The night is getting darker and the guests have dispersed.
The small courtyard, which had been noisy all day, finally slowly became quiet.
Mo Ran thoughtfully brought hot water for Bai Yanqing to wash up and go to bed. Bai Yanqing took the hot handkerchief Mo Ran handed over and wiped the back and palms of her hands clean carefully.
"Where is your highness?"
Bai Yanqing turned around and asked Yuan Li.
"Your Highness and my brother just left."
Yuan Li replied honestly.
"Oh, it's hard for him!"
It's late at night now. Yunqi and the others are rushing back to the eldest prince's palace at this hour. I'm afraid they won't be able to rest for a few hours before they enter the palace to pay their respects, right?
"For Miss Bai, Your Highness thinks it's worth it."
Yuan Li has been following Yun Qi for more than a day or two. Although he doesn't know much about Yun Qi, Yun Qi's feelings for Bai Yanqing are well known.
"Miss, are you going to bed now?"
Mo Ran picked up the basin and walked out, turning back to talk to Bai Yanqing.
"Don't worry, there will be guests coming later."
Bai Yanqing's words confused Mo Ran and Yuan Li.
Are there any other guests coming? Didn’t everything that was supposed to come come? Who else could come to this remote countryside despite the dark and windy night?
Bai Yanqing smiled and continued to give instructions to Mo Ran: "Mo Ran, go and prepare some tea and cakes. The tea must be Wuyi rock tea that His Highness brought here last time. Rinse it with hot water for the first time and pour it out, and take the second time. Tea. Remember to prepare some snacks, not too sweet. The crab roe cakes brought by my little aunt are very good. Go and heat them up, remember, don’t steam them! Bake them over low heat, otherwise they won’t be crispy enough.”
"Miss Bai, who on earth is coming?"
Yuan Li asked curiously.
Bai Yanqing even ordered tea and snacks in such detail, so the person who came here must have a good background!
"Yuan Li, go to the courtyard gate and keep an eye on it. If you see anyone approaching, just come back and tell me!"
Bai Yanqing did not answer Yuan Li directly, but only asked her to keep an eye on the courtyard door.
Yuan Li got the order and stepped back.
The night wind outside made people's faces feel cold. However, Yuan Li has long been used to it. Despite the cold winter and twelfth lunar month, there was still a scorching heat, nothing she had not experienced before.
Yuan Li raised his hands, rubbed them, warmed his palms, and then covered his face. The warmth in the palm of the hand also warmed the cheeks. Yuan Li sniffed his nose: It's so cold!
I really don’t know what kind of person is worthy of Bai Yanqing’s hospitality on such a cold night!
Yuan Li was guarding the door of the courtyard, a little bored. She leaned against the door frame and kicked the stones beside the door boredly.
A gust of night wind blew, carrying a strange smell.
Yuan Li stood up suddenly and subconsciously raised his hand to pull out the sword from his waist.
"Yuan Li! Stop, it's one of our own!"
At that time, Bai Yanqing ran out anxiously after waiting for no one for a long time. As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw Yuan Li's whole body on alert!
"One of our own?"
Yuan Li was stunned, and her hand that drew the sword hesitated a little.
Before the person arrives, why is Bai Yanqing so sure that the person coming is not an enemy?
Bai Yanqing stepped forward, gently pressed Yuan Li's sword-drawing hand, and then shook his head at her. Yuan Li understood, bowed and retreated behind Bai Yanqing.
"Let's sit in the room! It's windy at night, so don't freeze."
Bai Yanqing faced the dark night and said something with unclear meaning. If it were anyone else, he would definitely think that she was talking to Yuan Li!
After saying that, Bai Yanqing walked towards the house on his own. When Yuan Li saw this, although he was confused, he still followed him! Yuan Li's mission is to protect Bai Yanqing. Now, the enemy is in the dark and she is in the light. No matter whether the person coming is an enemy or a friend, she does not dare to take the risk and let Bai Yanqing meet with outsiders alone!
"Go call Mo Ran and ask her to serve tea!"
