Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 22

A section of the road is not far away, and it will come to an end in a while, and there is already a soft sedan waiting there.Liu Qingtang withdrew his hand naturally, Qin Shu put his hand down too, tucked it into his sleeve, and took a step back to let Zhuiyi come forward.Zhui Yi led the two maids to help Liu Qingtang onto the sedan chair, arranged her skirt, then drew down the cloth curtain on the soft sedan chair, and retreated to both sides of the soft sedan chair.

The eight eunuchs who specialize in carrying sedan chairs steadily lifted the sedan chairs and headed for Xiangxue Courtyard.A group of people were clustered in front of and behind the soft sedan, walking quietly along the long palace road with red walls and blue tiles.The cold winter wind was blowing, causing all the court ladies and eunuchs to shrink their necks and lower their faces.

When he reached an ordinary palace road, Liu Qingtang suddenly realized something, raised his hand and brushed aside a curtain to look out.There was a willow tree on the other side of the palace wall they passed by, and it was now bare, with a few dead leaves falling on the bluestone road of the palace road, looking a bit bleak.

Liu Qingtang looked at the clean stone slabs there, and unconsciously looked for Qin Shu's figure.He was beside the sedan chair, walking quietly with his head bowed, his hands in his sleeves.He was very close to her, so close that Liu Qingtang could clearly see his slightly black lips from the cold wind.Liu Qingtang watched him silently for a while, then put down the curtain, sat upright with eyes closed and rested.

The palace road with willow trees they walked just now is the place where Qin Shu's life disappeared in his previous life.She remembered that when he looked at her, there seemed to be many thoughts locked in his cloudy eyes, but he didn't have time to say it and he was unwilling to say it.Just looking straight at her like that, it was probably the first time in his life that he was so bold.

After getting along for so many days, Liu Qingtang seemed to understand Qin Shu's feelings in her previous life.His liking was heavy and desperate, and he never thought about her response, he just took it as his own business, hidden it deep, and never let her find out.

Even in this life, he still couldn't believe that she had expressed her wishes so clearly.Obviously so eager, but hesitantly refused to approach.Heh... It's just that he is destined not to refuse her, it doesn't matter if he can't believe it now, she still has a lot of time to let him understand her persistence.She, Liu Qingtang, was as stubborn as him.

Seeing this group of people from a distance, the eunuchs guarding in front of Xiangxue courtyard began to sing and drink.Hearing the singing and shouting indicating the arrival of the Empress Dowager, the wives and ladies of various families who were talking together in the Xiangxue Courtyard fell silent for a moment, then stopped talking and sat down in their seats, all looking at the door .

The moment Liu Qingtang walked in, everyone stood up to pay their respects, and countless crisp or gentle female voices echoed here.Not squinting at the people who passed through the blessing body from the middle, they sat on the main seat, and Liu Qingtang cried out.

Liu Qingtang has been immersed in the court for more than ten years, and she has an aura of calmness and prestige. As soon as she sat down with such an expressionless expression, the whole hall fell silent.The wives and ladies of all families watched the case carefully, all of them straightened their backs and looked at the case table in front of them, none of them dared to steal a glance at Liu Qingtang, the leader at such a time.

Seeing this situation, Liu Qingtang was also very helpless. After all, these noble ladies and ladies were not the ministers of the court who had weathered the storm. Most of them were raised like delicate flowers. She was really afraid that if they were louder, they would scare them into something. Come.But she is used to putting on this unsmiling appearance in front of many people. Everyone knows that the Empress Dowager is majestic and dignified. If she chats with these people gently now, I am afraid they will be even more frightened.

Every time there is a banquet, this is almost the case for more than half of the time at the beginning, and it will get better later.Most of the time, Liu Qingtang had to keep her face upright and wait for these people to get used to it, and she couldn't easily show her displeasure and boredom, otherwise as long as she frowned, these people would be nervous for a while, and then the whole banquet would be frozen together.

Recalling Tao Ye’s mysterious talk with her, among the wives like Yu Jing, there is a rumor that “the empress dowager killed the rebel prince Xiao Nanhe and a dozen ministers with a sword, and the blood spattered all over her body.” Didn't even blink", and "The Empress Dowager hates noise, so she cut off the tongues of the Bailai people in Ci'an Palace, and no one dared to resist" these exaggerated rumors, Liu Qingtang really felt a headache.

It's not an option to stay frozen all the time, Liu Qingtang looked at the sky, and said to Tao Ye who came early to prepare: "Let's start the banquet."

"Yes, Empress Dowager." Tao Ye clapped her hands, and two teams of maids came in with dishes, presented hot dishes in an orderly manner, and removed the pastries from the table at the same time.

The sound of the maids moving around and the sound of cups and cups broke the silence in the hall. Sitting at the top, Liu Qingtang could clearly see the movement of everyone below. Naturally, she saw several wives and ladies who had stiffened expressions and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. look.I couldn't help but suddenly felt amused, these people regarded her as a scourge.

After the food was served, another maid brought warm wine.The wine that the female relatives drink is naturally different from that of the men, mostly non-intoxicating fruit wine and flower wine.This time the plum banquet was made with the wine made from the plum blossoms in this yard last winter.The color is clear and it smells sweet.

