Volume 1 Chapter 35

Volume 1 Chapter 35

Early the next morning, Long Yi rushed to Leng Jiu’s palace on a whim. He specifically avoided letting Lu Chang report his arrival and sneaked into Leng Jiu’s room. If not for their alertness, Leng Jiu would have kicked Long Yi out, and today would have ended with a scandalous scene of catching someone in bed!
Long Yi lifted the bed curtain and sat by the bedside, looking at the drowsy-eyed Leng Jiu with a tenderness that gave people goosebumps. He said softly, “Are you feeling better?”
Leng Jiu looked at his affectionate eyes and listened to his voice, as clear as fine rain, feeling a wave of nausea. She secretly rubbed away the goosebumps under the covers. “It’s nothing, women go through this every month! It will pass!”
Perhaps Long Yi had never discussed such matters directly with a woman before, and his face showed a slight unnaturalness. He reached out to tuck the quilt around Leng Jiu. “You should rest! There’s a hunt today, and I need to go. If there’s anything you want to eat, just have the kitchen prepare it.”
Leng Jiu shrank further into the quilt. “I know! You can go now!”
Long Yi looked at Leng Jiu’s delicate sleeping face under the quilt and couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch it. But suddenly remembering something, he forcibly withdrew his hand and then got up to leave. Seeing Leng Jiu in this state and remembering that she hadn’t referred to herself as “Aijia” but used “I” instead, his displeasure vanished. In his mind, even though Leng Jiu appeared cold to him on the surface, she actually loved him deep down. This realization greatly pleased him, making his steps light as he walked away.
Long Yi, immersed in his own thoughts, didn’t realize that after he left, Leng Jiu almost vomited. To be tormented so early in the morning was surely intended to make her feel disgusted all day!
Just after getting up, the kitchen staff brought breakfast, which was reportedly a medicinal meal Long Yi had instructed the imperial physician to prepare, to replenish blood and energy. After hearing this, Leng Jiu lost her last bit of appetite. She would have to force herself to eat it!
After drinking a bowl of almond dew and still feeling uncomfortable, she went for a soak for half an hour before feeling refreshed. Then, wrapping herself in a cloak, she went for a walk with Lu Chang.
Today was another hunting day, and those noble ladies had gone along, making the garden quiet and empty. However, Leng Jiu liked this tranquility. It was early autumn, the sun was bright, and the flowers were blooming. Large chrysanthemum buds were ready to burst open, and all kinds of flowers dazzled the eye. There was a special peony garden nearby, where the meticulously cultivated peonies bloomed brilliantly even in autumn. The large, magnificent flowers constantly proclaimed their status as the king of flowers!
A group of colorful butterflies flew in the sunlight, landing among the flowers, like fairies dancing in the blossoms, momentarily entrancing Leng Jiu.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager!”
The cold voice brought Leng Jiu back to her senses. She realized she had walked to the end of the peony garden, where there was a pavilion. Several civil officials were sitting there, seemingly playing chess. Upon seeing her, they immediately bowed. The one standing at the forefront, in a cool moon-white robe, could only be the icy Prime Minister.
“At ease.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
Leng Jiu smiled at them. “I was so captivated by the flowers that I might have disturbed you, gentlemen.”
Seeing Leng Jiu smile so closely, several of them were truly mesmerized and quickly lowered their heads, hastily saying, “You flatter us, Empress Dowager. We fear we are the ones disturbing your enjoyment.”
Leng Jiu waved her hand. “It’s fine as long as you gentlemen are at ease. I’ve enjoyed the view for quite a while and should head back. Please, continue.”
“Farewell, Empress Dowager!” They bowed again.
Gong Yuwei stepped forward. “I happen to be free and will escort the Empress Dowager.”
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Sorry to trouble you, Prime Minister.”
“Not at all! Please, Empress Dowager, after you.”
Leng Jiu saw his cold and stern face. Although he was deep and reserved, she could still clearly see the hint of inquiry in his eyes. She found it amusing; he hadn’t figured out anything over the past few days, and now he thought that sending her back would reveal her flaws? Even if he did see through her, she was the Empress Dowager now. Did he think he could emulate Hua Jinzhi and personally bring her back?
Leng Jiu walked in front, Lu Chang walked beside her, and Gong Yuwei trailed a step behind. His gaze remained fixed on Leng Jiu’s back. She walked neither fast nor slow, her every movement exuding elegance and nobility, nothing like the person he saw that day. Moreover, that day she was dressed as a man, looking carefree and unrestrained. Although she had looked very similar in the woods that day, the dim light in the carriage prevented him from clearly seeing her face. He could only suspect, not confirm. But watching Leng Jiu now, his doubts gradually faded.
In silence, he escorted Leng Jiu to the entrance of her palace. Gong Yuwei’s inquisitive gaze gradually disappeared. He finally stopped at the entrance and said, “This minister will take his leave now that I’ve escorted the Empress Dowager here.”
