Chapter 41 Meet an old friend on the edge of Qingshuitan

"Miss, there is a letter from the house." On this day, Ling Xiao was still lying on the bamboo couch by the window reading a book. He was quite bored, but he saw the blue fog running in happily, holding a letter in his hand.

Ling Xiao was stunned, and the surprise suddenly permeated his chest, "In the house?"

It has been nearly two months since he left home on March 18th. Ling Xiao, who has never been separated from his mother, is very anxious every day. In the morning, I spent half a day in Zhaoyang Palace. I had to deal with the ladies and the little masters, which scattered a lot of thoughts, but I was sad when I had nothing to do.

Although it was not good in the past, it was always better for the mother and daughter to take care of her. Now as soon as she left, her mother was left alone. She was alone in the yard. She didn't know how she was doing. Will she be bullied by her aunt and sister? Will she...

However, the imperial concubines can't communicate with letters outside the palace at will. Even if they want to send a letter, they have to go through a series of strict procedures such as the inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs before they can send them out of the palace. And even so, it is necessary for a qualified lady to be qualified, otherwise it is difficult to guarantee that the letter can be sent to the destination. But now, there is a letter from the house!

"Yes, yes." Qingwu nodded repeatedly and hurriedly handed the letter to Ling Xiao. "Your father-in-law said that after the election, all the reserved beautiful women's house will receive the imperial edict. The emperor cares about the homesickness of the little masters, and specially allowed the father-in-law to pass on the family letter for the little masters."

Ling Xiao didn't care to listen to Qing Wu's explanation. He had already opened the envelope, but he was a little disappointed after seeing his father's name with anticipation, but he still looked down with excitement. After all, it was a comfort in this place far away from his relatives.

As expected, Ling Guan's family letter was just those words. He had explained it many times before he went to Beijing. He just hoped that she would fight for it well, win glory for herself, and grow the face of the family.

In addition, he has taken Shen Murou back to the house from the small yard next door, saying that he used to be sorry for their mother and daughter, and he would make up for it in the future. Seeing this, the corners of Ling Xiao's mouth curled slightly, showing a trace of disdain. If she hadn't been retained, he would have woken up. What's more, it may not be a good thing for my mother to live back to Ling's house.

If she is put off the sign and comes home, I don't know how much ridiculed and toss she will suffer now. Now they don't know her situation in the palace. If they know, I'm afraid they won't take her seriously.

Thinking of this, Ling Xiao has some contradictions again. If he really doesn't have the idea of competing for favor and goes on like this, Ling Guan and others will know sooner or later. At that time, will they trample on their mother more?

After reading Ling Guan's letter, Ling Xiao found that there were different handwriting and ink below. At first glance, it was actually written by his mother. His heart suddenly jumped up. Looking at it, there were only four simple words: "Don't Nian, how are you."

Suddenly, the sourness in his chest was too sour to suppress, and he choked and called softly, "Mom."

In order to divert Ling Xiao's attention, Qingwu proposed to make incense bags for the Dragon Boat Festival in the afternoon, and then take some calamus, wormwood, etc. back to the palace to put them. tomorrow, he went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get the zongzi leaves and come back to make zongzi.

Ling Xiao agreed, "Other palaces have already begun to prepare, and our Qiluan Hall should also respond to the scene."

Qingwu was originally to make Ling Xiao have something to do, which made him happier, but he didn't expect it to be a little self-defeating.

"Qingwu, what's wrong with you? Didn't you go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get the materials for making savorous bags and the calamus and artemisia?" Er Lan saw Qingwu standing alone behind the tree and twitching, and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

"Aunt Erlan." Qingwu wiped his eyes with his sleeves and choked, "It's not the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I thought it was not a valuable thing. It would never embarrass me, but I didn't expect..."

"It's just some small objects to be used for the Dragon Boat Festival. Are they going too far?" Er Lan also frowned tightly. It is said that even if the little master is unfavored, it will not be this far.

"Miss misses your wife so much. I just want to make her happy, but I didn't expect..." Qingwu said more and more sad. Thinking that she had just been ridiculed by the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she showed a look of resentment.

Er Lan thought for a moment, pulled up the blue fog and said, "Isn't it more uncomfortable for you to be seen by the little master like this? I'll figure out the colorful silk thread and other things. Later, you can take the little master to the back alley of Yilan Palace, go around the pool, and go straight east. There is a swamp over there, and there should be a lot of calamus wormwood in it.

"Really? Won't there be other palace people going? Hearing this, Qingwu was surprised.

"I'm not very clear, but there shouldn't be many people. It's very remote there, and few people usually go there. And now many people in the palace have come from the prince's mansion. I'm not very familiar with everything in the palace. I accidentally found it. What's more, if it's not favorless..." Er Lan paused here and continued, "It's not easy to pick in person."

Qing Wu nodded with a smile, "Uh-huh, if you don't give it, you won't give it to me. Let's pick it ourselves, just let the little master relax."

"It's just that you must pay attention to the safety of the little master. If there is an emergency, we can't afford it." Er Lan was still a little worried, "Take Zhu'er and the others."

"Okay, auntie, I know." Qingwu's eyes were still wet, but at this moment, he laughed like something. Before Erlan finished speaking, he ran to the inner hall.

After Ling Xiao heard about it, although he knew why Qingwu proposed it, he was still in high spirits. It was good to go out for a walk. Sooner or later, he would get sick in the palace all day, and he could pick the wormwood for use with his own hands, which was very interesting. In the past, in Phoenix, she and her mother went to the nearby swamp to find it every year on the Dragon Boat Festival.

