Cut Frost

Chapter 45 45
After Xiao Yezhu left, Ning Jia sat alone by the window, staring at the pink begonia tree in the courtyard in the night in a daze.

More than ten years ago, Ning Jia was only three years old.

The third prince, Xiyuan, who often played with him, died suddenly.

Ning Jia waited for him for a long time, but he never showed up again.

She has been sitting under the begonia tree in the garden and waiting.

"Ning Jia, tomorrow we will still be here to see the little ants, you are waiting for me here." Xiyuan smiled at her.

"Okay." Ning Jia nodded with a smile.

However, he never came.

The royal father also did not allow himself to go to his palace to play with him.

At dusk, the night wind is slightly cool.

"Three princesses, come in, it's cold outside." Fang Qi and her put on a cape and said softly.

"Why hasn't the third brother come yet?" Ning Jia asked Fangqi.

"The third prince, he has other things." Fang Qi said.

The next day, she was still here waiting for him.

He still didn't come.

But another person came.

"Three princesses, this is for you." He handed her a paper-paste colorful butterfly kite.

"Did you do it?" Ning Jia took it.

"It was made by the third prince, and he asked me to give it to you." He smiled at her.

"Why didn't the third brother come?" Ning Jia asked.

"He has some important things to do and has gone far away," he said.

"Why didn't you accompany him, don't you always accompany him?" Ning Jia said.

"I also have something to do," he said.

"What are you going to do?" Ning Jia asked.

"Today, shall I accompany you to see the little ants?" He smiled.

……

Five years old.

"Three princesses, the princes are all shooting arrows on the school grounds today, let's go and have a look." Xiao Yezhu said to Ning Jia.

"I haven't learned the book today." Ning Jia said.

"Let's go to school tomorrow, it doesn't matter." Xiao Yezhu said, "Chi Rin is also on the school grounds, let's go."

The school grounds were crowded with many people.

The eldest prince comes off first.

The arrow feathers are like stars, steadily shooting towards the bullseye.

"The eldest prince is amazing, all of them hit the bull's-eye!" Xiao Yezhu praised.

Emperor Yongping also nodded in approval.

The second prince was slightly inferior, and only two of the three arrows were hit.

"It's too late." Xiao Yezhu hurriedly pulled Ning Jia to the front and said, "Look!"

Chi Rin platform arms, draw the bow like a full moon, arrows go like the wind.

Two arrows hit the bull's-eye, and the third arrow was slightly off.

"Chi Lin, you have to practice hard." Emperor Yongping said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chi Rin replied.

……

seven years old.

Royal Garden.

"Three princesses, come quickly, the begonia flowers here are so beautiful." Xiao Yezhu turned back and waved to Ning Jia.

The light pink begonia blooms on the branches, and the slight fragrance wafts in the garden.

"Yeah, it's so beautiful." Ning Jia also smiled.

"Slave, let them pick some and put them in the princess's room." Fang Qi said.

"Okay." Ning Jia nodded.

Fang Qi called a few palace attendants, took a ladder, and picked a few blooming begonias.

"Third princess, look, it's so beautiful." Fangrong smiled happily as she embraced the begonia flowers.

"Oh, such a beautiful begonia." Ning Yang brought a few palace maids and said to Ning Jia, "Sanmei, there is already a begonia in your garden, so give me these few branches."

The flowers come from the begonia flowers in Fangrong's arms.

"If you want, you can pick it yourself." Fang Rong said.

Ning Yang stepped forward, slapped Fangrong on the face, and said, "This princess said she wanted it, but you, a cheap servant, dare to talk back."

"Second sister, take it if you like." Ning Jia said.

"Three princesses!" Fangrong hugged Haitang in her arms and refused to let go.

"Second Princess, there are many more on this tree, why don't they pick a few more branches for you." Xiao Yezhu said.

"This princess likes these branches." Ning Yang raised his chin and said, "Blooming flowers."

"Yes." Fanhua replied, holding Begonia Flower in Zi Fangrong's arms.

"Second sister, third sister." The second prince Xichang came with a few people and greeted them.

"Second brother." The two bowed to him.

"Second prince." Xiao Yezhu and other palace maids also saluted Xichang.

Several others saluted the two princesses.

Chi Rin was wearing a lake blue martial arts shirt, which seemed to grow taller than the last time he saw him.

"This begonia blooms so beautifully. Second sister, haven't you always disliked begonias?" Xichang said.

"Who said I didn't like it? I liked it since today." Ning Yang said.

"Has the third princess not picked it yet?" Chi Rin saluted Ning Jia.

"Not yet..." Ning Jia said softly with a blushing face.

"Yeah, Chi Rin, can you help us pick a few branches?" Xiao Yezhu looked at him with a smile.

Chi Rin really jumped on the begonia tree, looked at the fully blooming begonias, and picked two branches.

The light pink Begonia reflected his fair face, and his face was filled with the unique brilliance of spring.

Chi Rin went down the treetop and handed the begonia flower to Fangrong.