When he reached the door of the house, Bai Yanqing suddenly stopped, then opened his mouth and gave instructions to Yuan Li.
"But... Miss Bai, my subordinate's mission is to protect you! Now..."
Yuan Li was still worried about Bai Yanqing entering the room alone, so he hurriedly spoke.
"Nothing, go and call Mo Ran!"
Bai Yanqing still insisted. Yuan Li had no choice but to run to the kitchen. At this moment, what Yuan Li was thinking was to leave as soon as possible, lest Bai Yanqing was really in danger and she would not be able to save Bai Yanqing in time!
"Brother Jing, you're already here, why are you hiding your head?"
After Bai Yanqing entered the house, she smiled and called to the empty room.
Not long after, I saw Ji Nanjing walking out from behind the screen!
"You're a very weird girl, how did you know I'm here?"
Ji Nanjing strode to Bai Yanqing's side, and then sat down with a loud voice.
"Get started! This is the seat reserved for grandpa!"
Bai Yanqing grabbed Ji Nanjing's back collar and refused to let him sit there.
"What grandfather? There is no grandfather here, only me, your good brother!"
Ji Nanjing's eyes flashed, and then he stiffened his mouth and said unconvinced.
Bai Yanqing ignored him and just faced the screen and said: "Grandpa, come and take care of brother Guan Jing. He is getting more and more unruly now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, I saw a man with a majestic appearance and a figure as tall as a pine tree. He crossed the screen and walked towards Bai Yanqing with long strides!
"Grandpa!"
The moment she saw the man, Bai Yanqing jumped towards him happily!
That's right, this older man is Bai Yanqing's grandfather, Ji Nanjing's grandfather, and old general Ji Zhengji!
General Ji looked at the girl in his arms, his face full of smiles! He couldn't help raising his hand and gently caressing Bai Yanqing's head. There was unhidden joy in his eyebrows!
"Qing'er has grown up! Grandpa is getting old too!"
General Ji looked at Bai Yanqing, who was lying in his arms acting coquettishly, and couldn't help but sigh!
"How has my grandfather gotten old? My grandfather is as heroic as ever! His prowess is still the same as before! Whoever dares to say that you are old, Qing'er will fight to the death!"
Bai Yanqing took Old General Ji's arm and said coquettishly. Only in front of General Ji would Bai Yanqing show such tenderness as a little girl!
"Okay, okay, you only have your grandfather in your eyes, and you can't see me, a good brother who is hungry, right?"
Ji Nanjing pursed his lips and said somewhat dissatisfied.
He was worried that the bumpy journey would be too much for his grandfather's body and bones. Therefore, Ji Nanjing specially accompanied his old man in the carriage. The carriage was slower, wasn't that right? He accompanied his grandfather and drove for most of the day to get here, and now he is hungry!
"If you have a good meal, you will not be starved to death!"
General Ji glared at Ji Nanjing, which was different from the way he looked at Bai Yanqing before. Now, General Ji looked at Ji Nanjing with a stern look!
When Ji Nanjing saw this, he pursed his lips and felt a little aggrieved! I thought to myself, this old man is really crossing the river and burning the bridge!
"Grandpa has been traveling for several hours, so he must be hungry. Qing'er has already had food prepared!"
After Bai Yanqing said that, he ran to the door to see if Mo Ran was here! As soon as I went out, I saw Mo Ran bringing food! Bai Yanqing didn't care about anything else, and quickly took the tray from Mo Ran's hand, turned around and walked towards the house! Mo Ran and Yuan Li were left with dull faces!
How important is this distinguished guest that makes Bai Yanqing so anxious?
Mo Ran and Yuan Li looked at each other in shock!
Bai Yanqing carefully placed the items on the tray on the table, and then, as if asking for credit, Old General Chao Ji said: "I know that grandpa is coming today, so Qing'er specially asked someone to prepare this for you. I don't know if it suits your taste." !”
"How do you know grandpa will come today?"
Ji Nanjing was a little puzzled because he had never revealed it to Bai Yanqing. How could Bai Yanqing know that General Ji would come today?
