PFC Chapter 255: Taking Xu Fenghua on a one-day trip to the capital.
Chapter 255: Taking Xu Fenghua on a one-day trip to the capital.
far away.
In a corner of the Imperial Garden.
Wang Jimin, carrying his medicine box, staggered into a secluded spot behind a rockery.
He leaned against the artificial hill, panting heavily.
Cold sweat continued to stream down my forehead.
His hands were trembling violently.
He had been trembling ever since Qin Mu uttered the words "I'll spare your life."
It's not because of fear.
Rather, it's because—
I was terrified.
That was too dangerous.
That was too dangerous.
We were almost exposed.
He and the Empress were almost finished.
Okay,
Fortunately, he hesitated this morning and didn't actually bring the abortion pills, but instead brought a diarrhea pill.
He always felt that the young lady might regret it later, after all, it was her flesh and blood.
So, he deliberately kept a backup plan. Instead of taking the abortion pill, he took a diarrhea medicine to try and fool the prostitute first.
But when Qin Mu questioned him, he couldn't say it was a diarrhea medicine, since who would carry a diarrhea medicine around for no reason?
He could only say it was an antidiarrheal medicine, but he didn't expect Qin Mu to actually see its effects.
Wang Jimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with a complex and clear vision.
He knew that from now on, he could no longer take risks.
At least, not for the time being.
He has to wait.
Wait until the storm passes.
Once Qin Mu lowered his guard.
wait--
We'll look for another opportunity.
Wang Jimin took a deep breath, picked up his medicine box, and walked out from behind the artificial hill.
We walked along a secluded path towards the Imperial Hospital.
His steps were still somewhat unsteady.
But that silhouette carried a sense of relief, as if he had survived a catastrophe.
And a deep, lingering shadow.
......
And this moment.
Deep within the Imperial Garden.
Qin Mu and Xu Fenghua walked side by side on the path covered with golden fallen leaves.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two people.
Xu Fenghua's heart was still pounding.
But her face remained expressionless.
She simply walked quietly, accompanying the man she could never truly understand.
Qin Mu walked beside her, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
His gaze occasionally swept across her face, a smile playing on his lips.
That smile was very gentle.
But in Xu Fenghua's eyes, it sent chills down her spine.
The autumn wind swept through the Imperial Garden, swirling up a few golden ginkgo leaves, which then landed on the cobblestone path.
Xu Fenghua followed Qin Mu's side for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, and the turmoil in her heart gradually subsided a little.
Wang Jimin's matter has passed without serious incident.
Although that line can no longer be used for the time being, at least—
At least Qin Mu did not discover the truth.
At least she kept her pregnancy a secret.
At least she still has time to think about what to do next.
Xu Fenghua took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress those chaotic thoughts.
She looked up at the moon-white figure walking ahead of her.
Qin Mu walked slowly, his pace relaxed and casual, as if he were simply taking a stroll in his own backyard.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating his handsome profile with exceptional clarity.
His lips always held that ambiguous smile, and his gaze would occasionally sweep over the flowers and plants by the roadside, or sometimes look towards the pavilions and towers on the artificial hill in the distance.
They look really relaxed.
But Xu Fenghua knew that this man never did anything meaningless.
His current leisurely demeanor must be hiding some purpose.
She just couldn't figure it out yet.
Just then, Qin Mu suddenly stopped.
Xu Fenghua also stopped and looked up at him.
Qin Mu turned around and his gaze fell on her face.
There was a smile in those deep eyes.
"My beloved concubine," he spoke, his voice soft yet tinged with amusement, "you've been in the capital for so long, haven't you had a proper look around yet?"
Xu Fenghua was slightly taken aback.
She didn't expect Qin Mu to ask this question suddenly.
She has indeed been in the capital for a long time.
From the moment she was forcibly taken as a concubine, she was trapped in this imperial city.
Day after day, night after night.
All I could see were those vermilion palace walls, those carved beams and painted rafters, and those palace maids and eunuchs who always bowed their heads and were always obedient.
The outside world seemed like a century away to her.
Xu Fenghua lowered her eyes and spoke softly:
"Your Majesty, I have indeed never left the palace since I entered it."
Qin Mu nodded.
Then he smiled.
The smile seemed more genuine than before, carrying a kind of interest that Xu Fenghua had never seen before...?
"That's perfect," he said. "Come with me for a stroll outside the palace."
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
Leaving the palace?
Now?
She looked up at Qin Mu, her amber eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Don't you want to go?"
Xu Fenghua quickly shook her head.
"Your Majesty... I was just a little surprised," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled gently.
He didn't say anything more, but simply reached out and took her hand.
The warmth of that palm, with its calloused texture, made Xu Fenghua's heart skip a beat.
He led her along the path.
Qin Mu and Xu Fenghua first changed into ordinary clothes, and then disguised themselves briefly.
The two then passed through numerous palace gates and around layers of halls.
About fifteen minutes later, the two stood in front of a secluded palace gate.
The palace gate was small, its vermilion paint faded and unremarkable.
A plain blue cloth carriage was parked at the entrance, and a coachman dressed in a gray short jacket was dozing off on the carriage shaft.
Qin Mu stepped forward and gently patted the coachman's shoulder.
The coachman was startled awake. Upon seeing Qin Mu, he immediately tried to kneel down to pay his respects.
Qin Mu waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.
Then, he lifted the carriage curtain and looked back at Xu Fenghua.
"Get in the car," he said.
Xu Fenghua took a deep breath and stepped onto the carriage.
The carriage was small and simply furnished.
Two soft couches facing each other, a small tea table, and a few cushions.
