Chapter Nine, The Bamboo Horse Circles the Bed

She gently placed her hands on her waist and said, "I shall attend to my master as you retire for the night"

The Crown Prince discerned the underlying intricacies and found little to argue against. Turning around, he stepped onto the footstool, relaxed against the bed frame, and said softly: "I merely wish to meet your mother; is that not appropriate?"

Why should it be so? He is not even a true son-in-law! She sighed and said: "My good master, if you have any orders, just send someone to convey them to me, I will not disobey. My mother is a woman of the inner chambers, and your appearance will frighten her."

She was somewhat taken aback; for the past few years, she had been nestled beside him, allowing him to pet her as one would a dog. Now, was she to go to bed with him? She glanced at the apricot-yellow bedding, appearing quite hesitant: "I am unworthy and incapable, and do not dare to approach the master's couch"

The prince coughed once, and she straightened her slightly slumped waist, standing upright, her eyes still fixed intently on the ground. He felt somewhat stifled and coughed even louder, but this did not attract her attention; instead, it drew Dequan over.

It was originally supposed to be a good day; although I could not return home, my mother, whom I had not seen for many years, came to the palace. Being able to act a little spoiled in front of her and say a few childish words serves as a consolation for the long-standing pretense of maturity I had maintained.

He wore a hint of an understanding smile on his face, bending at the waist to report: "My lord, it is almost time for the appointed hour. I have brought the others to the auxiliary hall to await your orders, allowing Lord Su to assist you in settling in."

What are you thinking?" He suddenly interrupted her, taking a step back. The white undergarment accentuated his angry expression, creating a rather eerie atmosphere under the light. "Do you really dare to have such thoughts?"

People everywhere quickly retreated, leaving only the Milky Way to draw the curtain in.

Is it fortunate or unfortunate? It is not unfortunate; it is just that the time has not yet come. He frowned and said, "Why do you look like a fallen person?"

Since it is known that it is not easy, why stay from beginning to end? At this moment, asking her if she is happy? Xinghe said, "I am very happy, thank you for your support, my lord."

The rosewood Eight Immortals cross the sea with wide strides, the prince sits on the edge of the bed, finding it difficult to reach her. The two of them gaze at each other from a distance, neither willing to move, both stubbornly holding their ground.

She listened in stunned silence, knowing full well that he was being deliberate. Now that he has spoken it out loud, it truly shows no regard for people's feelings.

If she said she had never thought this day would come, it would be self-deception. In the locked palace, countless sordid affairs occur daily, too many to count. Whether it is the Emperor or the Crown Prince, having women favored is not only without sin, but those who are favored should also feel a sense of honor. Now it is her turn, bearing the dirty names from those years, it is finally going to be confirmed, and amidst her anxiety, she gradually calms down. In fact, it is nothing much; she is not a petty woman, and at her age, such things are to be expected. Now it is her turn, bearing the dirty names from those years, it is finally going to be confirmed, and amidst her anxiety, she gradually calms down. In fact, it is nothing much; she is not a petty woman, and at her age, such things are to be expected. Moreover, the Crown Prince is still a novice, clean and innocent, so she does not consider it a loss.

The Crown Prince said: "You do not wish to cause your mother any misunderstanding; are you planning to find a good family in the future?"

Xinghe was afraid of being trapped and lightly replied that she did not want to

I know, in fact, you have thoughts in your heart...'' he said, while lazily spreading his arms.

He seemed a bit melancholic and muttered, "I was still thinking that tonight would be the first snowfall, and since there are no classes in the study tomorrow morning, I could take you back for a visit. Since you don't want to, then forget it. It's getting late, and it's too cold outside, so don't go back to the lady's quarters; just sleep here." Saying this, he got out of bed barefoot, his tone cheerful, "You take off your outer robe, and I'll go light the candles."

He rested one hand on his knee and murmured, "A good marriage is possible, but I fear that your reputation is tarnished, and no one would dare to want you."

Sometimes, when I reflect on the past, a faint sense of melancholy inevitably arises within me. After all these years, wearing that skin, each has their own calculations. Like now, sitting on the bed and speaking, although there is no coherence, the heart is indeed pure.

Her demeanor easily leads people to stray off course. The Crown Prince tugged at her with some disdain, "Who told you to lie down?"

It seems that the governor is indeed bound by rules, which is quite unfortunate. Looking back, when walking between the Eastern Palace and the yamen, there were initially the supervision of the matron and the ceremonial eunuchs accompanying her. However, as time passed, those formalities were gradually removed. Yet, her mind was solely focused on her duties, and she never considered taking advantage of her position to sneak back home. To be honest, it is not about being honest; someone in her position must remain composed, avoiding unnecessary scrutiny and not giving others the opportunity to exploit any weaknesses. There is no need for that, and it does not reflect well. However, why is it that on the day she should have been properly engaged, it turned into a complete mess? After all, she is merely serving in the palace and has not been sold to the Huo family.

