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Chapter 79
Chapter 79
With that said, time flies by quickly, and soon it will be August.
It's just that in early August, the hosta, begonia, hibiscus, etc. in the women's school are already flourishing. Du Qingqing took the flower class earlier. came back in a vase with flower branches. Because she has new flower arrangements every day, the flowers are beautiful and fragrant, and they are pleasing to the eyes on the window sill, and even save Zhen Tingyun's effort in making incense, after all, her floral fragrance alone is enough to smoke the house.
It's just that it's getting hotter in August. Taking a riding and archery class at this time is a kind of torture. Every time I come back from get out of class, I'm full of sweat, and many people even get sunburned. For this reason, Yang Qionghua has been thinking about using pearl powder and other balms for whitening all day long, and from time to time, he has to try it with Zhen Tingyun.
However, in addition to riding and shooting classes, the lack of ice in women's schools is also a big problem that plagues female students. Of course, there are natural reasons why girls don’t need ice. First, they are worried that some female students who are weaker can’t stand the cold and get sick. Second, they feel that most of the female students who are day students will be in school for half a day. class, so you don't have to worry about it. Therefore, the real hardships are the female students living in the women's school. Except for those daughters who live in single rooms, they have the privilege of being able to bring ice in every day. Most of the female students who live in the women's school can only live in Sprinkle water on the ground to dissipate the warmth.
Du Qingqing couldn't stand this. In July, she managed to get through a few days, and it was cool for a few days at home during the Mid-Autumn Festival. When she came back, she had to stay in the house with Zhen Tingyun. The hottest days were hers. Wearing cool silk pajamas, couldn't sleep without a quilt, tossing and turning was uncomfortable.
It was difficult to make it until August 12, because the Mid-Autumn Festival was a big festival, and it was the Queen Mother's birthday, and the women's school had to take a five-day leave, from August 13 to August 17.
Thinking of going home tomorrow, and not having to suffer here, Du Qingqing's mood is much better. Therefore, this evening, after washing up, Du Qingqing put on silk bedding and did not rest immediately. Instead, he lit the lamp and sat at the table, shaking his thin white calf, trimming the bottle with scissors in his hand. The begonias, adjust the length of the flower branches, the shape, density and color matching of the flowers and leaves.
Seeing that Zhen Tingyun was still reading under the lamp, Du Qingqing spoke to her without a word: "You can actually sit still!"
Zhen Tingyun didn't lift his head, and flipped a page of the book: "Why can't you sit still?"
After a pause, Zhen Tingyun still wanted to remind Du Qingqing: "The joint entrance examination between the two schools will be held in September. I think you should hurry up and read more books?"
Du Qingqing snorted, moved his hand, only heard a "click", and cut off a small section of vigorous flower branches. She pouted and complained, "It's such a hot day, there's no ice in the room, and even if the lights are on, the room is very dark. Where can I read books?"
Zhen Tingyun didn't persuade him much, just looked down at the book in his hand.
Du Qingqing actually admired Zhen Tingyun's ability to read books under the lamp. Seeing that she was still wearing ordinary fine cotton pajamas, she couldn't help but say, "Tingyun, is it really hot for you to wear this?"
How could it not be hot?
It's just that although Mrs. Pei prepared a lot of things for Zhen Tingyun, she didn't care, and naturally she didn't think about preparing Zhen Tingyun a cooler silk bedding if it was hot today. Zhen Tingyun himself didn't understand this and was not prepared, so now he can only say one sentence to others: "It's natural to be calm and calm."
"You're right." Du Qingqing nodded, envious, "I don't have such a good concentration as you."
Speaking of this, Du Qingqing thought of another thing: "By the way, I heard someone say, you also signed up for a cooking class to make moon cakes a few days ago?"
Speaking of this, Zhen Tingyun couldn't read the book, but felt his face get slightly hot, and only made a vague "uh" sound.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a habit of giving moon cakes to each other. Making moon cakes is also an activity in women's schools to deal with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The main purpose is to encourage some female students who have fewer courses and have a lot of free time to take the initiative to sign up, and then the female students who have learned to make moon cakes in the cooking class will teach them to make moon cakes, and the moon cakes will be handed over to them to take back. When you go home from the holiday, you can use the moon cakes you make yourself to honor your parents and elders, which is also a piece of filial piety.
