White Fence Dream

Chapter 157 Not Afraid

Zhuang Li looked at Shangguan Yue.

Miss Li's makeup today was a little sloppy, her powder and rouge were not applied, her pearl hairpin was inserted crookedly, and her expression was a little dazed. This time she really looked like she was sick.

He asked her if she was okay as soon as she opened her mouth, so it must be that he was wrong.

And this is bad, it's all caused by her.

Shangguan Yue was a lucky person, but she brought him bad luck.

"I'm fine." Zhuang Li said with some apology.

She said it was fine, which meant something was wrong. Shangguan Yue asked anxiously, "What happened last night? Were you there on the street last night? I saw the young lady of the Marquis of Dongyang, but she was neither you nor her at first. It was..."

At this point, he paused.

The fear in my heart seemed to rise again.

I don’t think I’m afraid.

He is not a child anymore.

More of a panic.

Although I had heard rumors about the ghost of Queen Jiang haunting people before, and there was a Bai Li ghost around her, but when the ghost of Queen Jiang really appeared, it felt like everything became unreal.

Is the world going to become a ghost town?
The hand was suddenly held.

Shangguan Yue was stunned for a moment, looking at the woman who stood over to her, and she held his hand.

These hands were not cold, but warm and soft.

In fact, he seemed to have touched her skin before, when she saved him. She supported him, and he leaned against her and reached out to touch her face.
Another kind of panic replaced the panic of fear, and the chaotic heart seemed to be pulled down by these hands.

Zhuang Li didn't wait for him to continue and said, "I know who it is. I saw it, too."

Did she know? Did she see it, too? Shangguan Yue's scattered mind focused.

Zhuang Li held his hand and whispered, "Let me tell you first, what you saw at that time was both true and false."

Is it true or false? This sounded even stranger. Shangguan Yue frowned, but smoothed her brows the next moment.

"That's your ghost world, isn't it?" he said. "To a living person like me, it's fake, but to the dead, it's real."

Zhuang Li smiled: "Yes, you can say that."

She held his hand tightly, firstly to make him feel real, and secondly so that she could detect changes in his emotions in time.

People's emotions are reflected in their bodies.

"Because you are special, you see things that others cannot see. But as long as you firmly believe that what you see is real, you will not be affected. However, I borrowed your dream last night, and some dangers occurred, awakening the fear deep in your heart. You must be very scared after waking up, and you don’t know why you are afraid..."

"Is the danger over now?" Shangguan Yue interrupted her and asked.

Zhuang Li was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "It's resolved. Everything will be fine once the dream ends and I wake up." He then went on to explain to him, "You may continue to experience this inexplicable fear for a while..."

Shangguan Yue nodded: "I understand." She smiled and said, "Besides, the greatest fear is the unknown. Now that you tell me what happened, I will know and naturally I will not be afraid anymore."

He is really easy to talk to.

Zhuang Li looked at him, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

Because of her weirdness, she avoided people since she was a child. Apart from her family and later Mr. and Mrs. Zhuang, she had hardly ever interacted with outsiders.

People fear and hate her, and she also fears people.

She was so lucky. First she met Zhou Jingyun and then she met Shangguan Yue. As long as she talked to them, they would listen calmly and rationally and understand.

Shangguan Yue felt the hand holding hers become softer and seem to relax.

She came to comfort him and told him not to be afraid, because she must be scared too.

Shangguan Yue hesitated for a moment, then held the hands again.

"Don't be afraid either," he said. "You and I are both fine now, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Zhuang Li smiled at him and nodded, "Yes, there's nothing to be afraid of." He raised his eyebrows and said, "Besides, it's someone else's turn to be afraid next."

Shangguan Yue smiled and also raised an eyebrow.

"What do you need me to do?" he said, and then asked, "Still, sleep?"

Zhuang Li smiled and shook his head: "This time it's not sleep."

.......
.......
Shopkeeper Cai leaned forward slightly, as if someone had pushed him, and he suddenly raised his head.

The maid's low laughter was heard in my ears.

"Grandma, your little lady is out."

The young master is coming out? Shopkeeper Cai turned around subconsciously and saw a woman dressed as a young master walking out with her shoulders hunched and her head swaying.

How long has it been?
Did he fall asleep just now? Was he too sleepy? Did he fall asleep while standing after not sleeping all night? This was too strange. No matter how tired he was, he wouldn't be so relaxed at this time.
Shangguan Yue walked past him and went forward.

Shopkeeper Cai was confused, and then he saw the young wife of the Marquis of Dongyang coming out wrapped in a cloak and wearing a big hat.

The maids immediately surrounded her.

"Let's go." Shangguan Yue called in a low voice.

Shopkeeper Cai retracted his gaze and followed him. He felt that this trip was just like no trip at all. It was as if he just came here to take a nap. He heard and saw nothing.

