The night is getting darker and the guests have dispersed.
The small courtyard, which had been noisy all day, finally slowly became quiet.
Mo Ran thoughtfully brought hot water for Bai Yanqing to wash up and go to bed. Bai Yanqing took the hot handkerchief Mo Ran handed over and carefully wiped the palms and backs of her hands clean.
"Where is Your Highness?"
Bai Yanqing turned around and asked Yuan Li.
"Your Highness and my brother just left."
Yuan Li replied honestly.
"Oh, it's hard for him!"
It's late at night now. Yunqi and the others are rushing back to the eldest prince's palace at this hour. I'm afraid they won't be able to rest for a few hours before they enter the palace to pay their respects, right?
"For Miss Bai, Your Highness thinks it's worth it."
Yuan Li followed Yun Qi for more than a day or two. Although he didn't know much about Yun Qi, Yun Qi's feelings for Bai Yanqing were well known.
"Miss, are you going to bed now?"
Mo Ran picked up the basin and walked out, turning back to talk to Bai Yanqing.
"Don't worry, there will be guests coming later."
Bai Yanqing's words confused Mo Ran and Yuan Li.
Are there any other guests coming? Aren’t all the ones who should come here coming? Who else can come to this remote countryside despite the dark and windy night?
Bai Yanqing smiled and continued to give instructions to Mo Ran: "Mo Ran, go prepare some tea and cakes. The tea leaves should be Wuyi rock tea that His Highness brought last time. Rinse it with hot water for the first time and pour it out, and take the second time.
Tea. Remember to prepare some snacks, which are not too sweet. The crab roe cakes brought by my aunt are very good. Go and heat them up. Remember, don’t steam them! Bake them over low heat, otherwise they won’t be crispy enough.”
"Miss Bai, who on earth is coming?"
Yuan Li asked curiously.
Bai Yanqing even ordered tea and snacks in such detail, so the person who came here must have a good background!
"Yuan Li, go to the courtyard gate and keep an eye on it. If you see anyone approaching, just come back and tell me!"
Bai Yanqing did not answer Yuan Li directly, but asked her to keep an eye on the courtyard door.
Yuan Li got the order and stepped back.
The night wind outside made people's faces feel cold. However, Yuan Li had long been used to it. Even in the coldest months of winter, it was still hot and scorching, nothing she had not experienced before.
Yuan Li raised his hands, rubbed them, heated his palms, and then covered his face. The warmth in his palms also warmed his cheeks. Yuan Li sniffed his nose: It's so cold!
I really don’t know what kind of person is worthy of Bai Yanqing’s hospitality on such a cold night!
Yuan Li was guarding the door of the courtyard, feeling a little bored. She leaned against the door frame and kicked the stones beside the door boredly.
A gust of night wind blew, carrying a strange smell.
Yuan Li stood up suddenly and subconsciously raised his hand to pull out the sword from his waist.
"Yuan Li! Stop, we are one of our own!"
At that time, Bai Yanqing ran out anxiously after waiting for no one for a long time. As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw that Yuan Li was on guard!
"One of our own?"
Yuan Li was stunned for a moment, and her hand that drew the sword hesitated a little.
The person hasn't arrived yet, why is Bai Yanqing so sure that the person coming is not an enemy?
Bai Yanqing stepped forward, gently held Yuan Li's sword-drawing hand, and then shook his head at her. Yuan Li understood, bowed and retreated behind Bai Yanqing.
"Let's sit in the room! It's windy at night, so don't freeze."
Facing the dark night, Bai Yanqing said something of unknown meaning. If it were anyone else, he would have thought that she was talking to Yuan Li!
After saying that, Bai Yanqing walked towards the house on her own. When Yuan Li saw this, although he was confused, he still followed him! Yuan Li's mission is to protect Bai Yanqing. Now, the enemy is in the dark and she is in the light. No matter what Whether the person coming was friend or foe, she didn't dare to take the risk and let Bai Yanqing meet with outsiders alone!
"Go call Mo Ran and ask her to serve tea!"
