Song Tangning had no idea what was going on in the palace. After moving to Jiuyun Lane, there was no elder in the mansion whom she needed to greet every day, and the house was all filled with her own servants.
Madam Qin told her that she needed to rest more to recover sooner. Everyone in the house knew that she was injured and did not dare to disturb her. Hua Wu stayed under the eaves and dismissed the servants who were cleaning the yard, roasting sweet potatoes around the charcoal stove.
Tang Ning slept until noon, only to be awakened by the smell of roasted sweet potatoes coming from outside.
"The girl's nose is really powerful. She can smell the fragrance even in her sleep."
The slave below brought Tang Ning over with water to rinse her teeth, and then pulled her hair into a bun.
Hua Wu held the peeled sweet potato and handed it to Tang Ning's mouth: "Slave, I just finished roasting it, and the girl woke up smelling the aroma. I happened to try it quickly to see if it tastes good."
After Tang Ning took a bite from her hand, her eyes lit up: "It's so sweet."
"Yes, last night my slave was looking for it in the kitchen. I peeled it raw and took a few bites of it and found it sweet. I thought the girl would like it after it was roasted."
After the little girl carefully peeled off the skin, she put the sweet potato in a small celadon bowl, took a spoon and put it in the bowl for Tang Ning to scoop it up.
Tang Ning held the spoon in her palm and ate with her eyes bent, and said to Hua Wu: "Bake a few more and send them to the next door later..."
After saying that, thinking of Xiao Yan's dignified, cold and unconventional appearance, it was hard to imagine him holding a sweet potato and chewing it, so she quickly regretted it.
"Forget it, I'm afraid I won't eat it."
"What don't you eat?"
There was a sound outside the door. Tang Ning raised her head with a spoon in her mouth and saw Princess Cheng leading Nanny Jiang in from the outside.
She had powdered her face, and the thin layer of rouge could not cover the black spots under her eyes. Even though she looked normal when she entered the room, Tang Ning could still see the exhaustion and frustration that could not be concealed on Princess Cheng's face.
"aunt."
Tang Ning quickly put down the spoon and tried to get up, but Princess Cheng pushed her back.
"Have a good rest, why are you moving around? You have forgotten what Mrs. Qin said. You need to walk less and move your legs less and take care of them."
Tangning had no choice but to sit back.
"Has Madam Qin been here? Are you feeling better today?"
Princess Cheng sat next to her and looked at the things on the table: "Are you having lunch or snacks?"
Tang Ning was a little embarrassed: "I just got up."
Hua Wu brought over the cooked tea soup, and the faint aroma of tea instantly overshadowed the aroma of sweet potatoes.
"The girl slept a little late last night. I looked at Shuetian this morning, but I didn't wake her up."
"Ms. Qin got up early and paid a visit. She took a look at the girl's complexion and left some medicine before leaving. I thought the girl would have to sleep for a while, but I woke up smelling the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes."
Princess Cheng laughed immediately after hearing this: "She's still a greedy little cat."
Tang Ning glared at Hua Wu angrily, turned to Princess Cheng with a red face and said, "I didn't, I just couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about something last night..."
Being stared at jokingly, Tang Ning couldn't resist and quickly changed the subject.
"My aunt hasn't eaten yet when she comes here. Lunch is being cooked in the kitchen. My aunt will eat some with me. Hua Wu, go ask the kitchen to add more dishes. Remember to add the soy sauce duck breast. There are also other dishes. Don't put ginger in it, my aunt won't like it."
Hua Wu suppressed a smile and agreed, turned around and retreated.
When Princess Cheng heard that Song Tangning still remembered her tastes and preferences, her eyes couldn't help but feel soft: "Look, it's hard to remember my taste."
Aunt Jiang sighed softly. The girl was so well-behaved and considerate, no wonder the princess hurt her to the core.
The sweet potatoes were a little cold, so Tang Ning put them aside and didn't eat any more. She chatted with Princess Cheng for a few words, and when she saw Aunt Jiang turned around and went to the outside, she moved closer to Princess Cheng.
"Aunt, what happened after you went to Jingzhao Mansion yesterday? Mr. Wu from Jingzhao Mansion asked someone to send Song Shulan's books to me."
Princess Cheng was stunned for a moment: "He sent a book?"
