White Hedge Dream

Chapter 131 Night

It was warm inside, and there were newly delivered daffodils on the windowsill.

"My aunt just had it delivered." Chunxiang said with a smile, "It said it would be opened during the Chinese New Year."

Zhuang Li turned his head, looked at it, and nodded with a smile.

Chunhong stood in front of her, holding her freshly washed hands and applying the ointment, and whispered, "Young lady cut her hand today, please rub it more to avoid leaving scars."

Chunyue took the kitchen list handed to her by the maid and considered it. From time to time she turned to Zhuang Li and asked, "Can we only leave two meat dishes for dinner tonight and tomorrow morning?"

Zhuang Li hummed, sat on the soft bedding, took a sip of hot tea, looked at the busy maids in the room, and then looked at the swaying lanterns in the corridor.

"Isn't the prince back yet?" she asked.

I came back in the afternoon yesterday, and it’s already dark today and I haven’t seen anyone yet.

Is it in the study room outside?

Chunxiang shook her head hurriedly: "I haven't come back yet." She smiled again, "I heard from Jiang Yun that the prince is rushing to finish things in the past two days, so that he can stop going to the Yamen earlier."

…

…

When Zhou Jingyun walked out of the government office, the imperial street was brightly lit. Except for patrols, there were no officials coming and going.

Jiang Yun brought the horse over: "You're done today, don't you want to come tomorrow?"

Zhou Jingyun nodded.

"Then the young lady should be happy." Jiang Yun said with a smile, "The prince can stay with her at home."

Zhou Jingyun smiled and said, "She is also very busy."

I used to be busy writing and reading, but now I am busy cooperating with Dr. Zhang to make pharmaceuticals, and I am also busy going to my mother's place to study for the New Year.

She did not live a boring life.

Jiang Yun held the horse and said, "It's different to be busy on your own than to be busy with the prince."

Zhou Jingyun looked at him with a smile: "You know a lot."

Jiang Yun chuckled and was about to say something when a voice came from behind: "Your Majesty."

Zhou Jingyun's hand holding the reins paused, and he turned around to look. On the brightly lit street, a group of people came laughing and chatting. One of them waved to him, and the others also saw it and started talking.

"It's Prince Zhou."

"Master Shen Qin knows Prince Zhou?"

"What you are saying is ignorant. The prince was also in the presence of the late emperor back then. How could he not know Master Shen Qin?"

"I still remember when Master Shen played the piano with the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince was young at the time, his piano skills were very good."

Yes, they do know each other. All the old people in the court know that old acquaintances are now in the same court, so they just want to say hello.

"Master Shen Qin." Zhou Jingyun said calmly.

Shen Qing smiled and saluted: "Your Majesty, you are so busy that you didn't go back until so late."

"Your Majesty is really diligent." Others said from the sidelines, "I didn't even attend the banquet last night."

Zhou Jingyun said with a smile: "When I first arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, it was very different from the previous errands. I was afraid of living up to His Majesty's high expectations, so I didn't dare to slack off."

Everyone looked at Zhou Jingyun's face and praised him again and again.

"I just happened to meet the Crown Prince. I have a new guqin score and I will discuss it with the Crown Prince." Shen Qing said, taking out a book from his sleeve and looking at the government office aside, "Is it convenient for the Crown Prince?"

People nearby said, "It's too late at this time." "Master Shen Qin, don't delay the prince's return home." "It's a cold day."

Shen Qing smiled and didn't seem to hear it. He just opened the booklet and seemed eager to show it to Zhou Jingyun.

Zhou Jingyun looked over.

Following his gaze, something fell from the album. Others hurriedly looked at it and saw that it was a letter.

"Why is this in the music score?" Shen Qing rolled up his sleeves and hurriedly picked it up, picked it up and put it into his sleeves. Then he smiled at Zhou Jingyun and said, "I remember that the prince likes ancient music the most. I wonder if you are interested in taking a look."

Zhou Jingyun looked at him and nodded slowly: "Yes." He extended his hand to invite me, "Master Shen, please."

Shen Qing was not polite. He supported Qin and carried his robe and went inside.

Zhou Jingyun followed closely and went in.

The others shook their heads helplessly, "What a piano madman." "I was spoiled by the late emperor, and I didn't even look at him." "It seems that I haven't made any progress in the past few years." "Let's go, let's go, we don't understand these people who love piano." obsessed."

A group of people walked along Yu Street talking and laughing.

Jiang Yun stood outside the government office and frowned slightly. How could this Shen Qing stop the prince who wanted to go home?

It seems it's not just the music score.

He looked inside and called an attendant: "Go and tell your family that the prince has something to do and will be late when he returns home."

The attendant responded, mounted his horse and rode away.

There was still residual heat from the charcoal fire in the room, so it was not cold. As the lights were lit, it added a bit of warmth.

"It's a pity that the Crown Prince didn't go to the banquet last night." Shen Qing said with a smile, "If you saw Princess Jinyu, you would think it was someone else."