Walking to the door of the house, Bai Yanqing suddenly stopped, then opened her mouth and gave instructions to Yuan Li.
"But... Miss Bai, my subordinate's mission is to protect you! Now..."
Yuan Li was still worried about Bai Yanqing entering the house alone, so he hurriedly spoke.
"Nothing, go and call Mo Ran!"
Bai Yanqing still insisted. Yuan Li had no choice but to run to the kitchen. At this moment, what Yuan Li was thinking was to go back quickly, lest Bai Yanqing was really in danger and she would not be able to save Bai Yanqing in time!
"Brother Jing, you're already here, why are you hiding your head?"
After Bai Yanqing entered the house, she smiled and called to the empty room.
Not long after, I saw Ji Nanjing walking out from behind the screen!
"You girl, you are quite weird. How did you know I was coming?"
Ji Nanjing strode to Bai Yanqing's side, and then sat down with a loud voice.
"Get started! This is the seat reserved for my grandfather!"
Bai Yanqing grabbed Ji Nanjing's back collar and refused to let him sit there.
"What grandfather? There is no grandfather here, only me, your good brother!"
Ji Nanjing's eyes flashed, then he stiffened his mouth and said with some dissatisfaction.
Bai Yanqing ignored him and just faced the screen and said, "Grandpa, come and take care of Brother Guan Jing. He is getting more and more unruly now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a man with a majestic appearance and a figure as tall as a pine tree, crossing the screen with long strides and walking towards Bai Yanqing!
"Grandpa!"
The moment she saw the man, Bai Yanqing jumped towards him happily!
That's right, this older man is Bai Yanqing's grandfather, Ji Nanjing's grandfather, and old general Ji Zhengji!
General Ji looked at the girl in his arms, his face full of smiles! He couldn't help raising his hand and gently caressing Bai Yanqing's head. There was uncontrollable joy in his eyebrows!
"Qing'er has grown up! Grandpa is also old!"
General Ji looked at Bai Yanqing, who was lying in his arms acting coquettishly, and couldn't help but sigh!
"How has my grandfather gotten old? My grandfather is as heroic as ever! His prowess is still the same as before! Whoever dares to say that you are old, Qing'er will fight for you!"
Bai Yanqing took Old General Ji's arm and said coquettishly. Only in front of Old General Ji would Bai Yanqing show such tenderness as a little girl!
"Okay, okay, you only have your grandfather in your eyes, and you can't see me, a good brother who is hungry, right?"
Ji Nanjing pursed his lips and said with some dissatisfaction.
Because he was worried that the bumpy road would be too much for his grandfather's body and bones. Therefore, Ji Nanjing specially accompanied his old man in the carriage. The carriage was slower, wasn't it? He accompanied his grandfather for most of the day. , I just got here, and now I’m hungry!
"If you have a good meal, you won't starve to death!"
General Ji glared at Ji Nanjing, which was different from the way he looked at Bai Yanqing before. Now, General Ji looked at Ji Nanjing with a stern look!
When Ji Nanjing saw this, he pursed his lips and felt a little aggrieved! He thought to himself, this old man is really trying to burn bridges by crossing the river!
"Grandpa has been traveling for several hours, so he must be hungry. Qing'er has already had food prepared!"
After Bai Yanqing said that, she ran to the door to see if Mo Ran was here! As soon as she went out, she saw Mo Ran bringing food! Bai Yanqing didn't care about anything else, and quickly took the tray from Mo Ran's hand, turned around and headed towards the house
Go inside! Mo Ran and Yuan Li are left with dull faces!
How important is this distinguished guest that makes Bai Yanqing so anxious?
Mo Ran and Yuan Li looked at each other!
Bai Yanqing carefully placed the items on the tray on the table, and then, as if asking for credit, Old General Chao Ji said: "I know that grandpa is coming today, and Qing'er specially asked someone to prepare it for you. I don't know if it suits your taste."
!”
"How do you know grandpa will come today?"
Ji Nanjing was a little puzzled. He had obviously never told Bai Yanqing. How could Bai Yanqing know that General Ji would come today?
