Shen Zhiyi had just let Xie Shaoheng eat a pot, and was smiling from ear to ear as he walked around the busy market. Poria was holding a bunch of things bought by the lady behind him.
Shen Zhiyi picked up a mask and asked, "Does this look good? Will the princess like this?"
Poria looked at the Nuo mask, which was finely carved with gorgeous patterns. The gorgeous patterns seemed to be flowing and shining with mysterious light. She was about to nod when she caught a glimpse of the candied haws in the young lady's hand. The candies on the candied haws sparkled in the sun and looked even more attractive than the mask.
"Miss, that mask is beautiful. The princess must like it, but..." Fuling hesitated for a moment, looking at Shen Zhiyi's eyes helplessly, "But can you put down the candied haws first, and we can eat it after we go back?"
"I want to buy it for the princess."
While Shen Zhiyi was thinking this, he happened to bump into Jiang Yubai.
"Do you want to buy it for the princess?" Jiang Yubai raised his eyebrows, his lips curved slightly, and a smile appeared on his lips. He looked at the candied haws and mask in Shen Zhiyi's hands and thought for a moment, "If you just take it back like this, the candied haws will be broken by then."
Jiang Yubai said, taking out a delicate small box from his waist, "Why don't you put the candied haws away first and put them in this box, and I will take you back."
Shen Zhiyi's eyes lit up and she looked at Jiang Yubai gratefully, "Young Master Jiang, you are so kind! Thank you!"
Jiang Yubai smiled and shook his head, "It's a trivial matter."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sudden noise not far away. Everyone looked around curiously, and saw a man in ragged clothes suddenly rushing into the crowd, holding a cloth bag tightly in his hand, and something seemed to be moving in the cloth bag.
The man stumbled and ran, looking extremely frightened. He threw the people around him away, causing a series of complaints. Seeing this scene, Shen Zhiyi couldn't help but frown.
He gritted his teeth and rushed towards the crowd. Suddenly, a hand stretched out and grabbed his collar.
The contents of the cloth bag slipped out, and it was a tortoiseshell cat.
"I said, the money has been given to you, please return this dish to us quickly."
"I won't sell it!"
"Don't sell? Hey, you poor boy, how dare you negotiate terms with me? Don't even look at what kind of place this is!" The burly man at the head sneered, stretched out his big hand, grabbed the man's collar, and pulled the man away. The tortoiseshell cat in the cloth bag snatched it away.
"Ah!" the man screamed, and rushed forward to snatch the cat back, but he was no match for the iron palm of the burly man. He was pushed to the ground heavily, and the cat in the cloth bag also took the opportunity to escape and ran into the crowd. inside.
"Why do you want to eat my cat!" The man got up and rushed towards the crowd.
"You brat, I turned against you!" The burly man shouted angrily and punched the man hard. The man immediately vomited blood and collapsed to the ground.
Shen Zhiyi stopped in front of a few people. Jiang Yubai was about to teach these people a lesson when Shen Zhiyi threw out a wad of gold and said, "I bought this cat. It's enough for whatever you want."
"let's go."
The man knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the two of them. Shen Zhiyi helped him up and said, "This cat has been following me for a long time. If you don't want to abandon it, adopt it."
After saying that, she stood up and forced the tortoise shell into Shen Zhiyi's arms, fearing that the two would reject the man and quickly fled the scene. Before she could even react, the fur in her arms was already rubbing against the palm of her hand.
There's... something cute.
Jiang Yubai suddenly laughed when he saw that she was just petting the cat, "You still won't leave?"
Only then did Shen Zhiyi remember the candied haws and mask. She handed the mask to Fuling and handed the candied haws to Jiang Yubai, "Hold it for me."
Jiang Yubai looked at her back, his lips slightly curved. He wanted to hand the candied haws and mask to Fuling, but he saw Fuling looking at the tortoise shell in Shen Zhiyi's arms, lost in thought, "Do you still want to read it?"
She walked through the crowd, and the tortoiseshell cat lay quietly in her arms, looking at her with a pair of crystal clear eyes, seeming to express gratitude.
Walk towards a busy street. There are many shops on both sides of the street, and there are many stalls selling various food and entertainment. Shen Zhiyi was about to take the tortoiseshell cat to find a place to eat, when suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in her sight.
"Brother? Why are you here?" Shen Zhiyi shouted in surprise.
"Who am I? Would I know that you were making trouble in the teahouse? I was worried that something would happen to you, so I came here to have a look." Shen Zhiyun explained.
Just as Shen Zhiyi was about to explain, a bright voice suddenly sounded, "Miss Shen, it's time for me to leave."
Shen Zhiyun stopped Jiang Yubai, "Stop!"
"You saved my sister on the martial arts field that day. The Shen family should thank you very much."
Jiang Yubai didn't have much affection for Shen Zhiyun. He said calmly with a cold face, "No need."
However, Shen Zhiyun walked up to him and grabbed his arm, "The Shen family must repay this kindness."
"Let go." His tone was a bit bored.
Shen Zhiyun didn't seem to hear it. She held his arm tightly and looked at him firmly, "Mr. Jiang, if it hadn't been for you that day, my sister's life might not have been saved. The Shen family must repay this kindness. "
...
"The Shen family is a well-known and upright family. What will happen if someone sees me with a treacherous party official?" Jiang Yubai's words made Shen Zhiyun stiffen.
But these are two different things. The Shen family is the Shen family, and he is him. Even if it is not for the Shen family, he still has to repay Jiang Yubai's kindness.
