Volume 1: Painting Hall Spring Chapter 40: Farewell to the Music of the Piano
The news that King Heng was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Southwest Army quickly spread throughout the government and the public, arousing uproar, shock, and discussion. Everyone had their own interpretations and worries.
Ling Deyan was pacing in the study, thinking deeply, when Ling Qingsong came in wearing night clothes. Ling Deyan raised his eyes, raised his eyebrows and asked, "What are you doing at this late hour?"
Ling Qingsong chuckled: "Get ready to go to Prince Heng's Mansion at night and talk to Heng'er."
"Nonsense!" Ling Deyan's face became even more ugly.
Qingsong shrugged: "Dad, I'm joking. I just sit and read those files lately, and I seem to have gained a lot of weight. I want to try to see if this clothes can still fit in, just in case I really need it in the future."
Ling Deyan rolled her eyes at him and sat down angrily. "You're really right. It's not easy for Dali Temple to imprison those people."
Qingsong had a clear look on his face: "I think instead of worrying about His Highness's safety in the Southwest Army, it is better to worry about the situation after his return."
Ling Deyan frowned deeply and spoke after a long time: "What you said makes sense. I told you about my previous encounter with His Highness in the Southwest. In my opinion, His Majesty and Your Highness are confident about the situation of the Southwest Army." He
He sighed: "It's just that Heng'er just got married, so she has to stay alone in the palace."
Qingsong's tone became solemn: "She should be aware and prepared to marry into the emperor's family. The road ahead will not be easy." Immediately, he said with a smile: "I will ask her about this someday.
, did she know in advance, why didn’t she come to ask her father and brother for their opinions?” She sounded a bit disappointed and dissatisfied.
And Qingxi was burning the midnight oil to work on the purse. She was not sure whether she could get the purse before Xiao Yizheng set off, so she thought it would be better to keep a low profile, so as not to let people laugh and be disappointed if she couldn't finish it in Haikou. Therefore, everyone in Chaolanyuan was already worried about the princess.
I kept secret about starting to make mugwort purses.
Qingxi originally thought that making a purse was not a very tedious task, but once she started, she realized that making a satisfactory purse was quite labor-intensive. Selecting materials, preparing materials, picking patterns, and starting to sew, no step was sloppy. She admired the women in the palace all the time.
I'm so patient. I'm so tired after walking like this every year.
"It's happiness, it's happiness!" Yueying, who was on the side, kept correcting her thoughts. "Girl, this husband and wife are harmonious and affectionate, so they have such intentions!"
Qingxi glanced at her playfully, wondering what happened to Yueying recently. She would never have said these words before. While she was thinking about it, she accidentally poked her fingertip with a thin needle. She frowned.
Wrinkled, he hurriedly moved the cloth away and saw a little bright red blood seeping out from the tender white skin.
"Pricked again?" Yueying immediately checked her finger. "Girl, you can't be distracted while doing needlework. It's been pricked so many times!"
Qingxi was a little discouraged and pushed the semi-finished product on the table: "It's so hard, I might as well buy one and just say I made it."
Yueying immediately laughed: "Your Highness will be very happy if he receives the purse you made by yourself." She seemed to have remembered something, and looked worried: "It is said outside that His Highness's trip to the southwest this time will be very dangerous.
Aren’t you worried?”
Qingxi paused slightly, smiled faintly, and whispered: "Simple worry is useless, but will only cause trouble for him."
"His Highness has been very busy these past two days, and I haven't seen him come to Chaolan Garden. I heard from Zhengzeyuan that His Highness returned home very late at night."
"He wants to travel far, so he always has to arrange a lot of things." Qingxi paused and added: "There are many people." As she said that, she picked up her purse again and flipped it back and forth, feeling that it was fair and aesthetic.
She said it was really unsatisfactory. However, she never had the habit of giving up halfway, so she took a deep breath, picked up the needle and thread again, and continued to sew.
"Why don't you rest today? Your Highness will leave Beijing early the morning after tomorrow. You can also do it during the day tomorrow. It will definitely be in time." Yueying looked at Qingxi, her eyes already red and bloodshot, and she advised with distress.
Qingxi shook his head, "There will be a family banquet in the palace tomorrow at noon. It will be too late to come back."
The lights in Chaolan Garden lasted until late at night.
Yueying put heavy makeup on Qingxi to cover up her tired face.
When the Queen saw the loving smile on her face, she felt very distressed and said that she was very sorry that Liu Lang had to leave shortly after their wedding, but this was something that could not be done. After all, for the prince, the country was bigger than the family.
He openly expressed his concern for Xiao Yizheng's safety.
Qingxi felt that to a certain extent, the care and love Xiao Yizheng received was complete. Not only was the emperor partial to him, but the queen's actions and words were also the same as those of a loving mother. She also responded with understanding and support in a very decent and generous manner.
This luncheon in the palace is actually for Xiao Yizheng's practice, and all the princes and family members are convinced that it is a success. Under Xiao Zhe's joking and leading, the atmosphere is quite warm and harmonious, as if this is just an ordinary family banquet, without any worries or uneasiness.
.
Qingxi couldn't understand whether the aloof emperor really had no worries or was deliberately pretending to be confident.
Xiao Yizheng on the side was also chatting and laughing, drinking and greetings casually, and from time to time he would pour wine and pick up food for her. She had very little alcohol, and her face turned red after just one sip.
"Didn't you get a good rest last night?" Xiao Yizheng looked down at her and whispered.