"Because... I'm smart!"
Bai Yanqing made a face at Ji Nanjing, and then helped General Ji sit down.
"Grandpa, these are crab roe cakes, made by Qing'er's little aunt! The crab roe here is made from the freshest live crabs! It's so fresh! Come and try it!"
Bai Yanqing was too lazy to greet Ji Nanjing. She hurriedly picked out the largest piece of crab roe cake and handed it to General Ji, letting him taste it first!
General Ji took the crab roe cake with a smile and took a bite. It was salty, delicious, and crispy. It was indeed a rare delicacy!
"how?"
Bai Yanqing stared at General Ji nervously, fearing that he wouldn't like to eat.
“Not bad, not bad! It’s really delicious!”
General Ji's brows relaxed and his eyes were full of love. Seeing him like this, Bai Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief! She was still afraid that her grandfather wouldn't like it!
"Grandpa, if you drink this tea, will it still satisfy your taste?"
Bai Yanqing poured the tea with her own hands and handed it to General Ji. Seeing this, General Ji hurriedly reached out and took it.
"The tea color is green and oily, with a rich tea aroma, and a faint fragrance of flowers. It is sweet in the mouth, sweet on the tip of the tongue, and lingers for a long time. It is the best Wuyi rock tea!"
General Ji took a sip of the tea soup and couldn't help but praise!
"As expected of my grandfather, you can drink this!"
Bai Yanqing praised with a smile, then raised her hand and filled a cup of tea for Old General Ji.
"This is the second tea. The tea flavor is neither too strong nor too light. When paired with this crab roe cake, it is just enough to relieve the tiredness! Why do you bother me so much!"
General Ji couldn't help but praise Bai Yanqing. He could see that Bai Yanqing had carefully considered everything he had prepared.
"It tastes good, but you can't drink too much! This tea, if you drink too much, you won't sleep well! If grandpa likes it, Qing'er will have you pack more tea leaves to take back!"
Bai Yanqing held down the teapot to prevent General Ji from drinking any more. Although the tea was good, it was true that he would not be able to sleep if he drank too much!
"Hey, you two have a deep love for each other. My direct grandson looks like he was picked up!"
Ji Nanjing wiped his eyes pretending to be aggrieved, but others thought he was crying!
Bai Yanqing was too lazy to pay attention to him. She had finally met her grandfather once, so how could she be willing to talk nonsense with Ji Nanjing?
…
Yuan Li and Mo Ran were outside the house, silently guarding the door. Although the people inside the house deliberately lowered their voices, they could still hear clearly! It turned out that the person Bai Yanqing had been waiting for all night was actually General Ji!
No wonder she is so cautious and meticulous!
The late night wind blows on people's bodies, freezing them to the bone. Even through thick clothes, it is difficult to hide the overwhelming chill.
"Qing'er, come back! It's cold outside, go inside quickly!"
General Ji waved his hand towards Bai Yanqing and motioned for her to enter the room. Bai Yanqing shook her head stubbornly and refused to leave.
After all, it was time to say goodbye, and the dark night could not hide Bai Yanqing's reluctance.
"Grandpa came in a hurry and left in a hurry. Qing'er didn't have any good things to give to grandpa. These...just treat them as Qing'er's wishes. Grandpa must not dislike them!"
Bai Yanqing ordered Mo Ran to pack a lot of crab roe cakes, as well as General Ji's favorite tea! They were all given to Ji Nanjing so that he could carry them easily!
General Ji endured the reluctance and turned his head away. The cold wind wetted his eyes. He was cruel and flew away. In the distance, an unmanned carriage had been waiting for a long time...
"Grandpa, take care! Brother Jing, take care!"
Bai Yanqing looked at the two people flying away, and murmured to herself towards their backs. She didn't dare to shout loudly, she was afraid... those people hiding in the dark would suddenly come out again! It would happen again tomorrow.
Go to court early and embarrass the Ji family!
The small courtyard soon returned to tranquility, and the familiar smell in the wind was gone. It was as if no one had ever visited here late at night.