Chapter 67 Abandoned Splendor Palace, Loquat Fruit

Chapter 67 Abandoned Splendor Palace, Loquat Fruit

Xie Yan turned around and walked towards the bamboo path.

Shen Nanzi looked at his expression, which was full of wariness.

His expression was not good. Perhaps he was unhappy that his private meeting had been disturbed, and he was probably going to take it out on her.

Thinking of what Xie Yan could do to her, Shen Nanzi instinctively shrank behind Xie Yu.

At the same time, Xie Yu also stood in front of Shen Nanzi.

The trust between the two made Xie Yan's eyes darken, and he felt an indescribable unease.

His hands, clasped behind his back, had nails digging unconsciously into his flesh, causing the surrounding area to turn white and lose its color.

Xue Qingning, standing behind him, looked at his fingers, a crack appearing on her solemn face.

“Third Brother,” Xie Yu said, his figure was very similar to Xie Yan’s, and he was in no way inferior to Xie Yan when standing in front of him.

"After passing the Abandoned Flower Hall, there is a pipa tree, which is now in the season of ripe fruit."

"I just took my sister-in-law to pick some to try!"

His tone was frank and open, his eyes bright and clear, without the slightest hint of evasion, as clear and bright as a stream.

Xie Yan looked at the two of them, his eyes filled with an inscrutable and unfathomable expression.

Shen Nanzi's gaze swept over Xie Yu's shoulder and landed on Xie Yan.

If he dares to make trouble for her, she... won't let him off the hook either.

Shen Nanzi met Xie Yan's gaze as he prepared for battle.

The moment she hid behind Xie Yu, his heart clenched.

It felt as if there was a pent-up resentment stuck in my chest.

The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed one could hear the other breathing clearly.

Xie Yan suddenly relaxed, a smile appeared on his lips, and a hint of interest flickered in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow.

"A loquat tree? Let's go take a look!"

Just moments before, tensions were high, but... this change... was as swift as a storm brewing, only to be followed by a sudden clear sky.

...

Xie Yan's transformation was somewhat inexplicable, giving one a sense of unease as if he had just pulled back from the brink.

Xie Yu paused for a moment, then smiled, "Third Brother, would you like to try some too?"

Xie Yan remained silent, but turned and walked with Xie Yu.

Shen Nanzi thought that his actions of turning a big problem into a small one and a small one into nothing were a bit unusual.

He had been radiating anger, clearly extremely displeased.

The flow was somewhat torn, like the kind of restraint that Xue Qingning had to endure!

Thinking about this, the tearing seems less strange and has a reasonable explanation.

Looking at Xie Yan's retreating figure, he really was infatuated!

For Xue Qingning's sake, his future path will surely be rugged and treacherous.

Truly admirable!

Shen Nanzi walked out of the bamboo forest and lagged behind at a leisurely pace.

She saw Xue Qingning standing there, her face pale, watching Xie Yan's retreating figure.

"Second sister-in-law, aren't you going?"

Compared to Shen Nanzi's composure and ease, Xue Qingning felt utterly ashamed and embarrassed.

She proudly held her neck slightly erect, standing silently beside Shen Nanzi.

The surrounding bamboo grove rustled, as if singing a mournful tune.

"Qihua Palace, does the Second Imperial Consort know the origin of this side hall?"

Shen Nanzi surveyed the dilapidated palace, which resembled a forgotten, cold palace.

It was even more damaged than when she first saw it.

Who lived there before? And what happened to her?

Xue Qingning remained calm, but there was a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She didn't know? It seems Xie Yan really doesn't like her.

Xue Qingning's previous gloom vanished, and a glimmer of life appeared in her calm eyes.

"This is where the emperor abandoned his women!"

"The Cold Palace?"

Xue Qingning hesitated for a moment, then said, "No."

What is that?

"The Palace of Sin".

Shen Nanzi looked out the window, as if she could see a woman imprisoned there.

"Who exactly is she?" Shen Nanzi had no memory of this place in her mind.

"A woman who was ordered to be killed by the emperor."

"Why did the Emperor want to eliminate her?" Shen Nanzi felt that she must be in great pain.

Xue Qingning: "This is a taboo in the palace. Everything about her existence has been erased, as if she had never existed in this world."

Taboos are things that are not allowed to be mentioned, as even words can cause trouble.

Shen Nanzi glanced at the Abandoned Flower Palace and walked to the other side.

Xie Yan and Xie Yu were already standing under a loquat tree.

Xie Yu reached out, but couldn't reach it. "We have to climb up there."

"Hmm!" Xie Yan turned around, glanced at Shen Nanzi and Xue Qingning who were approaching, and then hugged the tree trunk and started climbing up.

Seeing Xie Yan climb the tree, Xie Yu couldn't resist.

