When Eunuch Su saw Hui Ming, she was standing under the lantern at the palace gate. She wore a sky-blue hooded cloak with fur trim, standing slightly sideways, looking up at the light of the lanterns under the eaves. Her face was hidden by the hood, and he could only vaguely see her delicate nose tip, round jawline, slender figure, and graceful demeanor through the white mist.
It was like a beautiful scene from a dream, which made Su Jin stunned for a moment. He dared not go forward, as if taking one more step would wake him up from this beautiful dream.
After a while, Hui Ming seemed to notice something and suddenly turned her head. She saw Eunuch Su in a dark red official robe standing in the shadows, motionless, as if he was looking at her.
"Eunuch Su." Hui Ming walked up to him in a few steps, with a smile on her face: "Why are you standing there in such cold weather? I thought I was mistaken and got a fright."
Su Jin came back to his senses at her clear and pleasant voice. Only then did he see that Hui Ming's face was slightly pale from the cold wind, and even her lips were almost bloodless.
He clenched his hands together with some self-reproach. Su Jin secretly regretted his distraction just now, and just shook his head: "Why are you standing outside in such cold weather?"
To wait for you.
A straightforward answer that would certainly be misunderstood was on the verge of being spoken, but at the last moment, Hui Ming swallowed it back. She paused for a moment and added a few more explanations with the same meaning, which made it sound much more appropriate: "I have nothing else to do, and I thought that you haven't been to Changxing Palace before, so I came out to welcome you."
"There's no need for that!" Su Jin shook his head immediately. After saying that, he felt that his words sounded a bit too harsh, and he was afraid that Hui Ming would be unhappy, so he quickly added: "I have been in the palace for many years, and I am familiar with all the places. The wind is strong and cold, you just stay inside, I will find you myself."
Hui Ming nodded slightly when she heard this. Of course, she was not unhappy. It was clearly just an ordinary sentence, but when she heard it, she didn't know why, but she tasted a bit of sweetness from it.
It seems that seeing that we are one step closer to saving Eunuch Su's life, I am so happy that I feel happy hearing anything?
Thinking of this, Hui Ming pursed her lips and smiled. She led the way and walked towards Jingfang Hall with Eunuch Su.
On the way, Su Jin spoke first: "How is it in Changxing Palace? What duties did Concubine Kang give you?"
Hui Ming answered one by one.
Su Jin said again: "Concubine Kang was originally a Noble Consort conferred by the late emperor. Although she had no children, the Kang family also has some reputation in the capital. The current Minister of War is still her nephew. Although Changxing Palace is deserted, the Kang family is filial to this aunt, so they will not neglect her."
Only then did Hui Ming suddenly realize why, among so many consorts and noble ladies in the palace, only Concubine Kang not only lived comfortably in her own palace, but also had the energy to take care of the Seventh Prince.
It also explained why Concubine Kang gave her the title of a personal maid, but did not ask her to serve by her side. It seemed that she just wanted her to be an idler.
"You…have been dragged down by me." When he mentioned this, Su Jin's face showed some guilt: "Otherwise, as a good palace maid serving the emperor, you wouldn't have to come to Changxing Palace." "What are you talking about? To say something taboo, this Changxing Palace is much easier than serving the emperor!"
As they were talking, they arrived at the door of Jingfang Hall. At this hour, Nanny Wang was watching the little prince having dinner. There was no one in the compartment. Hui Ming took off her outer cloak, warmed her hands slightly by the brazier, and went to lift the copper pot, wanting to pour a cup of tea for Eunuch Su first.
After Su Jin entered the room, he looked at her almost without blinking, and naturally saw that Hui Ming's slender fingertips were red with cold after she stretched out her hand.
"Sit down and warm up for a while." Su Jin's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward to stop Hui Ming's movement. He took the teapot from her hand, sat down on a small stool beside him, picked out a clean one from the small porcelain cups carved with pomelo patterns beside him, rinsed it with hot water from the pot and put it aside, and then put the copper pot back on the brazier.
Hui Ming sat on the side blankly, watching Eunuch Su roll up his sleeves and slowly open the small tin can containing tea leaves with his slender fingers with distinct knuckles. He seemed a little dissatisfied with the tea leaves in the can and frowned slightly. He paused for a moment before taking out a bamboo tea spoon, slowly scooping out a small amount of tea leaves, pouring them into the bottom of the cup, lifting the kettle that had been heated on the fire for a while, and skillfully making a bowl of tea. He waited for a while, then lifted it up with both hands and handed it to Hui Ming, his voice deep: "The water is still hot, warm your hands with it, and it will be just right to drink when it cools down a bit."
What Nanny Wang had in her room was nothing but the cheap tea commonly used by palace people. The tea set was nothing more than a tea caddy and a tea bowl, without even a special teacup and stove.
But for some reason, with Eunuch Su's graceful posture, this bowl of rough tea seemed extraordinarily elegant. Hui Ming felt inexplicably unworthy of it, and hurriedly got up to take it with both hands.
The water in the pot was not too hot, and the wall of the teacup was thick, so it felt warm but not scalding to hold. She held it with both hands, and after a while, her fingers, which had been stiff from the cold wind, gradually felt comfortable.