Zhen Tingyun had chosen seven sub-courses, and naturally she was not a female student who chose few courses and had a lot of free time, but she still signed up to learn how to make moon cakes. Of course, she didn't make this moon cake to send Pei Shi and Zhen's father, but just thinking about the rare Mid-Autumn Festival, she always wanted to send something to Mrs. Zhen and... Yuan Hui-although this moon cake was not worth a few dollars, but she Always do it with a little heart. As for Zhen's father and Pei's family, just go back to the dim sum shop to buy some and give them away.
Because of Yuan Hui and what the two said when they parted, Zhen Tingyun couldn't calm down any longer, and couldn't read the book anymore, so he had to close the book and put it aside, and simply started talking to Du Qingqing: "I thought you would sign up too." After all, Du Qingqing has always liked to participate in these activities, and she has a deep relationship with her relatives such as her father and mother, so she should think about making something to bring back home.
Du Qingqing couldn't help laughing when she heard the words, almost didn't hold the scissors, turned her head and smiled with Zhen Tingyun: "I also want to do it, but I think back - what I do, my father and my mother are afraid I dare not eat it. Hahahaha…”
Zhen Tingyun was also amused by her.
After laughing, Du Qingqing also reminded Zhen Tingyun: "Is that moon cake you want to give away? Remember to taste it before you give it away, otherwise people will be embarrassed to tell you if they don't eat well." Qingqing is quite experienced and can't help but sigh, "At the beginning, when I cooked soup for my father, I forgot to add salt, and my father drank a big bowl with a smile. If I hadn't secretly tasted it later, I wouldn't have known the unsalted soup. So hard to drink..."
In fact, Zhen Tingyun really wanted to ask her: Are you sure that the soup was unpalatable only because no salt was added, not because you cooked it too badly?
However, after Du Qingqing's reminder, Zhen Tingyun was also a little worried.
On the second day, Zhen Tingyun took two packs of moon cakes wrapped in oiled paper and got into the carriage to pick her up at home. She made a detour to the more lively East Street dim sum shop, and picked a shop with a long queue. bought two packs of fresh moon cakes and planned to send them home to Zhen's father, Pei's.
She put the two packets of moon cakes she made on the left, and the two packets of moon cakes bought from the dim sum shop on the right.
Even though Zhen Tingyun felt that the moon cakes she made were more expressive, she had to admit that the moon cakes in the dim sum shop smelled delicious, and maybe they tasted better...
Thinking of Du Qingqing's previous reminder, Zhen Tingyun still couldn't hold back. He opened the oiled paper wrapping the moon cakes, took a small moon cake he made himself, and tasted the taste. His eyebrows gradually relaxed. It tastes alright, she does it well!
In this way, she can safely send it to Yuan Hui.
Zhen Tingyun stretched his eyebrows and raised his hand again to wrap the oil paper. After thinking about it, she still moved the oil paper bag that had already eaten the moon cakes back, thinking that it would be better to leave this bag to Mrs. Zhen - if Mrs. Zhen was here, she would probably say that she is an outgoing girl and has elbows. Turn out!
However, Mrs. Zhen was not there after all.
Zhen Tingyun packed up his things, then turned around and said to the driver, "Don't go home first, go to Xishan."
After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival soon, and it was easy to go out after returning home, so she felt that she had better give this moon cake to Yuan Hui before she went home.
********
At the same time, Fu Changxi was talking to Empress Dowager Zheng in the palace.
Unlike women's school, Gong Zhong had already used ice in June. These ices were all collected from the lake or the mountains in November and December last year, cut into neat cubes, and then transported to the palace ice cellar by special personnel, and they were not taken out until summer. Of course, the ice sent to Empress Dowager Zheng's Ci'en Palace must be more careful. There must be skilled craftsmen to carve and cut, carving out figures, birds and beasts, or mountains and rivers, and offering them in various places in the palace, which is extremely cool.
However, even so, Empress Dowager Zheng was wearing very thin clothes today. Since there was only the Regent next to her, she dressed as usual, her long black hair was loosely tied in a bun, and there was no pearl on the bun, and even she wore only a crimson thin silk gauze.
But it reminds people of hindsight: this queen mother is actually very young, still looks like a girl, Pingting and graceful. At this time, she was wearing a crimson gauze, and at a glance, she was really ice-skeletal, jade-bones, and sweat-free.
