A piece of Japanese incense

The next day, I arrived at the classroom as usual when the bell rang.

Princess Tingzhu's seat was empty. I looked around and saw Princess Qi looking at me. I waved to her and she blushed and lowered her head.

I spread out the rice paper and took out the brush to write, intending to write down the mess I had seen yesterday.

Yesiming: In the territory of Nanyue, the five grains have no taste, and the flowers have no fragrance. Only this flower is particularly fragrant, and its fragrance does not change with the water and soil. The women there thread colorful silk through the heart of the flower, and use it as jewelry.

Alpinia galanga: Mainly used to regulate the middle and lower qi, relieve pain caused by cold air, stop cholera, help digestion, and kill alcohol poisoning.

Crane grass: creeping, its flowers are dusty in color, with light purple stems, and leaves like willows but short. It blooms in summer and looks like a flying crane, with beak, wings, tail and feet. It comes from the South China Sea and is said to be a charm grass. There are insects on it, which shed into butterflies when old, and are red and yellow. Women who hide them are called charm butterflies, which can attract the love of their husbands.

……

They are all classical Chinese, and I only have a vague understanding of them.

I glanced at her casually and saw that Princess Qi briefly looked to the left and then quickly lowered her head to read. I looked at them one by one and found that Zhi Siqi's seat was also empty. He didn't even come to class.

After class, I folded up the rice paper and put it under my book, propped up my chin, and turned to the direction of Princess Qi. It was empty, and I didn't know where she went. There was a circle of people around Princess Yan's seat, and I didn't want to join in the fun.

"Ahe!"

Someone patted my right shoulder. I turned my head and saw nothing. I turned to the left and there was nothing there either.

I sighed softly, revealing a hint of helplessness, and stared ahead.

"Hey! Why don't you look for me anymore?" Feng Zhixu was standing outside the window with his hands on his hips.

“I didn’t find it.”

"Why didn't you listen to the teacher's lecture? What have you been writing?"

"Since Your Highness can find out that I didn't listen to the class seriously, then Your Highness must not have listened to the class seriously either." I raised my chin and shook my head.

"Do you still want to go to Wenyuan Pavilion?"

"I've thought about it, it's not safe to sneak in all the time. Since Wenyuan Pavilion is only guarded by Grandpa Li, I just need to build a good relationship with him and let him let me in."

"That old man Li is very strange and stubborn. There is no one in the palace that he likes. When he is in a good mood, he can chat with you, but when he is in a bad mood, he doesn't care about anyone."

"Oh! It's so difficult~ I want to find him to be my apprentice and learn how to make incense."

Feng Zhixu leaned on the window sill with his chin in his hand. Princess Qi came back from outside and lowered her head to sit back down.

I suddenly remembered and asked hurriedly, "By the way, Your Highness, why didn't Zhi Siqi come today?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Princess Qi raise her head slightly.

"He! It's normal for him not to come. He gets sick every other day. He's more delicate than a woman."

"Wasn't everything fine yesterday?"

"Maybe he's angry." Feng Zhixu whispered in my ear.

We smiled at each other and said, "Why don't we go see him together after school."

"Great! The squirrel mandarin fish cooked by the chef of Changle Palace is absolutely amazing! I'll ask Tongde to report it now!"

As he was speaking, Feng Zhixu had already summoned a young eunuch.

I thought to myself, "This Princess Qi seems to be very concerned about Zhi Siqi's appearance."

So he asked, "Lord Qi, would you like to go to Changle Palace with us?"

She looked at me in disbelief, stretched out a trembling finger, pointed at herself, her face flushed, "Me... me?"

"It is said that the squirrel mandarin fish in the Princess's Palace is delicious. Let's go and have a meal together."

Feng Zhixu patted my shoulder and said gently, "Ah He, Ah Qi has hardly seen Xiao Qi, so forget it if you don't want to."

Princess Qi collapsed, then lowered her head, turned around, picked up a book and flipped through it.

"Does Princess Qi live in Jiuqu Pavilion? It should be next to the Women's Academy, right? After leaving Changle Palace, we can go back together."

Princess Qi's eyes widened, she nodded, a smile on her lips.

The school bell rang like a breeze, taking away the seriousness and depression of the teachers.

"Zhi Yihe, why don't you come to play with me?"

"Princess Yan! Zhi Siqi is ill. I was planning to go see him."

Princess Yan pouted and said, "Oh," then her expression changed. "Then come and play with me after you finish reading!"

"Must..." He blinked and gave her a wink.

Before we even reached Changle Palace, we saw several people waiting at the palace gate. The leading maid came towards us from a distance.

"Your Highness Xu, you have worked hard! Long live Princess Qi! Oh, and the girl, be well!"

I smiled gracefully and responded elegantly.

The eldest princess also came out of the palace, "Yihe, you are here! How come you haven't come for so many days? I have prepared fruits and snacks every day, waiting for you to come."

"Your Highness, the Princess, be blessed!"

"Oh! No need to be so polite! No need to be so polite! Zhixu Aqi, please come in soon!"

"Auntie, how is Xiao Qi?"

"He had a fever all night again. Alas! I had hoped that he would be both civil and military, but now he can't even get out of bed."

"You are so unsatisfied, my aunt. In this world, who else can be more favored by the emperor than you, Xiao Qi?"

"You little brat! Have you communicated with your father recently? Is he okay?"

Walking through the corridors of Changle Palace, Princess Qi couldn't help but admire the exquisite murals and appreciate the unique architecture, with curiosity flashing in her eyes.

As the princess and Feng Zhixu chatted, I followed them silently, walked into the house, and found a stool to sit down.

Princess Qi stood aside, her eyes flickering, looking quite reserved.

I waved at her, motioning her to come over and sit down. She timidly sat down next to me, her body straight, as if she was glued to the front half of the stool, not moving at all.

"Aqi, this is your first time coming to visit the princess. You can eat whatever you want without any restraint." The princess looked back and smiled, as gentle as water.

Princess Qi nodded repeatedly.

"Auntie, why don't we go see Xiao Qi first!"

Zhi Siqi was still lying on the bed. When we stepped into the room, he had his back to us.

"Qi'er, Zhixu, Aqi and her sister are here to see you."

"I told you, I don't want to see anyone! Especially Zhi Yihe! Get her out!"

I stood still, looking at his back, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of my mouth.

The princess looked at me, smiled awkwardly, and her eyes unconsciously drifted away.

"Xiao Qi, why are you so angry!" Feng Zhixu walked towards him.

With a clang, the porcelain bowl broke to the ground. "I have already declared that I do not want to receive any visitors! I do not want to receive any visitors! No one is allowed to disturb my peace!"

Everyone was stunned, and two little maids hurried in to pick up the broken medicine bowl on the ground.

"Qi'er is ignorant and I have spoiled him since he was young. Don't worry about him. Let him be. Let's go and have dinner!"

I particularly like the sweet and sour spareribs, which are sweet and sour, and the meat is tender. I also like the roast duck, which has tender crispy skin and fat but not greasy meat.

The princess and Feng Zhixu were still chatting animatedly about family matters while I was enjoying my meal.

Only Princess Qi kept her head down and remained silent, eating silently, using her chopsticks to occasionally pick up the food in the bowl.

Seeing her melancholy expression, I put down my chopsticks, held her hand, and asked with concern: "Are you still worried about Xiao Qi? You still have the energy to smash the bowl. It's nothing."

She nodded slightly, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

I picked up a piece of stir-fried pork with chili for Princess Qi and said with a smile, "Come on, eat something spicy to increase your appetite, dispel the cold and warm your stomach. Only when you are full can you feel better~"