All the ancestors in the capital begged me to be a substitute

When Chu Yan saw Shen Lingxi's apricot eyes, which were pure and unsullied, he knew that he had just overthought them.

He covered his lips and coughed lightly, leaning back, "No, it's nothing."

Seeing this, Shen Lingxi put her soft hand on his forehead.

"Did you catch the cold?" She said and put her hand on her forehead.

Unknowingly, the distance between the two of them was extremely close, so close that Shen Lingxi could clearly see Chu Yan's phoenix eyes, as dark as the night.

Only then did she realize that his strangeness might not be due to physical discomfort.

Shen Lingxi's cheeks felt hot and she subconsciously retracted her hand.

However, Chu Yan caught his wrist.

Unexpectedly, the distance between the two became closer.

"Did you see it?" Chu Yan stared at her face with deep eyes, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What disease do I have?"

Shen Lingxi's breathing trembled slightly, as if there was a deer bumping around in his chest.

Just at this moment, a sneer came from outside, "It's such a beautiful time. If you tell me where my mother has gone, I won't have to disturb your enjoyment here."

These words were like a bucket of ice water being poured down, making Shen Lingxi's rapidly beating heart finally calm down a bit.

She cursed secretly in her heart, leaned close to Chu Yan's ear, and whispered: "Xu Yuanshan is outside."

Shen Lingxi's soft and warm breath blew against Chu Yan's ears.

This made Chu Yan's phoenix eyes even darker.

He tilted his head slightly, followed her example, leaned down to her ear, and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "In which direction is he?"

Shen Lingxi only felt a slight numbness rising from her ears to the skin on the side of her neck.

She couldn't tell whose heartbeat was beating on her eardrums like a drum.

"East, southeast." She bit her lip and said tremblingly.

Chu Yan's slender finger bones tapped her wrist twice to signal.

Then he rushed toward the southeast from inside the bed tent at an extremely fast speed.

"what!!"

Almost in an instant, Xu Yuanshan, who was caught off guard and unable to dodge, was violently thrown away by Chu Yan's evil spirit like a ball.

The entire dormitory finally returned to its proper tranquility.

"Are you leaving?" Chu Yan turned around and asked Shen Lingxi in the bed tent.

"Go, go."

Shen Lingxi felt that her cheeks were extremely hot. She lay down on the side of the bed, pulled up the quilt, and covered her face.

When Chu Yan walked back to the bed, he saw the little girl wrapping herself tightly in a brocade quilt.

Only a fluffy top of hair and a white jade hairpin were left exposed.

A hint of helplessness flashed across his phoenix eyes, and he turned around and walked out.

Shen Lingxi was in the quilt and felt slightly relieved when she heard his footsteps quietly going away.

But there was an indescribable chaos arising for no reason.

She was about to lift the brocade quilt——

Suddenly, a "squeak" sound was heard, and the palace door opened again.

Chu Yan's footsteps walked to the bed again.

Shen Lingxi's breathing suddenly became confused.

Why did he leave?And why do you go and come back?
The messy thoughts in his mind were interrupted by the sudden relaxation of his hair.

Shen Lingxi only felt that the hairpin exposed outside the brocade quilt was gently removed with one hand, and her scalp, which had been tense for a day, finally loosened up.

Her inexplicably nervous mood also relaxed a little.

Across the brocade quilt, her hair was spread out in a bun. This move revealed an unspeakable charm and ambiguity.

Shen Lingxi pulled Gao Jin's quilt's hand and squeezed it unconsciously.

A stronger hand gently lifted the brocade quilt from her hand, revealing her dark almond-shaped eyes.

Shen Lingxi's eyes suddenly lit up, and Chu Yan's deep eyes immediately came into her eyes.

The two eyes meet.

Shen Lingxi's face was hot.

She knew that they were already a couple in name only.

Now, they have expressed their feelings to each other again.

Even if something happens...

It should be really common... right?

Thinking of this, she stumbled and asked: "You...um...do you...want to..."

"What are you thinking about?" Chu Yan raised his eyebrows.

