Chapter 68: Earnest Request

  Chapter 68: Earnest Request

  It's probably because of Chao Sheng's shocked expression that the Fourth Prince chuckled: "I'm not asking you to risk your life, are you really scared out of your wits?"

  Chao Sheng gritted his teeth: "I don't have any money either..."

  The fourth prince turned his face to one side, his shoulders shaking slightly, probably stifling a laugh.

  "Don't worry, I won't take your money." The fourth prince turned around and asked very sincerely: "How much money do you have?"

  Chao Sheng felt it and estimated: "Less than... ten taels."

  The fourth prince shook his head: "Is that all?"

  Chao Sheng silently swallowed the blood that he wanted to spit out: "Your Highness, I'm already considered good at saving money. I don't buy food, I don't buy flowers, and I don't give money to others as gifts... It's not easy to save this much in a year."

  The fourth prince stroked his chin: "Come to think of it, I've never calculated how much family property I have..."

  How did the topic go off on a tangent to this month's salary and private house money?

  But the fourth prince immediately turned back: "Do you think I got drunk last night, so you agreed to whatever you said, anyway, you've made up your mind to renege?"

  "Your Highness, this..."

  She certainly couldn't say that she was just watching the Fourth Prince get drunk, originally intending to welch on the deal. But who knew what conditions the Fourth Prince would propose?

  The fourth prince lowered his voice: "You don't have to be afraid... As long as you're here for a day, I'll protect you for a day."

  Chao Sheng had some doubts about whether he had misheard.

  The fourth prince said: "If I can't even protect the people around me, then being a prince is really too embarrassing."

  Chao Sheng let out a sigh of relief.

  Fortunately, the fourth prince made his intention clear, otherwise that sentence just now would have been misunderstood.

  In any case, the fourth prince's words always warm people's hearts.

  No matter if he can do it or not, he always has this intention now.

  Then, did the fourth prince know about Qiū Zhèn?

  Chao Sheng hesitated for a moment, and Chun Mo had already entered.

  The fourth prince is probably aware of it.

  Even if he didn't know specifically who had ulterior motives, his preventive measures were very strict, basically treating everyone as if they had ulterior motives. For example, the door of this study room was guarded by Xiao Su with utmost care, like a mountain guardian deity. As long as he was there, basically no one could take a step beyond the forbidden line, guarding the study room like an iron bucket.

  "Auntie Li also made wontons." Chun Mo smiled and said: "Today we have good fortune in our mouths."

  This dish requires effort, just chopping and mixing the filling and marinating it takes at least a dozen hours, normally we don't make this, but during Chinese New Year, we prepare all these in advance.

  "Let's get something to fill our stomachs first." The fourth prince said with a smile, "Otherwise I'm afraid we won't make it in time for dinner, and I'll rush into the kitchen instead."

  "Then Your Highness can rush into the kitchen and eat your fill from the pot."

  She still brought over the pastry box, and the Fourth Prince picked out a piece of snowflake cake.

  Chao Sheng said in a soft voice: "This thing is suppressing hunger, after eating this, the good dishes later can't be eaten."

  The fourth prince nodded and said, "What you say also makes sense."

  But the pastry had already been picked up and couldn't be put back in the box. The Fourth Prince handed it to Chun Mo.

  Chun Mo was slightly surprised ——

  Well, it seems completely unnecessary to me.

  It wasn't just a piece of pastry, because he didn't eat it, so he casually gave it to someone, and Chun Mo had this surprised and delighted expression, as if it wasn't a piece of pastry, but a imperial edict.

  Because of the gloomy weather, it got dark very early outside, and the lights were turned on in the house. Autumn Ink also came to help with the chores, while Spring Ink bluntly said: "You'd better not force yourself, just look at your face, it's as white as a ghost! If you're not fully recovered from your illness, why don't you go back and lie down for a bit?"

  Qiu Yan shook his head and said: "Nothing... I just didn't sleep well."

  More and more people didn't sleep well, almost everyone didn't sleep well last night, the fourth prince was no exception. He came back drunk, slept so late, got up very early, and still couldn't make up for a nap today, but his complexion was absolutely not as good as Qiuran's.

  Qiu Yan also didn't argue anymore, but instead helped out on the side.

  The fourth prince was indeed starving, so he first drank two mouthfuls of soup and then picked out the dishes he liked to eat. Chao Sheng attended to him on one side, while Qiu Shan stood on the other side of the fourth prince.

  Her eyes were wandering and didn't notice the situation on the table, dazed and confused about what she was thinking.

  Chao Sheng was thinking deeply, what was she worried about?

  Is she worried about the empress? Worried that she and Li Auntie will take revenge on her?

  Is there anything else on your mind?

  The fourth prince was tired from a day's work, had dinner and rested for a while before washing up and going to bed. Chao Sheng came out of the house, lifted the curtain, and was blown by the cold wind outside, only to feel his nostrils itching and wanting to sneeze, but he couldn't sneeze, almost choking back tears instead.

  She thrust her hands into her sleeves and quickened her pace, wanting to hurry back to her room to warm herself by the fire. As she turned a corner, someone suddenly called out behind her: "Chao Sheng, wait a minute."

  Qiu Yan stood in the shadow of the corridor pillar, the light from the palace lanterns unable to shine on her face.

  Suddenly I thought of what was it, the deep palace hanging case, the midnight female ghost and so on, and suddenly I was fully alert.

  Qiu Yan took a step forward, and the somewhat dim light of the palace lantern shone on her face. The strange feeling from just now was instantly dispelled, and the warm light made her look gentle and harmless.

