Chapter 90: Appreciating Snow

  Chapter Ninety Rewarding Snow

  Chao Sheng picked up that handkerchief.

  It has been kept in a box all along, but because there is dry hay underneath, the handkerchief carries a faint scent of grass.

  Chao Sheng picked up the handkerchief.

  This handkerchief has been with her for so long, and when she was in the laundry alley, she couldn't take good care of it, so she found an old piece of cloth, washed and dried it clean, and wrapped the handkerchief in it.

  Although it's not worth much, it brings her a lot of comfort.

  Now she lives a stable life and hasn't taken out this handkerchief for a long time.

  Maybe... she shouldn't keep this anymore.

  But should it be thrown away? Burned?

  She held the handkerchief and stared blankly for a while, still reluctant to part with it.

  Chao Sheng put the handkerchief back in the box.

  The whole garden is full of bright red leaves, and the window is also dyed with a crimson color.

  In a few more days, it will snow. The crystal ice and snow will cover the layers of red leaves.

  Maybe next year we won't see all this anymore.

  Just thinking about snow, entering October, it indeed snowed a lot.

  The person who got up early to sweep the yard was diligently sweeping away the snow, with each stroke of the big broom revealing the stone path. Xiao Shun quickly came out of the house: "Stop, don't sweep anymore."

  The two snow sweepers were stunned, and one of them asked: "Why don't you sweep?"

  "Your Highness has ordered that it's enough to just sweep the road, no need to sweep other places."

  Chao Sheng went back home and took a look inside.

  The fourth prince wants to enjoy the snow?

  Snowflakes are reflected on the wall, on the window, and when looking far away, it's hazy. The black tiles are covered with a layer of white jade. Everything familiar in the past has changed its appearance, like a brand new, clean and pure world.

  The fourth prince indeed wanted to enjoy the snow, and also invited the fifth prince, sixth prince, and seventh prince to come together. The wine was set up in the pavilion, with a small charcoal stove in the middle of the table, and there were braziers at the four corners of the pavilion. In the windy place, there were grass curtains hanging. The sixth prince greatly admired it, looking around: "As the poem says, living in seclusion in the mountains and fields, three or two like-minded friends cooking wine to enjoy the snow, I have always envied it, and didn't expect that today, thanks to the fourth brother's good fortune, we can also experience a elegant and refined atmosphere."

  The seventh prince, who usually didn't get along with him, deliberately looked for trouble this time: "Hey, the snow is great, the wine must be good too, it's just that the person appreciating the snow... Heh heh, probably not very elegant."

  The sixth prince turned his head to look at him, and unexpectedly didn't quarrel with him as usual: "Hey, I'm here to clear my mind today, don't have so much spare energy to be angry."

  The Seventh Prince was greatly surprised.

  The sixth prince did not follow the usual routine and did not accept the invitation. He also didn't know how to proceed next.

  The fourth prince said: "It's cold outside, but warm inside the pavilion."

  The water on the stove had already boiled. Chao Sheng led Coral and took out the wine pot, wrapping a cloth around the handle.

  The fourth prince waved his hand: "No need for you to serve us, today we will take care of ourselves."

  Chao Sheng nodded and left the pavilion with Coral.

  Although the fourth prince said he didn't need to be served, that doesn't mean they could really slack off. They had to serve hot dishes, refill wine, and pour tea and water, which of these tasks didn't require their service?

  The eighth prince also came to join in the fun, sitting in the last position. However, he couldn't sit still, his legs dangling and swinging back and forth. The fourth prince and the others were drinking and didn't have a share for this little bean, when speaking he couldn't get a word in edgewise, after a while he couldn't sit still anymore, leading two small eunuchs to run wildly around the courtyard.

  The sixth prince said, "What a pity we have so few people. I heard that others go out to enjoy the snow, with dozens of people, they make poetry together, paint together, and drink until they are drunk. Fourth brother, you only prepared this little wine, it's not enough to get drunk."

  The seventh prince slanted him a glance: "Still want to drink? Haven't you finished your homework? Have you written those ten characters yet?"

  "What's it got to do with you?"

  "It's none of my business." The Seventh Prince smiled and said: "If someone gets scolded or punished tomorrow, then it will be even less related to me."

  "The fifth prince intervened: 'Alright, alright, today is the fourth brother's treat, let's just enjoy ourselves and worry about tomorrow's affairs tomorrow.'"

  After drinking wine, I feel warm all over. The grass curtains of the pavilion have also been rolled up. The wind blows by, and the branches sway, with snowflakes falling down rustling.

  The sixth prince held up his half cup of wine and said somewhat listlessly, "Fourth brother's good days are also near, once you move out, it won't be easy for us to gather like this again."

  The fourth prince smiled: "You're being stubborn again, isn't it easy to see me? Don't you think that if I leave the palace, you won't come looking for me?"

  The sixth prince's eyes lit up: "Right. Once you leave the palace, I can leave the palace to see you whenever I want." As soon as he thought of this, he became restless and wished that the fourth prince would get married and leave the palace today, so he could have more places to play.

  It's said that the six princes and their dragon and phoenix children are very noble, but having grown up like this, they've hardly ever left the palace gates.

  "Eh, congratulations Fourth Brother, hehe......" The Sixth Prince leaned in close to the Fourth Prince's ear and whispered something, the Fourth Prince just smiled.

