As soon as they returned to the estate...
Knowing that Jiang Huai'an would probably have another good cry over his grievances, Lin Xiangyin informed everyone upon returning that they were to dine in their own rooms that evening.
Jiang Yourning was quite happy to have the freedom.
After a whole night of turmoil yesterday and another entire afternoon of it today, she genuinely missed her beloved consort-her bed.
When she reached the entrance to her courtyard and heard the chaotic racket inside, Jiang Yourning couldn't help frowning.
"Help! Help!!!"
She followed the noise through the entrance, only to see something hurtling toward her. Her hand instinctively reached out to catch it, and something landed on her arm.
She looked down, the corner of her mouth twitching despite herself.
"Where did this thing come from?"
Chun Tao ran over, panting:
"M-Miss, Official Zhao sent this parrot over this afternoon. He said it was a thank-you gift for you."
As she spoke, Chun Tao's eyes still held a wounded look:
"Miss, you have no idea how awful this thing is. Never mind the way it curses at people-it even played dead in its cage. I... I poked it with a stick, and it wouldn't move, so I thought I'd open the cage to have a look. But the moment I opened it, it flew out and sent us all tumbling like men and horses overturned."
"Zhao Yi sent this parrot?"
Jiang Yourning's eyes lit up, and she reached out to lift the parrot that had crashed into her.
It was a peach-faced lovebird, small and rather pretty.
"Beauty! Beauty!"
Held in Jiang Yourning's hand and brought closer for inspection, the parrot studied her before slowly speaking.
Its voice was quite melodious.
"Oh, you've got a sweet little beak on you."
The bird's