Outside, the weather is frigid, and the ice beads have long since transformed into heavy snow, falling in abundance. The palace lanterns hang high, and the red coals in the charcoal basin burn fiercely. The people in the hall have all retreated, leaving only the two of them, and the feelings of their childhood faintly return. Xinghe remembers how reserved she was when she first arrived at the Eastern Palace, carefully contemplating each step she took. The Crown Prince, however, was unpretentious; they were like two innocent children, interacting casually when no one else was around. As they grew older, they became aware of the nuances of social conduct, understanding their respective positions: the master is the master, and the subordinate is the subordinate, a chasm of class that could not be crossed, creating an increasing distance between them.

Silence is taken as agreement. De Quan seemed to have received a pardon, yet he retreated to behind the curtain, swiftly waving to the attendants standing by, then turned back to the starry sky and made a smiling face, "The matters inside will be entrusted to Lord Su, Your Excellency, I appreciate your efforts."

I see that your mother means no harm, as I have said, it is simply to put her mind at ease. Isn't it the nature of mothers to worry day and night, concerned about their children suffering and being bullied? You have been in my palace for ten years, and during this time, some unfavorable rumors have circulated. We know in our hearts that we are innocent, but others may not believe it. I thought, since it has come to this, I might as well make a statement to reassure your mother. My gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifted across her cheek; her expression was dazed, so different from her usual shrewdness, almost foolish, indicating that this time it struck a nerve. The Crown Prince casually pulled over a blanket and tossed it to her, "Are you cold? Your face is like a sharp corner."

She did not move her feet, pursing her lips as she said: "I have not yet bathed today."

Xinghe found it strange, "What is a 'corner tip'?"

However, unable to express his praise, the Crown Prince fell silent for a moment, then raised his head and said: "Come over and speak."

She speaks in a very sophisticated manner, with a roundabout and tactful approach. It is no wonder that he interjects with a sharp remark, using terms like labor and surprise, retreating to advance, clearly intending to catch him off guard with her words

The prince remained silent, his gaze carrying a warning, beginning to suspect whether he had been too indulgent, allowing her courage to grow bolder. As for Xinghe, having lived under a low eave for over ten years, even with the strongest of bones, one must still conceal themselves in his presence

Xinghe sat up abruptly, wondering what kind of game this was. Was it not time to get down to business, or were they just going to chat idly?

The beaded curtain sways, and amidst the illumination of the lights, fragments of starlight scatter across the ground. Her face, seen from either corner of the room beyond the beaded curtain, bears the expression of someone who feels owed tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Xinghe shook his head, "Didn’t the master say that he would arrange a good marriage for me in the future"

They each have their own thoughts. Today's performance, aside from being entertaining, carries its own profound meaning. However, upon closer inspection, it may not necessarily be a matter of scheming; it is merely that having seen her in official attire, where her gender is hard to distinguish, they wish to see her charm when dressed as a girl, adorned with makeup. In fact, it is indeed as he had anticipated, very dignified and beautiful. Especially the gentle bow of her head behind the lattice window, which naturally embodies the beauty of spring breezes. In fact, it is indeed as he had anticipated, very dignified and beautiful. Especially the gentle bow of her head behind the lattice window, which naturally embodies the beauty of spring breezes.

Xinghe felt embarrassed after suffering a silent loss, and upon hearing his words, he felt even more frustrated. He sat cross-legged and responded with a muffled agreement

The prince glanced at him without saying a word

The prince paid him no mind, only continuously gazing at the person outside the curtain. Dequan suddenly understood that the master indeed needed to clear heat and dispel fire, but the effective remedy was not the throat lozenges prescribed by the Imperial Medical Institute, but rather the expertise of the Astronomical Bureau—Zhen Gua.

The燕服, with its wide sleeves elegantly spread, features clusters of intricate brocade patterns swirling and intertwining on the dark satin surface, erupting like a tumultuous sea. The starry river lowered its gaze to remove the燕服 for him, displaying a demeanor of respect and submission. However, the master suspected that you had thoughts of your own; even if you did not, you had to fabricate one. She pondered and said: "I wish to..."

She did not refute any further, merely holding the blanket and gazing at him

The Crown Prince, however, did not respond to her, only saying: "Are you happy to meet today? It has been ten years, and it is not easy to see each other."

The Crown Prince leaned against the brocade cushion, a mocking smile appearing on his face. "I remember you said that even if it were a pretense, you wouldn't blink an eye. So, what is it? The words are still fresh in my ears, and you wish to change your mind?"

He glanced at her sideways and said, "I should punish you for your disobedience"

What could have been a wonderful reunion was ruined just like that. A crowd of unrelated people were present, and on top of that, there was that insufferable master. The day she had been looking forward to since the previous year passed in the blink of an eye, and she didn't even manage to exchange ten words with her mother

Applying what one has learned is certainly commendable, but to say that her face resembles that of a carp's offspring is utterly unfounded. After pondering for a while, she asked, "Is this really how one uses a sharp turn?"