In fact, because the late emperor went early, the Empress Dowager Zheng wore plain shirts in the past, and was described as noble and graceful. Now, she has used the name of her birthday to change this dress, and the faint crimson is reflected on the smooth mirror-like brick surface, just like the color of the sunset unintentionally falling, reflected on her almost flawless face, Xia steamed bright colors, beautiful and beautiful.
Even such an intoxicating color is difficult for even the most skilled painters to describe.
It's a pity that Fu Changxi didn't seem to see it. He came to discuss with Empress Dowager Zheng how to arrange the foreign envoys who came to pay their respects. Among them, Beiman came.
Although Empress Dowager Zheng originally thought that she would have a rare birthday, those foreign envoys also came from thousands of miles away with congratulatory gifts, and more rewards were also due, so as to show the heaven/vigor and royal wealth. However, since Fu Changxi felt that it was not good to give too many rewards, she nodded and agreed - she didn't really care about these little things, and she didn't bother to quarrel with Fu Changxi for the sake of these foreign countries.
When the business is settled, Fu Changxi will get up and say goodbye: "If the queen mother has nothing else to do, this king will retire first."
"Wait." Empress Dowager Zheng called to him.
I saw Empress Dowager Zheng raised her hand, and the crimson silk gauze sleeve slid down, revealing a white and slender jade arm, on which she even wore a white jade arm bracelet inlaid with gold and inlaid with red treasures. Her skin was the same color, and the red treasure on it was even more dazzling.
Fu Changxi turned around impatiently and looked at her: "What else is there to do with the Queen Mother?"
Empress Dowager Zheng had to find an excuse at will, and reached out and handed over the list of palace banquets that had been prepared a long time ago: "My lord, let's take a look, there are some that need to be deleted."
Fu Changxi thought about it for a while, but he sat back and was about to take the list and take a closer look. He was really curious, whether Princess Yan or the eldest princess of Huiguo had spoken to Empress Dowager Zheng, and whether Zhen Tingyun's name was added. .
At this moment, suddenly saw a guard come quickly from the door, stepped forward to salute, and said that there was something important to report.
Empress Dowager Zheng couldn't help frowning: Since she killed the ignorant eunuch last time, everyone in the palace knows her rules, and she will never come up to speak when she is discussing matters with the Prince Regent. Therefore, this guard should be serving by the regent's side, so he hurried in at this time, I'm afraid there is really something important. However, the two are rarely alone, and it is really annoying to be interrupted like this...
Hearing the sound, Fu Changxi raised his head, looked at the guard, excused his courtesy, and asked him to come forward to report.
The guard stepped up quickly and whispered a few words in his ear.
Fu Changxi listened, he couldn't help raising his eyebrows, the corners of his lips were slightly raised, and then he forced himself to be flattened again, so he put the list back on the case, and said to Empress Zheng: "The Empress Dowager is the master of this matter, I still have something to do in the palace, so I need to go back."
Before waiting for the Queen Mother to answer, Fu Changxi got up and strode out of the hall.
Empress Dowager Zheng stared at his tall back, almost biting a mouthful of silver teeth, she managed to hold back her anger, and called the eunuch who was guarding the door to ask questions: "I didn't want you to stay outside the door, idle people waiting. Are you not allowed to go in and out?"
The few eunuchs who were in charge of guarding the hall tremblingly knelt on the ground and said in panic: "If you go back to the queen mother, then, after all, they are the people next to the regent, and the servants will not dare to stop them!"
How could Empress Dowager Zheng not know this truth? She was just taking advantage of the topic to express her anger. Hearing the words at this time, she just flicked her red sleeves and said coldly: "Drag down, stick twenty!"
Several eunuchs immediately thanked Dade, knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Thank you for your grace..."
As the saying goes, thunder, rain, and dew are all kindness. With Empress Dowager Zheng's temper, she can only stick twenty instead of killing her, which is really extra kind.
After Mrs. Zheng ignored these eunuchs, she frowned and thought: At this time, what could be worth Fu Changxi's haste to drive out of the palace? Moreover, if she was not mistaken, the moment Fu Changxi heard the news, there was an undisguised look of joy on his face - this is too rare, Fu Changxi has always been happy and angry, she is really I've never seen him feel so uncomfortable.
