Drunk Bamboo

Niuma Lane

Xie Yuzhu came out of Renji Hall and stretched himself: "Finally I've finished watching it."

Qi Zhen looked at the dark sky and said embarrassedly, "I didn't expect it to be so late. It's completely dark. Can I take you back?"

Xie Yuzhu smiled and said, "Don't bother. You must be tired after a day of seeing patients. Go back home and rest early. The old man in the palace is already waiting at the entrance of the alley."

When it was getting dark, Lao Liu came to pick her up in person in a horse-drawn carriage. Who would have thought that he would be busy until dark.

When we were almost at the entrance of the alley, we saw Lao Liu’s carriage.

Qi Zhen then said goodbye with relief: "Okay. My home is nearby, just a few steps away."

Xie Yuzhu nodded.

Sitting in the carriage, Xie Yuzhu recalled the day's events. Although it was very tiring and busy, she had learned a lot and was now satisfied.

When he got off the carriage at the palace, he ran into Hua Qinfeng.

From a distance, I could smell the scent of alcohol mixed with perfume on him.

"Is your Majesty going to drink wine?"

He was slightly stunned, probably because he didn't expect to be asked this question.

He deliberately said, "Yes. The wine in Taohualou is good, and you can listen to music and watch dance."

Xie Yuzhu smiled and said, "It seems that the prince had a good meal and had a good time today."

Hua Qinfeng immediately frowned and walked into the door without looking back.

Chaoyang sighed softly: "Princess, the prince has been thinking about you all day today. Aren't you saying this to deliberately anger the prince?"

Looking at the door, Xie Yuzhu looked puzzled: "Yunling, did I say something wrong?"

Yun Ling: "It seems not...it seems there is."

After returning to Changfeng Courtyard and bathing and changing clothes, Xie Yuzhu still did not see Hua Qinfeng, so she asked Yunling: "Where is the prince?"

Yun Ling was holding dinner and said, "Chaoyang said that the prince was practicing martial arts alone in the martial arts training ground?"

Seeing Yun Ling also looked tired, Xie Yuzhu said, "You go down and rest first. I'll go talk to him."

Yun Ling handed her the coat and said, "Princess, put on your coat. It's dark outside. Take the lantern."

He replied softly, "Yeah."

Although there were not many people living in the Prince Feng's Mansion, there were lanterns hung all around the Changfeng Courtyard, lighting up the path.

Xie Yuzhu was walking quietly on the road alone, holding a lotus lantern. She did not feel scared at all despite the huge palace.

As soon as I arrived at the training ground, I heard the sound of martial arts being swung as fast as the wind.

Under the dim light, Hua Qinfeng was only wearing a white gown, holding a piece of bamboo branch, dancing with dragons and phoenixes flying.

His eyes were focused and sweat was dripping down his forehead.

Perhaps because he was too focused, or because Xie Yuzhu left quietly, Hua Qinfeng took a long time to notice the person standing next to him.

He put away the bamboo stick and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"When did you come?"

She walked out from the dark trees with a smile, the light shining on her snow-white face.

"I thought the prince would have to practice for a while before he could find me."

"Is the prince angry?"

Hua Qinfeng said nothing.

She slowly approached, spoke softly, and asked patiently: "The prince said that if he was angry, he should practice martial arts with a branch. Is the prince angry that I didn't accompany him today?"

Finally he looked up at her and said, "I won't stop you from studying medicine, and I don't object to you developing herbal medicine. But you are so busy every day that you don't have time to take a good look at me."

Xie Yuzhu said innocently: "I am here to see the prince, aren't I?"

She said, "I am here to take the prince back to Changfeng Courtyard."

Hua Qinfeng stared into her eyes very seriously for a while.

Finally, he dropped the bamboo branch in his hand, put on a black coat, reached out to pick up the lantern in her hand, and turned back to Changfeng Courtyard.

Along the way, neither of them spoke.

This time, Hua Qinfeng spoke first:

"I went to drink wine and I wanted to make you angry, why didn't you react at all?"

Xie Yuzhu raised her head and said, "I believe in the character of the prince. He is not the kind of person who flirts with other women. I am not angry because I trust him. Does the prince want me to be a jealous woman who controls everything you do?"

"Do you believe me? Or do you not care about me?"

"Of course I care about you, my lord. Otherwise, I wouldn't come to see you so late at night. My lord, how else do you expect me to care about you?"

Hua Qinfeng hesitated and said, "You...what you say always makes sense. But...but in my heart I always...always..."

Xie Yuzhu took his empty arm and said, "Your Highness, just say whatever you want to say. I'm listening."

Under the starry sky, the path was winding and the street lights were flickering. Hua Qinfeng was holding a glowing lotus lantern in his hand, and his strong arm firmly held Xie Yuzhu's hand.

The voice was low and extremely gentle: "Yuzhu, you can compose poetry, appreciate paintings, write beautiful calligraphy, read a lot of books, and make medicine. You are eloquent and smart, everyone likes you, you are good at everything, you are excellent in everything."

"You, you are already so good, but you are still constantly learning. You want to write a book, you want to study medicine... and I can't help you at all. I'm afraid, I'm afraid..."

Xie Yuzhu was suddenly stunned. It turned out that she was so outstanding in his eyes.

Taking over the conversation, she said gently, "Your Highness is an excellent martial artist. You fight on the battlefield and guard the borders of Rao. What is easy for you to do? You can read poems and compose essays, but they are useless. I studied medicine because I thought I could help you. But I was afraid that I would not be able to help you."

Hua Qinfeng said in disbelief: "You, you studied medicine just for me?"

Looking into his eyes, she said seriously, "I had no intention of studying medicine. I only wanted to travel all over the mountains and rivers, collect poisonous plants, and complete the "Poisonous Herb Book". But after meeting the prince, I thought more and learned more. Because I have decided to go on with the prince, what the prince has to face is also what I have to face. I want to learn one more skill. It is always right to be prepared."

Hua Qinfeng stopped and said, "I didn't know you thought so much and thought so far ahead. I, I'm still angry that you and Qi Zhen are together..."

She just smiled faintly, and suddenly understood why Hua Qinfeng disliked Qi Zhen.

"Men and women are different. Most married women have many concerns even when they go out, not to mention that I've been with another man for the whole day. But, Your Majesty, you have to trust me, just as I trust Your Majesty. As a married woman, I should abide by the virtues of a woman."

"I regard Qi Zhen as my teacher. Once a teacher, always a father. I should be more respectful and polite to him."

Hua Qinfeng asked, "Father? You only treat him as an elder?"

He picked up his feet and continued to move forward, smiling faintly: "Both teacher and friend. Are you relieved now, Your Majesty?"

Hua Qinfeng held his head high, stubbornly refusing to admit, "I just don't like Qi Zhen. I have always believed in you."

She pursed her lips and smiled: "Yes, Your Majesty has a heart as broad as the sea, and he is the most considerate."

Then he asked, "Did you enjoy the wine tonight? I heard that there are so many beautiful women in Taohua Tower, and all the instruments and music are top-notch?"