The moment they heard the accent of North Di, people in this room got alert immediately. Now though Prince Saichun had married the Grand Prince Sima Ruo, the relationship between Qi and North Di was still intense and weak due to the assassination happening in the paddock. Besides, they did not know how Wanyan Su would report the condition about Qi when he came back to North Di. But according to the troop’s condition in Luguan, the relationship between the two countries was in a good trend.
When talking about Luguan, Qin Yunuan thought about the deal Wanyan Su talked about last time. It was said that Wanyan Su would be transferred from the Royal City of North Di to guard the border Luguan, so Qin Yunuan would gain a new smooth channel of earning money in North Di. Yes, finally, Qin Yunuan chose to collaborate with Wanyan Su. She had no result in refusing to earn money. And even if the issue was revealed, she had enough confidence to withdraw.
Now the noise outside was louder. A maidservant with the accent of North Di said seriously, “We like your cakes and wants to learn how to cook it. She wants to cook the cakes for the Queen Mother as the birthday present. But how dare you become so impolite! Don’t you feel frightened to be beheaded one by one?”
People from North Di were wilder, and it was not so weird for this maidservant to say something about killing casually.
The window of the private room was half-opened. Qin Yunuan leaned back to Leng Changxi and observed the condition in the hall. From this clear visual angle, Qin Yunuan could see Princess Saichun in Han costume. No, now she should be called the Grand Prince’s Wife. With her pretty lips and eyebrows, this refreshed lady got her mouth corners down. Prince Saichun was such a lady who expressed all of her emotions on her face. She was frank, but she would be very dangerous in this complicated palace.
The Grand Prince Sima Ruo also came. He was just observing the quarrel between the maidservants of Princess Saichun and the master of the First Boite of the Royal City and did not get involved. He wore white clothes with a low-key but luxurious gold-thread-embroidering waist belt. A kind of inconspicuous sadness could be found in his eyes, which was like the sorrow of scholars’ concern about the country. Sima Ruo married a woman he didn’t love, but as a political tool, he behaved so calmly unexpectedly.
But except for silence, he had no other choice.
Facing the arrogant questions from the maidservant of Princess Saichun, the master was in a dilemma. A guest aside could not help but chip in, “You guys from North Di have no right to learn the cake cooking of Qi. You are wild and barbaric by nature, and you will never understand the inner thoughts of the Central Plains in Qi. Besides, you will send the secret recipe to North Di after you learn it.”
This man was absolutely an inexperienced noble guy, who was so boastful.
“What do you mean?” Saichun pushed the maidservants away and stared at the gossiping middle-aged man, “There is no need for our North Di to learn the cooking of Qi. We have Kumiss, buttered tea and roasted lamb. Unlike the people in Qi, we do not use chopsticks to have meals. So pretentious you people from Qi are.”
“Humph,” Another middle-aged woman added, “If so, why do you, a lady from North Di, want to learn our cooking? You just want to learn it to flatter the Queen Mother of Qi. North Di has been battling with Qi for many years. I think your internal affairs must be in a mess earlier. Or, why do you surrender to make the imperial matrimony for peace with us?”
In a flash, a teacup was thrown toward the face of Saichun, which was so fast unexpectedly.
But when the teacup was one palm away from the head of Saichun, a powerful big hand suddenly appeared and held stably the teacup, which was used as a hidden weapon. The big hand withdrew and put the teacup on the table slowly. And then the person touched his black mask.
Qin Yunuan, standing behind Leng Changxi, recognized the short guy among many people, who still kept the cast position of attacking Saichun. Qin Yunuan squinted slightly. Before the short guy did it, Leng Changxi had found something unusual. Although Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi hadn’t much connection with Saichun, Saichun would have caused a big sensation according to her characteristics if the teacup had not been stopped.
Qin Yunuan glanced at the people present slowly and found that they looked hesitant except the two people who shouted just now. They felt scared about the position of the Grand Prince’s Wife and hated the constant wars between North Di and Qi, which had once caused the miserable life of Qi people.
“The words of the two noblemen are reasonable,” Qin Yunuan smiled and stepped forward with Leng Changxi arm in arm, “But I still think that now Qi and North Di has signed the agreement and established the diplomatic relationship. So, we are not enemies no longer, and hatred should not last for so long. Princess Saichun left her hometown and went to Qi, and now she is our guest. Besides, she has married our Grand Prince, so she is our family. I believe Princess Saichun would know her position even if the war between Qi and North Di broke out again.” When Qin Yunuan said the last sentence, she turned to Saichun slowly with a soft smile, “Princess, am I right?”
