Chapter 41：

Early the next morning, the team left the Huaxian Post and continued to move eastward.

Sleeping in the same bed with Pei Yan at night, and spending a whole day in the carriage during the day. Under such a day and night, Tao Ti can control her image for the first three days. When later, she gradually releases herself and becomes lazy. It's a salted fish.

Anyway, no matter what she does, Pei Yan has a tolerant and gentle appearance, with a bad temper.

The day before Luoyang, a heavy rain suddenly fell halfway.

When the rain came, Tao Ti was lying in the carriage and sleeping, and suddenly a blast of thunder struck her, which directly frightened her.

Pei Yan had just closed the car window, and when she turned her head, she saw the little girl holding a soft pillow, her hair was a bit messy, her eyes were straight, and her face was ignorant and innocent outside of the situation.

"It's raining outside." He leaned down and said softly, "Are you scared by thunder?"

Tao Ti blinked his eyes in a daze, saw his silly look through his dark eyes, and nodded obediently, "I was scared to wake up."

The thunder was too loud just now, as if it exploded directly on the top of a carriage.

Pei Yan raised his hand and rubbed her hair, and comforted, "It's okay, it's just thunder. The carriage is equipped with a lightning protection device to ensure safety..."

"His Royal Highness, don't worry about me. I'm not afraid of thunder. I was just awakened by the scare." Tao Ti curled up her eyes and smiled at him.

Probably from that night at the Huaxian Station, Pei Yan didn't know what happened, so he developed the habit of rubbing her head. She was a little strange at first, but gradually got used to it, and even...liked this intimate little action?

She attributed this liking to her remaining animality. Although the beasts of their gluttonous clan look terrifying to humans, the sacred beasts are also beasts, and their subconscious mind likes to be touched and caressed by people.

The thunder outside was still ringing, Pei Yan stared at her, seeing that she was really not afraid, and gently curled her lips, "I didn't expect you to be quite bold."

Tao Ti lifted her chin, his tone was a little triumphant, "Of course."

Just kidding, she's a sacred beast. She's afraid that it would be ashamed to spread thunder, so how can she be mixed in the Three Realms in the future?

When the two were talking, the carriage came to a halt slowly, and then three rhythmic door knocks sounded outside.

Pei Yan narrowed his expression, and said in a cold voice, "What's the matter?"

A flat voice came from outside the door, "His Royal Highness, the rain is so heavy that it is impossible to move forward. Only then did the spies reported that a section of the **** had collapsed in front of him, blocking the road."

Pei Yan groaned slightly, and said quietly, "Is there a place to stay nearby?"

Zhanping replied, "There is a mountain temple five miles ahead, so you can take shelter from the rain for now."

Pei Yan said, "Go to the mountain temple to take shelter from the rain first, and then send a team of people to clear the roadblocks ahead, and make arrangements when the rain stops."

Zhanping replied and went on to set up.

The big raindrops pounded on the carriage, and the big and small beads fell like a jade pan, a little noisy.

Pei Yan sat up straight, looked sideways at the quiet girl beside him, and whispered, "Let’s go ahead and shelter from the rain... If the rain can’t stop, it’s possible to spend the night in the temple tonight. The circumstances are special. You can bear it, and you will be able to rest well when you arrive at Luoyang Palace tomorrow."

Tao Ti raised his eyes to look at him, and said softly, "It doesn't matter if you live in the temple. Your Majesty can live, and I can live, I'm not so squeamish."

Pei Yan's black eyes moved slightly, and he nodded and smiled, "Well, that's fine."

The carriage turned around, and it didn't take long for it to arrive at a slightly dilapidated mountain temple.

The temple is densely covered with spider webs, the mountain gods enshrined in the temple are covered with a layer of ashes, and the tribute placed in front of the table has long been rotten.

In such a harsh environment, even the palace attendants could not help but mumble and complain—

"How can people live in this kind of place? I'm afraid that all snakes, insects, rats and ants are running out at night."

"Oh, I blame the rain, it's better to stop it quickly, so that we can rush to the next station!"

"Okay, don't say anything, quickly pack up and clean up, so that your Royal Highness and the prince have a place to stay."

The mountain temple has been in disrepair for a long time. The so-called cleaning up is just to make the inside a little cleaner and not so much dust.

Outside the carriage, Fu Xirui waited with an umbrella. Seeing the car door opened, she immediately greeted her.

The one who came out first was Pei Yan in a blue robe. After he stood firmly, he took the umbrella in Fu Xirui's hand.

Fu Xirui, "...?"

Linglong guessed something, pulled his sleeve, and took him back to the side.

