Chapter Fifty-Seven: Joy

  Xiao Shun handled the matter very efficiently, and in just a few days, he sent someone to the place where Chao Sheng originally lived to investigate. The person returned with a dejected look and said: "There's no one there, and the door still has a lock on it. I also asked the neighbors, and it seems that after you left home to enter the palace, someone came to your house, but I don't know if it was your uncle. That person came and went in a hurry, and didn't stay for long."

  Chao Sheng didn't feel as disappointed as Xiao Shun had imagined, she and that uncle had never met before, nor did they have deep feelings for each other. It's good to see people of course, but not seeing them wouldn't be too disappointing either.

  I hope he will be safe and sound.

  Xiao Shun felt that he was busy and couldn't help, and it wasn't good to ask for a thank-you gift again like at the beginning. Chao Sheng thought that others had already shown their kindness, and it was embarrassing to decline. For two consecutive days, she made some pastries for Xiao Shun, and when she saw he was free, she sent them over to him. Xiao Shun thanked her repeatedly, opened the package to look, and found his favorite crispy fried dough pastry, instantly beaming with joy.

  "Thank you, thank you." He pinched one and threw it into his mouth, sweet and crispy, the pastry was freshly out of the oven and still hot, the taste was naturally much better than that cold and hard one.

  "Is this just exploded?"

  "Ah, just in time. I remember you said you liked it last time, so consider this a thank-you gift."

  Xiao Shun's hand, which was about to touch his heart, stopped there: "How can I bear to, when I haven't even helped you get things done."

  "Must it be done before you thank me? You have to spend human feelings even if you entrust someone." Chao Sheng said: "Eat it while it's hot, I made it small on purpose, one bite at a time and it won't get oily everywhere."

  "You're so meticulous." Xiaoshun didn't stand on ceremony either, and started eating one by one with his tea.

  "Right," said Xiao Shun: "You've arrived just in time, your former neighbor's family is having a wedding."

  "Is it on the left side or the right side?"

  "On the right," said Xiao Shun, "I heard it's their youngest son getting married. The bride's family is very rich and they've filled up half the street with dowry."

  Is it?

  Chao Sheng thought of Qian Jia's second son, who had a smile that only showed his teeth and not his eyes. Although he didn't have much feeling for him, he still felt a bit melancholy.

  Things have changed...

  Nor does she know if she can leave the palace in the future? Is there still a home after leaving the palace?

  Only with loved ones can it be called home.

  She didn't know many people outside the palace, and she hadn't stayed there for long. In the future, when she goes out, those people will probably have forgotten her too. To say it, what she is most familiar with now is actually this wall of the palace. The people she knows, the things she knows, the life she's used to...

  What will happen if I go out in the future?

  No one knows me, no place can be called home...

  At the end of the year, she thought of going out of the palace because her family members were all outside.

  Chao Sheng also wants to leave the palace, but what about after leaving?

  She can be said to have no relatives in this era and place.

  That uncle, I don't know where he is or what kind of person he is.

  This dazed feeling...

  Like a rootless duckweed, I don't know where home is, and I don't know where the wind and water will take me.

  Chao Sheng had been feeling down for several days, and everything she did seemed lackluster. Xiao Shun and Qiu Yan thought it was because she hadn't received any news from her family that she was acting this way. Qiu Yan comforted her: "Don't think too much about it, at least you're living a peaceful life now. Let Xiao Shun and the others help keep an eye on things at home when they have time, don't worry yourself sick."

  Chao Sheng couldn't help but ask: "Autumn Ink sister, have you thought about the future?"

  "About the future? Of course, I've thought about it. Who wouldn't think about it? You can't just live one day at a time, you have to think about tomorrow and the next day too." Qián Yàn looked at her with some sympathy: "You've been unable to let go of this for days?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Qiu Yan smiled and sat down beside her: "Actually, you and I are considered lucky. The prince is not a stingy or ungrateful person. As long as we don't make any mistakes, there's no need to worry too much."

