Chapter 565: If You Don’t Practice, You’ll Be Frozen Stiff
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Another reason Su Ying got these commoners to make charcoal was because charcoal was fast to produce.
The charcoal that was made was first distributed to the commoners, and the rest was sold. After deducting the wages for the commoners, there was still some money left over. No matter how one looked at it, it was not a money-losing transaction.
On the third day after the last batch of charcoal was completed, the first snow
fell in the capital city.
Zhou Qing took the cloak and walked to the corridor to put it on Su Ying. “It’s cold outside, Your Imperial Highness. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Recently, Su Ying had been practicing her martial arts skills more diligently, and her hands and feet were very warm. If she put on the cloak, she might start perspiring.
She took off her cloak and placed it back in Zhou Qing’s hands. “I’m not cold. You, on the other hand, have been neglecting your martial arts practice recently, so your hands are as cold as ice. In a while, go to the Imperial kitchen and ask Uncle Hea to brew more red date ginger tea for all of you to drink to
drive away the cold.”
Zhou Qing’s heart felt warm all over. “Your Imperial Highness is always thinking about us. I’ll wake up early tomorrow and elevate the Yang energy in my body.”
The snow in the capital city was somewhat different from the snow in the northern wilderness. The snow there was mainly frozen with a higher humidity. However, the snow in the capital city was very dry, like pellets of coarse salt.
Su Ying walked into the courtyard and grabbed a handful of snow. Before Zhou Qing could react, she had already flung the snow on her face.
Zhou Qing’s face was splattered with snow out of the blue, and she froze on the spot due to the cold sensation.
Su Ying looked at her dazed expression and laughed out loud. “See? The snow has frozen your brain. Come. Get moving with me.”
Zhou Qing came back to her senses with a helpless expression. She realized that sometimes the Empress was like a child. She was a little immature but
cute at the same time.
She didn’t dare to throw the snow at Su Ying, so she could only dodge in a
pathetic fashion the snow that Su Ying flung at her.
Su Ying only returned to the inner hall after she was tired of playing. Her face had already turned reddish from the cold.
“I will immediately go and tell the Imperial chef to boil ginger syrup soup for you, Your Imperial Highness.” Zhou Qing was afraid that Su Ying would catch a cold, so she quickly sent someone to the Imperial kitchen.
Su Ying took a sip of hot tea and changed out of her palace robe, which had been soaked in snow water.
“I wonder how Lin Zhuyu is doing after so long. Send someone to the Jiang Residence tomorrow to inquire. When Lin Zhuyu is more or less better, ask Bai Shuang to come back.” When the New Year came, she could not let Bai Shuang stay in the Jiang Residence and act like a third wheel in the young couple s house.
“Yes, later I will send someone to inquire.”
“Mm-hmm.”
In the Jiang Residence, Lin Zhuyu’s face was getting rounder by the day.
Before Bai Shuang could say anything, Lin Zhuyu took the initiative to tell her to return to the palace.
“You’ve been here for so long, and Her Imperial Highness is not used to other people serving her. It’s definitely not easy for Zhou Qing to serve her alone. You should go back today. I am fine now.”
Bai Shuang could clearly feel that Lin Zhuyu’s mood had become much more relaxed. Although Lin Zhuyu still felt a little melancholy from time to time, she was much better than before. Bai Shuang was not worried about leaving at this point.
“Mm-hmm. When I see you like this, I also feel more at ease. Then I’ll go back today.”
When Bai Shuang came, she only brought a few sets of clothes to change into, but when she left, Lin Zhuyu told someone to pack a big chest for her.
“What are these? Why is there so much stuff?”
As the maidservant helped Lin Zhuyu out of the house, she said, “It’s just some small things to eat and use. Take them.”
Bai Shuang frowned and said, “I don’t lack anything in the palace. Why should I bring this stuff back? You can keep it for yourself.”
Lin Zhuyu insisted that the servants carry the chest to the horse carriage for
Bai Shuang. “It’s not anything valuable. Just take it.”
Bai Shuang knew that Lin Zhuyu felt bad. If she did not accept it, Lin Zhuyu would definitely be unhappy.
“Alright, I got it. It’s cold now. You can’t come out into the cold. Go back inside quickly.”
Lin Zhuyu was also concerned about her body. After standing for a while, she felt cold. She did not try to act tough either. After watching Bai Shuang’s horse carriage leave, she went back into the house.
After the weather turned cold, the number of pedestrians on the streets was much less than usual.
Bai Shuang opened the chest that Lin Zhuyu told her men to put on her carriage. There were two sets of jewelry and a few rolls of high-quality cloth inside.
Bai Shuang shook her head and closed the chest. She was serving in the palace and had no relatives outside the palace. She was indifferent to these things. She was satisfied to be able to stay by the Empress’s side safely for the rest of her life.
When the horse carriage passed by a shop selling snacks and pancakes, Bai
Shuang was immediately attracted by the smell.
Lin Zhuyu was eating very bland meals now, so Bai Shuang also accompanied her to eat plain porridge and some side dishes every day. She had been craving other things for a long time. She immediately asked the coachman to stop the carriage at the side. She got out of the carriage and went to the pancake stall to buy a few pancakes. When she smelled the fragrance of the dough frying in the oil pan, her saliva almost flowed down.
“Mister, I want one with egg and pork filling. I also want one with sugar.
The stall-holder handed the ready-made pancakes to Bai Shuang. “Miss, your pancakes are ready. Here you go.”
“Alright, thank you.”
After handing over the money, Bai Shuang eagerly took a bite. Just as she was about to walk back, she saw a few people chasing a man in ragged clothes across the street heading in her direction.
“Don’t run! Stop, you miserable thief! Stop!”
The man who was being chased stumbled and was quickly kicked to the ground by the person behind him.
Those people surrounded the man and began punching and kicking him without another word.
Bai Shuang did not want to get involved, but she accidentally locked eyes with that man’s determined gaze. She thought for a while and decided to walk toward the group.
“Stop it, all of you. How can you guys get into a brawl in broad daylight?” Bai Shuang had been by Su Ying’s side for a long time, and she had been affected by her strong aura so much so that she had her own aura now. After she gave a stern holler, those people stopped and looked at Bai Shuang.
“Miss, this rascal stole my steamed buns. He’s a thief. Is it against the law for us to catch a thief?”
Bai Shuang glanced at that fallen man and looked at his clear but determined eyes. She did not quite believe that he was a thief. “How much is the steamed bun? I will pay for him.”
These people were all relatives, and they were not some heinous thugs. When they heard Bai Shuang’s words, they gave a figure. “Five copper coins.
Bai Shuang took out ten copper coins and handed them to the other party. “Now, can you let him go?”
Since the money they received was double, they naturally would not give that man trouble anymore. After thanking Bai Shuang, they left.
That man looked very thin and weak. He was lying on the ground motionlessly after being beaten. She did not know if his body was injured somewhere.
“Are you alright?”
When the man heard this, he quickly raised his head to look into Bai Shuang’s eyes. When he met Bai Shuang’s concerned gaze, he lowered his head in apparent shame. “Thank you, Miss. I will definitely return the money for the steamed bun to you in the future.”
Bai Shuang pursed her lips. He had already fallen to the point of stealing someone else’s steamed bun, so why was he still talking about paying back? “We can talk about this later. I’m asking if you’re injured now. If you’re really feeling uncomfortable, I’ll take you to the medical hall for a checkup.”
The man struggled to get up from the ground. Just as he was about to speak, he lost control of his body and leaned towards Bai Shuang..