Chapter 10, Encounter

Hehe, not only Yun'er, even Li Yu laughed, "Where did this method come from? It sounds fresh!"

The princess has heard that many unknown individuals have recently appeared in this garden, and has sent us to inquire about the matter. Although this garden is not as grand as the royal palace, it is still necessary to adhere to proper protocols. Any additions to the household must be reported and approved by the estate. Furthermore, even in the royal palace, there are established regulations regarding the number of maidservants assigned to the princess, secondary consorts, and concubines. Moreover, given that the young lady's status is still not formally established, such reckless behavior cannot be tolerated

Father-in-law, as you said, Xue Fei is nameless and has no status, not even a concubine. Although the princess is kind, the Wang residence distributes monthly allowances to me, but how can Xue Fei use them with peace of mind? In this garden, besides me, there are also maids and servants. Since we all live together, I must consider their well-being, ensuring that everyone has enough to eat and wear. Therefore, I think this garden is spacious and we can find some people to plant flowers and vegetables, which can be consumed by ourselves or offered to the residence. If there are any surpluses, perhaps we can sell them on the street, thus making a living for ourselves. This set of reasoning I concocted is truly pretentious and exaggerated, yet I must express it sincerely; I feel somewhat helpless.

Oh, I can't help but wonder, it shouldn't be Li Yu. If he had something to say, it would usually be conveyed through his usual channels. ... The steward in the residence, could it be ...? ... Without further thought, I quickened my pace and returned to the Cou Garden with Lingling. After a bit of grooming, I came to the front hall of the Jinglian Courtyard together with Lingling and Yun'er.

Having said that, he then scrutinized me with his unfathomable gaze

I merely assumed that I could work in isolation, having conducted only one field investigation, lacking both a sufficient sampling rate for market research and any feasible plans. Driven solely by my fanciful thoughts, I forcibly brought everyone in, but how should we proceed from here? Can this truly work? Once again, I have fallen into the occupational hazard of planners, where daydreaming outweighs reality. Alas, it is what it is; there will surely be a way when the cart reaches the mountain. With this thought, I simply stood up, did not call for the maid, and quietly slipped out of the room draped in a purple cloak.

At this time, the sky was already bright, and sunlight streamed through the window, warming the people inside

Yun'er was about to throw away the white dress she had changed out of, and I couldn't help but exclaim how unfortunate it was. Li Yu called out to Yun'er, laid the dress on the desk, ground the ink, and picked up the brush. After a few strokes, I saw a painting of "Ink Plum Blossoms." Transforming waste into treasure, I couldn't help but applaud. Li Yu tossed aside the brush, embraced me once more, and softly asked, "Are you still my Xue'er?"

Speechless

Upon thinking of this, the gloom in my heart dissipated completely

Before dawn, I found myself unable to sleep, contemplating the people left in the garden and the matters I have been quietly planning over the past few days. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by an inexplicable pressure that made it difficult to breathe

Miss, as soon as dawn broke, the steward, Lord Wang, from the Duke's residence came over, saying he had matters to discuss with you in person. Sister Yun and I found it difficult to say that you were not present, so we only mentioned that you had caught a chill yesterday and got up a bit late. While we kept Lord Wang waiting in the front hall, we were searching for you everywhere

Just after coming down the mountain, I saw Lingling rushing over, "Miss, so early in the morning, where have you been? I had a hard time finding you!"

As Yun'er was about to step forward, the eunuch Wang waved his hand and said, "No need to trouble yourselves. We have come on the orders of the princess to ask a few questions, and after we have inquired, we will naturally take our leave"

"You all go out first!" I instructed. "Yes." Yun'er pulled Lingling out, giving me a reassuring glance.

When he set down the teacup for the third time, I stepped forward, lifted the teapot, and filled it for him. Then I returned to my original position and knelt down again

Silence

In a daze, I was pulled into his embrace

Although this garden is an outer residence of Li Yu located on the outskirts of the city, it is by no means simple. According to Yun'er, Li Yu is the most favored grandson of Emperor Xuanzong, having been granted the title of Prince of Guangping at the age of fifteen, along with a fief, estate, and farmland. Therefore, while this garden is not luxurious, it exudes exquisite craftsmanship in every detail. Even more remarkably, there is a stream of fresh water flowing through it, converging into a pond that blooms with lotus flowers in summer, enhancing the natural beauty of this garden, making it a harmonious entity in itself

I woke up early today and went out for a walk. What is it? Is there something going on? I felt a sense of doubt in my heart as I saw Lingling's anxious expression, which made me feel a wave of panic.

She only said "It hurts" and covered her face with her hand. Li Yu held my hand, looked closely, and said: "Now you cry out in pain, but just now you were hit so hard. I was outside and felt alarmed; your face is already swollen."

The prince, from the initial scrutiny to finally sitting aside, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.

Avoiding his gaze, I hurriedly called out to Yun'er: "Yun'er, please help me boil a few eggs and bring them over."

Suddenly, he picked me up. On the way back to the garden, I vaguely heard him murmuring, "A title, didn't you say you didn't want it?"