Although Zhou Jingyun didn't go, he had already heard that Princess Jinyu had invited Gong Zhang, the emperor's teacher when he was a prince, and Gong Zheng, the previously demoted prime minister, to come back.

It is said that Princess Jinyu, after being reprimanded by His Majesty, closed herself up to learn from her mistakes and reformed her ways. She wanted to do something useful to the country, so she dismissed the beautiful attendants and spent a lot of money to seek good ministers for His Majesty. Finally, she found these two, Princess Jinyu They came to ask for help in person, and due to their integrity, the gold and stone were opened. The two people, who were originally disappointed with the court and lived in seclusion, came to see your majesty again and were willing to help your majesty restore the prosperous age of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"The banquet was truly a joyful one for the king and his ministers, and the whole world was celebrating."

"Princess Jinyu was invited by the emperor to sit next to her. She spoke like an imperial sister and was very respectful."

Shen Qing laughed and said.

Zhou Jingyun stood indoors and looked at him with a calm expression: "So?"

"So?" Shen Qing looked at him and smiled, "Do you know who persuaded the princess to change her ways?" After saying that, she pointed at herself and said, "Me."

he? Zhou Jingyun looked at him without speaking.

Shen Qing frowned again and said to himself: "However, it's a bit unexpected. I thought the princess would have to think for a while, but I didn't expect to act so quickly and neatly."

And the whole person is very confident, confident that he has a chance to win.

This kind of self-confidence is not the kind that he can weave out of his dreams.

He actually underestimated this woman.

"So what?" Zhou Jingyun said.

What does it have to do with him.

Shen Qing smiled.

"No, it adds some excitement to the court. It's not lively enough." He said, sitting down in front of the table, relaxed and casual, "I will go to the Yang family later. The princess has reformed and will become the pillar of the court." Good assistant, how can the Queen only quarrel with His Majesty all day long?"

Speaking of which, he smiled coldly.

"They all say that the empress is a woman who is messing with the government. Now let them see what a real woman is who is messing with the government."

Zhou Jingyun probably understood that Shen Qing was trying to provoke Princess Jinyu and the Queen to fight for power. His expression remained calm and he looked at Shen Qing's sleeves: "What do these things you want to do have to do with my private message? Why did you steal my letter?"

Shen Qing smiled, took out the letter from his sleeve that seemed to have fallen to the ground accidentally, and placed it on the desk.

Under the light of the lights, Zhou Jingyun could see more clearly that it was from Zhuang Li to Mrs. Zhuang. Counting the days, the letter should be on Mrs. Zhuang's desk now.

Just now, it fell out of Shen Qing's music score.

This is why he did not hesitate to follow Shen Qing in to read the guqin score.

Obviously, Shen Qing didn't read the music score for him.

Shen Qing smiled: "I told you before that I was the one who was going to take Zhuang Li away. I am very familiar with Mr. Zhuang and his wife."

Very familiar

"So? You can hijack my things?" Zhou Jingyun said, without making any guesses or asking how he knew Mr. Zhuang and his wife. His voice was cold, "Shen Qing, I'm not familiar with you."

Shen Qing smiled: "Your Majesty, please be patient and don't be angry. I'm here today to explain to you."

He reached out and picked up the letter.

"Have you read the content of the letter?" Zhou Jingyun said coldly: "I'm not that nasty and mean."

Shen Qing was a little helpless: "The prince used to be stubborn, but now he has become so bad-tempered."

Zhou Jingyun smiled: "Not only do I have a bad temper, my character is not very good now. Do you think I won't sue the so-called Chiang Kai-shek party after I rescued him once?"

He said taking a step forward.

"Shen Qing, have you not recognized the reality yet, do you think you can still act unscrupulously?"

Shen Qing's eyes were a little gloomy: "Yes, without the queen, I really can't be unscrupulous." After he said that, he smiled again, "But fortunately, the queen is back."

Zhou Jingyun said coldly: "Please wake up."

Shen Qing smiled.

"Wake up, should I wake up, or should others wake up? Just like when dreaming, everyone thinks they are awake." He said, looking at Zhou Jingyun, "Do you know who Zhuang Li is that you brought home? ”

Zhou Jingyun said calmly: "I know what I am doing, I don't need you to remind me."

Shen Qing leaned on the chair: "I know you know that she is the daughter of Bai Xun, a fugitive from Chiang Kai-shek's party. Let me put it another way, is she really Zhuang Li?"

"Who is she and what does it have to do with you?" Zhou Jingyun was a little angry and reached out to grab the letter on the table.

Shen Qing reached out and held the other side of the letter: "Of course it matters, because she is the person we are all waiting for."

Zhou Jingyun looked at him: "Who is it?"

Shen Qing smiled strangely: "Didn't you see with your own eyes who she is?"

With his words, Zhou Jingyun felt that the fingers holding the letter stiffened, and his vision blurred. Instead of Shen Qing's face, he was back home. In the bedroom, a woman on the bed looked up at him.

