Jiu Zhang Ji: The Daily Life of the Reborn Daughter

Chapter 208: Happy Birthday, A-Li

When they walked out of the imperial study, Yu Jingyan's carriage was waiting for them: "Ajing, aren't you riding a horse today?" She had ridden Wuzong here in the morning. Was she going to let Wuzong stay here overnight?

"Wuzong suddenly became a little irritable. He has been taken back by the little brat in your house." Qiao Lili felt sorry for Erniu, who was brought back from Shijia Village, for leaving home at such a young age, so she would occasionally pay more attention to him. Yu Jingyan inexplicably developed some hostility towards him, not knowing whether he was too disdainful to remember him or really didn't know. He always called Shi Erniu a little brat.

Wuzong is old and it is inevitable that he has some illnesses, but Qiao Lili didn't take it seriously and wanted to go see him after returning home.

The two got in the car, where the tea was boiling. Yu Jingyan rolled up his sleeves and poured a cup of tea for Qiao Lili and himself. Qiao Lili held the cup with both hands and took a deep breath of the fragrance of the tea. The crisp aroma of the tea leaves mixed with the sweet aroma of jasmine lifted her spirits. "I'm really craving this." She took a sip and closed her eyes to savor it.

"You have to get up so early every day to attend court. It's really hard for you. Other girls sleep until noon before getting up." Yu Jingyan felt distressed as he looked at the little girl in front of him who was sipping tea. Her little expression was so adorable that he wanted to hold her in his arms and give her a kiss.

However, the curtain of the carriage opened and closed as the carriage moved forward, and they could see the eunuchs and palace maids standing on the roadside saluting to them, because they also saw who was in the carriage.

"How about we change the time of the morning court?" Yu Jingyan said, "In fact, the ministers are also very hard-working."

Qiao Lili closed her eyes and savored the fragrant tea, her mind following Yu Jingyan's suggestion to think about changing the time. What place was that? She vaguely remembered that people only went to work at noon, and there was a lot of work to do.

She opened her eyes quickly: "I think it's okay. This way, the court officials can sleep well, and they can also have a hot breakfast at home before going to court. They don't have to get up early and go to court on an empty stomach. Over time, their bodies will become depleted. Therefore, the more important the officials, the shorter their lifespans."

"Then, will father agree?" Qiao Lili put down the cup and began to think about how to carry out this matter.

His father, Yu Jingyan thought, would definitely agree with it. What's the big deal about going to court at night? He would be happier if he didn't have to go to court. "Think about my mother, and you'll know whether my father will agree."

Qiao Lili blushed. She couldn't say that, even though she knew it very well.

Yu Jingyan watched as a blush slowly crept up little Ali's cheeks, making her face, which was a little pale due to fatigue, look as if it was painted with rouge. In an instant, he knew that he had said the wrong thing. This little Ali was too shy. That was not what he meant.

"I mean my father...he and my mother..." Yu Jingyan shut up. He felt that the more he explained, the less clear it seemed.

Fortunately, Qiao Lili changed the subject in time.

"Brother Ajing, Zhao Luxi has never told her father about her acquaintance with me." This girl is really tight-lipped.

"She might be afraid of causing trouble for you." Yu Jingyan had met Zhao Luxi more than once, but they had never spoken. "Maybe she herself is afraid of trouble."

"Yes, I guess she is on guard against her stepmother. If her stepmother knows about this relationship, she may come to me for begging. It will be troublesome whether she begs me or not." The biological mother will consider the child's own situation, but the stepmother will of course only consider her vested interests.

The carriage moved along the palace road and soon left the palace. The two chatted leisurely. When Qiao Lili finished her tea, Yu Jingyan refilled her cup. However, after peeling more than a dozen dried fruits, he stopped peeling them for her, fearing that she would get sick of eating too much and would not be able to eat soon.

Then, Yu Jingyan washed his hands and said, "Ali, your hair is a little messy after leaning against the carriage. Let me fix it for you." Qiao Lili reached out to touch it and felt it was okay. However, Yu Jingyan didn't care what she said and took out a comb, hair oil and other things from the treasure cabinet in the carriage.