Leng Jiu glanced at him, “Minister, you may go.”
Gong Yuwei cupped his hands in salute before turning to leave.
Once he was far away, Leng Jiu couldn’t help but laugh. She walked back to her palace, unable to suppress the smile on her face.
Lu Chang was puzzled, “What’s so funny about the Chancellor?”
Leng Jiu waved her hand, “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you!”
Just as she stepped into her palace, she saw a guest with an unfriendly expression. Leng Jiu dismissed Lu Chang and the others, walked up, and pinched the face that looked abandoned, “What’s wrong? Why the long face as soon as you arrive?”
Hua Jinzhi glared at her, “I snuck over to see you, and you were chatting and laughing with that ice block Gong Yuwei. Do you have any conscience?”
Leng Jiu was speechless. She never had a conscience, so why did they all come questioning her? She flicked his forehead, “Speak properly. Don’t act like you’ve swallowed gunpowder. If you want to throw a tantrum, get out and find a place to do it. I’m not your punching bag!”
Hua Jinzhi stared at her for a while before storming off angrily. Leng Jiu was stunned for a long time before coming back to her senses. What nerve did he touch?
A young maid brought over a cage, “Empress Dowager, this was just delivered by Mr. Hua!”
Leng Jiu looked at the cage covered with a black cloth. She lifted the cloth to find a fluffy squirrel with rare black and white fur. The small round body and the long, bushy tail, with its round, shiny eyes staring at her, were on full alert, its fur puffed up. Even though animals don’t have expressions, she felt it looked exactly like Hua Jinzhi after swallowing gunpowder. Truly, people gift things that resemble themselves!
Lu Chang walked in and was amazed, “Aren’t squirrels supposed to have brown fur? How can it be black and white?”
Leng Jiu removed the black cloth and used a hairpin to tease it. The squirrel puffed up even more and extended a paw to bat at the hairpin, looking very angry. Leng Jiu found it even more amusing, “How could something so rare be sent to me? It’s so adorable!”
Lu Chang agreed, “If the Empress Dowager likes it, why not keep it? It would be fun to tease it sometimes.”
Leng Jiu shook her head, “No need! Let it go!”
“Why?” Lu Chang realized his question was inappropriate and quickly added, “This squirrel is so rare. How could the Empress Dowager bear to let it go?”
Leng Jiu teased it again and said, “Just because I like something doesn’t mean it must belong to me. It’s a creature of the wild and should live freely. How could I confine it here for my own selfish reasons?”
Lu Chang chuckled, “Your servant is dull, but the Empress Dowager’s magnanimity is beyond reach!”
Leng Jiu ignored his flattery. She removed the bamboo strip from the cage and opened the small door, poking its chubby bottom with the hairpin, “Go on!”
The little squirrel looked at her, seemingly in disbelief that she would let it go.
Leng Jiu poked it again, threatening, “If you don’t leave, I’ll make squirrel soup tonight! Your fur looks warm; I’ll make a scarf out of it!”
The little squirrel seemed to understand, shaking itself before leaping out of the cage. It quickly ran to the window, jumped onto a chair, then to the windowsill, pausing to look back at Leng Jiu. Seeing she wasn’t chasing, it tilted its head suspiciously before finally jumping out of the window, disappearing from sight.
Lu Chang watched in amazement, “This little thing seems very intelligent?”
Leng Jiu returned the hairpin to her hair, smiling, “All living creatures have a spirit. If you mean no harm, they can feel it!”
She waved her hand, feeling a bit lazy, and went back to bed. The days were too boring; besides sleeping, she couldn’t find anything else to do.
Leng Jiu fell into a hazy sleep. In her drowsiness, she felt something brush against her face. She raised her hand to wave it away, feeling something fall to the ground but was too sleepy to open her eyes. Soon, the thing came back, even more insistent, touching her nose and making it itch until she sneezed. Now she couldn’t stay asleep even if she wanted to!
Annoyed, she glared and saw a round body with two shiny black eyes. The culprit was evidently the long tail behind it! She lay back in bed, side-eyeing the little squirrel, “Didn’t I set you free? Why did you come back?”
The little squirrel stood up, crossing its paws over its chest and raising its head arrogantly, looking exactly like a haughty Hua Jinzhi! Leng Jiu helplessly tapped its forehead, “Alright, you really are like him!”
She lifted the blanket slightly, “I want to sleep a bit more. Either get in and sleep with me or wait quietly. Don’t disturb me, or I’ll throw you out!”
The little squirrel’s eyes darted around before it chose to crawl under the blanket, settling at her chest, wrapping its tail around itself. Leng Jiu’s eyelid twitched, feeling speechless, “So, it’s a lecherous squirrel too!”
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I feel like the squirrel stole the show, haha. Don’t you think a squirrel like this is more lovable? The squirrel hasn’t been named yet. Everyone, use your imagination and suggest a name!