Jiaochu

Chapter 123 New Year’s Eve Palace Banquet ([-])

Ye Lingxi stood in front of the charcoal stove, stretching out her hands to warm herself up. She listened carefully to her father, the emperor, and his concubine sitting on the couch talking. She heard her father say that he wanted to save some expenses in the palace, and she heard her mother and concubine say that it snowed in the winter. For bright light, pasting the gauze on the windows can not only provide lighting, but also save the expense of candles. She said to herself that her mother-in-law is really beautiful and smart~
After her hands were warmed, she, Ling Ding and He He cut the window grilles.

After a while, Eunuch De came over and told Ye Lingxi that her father was looking for her. She followed Eunuch De with a cut window grille. Ye Lanchen took the window grille and said it looked good, and gave it to Concubine Lan to see. The concubine also said it looked good. She raised her face proudly, perfectly showing the vanity that a six-year-old child should have.

Ye Lanchen raised his hand, and Eunuch De signaled Xiao Anzi to come over. He then took the brocade box held in Xiao Anzi's hand and opened the box diligently. Inside was a set of the four treasures of the study.

"The emperor heard that the princess likes to write. These are all for the princess. This inkstone and pen are tribute from Yangzhou. This paper is a tribute from Qingzhou. This ink is even more rare. It is a tribute from Huizhou. The suet-fat ink has a reputation of being worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Ye Lingxi happily accepted these valuable items, adding another layer of richness to her little treasury.

In the evening, civil and military officials and their families took their seats at a banquet outside the Palace of Supreme Harmony.

The lanterns are brilliant and the flowers are in full bloom. On this day of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, everyone’s face is beaming with joy and their spirits are high.

When it came time to set off the fireworks, everyone stood high to watch.Ye Lingxi also quietly sneaked up to Yan Fei and Su Shi, whispered a few words to them, and then the three of them left together.

Ye Lingjue glanced over there and signaled to Dong Mo, who followed.

After Ye Xingye watched the fireworks for a while, he slowly moved towards Yan Chuchu. Suddenly he remembered that the thing was still in her little princess's hand. He looked around but didn't see the little princess. , after wandering for a while, he mustered up the courage to walk over.

Seeing Ye Xingye coming over, Yan Chuchu hid back, like a frightened little rabbit, a little worried. Seeing this situation, Ye Xingye didn't dare to speak rashly, but it was a bit embarrassing to stand silent, he He scratched his head sheepishly and asked, "Do you like fireworks?"

Yan Chuchu hummed softly.

"I like it too." Ye Xingye said eagerly.

Yan Chuchu pursed her petal-like lips and said nothing.

Ye Xingye didn't know how to continue the conversation. He could only watch the fireworks blooming in the night sky and recall the methods Hu Yuhan taught him. He wanted to praise the other person more, so he praised the other party in the most straightforward and simple words, "You look so beautiful tonight." .”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Chuchu hurriedly bowed and turned away, as if he was frightened, leaving Ye Xingye standing there confused and messy.

With a chuckle, Hu Yuhan came over and said, "Your Highness, you are too direct. You have to be more tactful, otherwise the girl will think she is a prostitute."

Ye Xingye blushed and was speechless. Hu Yuhan taught him how to please the girl's family in this way.

On the other side, Ye Lingxi, Yan Fei and Su Shi quietly followed the two figures in front of them. One seemed to be drunk and was being helped forward by another person. The person being supported looked around from time to time, looking guilty. appearance.

"Where are you going?" the drunk man asked in a daze.

The supporter whispered: "The princess is right in front."

"Really... you didn't lie to me?..." "Really. I saw the princess go there, and Yan Fei and Su Shi also passed by. I think they must have coaxed the princess away. They probably had no good intentions. We Gotta get there quickly.”

"Hurry...go quickly..."

……

The three of them followed the two people in front to the Luohua Pavilion hidden among the flowers on the edge of Taiye Pond. The rockeries on both sides served as a good shield for the pavilion. The other side faced the water, and the cold water light shone in. In the pavilion, the surrounding flowers and trees have withered, and it looks a bit cold even during the day, and even more eerie and lonely in the cold night.

After the two entered the pavilion, the man who was supporting him coughed slightly, but there was no movement around him. After a while, he coughed slightly again, but there was still no movement around him. He was wondering why the person didn't appear, and there was a whoosh, A stone hit his kneecap. He screamed and fell to the ground, and immediately covered his mouth to avoid being heard.

However, the next moment, when he saw one, two, three, or four figures coming out from behind the rockery, he was so frightened that he almost screamed. When he saw the people coming, he was even more frightened and crawled tremblingly. He got up to run away, but the person in front of him tripped him and fell to the ground.

"Rong Jue, do you know your guilt?!" Ye Lingxi's majestic voice rang above his head. The person lying on the ground was so frightened that his whole body became cold, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, his heart was beating like a drum, and his mind was blank. , can’t even speak.

Zhao Ce was mumbling drunken words, and Su Shi was watching him from the side to prevent him from losing his mind and suddenly wanting to jump into the Taiye Pool to sober up.

"Princess, have mercy on me. It was Mr. Rong who asked this slave to come. It was all his idea. Please forgive me, Princess, and spare this slave." The fourth petite figure knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing to beg for mercy, his voice changed with fear and fear. I was trembling, and I saw that the clothes she was wearing were that of a young palace maid, who looked about fourteen or fifteen years old.

At this time, Rong Jue also regained some sanity, and immediately pointed at the palace maid and said, "Princess, she loves the prince and begs me to find a way to help her meet the prince."

"I have never been in love with the crown prince," the palace maid interrupted angrily. "It was obviously you who came to provoke me for no reason. You coaxed me with sweet words, saying that you would marry me when I was released from the palace. You deceived me and then left me."

Rong Jue was shocked, "Why is it you?!"

"It's not that Young Master Rong asked someone to send me a letter, and in the letter he tricked me into coming here, and now he refuses to admit it. Bah, it's because I was blind and believed you, a wolf-hearted person, and now I'm still being fooled by you. Used as a scapegoat, why am I so miserable..." The palace maid began to cry with sadness, despair and remorse.

"It turns out that Mr. Rong went to study in Shangshufang just to deceive other girls." Yan Fei said coldly and sarcastically.

Rong Jue's mind was in a mess. He had not yet recovered from the surprise. He knew that he was in the wrong and had no confidence to argue with Yan Fei.

"Why did you frame the crown prince brother? Who ordered you to do it?" Ye Lingxi asked sharply.

Rong Jue hesitated and couldn't open his mouth.

"Then I'll tell Father." Ye Lingxi said lightly.

Rong Jue immediately said: "Princess, don't tell the emperor, I said."

(End of this chapter)