Dai Ziling

Chapter 180 Mother's painstaking effort

The sky and the earth were dim, and the icy rain was pattering, and the entire imperial palace was shrouded in darkness and coldness. Only under the five glistening oil-paper umbrellas, there was a faint joy that was inappropriate for this season.

Not caring that her shoes and socks were soaked, Zixi bounced and spun the umbrella in her hand, the water curtain scattered and splashed on other people's faces from time to time. Angry and funny.

Qin Rao took out a silk handkerchief, and while helping Teng Xuanyun wipe off the rain from his face, he scolded softly: "You girl, why are you so skinny, can you walk well?"

Sticking out her tongue, the umbrella in her hand was spinning again, Zixi said: "I'm not skinny, how can I show your thoughtfulness?"

Teng Xuanyun was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly pushed Qin Rao's arm away, strode forward to Zixi's side, and said, "Don't listen to her, I'm feeling hot right now! Come on, come on, keep turning...Ah Choo!"

From left to right, Teng Xuanyi and Zhu Lan immediately stepped forward and grabbed Teng Xuanyun's arm, dragging him forward.

Teng Xuanyun shouted: "Hey hey hey? You two are too domineering! Can't you just say a word?"

Looking at the staggering figures of the three, Zixi lifted one corner of her mouth, her face full of helplessness: Three childish ghosts!

Helping Zixi brush off the rainwater from her body, she smiled and said, "They are really two good people."

Zixi said: "Good guy?"

"Well, they all ran away, who else can you tease?"

……

Only then did Zixi come to her senses, she looked at Qinrao, and showed a smirk: "Isn't there still you here... Hey? Qinrao, don't run away... Hey!"

Standing alone with one umbrella and one person, looking at the backs of the four fleeing figures, Zixi let out a burst of laughter, and immediately lifted up her skirt to catch up, but her feet slipped and she staggered, feeling someone He held his arm.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Zixi slowly raised her head. There were two strands of silver hair hanging in front of her dark blue shirt. She was an old man who didn't look very kind...

Standing up straight and putting the umbrella in place, Zixi bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, old man."

The old man didn't speak, just nodded slightly, and left straight away.

Zixi thought, "It's strange. At this time, the court should have left early. The old man's demeanor looks like a courtier with an extraordinary status. Even if he was left by King Nandan to discuss matters, he shouldn't pass here from the imperial study to the gate of the palace." what……

"Zixi!"

The four people who ran away found that Zixi hadn't followed and ran back in a hurry. Seeing her standing alone in a daze, they all asked curiously: "What are you doing? Why don't you leave?"

"Here we come!" Zixi replied while turning her head to look in the direction the old man left, but found that the man had long since disappeared.

Taking a look at Zixi's skirt and her slightly wet hair, Zhu Lan said, "Why are you so wet? Did you slip?"

Zixi shook her head: "Almost."

Seeing that her expression was wrong, Zhu Lan asked again: "But what happened?"

After thinking about it, Zixi said: "Teng Xuanyi, is this a harem? What kind of old man can walk around here at will?"

Teng Xuanyi said: "Old man?"

"Well, my hair is almost white."

Teng Xuanyun stepped forward and said: "Ah, I know, the imperial doctor, the few people in the palace who are honored as holy hands are not young, it should be the concubines of which palace are not feeling well, please come for consultation!"

Teng Xuanyi nodded: "Well, it should be like this? Why? Just met?"

"Oh... so that's what I said! It's all right, it's all thanks to the old man for helping me just now, otherwise I would be laughed at by the queen again."

Gently flicking Zixi's forehead, Teng Xuanyi said helplessly: "Do you think you are tidy now? Hurry up and leave!"

Rubbing her forehead, Zixi said with an aggrieved face:

"Are you despising me?"

Twitching the corner of her mouth, Teng Xuanyi winked at Qinrao, Qinrao smiled and hurried forward to grab Zixi's arm, and said while pulling her along: "Little aunt, grandma, just let us go, and then we will go back to you." If we continue to spend here, everyone will have to suffer from the wind and cold."

"Hey, wait for me! I don't despise you!" Teng Xuanyun winked at Teng Xuanyi, and chased after her happily, walking beside Zixi swaggeringly, dancing happily.

Patting Teng Xuanyi's chest with the back of his hand, Zhu Lan mocked: "Are you stupid? Let others take advantage of it?"

Teng Xuanyi said innocently: "I...I didn't mean that..."

Lifting her foot and lightly kicking Teng Xuanyi's calf, Zhu Lan shouted, "Why are you still standing here stupidly? Let's go!"

Subconsciously looking around, after making sure that her face was not thrown outside, Teng Xuanyi swallowed: "Go... let's go."

As soon as she stepped into the gate of Xiangkun Palace, a strong fragrance of flowers came to her nostrils, and Zixi was surprised: "This season, how could it be..."

"The girl is here!" A little maid ran forward with a smile on her face, saluted, and hurriedly said: "The queen is looking forward to you every day, this is great, we don't have to send our honey cakes everywhere anymore !"

Zixi said: "Ah? This taste...you are making honey cakes? Give it away...why do you give it away everywhere?"

The servant girl looked at the small kitchen and said with a smile: "The queen cooks and prepares fresh honey cakes in person every day these days. If the girl doesn't come, she is afraid that the honey cakes will lose their taste overnight. To avoid waste, I have to send them to everyone. The concubines of the palace, and even us servants have been wiped out!"

Zixi was a little moved: "Do it every day?"

The servant girl nodded vigorously: "No, I have been with the queen for so long, I really have never seen her care so much for anyone, the girl is really lucky!"

"Then...then what did my concubine mother do for Zixi?"