The long, well-jointed hand suddenly took out a wet plain white brocade handkerchief and gently applied it to her rosy cheeks.

"Why is your face... so red?" Chu Yan avoided her gaze and focused his eyes on her cheeks, looking particularly attentive.

His slightly hoarse voice intentionally contained a hint of doubt, "What...are you thinking about?"

Shen Lingxi:! ! !
Only now did she understand that Chu Yan had just gone out to find a wet handkerchief to wipe her face...

When Shen Lingxi thought about the inappropriate thoughts in her mind, she wanted to find a hole in the ground to burrow into them.

"I-I'll come by myself."

She reached out hastily, took the handkerchief from Chu Yan's hand, and covered her extremely shy cheeks.

But she missed the smile in Chu Yan's eyes and the blush on his ears that was darker than hers.

Shen Lingxi got out of bed and went to the clean room as if running away.

After the heat on her face subsided, she changed into her pajamas and returned to the palace. Chu Yan had also changed into her pajamas.

Shen Lingxi saw that his dark hair was loosely tied, half leaning on the bedside, and the dim candlelight spread a layer of warmth on his face.

He lowered his eyes slightly and looked at the file in his hand intently, as if he didn't care about her strange behavior just now.

This made Shen Lingxi finally feel more at ease.

But while she was at ease, for some reason, she remembered what Liu Meiren said again, "You two, is it you who can't do it, or he?"

Just now, she had some thoughts that she shouldn't have.

This means that she should be able to do it.

As for him...

Shen Lingxi blinked.

Liu Meiren once said that if you really like something, you will definitely not be indifferent unless it is "no way".

Shen Lingxi carefully crossed Chu Yan, lay down on the bed, and turned sideways towards him.

Those black and white apricot eyes unconsciously looked at his side face, wondering in their hearts how credible Liu Meiren's words were.

However, after just a few breaths, Shen Lingxi keenly noticed that Chu Yan's originally steady breathing seemed to suddenly become a little messy.

She saw that under the candlelight, his long eyelashes were trembling slightly like the wings of a butterfly for the first time.

Thinking of his calm and calm expression just now, Shen Lingxi finally figured out a few flaws.

"Aren't you sleepy?" she asked softly.

As he spoke, he pretended to extend his hand to him.

However, before her fingertips touched the side of his wrist, she saw Chu Yan turned around slightly hastily, put the file in his hand on the bedside table, and blew out the candle.

The movements in one go were exactly the same as when she had just fled to the clean room in a hurry.

The huge dormitory hall then fell into darkness.

Shen Lingxi saw Chu Yan lying down on the outside of the bed, his straight body showing some indescribable restraint and restraint.She laughed silently, with a bit of teasing in mind, and intentionally moved in Chu Yan's direction.

However, as soon as she got close to him——

All he heard was a low sigh.

Then, her whole body was tightly held in Chu Yan's arms through the brocade quilt.

"Don't make trouble." He said in a hoarse voice, "Unless you don't want to get out of bed tomorrow."

When Shen Lingxi heard this, she subconsciously did not dare to move again.

Early tomorrow morning, Liu Meiren and the others should be back.

She didn't want them to see something they shouldn't see.

Xu was busy all day long, and Shen Lingxi was already extremely exhausted.

Or maybe it was the refreshing scent of grass and trees on Chu Yan's body that made her feel at ease.

In less than a quarter of an hour, she fell into a deep sleep.

Only Chu Yan was left, tossing and turning until dawn...

*
Early the next morning, when the early morning sunshine shone on the bed tent through the window lattice, and the sound of sweeping by the palace people came from outside the palace, Shen Lingxi lazily opened his eyes.

Liu Meiren sat on the side of the couch that had been empty for some time and looked at her with a smile, "You are sleeping soundly. I'm sorry for your young man. When he went out, his eyes were all black and blue. It's because he was tired last night." Already?"

Shen Lingxi thought of last night, and her cheeks suddenly turned red.

