"Cao Yin!" Xie 'er cried out in alarm, but Cao Yin covered her with one hand and quickly led her into a quiet corner. Seeing this, Liu Yan hesitated for a moment and quickly followed.
"Shh." Cao Yin said softly. He turned around and looked at Liu Yan warily. He asked Xie 'er hesitantly," She is…"
"She is Xie 'er's good sister, Liu Yan.”Xie 'er pulled Liu Huan over and smiled at her affectionately.
" Liu Huan…" Cao Yin muttered as he carefully sized up the woman in front of him. He was shocked. Her eyes and brows were so similar to Xie 'er, reflecting the bright moon and the water like twin sisters.
"Cao Yin, why are you here?”Xie 'er asked.
" I came here to find you. I have something to give you…" Cao Yin glanced at Liu Huan.
Liu Yan understood. She lowered her eyes and smiled at Xie 'er." I'll go back first." Xie 'er, come back early too. Don't take too long. Be careful of the darkness on the road.”
"Yes, I am. Be careful on the road." Seeing Liu Huan like this, Xie 'er could not persuade her to stay no matter how much she trusted her.
"Yes." Liu Yan glanced at Cao Yin in confusion and left.
"Xie 'er, this is for you." Cao Yin saw Liu Huan walking away and quickly took out a letter from his sleeve.
Confused, Xie 'er took the letter and picked it up with her slender fingers. Under the white moonlight, she lowered her eyebrows and started reading.
It was Rong Ruo's handwriting! Cousin-
"Who's playing the song? The wind was also rustling, the rain was also rustling, and the lights were exhausted for another night.
I don't know why I'm in your arms. I'm bored when I wake up, I'm bored when I'm drunk, and I've never dreamed of Xie Qiao.
- Picking Mulberry "
Who is it that picks up all the dreary tunes of the Yuefu and plays them at night? It made the wind bleak and desolate, the rain lonely and desolate. The storm was so frequent that it sped up the burning of the candle. For whom did it become so thin for a night?
I don't know why, but my chest is full of sorrow, which makes me feel bored when I'm awake and has nothing to worry about when I'm drunk. Have my dreams ever sneaked into yours?
" Cousin..." Xie 'er's heart was like water, and it was as if she had fallen into the dark moonlight. She suddenly felt that her words had become blurred. It was not until her tears fell that she realized that she had stopped crying. She could no longer tell whether her tears had blurred her eyes or her words. However, the pain in her heart was still as clear as the moon, and her cheeks were pale.
" Xie 'er, you guys…" Cao Yin was in pain when he saw this. He sighed faintly." Sigh, you and Rong Ruo have become like this." Looks like Cao Yin will never dare to mention his name in front of you again…"
" Cao Yin…Thank you…" Xie 'er held the letter in front of her chest as if she had found a treasure. She seemed to be using it to keep herself warm. She sobbed," Thank you…"
" You…" Cao Yin's heart softened when he saw Xie 'er's pitiful look. He reached out to wipe away the tears on Xie' er's pink cheeks, but he only reached out halfway before he pulled it back. He took out a clean silk handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to Xie 'er.
" Thank you…" Xie 'er's watery eyes were filled with tears. She sobbed as she took the handkerchief and gently wiped her tears.
"If you're done, burn it. These words cannot be left in the palace." Cao Yin sighed and reminded her.
" But..." Xie 'er hesitated. She opened it again reluctantly and read it carefully again, as if she wanted to bury every word in her heart before she was willing to stop.
"No buts, Xie 'er. Keeping it would always be a disaster. And who was that Liu Yan? Is she reliable?" Cao Yin could not let go of her and became vigilant again." It's already too much for me to interact with you in the harem, let alone help you have an affair with a man outside the palace…For me and Rong Ruo, Xie 'er, you would be heartless enough to burn it, right?”
"Yes…It's just Liu Yan. She's not an outsider, so don't worry.”Xie 'er choked and nodded repeatedly. She looked at him reluctantly and said lovingly," Cousin…"
She took it to the palace lantern and hesitated for a moment before closing her eyes to light it.