I saw the prince standing next to the carriage holding an umbrella, and after a while, a small head poked out of the carriage. It was the prince.

When everyone thought that the prince was going to help the prince down by himself, they saw the prince handing the umbrella to the prince. Then, he bent down and hugged the prince directly.

Everyone, "!!!"

Linglong and Fu Xirui, "!!!"

Tao Ti, who was the party involved, was also embarrassed at the moment.

She held the umbrella blankly in her eyes, and leaned against Pei Yan's warm embrace.

Her slender arms were tightly pressed against the man's hard chest, and she could clearly feel his heartbeat. In this heavy rain, his heartbeat was so fast.

Boom boom boom, boom boom boom.

For a while, she was a little confused, and the noise in her ears was whether it was his heartbeat or her own.

What dangled in front of his eyes was his cold white skin, as well as the sharply defined jaw, and then down, was the slender neck, and the protruding, a little **** Adam's apple...

Somehow, she had the urge to touch it.

Suddenly, the man's low and pleasant voice sounded above his head, "Ati, the umbrella is raised a little higher, and the lonely hair crown is pressed down."

Tao Ti was taken aback, and said obediently, "Oh, good."

She raised the umbrella a little higher, and raised her eyes to look at Pei Yan. His expression is very light and natural, as if holding her like this is a normal thing.

This makes Tao Ti a little confused, is this... normal?

When Pei Yan walked into the temple holding her and put her down, she couldn't wait to raise her head and directly asked him, "Your Highness, you, you just..."

Before she finished speaking, Pei Yan answered, "The road is muddy, and your embroidered shoes will get wet."

Tao Ti, "...?"

Pei Yan, "The shoes are wet, and the cold enters from the feet, which makes it easy to get sick."

Tao Ti, "..."

This answer is well-founded and perfect enough that she doesn't know what to say.

After a while, her pink lips moved, and at last she whispered, "Thank you...Thank you, Your Highness."

Pei Yan chuckled and said, "Put away the umbrella, the umbrella in the house is not tall."

Tao Ti only reacted. She had just forgotten to put the umbrella away when she was thinking about asking him why he was holding herself.

Upon hearing this, Linglong, who was following, hurried forward to take the umbrella in Tao Ti's hand, and took it to the door to close it.

Tao Ti stood firmly in front of Pei Yan, and saw that his shoulders were wet from the rain, a little embarrassed, and saw a layer of water droplets on his forehead, and quickly took out a veil from his sleeve, "His Royal Highness, Here you are, wipe it."

Pei Yan didn't take it, but just bent over slightly and faced her directly, "The hand is a bit sore, can Ati wipe it alone?"

His tone was gentle and gentle, the scent of cedar came, and that extremely handsome face was close at hand, and she could even see each of his slender eyelashes.

Tao Ti thought she was like a fisherman who was fascinated by the sea monster siren, not to mention wiping sweat, even if he asked her to wipe his back, she would not say "no".

only-

"Your Highness, close your eyes, okay?"

He looked at her like this, her heart beating so fast, as if it would pass by in the next second!

"Okay." Pei Yan was very cooperative and closed his eyes gently.

As soon as these eyes were closed, his slender eyelashes became more obvious.

Tao Ti raised his hand to wipe the sweat for him, wiping it, his eyes fell on his lips unconsciously.

His lip shape is so beautiful, I don’t know how it feels...

She was thinking like this, but her fingers moved to the corner of his mouth, her round fingertips just wanted to touch—

Suddenly, Pei Yan opened his eyes.

Those deep and charming peach blossom eyes stared straight at her, their eyes were clear and bright, as if they were full of galaxies.

Tao Ti, as if waking up from a dream, suddenly retracted his hand, flushed, and stammered, "It's done."

Pei Yan curled his lips and smiled as if he hadn't noticed her small movements, "Okay."

The palace people packed out a bench, and the two of them walked to the window and sat down together.

The rest of the people stood guard in front of the outer porch. The sound of rain was accompanied by faint thunder.

Tao Ti glanced at Pei Yan quietly, hesitated again and again, and asked in a low voice, "His Royal Highness, am I...somewhat heavy?"

He just hugged her and walked for a long time, and he was sweating. Has he eaten too much recently?

Pei Yan answered simply, "It's not heavy."

Tao Ti, "Then you..."

Pei Yan said, "It's not sweat on your forehead, it's because your umbrella is crooked and you have dripped some rain."

Tao Ti, "Oh, this way."

She nodded, and suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Since he was not too tired, why did he say that his hands were sore?

She looked at Pei Yan in amazement, Pei Yan seemed to understand her mind and looked at her quietly.