She quickly changed the subject, "You followed Yun Chong last night. Did you find anything? Did you find out the identity of the contact person?"

Liu Meiren glanced at her jokingly, but seeing her appearance, she stopped teasing her.

"Of course we found it." Liu Meiren covered her lips and smiled, "Yun Chong's ambition is much greater than his courage. You must be careful, they are planning to catch you all..."

Shen Lingxi was not surprised at all. She said meaningfully: "In that case... let's see who has the bigger net..."

*
half a month later.

Li's "Tianxiang Pavilion" once again set off a craze in the capital.

Just because there is a unique and secret incense in Tianxiang Pavilion, called "Goose Warm Incense".

Goose Nuan Xiang is extremely expensive, [-]% more expensive than the famous "Qianjin Xiang".

According to legend, it is prepared according to the fairy recipe passed down from ancient times. It has the effect of warding off cold and evil spirits. Anyone who wears the sachet made of this incense will not be afraid of the cold even if he wears a thin shirt.

In this season when the weather has not yet warmed up, noble ladies from all over the country can’t wait to take off their winter clothes and prepare for the upcoming spring banquet.

Even the concubines in the harem were eager to use this fragrance to show their faces in front of the emperor and compete for his favor.

Therefore, even if Chu Yan did not take action, the secret spices from Li's "Tianxiang Pavilion" took advantage of the warm and fragrant east wind to enter the eunuch's purchasing list and distributed them to all palaces in the shortest possible time.

At the same time, during this half month, the emperor officially issued an imperial edict to appoint Shen Lingxi as the Inspector of Embroidered Clothes, which caused the courtiers to talk about it.

There are doubters, there are opponents, and there are even more people who are watching the changes.

It's just that Bei Ya is a place that everyone fears. Even though the court officials have some complaints about women serving as officials, they don't dare to show it on their faces because of the bad reputation of Bei Ya and the embroidered clothes envoy.

In short, Beiya was a yamen specially set up by the late emperor. It only acted on behalf of the emperor and was under the jurisdiction of the East Palace. The courtiers turned a blind eye and regarded it as a family matter of the prince.

Although Shen Lingxi, the inspector, is of the third rank, he does not need to go to court.All cases in Bei Ya's office must pass through her eyes.

Every ten days, she would go to the imperial study to report to the emperor in person the progress of some cases that the emperor had personally intervened in.

These were originally Chu Yan's official duties, but now that he was the crown prince, the emperor intended to make him more familiar with political affairs, and sent him many errands from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War.

The huge Beiya was apparently in charge of the prince, but in reality Shen Lingxi was in charge.

With the full assistance of Chunjun and Shengxie, Shen Lingxi gradually got started with Beiya's affairs, and on the one hand, she handled some of Beiya's official affairs for Chu Yan.On the other hand, she also used the hands of the embroiderer to secretly monitor the movements inside and outside the palace and in various palaces.

Therefore, when Shen Lingxi smelled the warm aroma of goose for the first time in the East Palace, a meaningful smile appeared on her face.

*
The third day of March is the Shangsi Festival.

In the Zhou Dynasty, according to ancient rituals, there was a custom of courting a mate and worshiping the god of fertility in order to have more children during the Shangsi Festival.

The emperor would entertain ministers at Qujiang River on the Shangsi Festival and arrange marriages for the prince and the children of the minister's family.

Therefore, the Qujiang Banquet of the Shangsi Festival of the Great Zhou Dynasty is also called the wedding banquet.

Because the Queen has been in poor health since entering the Spring Festival, all affairs in the harem are taken care of by the newly promoted Yue Fei.

This Concubine Yue was Li Yuejiao, who had risen through the ranks of the concubines in the harem, starting from being a beauty, within half a year of entering the palace.

Shen Lingxi had to go to the Imperial Study Room every ten days to report to the emperor on Bei Ya's official affairs. After entering the palace, he had to go to the Queen Mother and Queen to pay their respects.

Concubine Yue was a smart person. She stayed in the harem all day long. In addition to serving the emperor and taking care of the chores in the harem, she would also go to Shoukang Palace to serve in front of the Queen Mother.