She watched the fire spread on the paper, burning it into ashes, burning her heart, and tears burst out again.
Cao Yin walked behind her and patted her shoulders gently.
The words were burned out, and the fire in the lamp returned to its former calm.
Liu Yan had just returned to Chuxiu Palace when Aunty Ah Gan welcomed her with joy." Little Yan, you're finally back."”
"Yes." Liu Yan nodded, her face still red.
"Where's Xie 'er? Isn't she with you?" Ah Gan was about to close the door when he felt puzzled again. He looked outside but did not see Xie 'er.
" Xie 'er, she…" Liu Yan hesitated, adjusted her expression, and then answered," She, she ate something bad and will be back soon." Aunt, don't worry…"
"Mm, that's good." Ah Gan didn't think too much and hurriedly pulled Liu Yan into his room.
As soon as Liu Yan entered the room, she was dazzled by the table full of glazed jade, agate and pearls.
"This is?" Liu Yan was shocked, she stood in front of the table with her eyes wide open.
"You still don't know this? This is a gift from Consort Tong. Hehehe, it's all yours.”Ah Gan was full of smiles. She grabbed a handful of bead chains and waved them in front of Liu Yan.
Liu Yan hesitantly took out one of them. Under the bright candlelight, she looked down and saw that it was smooth and full. It was indeed a high-quality pearl…
" Concubine Tong..." Liu Yan muttered softly, feeling suspicious.
"Yes, yes. The banquet had just ended when Consort Tong sent someone over.”Ah Gan laughed.
" This..." Liu Yan didn't know how to deal with these precious things. She looked at Ah Gan and mumbled.
"Xiao Yan, the emperor has already given you a noble position, you can accept it. "Consort Tong is here to win you over…The matter of consort consort being rewarded should be left to the Empress…" Ah Gan said until here, only to realize that he had said the wrong thing and immediately stopped abruptly.
" Empress..." Liu Yan could guess what Ah Gan was going to say next, considering Concubine Tong's usual arrogance and despotism. However, since she was unwilling to continue, there must be something she couldn't tell others. Concubine Tong should have been punished by the Empress when she received the reward. Concubine Tong had sent her here in the dark, which was clearly against the rules of the palace. The Empress did not send the reward, so she must not trust me…
"What are you thinking about, little girl? No, no, tomorrow's conferment, this servant will change her name to Liu Gui Yi, hehehe.”Ah Gan glanced at Liu Yan from the corner of his eyes, then slowly walked to Liu Yan, curtsied and smiled.
" Aunt…don't tease me…" Liu Yan blushed and came back to her senses.
"Xiao Yan, you should rest well in your aunt's room and wait for the Emperor to announce the title tomorrow. Your current status is no longer the same as before. You can't be in the same room as the other chosen servants. "Let's sit down here. Tomorrow morning, I will personally dress you up and wait for the most important moment. Let His Majesty take a good look at the beauty of our Second East Branch…" Ah Gan pulled Liu Huan and sat down on the edge of the bed.
When Liu Yan heard this, she was both happy and shy. She kept rubbing her dress and silently lowered her head.
"Bang bang bang!" Suddenly, there was a hurried knock on the door.
Liu Yan and Ah Gan were startled by the sudden sound in the quiet night.
"Sit down. I'll go take a look." Ah Gan composed himself and got up to open the door.
He saw a young eunuch standing respectfully outside the door.
Ah Gan picked up the candlelight beside the door and was almost shocked. The person who came was actually the Emperor's trusted aide, Eunuch Xiaofu.
"Eunuch Xiaofu, what's the urgent matter?”Ah Gan asked in surprise and doubt.
"Aunt Ah Gan, the emperor asked this servant to personally deliver this to Liu Gui Yi.”Eunuch Xiaofu bowed slightly and presented a brocade box with both hands.
"Okay, okay. Thank you, Eunuch. Thank you for making a trip late at night.”Ah Gan smiled and carefully took the brocade box, repeatedly thanking him.
Xiao Fu nodded and turned to leave.
"Little girl, little girl, hurry up, His Majesty has bestowed a reward.”Ah Gan took the brocade box and walked quickly to Liu Yan. He placed it firmly on Liu Yan's legs, which were sitting on the edge of the bed, and suddenly sank.