That's not Zhuang Li's face, it's...

The woman smiled at him: "Zhou Jingyun."

Following this sound, Zhou Jingyun suddenly stepped back.

…

…

There were firecrackers in the yard, mixed with the laughter of the maids.

Zhuang Li raised his head and looked outside. Night had already enveloped the earth.

"Isn't the prince back yet?" she asked.

Chunyue said: "The prince sent someone to send a message back earlier, saying that he had something to do and would come back a little later." He then advised, "Young madam, please eat first. The prince will blame himself if he knows that you are hungry and waiting for him."

Zhuang Li smiled and said hello.

Chun Yue hurriedly ordered people to pass the food around. As soon as the food was put on the table, Chun Xiang rushed in happily, "The Crown Prince is back."

Zhuang Li hurriedly stood up and looked outside, but he didn't see Zhou Jingyun approaching behind him.

"The prince went to the study first." Chunhong added later, "Maybe he's not done yet. He'll be here soon."

….

….

The night was thick, and the lights were lighting up one by one in the study. Zhou Jingyun was sitting in front of the desk, feeling that his vision was still a little blurry, and Shen Qing's voice echoed in his ears.

"Is that Zhuang Li you see?"

"Do you know Zhuang Li?"

"Who is Zhuang Li? Is it Bai Li?"

"Do you know Bai Li?"

"How do you know she is Bai Li?"

"Does Bai Li know that he is Bai Li?"

"Does a white fence have to be a white fence?"

Who else could Baili be if he wasn't Baili? What he saw that morning was just his hallucination!

How did Shen Qing know about his hallucination?

But when asked again, Shen Qing stopped talking and just patted the letter on the table meaningfully, "She will tell you personally when the time comes."

She would tell him personally.

Who is Shen Qing talking about?

Zhou Jingyun clenched his hand and slammed the table. Feng'er, who was lighting other lights in the room, was startled.

"Master?" he asked.

The bright lights focused Zhou Jingyun's vision, and his eyes regained clarity. He looked at Feng'er and waved his hand, "You can go down."

Feng'er made a sound, placed an extra lamp in front of the table, and then withdrew.

Zhou Jingyun lowered his head and looked at the letter under his hand.

Shen Qing seemed to be sitting opposite him again, with a smile on his face.

"If you don't believe me, look at the letter and see who the writer thinks he is."

Zhou Jingyun looked at the letter and slowly stretched out his hand. The letter was still sealed. Because it was delivered by him, the seal was very simple and could be opened with just a tear...

"Is the prince here?"

A female voice sounded outside the door.

Zhou Jingyun stiffened, subconsciously took a book and covered the letter, then raised his head and saw Feng'er lifting the door curtain.

"Your Majesty, the young lady is here."

Outside the curtain, the man wrapped in a cloak looked over with a smile.

"Why are you here?" Zhou Jingyun stood up and said with a smile.

Zhuang Li walked in: "I've finished dinner and want to go to mother's place to see if you're done."

Zhou Jingyun said, hesitantly and said: "There is something else, so I won't go there. I'll go pay my respects to my mother tomorrow."

Zhuang Li said with a smile: "Then I won't stay any longer, it's over now."

Zhou Jingyun looked at her and nodded, then looked outside and saw two maids waiting, and said, "Bring a few more people."

Zhuang Li said, "I'm at home, not going out." After saying that, he looked at him and smiled, "Zhou Jingyun, I'll leave first."

Zhou Jingyun watched her go out with a smile, watched the curtains be lowered, and watched the room return to silence.

He slowly sat down, looked at the desk, slowly reached out and picked up the book, revealing the letter.

There seemed to be wind coming in from under the door curtain, the candlelight danced, and a figure appeared beside the table.

Zhuang Li was wrapped in a cloak and looked at Zhou Jingyun, whose eyes were blank, picking up a letter.

You don't need to get any closer to recognize it. It's the letter for help written by Mrs. Zhuang that should be on Mrs. Zhuang's desk at this moment.

Zhuang Li turned around and walked outside.

Feng'er blankly lifted the door curtain, and Chunyue Chunhong came forward with a dazed look.

"Young madam, walk slowly." Feng'er murmured.

I don't know if it was this sound or the sound of the door curtain. Zhou Jingyun, who was holding the letter, suddenly shuddered and stood up subconsciously.

The room was quiet and empty.

"Feng'er." He called.

Feng'er poked his head out from outside the curtain, "Your Majesty?"

"Young Madam..." Zhou Jingyun hesitated and asked, "Have you been here?"

Feng'er blinked in confusion: "Young Madam just left. Your Majesty, do you want to call Young Madam back?"

Gone, yes, Zhuang Li is here and has gone.

What's wrong with him? It always felt like Zhuang Li was still standing here looking at him just now.

Zhou Jingyun looked down at the letter in his hand.

No wonder, people say that being a thief has a guilty conscience.