Qiao Lili thought, maybe Brother Jing just wanted to put her hair up, she had to satisfy this need, she turned around, leaned on Yu Jingyan's knees, closed her eyes and let him do whatever he wanted. Yu Jingyan took off the hairpins, jewelry, and even the earrings, and put them away, and re-combed her hair into a flying fairy bun.

Qiao Lili thought that this bun might be quite complicated and took quite some time to make. She didn't have a bronze mirror in her hand, and she didn't know whether her brother A Jing's bun looked good or not, nor did she notice that Yu Jingyan only bund her hair but didn't let her wear any jewelry.

Just when Qiao Lili felt that the journey back home today was a bit far and would take a long time, the carriage stopped. Yu Jingyan jumped out first, then turned around to help Qiao Lili get off. After Qiao Lili's feet landed on the ground, she looked up and saw that this was the outer courtyard of the Duke Dingguo's Mansion. There were flowers in full bloom and lights and decorations, as if there was some happy event. In a blink of an eye, she seemed to see two pots of black chrysanthemums, a place she had never been to before.

While she was still in a daze, a group of people came out of the house one after another, each holding a bouquet of flowers. The one running in the front was Su Shiyun. She stuffed a bunch of daisies into Qiao Lili's arms and said, "Sister Lili, I wish you eternal youth and good health!"

In her hand, Xiao Wenchu ​​held a bunch of red and yellow chrysanthemums named Golden Dragon Playing with Phoenix. She followed Su Shiyun and said, "Lili, I wish you will be in full bloom every day and be successful every year."

Then came Chen Ruxin, who was holding a dahlia. She placed the flower in Qiao Lili's arms and said, "I wish you will be as beautiful as a flower and as beautiful as jade every year."

Zhao Luxi was holding a bunch of hibiscus flowers. She said, "I wish you a happy birthday and happiness every year."

Behind them came Caiqin, Caiwei, Caiqi, Caixing, Caige, and Huiming, all holding flowers. None of them gave way to the other and all of them came rushing over, saying in unison, "Happy birthday, young lady, and a carefree youth!"

"Miss, you were born on a good day. I wish you all the best."

"I wish Miss a peaceful spring every year, and may you always be as pretty as a beauty when we meet."

"May the young lady live forever, and may flowers bloom every year."

"May the young lady always look as beautiful as ever, with flowers in her arms, year after year."

.......

Then flowers of all colors and kinds filled Qiao Lili's arms.

Qiao Lili realized at this moment that today was her birthday. She had been thinking about it a few days ago, but had forgotten about it when the day approached. At this moment, Yu Jingyan, who had been missing for a quarter of an hour, came over with a very exquisite rosewood box.

He took the flowers from Qiao Lili's arms and gave them to the maids to put them in. Then, he opened the box in his hand and put the things inside on her one by one, the peach blossom hairpin, peach blossom hairpin, peach blossom earrings, and finally a peach blossom pendant on the gold necklace on Qiao Lili's chest.

Qiao Lili lowered her head and watched Yu Jingyan's hands clumsily open the buckle of the gold necklace. There were many tiny wounds on his slender jade-like hands. Then she looked at the jade hanging on his chest. The marks of carving were not as delicate as those of jade worn normally. Suddenly, she understood.

Did he prepare these things personally since he wasn't staying in Duke Dingguo's Mansion these days?

The clothes Qiao Lili wore today were changed after the court was dismissed. At that time, Xiao Zhangzi accidentally touched the inkstone and a little ink splashed on her sleeve. Yu Jingyan took out a new dress for her to change into, saying that it happened to be embroidered by the embroiderer in the palace and was ready to be given to her.

It was a peach pink brocade long skirt, with a Xiangfei blue flowing cloud brocade long gown over it. On the two pieces of clothing, large peach blossoms and flower buds were interlaced, which was extremely gorgeous. To match the clothes, it also came with a pair of rose-red sheepskin boots. After Qiao Lili put them on, she felt very beautiful. Now with these crystal clear peach jade jewelry, she looked like a peach fairy walking out of peach blossoms.

Yu Jingyan did not hide his amazement. He held Qiao Lili's hand and said, "Ali, the golden shuttle will tie up your black hair, and the silver shuttle will draw your black eyebrows. One gift for each year, one year of joy. We will be together every day and never leave each other."

"Happy birthday, Ali."