MYUFPC CHAPTER 19
What exactly had he been busy with recently?
Since that candid conversation with Zhan Yue, Jiashan hadn't seen him for quite some time. Although they resided in the same manor, Zhan Yue seemed to be constantly occupied with other matters.
Initially, Jiashan didn't think much of it. As a commander, Zhan Yue was naturally a busy man, and it was only natural for him to be occupied with other affairs, even though his primary duty was to protect her and Yuan Kang.
However, when Dancui suddenly brought her a hairpin one day, Jiashan began to feel a bit strange.
Compared to Su Yu, Dancui was more lively and easily persuaded. Su Yu had been a palace maid in Fengyang Pavilion for many years, while Dancui had only recently been promoted. Thus, if any of the other maids encountered any problems, they would often seek help from Dancui.
Jiashan hadn't expected that Zhan Yue would also take this route.
One morning, as Jiashan was just getting up, Su Yu was applying makeup to her in front of the mirror when Dancui came in from outside, suspiciously holding something in her arms.
Jiashan sized up Dancui and thought she had a craving for something and had asked someone to buy it for her from the market, but was afraid of being laughed at if she said so, so she was being so cautious.
Jiashan teased, "What good thing have you gotten? You don't know how to show it to your princess?"
Dancui stepped forward and giggled, her eyes sparkling. She said with a smile, "Your Highness misunderstood. This isn't mine, it's yours."
Jiashan raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, "What's going on?"
Dancui took out the treasure from her arms, an antique box. Judging by its appearance, it probably contained hairpins or bracelets.
Dancui said mysteriously, "This was given to me by Zhan Daren, who asked me to give it to you."
Jiashan paused, and even Su Yu, who was drawing Jiashan's eyebrows, was startled. Together with Dancui, she cautiously glanced at the expression on Jiashan's face before continuing.
After Su Yu finished applying makeup to Jiashan, Jiashan turned to look at Dancui. She asked curiously, "Why would Zhan Daren give me something for no reason? Besides this, did he say anything else?"
Dancui nodded, "He did. Daren said that he was grateful that Your Highness was willing to listen to his heart that day, and this is both a thank-you gift and an apology. He also asked Your Highness not to refuse."
Jiashan frowned.
"Bring it here," Jiashan beckoned to Dancui, her gaze fixed on the rectangular box.
Dancui hurriedly handed it over.
Upon opening it, she found that it indeed contained a simple hairpin. The hairpin was golden red, with a string of Jingtai blue glass droplets wrapped around the head and a delicate jade orchid embedded in the middle.
The jade was about the size of a thumb, warm to the touch, and had an ivory-white texture with a clear, greasy luster. Jiashan gently touched it, and it felt like Hetian jade.
Su Yu, who was in charge of managing Jiashan's hairpins and jewelry, had seen many such things and said, "This hairpin looks like an antique. I didn't expect Zhan Daren to be so generous."
Jiashan closed the box and turned to Dancui, seeming a bit helpless, "He gave it to you, so you just took it?"
Dancui scratched her head and said hesitantly, "I... I saw that Zhan Daren seemed sincere, so I really couldn't refuse him."
Seeing that Jiashan had no expression, neither happy nor angry, she lowered her head and said, "If Your Highness doesn't like it, I'll return it to Zhan Daren right away."
"There's no need for that," Jiashan sighed softly. "A golden hairpin is not a valuable item. Giving it back and forth would just be hypocritical. But in the future, if anyone else gives you something to pass on to me, don't accept it right away, so as to avoid gossip."
Dancui nodded quickly, "Yes."
Dancui was still a bit naive and young, not as experienced as Su Yu. This time, it was fine with Zhan Yue, but if it were someone else, with malicious intent, and if she accepted everything, she might get into trouble.
Zheng mama was old, Su Yu would be released from the palace next year, and the once trusted Han Zhu was no longer reliable. Besides Dancui, she needed to cultivate a few more trustworthy and stable people around her.
Jia Shan frowned thoughtfully.
Initially, Jiashan hadn't taken this matter too seriously. Zhan Yue said it was a "thank-you gift and an apology", which was a strange reason, but it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
It wasn't until she returned to her courtyard that day that Jiashan remembered that she had been led astray by Zhan Yue and had completely forgotten that she was the one who should have been demanding an explanation for eavesdropping.
Instead, she had been confused by him.
So, she thought it was reasonable for him to send a golden hairpin.
That very afternoon, Princess Ruyang invited them over for lunch. Jiashan asked Su Yu to help her pin the hairpin that Zhan Yue had sent to her hair.
"It's so beautiful," Su Yu smiled. "Your Highness's crimson blue dress today goes perfectly with this hairpin."
Hearing this, Jiashan also looked in the mirror. The person in the mirror was dressed in a young girl's attire, adorned with makeup, radiant and beautiful.
Jiashan couldn't help but curl the corner of her mouth in a smile.
Fifteen years old, she thought, "at such a beautiful age, how could she not be beautiful?"
They went to Princess Ruyang's courtyard.
Zhao Youze had already arrived and was slowly sipping a bowl of green glutinous rice porridge spoonfully.
"Sister is here," Zhao Youze raised his head without anyone saying anything and smiled, wiping his mouth. "Aunt wants me to stay in her courtyard today. I've almost finished copying my scriptures, so can I rest here for a day?"
Since realizing how intelligent her younger brother was, Jiashan always looked at him with more affection and pride.
They had been at Changchun Temple for nearly twenty days, and Zhao Youze had been copying scriptures every day without fail. He wrote slowly, but had almost finished now, so he asked Jiashan for a day's rest.
Jiashan looked at him and saw the anticipation on Zhao Youze's face. She nodded and smiled, "Then Yuan Kang must keep Aunt company."
"Okay!" Zhao Youze smiled so hard his eyes disappeared.
Princess Ruyang had cooked herself today, but Jiashan arrived a little late and the dishes were almost all on the table.
When she arrived, the female attendant began to serve them food.
Jiashan noticed that there were only three chairs set up at the dinner table. It could just fit Princess Ruyang, Jiashan, and Zhao Youze, which meant that Zhan Yue wouldn't be coming today.
What exactly had he been busy with recently?
Jiashan couldn't help but feel curious.
"Yanqing has been busy with official matters these days, so let's not wait for him. Let's eat," Before the meal started, Princess Ruyang took the initiative to say with a smile.
Zhao Youze had already smelled the delicious food long ago and upon hearing this, he nodded happily and started to eat.
Princess Ruyang had never had children of her own and always liked his childish temperament. After spending time with him, she saw that Zhao Youze was obedient and sensible, and except for his blindness, he was perfect in every way. She couldn't help but pay more attention to him.
Now, seeing Zhao Youze's pink and tender face, without any worldly sophistication, she felt even happier. Her maternal instincts kicked in, and she clipped many dishes into Zhao Youze's bowl.
Seeing this, Jiashan smiled and said, "After living here for a while, it seems like Yuan Kang has become even more plump than he was in the palace. I'm afraid Yuan Kang won't get used to it when we return to the palace."
Ruyang also laughed and said, "The mountains and waters here are nourishing, and with you, his elder sister, taking care of him, I dare not take credit."
Jiashan smiled and lowered her head, also picking up a piece of local cabbage and putting it into her bowl. The cabbage in Changchun Temple was grown by the nuns themselves, and it was sweet and tender, very delicious.
As she lowered her head, Ruyang couldn't help but glance at the hairpin in her hair a few times.
A moment later, Princess Ruyang put down her chopsticks, and the corners of her lips stiffened slightly.