ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 100
After Li Suwan left, the crowd dispersed, and Li Zhizhi smiled at Xu Tingfeng and said, “You arranged it very well. No wonder the Crown Prince values you so much.”
Xu Tingfeng remained silent and replied, “Princess is too kind.”
Indeed, Li Zhizhi quite liked this guard. Although he didn’t talk much, he was very efficient in his work. Whatever she instructed, he quickly understood her meaning.
For example, the setup today—Li Zhizhi had only invited a skilled performer. As for those pa.s.sersby who were pointing and discussing near the Blue Sea Pavilion, and the young heroes who bravely stepped forward, they were all arranged by Xu Tingfeng. He even specifically ordered someone to light a furnace downstairs to fan smoke, and the effect was immediate.
Xu Tingfeng was truly a talented individual.
Li Zhizhi praised him a few more times, leaving him fl.u.s.tered and blushing, before stopping. She glanced at the nearby Shiyi Teahouse and suddenly remembered something, then walked in.
Xu Tingfeng stood in place for a while, his expression somewhat conflicted. Finally, he took out a small booklet from his pocket and wrote a few sentences on it. After a moment of hesitation, he hastily added another sentence.
Meanwhile, Li Zhizhi entered the teahouse, and the waiter courteously led her to a private room on the second floor before leaving. Li Zhizhi pushed the door open and softly spoke to the person inside, “Did you observe carefully just now, Sister Jiang?”
Standing by the window was a young girl wearing a light yellow shirt. Upon hearing Li Zhizhi’s voice, she turned around, revealing herself to be Jiang Ziyu. Her eyes were slightly red, her expression resentful, as she said, “It must be that vile Li Suwan seducing Brother Song!”
Li Zhizhi sighed and said, “I also feel that with Cousin Song’s good character, how could he do such reckless things? I think he must have been framed by her. I heard that today Li Suwan was supposed to meet Cousin Song.”
She was speaking nonsense with her eyes wide open, but Jiang Ziyu believed it to be true. She looked even more angry and cursed through gritted teeth, “This shameless little harlot.”
Li Zhizhi thought to herself, “Pot calling the kettle black.”
But she smiled on the surface and curiously asked, “Speaking of which, do you really like Cousin Song? Not just to compete with Tangyu?”
“Of course, I truly like him!” Jiang Ziyu seemed insulted, raising her voice. “Brother Song is so good, everyone looks down on me, but only he, only he treats me well, unlike others…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but blush. She had been living in the Su Mansion since she was young, growing up with the Su siblings. However, she always felt that those people looked down on her. Thus, she constantly compared herself with Su Tangyu, being careful at every step, fearing contempt. Only Song Lingyun, he had never given her a hard time, nor was he as hypocritical as Su Tangyu. To Jiang Ziyu, he was like the clouds in the sky, beyond reach.
Listening to Jiang Ziyu’s words, Li Zhizhi smiled slightly and said, “Actually, I feel the same way. Compared to Tangyu, you seem more compatible with Cousin Song.”
Jiang Ziyu didn’t expect her to say such things and looked somewhat surprised, hesitating, “You… Do you really think so? But aren’t you and Su Tangyu good friends?”
“Of course,” Li Zhizhi smiled, her eyes clear and sincere, “Although I am friends with Tangyu, as a person, I have to speak fairly. Tangyu’s temperament doesn’t seem suitable for Cousin Song.”
She said, then continued, “For instance, if something happened to Cousin Song just now, what would you do?”
Jiang Ziyu exclaimed excitedly, “Of course, I would help Cousin Song! I would expose Li Suwan’s true face and tear that despicable woman apart!”
Li Zhizhi smiled and nodded approvingly, “With your temperament and character, treating Cousin Song sincerely, how can Tangyu compare?”
Encouraged by her words, Jiang Ziyu felt a surge of joy in her heart, her eyes shining. But soon, her expression turned melancholy, her tone bitter, “But Cousin Song is already engaged to Su Tangyu. Even if we have feelings for each other, it’s futile.”
“What does that matter?” Li Zhizhi said, “I’ll help you persuade Tangyu. Maybe she’ll be willing to break off the engagement with Cousin Song?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ziyu’s face showed a hint of surprise, “Really?”
Li Zhizhi chuckled, “Of course.”
Jiang Ziyu became cautious again, “Why would you help me?”
She hadn’t forgotten that back in the Su family village, Li Zhizhi had threatened her by stepping on her hand. It seemed strange that she would help now.
Li Zhizhi hmm-ed and said, “If you really want to know, it’s probably because I don’t want to see Li Suwan continue to deceive Cousin Song. Cousin Song is a good person.”
At this point, she smiled sincerely and said, “He deserves someone better, like Sister Jiang. So please promise me, Sister, don’t let Li Suwan succeed.”
Li Zhizhi has not forgotten. In the previous life, after Song Lingyun and Su Tangyu called off their engagement, there were many rumors smearing Su Tangyu’s reputation, alleging that she had lost her innocence. These rumors spread far and wide, ultimately leading to Su Tangyu’s tragic end by throwing herself into the river.
Li Zhizhi couldn’t help but think that these rumors were likely spread by Jiang Ziyu. There were two reasons for this: Firstly, Jiang Ziyu had a gossipy and jealous personality, and secondly, she was closely acquainted with the affairs of the Su family due to her long residence there. The information she spread was easily believed by those who didn’t know the truth.
