Liu Ruyan walked over carrying the thick, scented brocade quilt Lin Qingdai, who had been looking indifferent, happened to hear about the drawing of lots. She paused, silently moved two steps to the outside of the corridor, and shrank into the shadow of a pillar without making a sound.
Xie Wanqing pushed the divination stick container forward.
"Sisters, since we're already here, let's draw some?"
The wind howled in through the cracks in the brickwork of the corridor, whipping up the dry, fallen leaves along the edge of the steps half a foot high.
On the bluestone slab at the very bottom of the steps, Yun Shuyue and Meng Jiuning sat side by side watching the excitement.
Yun Shuyue wore a fluffy snowman hat on her head, her ears drooping on either side of her cheeks, and her little face was flushed red from the dry, cold wind.
Two chubby little hands held a pear, and the child, cheeks puffed out, struggled to bite a small hole in the pear skin with their front teeth.
I slurped it up, and the cool pear juice trickled down my chin.
Sitting next to her, Meng Jiuning was much more reserved.
Princess Dali was wrapped in a worn-out dark blue cloak, her hands tucked into her sleeves, and she held a half-eaten pear in one of her hands.
As she chewed her food, she secretly glanced at the activity in the corridor above.
These past few days at Prince Yi's Residence have truly broadened Meng Jiuning's horizons.
Su Yao, who was in charge of the money, was incredibly shrewd and would often use her abacus to deduct money from people's pay.
Lin Qingdai, who was wielding a knife, was frighteningly cold, and spent all her time squatting on the rooftop keeping watch.
Murong Xue, who came from the Northern Territory, had a fiery temper; when she cracked her whip, even her personal guards had to give way.
And then there's Xie Wanqing, who looks so gentle and kind, but can ensnare everyone with just three sentences.
Not to mention Liu Ruyan, who's best at keeping secrets, and Shen Ling'er, who loves to drug people and join in the fun.
The group of people are gathered at the doorway, but they haven't drawn their knives or guns.
But the undercurrent of competition was even more dangerous than the court discussions in the Dali royal palace.
"Sister Yue'er," Meng Jiuning nudged Yun Shuyue with her elbow and lowered her voice, "What's going on up there? It's just a bowl of hot soup, why did they even bring out the fortune-telling container?"
Yun Shuyue sniffed, a piece of pear flesh in her mouth, and mumbled incoherently.
"I don't know... but Ling'er Ling'er's medicine is really bitter. The prince has to eat two pieces of maltose every time he finishes drinking it."
She thought for a moment, then added another sentence.
"They're doing this because they don't want to wash the medicine bowls. Washing medicine bowls will make your hands rough."
Meng Jiuning's lips twitched.
Just as he was about to say something more, Su Yao's voice suddenly came from the corridor above.
" Yue'er."
Su Yao stood at the top of the stone steps, waving down at you with a particularly kind smile on her face.
"Stop eating raw food there, come here and help the older sisters with something."
Yun Shuyue's eyes lit up.
Thinking there was something delicious, she immediately stuffed half a pear into Meng Jiuning's arms and hopped up the steps in two quick steps.
"Sister Su Yao, did the main kitchen steam some Poria cocos cake again?"
Su Yao casually took a small packet of candied hawthorns wrapped in oil paper from the top of Shen Ling'er's food box and stuffed it into Yun Shuyue's hand.
While she was looking down at the hawthorns, her other hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the divination box.
"We'll eat the pastries later. You're lucky, come over and draw a fortune stick for everyone."
Su Yao pushed the purple bamboo divination stick container over.
"Close your eyes and randomly pick one out. Remember, whoever's name you pick is the one who will deliver the medicine to the Prince tonight."
Yun Shuyue stuffed a sweet and sour hawthorn into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, and blinked.
"Just one lot? That's easy!"
At the bottom of the stone steps, Meng Jiuning felt a chill run down her spine upon seeing this scene.
She had seen too many of these kinds of scenes in the deep palace of Dali.
In these head-picking contests, the one who ends up getting hurt is often the one just watching from the sidelines.
Meng Jiuning quickly swallowed the pear pulp in her mouth, patted the crumbs off her skirt, stood up using the stone bricks for support, and quietly moved towards the side courtyard.
Why is Jiuning walking in such a hurry?
A red shadow flashed by.
Murong Xue jumped down from the corridor at some point, put an arm around Meng Jiuning's shoulder with considerable force, and pressed her back onto the cold bluestone bench.
" Miss Murong... I... I haven't finished copying the account books in my room yet..." Meng Jiuning chuckled dryly, her shoulders feeling a little numb from the pressure.
When is it not acceptable to copy the account books?
Murong Xue raised her chin.
"Sister Jiuning is a princess of the Kingdom of Dali, with royal blood flowing through her veins, and she is always the most just in her dealings."
"Today's lottery is such an important event, I'd like to have my sister here as a witness."
She paused, then a slight smirk appeared on her face.
"To prevent someone from reneging on their winnings later."
Meng Jiuning was held captive and unable to move, so she could only force a smile with a stiff face.
"What Miss Murong says is true... Jiuning will see."
Above the corridor, several people's eyes were all fixed on that small purple bamboo divination stick container.
Xie Wanqing looked calm, still holding the water conservancy map in her hands, with a faint smile on her lips.
Standing behind her, Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes and secretly tightened her right hand hidden under her sleeve.
Su Yao had one hand on the abacus and the other gripping the ledger, looking completely on guard.
Shen Ling'er held the warm medicine bowl, wishing she could hand it over as soon as possible.
" Yue'er, go ahead and smoke," Su Yao urged.
Yun Shuyue spat the hawthorn pit from her mouth into her palm and closed her eyes.
He was still muttering to himself.
"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, the prince's illness has subsided after taking the medicine..."
Chubby little hands reached into the bamboo tube.
He ran his fingertips along the remaining bamboo skewers, then precisely pinched the middle one and pulled it out with force.
"It's out!"
Yun Shuyue opened her eyes, happily raised the bamboo stick in her hand, and loudly read out the small vermilion characters carved on it.
"Lin--Qing--Dai!"
The crisp sound exploded in the corridor, its trailing tone lingering, drifting all the way up to the courtyard on the dry, cold wind.
The entire corridor fell silent instantly.
You could even hear the wind whistling through the roof tiles.
Su Yao quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Xie Wanqing's eyebrows twitched slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
Murong Xue's eyes widened, and she loosened her grip on Meng Jiuning's shoulder, almost pushing the Dali princess to the ground.
"Who?!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, " Lin Qingdai?!"
All eyes turned to the outermost part of the corridor.
Under the eaves, Lin Qingdai held the black iron horizontal sword that she never parted with, leaning against the blue brick wall.
He was wearing a faded gray-blue outfit, and his black hair was tied back with a cloth strip.
He was originally like a stone, quietly blending into the shadows.
The moment she heard her name called, the sword in her arms struck her leather armor with a hum.
His usually cold face visibly flushed crimson.
A blush spread down her cheekbones to her ears and neck.
Her hand gripped the scabbard so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand stood out.
"Nonsense."
The two words were squeezed out through clenched teeth, his throat dry and tight.
With a push of his toes, he leaped up onto the roof with the agility of a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and was about to dart over the eaves and run away.
"Where are you going, Lin Daiyu!"
Su Yao reacted very quickly and shouted.