"Really, really amazing." Xiao Yezhu said in surprise, "When did you practice so well?"

"Many thanks, Young Master Chi." Fangrong thanked and took Haitang.

Ning Yang stared at Fangrong, but Fangrong turned away.

……

On the day of Weifu Festival, the palace began to hang newly-made palace lanterns and sprinkle realgar water early in the morning.

Each palace is bathed in mugwort, hanging mugwort sticks, and hanging calamus.

Queen Yizhuang sent sachets to concubines, princesses, and princes.

No matter how busy it was outside, Ning Jia sat in front of the window and focused on embroidering a snow-white fox without raising her head.

Yu'er was lying on her lap, her eyes slightly closed, and she shook its fluffy tail gently from time to time.

Fang Qi said angrily, "I was injured yesterday, why don't you take a good rest?"

Ning Jia only said softly, "There is nothing to do on the left or right."

Fang Qi was helpless and said to Fang Rong, "Go get ready, let the third princess take a bath, and put more wormwood."

"Okay." Fang Rong responded and went out to prepare.

"Third princess, are you taking a bath now?" Fang Qi asked Ning Jia.

"Yeah." Ning Jia replied.

Looking at the embroidery frame, a snow-white fox was almost finished embroidering, showing a smile.

Fang Qi looked at the fox on the embroidery stand, and then at the Yu'er on Ning Jia's leg, and said with a smile, "The embroidery really looks like it."

Yu'er happily flicked her snow-white tail.

Since the beginning of time, officials and family members have entered the palace first, and went to each palace to meet and greet.

Although the princess's palace does not need to be greeted, the daughter of the minister who is accompanying the reading will also come to say hello and talk during this season.

Jianjia Palace was not as quiet as usual, and people came over one after another.

Yu'er just hid in the inner couch.

Xiao Yezhu didn't come today. I don't know what happened yesterday.

As the dinner time approached, Ning Jia was still sitting by the window looking at the blooming begonia trees in the courtyard in a daze.

"Three princesses, three princesses."

Suddenly hearing someone calling her, Ning Jia's thoughts drifted off. When she looked back, Fang Qi was standing behind her.

"Three princesses, it's time to go to the dinner party, the servants will help you change." Fang Qi looked at her with a smile.

"Okay." Ning Jia nodded.

"Fang Qi, put on the pink one for the princess, that one looks the best." Fang Rong said to Fang Qi.

"Which one would the third princess want to wear?" Fang Qi asked Ning Jia.

"Pink." Ning Jia said.

********
During the banquet at the Weifu Palace, the ministers and their wives and children gathered in the Chongqing Hall.

Before nightfall, the palace lanterns with delicate and colorful paintings were already hanging high.

The banquet tables in the hall were neatly lined up, filled with courtiers, men and women in full attire, but there was no sound.

Looking at the table, in addition to the Poria lotus cake, which is necessary for the Weifu Festival, there are some tofu, seasonal vegetables and some ordinary fish, and nothing else is rare.

"This Emperor Yongping is really, is he more stingy than Kurihara? This is also called a palace banquet?" Yu'er muttered in Fangqi's body.

On weekdays, Ningjia Palace also often eats some vegetables and small porridge. Within a day, there are some small meats and other rare things that have never been seen.

Unexpectedly, today's national banquet is also like this.

Most of the concubines in the palace were already seated.

For those who could not come back, their seats were withdrawn.

Meng Kuang, the general of the Fuguo Kingdom, was still in the battle against the wind in the north, and he did not come today.

His wife came with three sons, four sons and two daughters.

Prime Minister Xiao came with his eldest son, second son, third son, and a daughter.

General Dingnan Chi Wuwei came with his second son, third son and two daughters.

Other civil servants and generals also came with their families.

The royal families, princes, and princesses are also in their place.

The Taoist Master Tianxuan brought two disciples and sat in the first place on his right hand.

Soon after Emperor Yongping arrived, all the ministers stood up and bowed their heads, and then knelt down and saluted, with a sound like the chirping of a mountain.

"Everyone loves to be flat." Emperor Yongping sat on the Panlong chair, raised his right hand lightly, and said to everyone under the seat.

Everyone got up and took their seats.

Meng Hanzhen wore the moon crown he won yesterday.

Emperor Yongping said: "Meng Xiaowei won the moon crown yesterday. It can be said that he has both wisdom and courage. Given time, he must be a general and military talent that my people admire."

Meng Hanzhen knelt down and said: "I only wish to be loyal to the country, share the worries for the emperor, and solve the problems for the people."

Emperor Yongping nodded in approval and gave him three cups of Yuzhu wine.

Meng Hanzhen received thanks and was content.

Emperor Yongping said to the monarchs, ministers and daughters who were present: "Today is the festival of Weifu. I've been here for everyone. Let's talk about family affairs, and all the ministers don't have to be restrained."

"Thank you, Emperor Longen." Everyone didn't dare to be less polite.

Chang Fu took a half step forward and shouted, "Give the fan."