The eyes were facing each other, and the atmosphere became unconsciously ambiguous.

Both wanted to find something in each other's eyes, but in the end Tao Ti was defeated.

She stood up with hot cheeks, "I, the room is a little stuffy, I'll go to the door to breathe."

Seeing her petite figure who fled in the wild, Pei Yanqing's handsome face showed a smile, "Little fool."

The rain is rippling and the clouds are overwhelming.

Tao Ti took a few deep breaths by the door before he reluctantly pressed the inexplicable throbbing.

Linglong looked at her princess's flushed cheeks, as if her brain filled with what was happening in the room, she sneered twice.

The rain was extremely heavy, and there was a layer of smoke in the air. Amidst the white rain curtain, an embarrassed figure ran over.

Before they were approaching, a guard in a dressing suit stepped forward and stopped.

Hearing the movement, Tao Ti looked intently.

I realized that it was not one person, but two people, one old and one young, the old carrying the small, and the small carrying a big basket. The whole body was drenched, and the rain made them unable to open. Open your eyes.

The old man put his hands together and bowed to the guard, and could vaguely hear words like "please beg for the official."

Tao Ti frowned and said, "Linglong, go and see what's going on."

Linglong replied and went with an umbrella.

After a while, she came back to report, "They are medicine farmers who live nearby. They went up the mountain to collect medicine today. They never thought of suddenly encountering a heavy rain. This old man's grandson accidentally fell and hurt his leg...Two People come to the mountain temple to take shelter from the rain."

Tao Ti glanced at the figure of the old man and the child, and said softly, "Then let them come in to shelter from the rain."

Linglong was startled, "This..."

Tao Ti said, "We can't let the people avoid the rain just because we are here to avoid the rain, right? What's more, the rain is so heavy and there is no other place to hide nearby. An old man with a child, if you are not careful It fell again, that would be bad."

After a pause, thinking of Pei Yan's identity, she added, "Don't let them enter the hall and avoid them on the corridor."

Upon hearing this, Linglong bowed her head respectfully, "The prince and concubine are kind, and the servant and maid will go and talk to the guard."

The guard obtained the order, and carefully searched the bodies of both grandpa and grandson, and only after they were sure that they had no weapons, they let them come.

The old man put down his grandson on his back, bowed his back, and bowed to Tao Ti, "Thank you Madam, Madam!"

"You don't have to be polite, the old man." She raised her hand.

The old man in front of him was about sixty years old, skinny, with white beard and hair; and the little boy beside him looked about the age of the fifth prince, with dark skin and dirty body, his trousers were still scratched, and his knees were badly injured. obvious.

Seeing Tao Ti looking at him, the little boy timidly hid behind his grandfather.

Tao Ti smiled at him, and then whispered to Linglong, "Go to the carriage and get medicine for him to treat the wound."

Linglong promised.

The old man looked grateful and took the little grandson to thank him again and again, "Madam is kind, and the little old man is really grateful."

"It's just a small matter. It's raining suddenly. It's fate that we can hide from the rain in one place."

"Yes, when I went out in the morning, the weather was still good. I never thought it would rain as soon as I said it." The old man shook his head and sighed, "I didn't get much medicine, but I was so embarrassed by the rain."

While talking, Linglong brought a bottle of trauma medicine powder and some gauze.

The old man took it politely, "Don't dare to bother the girl, just like the little old man giving medicine to his grandson."

Linglong gave him the medicine bottle and gauze. The young and old sat on the threshold and began to take the medicine.

Tao Ti glanced at their back basket inadvertently, and found that besides some herbs, there were also a few wild vegetables, such as bracken, shepherd's purse, ground fungus, etc., which he wanted to pick up and cook for.

After taking the medicine, the old and the young returned the rest to Linglong, and sat on the threshold honestly, looking outside, waiting for the rain to stop.

Tao Ti beckoned to Linglong and whispered, "Give them a blanket and put it on. When the rain drops a little bit, give them two more umbrellas so they can go home."

Listening to this instruction, Linglong's heart was touched. She also came from a poor family. They all said that there were frozen bones in Zhumen's stinky road. Those high-ranking families would be grateful if they didn't bully others, and how could she reach out so considerately and tenderly. Helping hand.

If it had been the time when her hometown was plagued by locusts, she could meet a good person like the prince, even if she donated a bun, the grandma would not starve to death.

Linglong recovered from the past, and her tone became more respectful, "Prince Princess, don't worry."

Tao Ti smiled, and was about to turn around and walk in. Pei Yan didn't know when she stood behind him, but she was startled, "The hall..."