Liu Yan couldn't hide her joy. The Emperor had sent the reward so quickly and in such a hurry. She lowered her head and gently stroked the exquisite and small pearwood carved Eight Treasures Brocade Box in front of her, as if she was gently stroking a beloved item. Looking down, there were jade beads the size of pigeon eggs embedded on the lid of the wooden box. There were also agate and gold shards around it. It was luxurious and exquisite, exquisite and pleasing. Liu Yan caressed it, the more she looked at it, the more she liked it.
She was full of smiles, and her heart was already filled with love like a young girl's first love.
"Why don't you open it and take a look? His Majesty actually gave me something in the middle of the night.”Ah Gan, who was standing at the side, was already anxious as he hurriedly urged.
"Yes." Liu Yan came back to her senses. She also wanted to see what precious treasure it was, so she gently opened the brocade box.
In the embroidered box, there were only a few red beans and a fresh parasol tree branch.
Ah Gan rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was indeed a few red beans and a broken branch.
"The Emperor sent it here?" Ah Gan screamed in disappointment as if he had been deceived.
"..." Liu Yan was also stunned for a moment. She looked at the brocade box inlaid with such precious treasures and then looked at the few cheap things in the box. She was also disappointed and her face turned a little ugly.
" Bang bang bang…" Just as the two of them were silent, there was a light knock on the door." Aunt, is Liu Huan in your room?"”
It turned out that Xie 'er had returned.
Ah Gan opened the door with a somewhat dejected expression. He welcomed Xie 'er into the house tiredly as he recounted what had just happened.
Xie 'er pursed her lips and laughed secretly. She then sat beside Liu Huan. Seeing Liu Huan's puzzled and disappointed face, she held her hand and asked with a smile," What's wrong? What strange thing did Lord Wansui give you that made you all have such strange expressions? Haha."
"Xie 'er, you're still making fun of me.”Liu Yan was displeased. She pushed Xie 'er away and pouted." I thought His Majesty would give me some rare and precious jewelry like Concubine Tong. I didn't expect it to be this…"
Liu Yan casually pushed the brocade box in front of Xie 'er, turned sideways, and no longer looked at it. Xie 'er hesitated and opened it. It was indeed the red bean and parasol tree branches that Ah Gan had mentioned earlier.
Xie 'er rolled her eyes and giggled. She already had the answer in her heart. She secretly praised the Emperor's good intentions, but she could not help but feel wronged for him.
"Hehe, His Majesty is infatuated, but you two have misunderstood him. What crime should I be punished for? Hehe." Xie 'er suddenly laughed.
"What's wrong?" Agan and Liu Yan were surprised and asked at the same time.
"This is the Red Bean Green Parasol Tree. Have you ever heard Du Zimei's saying,'The red bean pecks at the parrot's grain, and the green Parasol Tree perches on the old phoenix branch?' Our emperor praised you for your talent and like-mindedness, so he specially prepared this gift. Aunt Ah Gan can be forgiven if she doesn't understand, but how can you not understand the emperor's intentions?”Xie 'er smiled and imitated the emperor's posture, lifting Liu Yan's chin playfully.
"Xie 'er, good Xie' er, don't keep me in suspense. Quickly tell me, what is the meaning behind His Majesty's gift?”Liu Yan heard Xie 'er's words and immediately turned from worry to joy as she asked curiously.
"Have you never heard of Wang Weizhi's saying that red beans grow in the south…This thing is the most lovesick? The red bean was an object of longing, indicating how much the Emperor missed her. I have never heard of the saying 'green bamboos and green parasol trees, the phoenix choosing the parasol tree to perch on, indicating that the emperor is willing to make her a noble concubine of the Qing Dynasty, and from then on, she will sing together with the emperor!”Xie 'er smiled.
"I see…you always have a glib tongue.”Liu Yan suddenly understood, her cheeks flushed red, she immediately hugged the brocade box tightly, unable to put it down. Seeing this, Xie 'er and Ah Gan looked at each other and snickered.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。