  The fifth prince also chimed in, "I've heard that Second Brother's estate has added several new concubines, all of whom are extremely beautiful. Let's go to Second Brother's estate another day and ask for some wine to drink."

  The tide has left an impression on my heart.

  The second prince has a concubine?

  Who is she? Does she know her?

  After enjoying the snow for a while, the sixth prince got half drunk and needed someone to support him when walking.

  His homework of writing ten thousand characters is definitely going down the drain, and he can't escape punishment tomorrow.

  The fourth prince also drank a few more cups, his face slightly flushed, he refused to wear a cloak: "I'll just take a walk in the garden."

  Chun Mo did not agree: "That won't do, it's easiest to catch a chill after drinking. Your Highness, if you don't wear a cloak, we wouldn't dare let you out the door."

  The fourth prince smiled: "Alright."

  Xiao Shun took over the cloak and put it on him, and the Fourth Prince turned around and left.

  Chun Mo stood still, seemingly still not at ease.

  Chao Sheng whispered: "Sister also come and take a look."

  "But later on, Duke Wei is going to lead the craftsmen to inspect, I won't be able to go." Chun Mo gently pushed her: "You go, be careful."

  Chao Sheng hurriedly responded with a "yes" and quickly rushed up.

  The snow outside was also swept away, but the stone path was extremely slippery. Chao Sheng almost fell on her butt, and the Fourth Prince stopped to wait for her to catch up when he heard the commotion.

  The cold wind blew against her nose and cheeks, making them slightly red, as if rouge had been applied. The breath she exhaled immediately turned into white mist.

  The fourth prince didn't say anything and continued walking forward.

  The fourth prince has something on his mind.

  Chao Sheng had a hunch that he was worried, although the fourth prince and his brothers were chatting and laughing together just now, Chao Sheng felt that his mind was not on that.

  The tide was born with his head down, paying attention to the road under his feet, for fear of falling again.

  When the person in front stopped, Chao Sheng also stopped and looked up.

  Where have they gone?

  The waves rose up, one corner of the black flying eaves was raised high, under the overcast sky it was like a crow spreading its wings.

  This is Luoshui Pavilion.

  Cháo shēng jì dé zhè lǐ.

  Translation: Chao Sheng remembers this place.

  There is a large patch of osmanthus trees here. In the autumn, she had also come here to pick osmanthus flowers. The mooncakes and honey cakes they steamed used osmanthus flowers from here.

  It's just that this place is desolate and rarely visited, and it has snowed again, so I couldn't recognize it for a while.

  In the Autumn Palace, there was a rumor circulating that the eldest prince had died under suspicious circumstances and his spirit still lingered. At night, people would claim to hear strange noises in the Luo Shui Pavilion, like ghosts or foxes, wailing and weeping. It's better to believe such things exist. Firstly, because of taboos, secondly, due to fear, gradually fewer people came, even the cleaning staff would often slack off and not show up. The vegetation here was particularly lush, but it lacked a bit of human presence, although being within the deep palace walls, it gave one a desolate feeling as if in a wilderness.

  Chao Sheng hesitantly asked: "Your Highness?"

  The fourth prince asked: "Do you want to leave the palace?"

  Although I don't know how the fourth prince asked such a question, Chao Sheng thought for a moment and nodded: "I think so."

  "Why?"

  Does it still need to be asked?

  I heard someone describe the imperial palace as a prison that devours people. If you have the chance to leave, why not go? Only fools would stay behind.

  Of course she can't say that.

  "My family is outside the palace. Once I leave, I'll be closer to home. Besides, the rules are strict inside the palace. It's always more relaxing once you're out."

  The fourth prince turned his head and glanced at her, his face calm and expressionless.

  Since the first time he saw him, the Fourth Prince had always been expressionless - without any expression.

  The fourth prince must also be thinking about his own departure from the palace.

  Unlike He Chao, he was born in the palace and grew up in the palace. As for the outside world, he is probably both yearning and fearful.

  The tide was born to search for intestines and scrape belly, but also couldn't think of anything to comfort him.

  The fourth prince gave people a habitual impression, which was really too calm and composed.

  Someone is too excellent, letting others can only look up to him.

  How can one comfort such a strong person? Even if one has the heart to, there's no way to start.

  The fourth prince walked forward again, and Chao Sheng hurriedly followed up.

  "How have you been spending your days outside the palace?"

  This finally made Chao Sheng stay.

  She didn't know what life was like outside the palace. She entered the palace soon after she was born and had a very limited understanding of the outside world.

  "Uh, my family is not well off..."

  That's true, the family was really poor, with nothing valuable to be found. If they had some money or something to pawn at that time, she might have been able to make ends meet and wouldn't have entered the palace.

  "There were only my uncle and me at home, we lived at the end of the alley, there was a locust tree in front of the gate, and the back door faced another alley, after going out it was another street..."

  These were all things she learned in those few short days.

  "Not far from the back door, there are vendors selling buns and a grocery store. It's very lively during the daytime..."

  That's true, the family was really poor, with nothing valuable to be found. If they had some money or something to pawn at that time, she might have been able to make ends meet and wouldn't have entered the palace.

  "There were only my uncle and me at home, we lived at the end of the alley, there was a locust tree in front of the gate, and the back door faced another alley, after going out it was another street..."

  These were all things she learned in those few short days.

  "Not far from the back door, there are vendors selling buns and a grocery store. It's very lively during the daytime."