Tang Ning nodded: "He said that people from the Song family went to Jingzhao Mansion to ask for books, and also said that the original copy was destroyed due to leakage. Master Wu realized that something was wrong with the Song family, so he asked someone to make another copy. One copy was sent to me.”
"He's quite clever."
Princess Cheng understood Wu Huai's intention just by thinking about it, and knew that he might want to use Tang Ning's hand to give something to Xiao Yan.
She originally didn't want to talk to Tang Ning about Prince Cheng so early, but then she thought about it and there were some things that she didn't need to hide.
"That book was not destroyed, it was taken away by Xie Tianyu."
Seeing Tang Ning's eyes widening, Princess Cheng twitched her lips and said, "Isn't it incredible? He had been to Jingzhao Mansion a few days ago. Not only did he know that Song Shulan had a different identity, but he also secretly took away her books. , but he never mentioned anything to me, and even pretended to send people to Anzhou, while helping the Song family deceive me."
"I have been married to him for nearly 20 years. It was not until yesterday that I realized that he is very different from what I have known all these years. It seems that I have never really understood him."
"Aunt..." Tang Ning was a little worried.
Princess Cheng reached out and smoothed her hair: "I have asked someone to check on Song Shulan and the Song family. Keep the letter in your hand for now and don't let anyone know about it. After I find out, I want to borrow it." Let's see how much your uncle can do to hide this from me."
Tang Ning said worriedly: "Then aunt should be more careful."
"What should you be careful about?" Princess Cheng laughed, "Xie Tianyu is reluctant to let go of the Song family's in-laws. He wants to settle the matter and cover it up for the Song family. How can he still harm me?"
Tang Ning's lips twitched, and just when she was about to say something, she pulled back her hair forcefully.
"Okay, don't worry. I know what's going on. Just take good care of yourself."
Princess Cheng obviously didn't want to talk about Prince Cheng, so she immediately changed the subject and talked about other things. Seeing this, Tang Ning had to keep quiet.
When the food in the kitchen was ready and Hua Wu led the people to deliver it, Princess Cheng seemed to have forgotten about Prince Cheng. She was extremely happy to accompany Tang Ning to eat, and even pulled Hua Wu and Aunt Jiang along with her. After sitting down at the table and deliberately relaxing the atmosphere, the four masters and servants all ate happily.
After a while after the meal, Uncle He walked in with a smile: "Girl, you said a few days ago that you wanted to buy some servants. The governor ordered some people to be sent over from the market this morning. You have to choose them yourself." pick?"
Tang Ning was surprised: "Brother, isn't he going to court?"
Uncle He said: "The Jin guards have gone to handle what I told you in front of the court. They are in the front yard right now."
Princess Cheng sat aside and drank the freshly brewed tea soup to eat. She said with a smile: "Brother of yours is really considerate. I originally thought that you only have Hua Wu around you, so you should add a few more people. Since he has already let If someone sent it over, let’s call them over to take a look and choose a few suitable ones.”
Tang Ning also had this intention: "Uncle He, let them come."
When the Governor's Mansion wants people, the ones sent from the other side of the market are all the best ones. They are not too eye-catching in appearance, but they are all handsome and upright, and they are all literate.
I heard that half of them were female slaves who had been convicted of crimes in their families. Not to mention Tang Ning, even Princess Cheng was surprised.
After Jinyun asked each of them to introduce themselves, Princess Cheng and Tang Ning discussed and selected four people. After naming them by spring, summer, autumn and winter, they stayed in the courtyard and temporarily worked for Hua Wu as third-class female envoys. The rest Nearly twenty more rough men were selected to fill the mansion. Uncle He took the ones selected by Tang Ning away, and let the Ya people take the rest away.
After choosing someone, Jinyun led a woman in green clothes with a cold face.
"My servant Ayane, I have met Madam Song."
"This is..." Tang Ning looked at the woman who was saluting with doubts on her face.
Jinyun explained: "Lingyin is one of the eight hidden guards under the governor. She is very skilled and knows everything about the capital. The governor asked her to stay with Miss Song to protect you."
Tang Ning looked at the kneeling woman in shock. Although she didn't know how powerful Ling Yin was, to be someone who was valued by Xiao Yan as a hidden guard must be no ordinary person. She quickly waved her hands and said, "This won't work. Since brother has put so much effort into cultivating him, he will definitely be of great use, so how can he waste his talent by staying with me?"
