The cold wind was strong outside, and the three guards guarding the door had their hands and feet stiff from the cold. They just wanted to rub their hands and stamp their feet.
They turned around and saw Yan Zai standing expressionless, like an ice sculpture. They didn't dare to move for a moment and could only grit their teeth and persist.
"Guard Yan, could you please open the door? I have something to do." Bai Zhi's voice came from the courtyard.
Yan Chi turned around and opened the door.
Being banned this time was different from last time. The prince specifically told him that if the slaves in Jiangjiayuan reported anything, they must open the door in time.
As soon as the door opened, Bai Zhi's face was revealed.
The round face has a slightly raised mouth, with a bit of reluctance, and looks particularly charming and naive.
"These are for you, take them!"
Bai Zhi randomly stuffed the oil bag into Yan Xi's hand, turned around and ran away.
Before Yan Qi came back to his senses, he saw two more delicate oil bags in his hand.
The three guards next to him suddenly became energetic.
"Watcher Yan, does this girl Bai Zhi like you? Does she want to give you something?"
"Guard Yan, you've been so stern all day long, yet a girl actually likes you?"
"Guard Yan, open it quickly and take a look."
Yan Qi opened one of the oil packets and found that it was full of pastries. Each pastry is different, with different colors and unique shapes. They look extremely delicate and whet your appetite.
One of the guards exclaimed: "I've heard that the princess's personal maid, Miss Bai Zhi, makes excellent salty cakes. When I saw them today, they are indeed well-deserved. Please let me have a taste."
After saying that, he reached out and pinched it.
Yan Chi moved quickly and dodged.
He said sternly: "Your Majesty ordered us to guard the door, not for fun and fun!"
The other two guards were about to make a joke, but when they saw Yan Zai's majestic expression and full of evil aura, they suddenly withered. Hurry up and stand still.
Yan Qie wrapped the oil and put it into his arms. After he stood up, his face returned to its previous solemnity, but the area on his chest always felt warm.
After Bai Zhi delivered the oil package, she ran all the way to the corridor at the door of the house and touched her face. It seemed a little hot. She took several deep breaths before calming down.
※
In the evening, Zhao Yujiao sat in a wheelchair and personally prepared several exquisite side dishes. She also asked Hongying to dress herself up carefully, looking forward to Pei Xiuyan coming back to have dinner with her.
When the night got dark, Pei Xiuyan was still nowhere to be seen.
Li Fu trotted over and said breathlessly: "Miss Zhao, the prince just sent someone to send a message, saying that he will stay in the palace tonight and will not come back."
Zhao Yujiao bit her lips tightly, her eyes were slightly red, and she felt aggrieved.
This is the first time that Pei Xiuyan has not spent the New Year with her in the three years since she moved to the Qing Palace.
Li Fu couldn't help but feel distressed when he saw Zhao Yujiao looking sad.
"Miss Zhao, don't be sad. It's not that the prince won't celebrate the New Year with you. It's really the matter in the palace that cannot be dealt with. Today, the emperor hosted a banquet for King Pingyang. How can the prince leave the emperor and come back?"
Of course Zhao Yujiao understood these truths, but she still felt sour in her heart.
Li Fu made up his mind and said: "Miss Zhao, if you don't mind, I will talk to you here, so don't be sad."
Hongying couldn't help but curl her lips, Li Fu was really disgusting.
Zhao Yujiao suppressed the discomfort in her heart and said, "I won't bother Butler Li anymore. Since the prince is not coming back, I will rest first."
From that day on, she followed Li Fu's suggestion and asked Pei Xiuyan to punish Ye Chuyan. Li Fu always came here intentionally or unintentionally, and often reported Pei Xiuyan's every move to her in private.
She knew that Li Fu was the person who understood the prince best besides Yan Xi.
At the same time, she longed to use Li Fu to understand Pei Xiuyan's every word and deed, as well as what was going on outside. At the same time, he felt disgusted that Li Fu took the opportunity to talk to him.
Seeing that Zhao Yujiao was in despair, Li Fu wanted to go up and hold her in his arms to comfort her. Unfortunately, he knew his identity and did not dare to go beyond it.
After a few more words of relief, he reluctantly left.
※
Today, the emperor hosted a banquet in his Zhengyang Palace, not only Pingyang Wang Nan Gongli, but also Wu Mu.
Pei Ye raised a glass of wine and said to Wu Mu: "Wu Yun Tai donated fifty million taels of silver to the frontier soldiers this time. I want a big reward, but he has repeatedly refused. What do you think I should reward your Wu family?"
Pei Ye's face turned red from drinking. When he spoke, he always smiled but not smiling, making it difficult to see his emotions.
Wu Mu didn't dare to look at Pei Ye, so he picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
He said respectfully: "The Wu family is an imperial merchant, and everything is a blessing from the royal family. I dare not think about rewards. It is an honor for our Wu family to be able to do our little bit for the Dafeng soldiers."
Nan Gongli was also slightly drunk and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, we agreed that it would be a family banquet, why did you mention these court matters again?"
He smiled warmly and spoke exceptionally softly.
Pei Ye pinched his eyebrows and shook his head, seemingly helpless.
"I drank too much, and I accidentally mentioned these things again. I will punish myself with a drink."
Pei Ye picked up the wine glass and was about to drink it when Pei Xiuyan stopped him.
"Your Majesty, you have drunk too much. How about letting me drink this glass of wine for you?"
Wu Mu picked up the wine glass again and looked at Pei Xiuyan, "The King of Qing really does think about the Emperor in everything. I will drink this cup with the King of Qing."
Nan Gongli also picked up the wine glass, "I also want to drink a glass of wine for the Emperor and King Qing."
When he spoke, his eyes were already a little wandering. When he picked up the wine glass, he realized that there was no wine in the glass.
Pei Ye was so amused by King Pingyang's actions that he clapped his hands and laughed.
"Wu Mu and King Qing are both my blood relatives. One shares the affairs of the court for me, and the other shares the worries of the treasury for me. You are my uncle, and you have given me a good wife."
"You are all my closest relatives and friends. I am really happy to invite you to gather here today."
Pei Ye said with excitement and excitement.
"Come on, let's all put down our identities today and get drunk before resting."
As soon as Pei Ye was happy, the atmosphere quickly became lively. There were people drinking wine in the hall, and the aroma of wine overflowed.
King Pingyang was the first to fall. He was drunk and still yelling "serve the wine." Pei Ye had no choice but to order the eunuch to help him down and put him in a safe place.
Pei Ye soon became a little drunk after drinking. The eunuch was afraid of delaying the New Year's ceremony on the first day of the new year, so he persuaded him to leave first.
Upon seeing this, Wu Mu and Pei Xiuyan persuaded each other, and Pei Ye had no choice but to let the eunuch help him down.
Wu Mu and Pei Xiuyan were the only two people left in the hall, and Wu Mu's respect when facing Pei Ye was completely gone.
He looked at Pei Xiuyan coldly, gritted his teeth and said, "Prince Qing, why don't we go for a walk in the back garden to relieve ourselves of the alcohol?"
Pei Xiuyan sneered and said: "The young master of the Wu family is alone, so he can stay home at midnight. My princess is still waiting for me at the house, and I have no time to take a walk with you."
"You..." Wu Mu forced herself to calm down.
He took a deep breath and said calmly: "I heard that there is a girl Zhao who lives in the prince's house and is very popular with the prince. I wonder if this is the case?"
