Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Chance Encounter (4)
"Please sit down and take a rest." Xiao Yanzheng said, then turned to the maid beside her and said, "Go back and bring my square woolen blanket." The little maid responded and left, and Xiao Yanzheng said to Xiqiu, "I apologize for earlier, I truly forgot, does it still hurt now?"
Xiqiu shook her head and said, "It’s fine, it’s much better now!" As she spoke, she took a sip of tea and raised her eyebrows at Xiao Yanzheng, "Longjing?" She remembered Xiao Yanzheng liked black tea, this Longjing must have been prepared for her.
"How’s the taste? I got it at Qingming and have kept it without drinking, later knowing you like Longjing, I kept it till now. I don’t know if the taste has changed. If you find it unsatisfactory, I can get you another tea?"
Xiqiu smiled and waved her hand, saying, "The taste hasn’t changed, no need to switch." With such seriousness, Xiqiu tilted her head to look at Xiao Yanzheng, "Are you here to admire the plums and snow?" The wind in the woods was not small.
"Not entirely, I just wanted to find a place to talk to you, after thinking, this place seemed most fitting." Xiao Yanzheng held Xiqiu’s hand across the table and said, "Yesterday afternoon, my second brother went out and hasn’t returned yet."
Xiao Yanyi spent the night out? Xiqiu showed a surprised expression, "Did something happen?"
"I don’t know either, it should be about our elder brother’s matter." She drooped her head, "The court said they would send troops, but there’s been no action; Fujian’s situation is chaotic, claiming it’s Eighth Prince’s remaining forces. But Eighth Prince passed away many years ago, why are there remnants now? Clearly, there are people in the court causing trouble! The Emperor is truly muddleheaded, with two Princes openly and secretly fighting, yet he hesitates to decide on the Crown Prince. It’s fine for him but harms others."
Xiqiu agreed with her, believing that everything boils down to the issue of the Crown Prince’s position; with two equally matched Princes in the court, each cultivated support over the years. An undecided choice plunges the country into instability, but even if the Emperor decides now, it might only serve as a trigger to intensify conflicts, in her view the situation is like an arrow on the bowstring, ready to be released.
She advised Xiao Yanzheng, "The Marquis is a great military talent, unparalleled in Great Zhou; regardless of which Prince ascends, his talents will surely be needed, so even with Fujian’s deep waters, nobody would dare lay a finger on the Marquis!"
Xiao Yanzheng’s eyes lit up, looking at Xiqiu and said, "You’re right, my eldest brother loved studying military strategy since young, his martial arts were deeply learned from our father, so ordinary people can hardly get close to him, he surely will be fine!" Xiao Yanzheng said with a gleeful smile and stood up, full of bright laughter in her eyes, "Fourth brother always respected elder brother, once our elder brother returns, he will surely come back, and then we can all reunite!"
Still possessing a youthful heart, Xiqiu looked at her and smiled. The maid who went to fetch the blanket returned, and Xiao Yanzheng laid the thick blanket on Xiqiu’s lap, smiling at her, "I felt quite uneasy, worried about elder brother’s safety and unable to find fourth brother, fortunately, you came and talking to you made me feel much better." She held Xiqiu’s hand with a smile in her eyes, "Xiqiu, did you know when I was little, I wished for elder brother to teach me martial arts, but due to health reasons, my mother wouldn’t let me, so I secretly followed my elder and fourth brothers to learn. Would you like to see? I still remember a set of boxing techniques."
Xiqiu saw that she was very excited, so she smiled, very interested and said, "Sure! At home, I’ve only seen my third brother practice boxing, I’ve never seen a girl practicing!"
"I’ll show you." As Xiao Yanzheng said, she lifted her skirt hem and tucked it in her waist, was about to take off her overcoat and jiaao, her maid was shocked that their miss could actually box, frozen in surprise realizing Xiao Yanzheng was taking off her clothes, nervously tried to stop her, "My lady, you can practice boxing but mustn’t take off your clothes, if you catch a cold, what will you do?"
Xiao Yanzheng waved her hand nonchalantly, "I’m fine." Unfazed by the maid’s objection, she stubbornly took off her clothes, and then rolled up her sleeves to start boxing, her body was slender and graceful, full of youthful vitality in her brows and eyes. Her movements with only two repeated sets were not impressive, yet her waist and leg movements were uniquely charming, Xiqiu watched and praised, "So beautiful!"
Xiao Yanzheng frowned, glaring at Xiqiu, "How is it beautiful? Isn’t it supposed to be majestic?"
Xiqiu hid her laugh behind her sleeve, "Yes, yes, very majestic!" After she spoke, the nearby maidservants couldn’t help but laugh too, they hadn’t seen such lively and cheerful second miss before, surprised but filled with joy at the sight.
Xiao Yanzheng, having had her fun, began running around the woods, even Xiqiu couldn’t help but worry about her health, "You should rest a bit, don’t tire yourself." As soon as she spoke, she saw Xiao Yanzheng stumble and stop, everyone exclaimed and quickly ran towards her, Xiqiu also broke out in a cold sweat.
"I’m fine!" Xiao Yanzheng waved her hand, "It’s just my hair caught by a branch, no need to be so tense." She said as she pushed through the crowd, walking towards Xiqiu, at this moment Xiqiu saw that her hair had been caught and disheveled, messily piled on her head, she laughed, "Quickly tidy your hair!"
Her maid was also worried, Xiao Yanzheng turned to the maid and instructed, "Pingqiao, go get my dressing box, I’ll fix my hair right here."
Pingqiao looked at Xiao Yanzheng with difficulty, replied, "Miss, you should follow me and change your clothes, it’s windy here, your jacket is all wet, if you catch a cold, what then!" After speaking, Xiao Yanzheng also noticed that her back was sweaty and wet. Slightly embarrassed, she let Pingqiao help her put on clothes and smiled, "It’s fine, don’t make a big deal of it."
"You’d better change your clothes, it’s windy here!" Xiqiu smiled and said, "I feel cold too, why don’t we go back first." Seeing Xiao Yanzheng looking very pleased, she added, "I won’t leave, I’ll wait for you here, just hurry and come back!"
"Okay!" Xiao Yanzheng smiled and said, "Wait for me a moment, I’ll be back." She pointed at a group of birch trees opposite the Plum Garden, "If you feel cold, there’s a pavilion, with canvas curtains all around, you can go inside to shelter from the wind. I’ll have someone set up a furnace inside, how about we play chess inside when I return? You’d just be cooped up in the room back home, it’s a rare fine day, let’s enjoy and relax here together."
Xiqiu saw the birch copse to the right of Lingbo Pavilion and nodded, "I understand, you go on!"
Xiao Yanzheng, still worried, gave a few more instructions, then hurried back with the maidservant.
Sixing rubbed her hands together and approached Xiqiu, "Miss, Second Miss going back and forth will take some time, let me accompany you to sit in that pavilion over there!" Here, the snow weighed down the red plums, the scenery was beautiful but the wind blew strongly, Second Miss didn’t notice, but their miss now couldn’t bear the cold, if sitting here, by evening her just-recovered knee might swell again.