Farewell Flower Festival

After the carriage stopped at the gate of a big house, Chao Yan pulled aside the curtain and saw a row of maids and servants standing at the gate. She was a little shocked and thought, do they need so many servants?

After getting off the carriage, Chao Yan was startled again by a group of people speaking in unison.

"Welcome His Royal Highness Prince Ling~"

After entering the mansion, Eunuch Wu first took Mu Tianling and Chaoyan around, and then went to Mu Tianling's residence. The yard was very spacious. Chaoyan said that she also wanted to live in a yard alone, so Eunuch Wu took her to the small yard at the back, which was only separated from Mu Tianling's residence by a wall. There was a row of green bamboos planted in it, and there was also a pergola and a swing in the small yard, which looked very comfortable.

She liked the interior layout very much, especially the rows of neatly arranged green bamboos, which made people feel happy just by looking at them.

Then a servant came to report to Eunuch Wu that Concubine Yin had sent two maids to serve. Chaoyan was a little surprised. She didn't expect Concubine Yin to send anyone over. She had never seen her send anyone to deliver anything when she was in the cold palace before.

When Eunuch Wu brought two maids to see Mu Tianling, Chao Yan was also there. She was simply curious about what the two looked like.

Both of them had outstanding looks, as if they were carefully selected. Chao Yan subconsciously wanted to look in the mirror to see if her makeup was smudged or her hair was messy, and her desire to win was aroused.

"My name is Furong," "My name is Hongmei," the two of them bowed politely, "Greetings, Your Highness." Their voices were graceful and soft, just like the melodious and sweet voice of a yellow oriole. Mu Tianling's sight fell on the maid named Hongmei, and Chaoyan complained in his heart that men really fall in love with every girl they meet.

"Your name is Hongmei?"

"Your Highness, yes."

"Keep your head up."

Hongmei slowly raised her head, and her autumn-water eyes looked at Mu Tianling with tenderness.

As expected, he has some dirty thoughts, Chaoyan complained in her heart.

"You look good. You can stay and serve me." Mu Tianling said.

Hongmei nodded shyly.

Chaoyan felt a surge of anger in her heart and turned away. Mu Tianling glanced at her back and a smile flashed across his lips. After coming out, she stomped her feet hard, as if she wanted to crush the ground in the yard. After calming down, she saw that Eunuch Wu only brought Furong out. She looked into the house and left without looking back.

After Eunuch Wu settled Furong down, he went to look for Chaoyan, but she was not at her residence. He asked the servants in the mansion, and a boy said that he seemed to have seen her go out. Eunuch Wu then asked the gatekeeper, and then went out to look for her.

Chao Yan walked aimlessly on the street for a while, and her attention was gradually attracted by the pedestrians on the street and the teahouses and taverns on both sides. There were all kinds of people, wearing different styles of clothes and having different styles of buns, as if she was on the set of a costume drama.

An enticing aroma wafted over, and Chaoyan followed the scent and arrived in front of a small stall.

The boss was cooking wontons. There were three or four small tables nearby, two of which already had guests sitting at them. She also sat down at an empty table, and while waiting for her wontons, she watched the busy streets in the sunset, putting all her worries behind her.

Under the setting sun, a slender figure walked towards her. Chao Yan was distracted and thought she saw Mu Tianling. She was inexplicably excited. After seeing the other person's face clearly, she immediately turned her head away and muttered in her heart: You didn't see me, you didn't see me, you didn't see me...

When she glanced back quietly, the other person was already sitting on the small bench opposite.

"Why did you run out alone? Aren't you afraid of being kidnapped?" Han Lie asked, looking at her with a pair of fox eyes with a smile, as if to seduce her to do something bad. Chaoyan said, "I'm in a bad mood, don't bother me." Han Lie said, "The Fourth Prince doesn't want you anymore?" Chaoyan stood up and moved to another empty table, and Han Lie followed.

The boss brought a bowl of steaming wontons and placed it in front of Chao Yan, and asked Han Lie if he wanted a bowl of wontons as well. He took out a gold ingot from his pocket and threw it to the boss, "From now on, this girl won't have to pay for her meals."