She smiled and didn't answer.
"I see you look a little tired."
She moved the wine glass: "I feel a little dizzy after eating wine."
"Then I'll go back home early to rest. I still have some things to do, so I can't accompany you back. I'll go to Chaolan Garden in the evening."
Qingxi nodded. "Okay."
"No need to wait for my supper," he added.
Qingxi lowered his head and smiled.
Sure enough, not waiting for him to have dinner was the right choice.
Xiao Yizheng once again delayed returning home.
Qingxi made a special trip to Zhengzeyuan and asked him if he was well prepared for his trip. Uncle Zhong said that His Highness always travels simply, and this time was no exception, and everything was ready. She nodded, and wanted to ask Xin Zhao again, but
Uncle Zhong said that he was going to do something for the prince now.
After leaving Zhengzeyuan, Qingxi murmured: "I will leave early tomorrow morning, and I will let others do things tonight."
Yueying, who was lighting a lantern at the side, smiled and said, "There are a lot of errands. It's normal not to be in the house."
Qingxi glanced sideways at her without saying anything. He turned a corner and heard faint footsteps not far away.
Yueying raised her eyes and saw that Xiao Yizheng had returned home and was walking through the corridor towards Lanyuan. In front of him, Ting Meng was lighting a lantern. Just as Yueying was about to shout, Qingxi grabbed him and quickly hid.
In the corner, he whispered cunningly: "Scare him."
The moon shadow stuck out its tongue and covered the lantern.
After a while, Ting Meng's voice came: "Your Highness, you dropped something. Your wallet!"
"Oh! Yes." Xiao Yizheng spoke softly.
"What a delicate mugwort purse." Ting Meng's voice was soft.
"Yes. Just in time. You can send it to Zhengzeyuan. I'll go to the princess's place." Xiao Yizheng ordered.
Wormwood purse!
When they heard the word "purse", Qingxi's and Yueying's expressions changed slightly. Yueying could clearly feel Qingxi's hand tightening next to hers.
After a while, Xiao Yizheng walked in. She tugged on Qingxi's arm and heard Xiao Yizheng's deep voice: "Who's in the corner?"
Qingxi immediately straightened her back and walked out openly.
Xiao Yizheng was surprised at first, and then laughed happily: "What do you want to do?"
"I wanted to scare you, but I failed." She said calmly.
Xiao Yizheng put his hands behind his back and smiled gently. "I haven't seen you succeed yet."
Qingxi sighed and walked away.
Xiao Yizheng shook his head and followed.
After the two entered Chaolan Garden, Xiao Yizheng noticed a wooden box placed on the desk of the bed. He glanced at it and remembered that this wooden box was the one Qingxi had put on hand when he received Zeng Qidao's painting that day. He must have
It was sent together with the painting.
Seeing that he noticed the box, Yueying said excitedly: "Your Highness, the princess gives it to you..."
"Yueying, you go out first!"
Qingxi abruptly cut off Yueying's words.
Yueying was stunned, seeing her serious expression, and looked at Xiao Yizheng again. His expression was not as relaxed as before, and he hesitated to talk about the completed purse placed in the wooden box.
Qingxi urged her again: "His Highness and I have something to say, please go out."
When she saw Qingxi shaking his head at her, she felt a little discouraged, but she had no choice but to retreat.
Xiao Yizheng looked away from the wooden box, looked up and saw Qingxi with a calm expression, and asked: "What do you want to say?"
The corner of Qingxi's mouth moved slightly, "It's nothing, I just want to wish His Highness everything goes well."
Xiao Yizheng's expression was stagnant, as if he was a little lost. After being silent for a long time, he said: "I have heard this sentence hundreds of times today, but I still want to thank you for a smooth journey."
The corners of Qingxi's lips curved slightly, with a hint of a smile: "Your Highness is out there, so there is no need to worry about the palace. I will not go back to live in the Ling family, and I will not leave Prince Heng's Palace before you return."
Xiao Yizheng looked at her intently and said, "Thank you very much. I think the queen treats you very well. If you have any difficulties, you can go to the palace and ask her for help."
Qingxi nodded. She noticed that Xiao Yizheng was always called "Queen" and never "Mother". Thinking about the second day of the wedding when she went to the palace to thank her and mentioned the word "Mother", the reaction of the Queen and everyone suddenly
I understand why they were surprised.
"You...do you have anything else to tell me?" she asked.
"What about you?" Xiao Yizheng asked instead without answering.
Qingxi was silent for a while, then shook his head.
Xiao Yizheng felt empty in his heart, and after a while he said, "Can you play a piece for me? Use the Taixuan Qin."
Qingxi was surprised, but nodded without hesitation.
The night is as cool as water and the moonlight is like song.
The sound of a majestic iron horse rang out in Chaolan Garden, making those who listened to the sound in the palace feel passionate and sleepless.
After the song was played, the soft voice of Qingxi said again sonorously and forcefully: "May your highness have a smooth trip and a heroic and triumphal return."
Xiao Yizheng's eyes were as bright as a torch and he nodded firmly. "The Taixuan Qin is a relic of my mother. This Qin will be reborn in your hands."
Qingxi was stunned. She didn't expect that the piano belonged to Queen Xiaoyi!
Xiao Yizheng stood up and walked to her, saying slowly: "Thank you for your words, and thank you for the sound of the piano. You don't need to see me off tomorrow morning. Take care, Ah Heng." After saying that, he raised a smile.