Self-cultivation after the cannon fodder

Chapter 41

Eyes slanted to the other side, Zhu Sining was a few steps behind Zong Qihao, and slowly returned to the tent together.

As soon as Lu Guifei sent someone to bring the bedding, the palace servants in Zong Qihao's tent immediately replaced it, waiting for Zhu Sining to use it when he came back.

Now that I heard that the queen doesn't want to live here, and wants to temporarily change to Prince Qin's side, I feel a little regretful, and they all say things to persuade them to stay: "Why is your highness leaving? Didn't it mean that there is no arrangement and no place to live? Is there something wrong with it?" Is it?"

Those who follow Zong Qihao are usually those who are used to serving by his side. Zong Qihao didn't go back to his bedroom very much before, and almost ran to the Jiaofang Palace every day. The palace man of Fangdian said a few words, it is said that it is different from the rumors outside the palace, he is not picky and easy to get along with.

Although Zhu Sining only stayed for one night, he didn't ask for much, and he always talked and laughed with Yan Yan's amiable appearance. Being with him, even Zong Qihao's coercion can dissipate a lot, and the palace people can do things easily. a lot of.

"I don't have any discomfort, I just want to live with my eldest brother." Zhu Sining glanced at Zong Qihao, "He will leave Beijing soon, and I don't know when he will come back."

After Zong Qihao brought Zhu Sining in, he sat on the side by himself, sipping a cup of tea and started playing chess.

Very leisurely and peaceful.

Zhu Sining glanced at the cover of the chess book again, and found that he had read this book, and it should have been sent by Concubine Lu Guifei by the way.

Zong Qihao glanced back occasionally: "Is it packed?"

"Put it away." Zhu Sining put the last pillow back, feeling a little dazed, not knowing what to do, and then took the pillow back from the palace man and hugged it in his arms.

Zong Qihao almost choked.

"Just let the palace servants take it, you don't need to take it."

Zhu Sining's eyes fell on Zong Qihao's hand: "I know, but there is nothing in my hand, it seems weird."

"What's wrong?"

Zong Qihao put down the teacup, and the porcelain cup made a crisp sound when it was knocked on the table.

Zhu Sining's eyes followed Zong Qihao's hand all the time, and following his movement, he blinked suddenly.

Zong Qihao raised the corner of his mouth slightly, pretending he didn't see it.

"do not know."

Zhu Sining took advantage of the opportunity and sat down opposite Zong Qihao, followed by a big sip of tea.

Zong Qihao put down the chess record and asked, "Let's play a game? How about going over after dinner? Presumably the palace servants have already packed the bed for you by then, and the son just finished his business and went back."

"No." Zhu Sining shook his head and reported truthfully, "I have made an appointment with Mr. Xiao, and I will go to his place later."

Zong Qihao remained unchanged: "Is it an appointment? Are you going to..."

"It's just a meal, Mr. Xiao said he wanted to thank you."

Zhu Sining couldn't finish Zong Qihao's speech, and immediately finished speaking like beans, and finally promised: "I promise to leave after eating, and I will never stay long!"

Zong Qihao agreed without any hesitation: "Okay, you can go."

He looked at the sky outside and reminded: "It's not early yet, you should go early."

"Oh...Okay." Zhu Sining suspected that Zong Qihao had been dropped by someone. He was obviously nervous before Xiao Yiming was with him, but now he doesn't really care.

"Your Majesty..." Zhu Sining was not very used to Zong Qihao like this, "Do you still have something to say?"

Zong Qihao asked back: "Is there anything else you haven't said?"

Zhu Sining grabbed the pillow and leaned forward with his upper body: "Does your Majesty feel that something is missing? Why don't you think about it more carefully?" For example, telling him to keep a distance from Xiao Yiming.

Zong Qihao really thought about it carefully, Zhu Sining was going, he didn't want to stop him anymore, he had to give the other party a little freedom, he was afraid of causing the other party's dissatisfaction if he watched too closely.It's just a meal, but he can still bear it.

"If you have to say it, then... come back sooner?"