However, the young master's trip was obviously not in vain, as his spirit had changed.

Shangguan Yue got into the car and leaned against the corner. Her face was still as pale, but her thin lips had a red color. Her original trance-like look disappeared, and her eyes were dark and bright.

The soul has returned to the body.

They feel dispirited when they don't see a beauty, but they feel full of energy when they see one. This is how all the infatuated men and women in the world behave.

Shopkeeper Cai had a headache. It would be fine if the man was unmarried and the woman was unmarried, but now it was a bad fate.

Look at the corners of the young master's mouth, sometimes rising up to smile, sometimes sinking, feeling lost, sad and happy at the same time. Others are women's infatuation, but the young master is a man's infatuation, and he is holding in his hand——

"Hey, sir, what is it?" asked Shopkeeper Cai.

I just noticed that Shangguan Yue had a small box in her hand.

It wasn't there when I came.

Shangguan Yue was examining the box, her expression changing from happy to solemn. When she heard his question, she immediately stuffed the box into her cloak and hugged it.

"Nothing." He said perfunctorily.

Shopkeeper Cai snorted in his heart and thought, let's give it as a token of love. He then raised his hand to support his forehead, feeling a headache.

.......
.......
"Take that set of red gold and jeweled hairpins."

Chunyue said what she thought of.

The two maids were about to go out with bundles of clothes in their hands, when one of them went back into the inner room and took out a jewelry box.

A maidservant outside the door reminded: "Sister Chunyue, the young mistress has finished examining Miss Li and is going to the mistress."

Chunyue said yes and urged the two maids: "Go over quickly."

The two maids were walking out happily, carrying clothes, bags and jewelry boxes. A maid was meeting them outside.

"When I came here, Madam's room was full of new clothes and jewelry, waiting for the young lady to choose. There was no need to bring so much."

"The lady prepared it for me, so the young lady should also take it. The more the better." "No matter how many there are, there is only one young lady, and she can only wear one. What a pity."

"Don't worry, don't worry. Madam will go out more often in the future, and there will be plenty of opportunities to wear it."

The maids chatted and laughed, and Chunyue was also smiling. She warned the little girls who stayed at home: "Don't be naughty, and keep an eye on the brazier in the room."

The little girls responded in unison, “We’re not going anywhere.”

Chunyue looked around the room again: "Don't touch the young lady's desk."

The desk was filled with pens, inkstones, and half-written words. The bookshelf was filled with books.

babble?
Haruzuki's gaze swept across and back again.

Seems like something is missing?
She couldn't help but take a step forward, and at the same time she remembered.

"Where are the lotus roots that were placed here?" she asked. "Who took them?"

At that time, I jokingly asked if lotus roots could be smoked. The young lady said yes. Chunhong really dug some, and the young lady really smoked them, and then they have been left here ever since.

After all, it is not as good as flowers and plants, and it is not eye-catching in daily life, but it is made by the young lady herself after all.

The little girls shook their heads in confusion, "We didn't move." "Did the young lady put it away?"

Chunyue wanted to ask again, but the little girls urged her, "Sister, go over quickly, we can look for it when you come back." "There is only so much space in the house."

That’s right, I’ll go back and ask later. Chunyue retracted her steps and went out.

The room was crowded with people and lively at the wife of Marquis Dongyang's place.

Zhou Jiuniang's voice kept ringing, "This one looks good." "That one looks good." "Sister-in-law, wear this one."

The other sisters scolded, "Are you choosing for the young lady, or are you choosing for yourself?"

Chunyue walked through the bustling crowd and stood beside Zhuang Li, watching Mother Xu put a pearl hairpin on Zhuang Li's hairpin.

Zhuang Li had recombed her hair into peony-shaped buns and was wearing a red skirt with lotus patterns. She looked bright and pretty, and less youthful and childish.

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang looked at her carefully and nodded with satisfaction, "Let's go with this one. It's a festival, so we have to look pretty."

Several concubines praised, "Madam, you made a good choice."

Aunt Yang even said, "Madam, you chose a good dress and a good daughter-in-law."

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang glared at her, but did not say anything indifferently like she did in the past, saying that it was not her choice and it had nothing to do with her.

Even if she didn't choose her daughter-in-law, she has been in the family for almost a year now, so she can be considered as the one who taught her.

"Once you enter the palace, you will follow me, greet your elders, smile at your peers, and there is no need to say anything else." She looked at Zhuang Li and said.

Zhuang Li knelt down and replied yes.

"The lanterns and fireworks in the palace must be more beautiful." Zhou Jiuniang said with envy.

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang said to Zhuang Li, "You are not allowed to walk around or look around in the palace. You must stay by my side. This is different from going to your aunt's house."

Zhuang Li responded yes again.

Zhou Jiuniang shrank her head and muttered that the lanterns and fireworks on the street were more beautiful. The nanny hurriedly scolded her for talking nonsense and being treasonous.