Then more than a dozen servants took out the plate, piled up exquisite palace fans, walked to the crowd, and each handed a fan, and distributed them one by one.

"What is this for?" Yu'er asked curiously.

"This is the ancient custom of the Huanyue Kingdom. Every year, the palace fan is given to the emperor during the Weifu Festival." Fang Qi said.

"Why give a fan?" Yu'er said.

"May is the 'poison month', the summer is scorching hot, the heat is embarrassing, the mosquitoes are nuisance, the miasma and poisonous haze are rampant. The emperor bestowed fans to dispel the heat, pray for blessings, auspiciousness, and ward off evil and disaster relief." Fang Qi said.

"It's you humans who have so many rules." Yu'er smiled.

"You don't like to watch, you can go, who wants you to watch." Fang Rong pouted to Fang Qi's side.

"You want me to go, but I won't go." Yu'er reached out and patted Fangrong's head.

"Don't make trouble, this is not a place to make fun." Fang Qi hurriedly said nervously.

Yu'er glanced at Daoist Tianxuan, who was sitting upright, and restrained.

Fang Rong glared at Fang Qi's side, and kept her mouth shut.

After the palace fan was rewarded, the monarch and minister stood up together, raised their wine glasses, and wished and prayed for blessings.

Yu'er yawned inside Fang Qi's body.

The banquet finally started.

However, it doesn't seem to be delicious.

"Three princesses, do you think it's delicious?" Yu'er whispered to Ning Jia.

But he didn't hear Ning Jia's answer.

"You don't think it's delicious, right?" Yu'er said.

Ning Jia still didn't make a sound.

Yu'er turned her head to look at her, only to realize that she was looking straight at one place.

Following her gaze, Yu'er really found a handsome face.

Chi Rin sat on the side of General Dingnan Chi Wuwei, his left arm seemed to be injured, and a white cloth strip was tied, and some bloodstains could be seen from such a distance.

It seems that it was the injury that Mu Yunhui left yesterday.

"I just hurt my arm, I'm fine." Yu'er said to Ning Jia.

Ning Jia looked at her sideways, nodded lightly, and said nothing.

Looking at the other people, they all eat quietly.

Emperor Yongping talked some homely gossip with everyone, and did not talk about the affairs of the government.

Except for those who answered with Emperor Yongping, no other noises were heard.

Therefore, although there are many concubines and courtiers in the hall, they are not noisy.

"General Chi, is your knee still hurting recently?" Emperor Yongping asked Chi Wuwei.

"Thank you for the emperor's concern, the weather has been fine and warm recently, and it's still good." Chi Wuwei replied.

"General Chi not only settled the borders for Huanyue, but also raised a heroic man for me." Emperor Yongping looked at Chi Rin and said with a smile, "Chief Commander Chi was also extraordinary at Muyunhui yesterday, and he will be able to continue Chi in the future. The power of a general."

Chi Lin still has a brother, Chi Lie, who now worships Qingzhong Lang, and is now guarding the country far away from the border of Chiyue, so today has not arrived.

"Your Majesty praised it. Chi Rin is still young and needs a lot of experience." Chi Wuwei said.

"How old is Chi Lin?" Emperor Yongping said.

"Xu Long Nineteen." Chi Rin got up and cupped his hands back.

"Nineteen, really young and promising." Emperor Yongping nodded.

"Don't dare." Chi Rin said.

"Your Majesty." A silver-haired old lady in the seat stood up and bowed her knees to Emperor Yongping.

"Who is this?" Yu'er asked.

"It's Mrs. An Guo." Fang Qi said.

Madam Anguo is the concubine of the late emperor and the biological mother of the present uncle Yin Muchen.

Mrs. Anguo smiled and said, "Chiaowei Chi grew up watching him since he was a child, and his temperament is also very good."

Emperor Yongping smiled and nodded.

Madam Anguo said to Chi Wuwei, "General Chi, Captain Chi hasn't engaged yet?"

"Not yet." Chi Wuwei said.

"General Chi, this is yours." Mrs. Anguo said with a smile to Chi Wuwei.

Chi Wuwei got up and bowed in a hurry and said, "This old man has been busy all the year round, so he was a little negligent."

Emperor Yongping listened, swept his eyes over the faces of the princesses, and looked at Chi Lin again.

"Damn it!" Yu'er secretly said.

The seat next to Prime Minister Xiao was vacant, thinking that his wife was unable to attend the banquet.

Looking at Xiao Yezhu again, she also had a nervous look on her face.

Ning Jia's face was red and white for a while, her hands clenched tightly, and her body trembled slightly.

Prince Xisu also looked surprised.

"Your Majesty," Madam Anguo said to Emperor Yongping, "now that the eldest princess is married, the second princess is still in the palace, and she is about the same age as Captain Chi."

Emperor Yongping looked at Ningyang, smiled and nodded.

Yu'er was also anxious in Fang Qi's body.

How is this going?

Is this too sudden?
　Thank you for your vote and for your support.

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(End of this chapter)