"Okay." This was the meaning of telling him not to stay with Xiao Yiming for too long, Zhu Sining agreed, seeing that Zong Qihao really had nothing else to say, so he got up and left.

"A-Ning, wait a minute!"

I wish Sining to turn around quickly.

"Pillow." Zong Qihao pointed to his arms, holding back a smile, "Put it here, and I'll send it to you later."

Zhu Sining couldn't tell what mood he was in, so he put down his pillow and hurried away.

The twilight is all together, the afterglow is tender, I wish Si Ning to arrive at the place that he made an appointment with Xiao Yiming early.

It is a gazebo on a small hillside, and there is a winding corridor staircase to the top. The people below can be seen clearly from the top of the hill, but the above cannot be seen from below.

When Zhu Sining was still in the corridor, Xiao Yiming saw it from a distance, and immediately asked a few servants to set up an oven and instructed them to light a fire and choose vegetables.

When Zhu Sining stepped onto the last step, the fire had already been lit, and the ingredients were marinated and placed on the side, waiting to be grilled.

"His Highness is here." Xiao Yiming sat on the stone chair in the gazebo, and smiled at Zhu Sining, "It's so early, I almost didn't have time to get ready."

"Because I have nothing to do, I came early."

Xiao Yiming nodded, and poured Zhu Sining a cup of tea: "After His Highness left with His Majesty, I was wondering if I should take my time, but I didn't expect His Highness to arrive early."

"What can I do with His Majesty, I just go to get something."

Zhu Sining sat opposite Xiao Yiming, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, watched the servants outside neatly tidy up everything, and then remembered that the palace servants on Zong Qihao's side also behaved in the same way, and sighed silently. Sure enough, Xiao Yi Ming and Zong Qihao are the same kind of people, so they can get together smoothly.

Xiao Yiming lowered his eyes, looked at the rising white smoke, and asked softly: "Being with His Majesty...is it boring?"

"Uh... It's okay, the main thing is that I have nothing to say," Zhu Sining unconsciously lifted his collar, "It's not really embarrassing, it's just... I can't say it anyway."

"Is that so?" Xiao Yiming poured new tea for Zhu Sining again, "Your Majesty is steady, Your Highness is a bit more off-kilter, it's normal that it's hard to get in, maybe it'll be better if you spend a little more time here."

"But I feel like it's been a long time." From the big wedding to the present, the progress of the task progress bar is only halfway, and Zhu Sining feels that the progress is too slow.

Is it so difficult that it feels like years?

Xiao Yiming was startled, and then realized that he was actually inquiring about the secrets of the royal family, and then led Zhu Sining out of the gazebo, and walked to the grill: "Let's eat first, I have prepared a lot of food, I don't know if it suits His Highness's taste. "

Zhu Si Ning is not picky about food, as long as it tastes good, he can eat a lot, and Xiao Yiming prepared it carefully, Zhu Si Ning likes everything when he looks at it.As soon as it is put on the grill, the hot oil oozes and drips, and the aroma immediately wafts away.

"Your Highness, don't bother eating, drink some water, or it will be too dry." Xiao Yiming prepared plain water for Zhu Sining, "Don't you think there are too many sauces?"

I wish Si Ning a great meal, and he never stopped talking: "No, it's delicious, don't use plain water, or the taste will be diluted."

"The tea is gone. I didn't bring any more. I only had some light wine. I thought it was for seasoning, but I didn't add it because I was afraid His Highness wouldn't like it." Xiao Yiming removed a wine jar, and there was a faint fruity aroma. Diffuse, "It's fruit wine, not intoxicating."

Xiao Yiming's fruit wine was soaked in cold water, and Zhu Sining fell in love with it after only one sip: "It's sweet and delicious."

Zhu Sining vaguely remembered that this was still the signature product of Xiao Yiming's store, and praised him repeatedly. Xiao Yiming is talented and creative, and can make money in whatever he does, no one else can compare to him.

"Your Highness, I appreciate it." Xiao Yiming smiled modestly, "It's just some mundane tasks for life, not to mention any talent."