The war between Qi and North Di broke out again? Princess Saichun stunned and did not answer. The silent Sima Ruo aside suddenly said in a cold voice, “Since Saichun became my wife, there would have no princess of North Di. And our marriage was granted by the emperor,” Sima Ruo glanced at the two people shouting just now with cold and misty eyes. His voice turned gloomy suddenly, “You two are suspecting the decision made by the emperor?”
No one in this world dared to suspect the emperor.
“No. No.”
“Yes, I dared not oppose the emperor absolutely.”
“Then, you should apologize to the Grand Prince’s Wife!” Qin Yunuan followed Sima Ruo’s words, and then she glimpsed at the short guy distantly who threw the teacup, “And you, attacked the imperial family member. According to the law of Qi, you will be exiled to the border.”
The three people got pale immediately. The timid one felt frightened and was about to kneel, but Saichun waved her hands to stop him, “Fine, fine. Men in our grassland will never kneel to women. You guys in Central Plains are so weak. Don’t kneel.”
Qin Yunuan smiled, “Be quick! Thank the grace of the Grand Prince’s Wife.”
The three people stunned and then understood suddenly. They nodded and expressed their thanks. And then they left quickly.
Qin Yunuan saw that and then turned back to see the frank and childish Saichun. She knew that the troublesome princess had a rare kind heart, actually. Though she always said crazy words, she had a good heart indeed.
Saichun raised her eyebrows and stared at Qin Yunuan, and then she looked at Leng Changxi who helped stop the attack of the teacup. She said proudly with a smile, “See? I know you care about me, my Grand General. Though you refused me in the paddock, now you really care about me.”
Saichun said it out in such a public occasion, even in front of Sima Ruo and Qin Yunuan.
Leng Changxi glimpsed at Sima Ruo lightly and found that Sima Ruo was so calm about this. Leng Changxi was familiar with Sima Ruo to some extent. Sima Ruo disliked the scholarly honors or official ranks and hated seeking the title of the crown prince, which was ordered by Imperial Concubine Yun. But he was forced to be utilized and trapped into the political dispute, which had caused him so desperate. He had no more emotions to this Grand Prince’s Wife who was granted to him. He could not change anything, whether he liked her or not.
Saichun still smiled proudly. Leng Changxi just picked up the teacup slowly and said patiently, “This teacup was made in Wuyun Town. The whole set consists of twelve, which was very valuable. If one of them were broken, the rest of the whole set would be penniless. I just don’t want to waste this teacup.”
Saichun turned unhappy immediately, but Sima Ruo suddenly came to his sense.
“We shall go.” Sima Ruo said suddenly. He bowed to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. And then, he left and ordered the maidservants to take Saichun away.
In the evening, Leng Changi read the archives for the whole night. All of these were the testimonies of the relevant people after the fire of Weiyang Palace ten years ago. He felt sick about his eyes and then turned his head, staring at Qin Yunuan aside who was picking the embroidering patterns. She looked so pretty and fair, like a peeled litchi, which attracted people to have a taste.
The eyes of Leng Changxi turned more enthusiastic, which made Qin Yunuan, who was embroidering, feel absent-minded.
“What?” Qin Yunuan stopped embroidering and turned to look at Leng Changxi, “Do you agree with the issue about Minister Liu?”
Leng Changxi lowered his mouth corners, “You have remembered the address of the old imperial maidservant he said. I’ll handle her son’s hatred when I am free.”
“I do not understand one thing,” Qin Yunuan said with her wise eyes, “It’s about the issue of Princess Saichun this afternoon. There were so many people in the big hall. Why do they use valuable teacups? I know little about porcelain, I can check it in part. The teacup can’t be generated in Wuyun Town.”
“You are right,” Leng Changxi shrugged his shoulder, “I guess that the master bought it wholesale from the small shops in the alley of East Street. But it doesn’t matter that it was or not. It would be fine if someone got me at that time.”
Qin Yunuan puckered her mouth, “I know. You said that for the Grand Prince. You wanted him to know that he had been trapped deep into the struggle even if he did not struggle. If he did nothing, many people would be involved due to his collapse. Many people would be dead due to him, just like the twelve teacups.”
Leng Changxi laughed and stepped closer. And then his lips touched the ear of Qin Yunuan, “Nuan, you are so smart. So this smart girl, do you know what I am going to do with you next?”