Miss! Yuner and Lingling, one of you come over to help me, while the other is already scared to the point of tears

At the foot of the couch in the Cou Garden, I encountered a gentle and tender Li Yu. Accepting the cold handkerchief that Yun'er handed to me, he gently helped me wipe away the bloodstains and then replaced it with a clean handkerchief to apply to my face. It was only at this moment that I began to feel a slight pain; it turns out that pain is felt more acutely when one is cared for.

The royal eunuch did not respond further, his gaze seemed to carry profound meaning. After a long pause, he simply uttered: "The princess punishes the young lady by slapping her face."

Throughout the entire garden, the western water corridor winds gracefully, with the reflections of pavilions creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The eastern flat grassland features bamboo groves and winding streams, offering an expansive space.

Adjacent to the lotus pond lies a bamboo garden. It truly embodies the phrase "Snow falls, the plum blossoms scent the air; the lotus is tranquil, the bamboo attire is cool." What a beautiful scene! One can imagine that the person who designed this garden is no ordinary craftsman. The scenery in the garden allows viewers to experience it as if savoring poetry and appreciating paintings. Passing through the bamboo forest, there is a small open area, and ascending naturally leads to a small hill, atop which stands a pavilion—Langcang Pavilion. From above, one can overlook the entire garden, which is indeed quite expansive. In addition to the garden where I reside, known as the You Garden, there are also several other courtyards such as the Shou Zhuo Garden, Wen Mei Pavilion, and Yuan Cui Pavilion.

I no longer spoke, merely directing my gaze towards him. After a considerable while, I finally said, "Given your current position, you must understand the principle that in order to receive help from others, one must first help oneself."

"Clap," "Clap," as I struck, I was still thinking about maintaining a rhythm, making it look more appealing. It didn't seem painful until the taste of blood filled my mouth, until the blood dripping from my nose stained the white dress with splotches.

Miss, are you hungry? You haven't had breakfast since early this morning. I will go get some food!" Lingling, who was standing by, turned and left.

In the dawn light, he radiated an aura, with slightly disheveled hair and a robe that gently swayed, leaving me momentarily dazed

The small hill in the middle divides the garden into two parts, the southern and northern courtyards, which are secluded and tranquil, filled with the fragrance of lotus flowers.

I replied aloud: "The snow falls like this, not to plead guilty for myself. Your Excellency may punish as you see fit, but I only ask that after the punishment, you allow me to say a few words."

"Miss Shen, I apologize for disturbing you so early; allow me to pay my respects first." With that, he slightly lowered his head

Upon hearing such a result, I surprisingly let out a sigh of relief. This princess truly has a childish temperament. A slap on the face brings not only pain but also humiliation, yet it is far better than the outcome of driving everyone away.

Oh, as Miss Shen mentioned, I fear that the princess will be even more enraged. Could it be that the princess has wronged you, forcing you to grow vegetables and sell flowers?" The royal steward slammed the teacup down on the table

"Is the Grandfather going to punish Xuefei on behalf of the Princess today?" I asked him softly, looking directly at him

A person clad in a purple python robe, with a slightly plump figure and a broad face, stood there. His deep-set eyes seemed to conceal many secrets. It is likely that this individual is the chief steward of the Guangping Duke's residence, Lord Wang. Just as I was contemplating what to say, he spoke first.

I cannot help but recall the years of hard work I put in during modern times to finally make the down payment on my small dwelling, for which I still have to repay a loan for twenty years. Looking at this garden, I truly feel that my journey through time has not been in vain

Indeed, the young lady need not be so, for it is important to understand that the family rules are in place, and pleading is of no use! The tone of Lord Wang seemed even more rigid than before; perhaps he thought I would beg him, which led to his disdainful attitude, filled with contempt.

I lowered my eyes, standing in the hall

Alright! Wang Gonggong stood up, shook his robe, and said, "Miss Shen's words, we shall remember them. Take care of yourself!" After he left the room, I finally stood up. Turning around, I saw Yun'er with a determined expression and Lingling with tears glistening in her eyes, and surprisingly, there was also him.

I have never taken a good look at this garden before. Today, I have some free time, so I will take a walk alone in the quiet of the morning and explore the surroundings.

I was astonished

Oh? Wang Gonggong was quite surprised, his gaze flickering before he said, "Then let us hear it first."

"Thank you, Princess Xie, and thank you, Eunuch Xie!" I bowed once more to Eunuch Wang of our dynasty, and then began to fan myself.

I had no choice but to step forward quickly and deeply bow in greeting, "Your Excellency, you flatter me. It is Xue Fei who has been rude and kept you waiting for so long. Please take a seat, Your Excellency. Yun'er, go and bring another pot of hot tea for His Excellency."

I was pondering how to explain this when he began to speak to himself, "Yes, you told me before that your parents passed away when you were young, and you grew up with your brother and sister-in-law. You must have endured much hardship, and surely your sister-in-law was harsh on you when you were little, which is how you learned to heal your wounds." After saying this, he took my hand, showing a hint of compassion.

Regarding Li Yu's deep affection, I do not know what Xue Fei had said to him before, so I simply chose not to respond and turned my face towards the window

I am busy explaining: "No, boiled eggs, when peeled and wrapped in a cloth, are the quickest remedy for reducing swelling when applied to the face!"

I have a vague understanding in my heart: "In that case, please speak, Your Excellency!"