The more Empress Dowager Zheng thought about it, the tighter her brows became, and the deeper the crease between her brows became. In the end, she couldn't hold back. She summoned her confidants and ordered in a low voice, "Go, send a few to follow the Prince Regent's frame and take a look. Where did he go after he left the palace and who did he meet?"
The confidant led the way, but Empress Dowager Zheng sat on the phoenix seat and closed her eyes.
At this time, she was the only one left in the hall, and the ticking sound of the ice sculptures melting was particularly clear. In such a "ticking" sound, Empress Dowager Zheng seemed to recall the first time she saw Fu Changxi.
In fact, she secretly went out to see people with her cousin.
At that time, Emperor Xiaozong secretly revealed to Zheng Shoufu at the time, saying that he wanted to hire the daughter of the Zheng family as his wife for his youngest son. At that time, only her cousin and her were the only girls in the Zheng family. The cousin was the first assistant's direct daughter, and she was older than her. Everyone in the Zheng family felt that this marriage would fall on her cousin. Her cousin, always bold, took her sister out to see her future husband.
So, they quietly inquired about the only way for Fu Changxi to return to the palace every day.
With that one glance, both my cousin and her were unforgettable. When they returned, the two sisters were speechless and silent.
Later, King Su refused to marry and went to the northern Xinjiang. In order to avoid rumors, the cousin had to marry in a hurry. I still remember the eve of my cousin's wedding, wearing a red wedding dress, holding her hand, and asking her softly, "Do you remember..."
My cousin didn't finish her question, but crystal tears rolled down quietly. It landed on the back of her hand, scorching hot.
At that moment, the feelings of their sisters were incomparably unanimous.
How can you not remember?
In their most beautiful years, they also climbed high buildings and watched the teenagers ride on the leaning bridges.
Spring shirts are thin, beautiful, and full of red sleeves.
After her cousin got married, she stayed at home and waited for her sweetheart. She picked those suitors across the screen, and waited for several years. She didn't wait for Fu Changxi to return from the northern Xinjiang, but only until the court issued the decree. After the edict.
Fortunately, she finally waited now.
************
Fu Changxi really misses Zhen Tingyun very much these days, because he just said the opening and then parted.
If he hadn't promised to give Zhen Tingyun some time to think about it, and felt that it was not good to disturb him at this time, he would have gone directly to the women's school to find Zhen Tingyun.
This wait was nearly a month, and Fu Changxi was waiting for the girls' school vacation.
Even, he secretly made up his mind: If Zhen Tingyun is out on vacation this time, and he still hides from him, he will go directly to Zhen's house to find her!
However, after thinking about it, Fu Changxi came out of the palace and got into the carriage. He immediately called Tang He to step forward and instructed him in a fast voice: "Find me a uniform!"
Tang He didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence, he thought about his words and said: "Your Highness, you ordered the dowry to be prepared by your minister first, and the minister has already started to arrange it. Now that the matter has come to this point, why should you hide it from Miss Zhen? From the point of view of the minister, it would be better to talk about it through this."
"No." Fu Changxi categorically refused, "I wear this to see her, it's not a confession, it's scary."
Tang He secretly looked at the vassal king's uniform on him, and really didn't know how scary it was. However, as a minister, he has already said what he needs to say. Since the lord doesn't want to listen and it is difficult to continue, he nods: "I understand." Immediately, he asked someone to bring a jade blue robe to Fu Changxi as a gift. go.
Fu Changxi can be considered as practice makes perfect, he changed his robes on the carriage in no time, and then unbuttoned the purple-gold crown by himself, and reattached his hair.
In this way, Fu Changxi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he could see people.
However, at the same time as he was relieved, he couldn't help but feel worried: Tang He's words were indeed reasonable, since he had already informed the other party of his intentions, it was indeed difficult to hide his identity.
However, it's easy to conceal it and it's difficult to confess. It's not that Fu Changxi has not thought about how to confess these days, but as long as he thinks of Zhen Tingyun's trusting eyes when he looks at him, he feels a little speechless.
In fact, when Fu Changxi looks back on it now, he also feels that he has not seriously concealed his identity, and he has made many mistakes and omissions.But Zhen Tingyun trusted him very much, so he ignored all kinds of problems, which made him even more speechless.