After everyone had eaten, everyone got moving. The afternoon was busier than the morning. There were a row of large pots set up in the open space. Those who made soup and stewed meat, boiled medicine, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed cakes...
There were many people gathered in front of each pot, some lighting the fire and adding firewood, some helping to add seasonings, and some standing together to keep warm. The laughter and laughter evaporated in the clouds with the rising heat.
Shen Lansui packed up the medicine box and came out. He couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth when he saw this scene. When Liu Yan saw her, he immediately brought a bowl of hot soup over and said, "Madam, you have been busy all morning. Let's drink some hot soup to relieve your stomach. I just finished it." It's delicious when it comes out of the pot."
After saying that, she saw Rong Zhao coming out and asked hesitantly: "Princess, would you like a bowl? It's quite clean."
"What are you afraid of? I've already come, do you still think it's dirty?" Rong Zhao laughed, smelling the rich fragrance, then looked at the green onions floating in Shen Lansui's bowl, nodded and said, "Come here too bowl."
"Okay!" Liu Yan immediately filled a bowl and handed it to her.
Before it was time to eat, they had to eat well in the evening. They couldn't eat enough now, so the two of them stood in front of the isolation area and drank hot soup one mouthful at a time.
After taking the last sip, Rong Zhao looked at the gorgeous sunset on the horizon and smiled softly, "I never thought that one day I would celebrate the New Year outside Yangdu, and I never thought that I would be with a group of people. Let’s spend time together.”
Shen Lansui turned his head to look at her, "How do you feel?"
Rong Zhao's eyes reflected the afterglow of the sky, which was bright and bright. She said warmly: "Although it is bitter, I feel very fulfilled."
As she spoke, she shook her head, "It's actually a very complicated emotion. I can't explain it clearly. I just feel happier than I have in the past ten years."
Shen Lansui nodded.
"What about you?" Rong Zhao asked.
Shen Lansui raised his hand and put it on his brow bone, looking at the busy people not far away but with smiles on their faces, and said, "I like it very much, but I hope this is the last time."
Rong Zhao raised his eyebrows.
"If Haiyan and the river were clear, and there was peace and prosperity, with no natural disasters or man-made disasters, this place would be far more prosperous than it is now. There would be people on the streets and alleys, and they would be happier than they are now. That kind of happiness is unburdened and comes from the heart. of."
After Shen Lansui finished speaking, he took the empty bowl from her hand, walked aside and handed it to the person who washed the dishes.
The wind blew up a corner of her red cloak, and Rong Zhao suddenly realized what she meant by "unburdened happiness."
Many people lost their family members in the earthquake. Even though the festival is lively and happy, this happiness is infected by everyone being together. But in the dead of night, when people think of their families, there is a bit of gloom in the happiness. .
Her eyes darkened slightly and she sighed for a long time.
The people are suffering. How can you know that the people are suffering if you don't join the people?
Can princes who are well-dressed and well-fed really be good emperors?
*
As night fell, the fire in the cauldron became more and more intense.
The Seventh Prince sent someone to ask them to go back for dinner.
They planned to have a meal at the government office and then make dumplings with the common people.
As soon as Shen Lansui and Rong Zhao came back, the voices of Lu Xingyue and Liang Ci came from behind. The two of them went to work on allocating housing for the victims early in the morning, and then went out of the city to visit several nearby villages without touching the ground. , I’ve been so busy that I just came back now.
When the four of them met in the yard, they all looked at the person they wanted to see at first glance.
Lu Xingyue stood in daze for a while before walking up to Shen Lansui. His scorching gaze was as if it had substance, and wherever it landed, it was burnt crimson.
Shen Lansui let him hold her hand and couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking at?"
Lu Xingyue smiled, "It looks good."
Rong Zhao immediately turned his head when he heard this, "Oh, it's really disgusting."
Liang Ci couldn't help but laugh, walked to her, raised his hand and gently touched the flower on her hair, and whispered: "The princess is also very beautiful."
This time it was Shen Lansui and Lu Xingyue who were watching the fun.
Rong Zhao's face turned red and he glanced at Liang Ci, "Who asked you to do anything? You are so brave."
Liang Ci stretched out his hand, palm upward, and asked sincerely after a moment of silence: "Then... let the princess have her own way?"
Rong Zhao patted his hand and chuckled, "Who wants to punish you?"
Liang Ci took the opportunity to hold her hand. His hand was big, hot, and slightly rough. The completely different touch made Rong Zhao tighten his lips and his face turned redder.
Shen Lansui and Lu Xingyue bit their ears, "Look, no matter how powerful a person is, he will become extra docile in front of his sweetheart. What is this called?"
Lu Xingyue nodded in agreement, "Everything comes down."
"Yeah~" Shen Lansui nodded in agreement.
Rong Zhao: "...Do you two think your voices are very quiet?"
"Cough cough cough——"
Suddenly there was a contrived coughing sound on the steps.
The four of them turned to look together, and the seventh prince cleared his throat awkwardly, "What about that? Did you four forget that there is a man without a wife?"
Shen Lansui was startled, and when she looked at Lu Xingyue, they couldn't help but curl their lips.
She glanced at Rong Zhao and Liang Ci, their hands still held together.
She was shocked. Did the Seventh Prince also know about this?
The Seventh Prince not only knew it, but also had no intention of stopping it. His eyes paused on the two men's hands, then fell on Liang Ci's face, giving him a warning look to let him understand.
Liang Ci was silent for a moment and put down his hand, but he still held it tightly with no intention of letting go.
Seventh Prince: "..."
Wouldn't it be better for you to challenge your brother-in-law in person?
Seeing that he was not letting go, Rong Zhao hesitated for a moment and followed him. Liang Ci couldn't help but feel warm when he saw this.
"Okay, it's cold outside. Let's go in and talk. The food and wine are ready and waiting for you. It turns out that it's better for you to throw me into the room alone and you can fall in love here."
The seventh prince became more and more aggrieved as he spoke and glared at Rong Zhao angrily.
Rong Zhao raised his eyebrows: "Huh?"
The Seventh Prince blinked and his eyes suddenly became clear, "It's okay, let's go into the room and talk. Don't freeze."
Several people laughed instantly.
The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the room and it was warm. There was one in the corner and one under the table.
The table was filled with wine and food, hot and cold, meat and vegetables, and at first glance the dishes were very rich and tempting.
Although their usual food is better than that of ordinary people, it is basically light dishes. They only add some chicken soup when they are sick. It has been a long time since they have seen so many dishes.
The five people took their seats. The seventh prince raised his glass first and said, "Today is thirty. It's a great day. Let me toast you all first."
He stood up, looked around at the other people, and said sincerely: "Thank you all for your help this time to appease the people and rebuild Wanguan City in such a short period of time. I won't go into details about the hardships involved. Everyone knows that this period You have all worked hard for a long time. When this matter is over and I return to Yangdu, I will report to my father the emperor and reward him for his merits."
"I'll drink this cup first!"
Shen Lansui and others raised their glasses, "This trip cannot be accomplished by one person. It all depends on everyone's concerted efforts. Your Highness is commanding and does everything personally. If you want to be rewarded, Your Highness should be the first."
