After being a widow, the empress dowager was favored by the powerful ministers

Chapter 17

In the twelfth lunar month, the city of Bianjing is already full of lively atmosphere of the upcoming Chinese New Year.

There are people selling Buddha flowers everywhere in the city, the market is brightly lit with candles, and Sheng Baoling is swimming in the market.

She didn't dress up as a man today, she was wearing a water blue dress and a veiled hat, her face was completely invisible to peeks.

And because there are many girls in the street market wearing veiled hats, this outfit will not attract too many eyes.

Sheng Baoling held the candied haws and a biscuit that he had always wanted to eat in his hand, and while walking, he looked at how beautiful the night scene in Bianjing was.

On the Bian River, the sound of playing the qin could be faintly heard from the painting boat. It was so beautiful that Sheng Baoling immediately walked to the Zhou Bridge. Colorful lanterns were hung all over the market and the painting boat on the river.

Sheng Baoling's eyes were bent like a crescent moon, she opened her mouth and bit off a candied haws, it was sour and sweet, and she was very happy.

The rare moments of relaxation are alone, after all, there is something missing. If it is this moment, Jian Jia can be together, or someone else is fine.
Suddenly, when Sheng Baoling lowered his eyes to bite the biscuits, he didn't pay attention to the road, his eyes were covered by a shadow, and suddenly, he bumped into a figure approaching from the other side of the bridge.

The man was wearing a blue robe, and when he was bumped into by someone, he grunted, turned sideways, and subconsciously lowered his eyes to look.

When Sheng Baoling raised his eyes, a corner of the silk cloth of the veil was lifted slightly, and a familiar face was imprinted in his eyes, with a high nose bridge, and only a light shadow could be glimpsed in his lowered eyes.

She was slightly surprised, "Pei Ci?"

This voice was almost familiar in the man's bones, with a little softness, like mellow fruit wine, which made Pei Ci slightly drunk, and those beautiful eyes gradually lost focus.

Sheng Baoling didn't expect that if he came out, he would run into Pei Ci.

The Sheng Baoling that Pei Ci saw was always wearing court gowns in stable colors. Sometimes, after seeing too much, she would even forget that she was actually a girl who was only 17 years old.

And the girl wearing a veiled hat in front of her was dressed in a water blue dress, as if she hadn't left the pavilion.

His heart trembled slightly, his cold white hand lifted up, and grasped the corner of the silk cloth under the veiled hat. The silk cloth was soft, and it was tender and itchy when he held it in his hand. His ears were blown by the cold wind, The mood is a little confused.

The silk cloth was lifted slightly, and Sheng Baoling's slightly surprised eyes contained a trace of puzzlement and bewilderment. After briefly colliding with Pei Ci, his eyes fell on the hand that was holding the silk cloth of his veil at the moment.

Pei Ci's move was beyond the bounds.

As if he didn't expect Pei Ci to do this, Sheng Baoling was a little nervous, and unconsciously clenched his hand holding the candied haws.

Xu Shitian was getting colder, and the cold wind was blowing more, her cheeks were slightly red, and this color took Pei Ci's eyes away completely.

Those eyes that were a little out of focus due to lack of focus gradually regained their clarity.

Shocked and lost his composure, Pei Ci let go of his hand immediately, and the silk slipped from his hand.

"I'm so rude, please forgive me."

"It's okay." Sheng Baoling shook his head slightly, but didn't take it to heart.

Pedestrians came and went on the bridge, sometimes crowded towards Sheng Baoling's place, Pei Ci moved her body invisibly, blocking the physical contact of passers-by for her.

The two walked to the side of the bridge side by side. Looking from the bridge, the scenery of Bianjing city is too beautiful to behold.

She turned her eyes slightly to the side, and boldly looked at Pei Ci through the silk cloth.

Only on his face, Sheng Baoling could only catch a glimpse of his side face, with a high nose bridge, thin lips tightly pursed, and his eyes looking straight ahead, as if looking at the i painting boat in the distance.

In fact, compared to Jing, the people she sees now are more beautiful.

Moreover, it is not bad to have someone you know to share with you.

She went out of the palace so many times in private, but was discovered by Pei Ci, and he never said anything, and he never exposed himself in front of others or even the little emperor, so it can be seen that he is a person worthy of deep friendship.

Sheng Baoling withdrew his gaze, but the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he suddenly felt that this was pretty good, if he could go back later and walk more, it would be great.

"Why is the lady here alone?"

Pei Ci's habitually cold voice came from beside him.

Sheng Baoling bit off the last candied haws in his hand, and replied vaguely, "The palace is very boring, come out for a walk."

Pei Ci was silent for a long time, the cold wind came from the river, blowing Sheng Baoling's cap and dress, and dyed Pei Ci's ears a dazzling red.

After hesitating for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty has been out of the palace frequently recently, did you ever think that you would be discovered by the officials?"

Sheng Baoling smiled, "How did the officials find out?"

Pei Ci turned his head to look at the woman wearing a veil beside him, and said in a soft voice, "An insider tells the story."

Sheng Baoling heard this, but she just smiled and rolled her eyes, and couldn't help but look at Pei Ci. Fortunately, the silk cloth covered her face, so that Pei Ci didn't see her gaffe.

"But now, the only person who knows is Pei Xiang."

She looked at Pei Ci with a smile and asked, "Would you?"

The last three words, like a child throwing stones into the lake, hit Pei Ci's heart.

Pei Ci was silent for a long while.

What Sheng Baoling didn't know was that under Pei Ci's calm and indifferent appearance, a heart that no one could see was beating violently with enthusiasm at this moment.

It seemed as if it was about to break through the chest cavity and be exposed in front of my eyes.

Just when Sheng Baoling thought that Pei Ci would not be able to answer, a voice like a breeze came from his ear again.

"Your Majesty trusts me, so naturally I won't."

Although Pei Ci's voice and tone made people feel alienated as always, but to Sheng Baoling's ears at this moment, it was much closer.

She smiled lowly, only feeling the hunger of the day, the biscuits in her hand were delicious, so she didn't speak any more.

And Pei Ci, who was standing beside her, could faintly smell a faint fragrance, which was blown past Sheng Baoling's body, lingering at the tip of her nose, and lingering for a long time.

He couldn't help looking at Sheng Baoling from the corner of his eye, but through the silk cloth, he couldn't see it clearly, but he could guess that that face should be smiling at the moment, and those eyes were smiling, and there was light in them.

Pei Ci was originally handsome, but with a sickly literati air, he was extremely eye-catching.

The two of them were wearing the same blue clothes and a snow-colored cloak. Standing on the bridge, passers-by who didn't know it took a second look and thought it was the lord of some family who took his wife out.

This gentleman looks amazing, and the elegance in his eyebrows cannot be concealed by his sickness all the year round.

The cold wind blew, and suddenly, there was a noise, the crowd gradually crowded, and the children's play became louder and louder.

For some unknown reason, Pei Ci's nose felt cold, and then he caught a glimpse of snowflakes falling all over the sky.

He could hear Sheng Baoling beside him laughing, "It's snowing."

The first snow in Bianjing City came earlier than in previous years.

The white snow fell in Pei Ci's hair, as if coloring it bit by bit.

Pei Ci's face turned pale again, but he just looked down at the person beside him.

Seeing Sheng Baoling who was so different from usual, what appeared in his mind was what Emperor Chenghe had said
(End of this chapter)