Seeing Chaoyan eating with relish, Han Lie also ordered a bowl of wontons. Before eating, he said that he had never eaten at such a roadside stall before, and today was the first time. Chaoyan said that one should not talk while eating or sleeping.

"Xiao Lian," Chaoyan heard someone calling her, it sounded like Eunuch Wu's voice. She turned around and saw that it was really Eunuch Wu.

Eunuch Wu came to take her back. Chaoyan buried her head in eating wontons without saying a word, and even looked a little angry.

"If Xiao Lianzi doesn't want to go back, why don't you stay at my place?" Han Lie curled his lips and revealed a frivolous smile, "Let's-" Chao Yan stood up and said, "Uncle, let's go back."

After Chaoyan left, Han Lie also left. He alone didn't think the wontons were delicious.

……

On the way, Eunuch Wu told Chaoyan that Mei Fei's favorite flower during her lifetime was the red plum, and the tree stumps in the yard were all chopped down red plum trees. Concubine Yin also sent a maid named Hongmei. Was it intentional or a coincidence?

"If you don't like it, just change your name." Chao Yan muttered.

Eunuch Wu smiled and said, "Xiao Lian really cares about Your Highness."

Chao Yan immediately denied it, "Who cares about him? I'm just afraid that he'll be cheated of money and sex. If he's cheated of sex, that's fine, but if he's cheated of money, who will give me the monthly salary?"

Eunuch Wu said, "Don't worry, Xiao Lian, His Highness will not be deceived by others."

Chao Yan: “…”

After returning, it was almost dark, Chaoyan returned to her own courtyard, and Eunuch Wu went to report to Mu Tianling. Hearing that someone was back, Mu Tianling felt relieved, although he didn't show it on his face.

The moon gradually climbed up to the treetops. Chaoyan lay on the bed, looking out the window with her eyes open. Her head was full of distracting thoughts and she couldn't fall asleep. After tossing and turning for a while, she decided to go out for a walk.

When she opened the door, the cool night air blew in her face. She felt that some of the distracting thoughts in her head were cleared away. When she looked up and saw Mu Tianling's residence in front of her, another distracting thought popped up in her mind: Is Hongmei still in the room?

She shook her head vigorously. It was none of her business and she was not related to him. Why should she care so much? Now she just had to think about saving money. When she saved enough, she would go out and start her own business and never serve tea and water to this guy again.

Although I thought so in my heart, I was still a little depressed. Chao Yan sat on the swing and swung casually, his eyes wandering between the stars and the moon above his head...

When she looked away, she found a figure in front of her. She looked up, then turned her face away and continued to swing on the swing with her feet.

"What are you doing here, Your Highness?" Chao Yan tried her best to make her tone sound casual. She didn't care if there was anyone else in this guy's room.

Mu Tianling also replied casually: "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk."

"If you can't sleep, why not let Miss Hongmei tell Your Highness a story?" Chaoyan regretted the moment she said this. She said something weird in a fit of anger. She looked up at the moon in the sky and pretended nothing had happened.

Mu Tianling looked down at her, then looked up at the moon in the sky and said, "The moonlight is nice."

Chaoyan: “…” Quite leisurely and elegant.

Mu Tianling asked casually, "Are you used to living here?"

Chao Yan replied casually, "Not bad."

The atmosphere was silent for a while, and Chao Yan asked, "What does your highness plan to do?"

Mu Tianling asked, "What should we do?"

Chao Yan said, "Eunuch Wu told me that the Empress' favorite flower is the red plum," She paused and asked, "Does the Imperial Concubine have any grievances with the Empress?"

Mu Tianling said, "Who knows? People's hearts are hidden in their stomachs. A person's goodness or badness is not written on his face." Chao Yan said, "Then Your Highness, can you tell whether it is written on my face?" Mu Tianling said, "I don't need to see it to know that you are not very smart."

What I mean is that I have the word stupid written on my face.

"Your Highness doesn't look very smart either."

"What did you say?"

"It's getting late, Your Highness, please go back to bed."

……