"It's also very powerful. I can't do it like me. I think it's too annoying." Zhu Sining doesn't think these small things in life are unimportant, but they are too trivial, and he is impatient to do them.

Xiao Yiming smiled and clinked glasses with Zhu Sining: "Of course His Highness is different, you don't need to be troubled by these things."

"If you say that, I will drift away." Zhu Sining drank the wine and laughed, "I don't deal with harem affairs. If the courtiers have no objections, I don't believe it."

"But didn't your majesty never say this? You probably never asked your majesty to take over the harem, did you?"

"That's because he doesn't care. As long as there are no major incidents in the harem, it doesn't matter who cares about him."

After Zhu Sining ate some food, he suddenly became interested in barbecue. He followed the master to ask about his skills, and even took pieces of meat to roast on the fire.

The first one was not baked well, one side was turned over and it was all burnt black, Zhu Sining sighed, and then came the second one.

Xiao Yiming drank a big mouthful of cold fruit wine, and watched the charcoal fire reflected on Zhu Sining's fair face, illuminating the place where he was.

The second piece finally looked a little better, but the corners were still too much. Zhu Sining hesitated for a while, and started looking for a knife to cut off the corners.

Xiao Yiming's eyelids trembled when he saw it, Zhu Sining's posture, the blade was thicker than his wrist, he was really afraid that the knife would hit Zhu Sining's foot.

"Your Highness, let me do it." Xiao Yiming wanted to get the knife in Zhu Sining's hand.

"It's okay, I can do it." Zhu Sining avoided Xiao Yiming's hand and stared at the barbecue on the plate, "I was just thinking about where to cut to just cut off the burnt part."

Xiao Yiming wanted to laugh a little: "If one cut fails, just cut it again."

Zhu Sining said seriously: "But if the cut is not successful, the burnt smell on the knife will be carried to the knife, and then the next knife will stick to the good meat. In this way, the taste of the meat will be worse. "

Xiao Yiming thought about it and found some truth.

Looking at the location, Zhu Sining put away the knife and cut off the scorched meat accurately. He also took some lettuce and prepared to wrap it with sauce.

Xiao Yiming: "This way of eating seems to belong to foreigners."

"probably."

Zhu Sining was confused for a moment, and seeing Xiao Yiming seemed quite interested, he distributed the extra grilled meat that had already been cut to the other party: "Master Xiao can also try it."

Xiao Yiming's smile deepened: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Satisfied with food and drink, Zhu Sining and Xiao Yiming took a walk in the cool breeze to digest their food: "Actually, you can also make burritos, and that one is also delicious."

"The next time I make an appointment with Your Highness, I'll ask someone to bring it." Xiao Yiming smiled and nodded, "Your Highness, remember to remind me when the time comes."

At this time, everything is silent, and even the rustling insects in the grass are no longer whispering. As night falls, a silver and bright Milky Way runs across the night sky.

Xiao Yiming turned his head slightly and looked at Zhu Sining's side face. It seemed that he had seen such a scene for the first time. He looked up at the starry sky intently, and he was still muttering, saying that he was looking for Altair Vega.

"It's daylight saving time now, so I should be able to see it." Zhu Sining really just remembered that he was in a pollution-free ancient time. It was the first time he came to a relatively high place and looked up at the night sky. He didn't know the other constellations. Recognized, but the iconic ones can still be remembered.

After searching for a long time without finding it, Zhu Sining suddenly remembered that there was a knowledgeable protagonist beside him, so he hurriedly asked, "Does Master Xiao know where these two stars are?"

"No... I don't know." Xiao Yiming suddenly came back to his senses, and turned his head to look at a black spot at the foot of the mountain.

Zhu Sining felt a little regretful: "That's such a pity, I don't know what these two stars look like yet."

Xiao Yiming watched helplessly that the black spot at the foot of the mountain was getting bigger and bigger, and there was a group of people following behind him, so he gradually stopped laughing.

Xiao Yiming glanced at a piece of clothes not far away, and asked: "It seems to be getting late, when does His Highness want to go back?"

"I'm not going back, I'm going to my brother's place tonight."