Looking up, the prince's face was ashen, clearly it was she who had her good fortune disrupted, yet this gentleman's preemptive action was quite clever

Following the gaze of the Crown Prince, one could not help but think that Lord Su's attire today was truly commendable. He had been attending to his master throughout, and at that moment, the master was utterly captivated. It seemed that previously, he had been treating it as if he were being intimate with a man, but today he finally grasped the essence of it. As for him, the Chief Steward of Li Zheng Hall, he was naturally endowed with an eye for discerning people. From the very beginning, he felt that Lord Su was different from others. The accountants, the attendants, the ceremonial officers, and the gatekeepers all gritted their teeth upon seeing her. It was well known that these four positions and the eight female officials in the Eastern Palace were responsible for the affairs within the Crown Prince's quarters. Since the age of sixteen, the Crown Prince had to learn the "skills," and those female officials were merely his practice partners. As a result, when the work was intercepted, they could not contain their anger and seized the opportunity to criticize, claiming that the female Minister of Personnel was overstepping her authority and encroaching upon royal matters. He retorted, "A good horse is known by its legs, and a capable person by their words; whoever has the ability should step forward." In the end, none of those women dared to respond. In just five years, one could see Lord Su leap from the Minister of Personnel to the Deputy Commander, and the sickly beauties in the palace would tremble at the sound of the guillotine, let alone when it came to the military affairs under the control of the court.

Unable to resist yielding, he bent down to remove his shoes and stepped onto the footrest. Just as he was about to lower himself to kneel, he made way for her inside, gesturing for her to come to the bed

He probably realized it as well, waving his hand and saying: "Anyway, there is no one in the court worthy of you... Do you miss home? Do you want to go back and take a look?"

She was lost in thought outside, while the person inside the curtain stood with their hands behind their back, slowly pacing beneath the dragon and phoenix coffered ceiling. The palaces in the court were adorned with luxury, adhering to the principle of "every place must have carpets," especially in winter, when those exquisite and colorful embroidered blankets became essential in the sleeping quarters and study. The black boots wandered above, and even stomping could not produce much noise; her mind was elsewhere, as the Crown Prince circled the room several times, she did not even lift her eyes.

Unhappy, she stood outside the curtain of the side hall, unable to help but pull a long face. In her heart, she calculated that since there would be more opportunities to visit the government office in the future, on any day she could find a moment to attend to her personal matters, no one would be able to stop her

"Master, is your throat uncomfortable?" Dequan looked up and asked, "The Imperial Medical Department has prescribed some heat-clearing medicine. Shall I fetch it for you to use?"

Here he comes again, endlessly pulling and smoothing her hair. She can't help but wonder if he has some kind of ailment, as this trick has been played for over ten years, yet he still finds it fresh and never tires of it.

Having comforted himself in this manner, he untied his belt and sat on the edge of the bed. He did not cover himself with a quilt, thinking it unnecessary to have a concubine attend to him like that, crawling up from the foot of the bed. He did not expect charming smiles or sweet words; instead, she simply lay down in a sprawled position, resigned to whatever fate awaited her.

There was no other way; she had to shuffle over and stop beneath the footrest

The Crown Prince went around in circles, making a great effort to cover up his embarrassment from using dialect incorrectly. He carefully said, "Do you know about fishing for carp on ice? How can the carp not feel cold in icy water? They are shivering from the cold, so what is wrong with saying you are like a sharp corner?"

Her mood was not very good either. Usually, she could keep her composure and did not have the courage to argue with him, but today his antics were truly excessive. She hung her ceremonial robe on the hanger and, pinching her throat, spoke in a sharp tone: "How could I dare to have any thoughts? Today is the day I am to meet the prince. Your Highness, please allow me a day of rest; I am deeply grateful to you. Little did I know that while I was resting, I would trouble Your Highness to come to the West Pool Courtyard. Had I known this, I would rather not have met, lest I disturb Your Highness's esteemed presence."

The Crown Prince said with a profound expression, "A master from Tianjin has come to the study, and he often throws in some dialect from his hometown; this is a new word I have learned."

She was born without the ability to blush, her pair of eyes staring directly at him, "What poses are there to follow?"

Xinghe suddenly felt that all those years of reading had been in vain, as it turned out that "lying on ice to seek carp" meant that. After all, it is the crown prince; when he speaks nonsense, it seems as if there is indeed some truth to it

The Crown Prince's current mood is quite complex, as he helplessly gazes at the woman beside him, who wears an expression of self-sacrifice, likely believing that she is truly about to save him

The Crown Prince shifted slightly, leaning against the inlaid cabinet on the inner side of the large bed. As he averted his gaze, he did not forget to cast her a sidelong glance, saying, "You have always been so petty-minded since you were young."

She opened her mouth, but in fact, she only wanted to report to him the latest personnel structure of the Control Troops. He suddenly changed his expression, and she no longer knew how to continue her words.