Although she was young, she served her aunt carefully all year round when she was in the Yiyang Marquis Mansion, and she developed a caring but gentle temperament.

Not like Concubine Zhao, who is delicate and domineering, nor like the Queen, who is dignified and distant.

The Queen Mother was very cold towards her.

only.After going back and forth, I found that she had a familiar feeling like Xiaojiabiyu, and I found her a bit pleasing to the eye.

Therefore, every time Shen Lingxi went to Shoukang Palace, she would always meet Li Yuejiao unexpectedly.

Although Li Yuejiao didn't act too warm in front of Shen Lingxi, her eyes could still see a different sense of respect from others.

On the other hand, Li Yuejiao's younger brother - Li Huai, the prince of Yiyang Hou.

After learning that Shen Lingxi was the inspector of embroidered clothes, he went to Beiya from time to time to ask Shen Lingxi about various autopsy techniques.

Perhaps because of the common topic, Shen Lingxi was more intimate with Li Huai than with others.

And when this kind of intimacy reaches Chu Yan's ears, it always makes him jealous.Also, he didn't have a good look towards Li Huai and Concubine Yue, who was pampered by the emperor.

On the day of the Qujiang Banquet, Shen Lingxi followed Chu Yan in full makeup and took a carriage to the venue where the banquet was held.

On the bank of Qujiang River, many people have come.

All civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, including those of fourth rank or above, were invited to attend this feast with their families.

Because the emperor can order Yuanyangpu.

The young princes and nobles, as well as the titled county lords, princesses, and noble ladies from aristocratic families, all dressed up in gorgeous ways, hoping to find a good match at this banquet.

If it were in the past, Chu Yan, the new crown prince, would definitely be the best candidate for those aristocratic families to be attached to through marriage.

However, the previous rumors of him "harming his wife" still linger to this day, and the emperor did not dare to let him "harm" others again.

Therefore, Chu Yan and Shen Lingxi were the most peaceful couple at the Qujiang Banquet.

As soon as Shen Lingxi and Chu Yan got off the carriage, the eunuch beside Yue Fei came up to him with a smile.

"Crown Princess, Concubine Yue still doesn't understand a few things about the prayer ceremony at the sacrificial ceremony, so she sent a slave to invite the concubine to sit in the east pavilion. I wonder if the concubine would like to go?"

Sacrifice has always been the job of Taichang Temple. Let alone Shen Lingxi, even Li Yuejiao, who was responsible for organizing the banquet, was just going through the motions.

Li Yuejiao sent a eunuch to wait here. He must have something to ask her.

Shen Lingxi had no objection to Li Yuejiao and was about to say yes——

Chu Yan on the side has already spoken quietly, "The Crown Princess wants to accompany Gu Gu to go on an outing to enjoy the river scenery. For these trivial matters, let your mother-in-law go to Taichang Temple. The Crown Princess is not free."

Prince Chu Yan was known both inside and outside the palace as someone who was not easy to mess with.

The little eunuch shuddered, quickly agreed, turned around and left, not daring to stay at all.

Before the banquet started, Chu Yan took Shen Lingxi's hand and went directly to the high platform with the best scenery.

Looking from a distance, many people are outing by the river, having fun in spring, and it is a harmonious scene.

Shen Lingxi looked into the distance and saw the little eunuch running all the way to the Nuan Pavilion in the distance. Several palace maids were hurriedly coming in and out of the Nuan Pavilion.

And Liu Meiren, who had arrived here in advance, also floated out of the thermal pavilion, noticed her direction, and waved the handkerchief in her hand towards her.

Seeing this, Shen Lingxi's lips curled slightly.

Just at this moment——

"The Emperor has arrived!" Following the eunuch's sharp chorus, the Emperor's chariot slowly stopped within sight of everyone.

Shen Lingxi squeezed Chu Yan's palm and said to him, "Let's go, the show is about to start."

Finished at one o'clock in the morning, if you want to watch it early, you can check it out again.