Pei Yan put his finger in front of his lips, and his cold eyes swept across the grandparents who were sitting outside the door.

Tao Ti reacted and stepped forward to explain. At the end, he tilted his head and asked, "The hall...well, I'm just going out. If I don't want to reveal my identity, how should I call you?"

A bunch of nicknames popped up in her mind automatically, Xiao Pei, Xiao Yan, A Yan, Little Brother?

Seeing her asking seriously, Pei Yan narrowed his black eyes lightly, and said, "I call you maiden, you call me... husband?"

Husband, gentleman?

Tao Ti went through this name in his consciousness again, and the temperature of her cheeks also became warmer bit by bit.

Pei Yan wanted to hear her call to his husband when he was visiting the Dongxi market last time. I thought I had to be tempted, but slowly figured it out, but I didn't expect this little girl to take the initiative to mention it...

Seeing her shy white porcelain face, he suffocated a smile and nodded solemnly, "I think this title is good, what does Ati think?"

Tao Ti, "Just... it's okay."

Pei Yan said, "Then when I am out in the future, when I deliberately hide my identities, will you and I match up like this?"

Tao Ti lowered his head, Bai Nen's fingers pinched the hem of the skirt a little nervously, and whispered "Um".

"Then call your husband to listen to it now?"

"Huh?" Tao Ti was dumbfounded.

Pei Yanqingjun's eyebrows were dyed with a warm smile, "It should be practiced in advance."

Tao Ti lowered her head, her slender eyelashes hanging down, slightly covering those crystal clear eyes like a mountain spring, and muttered in a low voice, "Husband, husband..."

The voice was very soft. After she finished speaking, she pinched her fingers tighter and said hurriedly, "It's getting late, it's time for lunch, I'll let them light a fire!"

Seeing her back hurriedly leaving, Pei Yan raised the corners of her mouth.

But it's...very good.

After a while, he narrowed his expression, glanced at the pair of grandparents at the door, and turned back to the inside after seeing no difference.

Although the mountain temple is dilapidated, it has a wooden structure. Tao Ti always keeps in mind various fire prevention slogans, such as "a fire under the mountain, the director falls in love with me", "set the mountain on fire and sit in prison", so people A fire was built on the corridor, and a bucket of rainwater was also received next to it, just in case of emergency.

The weather was bad and it was inconvenient to get water. Tao Ti thought about it for a while and decided to make a Cantonese-style waxed claypot rice that is convenient and water-saving.

She brought two small pots on this trip, one is the casserole used to make chicken clay pot last time, and the other is the clay pot suitable for making clay pot rice. Compared with other pots, clay pots are more flexible in terms of heat control, and the claypot rice made is more delicious and delicious.

The cooking utensils are in place, and the ingredients are very simple. A bowl of shredded rice, two eggs, sausages, sliced ​​bacon...Unfortunately, there are no green vegetables. I always feel that something is missing.

Tao Ti touched her chin, suddenly her eyes lit up.

She walked up to the grandparents and said politely, "Old man, I just saw some wild vegetables in your medicine basket. I wonder if you sell wild vegetables?"

Hearing this, the old man said, "Why the madam is so polite, but some wild vegetables, worthless things." He put the basket in front of Tao Ti, "You can take whatever you want."

Tao Ti thanked him, took a handful of shepherd's purse, and saw that the lunch that the grandfather and grandson put aside was two wheat cakes that had been swelled by rain, so Linglong took four sesame roasted naan.

"Old man, your wheat cake is soaked in rain, and it's not easy to eat. You and your grandson can eat this roasted naan for lunch as a reward for your shepherd's purse."

"Okay, okay, thank you Madam." The old man nodded and took the roasted naan.

Although the roasted naan is cold, it is not as crispy as it was just out of the oven, but you can still smell a light scent when you get it, especially after the entrance, the sesame is crispy, the surface of the roasted naan is crispy, the inside is delicate, and the salty fragrance is light. , The more you chew, the more fragrant you are.

The little boy took the roasted naan and ate it. After Tao Ti walked away, he secretly said to his grandfather, "Grandpa, this cake is much better than the wheat cake you made."

The old man touched his gray beard and smiled, "If it tastes good, eat more."

The little boy nodded and continued to gnaw the roasted naan that was bigger than his face.

The old man acted gently and broke a small piece of cake, chewing and looking at the busy figure by the stove at the end of the corridor, with a hint of appreciation between his thin eyebrows.

…

With the ingredients and cooking utensils in place, the steps for making claypot rice are very simple.