She shook her head like a rattle: "I have Hua Wu, Xichun and the four of them by my side. That's enough. Let Sister Ayane go back."
Ayane was stunned and couldn't help but look at Jinyun aside.
Jinyun also looked stunned: "Mrs. Song, don't you want Lingyin?"
Tang Ning said quickly: "It's not that I don't want it, it's really a waste to keep this sister here with me. I already have Hang guards and them to protect me, and there are so many servants. If I keep this sister here, there will be no place to put her." , you go and tell my brother to let this sister go back."
"You really don't want it?"
"really."
Jinyun saw that Tangning really didn't want to keep Lingyin, and her words were full of truth. There was no trace of greed in those black and white almond eyes. He suddenly seemed to understand why the governor, who had always been cold and indifferent, was so indifferent to Song. This little lady is so special.
Jinyun's expression softened: "Since Mrs. Song doesn't want it, I'll let Ayane go back first."
Tang Ning nodded quickly: "It's troublesome."
When Jinyun and Lingyin went out, they heard the faint voice of Princess Cheng behind them as soon as they turned the corner.
"That Ayane looked good just now, and her skills were good. It would be good for you to stay with me..."
"I know, but Brother is in a difficult situation. Many people in Beijing want to cause trouble for Brother. That sister seems to be powerful. It would be better to continue working for Brother if she stays with me. Besides, I have already occupied Brother. It's a lot cheaper, so don't be too greedy, aunt, when Hui Xichun and Nian Xia get started, I won't be short of people here."
"You."
Princess Cheng was helpless, and Tang Ning acted coquettishly with her.
The two spoke very quietly, but for Jinyun and the others, it did not hinder them from hearing clearly.
Ayane's expression softened slightly: "This Miss Song seems to be pretty good."
Jinyun nodded: "I was worried that the Governor would care too much about her, but she can remember feelings, but I was wrong."
The governor's life experience cannot be noticed by others, and every step he takes is on the cliff and abyss. A slight mistake will be irreversible. Miss Song can remember the good treatment of the governor by her, which is not in vain.
There were a lot of things going on in the palace, so Xiao Yan came back from the palace only when the sky was getting dark. After hearing Jinyun talk about the reason why Tangning didn't want to keep Lingyin, he said "hmm" and said, "If you don't want to stay, just don't stay."
Anyway, he can protect her in the capital.
"Has the Governor been in trouble today?" Jinyun took the cloak he took off.
Xiao Yan sneered: "How long has this governor never been in trouble?"
Cang Lang, who was following behind, laughed out loud: "Our governor killed all the people in the court today, fought with all the scholars, made the censor lose his mouth, and made the old man of the Lu family so angry that he almost vomited blood."
Jinyun was silent for a moment, thinking of the reputation of his governor in the capital for being beaten and frightened into making children cry, and he felt that he had indeed asked a nonsense question.
"Superintendent." Xiao Yan had just walked to the study when he heard someone coming to report: "Miss Song next door has someone send something over."
"bring here."
The man held a food box and handed it to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan opened it curiously and saw some steaming food inside.
The dishes were all simple, with just a hint of spiciness. There were two roasted and browned sweet potatoes next to the white rice.
"Hey, why are there two sweet potatoes?" Canglang stretched out his hand to grab them.
Xiao Yan slapped the back of his hand, and as soon as the food box was covered, his other hand took it and carried it.
"The Song family was demoted today. Maybe they will have other thoughts and get people to stare at them. And that He Zongran, don't let him die."
Canglang hissed in pain and watched helplessly as his governor entered the study room with a food box and closed the door. He muttered "stingy".
Inside, Xiao Yan didn't seem to hear the sound and just walked to the table carrying the food box.
The room was filled with books and ink, but when the red lid was reopened, the rich aroma instantly hit my nostrils.
Xiao Yan pinched the round sweet potato that was still a little hot, as if he saw the little girl calling him "Brother" with her pretty eyes, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, and her handsome sword-like eyes were softened by the light and shadow of the candlelight.
Your cold, white fingers peeled away the burnt skin, your thin lips opened slightly, and you took a bite of the yellow, soft flesh.
Xiao Yan's throat rolled slightly, it seemed... quite sweet?
