaxed.

  Tide Sheng was unsure if he had fallen asleep or not——

  The fourth prince also stayed up all night, and before that, they were all rushing on the road.

  I was lazy and took a nap this afternoon, the fourth prince must be very tired too.

  Chao Sheng slowed down his footsteps, picked up a thin silk quilt, and shook it open to cover the Fourth Prince's body.

  I don't know why he came back again.

  But looking at him, Chao Sheng felt a sense of security in his heart.

  It's great, this person is right here.

  He is safe and sound.

  Chao Sheng felt that one heart was exceptionally down-to-earth.

  When the fourth prince was away, there was a hollow feeling in his chest, as if someone had suddenly removed a brick from the foundation of a wall.

  Something is missing and it's unsettling.

  Mr. Wen's suspicion, the future's uncertainty...

  At this moment, no one thought of it.

  She took up her needle and thread, and continued sewing with great concentration.

  She kept her head down, and the fourth prince, who was lying on the couch, slightly opened his eyes to gaze at the figure sitting under the lamp by the window.

  Close your eyes, the study is filled with the fragrance of tea, ink and sound, two people's breathing, needles passing through silk, and those faint sounds outside.

  The fourth prince slowly let out a breath.

  Here, he finally felt like he was back.

  The days passed quickly, and it wasn't until after the tide was born that he heard some things about the flood.

  The Fourth Prince is considered a person of the Ministry of Works, and disaster relief is a matter for the Ministry of Revenue. However, in his memorial to the Emperor, the Fourth Prince mentioned many suggestions regarding disaster relief, including resettlement of refugees, measurement of flooded fields - there should be more things, but all that Cao Sheng can know are these.

  The emperor did not explicitly express his attitude towards the fourth prince's suggestion, nor did he praise or affirm it.

  Things seemed to be suspended there for a moment.

  Of course, no matter how big the flood is, it will never reach the palace. The life in the palace has a solid rhythm, day after day, unchanged.

  The Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived before you know it.

  Heaven is great, earth is great, but the emperor is greater. Although due to the flood disaster, the emperor has said that everything will be done frugally, only officials in the capital came to pay their respects.

  However, the princes were still very filial and each had their own way of expressing it. The second prince was in charge of the beautiful garden, and indeed he did not manage it in vain. Unlike before when there were only songs and dances, he came up with new ideas. He put armor on two teams of dancers - of course, not real armor - and then took out knives, swords, spears, and shields to engage in a fierce battle, just like two armies facing each other. Then the team that was considered barbarian was defeated, and they retreated in disarray, surrendering and begging for mercy.

  This dance is a bit of an undisguised boot-licking of the emperor.

  The emperor had fought a battle in the northwest when he first ascended to the throne, which was also a military achievement. The second prince had these dancers perform this war dance, which was reenacting that event again.

  But as I heard from Chao Sheng, this victory has a lot of water in it.

  Perhaps the enemy army retreated at that time, but the emperor married his daughter to them and gave many rewards. Whether Kunzhou is part of our dynasty now is hard to say.

  To say nothing of these delicate geishas forming a battle array... Although Chao Sheng did not witness it with his own eyes, thinking about it now makes him feel that it is somewhat incongruous and has no relation to dignity, solemnity or tragic grandeur.

  It is said that the emperor's expression was very calm at that time, neither scolding nor praising.

  Yes, Chao Sheng believed that the second prince would never play tricks on his father's birthday banquet, but this person always did things a bit offbeat...

  With the second prince "jewel in front", no matter what longevity gift is taken out by the people behind, it can be considered as ordinary.

  ————————————————

  Yesterday evening Xiao Ka was a bit off, but fortunately today quickly regained his form.

  I'll pay back what I owe tomorrow