Before long, two noble princes appeared on the loquat tree.

The higher you go, the more orange and yellow the loquats become, and the sweeter they become.

"Come on!" Xie Yan and Xie Yu's voices rang out in unison from among the dense foliage.

Xue Qingning stood gracefully under the pipa tree, her hands empty, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Shen Nanzi hesitated for a moment, then grabbed her skirt and spread it open. She winked at Xue Qingning, signaling her to go to Xie Yan, and then walked to Xie Yu's tree branch.

"leave!"

Orange-yellow loquats fell into her skirt, and Shen Nanzi smiled.

Wow! It's huge!

Her voice was full of surprise and excitement, as if she had received an unexpected joy.

Her eyes were incredibly bright and lively, like a child who had just received a toy, innocent and adorable!

Little did she know, her actions instantly twisted Xie Yan's newly recovered mood.

He stood on a tree branch, holding loquats in his hand, his gaze fixed on Shen Nanzi's unfolded skirt.

Shouldn't she be catching his loquat? She's the Princess Consort of Jing, not the Sixth Prince's Consort!

Xie Yan felt an indescribable tightness in his chest, as if cotton wool was stuffed inside, preventing him from breathing.

He stood on tiptoe to pick the biggest and yellowest bunch of loquats in his hand.

However, no one came to help.

He felt like a fool at that moment, and frustration followed.

Shen Nanzi's voice continued.

"Wow! This bunch is huge, it must be the best bunch on the tree."

"Haha! This bunch has so many, a full ten!"

"That's enough! We can't finish this!"

"Alright! Haha! There's no more room!"

Her silvery laughter echoed in my ears; her happiness seemed so simple, so simple that it made me feel uneasy.

Xie Yan's previous interest vanished instantly; he knew that Xue Qingning would absolutely not use her skirt to catch the loquat fruit.

Rules and etiquette did not allow her to overstep even a little.

Even if she longed for it deeply, she would strictly restrain herself.

Traveling with him was the biggest mistake she ever made.

Xie Yan jumped down from the tree, the bunch of loquats in his hand particularly eye-catching.

He looked at Shen Nanzi's skirt, which was full and bulging, and a smile spread across her face.

Xie Yan withdrew his gaze and reached out his hand to Xue Qingning...

The two remained silent, and the bunch of loquats lay quietly in Xue Qingning's palm.

Xue Qingning looked at the loquat syrup in her palm, glanced at Shen Nanzi with some disdain, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

How could a man be attracted to a woman with such eccentric behavior?

To put it nicely, it's being unconventional; to put it bluntly, it's misconduct and reckless behavior.

"Alright! That's too much!" Shen Nanzi stopped Xie Yu from throwing any more of her skirt down.

Xie Yu had no choice but to jump down from the tree, glanced at Xie Yan, and asked, "Third Brother, why did you only pick one bunch?"

Xie Yan raised his eyelids, a faint emotion in them: "Just trying something new."

"That's enough!" Xue Qingning smiled gently, looking at the loquat in her palm.

"Give it to me!" Xie Yu grabbed the two front corners of the robe, forming a large bag, and said to Shen Nanzi, "It is indeed a bit too much."

"You just realized that?" Shen Nanzi smiled and flipped it over.

Xie Yan watched this scene, his eyes growing colder.

Their familiarity was suspicious, yet there was no obvious transgression.

Like a very close friend, open and honest, with no faults to be found.

Xie Yan said nothing more and turned to walk back.

Finally, Shen Nanzi ate loquats the whole way, her sweet voice filling the air.

"So sweet!"

"It's so delicious!"

"So juicy! And sweet!"

There's also Xie Yu's voice interspersed throughout.

Eat more!

"This should be better!"

"Have this one too."

Their voices were rather noisy compared to the silence of the other two.

Xie Yan's mood darkened until he left the palace.

Shen Nanzi was completely unaware of his displeasure. Like a kitten that had eaten too much, she kept burping, completely at ease.

As Xie Yan exited the palace gate, a man who appeared to be an official approached him.

"Prince Jing, here is the military officer supply roster. Please take a look."

Shen Nanzi followed slowly behind, and her eyes lit up when she heard the words "military officer".

Xie Yan took the register and glanced at it from top to bottom. "The military officers who have been recruited this time are responsible for protecting the safety of the imperial city."

"We must select individuals with exceptional martial arts skills, and their age can be up to thirty."

"Once the conditions are selected, recruitment can begin."

The official took the register and said, "Yes, I will go and supervise it immediately."

＊

Inside the Grand Commandant's residence.

"Brother, are the military officers being re-enrolled?"

Shen Nanzi had barely sat down, not even taking a sip of tea, and without wiping the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, when she urgently inquired about the person sitting at the head of the table in the hall.

"That is indeed true."