  But Chao Sheng's heart didn't dare to relax.

  "I have something I want to talk to you about."

  Chao Sheng turned his head and glanced at the house: "It's quite late, Autumn Ink sister has something to say, let's talk about it another day."

  Qiu Yan lowered her eyelids, probably because she was afraid of the cold. She clasped her hands together: "You... you're guarding against me and that's understandable. Last time's matter, although it wasn't my intention, but... I had no choice either."

  Chao Sheng shook his head: "I don't know what you mean, sister. It's late, and you should rest early when your body is not feeling well. If there's anything missing, tell Chunmo sister now."

  Qiu Yan didn't seem to want to move, but Chao Sheng was unwilling to stay here with her any longer. As night fell, the wind grew stronger, and as soon as Chao Sheng came out of the house, he felt that even a little warmth on his body would be blown away by the cold wind.

  She walked a few steps, turned her head and found Qiū Yàn was following behind her.

  Cháo shēng de xīn tí le qǐ lái.

  English Translation:

  The tide of life lifted his heart up.

  What's going on? Is she being taken advantage of?

  Is she waiting for a deserted corner where no one is around, and then she will say or do something?

  Chao Sheng didn't seem willing to try out this possibility. She turned around and quickly walked towards the direction of the small kitchen.

  Qiu Yan hesitated for a moment, then followed her from behind.

  The tide accelerated its pace, passing through the Moon Round Door, and you could see the warm light coming from the window of the small kitchen door.

  "She raised her voice and shouted: 'Is Aunt Li in the house?'"

  Someone inside replied, "Yes, yes." A woman in the kitchen opened the door and Cao Sheng hastily nodded at her as a greeting before striding inside.

  The woman was chilled by the cold wind and shivered, just about to close the door, when she saw Qiū Zhàn walking towards her.

  "Oh, Autumn Ink Maiden is here too! Quick, come in and warm up. What would you like to eat?"

  Chao Sheng turned her head and took a look - she really didn't expect Qiu Yan to follow her into the house.

  Auntie Li was also in the house, sitting in front of the stove. That place was particularly warm - but all stoves are the same, no matter how much you sweep, every day they're covered in smoke and soot, the stove door and stove top were black and shiny, looking quite dirty.

  Seeing Qiu Yan come in, Li Auntie smiled and greeted her: "Qiu Yan is here? Come sit down - what's the matter?"

  Qiu Shan sat on a stool beside the door and said to the woman who had just opened the door, "Would you please pour me a bowl of hot tea?"

  The woman glanced at Li Aunt and nodded in response: "Alright, I'll go now. Young lady, please wait a moment."

  They're not blind, why would they come all the way here to drink tea?

  The woman went out and closed the door from outside.

  Qiu Yan huddled with her hands, shrugging her shoulders, looking like she couldn't bear the cold. However, since she herself didn't move to a warmer place to sit, Li Gugu and Chao Sheng inside the house wouldn't bother reminding her to come over.

  "I'll just say it straight out," Qiu Yan said in a low voice: "Last time, I had no choice but to do what I did. Fortunately, nothing happened, or else... my heart would really be uneasy. I absolutely didn't intentionally want to harm Chao Sheng, nor did I mean to implicate Li Gu Gu..."

  Auntie Li hinted to Chao Sheng to bring the teapot and tea cups, Chao Sheng poured two cups of hot water, Auntie Li hinted her to pour another cup, and handed it to Qiu Shan.

  Tide-born glanced at her... was it necessary?

  Auntie Li's gaze was very firm.

  Chao Sheng could only hold it over and handed the water to Qiu Shan: "Drink a warm mouthful."

  Qiu Yan took over the two mouths and said in a low voice: "Thank you."

  "It wasn't intentional, nor was it just a matter of your few words being enough. If we hadn't been lucky at the time, I'm afraid you wouldn't be sitting here listening to me speak now. If you want to apologize, then don't bother."

  "One is to apologize, two is... I'm really suffocating in my heart, in this palace, everyone is helpless. I also have no way..."

  Chao Sheng listened to her words without much practical meaning, neither mentioning who was behind her nor guaranteeing that I wouldn't do it again next time.

  I really don't know what she wants to say?

  Just to say she had no choice, would Aunt Li and Chao Sheng blame her?

  It's a joke if it can be so easily settled with just two sentences, and from then on, Chao Sheng and Li Gu will let go of their guard against her. That's simply ridiculous.

  What's done is done. No matter how good it sounds, the knife in hand is held tightly and not put down - no matter how beautiful the words are, they are all nonsense.

  Who believes who is an idiot.

  But since Aunt Li didn't say anything, Chao Sheng also remained silent.

  Qiu Yan looked at the two people opposite him, unmoved, gritted his teeth, and suddenly stood up, with a thud, he heavily knelt down in front of Li Gu Gu: "Auntie, I know I was wrong...I won't dare again in the future...Please, auntie, have mercy on me this once"

  He was taken aback.

  Qiu Yan, this... The anxiety and panic in these words don't seem feigned.

  What's wrong with her?

  Why ask Auntie Li to let her off?

  What did Li Auntie do to her?

  Auntie Li was quite composed, raised her eyelids to glance at her, then lowered her head to take a sip of water: "Huh, Autumn Ink's words are really beyond my comprehension. What kind of person am I that I can let you off the hook?"

  ——————————

  Uh, today's online shopping snacks arrived, everything else is fine, but that bag of one-pound oat tea was broken, and the oats were all spilled in the cardboard box.