The servant girl was stunned, and said: "Returning to His Royal Highness, this... ah, when the Queen is making honey cakes, Concubine Jin is often on the sidelines."

Teng Xuanyun scratched his head and muttered softly:
"Mother Concubine is really..."

"Is Xi'er here?" The queen hurried out of the small kitchen, pointed at the main hall and shouted, "Quick, come in, why are you standing there in the rain?"

Looking up at the curling smoke floating on the small kitchen, Zixi smiled brightly: "Okay!"

After a while, the maids came in with all kinds of pastries, placed them one by one in front of Zixi and curtseyed in unison, as if serving the master, Zixi smiled awkwardly, here she It doesn't count, just be a little awkward...

"You children, why did you come here when it was raining?"

Although she was talking, the Queen's joy was beyond words. She and Concubine Jin entered the main hall one after the other, pointing at the pastries on the table, as if they only had Zixi in their eyes: "Girl, try it while it's hot." Taste it! See which one you like, and I will make it for you later.”

Stepping forward to embrace the queen's arm, Zixi stuck to her shoulder and said coquettishly: "I like everything, as long as it is made by you!"

Gently scraping the tip of Zixi's nose, the queen smiled and said, "You, you, it's because you eat a lot of sweets that this little mouth is so sweet, right?"

Zixi narrowed her eyes and said: "Hey, of course not, I'm telling the truth, there are rules and etiquette everywhere in this imperial palace, if it's not because I miss you, I wouldn't run here!"

"Good boy." After stroking Zixi's hair, the queen frowned and said, "Why is it so wet? Did it rain?"

As she spoke, the queen glared at Teng Xuanyi, as if the person standing there with an embarrassing face was not her own son, but the servant of the little girl in her arms.

"What did you kid do, that Xi'er got caught in the rain?"

Facing his mother's accusation, Teng Xuanyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shifted his eyes to Zhu Lan and instinctively wanted to ask for help, but after thinking about it, Zhu Lan couldn't say anything in this situation...

After smoothing her hair, Zixi waved her hand and said: "It's all right, it has nothing to do with him, I accidentally got it on myself, the Fourth Highness has already taught me a lesson, I just need to be more careful in the future."

The queen said: "A lesson? He dares to teach you? What is the lesson? Teng Xuanyi, are you crazy?"

Rubbing the corner of his clothes, Teng Xuanyi panicked: "Mother, I..."

Zixi interrupted and said: "Hey! Queen, don't be angry. It's because I have no rules and walk unsteadily. You don't blame me for being untidy. You are tolerant. The Fourth Highness is also kind. After all, he has a noble status. A modest wild girl is easy to make people laugh, isn't it?"

Quietly fanning the flames was Zixi's forte. Seeing the queen's face sinking, she looked aggrieved on the surface, but she was already happy in her heart. After all, it was her unchangeable nature to have fun at any time.

Taking a deep breath, Teng Xuanyi lowered his head. He knew that no matter what he said at this time, it would be wrong, and he would give that girl more room to play.It was unprecedented for her mother to embarrass herself in front of so many people, but when she thought it was for Zixi, she was happy.

The scene fell into embarrassment for a while, seeing that the queen was about to speak again, Zhu Lan took a step forward bravely, clasped her fists and said:
"Queen, Concubine Jin."

Qin Rao, who was stupefied at the side, also hurriedly saluted, and said, "I have seen the queen, Concubine Jin."

After successfully diverting attention, the Queen and Concubine Jin smiled and nodded towards them.

After sitting down, watching tea, and gossip, harmony and harmony finally returned to Xiangkun Palace.

One piece, two pieces... After stuffing six pieces of honey cake in one breath, Zixi gulped down a big cup of tea, hiccupped and said, "It's so delicious!"

The queen smiled and said: "You girl, why don't you act like you haven't eaten for a long time, so be careful."

Wiping her mouth, Zixi said solemnly: "The kitchen is on fire, so there is no food to eat!"

The queen's eyes widened: "The kitchen... burned?"

"Yeah." Zixi turned around and pointed at Teng Xuanyi, saying, "He did it!"

There was a sudden silence in the hall, and for a long while, Teng Xuanyun covered his face and giggled.

This trip... It was a big mistake... Teng Xuanyi's earlobe was reddish, and he stammered: "Yes... I was careless for a while, but the house delivers meals normally every day, she... ...she has something to eat..."

"You..." The queen really didn't know what to say. She had never seen her son so embarrassed and helpless. It was not surprising that Teng Xuanyi burned anything, but burning the kitchen...don't think about it, it must be with Zixi related.

Concubine Jin held back her laughter, patted Teng Xuanyun who was rolling around laughing beside her, and said, "Go and bring some cakes for Miss Qinluo to taste!"

Teng Xuanyun covered her stomach and waved her hand casually: "She wants to eat and get it herself!"

Pinching his arm fiercely, Concubine Jin said, "Hurry up!"

"Hiss..." Rubbing the sore spot, Teng Xuanyun jumped up: "Just take it..."

Smiling and shaking her head, Concubine Jin looked at Zhu Lan:

"Young master Zhulan, thank you for your kindness, this time, thanks to you."

Zhu Lan nodded and said, "It's good that you're fine."

The queen sighed, and said: "Concubine Jin has already told me about the matter, the world is full of wonders, Zhu Lan, thank you."

Zhu Lan was a little surprised, and hurriedly said: "Queen, you are serious. I only know a little about the methods of making medicine and alchemy, so don't worry about it."

The queen raised the corners of her mouth and nodded meaningfully. At this moment, a servant girl hurried in, bent her knees and said, "Queen, Your Majesty is coming!"

Everyone was shocked, what was he doing at this time...

(End of this chapter)