After the silk miao rice is soaked, put it in a clay pot with water, add two teaspoons of sesame oil, and steam until cooked. When the rice is almost steamed, there will be small holes on the surface. Take advantage of this time, spread the cut sausage and bacon neatly on the rice, spread some ginger, and then cover the pot to continue simmering.

In a short while, a strong aroma emerged from the pot, with the light sweet aroma of rice, and the meaty aroma of steamed bacon and salami.

Seeing that it was almost time, Tao Ti opened the lid of the pot, punched two eggs in the center, and continued to stew with the lid on. At this moment, she didn't have the condition to prepare the sauce in bottles and jars, so she stole a laziness, digging out a spoon from the spicy sauce that she carried with her, and stirring it with warm water, even if it was a sauce.

At this time, in addition to the fragrance of rice and sausage, you can also smell some burnt scent of rice. Tao Ti lifted the lid again, put the washed fresh shepherd's purse into the pot, by the way, evenly pour the mixed spicy sauce into the pot, cover the pot and continue to simmer with the remaining temperature. Before starting the pot, sprinkle a layer of chopped green onion, and a pot of claypot rice is ready.

The table was set up in the temple, and the table in the carriage was used directly. After the palace clerk put the claypot rice on the table, Tao Ti said to Linglong, "Linglong, you go to the carriage to get some roasted naan and dried meat for everyone to eat. , You don’t need to serve you here... Oh, yes, the dried meat is also divided among the grandparents and grandchildren. It's not tasteful to eat just roasted naan."

Linglong was startled slightly, did not respond immediately, but looked at Pei Yan and waited for him to speak.

Pei Yan lifted his eyelids a little, and said quietly, "I listen to the princess." He glanced at Fu Xirui and other eunuchs beside him, "You also go together."

"Thank your prince, thank you, your concubine." Fu Xirui, Linglong and the others were all overjoyed and bowed.

The light in the temple is dim, and the sound of rain is pattering, making the surroundings more and more quiet, with a somewhat cold and secluded taste.

But when Tao Ti uncovered the steaming pot of claypot rice, the rich fragrance and the steaming white smoke pulled people back into the real world full of ups and downs in one second.

Across the hazy smoke, Pei Yan saw her small face with a bright smile.

Her smile, simple, pure, and so accurate, poked the softness deep in his heart.

It made him feel that this world is not so useless, there is still a good side.

"His Royal Highness, it's dinner, what are you thinking?" Tao Ti couldn't help but call out when he saw his thoughtful appearance.

"Well, eat..." Pei Yan regained consciousness, smiled lightly at her, and glanced at the food in front of her.

I saw the round earthenware pot was full, the crystal white rice was covered with a layer of tender red sausage and bacon, the white eggs were covered with emerald green onion and white sesame seeds, and the fresh shepherd's purse was dotted on the side. The color, fragrance and taste are complete.

After seeing him admiring the attractive appearance of claypot rice, Tao Ti took a big spoon and said, "This rice needs to be stirred before it is delicious, especially the rice crust inside. Your Majesty, you must taste it. It is delicious and crispy. , I like it best."

After her stirring, the rice was fully mixed with bacon, eggs, shepherd's purse and sauce, and the aroma became stronger.

"Okay, you can eat now." Tao Ti smiled, scooped a bowl of herself, and couldn't wait to take a bite.

The grains of crystal-clear and oily rice absorb the oily scent secreted by the bacon sausage. The mouth is flexible and moderate. With the salty and delicious soup, the taste is extremely rich, chewed and lightly sweet.

Needless to say, the taste of Cantonese-style sausages, with a light wine aroma, mellow and refreshing; the tender bacon is chewy, with a unique smoky flavor; a mouthful of rice and a mouthful of meat, a sense of satisfaction arises spontaneously. If you feel tired, take a bite of fresh shepherd's purse, fresh and sweet, it is a natural delicacy unique to the mountains and fields.

"Well, it's delicious..." Tao Ti shrugged her shoulders, lazily and leisurely like a soft kitten.

Seeing this, Pei Yan also took a sip, with an unexpected smile in his eyes, "Well, it's delicious, Ati is really amazing."

He was so boastful that Tao Ti was a little embarrassed, "Fortunately, it's okay, as long as you like to eat."

Next, the two of you divided the pot of rice into one bowl by one. In the end, there was still some left. Tao Ti pushed in front of him, gently judo, "Your Highness, eat more."

Pei Yan clearly caught the little bit of reluctance in her eyes, she still wanted to eat, but chose to let him eat more.

He knew that before the four uncles, his little princess said that he would try to feed him stronger. This is not a lie, she is really using her actions to prove it.

He knew better that what he said in front of Sister Sister that day was not a lie.