As soon as Zhu Sining finished speaking, he realized that Zong Qihao had also come.

Xiao Yiming saluted and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is late, we only have leftovers and cold food. If you come earlier, there will be meat roasted by Your Highness himself."

Zong Qihao's face was still calm: "It's okay, I didn't come here in a hurry to eat."

"So it's supper?" Zhu Sining recalled Zong Qihao's usual routine. Usually, this time happened to be when he finished handling government affairs.

At this time, Zong Qihao usually relaxes, or plays two games with Zhu Sining, or finds some books to read.Anyway, I don't have the habit of eating supper.

Zong Qihao asked: "Are you going to bake?"

I ate so many things prepared by Xiao Yiming, but Zong Qihao didn't eat any of them. No wonder he wanted to break his habit and eat such a piece of meat at the risk of gaining weight.

Zhu Sining had no objection: "I'll go right away."

The charcoal fire was still warm, Zhu Sining took the marinated raw meat, stared at the fire without blinking, and tried to grill a barbecue that was suitable for the fire and melted in the mouth, so that Zong Qihao fell in love with it instantly after taking a bite.

After all, strictly speaking, this is a love supper, and Zong Qihao's affection for Xiao Yiming will definitely increase if he takes a bite.

Zong Qihao and Xiao Yiming entered the gazebo together.

After handling the government affairs, Zong Qihao heard from the servants below that Zhu Sining hadn't returned to Zhu Xiuyong's place, so he reluctantly sat there for a while, but rushed over.

Compared with Zhu Xiuyong, Xiao Yiming was even more uncontrollable, Zong Qihao had to take him away to be at ease.

Zhu Sining's eyes were brighter than the charcoal fire by the grill, Zong Qihao didn't dare to look too much, sat where Zhu Sining was just now, and picked up the half glass of fruit wine left.

"This is what His Highness left from drinking just now. I'm going to get a new cup right now. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty."

"It's okay." Zong Qihao called Xiao Yiming to stop, "I can just drink with this."

He drank it in one gulp.

After being placed for so long, the fruit wine is no longer as cold as it was at the beginning, and after the fruity aroma, it becomes a warm and mellow wine aroma, with a slight herbal aroma.

Zong Qihao pursed his lips and said with a smile, "It's really good wine."

Seeing Zhu Sining approaching step by step, Xiao Yiming smiled and said: "The Empress loves Your Majesty very much, as long as Your Majesty needs it, she will go there immediately."

Zong Qihao didn't even look at him, and reached out to take the plate that Zhu Sining brought.

In addition to the barbecue, there are meat rolls made by Zhu Sining.

"There's only a little food, so I just made this, I don't know if it's enough for His Majesty." Zhu Sining's face was flushed red by the fire, and his collar was soaked in fine sweat.

Zong Qihao watched Zhu Sining uncomfortably pulled back his collar slightly, revealing the marks on the back of his neck that hadn't faded, and said with a smile: "Enough."

"Your Majesty, eat slowly, there is still some wine here, don't choke." Xiao Yiming quickly moved his gaze away from Zhu Sining's neck, and handed Zong Qihao a glass of wine.

The two looked at each other.

Zhu Sining looked down at his clothes that had been blackened by black charcoal, and suddenly felt that he was dazzlingly bright.

—I should be on the roof, not here.

After eating the barbecue, Zong Qihao felt that there was no need to stay any longer, and sent Zhu Sining back to Zhu Xiuyong's tent.

Before leaving, Zong Qihao instructed: "The bed has already been packed for you, and the son has not come back yet, if you feel tired, go to bed early."

Zhu Sining nodded obediently, puffing out his mouth and saying nothing.

Zong Qihao felt soft in his heart: "A-Ning, go to bed early, see you tomorrow."

Zhu Sining agreed, and seeing Zong Qihao turned around to leave, he held his breath and asked suddenly: "Your Majesty, is the medicine good?"

Then he rushed into the tent quickly, leaving Zong Qihao standing there, stunned for a long while, then lowered his head and shook his shoulders and smiled.