Shen Minghan didn't know why she asked this. Seeing her coming over breathlessly, he thought she had been bullied by Xie Yan again!

Seeing the hot tea beside her, she said to the maid, "Go and get a cup of warm water!"

Then she looked up at Shen Nanzi and asked, "Why are you asking about this?"

Shen Nanzi: "Which is the best position? Brother, answer me first."

"The highest rank is Lieutenant General, which is a seventh-rank official."

"Then I'll keep this position."

"Who are you going to leave it to?"

"A fierce wind!"

Shen Nanzi accepted the warm tea offered by the maid. "He begged for food in a dilapidated temple to feed his mother when he was young, and has been by my side ever since. He has a clean background. Brother, please recommend him."

Shen Nanzi had mentioned it a few times for Lie Feng, but nothing ever came of it.

"I'm worried about you being alone after she leaves."

Shen Minghan hesitated for a moment, as Shen Nanzi had been protected by Lie Feng since childhood.

Over the years, Lie Feng has remained loyal to her, which puts him at ease.

"One more maid will suffice!" Shen Nanzi put down her teacup.

“He has followed me for so many years, I must find a good future for him. Brother, don’t worry about me, just recommend him.”

Shen Minghan knew she was serious this time, so he stopped trying to stop her.

＊

With Shen Minghan's permission, Shen Nanzi returned to her residence and told Lie Feng about it.

Lie Feng's expression changed, and he immediately knelt down in front of her, "Miss, I won't go!"

"Such a great opportunity, why not take it? Do you know that this is an opportunity that ordinary people would kill for!"

Shen Nanzi sat at the head of the front hall, her hand gripping the armrest, somewhat puzzled.

Lie Feng looked unwilling. "I just want to stay by Miss's side. I don't want to become a lieutenant general."

"You can't follow me around as a bodyguard forever!"

"I'm willing," Lie Feng said resolutely.

Shen Nanzi: "If you were just an ordinary man, I would definitely do as you wish and match you with a girl so you could live a simple and peaceful life."

“However, you are skilled in martial arts, riding and archery, and are a rare talent to be a military officer. If you follow my brother, you will surely make great achievements.”

"That's not my intention." Lie Feng's expression remained unchanged.

"What is the meaning behind that?" Shen Nanzi pressed.

"I..." Lie Feng looked at her, completely puzzled as to why the young lady insisted on driving him away today.

"Miss, let Liefeng stay by your side! Liefeng only wants to follow you for the rest of his life."

“Every time I let you leave, you give me the same excuse.” But this time is different; she will feel increasingly unsafe around him.

"Liefeng's only wish in life is to follow Miss, he asks for nothing else."

"No, you must leave this time." Shen Nan's attitude was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Lie Feng panicked, crawled two steps on his knees, almost reaching Shen Nanzi's feet, "Miss, I won't go!"

He slightly raised his head, met her gaze, his eyes anxious, and his indifferent face filled with pleading.

The hidden longing and pain in those eyes made Shen Nanzi's heart skip a beat, and her fingers curled up and tightened.

Shen Nanzi looked at him, thinking it was an illusion, that it couldn't be like that.

After hesitating for a moment, she added, "And another thing is your wedding; it must be held this year!"

"I will not get married!" he replied defiantly.

Lie Feng's answer made Shen Nanzi's brow twitch, and she asked him tremblingly, "Why don't you get married?"

The biting wind remained silent, its hands clenched into fists, knuckles taut and white, just as it had countless times before, silently confronting her.

She had always respected his decisions and delayed things, but today, she finally realized something was wrong.

"Fine, since you're not interested in this, I won't force you."

When Lie Feng heard that she had given up, the stubbornness and unease in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by relief and joy.

His clenched fists instantly loosened, and even his tense body softened a bit.

Shen Nanzi saw this and was anxious.

If he is held back because of her, then such companionship is extremely unfair to him.

"Get up!"

A gust of wind rose as instructed, a hint of relief hidden beneath his calm expression.

Shen Nanzi stood up and called the maids to help her change her clothes.

When she appeared before Lie Feng in all her glory, a fleeting look of amazement crossed his eyes.

"Miss, where are you going?" His voice was hoarse from being dry.

"Go to Chang Le Street."

"Miss, are you going to pick flowers, or move them?"

"It's been a long time since I've been there, I have to go and take a look."

"I heard it's going to rain soon. Which flower would you like to see, Miss? I'll go and bring it back."

Shen Nanzi looked at the sky outside; it was clear and sunny, the best weather since the beginning of spring.

"It's alright, it's just a short distance. Besides, I haven't visited that Young Master Ye in a long time."

A rare blush rose to her cheeks, and her eyes looked somewhat unfocused.

“Miss,” Lie Feng’s gaze swept across her face, “Lie Feng, go!”