However, she only brought Qingwu with her and called a bunch of people. It was too eye-catching. Although it was not a shady thing, it was not a good thing to be seen, and she had to gossip.

After walking for an hour according to Erlan's way, I finally saw the swamp she said. It was indeed very remote and looked extremely desolate. But it is not the kind of bleak desolation, but a feeling of being far away from people and having no traces of artificial care.

"Miss, it seems that no one has ever been here." Looking at the weeds around him, Qingwu couldn't help frowning and looking a little worried, "Will there be snakes, insects, mice and ants?"

"Just be careful. Try not to go to places with a lot of weeds, and don't worry too much. These herbs are dewormed, and they should not be as you said." Ling Xiao likes this place very much, as if it is far away from the court. There are no people who have ghosts and ulturous intentions, and there is no need to worry and be afraid. There is only blue sky, white clouds and green grass.

There was an unknown bird singing in his ear. Inadvertently, a few gray-green insects suddenly popped out of the green grass leaves, as small as mustard beans. They couldn't see clearly. They only felt that they were elves jumping in poetry and paintings.

"Well, why is there a bad smell?" Qingwu took a few steps and suddenly covered his mouth and nose. Before he could say anything, he seemed to have found some treasure. He was surprised and said, "Wow, there are really calamus here, a lot more, and wormwood!"

Ling Xiao also laughed and was infected by the excitement of the little girl. She said, "Then let's pick more and send some to Sister Xuanyu later."

With that, the two of them started to walk along the relatively dry place by the water, brushed away the weeds around them, and chose the plants they needed.

It is said to be a swamp, but it is actually more like a small pool, and it is very clear. The blue sky and white clouds are reflected on the water, the breeze blows, and the lake suddenly wrinkles up. Under the sunlight, the sparkling light is like a broken crystal sprinkled in the middle of the water.

The water spreads into the soil on the side, soaking the ground very wet, and the roots of the calamus are stuck in it. It seems to be thick and difficult to pull out, but it doesn't take much effort. There are also wormwood, some of which look particularly green and grow in places with more water. Ling Xiao stretched out his hand to pick it on a whim.

In a short time, the two of them collected a lot and put them aside. They looked very fulfilling.

"So many, how can it be enough?" Ling Xiao picked up a stone and sat down, wiped the sweat on his head, and was full of smile. Seeing the green fog standing by the water, he was still carefully reaching a slightly long artemisia grass. He smiled and said, "Green fog, come back. Look at you, your shoes are wet."

Hearing this, Qingwu quickly let go of the wormwood that was about to be pulled out. He raised his skirt slightly, looked down and shouted, "Oh, the shoes I just changed today are dirty."

Looking at her like that, Ling Xiao couldn't help laughing.

But she didn't know that her appearance made the man not far away stunned. He wanted to leave silently, but unconsciously came over.

Ling Xiao was joking with Qingwu, thinking about going back to the palace after a short rest, but he noticed that there was movement not far away and hurriedly looked up.

"Huo...Lord Huo." Ling Xiao looked at the man and was stunned. How could he be here? Before he could solve his doubts, he suddenly remembered that he was sitting on the stone indecently, hurriedly stood up and brushed his slightly messy clothes.

Huo Yurui was also a little embarrassed. He coughed dryly and then said, "It turned out to be Ling Cairen. Ben... I didn't want to disturb you, but I didn't think it was good to pass by like this and regarded it as not, so I came forward to say hello."

"Hear Lord Huo." Qingwu had already stood up, saluted and retreated.

"I don't know why Lord Huo is here?" Ling Xiao smiled and asked the doubts in his heart. I haven't seen him since I entered Beijing. How could he suddenly appear here at this time? Also, why is he so clear about his position? However, as an envoy escorting the show girl, it's not surprising to hear about it, right? She explained to herself like this.

"Well, today, the emperor left several ministers in the court to discuss state affairs together, and I accidentally went to the wrong place." Huo Yurui explained that he didn't know if it was deliberately to change the topic. He looked at the calamus and other things at Ling Xiao's feet. "Ling Cai is so elegant. He came out to pick the Dragon Boat Festival in person."

The suspicion in Ling Xiao's heart has not dissipated. After listening to the second half of his sentence, his eyes darkened and he smiled reluctantly and said, "It's good to come out for a walk."

Huo Yurui's face suddenly looked a little bad. He probably guessed the inside story. He regretted saying this. He hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "I don't know how the talent is doing in the palace?"

"Lord Huo, we are going back to the palace, so I won't talk to Lord Huo." Ling Xiao frowned slightly when he heard this, and when he saw his eyes again, he was even more shocked. He didn't say anything more. He hurriedly said goodbye, and his tone was even a little stiff.

"Well, just walk slowly." Huo Yurui was stunned and smiled helplessly.

The master and servant picked up the calamus and wormwood on the ground, turned their heads and left.

"Miss, why are you talking to Lord Huo..." After leaving for a while, Qingwu asked softly.

"What will happen if the imperial concubine has private contact with a strange man and is seen by someone with a heart?" Ling Xiao glanced at her with seriousness.

Although Huo Yurui gave an explanation, in Ling Xiao's opinion, it was completely untenable. Even if the emperor received the courtiers in the Qianyuan Hall, it was impossible for them to walk around in the harem. Ordinary people did not have the courage. What's more, even if he really went the wrong way, why did he come to this lonely place?

In a word, the appearance of Huo Yurui is full of doubts. However, Ling Xiao doesn't care about this. In the final analysis, it has nothing to do with her, as long as she is not seen by people who care about it.

In fact, it's not only this, but also Huo Yurui's eyes. That look made her panic. Is that pity? Or is it heartache?

Ling Xiao shook his head and stopped thinking about it.