Zhou Jiuniang didn't dare to say anything anymore. She looked at Zhuang Li with sympathy. It was really not fun to enter the palace.

"This is the first grand banquet since His Majesty ascended the throne. There will definitely be a lot of people. We will go out at 12:00 p.m., so you don't have to eat lunch here. You can take a rest after lunch. Although His Majesty will not feast all night like the late emperor, we will be back at 12:00 p.m. at the earliest." Lady Dongyang Hou said, then thought of something else and frowned and asked, "Where is Jingyun?"

Zhuang Li said hurriedly, "There are some matters at the government office, and the prince needs to report back to His Majesty."

The emperor is indeed different from the previous emperor. He does not like banquets and is unwilling to rest during festivals. The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang nodded.

"Okay, let's all go." She said, "I want to take a break too."

Everyone in the room responded yes.

Zhuang Li came out with the maids and suddenly stopped: "You go back and put away your clothes and jewelry first, I'll go walk around in the garden."

Chunyue was a little surprised. Why did she suddenly want to visit the garden at this time?

Chunxiang reacted quickly. The young lady must be nervous. After all, it was her first time entering the palace and she would meet the empress, the emperor, and all the noble ladies in the capital.

"The lanterns in the garden have not been removed yet, they look very pretty." She said hurriedly, urging Chunyue, "Sister, accompany the young lady." She also suggested, "Why not just have lunch in the garden? Wangchun Hall is not very big, and it will be warmed up quickly by heating the floor heater."

Zhuang Li smiled: "No need, I'll just walk for a while and then go back."

Chunyue gave her a scolding look: "It's winter now, don't give me any rash advice. What if I catch a cold? I have to attend the palace banquet tonight."

Chunxiang stuck out her tongue and smiled, and said no more.

"Luckily I brought a hand warmer." Chunyue took the hand warmer from the little girl and handed it to Zhuang Li, "You won't feel cold when you walk around the garden."

Zhuang Li took it with a smile and walked forward. Chunyue followed, while Chunhong, Chunxiang and others went back first.

It was said that they were visiting the garden, but to be more precise, they were visiting the Dongyang Marquis Mansion. Zhuang Li seemed to be walking around aimlessly, asking curiously what different places were.

Chunyue thought that she had hardly gone out since she got married, and she seldom went to the wife of Marquis Dongyang. As a young lady, she was not familiar with this house, so it was time for her to get familiar with it and have him point it out to her one by one.

"Is that where Jiu Niang and the others live?"

"The outer courtyard of several gentlemen is here."

A thin layer of sweat appeared on his body, and he had just finished a quick tour of the Marquis' Mansion.

Zhuang Li stood on the bluestone road, looked back at where he had walked, and retracted his gaze: "Let's go, let's go back and eat."

Chunyue followed and said, "You won't eat well at the palace banquet, so prepare a rich lunch. But Madam, don't eat too much. It's inconvenient to change clothes in the palace. I asked them to prepare some snacks... But Madam, you must be ready, as well as the Crown Prince. Madam, this is your first time in the palace, so don't worry, with Madam and the Crown Prince following you. How about the Crown Prince?"

Chunyue, who was mumbling to herself, suddenly raised her head to look at the sky again.

"Is the prince almost done with his work?"

Zhuang Li raised his head, looked in the direction of the Imperial City, and hummed, "It will be soon."

……

……

Zhou Jingyun looked up at the hall in front of him. The festive imperial city was dotted with colorful lanterns, adding a touch of liveliness to the solemnity.

"Oh, Prince Zhou is here." The chief eunuch Gao Twelve saw him standing outside the door, and a smile appeared on his arrogant face.

Zhou Jingyun held a scroll in his hand and said, "Your Majesty asked about the missing autumn taxes a few days ago. I have checked and am here to report to Your Majesty."

After saying this, he glanced into the hall and heard the officials talking and laughing inside.

"It seems like you came at an unfortunate time. There are many people who want to see your majesty."

Gao Twelve lowered his voice and said, "What those people said was not serious. Your Highness, please don't be polite. Come, follow me in."

Even if he was talking about serious matters and was interrupted by Zhou Jingyun, His Majesty would not be angry when he saw his face.

But Zhou Jingyun shook his head: "I'd better wait a while." Then he looked towards the side hall.

There was also a eunuch standing outside the side hall door, looking over here evasively. When he saw him looking at him, he quickly shrank back.

Gao Twelve snorted coldly: "Bai is over there."

Now everyone knows that Concubine Bai is pregnant. For the safety of her offspring, she often stays by the emperor's side to get the protection of dragon energy.

Since it concerned offspring, the court officials did not stop this unruly behavior, but they all avoided approaching the side hall.

"Madame Bai is here." Zhou Jingyun said, "I'll go and pay my respects to her."