  "But looking at Chunmo sister and Song Can sister from Songtao Pavilion, they all have their own plans..."

  "'Them?' said Qiu Shan, 'They have high aspirations. Spring Ink once said that if they were to leave the palace and marry someone who is also a slave, their future children would still be slaves for generations to come. Who knows what Song Can thinks, but she's got deep plans.'"

  Yes, Chun Mo's idea is not wrong either. Being a slave oneself is one thing, but it's unacceptable for future generations to remain slaves forever. Since there's an opportunity right in front of us to break free from our slave status and rise to the top, we must seize it firmly. People always strive for better, who doesn't want to climb higher?

  In Cao's view, everyone will strive to change their own destiny and that of their descendants, only the means are different.

  As long as it's not harming others for personal gain, it's not wrong.

  However, people often get lost along the way and gradually become unscrupulous.

  Just like Song Can, she may not be completely innocent either.

  Chao Sheng went back to Songtao Pavilion to deliver something, and the sky was gloomy with wind.

  Since she arrived here, the maple leaves of Yiqiu Palace have turned red twice. The red leaves were blown by the wind, spinning and falling on the water surface, piling up piece by piece.

  Chao Sheng heard someone call out to her and turned around, but didn't see anyone.

  "Tidal birth."

  This time she heard where the voice was coming from. Cai Zhen stood far away outside the gate of Yi Qiu Palace, waving at her with all his might.

  "Diving for pearls?"

  Chao Sheng almost thought he saw it wrong.

  How did Zhai Zhu end up in the Eastern Palace?

  She looked around and rubbed her eyes.

  That's right, it's pearl diving.

  Cháo shēng kuài bù cháo mén wài zǒu, yuè zǒu yuè kuài, zuì hòu jiǎn zhí yī lù xiǎo pǎo qǐ lái.

  Translation:

  He walked quickly towards the door, getting faster and faster until he was almost running.

  Zai Zhu smiled and came up to greet her, taking her hand in hers.

  "Looking at you from afar is like looking at an elephant," Yuèzhū smiled and said: "You've grown a lot taller, I almost don't dare to recognize you."

  "How did you come?" Chao Sheng hurriedly asked: "Is it convenient for you to talk? Is the time enough? Do you want to go to my room if not?"

  Zaiyu wiped her face and nodded: "Mm, there's still half a time unit left. Where are you now?"

  "I serve His Imperial Highness, the Fourth Prince." Chao Sheng pulled her along as they walked further in, only releasing her hand after they entered the house.

  Zhai Zhu had also grown taller, with a pair of braids and wearing a pair of round pearl earrings. Just now, she was walking quickly, the pearls kept swaying on her cheeks, looking very cute.

  "Our master sent someone to the Longtai Temple, and I took on this task. Zhai Zhu looked her up and down: "Later, I went to the Huanyi Alley, where people said you had come to the East Palace. I thought it was great, the tasks in the East Palace are light, and Huan Xun is also here, we can take care of each other... Ah, you two are together every day, leaving me alone in the palace with nothing to do, not even sending a message, how heartless!"

  The tide was born busy explaining, not that they didn't send the letter over, first it wasn't so convenient, secondly, they had entrusted someone to go several times and couldn't find the pearl picker, absolutely not intentionally ignoring her. The pearl picker's face was stiff and wouldn't speak, the tide was born pulling her hand and said pitifully: "Don't be angry anymore. Thinking about meeting every day, there are many things to say, do you want to waste all your time being angry?"

  "Who farted?"

  Chao Sheng pulled her to sit down by the bed, poured a cup of hot tea for her, and casually asked: "Why did your master send you to Changtai Temple again? Are you going to copy scriptures again?"

  "No," said Zhenzhu softly, "our master has been ill recently."

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  I'm finally home, I've come back to life again!