The side courtyard of the East Palace is filled with boxes and cages, most of which are jewelry and gold objects that Qi Zhen rewarded.

Linglong is a tacky girl who loves these beautiful jewelry and dazzling goldware. For some reason, Qi Zhen ordered the steward to send a lot of jewelry and goldware to this side yard yesterday.

In the past, Linglong loved jewelry and goldware the most, and she was delighted when she saw them. But today, even though the courtyard was full of jewelry and goldware, they couldn't change Linglong Zhan's appearance.

A group of slaves were waiting in the yard. As soon as Linglong stepped into the yard, the nanny standing at the front spoke first: "Slave Qingzhu, she is the nun beside the queen. The empress thought that there is no older nun beside the girl.

To take care of her, I specially selected slaves to serve the girl."

The eunuch in charge's words "Your Highness also knows this" still echoed in Linglong's mind. She really didn't have the intention to say anything, so she just forced a smile and said to this nanny: "Aunt Qingzhu, I understand, please."

Mammy, thank the Queen for your concern."

Luoxia on the side saw that she was in a particularly bad mood. She was afraid that she would make a mistake and offend someone the first day she entered the East Palace, so she hurriedly tried to smooth things over and said, "Mom, please forgive me. My young lady had a cold yesterday. Now her head is still dizzy and her body is not strong."

Feeling comfortable, I went into the inner room to rest first. I have to ask Aunt Qingzhu to take care of all the arrangements in this courtyard."

After hearing this, Mammy glanced at Luoxia who was speaking, and recognized her as the maid who had accompanied the concubine of Marquis Ning'an to the palace in the early years. She frowned slightly, wondering how this maid who was the personal maid of the concubine of the Shen family was from the Shen family.

Daughter's former maid.

However, she was puzzled, so she didn't say much to ask. She just smiled and replied: "It's what the old slave should do. There is no need to worry about it. The girl is not feeling well, so she should go to the room to rest as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary trouble."

The cold wind blowing outside made the cold even worse."

Luoxia nodded, and then gestured to support Linglong Qiushui, and together they went to the inner room of the side courtyard.

As soon as the three of them stepped into the inner room, Luoxia closed the door.

The wooden door creaked shut, blocking out the sounds of people and the cold air outside, but Linglong's body didn't feel even warmer.

Qiu Shui, who was supporting her, noticed that her hands were cold and asked worriedly: "What's wrong with the girl? Why are her hands so cold?"

Linglong lowered her eyes and glanced at her hands, clenched her palms slightly, and said, "Nothing, I'm just a little chilly."

Seeing this, Luoxia on the side quickly poured a cup of hot tea prepared in the room and handed it to Linglong.

"It's cold in winter, girl, warm yourself up." Luoxia said softly, as if she was afraid of surprising the person in front of her.

Linglong took the teacup, held it in her palm, and took a sip.

Luoxia looked at her slightly frowning eyebrows as she sipped tea, sighed in her heart, and tried to persuade her: "Miss, if you want to be more liberal, His Highness will not neglect the girl."

As soon as these words came out, Qiu Shui on the side felt a little uncomfortable and said angrily: "His Highness also has no conscience. The young lady treats him so well, but he wants our young lady to be his concubine!"

When Luoxia heard this, she gave Qiu Shui a hard look and said to Linglong: "This matter may not be His Highness's intention. According to the slave girl, it should be the Empress and Queen in the palace who are concerned about the girl's origin, and that's why His Highness does not obey the duties of a legitimate wife."

I welcomed the young lady into the East Palace with courtesy, and the young lady accompanied His Highness in Nanyuan for three years. His Highness will always remember this feeling of sharing weal and woe."

Linglong pursed her lips and lowered her head, but did not reply.

When Luoxia looked at her like this, she knew that the fact that her wife had become a concubine must have tied a knot in her heart.

Also, any decent girl would be willing to be the concubine of her sweetheart.

Luoxia sighed silently and gently warned Linglong: "Miss, you must remember not to make trouble with His Highness because of today's matter. If this matter is the emperor's will, then even His Highness cannot disobey it. It is useless for Miss to make trouble.

It's better to endure this grievance and get more sympathy from His Highness."

Linglong lowered her eyes and said nothing. After a long while, she raised her head and asked, "Then, what if this is what His Highness wants?"

When she said this, the little girl's eyes were red, as if she had been greatly wronged. Even Luo Xia couldn't help but feel pity for her when she looked at her.

Luoxia thought in her heart, if this is His Highness's will, then this grievance will have to be endured, and in the future, I'm afraid there will be more grievances waiting for her, but looking at the exquisite and pitiful appearance in front of her, Luoxia said this.

I can't say anything.

In the end, he just coaxed her and said: "Don't worry, girl, it won't be His Highness's intention."

Linglong nodded lightly when she heard the words and said in a small voice, "It's okay if it's not."

"When His Highness comes back, I want to ask him." Linglong bit her lower lip and said, with a stubbornness in her eyebrows that can be cultivated in a free and easy place in the mountains and wilderness.

Luoxia nodded helplessly, but said in her heart that she was really a silly girl.

What can I do if I ask? Qi Zhen doesn't want her to know, so naturally he won't tell her. It's easy for Qi Zhen to deceive her and hide these things from her.

But Linglong would believe him no matter what Qi Zhen said.

Luoxia understood clearly in her heart, but she didn't say much. She just said: "Then, please prepare some snacks. When His Highness comes back, the lady will deliver them to His Highness."

"His Royal Highness should go to the study when he comes back. I will go to the study now and wait. I can see him as soon as he comes back." Linglong said while shaking her head.

As soon as Linglong said this, Qiu Shui on the side muttered: "It's such a cold weather, and no one else is allowed to enter the study when His Highness is away. It's impossible for the girl to freeze in the snow outside. This is not possible."