"This is the wine made from snow water from the plum blossoms picked last winter. Everyone, please try it." Liu Qingtang said again in order to make herself look warmer.

As a result, these ladies were all nervous when they said this, and they immediately picked up the wine glasses on the table very obediently. Liu Qingtang also saw a young lady about thirteen or fourteen years old, looking around for fear of falling behind others, hurriedly He picked up his glass and drank a glass of wine in one gulp.As a result, her face was flushed with choking and she had to cover her mouth with a handkerchief, trying not to make any noise. Liu Qingtang who watched was anxious for her.

The older woman next to her, probably her mother, looked at her anxiously and then carefully raised her eyes to see if she was angry at the top.

Liu Qingtang pretended not to see it, and winked at Tao Ye behind her.Tao Ye smiled, and knowingly went down to ask someone to prepare water and tea for that young lady.Then Liu Qingtang noticed that the young lady in the banquet looked at her with what she thought was a hidden curiosity.In fact, not only that young lady, but also several ladies who entered the palace for the first time, were secretly looking at her when they gradually recovered.

The legendary empress dowager is like this!Liu Qingtang could clearly see what they were thinking in those eyes.

Although Liu Qingtang really wanted to pretend that she didn't see it, but in fact, sitting in a high position, she could clearly see everyone's small movements below.For example, those ladies and ladies who looked at her and quickly moved away, but couldn't help but look at her after a while.

After eating in silence until it was time, they brought down the dishes that were almost cold, and everyone moved from the banquet hall to a courtyard dedicated to plum appreciation.There is a large square pavilion in that yard, which is open on three sides, surrounded by plum trees planted here and there, and when you take a breath, your nose is filled with a clear and refreshing fragrance.

Thick soft blankets were spread on the floor, several burning stoves were placed, and curtains were hung.So even if it is open, it doesn't feel very cold, and it is really a good place to enjoy plum blossoms.

When the female relatives came to this pavilion surrounded by blooming plum trees, they obviously relaxed a little. They gathered together to drink tea, eat snacks and enjoy the plum blossoms. From time to time, they whispered to the people next to them, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.

It was already early noon after the plum banquet was over, and in half an hour, Liu Qingtang had to rush to the Mingguang Hall to join the emperor in the luncheon rewarding officials.Taking advantage of this gap, she was able to rest for a while.

"Qin Shu, do you think I look scary?" There were only her and Qin Shu left in the hall, Liu Qingtang leaned on the chair and asked Qin Shu to pinch her neck, and suddenly said quietly.

Qin Shu thought of the attitude of the female relatives towards the empress dowager during the whole banquet, and the slightly depressed look of the empress dowager, and felt a little want to laugh.While pressing and pinching her neck, he comforted her earnestly and said, "Your Majesty doesn't look scary at all."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingtang waited eagerly for his next words, such as "The empress is not only not scary, but also very beautiful and moving", but it has been a long time since I saw him want to continue.Liu Qingtang couldn't help turning her head to look at him, Qin Shu was holding it seriously, and when she found that the Empress Dowager looked at him with very inexplicable eyes, she returned a puzzled look.

"Ma'am, what are your orders?" He asked hesitantly.

Liu Qingtang twitched at the corner of her mouth when she heard the words, and turned her head away again.Qin Shu has always been so speechless, she is used to it.

At this time, Zhui Yi walked in carrying a food box.Put the food box on the table, brought out a Gu Bazhen porridge and said: "Master, eat something, you didn't eat anything because you were inconvenient at the banquet."

Putting the porridge in front of Liu Qingtang, Suiyi took out a warm wet towel. "Master, wipe off the lip balm first, so that you can use some porridge, and I will make it up later."

Liu Qingtang took the wet towel and said, "Understood, you should also go down and eat something to rest for a while, because you still have to boil later."

Zhui Yi wanted to refuse, but after taking a look at Qin Shu, she felt as if she understood what the master really meant.Thinking about not disturbing her master, she obediently withdrew.

Liu Qingtang understood Zhuiyi's expression, and couldn't help but reflect on whether she always did this kind of thing on weekdays, which was why she was often misunderstood by Zhuiyi and Taoye.The last time she and Qin Shu kissed in the garden, Sui Yi sneaked up to ask her if she wanted hot water and ointment.

I hadn't thought about it that much at first, but seeing the look in Zui Yi's eyes, Liu Qingtang suddenly felt that this kind of time is actually quite suitable for doing something.Looking at the wet tissue in her hand that should be used to wipe off lip fat, Liu Qingtang smiled and put it aside casually.

"Qin Shu, come..."

Satisfied, she applied all the lip balm on Qin Shu's lips, and seeing his stiff and resigned expression, Liu Qingtang had the urge to apply some more lip balm and rub it all over Qin Shu's face.If she really did that, maybe Qin Shu's expression would be even more exciting.

Almost thinking of Qin Shu's froze face, Liu Qingtang was ready to move.It's a pity that Liu Qingtang still remembered that there was not enough time, so he could only regretfully let go of this idea for the time being.

However, the future is long, isn't it?Liu Qingtang narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Qin Shu, come here and I'll clean it for you..."

(End of this chapter)