Compared to the magnificent imperial carriages in the palace, it was as simple as a beggar's dwelling.
But as Xu Fenghua sat in the carriage, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
Leaving the palace.
She was finally leaving the palace.
Although it was only temporary, and although the man she hated to the core was still sitting next to her.
But at least, she can see the outside world now.
I can see those long-lost streets and alleys, those ordinary people, those—
The warmth and life of everyday people.
The carriage shuddered slightly and slowly started moving.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a dull "gurgling" sound.
Xu Fenghua leaned against the car wall and looked out the window through the gap in the curtain.
The palace walls slowly receded, one layer after another.
Finally, the carriage drove out of the heavy palace gate.
Outside, it's a completely different world.
……
The carriage stopped at the intersection of a bustling street.
Qin Mu lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down first.
Then, he turned around and reached out his hand to Xu Fenghua.
Xu Fenghua looked at the hand and hesitated for a moment.
Then she reached out and took his hand.
His hands were still warm, with a thin layer of calluses on them.
She used the momentum to jump off the carriage and stood beside him.
I looked up and gazed at everything before me.
This is a wide street lined with shops on both sides, and bustling with pedestrians.
Selling cloth, selling grain, selling cosmetics, selling calligraphy and paintings, antiques...
Various signs gleamed in the afternoon sunlight.
There are also many stalls along the street selling steaming hot buns, golden and crispy fried cakes, and crystal clear candied hawthorns.
The cries of vendors rose and fell, mingling with the laughter of pedestrians and the chasing sounds of children, weaving together a lively and vibrant symphony of the marketplace.
Xu Fenghua stood at the street corner, staring blankly at everything.
How long has it been since she last saw a scene like this?
From the age of eight, she was confined to the inner courtyard of a large family mansion, learning everything that young ladies from wealthy families were supposed to learn.
Later, after marrying into the Zhao family, although she was able to move around secretly on the trade routes in Jiangnan, she was always surrounded by a large entourage and heavily guarded whenever she went out.
Later, she was forcibly taken as a concubine, and was completely isolated from the world.
Standing on this bustling street, watching the ordinary people coming and going, she suddenly felt like a frog that had crawled out of a well.
So this is what the outside world is like.
Qin Mu smiled gently as he looked at her.
"Let's go," he said, "I'll take you to try the best food in the capital."
He took her hand and stepped into the crowd.
Xu Fenghua was led by him, following closely behind.
She discovered that Qin Mu was very familiar with this place.
He skillfully navigated through the crowd and arrived at a stall selling candied hawthorns.
"Old Zhang, two skewers, please," he said.
The old man selling candied hawthorns looked up, saw Qin Mu, and his eyes lit up.
"Oh, young master, you're here again!" he said with a smile, deftly taking two of the largest strings of candied hawthorns from the straw target and handing them over. "Same as always, extra sesame seeds?"
Qin Mu nodded.
The old man scooped a spoonful of roasted sesame seeds from a small jar next to him and sprinkled them evenly on the candied hawthorn.
The glistening sugar coating was instantly covered with golden sesame seeds, which sparkled in the sunlight.
Qin Mu took the string of pearls and handed it to Xu Fenghua.
Xu Fenghua stared blankly at the string of candied hawthorns.
Bright red hawthorns, coated with a layer of glistening sugar and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
very common.
She saw it every winter when she was in the North.
But she had never eaten it.
Because those rules told her that a lady from a respectable family should not stand on the street to eat.
That would be improper.
"Try it." Qin Mu's voice rang in my ears.
Xu Fenghua raised her head and looked at him.
He was biting into a candied hawthorn, with a little sugar stain still on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were full of smiles.
Where was the slightest bit of imperial majesty in that appearance?
He's clearly just an ordinary rich kid who loves to eat.
A sense of absurdity welled up in Xu Fenghua's heart.
She took the candied hawthorn and took a small bite.
The sourness of hawthorn, combined with the sweetness of sugar coating, explodes on the tip of the tongue.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
good to eat.
It's really delicious.
Qin Mu's smile deepened as he looked at her.
"How is it?" he asked.
Xu Fenghua nodded.
"It's delicious," she said.
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of satisfaction that she herself didn't even realize...
Qin Mu smiled, took her hand, and continued walking forward.
Next, he took her on a tour of the entire street.
He took her to buy freshly steamed buns. The buns had thin skins and generous fillings; one bite and your mouth would be filled with juicy goodness.
He took her to eat steaming hot wontons. The wonton soup was delicious, with bright green scallions and golden egg skin floating on top.
He took her to try a crispy, crumbly sesame seed cake, which was sprinkled with sesame seeds and made a "crunch" sound when you took a bite.
At each stall, he greeted the vendors as if they were old acquaintances.
"Old Wang, two sesame seed cakes, please!"
"Aunt Li, two bowls of wontons, with extra cilantro!"
"Xiao Chen, is your fried cake still warm?"
The stall owners greeted him warmly when they saw him.
"Young master, you've arrived! Did you bring your wife along today?"
"Madam is so beautiful! Young master, you are so lucky!"
"Come on, come on, it's fresh out of the pot, eat it while it's hot!"
Xu Fenghua stood aside, watching him chat and laugh with the stall owners.
The sense of absurdity in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
Is this man buying sesame cakes on the street and chatting with the vendor really the Qin Emperor, who was high above in the court and unfathomable in the deep palace?
Is this man, who smiles with satisfaction when he eats something delicious, really the one who imprisoned, humiliated, and tormented her?
She couldn't see through it.
I really can't see through it.
……
After strolling through the snack street, Qin Mu took her to a bustling square.