Jiang Yubai grabbed the tortoiseshell cat just now and asked Shen Zhiyun to hold it.
Today is the princess's birthday, but the princess's house is surprisingly deserted.
The group of people walked into the princess's mansion. The decoration inside was cold and elegant, and it was obvious that there were not many decorations prepared for the princess's birthday.
"Why is it so deserted?" Shen Zhiyun asked in a low voice.
Jiang Yubai and Shen Zhiyi lowered their eyes and said almost in unison: "Because the princess doesn't like the excitement."
The princess's birthday is the day of the first empress' memorial ceremony, and Emperor Jing never allowed the princess to celebrate her birthday.
"Sister Shen! Brother Jiang! You are here!" The princess couldn't help but take a few steps back when she saw Shen Zhiyun. She looked him up and down. Logically speaking, she should have seen all the young masters in the capital, and she shouldn't be unfamiliar with them. He and Sister Shen got closer, "Are you Major General Shen?"
"Exactly down there."
The princess nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Hello, General Shen. I heard folk rumors mentioning you, and you are indeed very impressive when I see you today."
Shen Zhiyun looked humble and said, "Princess, you are so complimentary."
Shen Zhiyi handed the thing in Fu Ling's hand to the princess, "We are here to celebrate the princess's birthday."
The tortoiseshell cat jumped out of Shen Zhiyun's arms and rubbed hard against the princess' feet. The princess bent down and held the tortoiseshell cat in her arms, gently stroking its head, her eyes full of love.
"If the princess likes it, I will give this cat to you." Shen Zhiyi said with a smile.
The princess hugged the tortoiseshell cat happily, her eyes shining with gratitude, "Sister Shen, thank you!"
After everyone sat down, the princess began to ask Shen Zhiyun about the situation at the border. Shen Zhiyun answered one by one. Although he didn't speak much, he also revealed a lot of interesting insights.
Today is March 3rd, and a Taoist priest will pray for the princess later.
Soon, several Taoist priests in Taoist robes walked into the princess's mansion. They held peach wood swords and charms in their hands. They walked very upright, as if every inch of the land had an indescribable connection with them.
Their eyes were deep and firm, as if they had seen through the fate of all things in the world.
In the garden of the princess's mansion, there is a long table with various offerings placed on it, all of which are the princess's daily favorites.
The Taoist priests stopped in front of the table, waving their mahogany swords and chanting incantations. As they moved, the surrounding air seemed to begin to flow, carrying a mysterious aura.
The princess stood aside and watched quietly, with a smile on her face, as if she was enjoying a performance that had nothing to do with her. Shen Zhiyun, on the other hand, stood beside her with a serious face, his eyes following the movements of the Taoist priest.
Suddenly I saw a familiar figure.
The eyes of several people instantly fell on Shen Qinghe behind the Taoist priest. She looked calmly ahead, as if admiring this mysterious ceremony.
"Shen Qinghe?" Shen Zhiyun whispered in surprise.
Shen Qinghe heard the voice and turned her head. Her eyes swept over everyone and finally stopped on Shen Zhiyi. She smiled faintly and said, "Everyone, long time no see."
Didn’t you go to Jiyun Temple to pray for the late empress? Why are there so many Taoist priests following him?
Shen Qinghe smiled and explained: "I heard at Jiyun Temple that a Taoist priest was praying for the princess, so I asked Taoist Priest Changming to let me go and help. The princess is the heir of the late empress, and I also want to ask the gods and Buddhas to protect her safety. "Her voice was very soft, but everyone heard her clearly.
Sure enough, his guess was correct. Shen Zhiyi had already secretly colluded with Jiang Yubai, but he didn't expect his eldest brother to be there.
Humph, then you will die together.
Shen Qinghe turned his back and held a scarecrow with the princess's horoscope on it. His hands and feet were pierced with silver needles. While they were holding a ceremony, Shen Qinghe wandered around the courtyard of the princess mansion, passed through the winding corridors, and came to the courtyard. .
She carefully placed the scarecrow in her hand under the crabapple tree and stepped aside.
Shen Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the surrounding scenery. In the courtyard, the weeping begonia was in full bloom. I broke off the stamens and poured a few drops of medicinal solution into them. The Begonia flower seemed to feel something, and its color became more delicate and beautiful.
Shen Qinghe nodded with satisfaction and dropped the entire bottle of medicinal solution into the roots of the tree. In less than half a day, the begonia flowers would bloom all over the courtyard.
Unfortunately, the most charming are often the most dangerous.
By the time the ceremony was over, it was already dark. Princess Xie Yuan changed into light clothes and refused to put the kitten in her house and insisted on holding it.
This was her first time visiting the Shangsi Festival. She almost forgot that March 3rd was also the Shangsi Festival.
As night falls, the lanterns come on. The shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit and bustling with people. In the bustling crowd, chatter and laughter in various accents intertwined together, forming a lively scene.
Princess Xie Yuan walked in front holding a tortoiseshell cat. Her gait was light and elegant, as if she was integrated with the world. Shen Zhiyun and Shen Qinghe followed, silently admiring the surrounding scenery and feeling the unique atmosphere brought by this ancient city.
Various lanterns and colorful flags are hung on the buildings on both sides of the street, colorful and fluttering in the wind. The lights illuminated the entire street as if it were daytime. People coming and going either stopped to watch or hurried past, all leaving their shadows at this moment.
The princess turned to them and said, "Thank you for tonight."