Having experienced firsthand how gossip could utterly destroy a person, Li Zhizhi was determined not to let Su Tangyu suffer the same fate again. She decided to let Jiang Ziyu and Li Suwan, along with the third person, stir up trouble. It was a fitting punishment for them.
…
Sure enough, within a couple of days, good news arrived. The Su family went to the Song family to call off the engagement, returning all the betrothal gifts. It was said that Mrs. Song’s face changed immediately, and she wanted to have a word with Su Tangyu’s mother, but was rebuked by Mrs. Su instead.
Su Tangyu even hung the white jade concentric pendant on the gate of the Song family, accompanied by a basket of large white radishes, mocking Song Lingyun’s infidelity.
The engagement of her friend was finally broken off, and Li Zhizhi was very happy. That day, she even ate an extra bowl of rice. The Grand Princess was surprised and asked, “Zhizhi, your appet.i.te seems unusually good today. Did you particularly enjoy this crystal broth?”
Li Zhizhi smiled and nodded, “Yes, it’s delicious!”
Xiao Rulei listened and quickly picked up a chopstick to serve her. Like an adult, she admonished, “If it’s delicious, elder sister, eat more. That’s how you grow tall.”
As they were talking, a maid suddenly entered and reported, “Someone from the palace sent a food box over, saying it’s a gift from the Emperor.”
The Grand Princess was somewhat surprised and said, “Quick, bring it in.”
Two eunuchs in green clothes carried the food box into the room. The leading eunuch bowed to the Grand Princess and Li Zhizhi, with a smile on his face, saying, “This servant greets Your Highness the Grand Princess, Seventh Princess, and Princess Zhao Hua. The Emperor enjoyed several dishes today and ordered the kitchen to make more, sending them over to the esteemed ladies.”
The eunuch opened the food box and carefully presented the dishes, which amounted to seven or eight varieties: shark fin and crab soup, clam and shrimp soup, roasted chicken, egg foo young, plum blossom buns…
“Oh,” Xiao Rulei said with a chopstick in her mouth, “there are also pancakes.”
Only then did Li Zhizhi notice that there was indeed a plate of pancakes. The outer layer was golden and crispy, sprinkled with white sesame seeds, looking very tempting. However, despite its appearance, among the various exquisite dishes, it seemed a bit plain.
The eunuch explained respectfully, “This is called spring pancake. Although it may not look impressive, there’s a lot of effort put into it. The imperial kitchen spent several days making it, and the Emperor found it quite good. Would the ladies like to try?”
Li Zhizhi looked at the spring pancake with some surprise. Wasn’t this the rice cake she mentioned to Emperor Jing Ming and Consort Rong a few days ago?
She picked up a piece and tasted it. Inside was indeed lamb meat, delicious and fragrant, with a crispy crust, and even the sesame seeds were aromatic.
The eunuch smiled and asked Li Zhizhi, “How does the Princess feel about the taste of this cake?”
Li Zhizhi nodded, smiled, and praised, “It’s very good, thank you for the Emperor’s reward.”
Xiao Rulei also liked the spring cakes very much. She ate two in a row, her belly bulging round, unable to eat any more. After lunch, the two sat on the jade mat in the corridor to cool off. The gentle breeze blew, the bamboo shadows swayed gently, making a rustling sound, which was very comfortable to listen to.
Xiao Rulei lay in Li Zhizhi’s arms playing with a nine-link ring. She was impatient and played for a while before fiddling with Li Zhizhi’s hair, praising, “Sister, your hair is so long, and it’s so smooth and soft.”
As she spoke, she leaned over and sniffed, “Fragrant.”
Li Zhizhi couldn’t help but smile, reached out and touched her hair, saying, “Let the maids wash your hair for you, so you’ll be fragrant too.”
“Not as fragrant as Sister,” Xiao Rulei sighed and said, “A’yang is satisfied with just smelling.”
She braided Li Zhizhi’s long hair into a braid and wrapped it around her own head, asking with a smile, “Is it pretty?”
“It’s pretty,” Li Zhizhi said, feeding her a grape.
Not long after, Xiao Rulei untied her braid again, sighed once more, looking lonely and bored. Li Zhizhi asked, “What’s wrong, A’yang?”
Xiao Rulei raised her eyes to look at her, whispered, “A’yang is missing her brother a little. When will he come back?”
“This…” Li Zhizhi remembered what Xiao Yan had said before and said, “It would probably take a few more days.”
Xiao Rulei counted on her fingers and her expression immediately fell, “It’s only the fourth day today, it’s still a long time.”
Li Zhizhi comforted her, saying, “Brother will bring you delicious food and fun things when he comes back.”
Xiao Rulei leaned in her arms, clinging to her waist, sighing, “A’yang doesn’t want delicious food and fun things anymore, she just wants brother to come back soon.”
Li Zhizhi patiently comforted her, and after a while, her emotions calmed down a bit, then she asked Li Zhizhi, “Does sister miss brother too?”
Li Zhizhi agreed with her, nodding, “Yes, I miss him.”
Xiao Rulei immediately felt much better, then ate a chilled grape and coquettishly said, “Then let’s think of brother together?”
Li Zhizhi naturally agreed, “Okay.”
Not far away in the corridor, Xu Tingfeng sat in the shade of the trees, the gentle breeze carrying the whispers of the girls over, though faint, still clear.
With one hand holding a book and the other holding a pen, he contemplated for a while before finally writing a line in the book.
In the summer of the twenty-first year of Jingming, on the fifth day of the first month, Seventh Princess missed master, and Princess Zhao Hua also missed him.
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