The East Palace is naturally laid out like the Suzaku Palace, with the court in front and the bedrooms in the back, and the Cheng'en Gate located in the center of the East Palace separates the two parts.
After passing through Cheng'en Gate, there is an extremely exquisite and gorgeous garden. Behind the garden is Ning Qingxuan's bedroom, Cheng'en Hall.
After learning that Ning Qingxuan had passed through Cheng'en Gate, Xue Qing and Yun Xiao hurriedly took their people to stand in front of Cheng'en Hall. Soon they saw a figure slowly walking out of the garden.
Ning Qingxuan is nineteen years old this year, with a slender figure.
He is wearing a dark-based golden-edged robe, with flowers, birds, insects and fish embroidered with gold and silver threads, as well as a Huizi pattern and auspicious cloud patterns.
He has a jade hanging from his waist and a cloak on his body.
He does not wear a crown, but his black hair is fixed with a jade hairpin and then hangs down.
When he walks, the breeze lifts the hem of his clothes, making them rustle.
Because she was coming against the light, in the eyes of Xue Qing, Yun Xiao and others, Ning Qingxuan seemed to be covered with a layer of golden light.
It is indeed His Highness——!
Although they had received the news before and knew that Ning Qingxuan had woken up and was fine, it was not until they actually saw him that everyone in the East Palace felt relieved.
The royal family is naturally extremely strict in choosing wives.
All the ones chosen in previous generations are stunning beauties.
With the optimization of genes from generation to generation, Ning Qingxuan has become a beauty like a banished immortal who walked out of an ink-and-wash landscape painting.
Even though they had seen it countless times, when Xue Qing and Yun Xiao saw Ning Qingxuan again after a period of separation, they couldn't help but be distracted for a moment.
But soon, the two noticed the general following Ning Qingxuan.
Even though they were used to seeing beautiful women in the palace, when they first saw the general, they couldn't help but let out a low cry.
The two maids frowned slightly and glanced at the people behind them. Seeing this, a group of palace maids fell silent, but still could not help but secretly glanced at the general.
Is this the... Shadow girl?
I heard that this was the woman that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince met when he was conquering the Far North. Apart from this, I'm afraid that only His Royal Highness himself and the Emperor know all the relevant information.
"Yun Xiao Yun Xiao, do you think this person could be our future Crown Princess?" Xue Qing whispered to Yun Xiao, her eyes bright and moist.
Yun Xiao shook his head slightly and replied in a low voice: "Let's not make rash assumptions about your Highness's affairs."
When they talked, Ning Qingxuan and the general had already walked to the front of Cheng'en Palace. They immediately put their minds at ease and led everyone to salute, saying, "Your Highness is welcome back to the palace."
"Get up."
Ning Qingxuan raised his right arm and glanced at everyone present, pausing briefly on Xue Qing and Yun Xiao.
"Thank you for your hard work while I was away."
"It's not hard." Xue Qing came to Ning Qingxuan's side, talking and laughing, "We are just in the palace, protected from the wind and rain. But your Highness, are you used to eating and sleeping well during the battle outside? Are you injured?"
"Xueqing~!"
Seeing Xue Qing like this, Yun Xiao behind her called out softly.
Xue Qing suddenly tensed up and blinked mischievously.
Ning Qingxuan flicked Xue Qing's forehead and said to Yun Xiao, "Okay, you know this girl's temper is like a rabbit."
"Your Highness, just spoil her. Sooner or later, you will spoil this girl. When she learned that Your Highness was coming back today, this girl was absent-minded this morning. She even tripped and fell down the stairs when she went out."
"Sister Yunxiao! Didn't we agree to keep it a secret?"
Xue Qing's eyes opened wide. She didn't expect Yun Xiao to suddenly reveal his ugly appearance like this. She pouted and was about to pounce on him.
Ning Qingxuan and the general couldn't help laughing as they watched the scene in front of them.
Both are maids in charge of the palace. Compared with Xue Qing's silly appearance, Yun Xiao is strict and serious. She does things meticulously. She is very majestic among the maids, yet she can take care of everyone like a gentle spring breeze and rain.
Just like now, Yun Xiao seems to be complaining about Xue Qing, but he is secretly saying good things about her.
After a brief greeting, Yun Xiao looked at the general who had been standing quietly beside Ning Qingxuan.
After a quick look, Yun Xiao lowered her eyebrows and said respectfully, "This must be Miss Ying, right? His Highness has sent a message back earlier that I have already brought people to clean up Miss Ying's residence, which is located in Yichun Palace.
After Miss Ying has taken a look, if there is anything you need, just let me know."
Although she had no official status, since the general was arranged to live directly in the backyard of the East Palace, they simply treated the general as the future Crown Princess.
…dividing line…
That night.
Inside the Cheng'en Hall, a huge gilded incense burner was burning top-grade incense sent as tribute from foreign nations.
Ning Qingxuan was leaning back in a chair, seemingly flipping through a book in his hands, but if you looked closely you would find that his eyes would occasionally flash with a hint of hesitation.
On the other side, in Yichun Palace.
Leading several palace maids to stand in front of the general, Yun Xiao smiled gently and said, "Please undress, young lady."
"Thank you for your help."
The general had a stern face. He first asked the palace maid to come around him, untied his long braids, letting his long purple hair fall loose, then raised his arms and let Yun Xiao lead the palace maid to take off his large furisode kimono.
Walking around the screen, we came to the bathing pool in Yichun Palace. At this time, the large bathing pool had already been filled with hot water of suitable temperature and sprinkled with seasonal flower petals and essences.
Amid the rising hot steam, the general slowly stepped into the bathtub. He sat down, and waited until the hot water reached above his collarbone before he let out a breath.
Soon, several palace maids wearing only underwear entered the pool and patiently and carefully cleaned the general's hair and body.
The sensations brought by a girl's body are different from those of a boy's body. Although the general closed his eyes, his thick and curved eyelashes were always trembling slightly, trying to suppress the constant sense of novelty.
Snap——
In Cheng'en Hall, Ning Qingxuan almost knocked over the teacup on the table in front of her, startling Xue Qing who was dozing off next to her.
"Your Highness?"
"It's okay." Ning Qingxuan waved her hand.
"Your Highness, are you really okay?" Xue Qing's face was extremely worried. The little girl hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.
"What's wrong?"
"Um, Your Highness." Xue Qing raised her index finger and pointed at the book in Ning Qingxuan's hand, "The book is held upside down."
Ning Qingxuan: "..."
Ning Qingxuan and the general, who were in two different places, twitched their lips at the same time.
"Miss Ying, is the force too strong?"
Yun Xiao, who had been observing the general, saw this and immediately asked.
"No, it's just... I'm a little uncomfortable with it."
This answer made Yun Xiao cover her mouth and laugh. She didn't expect that this Ying girl who looked so unapproachable was actually so cute.
PS·This chapter has Ning Qingxuan's character design. Well, it's based on Xuan Wangjun in "The Moon in the Heart of Hua Yi Shan"