"Because... I'm smart!"
Bai Yanqing made a face at Ji Nanjing, and then helped General Ji sit down.
"Grandpa, these are crab roe cakes, made by Qing'er's little aunt! The crab roe here is made from the freshest live crabs! It's so fresh! Come and try it!"
Bai Yanqing was too lazy to greet Ji Nanjing. She hurriedly picked out the largest piece of crab roe cake and handed it to General Ji, letting him taste it first!
General Ji took the crab roe cake with a smile and took a bite. It was salty and delicious, crispy and crumbly. It was indeed a rare delicacy!
"how?"
Bai Yanqing stared at General Ji nervously, for fear that he wouldn't like to eat.
"Not bad, not bad! It's really delicious!"
General Ji's brows relaxed and his eyes were full of love. Seeing him like this, Bai Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief! She was also afraid that her grandfather wouldn't like it!
"Grandpa, if you drink this tea, will it still satisfy your taste?"
Bai Yanqing poured the tea with her own hands and handed it to General Ji. Seeing this, General Ji quickly reached out and took it.
"The tea color is green and oily, with a rich tea aroma, and a faint fragrance of flowers. It is sweet in the mouth, sweet on the tip of the tongue, and lingers for a long time. It is the best Wuyi rock tea!"
General Ji took a sip of tea soup and couldn't help but praise!
"As expected of my grandfather, you can drink this!"
Bai Yanqing praised with a smile, then raised her hand and filled a cup of tea for Old General Ji.
"This is the second tea. The flavor of the tea is neither too strong nor too light. When paired with the crab roe cake, it is just enough to relieve the tiredness! Why do you bother me so much!"
General Ji couldn't help but praise Bai Yanqing. He could tell that everything Bai Yanqing had prepared had been carefully considered.
"It tastes good, but you can't drink too much! This tea, if you drink too much, you won't sleep well! If grandpa likes it, Qing'er will have you pack more tea leaves to take back!"
Bai Yanqing held down the teapot to prevent General Ji from drinking more. Although the tea was good, it was true that he would not be able to sleep if he drank too much!
"Hey, you two have a deep love for each other. My direct grandson looks like he was picked up!"
Ji Nanjing wiped his eyes pretending to be aggrieved, but others thought he was crying!
Bai Yanqing was too lazy to pay attention to him. She had finally met her grandfather once, so how could she be willing to talk nonsense with Ji Nanjing?
…
Outside the house, Yuan Li and Mo Ran were silently guarding the door. Although the people in the room deliberately lowered their voices, they could still hear clearly! It turned out that the person Bai Yanqing had been waiting for all night was actually General Ji! No wonder she is so cautious and meticulous!
The late night wind blows on people's bodies and is bone-chilling. Even through thick clothes, the overwhelming chill could not be concealed.
"Qing'er, come back! It's cold outside, go inside quickly!"
General Ji waved his hand towards Bai Yanqing, beckoning her to enter the room. Bai Yanqing stubbornly shook her head and refused to leave.
After all, it was time to say goodbye, and the dark night could not hide Bai Yanqing's reluctance.
"Grandpa came in a hurry and left in a hurry. Qing'er didn't have any good things to give to grandpa. These...just treat them as Qing'er's wishes. Grandpa, don't dislike them!"
Bai Yanqing ordered Mo Ran to pack a lot of crab cakes, as well as General Ji's favorite tea! They were all given to Ji Nanjing so that he could carry them easily!
General Ji endured the reluctance and turned his head away. The cold wind wet his eyes. He was cruel and flew away. In the distance, an unmanned carriage had been waiting for a long time...
"Grandpa, take care! Brother Jing, take care!"
Bai Yanqing looked at the two people flying away and murmured to themselves towards their backs. She didn't dare to shout loudly, she was afraid... those people hiding in the dark would suddenly come out again! He will embarrass the Ji family again in the morning tomorrow!
The small courtyard quickly regained its tranquility, and the familiar smell in the wind disappeared. It's as if no one has ever visited here late at night.
