Xiu'er Nanxing, Lüzhu, Song Jingyang, and Huaishang, who had just returned from out of town, Huaishang up a table in the courtyard and ate a lively meal.
Old Madam He was old and couldn't stay up late, so she went home to sleep early after eating.
"Xiu'er, this braised lion's head meatball is really delicious," Song Jingyang said.
Xiu'er: "It was made by the Empress."
"But you chopped the meat, I saw it." Song Jingyang chuckled.
In his eyes, Xiuer, wielding two kitchen knives and chopping away on the cutting board with both hands, Xiu'er more beautiful than anyone else—this capable young wife was so captivating.
Nanxing stood up. "Please enjoy your meal, I'm full."
Huaishang: "Nanxing, go to sleep later, I have something to give you."
Xiu'er immediately perked up her ears and her eyes lit up.
She also figured out Huaishang's temperament; a miser who plucks feathers is news.
Nanxing said, "No need, I haven't celebrated my birthday for many years."
Xiu'er exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Nanxing, today is your birthday! Why didn't you say so sooner? I'll go make you a bowl of longevity noodles!"
She didn't like Nanxing before, but she likes her a lot now.
Moreover, they were all loyal to their master and had no deep-seated hatred for each other, so their birthdays were different.
Nanxing said, "No need, I'm full. You can continue eating."
After saying that, she picked up the untouched wine pot on the table—it contained peach blossom wine brewed by Tang Zhuyun in the spring, with realgar added because it was the Dragon Boat Festival. She was originally going to drink it, but no one touched it. Then she leaped onto the roof.
Tang Zhuyun was stunned when she came out and saw her graceful figure with her clothes fluttering in the wind.
What is she doing?
Xiu'er said, "It's her birthday today, and she probably wants to do something different, like drinking on the rooftop. Your Highness, please don't take offense."
Tang Zhuyun: "It's not that I'm bothered, I'm just afraid she'll get drunk and roll down the street. Huaishang, keep a close eye on her."
Huaishang nodded.
After she went back inside, Xiu'er secretly asked Huaishang, "Do you like Nanxing?"
Huaishang was startled. "I didn't, don't talk nonsense. Song Jingyang paid for the things, and the gifts are my gift..."
Xiu'er: "Song Jingyang! Are you stupid?"
Giving a gift is fine, but don't you even want the right to have your name signed?
Song Jingyang scratched his head. "I was afraid you'd misunderstand, so this was a joint delivery by both of us. After all, we've been with her for so many years... and there aren't many of those people left from back then."
Am I angry that you gave me a gift? I'm angry that someone took advantage of you.
"Hehe," Song Jingyang laughed, "Next year will be better."
"What's good about it?"
"Master's wedding is coming up soon, isn't it? You can help me send it off then, so I won't have to worry about it."
Xiu'er: "... Dream on!"
Huaishang said, "I didn't contribute any money, but I did contribute my time. If Nanxing doesn't want it, don't blame me."
Xiu'er glared at him. "You can't keep it for yourself. Take it out, I'll give it to her. I also have some embroidered purses, I'll give her one..."
Lüzhu, standing nearby, quickly said, "Xiu'er, I also have a small gift for Nanxing. It's me, but I'm too shy to talk to her. Could you help me..."
"Okay, just give it to me." Xiu'er readily agreed.
After a while, Tang Zhuyun called Xiu'er and asked her to pick out a piece of fabric to make clothes for Nanxing.
Nanxing, sitting on the roof, said, "Your Majesty, it's cooler here, and the stars are brighter. Would you like to come up and sit for a while?"
Tang Zhuyun: "I'm not sitting here anymore. I don't want to feed the mosquitoes."
"Then I'll come down." Nanxing actually jumped down again.
Tang Zhuyun had a vague feeling that she had something to say to her. She originally thought that they were not that familiar with each other and that it was taboo to be too intimate with someone she didn't know well, so she wanted to refuse. But she didn't expect her to be so insistent.
Xiu'er and Lüzhu tidied up the stone table in the courtyard. Tang Zhuyun sat down and then invited Nanxing to sit down as well. "Today is your birthday, so there's no need to be so formal. Please sit down."
Nanxing sat down beside her, bowing her head and saying, "In the past, this servant was distant and negligent towards Your Highness. Thank you for forgiving me..."
Tang Zhuyun waved her hand. "In the end, you are the prince's person."
It wasn't her place to handle the situation, and besides, there was no hatred between them to begin with.
Nanxing poured Tang Zhuyun a glass of wine, then poured one for himself. "Your Majesty's peach blossom wine is truly excellent. It's just that the addition of realgar makes the taste a bit strange."
"Really? Let me try it." Tang Zhuyun picked up the bowl, took a sip, and savored the taste. "It does seem a bit... Nanxing, just say it. We're not the type to beat around the bush, let's get straight to the point."
"I was abandoned by my family because I was born on the Dragon Boat Festival. Later, I was taken in by the Xiao Family and became a bodyguard, specializing in assassinations," Nanxing said. "Later, I distinguished myself and became the Vermilion Bird, one of the four great bodyguards."
"Vermilion Bird?" Tang Zhuyun said, "That's quite similar to the name Nanxing."
Nanxing nodded. "So I was also very surprised at the time. Although the environment I grew up in did not allow me to become a sentimental and emotional person, in reality, I still became the kind of person I should never have become."
Tang Zhuyun: I didn't see that coming... Maybe she's like a volcano, hiding all the fiery lava inside.
But why is she saying all this to herself?
Nanxing immediately revealed the answer, saying, "Your Majesty, this servant wants to thank you on behalf of Sister Yuan, even though you are her aunt and I am a stranger."
Tang Zhuyun rewrote the tragic fate that a girl might have had to endure.
If someone had treated me with such kindness back then, everything would have been different.
She won't become an orphan, she won't have to endure those cruel, dark training sessions, and she won't be easily deceived by a little bit of warmth, becoming a sinner of the Xiao Family...
However, there are no "ifs".
Tang Zhuyun could sense the sorrow in her heart. She silently drank a glass of wine without saying a word.
Nanxing just wanted to talk to her, without expecting a response.
"The Prince once said that he was born to pay off a debt, so he would never marry. But things changed after meeting Your Highness," Nanxing said with a slight smile, pouring Tang Zhuyun another cup of wine. "This servant thanks you, because the Prince and Yanran are the last bloodline of the Xiao Family, and they are this servant's only hope for redemption."
Both of them had their lives changed because of Tang Zhuyun, and Nanxing was sincerely grateful to her.
Tang Zhuyun rubbed her face. "I can't drink anymore, my face seems a little swollen."
She has an allergic reaction!
She was fine just now, but after drinking this wine, she started feeling unwell. Tang Zhuyun strongly suspected that she was allergic to realgar.
Nanxing then noticed that Tang Zhuyun's face was indeed red and slightly swollen.
"Your Majesty!" she cried, sitting up in a panic. "I drank the wine too..."
She did not poison Tang Zhujun; she would rather be poisoned herself than have Tang Zhuyun poisoned.
"It's alright," Tang Zhuyun waved her hand. "Don't panic, it has nothing to do with you. I guess I can't touch realgar. I'll just go find some medicine to take."