Luoxia also showed a look of disapproval.

Linglong said, "It's okay. I'll put on my fox fur and hold a small heater so that I won't feel cold."

Seeing her like this, Luoxia knew that she couldn't stop her, so she reluctantly agreed.

When they went to the study room, Aunt Qingzhu in the courtyard frowned slightly and wanted to stop Linglong. Luoxia said that her young lady had something important to do with His Highness, so she stopped her.

The front yard of the East Palace is Qi Zhen's residence. It is very close to the Xueyuan, only a few steps away.

Luoxia wanted to persuade Linglong to be at ease, so she said beside her. "This small courtyard should be a separate courtyard from the front yard. It is very similar to His Highness's front yard. His Highness specially arranged this courtyard for the young lady. It is a waste of money to think about it."

Heartfelt."

When Qiu Shui heard this, he snorted, obviously disapproving, but he didn't say anything outside.

But he didn't say anything, but he said in his heart, why bother? My lady lives close to His Highness, it's just convenient for His Highness. What good can happen to the lady?

From the perspective of Qiu Shui, Qi Zhen did not regard Linglong as his wife, but only raised her as a beloved concubine.

Although this Qiu Shui is reckless, sometimes it can be seen clearly by accident.

There is a pear tree outside the study door in the front yard, which is growing very well.

The first thing Linglong saw when she stepped into the front yard was the pear tree. In the winter of the twelfth lunar month, the tree was full of pear blossoms, which was really beautiful.

Qiu Shui also followed Linglong's line of sight and looked over, and was stunned when she saw a pear tree planted outside the door of the study room under the East Palace.

Shen Linglong loves the pear tree the most, and Qiu Shui has grown up beside her, so she knows it best.

When she was in the mountains of Yunzhou, Shen Linglong, a little girl, slept under the pear blossom tree every afternoon, carrying the sweet fragrance of pear blossoms on her body. Even now, the sachet on her body is still scented with pear blossoms.

"This pear tree is growing really well." Linglong looked at the tree full of pear blossoms and couldn't help but get closer.

The cold wind blew through the treetops, and pear blossoms fell.

Under the tree, Linglong looked up blankly at the fallen flowers. The petals fell from her hair and fell along the skirt of her clothes, leaving only the fragrance all over her clothes.

Qi Zhen, who had just arrived from the palace, stood in front of the courtyard gate and was dazzled by the scene of pear blossoms falling like snow and the girl in the scene.

This pear tree was planted after he had a dream many years ago. In the dream, there was also a girl standing under the pear tree, but he could never clearly see the face of the person in the dream.

Now that Linglong was standing in front of him, Qi Zhen actually felt that she and the pear tree matched perfectly.

Qi Zhen stopped outside the courtyard gate and looked at the pear blossoms and people under the tree with gentle eyes.

The wind stopped and the falling flowers stopped. Linglong caught a fallen flower and recovered from the fragrance of pear blossoms.

Holding the pear blossom petals in her palms, she looked back towards the courtyard gate. When she raised her eyes, she saw Qi Zhen standing at the courtyard gate.

"Your Highness is back." Linglong smiled and ran over, holding up her skirt. She didn't even notice that the fox fur straps on her body were untied, as if she had forgotten her grievances today.

Qi Zhen lowered his eyes and looked at Linglong, who was running away with a blush on her face, and scolded: "After all, I have learned etiquette and rules, why are you so unruly?" It was said to be a scolding, but in fact there was no blame at all.

There was obvious indulgence in his eyes, and he raised his hand to tie up the loose fox fur belt for her.

Qi Zhen said that Linglong was not polite, but in his heart he was most pleased with her. Her eyes were full of joy when she saw him.

Therefore, no matter how much he followed the rules and etiquette, he only gave her a verbal lecture and never really punished her.

As soon as Linglong arrived in front of Qi Zhen, she saw the eunuch in charge behind Qi Zhen. Thinking of the eunuch in charge's words today, "Your Highness also knows it", it was rare for her to lose her smile in front of Qi Zhen.

Linglong's smile was crooked as she ran toward him, but her smile gradually faded when she saw the eunuch in charge behind him. Qi Zhen looked at her expression and after a moment's thought, he understood the reason.

He didn't say anything, he just walked towards the study. When he opened the door and was about to step in, Linglong behind him still didn't move an inch.

Qi Zhen looked back helplessly and said in a deep voice: "I haven't come here yet."

Linglong then followed in, but there was still grievance on her face.

Qi Zhen stood at the door of the room. When Linglong came to him, he raised his hand to pull her in and closed the door.

The door of the study room was closed, and the maid Linglong and the eunuch in charge who followed Qi Zhen were blocked from the door. Only Qi Zhen and Ling Long were in the inner room.

Qi Zhen locked Linglong in front of him, his eyes fell on her face, and asked in a deep voice: "What's the fuss about? Huh?"

Linglong lowered her head to avoid his gaze. Thinking of the words of the eunuch in charge, grievances welled up in her heart and she refused to reply to Qi Zhen's words.

Seeing her like this, Qi Zhen frowned slightly, pinched her chin to force her to raise her head, looked at her facial expressions carefully, and asked, "Huh? What kind of temper are you having today?"

Linglong snorted coldly and turned her head angrily, completely forgetting Luo Xia's instructions.

She refused to let Qi Zhen touch her, and said angrily: "Your Highness asked knowingly."

Qi Zhen laughed out loud when he heard this, pinched the fair skin on both sides of Linglong's cheeks with both hands, and held her face in front of his eyes.

"If you don't tell me, I naturally won't know. How can you ask knowingly?"

How could he not know? The little girl in front of him was pure and innocent. He could see it all with just one glance. He knew very well what she was thinking.
To be continued...