Hui Ming waited for a while, then couldn't help but lower her head and take a small sip. The tea was fresh and strong, slightly bitter at first, but after swallowing, the warmth flowed from her mouth all the way to her stomach, and then she vaguely tasted a hint of sweetness.
It wasn't until this time that Hui Ming suddenly came back to her senses and remembered that she originally wanted to pour tea for Eunuch Su. In the end, not to mention that Eunuch Su didn't even take a sip of hot water, why did he bother to make himself a cup?
It was really rude…
However, Eunuch Su didn't seem to care. He put away the tea set and slowly unfolded a piece of silk cloth with a detailed drawing on the empty wooden table.
Hui Ming looked down -
It was a map of Jingxiang.
"Have you chosen a place, Eunuch?" When it came to business, Hui Ming forgot her previous impoliteness and asked seriously.
Eunuch Su lowered his head with some apology: "Although His Majesty said that I could choose any place, as a eunuch, it would be too ostentatious for me to choose a residence with three or five courtyards. So I chose and chose, and there are only these few places left." As Su Jin spoke, he pointed to her: "The most suitable one should be this one. It's closer to Xinglong Gate and not too noisy, but it's a little small."
Hui Ming followed Eunuch Su's guidance and looked one by one. Sure enough, on the map were all small square houses. The most suitable one was located outside Xinglong Gate, which was very convenient for going to and from work, but it was not directly opposite the gate, but turned a corner and took a step back, which was a quiet place in the midst of the hustle and bustle. Although it seemed to be smaller than the other places, it was actually a courtyard with two entrances, separated into front and back houses. It could be said to be small but complete.
Not to mention, it was just her and Eunuch Su, why would they need such a big place?
On the map, it was just a small courtyard the size of a fingernail, but Hui Ming liked it more and more as she looked at it. A smile appeared on her face, just like the night of the winter solstice: "I think it's good to live in the same place as Eunuch Su. If you think it's suitable, then let's choose this one!"
There it was again, exactly the same smile as when Hui Ming first said she was happy to live with him on the night of the winter solstice.
A faint blush appeared on Su Jin's cheeks. He felt as if his heart was being tightly clenched by someone in that smile. It stopped for a moment, then went crazy in his chest, as if someone had stuffed a deer into it, dissatisfied with the cramped surroundings, clamoring to rush out before it could be comfortable.
No, she is kind by nature. She knows that His Majesty did not punish me and is happy for me. Because of Wei's actions, she thinks that the rumor of "eating together" is just a misunderstanding, so she is so close to me.
If she realizes that it's not what she imagined, I'm afraid she will treat me coldly and guard against me everywhere, just like when she first arrived at Qiande Hall.
Thinking of this, Su Jin's heart sank.
In order to prevent Hui Ming from seeing anything wrong, he paused, and just like last time, he slightly turned his head to the side, forcing himself to take a slow breath without showing any trace. After his heartbeat calmed down a bit, he whispered: "In that case, I will choose this one. I will find someone to clean and repair it these few days, and add some more things. It will be ready to move in within three to five days at most."
Hui Ming didn't notice Su Jin's complicated thoughts, she just nodded repeatedly, and said with some regret: "It's a pity that I just arrived at Changxing Palace, it's not good to ask for leave as soon as I arrive. I can't help with packing."
Su Jin's expression became even gentler: "You don't have to worry about such trivial matters. If you want any furniture or decorations, tell me now and I'll prepare them." After saying that, he seemed afraid that Hui Ming would be polite to him, and explained: "When the palace grants a residence, they will slightly repair and add some things in advance. I was originally the chief eunuch, so these things are just a piece of cake."
Hui Ming had vaguely heard of this rule, so she mentioned a few things for her own convenience later on. After a while, her hand accidentally touched the small sachet containing the Seventh Prince's Buddhist beads. She thought about it and said: "If it's convenient, can you bring a chessboard? And some simple chess manuals, if possible." "You want to learn chess?" Su Jin was a little surprised, but at the same time, he was thinking that among the treasures that were confiscated from the Duke Zhenguo's mansion, His Majesty had returned many to him one after another. Among them was a chessboard made of green jade, and the chess pieces were made of high-quality black and white jade seeds. It would be just right to place them in Jingxiang for Hui Ming.
Hui Ming shook her head repeatedly: "Not me, it's the Seventh Prince. I see that he doesn't speak and stays in his room all day long. I think it would be good if he could have something to pass the time."
This was not Hui Ming's guess, but the only hobby that the little prince really reacted to after he ascended the throne. Other people would follow the chess manual step by step when they first learned to play chess, but the little prince, after reading a chess manual, would sit motionless in front of the chessboard for several days. He didn't seem to be practicing, but sometimes when the Grand Tutor left, he would deliberately leave behind an unfinished game. When he came back the next day, he would always clap his hands and praise him.
Hui Ming was thinking that it would be good for the little prince to be exposed to his only hobby earlier, but after hearing this answer, Su Jin's expression suddenly froze. He paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and responded: "Okay."