It was almost dusk, and the setting sun shone through the window, sprinkling the afterglow on the bed of plum Chi Chi Han’s calligraphy.

He was concentrating on reviewing the princes' studies, and the assistant teacher came into the room and presented a speech: "Tao Fu, Miss Han Lu from Nanke Palace in Yuxiu Palace has come and said he wants to see you."

"Nanke Palace..." Mei Zihan murmured lightly, and a look in his heart, "Please invite her in."

After a while, the cold dew arrived and saluted slightly: "I have met the Grand Tutor."

"It was the little princess who asked you to come?" Mei Zihan still wrote in writing, not looking up at her.

"The tutor is so smart." Han Lu smiled, "The princess asked me to bring the plum blossom sake brewed by myself, and ask the tutor to taste it."

As he said that, he placed the food box in his hand on the table, opened the lid and brought out a short white porcelain cup. Mei Zihan was stunned, and a hesitant look swept over.

Seeing that he did not respond, Han Lu smiled at the spring breeze again: "It turned out that the late plum blossoms in the imperial garden were blooming this spring. The princess picked some while enjoying the flowers. Every bit of them was her wish. I hope the tutor would not refuse."

As her thoughts followed, Mei Zihan said indifferently: "Put it down and thank the princess for me."

"Then I will leave first." Han Lu smiled and finished her salute, and turned to the door. "By the way, Grand Tutor, you must remember to drink it. The princess said that she added a special auxiliary ingredients to the wine, and it depends on whether the Grand Tutor can taste it."

After saying that, he smiled and left Mei Zihan with a reserved, frozen face. It’s a pity that his heart was not as calm as he seemed on the surface.

There are still some lyrics that are the most appropriate, which highlights his mood:

[The blowing falls every year and opens. I listen to the painting of the corners and the tower, and I send him to dawn.

Where is the jade hall? The moss on the ground is not swept away?

Who is the heart of the liver and the heart, and the coldest time is in my arms.

The flowers are not old. I am helpless and I am happy to have a drink.][1]

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The sunset seemed to have sunk a little further.

Youmenghou stood under the shade of the tree and saw Han Lu walking out of the courtyard gate, her hands were empty and the food box was gone. She was overjoyed and said, "Has he accepted it?"

Han Lu deliberately joked but deliberately acted innocently: "This is the little princess's intention, who can bear to refuse?"

Youmeng turned around and walked a long time, trying to hide his shyness: "Then did he say something?"

"He asked me to thank the princess for her good wishes." Han Lu said with a smile.

Youmeng's heart was slightly sweet, but she still felt unfulfilled: "What else?"

"No."

"I've only said this..." Youmeng stopped walking and lowered her lost eyebrows.

Han Lu gave her some comfort with a smile: "If the princess wants to hear the tutor say something else, why don't she go in and ask in person?"

She looked back at the gate of Hanlin Academy and said sadly: "I can't get into a place like Hanlin Academy."

"Is the princess afraid that she will be seen and she will make trouble again?"

"There is never a shortage of rumors in the palace. I am a princess in one day. He is the tutor of the Eastern Palace. He should not have any connection." She said while wandering the tree-lined paths. The beautiful scenery was wasted. "When it comes to the mouth of a person who is interested, I will inevitably say that I intend to win over the ministers and get involved in the Eastern Palace."

Han Lu understood her mood: "The princess was afraid that she would attract suspicion from the East Palace, so she took advantage of the issue?"

She shook her head bitterly: "I'm not afraid, but he is noble. If he hears these gossips and thinks I have blasphemed him, I'm afraid he will be even more alienated from me..."

———————

Notes:

[1] From the poem "Yu Lu Chi·Ask the Spring Blooming Before" by He Menggui in the Song Dynasty.
Chapter completed!