Hungry? Hongling was stunned, since the accident in the Xie family, Niangniang couldn't sleep and eat, every time she ate, she just ate two bites at random and put it aside, they persuaded again, Niangniang said that she was tired and wanted to rest, but she really lay on the bed, but she didn't see her really asleep, only opened her eyes and wept silently.

It's rare to have an appetite today, and if you look closely, Niangniang's complexion seems to be much better. Hongling stood firmly in place, looking at the smiling and charming face of the beauty on the couch, and her eyes fell on Tan'er, who was diligent and cheerful like a bird, a trace of hesitation flashed on her face, and her eyes were obscure.

Tan'er had neatly placed the plates in the food box on the table, and turned around to help Xie Zhen again.

"Taste it, mother. Let's see if this dumpling is different from what I ate in previous years! ”

"Aren't they all the same stuffing? What's the difference? Is it because you got the dumplings this time, so it's more special than in previous years? Xie Zhen only felt funny when she saw that she was in a hurry, and teased her while staying on the bed with her outstretched hand.

On the table was a plate of dumplings, a glass of balsamic vinegar, and a cup of bird's nest.

Tan'er dipped a dumpling for her, stared at her and tasted it, and then hurriedly asked, "How is it?" Isn't it different? ”

She looked eager and serious, as if she really wanted to hear her make a name for herself. Xie Zhen couldn't help laughing, I don't know why she cares about the taste of dumplings like this.

"Hmm. It seems to be a little different. She nodded knowingly.

"Yay!" Tan'er said happily: "I'll just say it!" This food box was given by Daoist Yan Ye, it must not be ordinary! This dumpling was taken out of the steamer by Daoist Yan Ye himself, and it was also put into the food box by himself! With the best food box and the mind of Daoist Yan Ye, the taste is definitely different from the past! ”

Xie Zhen looked at her with a happy face, and couldn't help laughing, Yan Ye is just a Taoist leader in the world, and he is not the god of food in the sky, where is it so powerful?

However, ...... with your own hands The smile on the corner of Xie Zhen's mouth gradually faded, she and this Taoist chief had never intersected, to say that he saved Tan'er by chance, and then asked the people in the dining room to prepare dumplings for Tan'er to bring back. But he did everything himself...... That's unusual! Why did he do it? She, the unfavored queen, where is it worth him to do this?

Xie Hao suddenly lost her appetite.

"Why didn't you eat it?" Tan Er was surprised.

"I'm thirsty." Xie Hao couldn't bear to brush off her kindness, so she had to find an excuse at random.

Hongling, who had been silent for a long time on the side, heard that her eyes lit up, as if she had suddenly found an opportunity to speak, and hurriedly stepped forward to serve her a bowl of bird's nest, and said with a smile: "Yes! The mother woke up and drank some bird's nest to moisten her throat. ”

It's a careful one. Xie Hao glanced at her appreciatively, only to find that her fingers hidden in her sleeves trembled slightly.

"Are you cold?" She cared.

"Huh?" Hongling was thinking about her thoughts, but she didn't expect her to look so closely. Hearing this, he was taken aback, and subconsciously hid his hand behind him.

Xie Zhen frowned.

Hongling's heart trembled, only then did she realize that her reaction was too abnormal, and she was even more apprehensive, so she hurriedly reached out and pulled the jacket on her body, and said in a concealed tone: "Yes! It's too cold. ”

Xie Hao looked at her and nodded thoughtfully, "Since it's cold, why don't you go and add some clothes?" What if I get sick from the cold? Or are you unwilling to be an errand in front of me? So you want to take advantage of the time when you are sick to be lazy? ”

She had a joking tone, Hongling listened to it, but a chill crept up her spine.

"How could a mother say such a thing." She barely pulled out a laugh, said a strange word, and then bowed and hurriedly retreated.

Seeing Hongling's back turn out of the courtyard, Xie Hao faintly withdrew her gaze and called another girl, "Tan'er." ”

Tan'er, who was coveting the plate of dumplings, came back to his senses and asked repeatedly, "What's wrong?" ”

Xie Zhen couldn't help but smile and shook her head when she looked awake, thinking that if she was a rabbit, she must have cleverly pricked up her long ears at this time, thinking like this, Xie Hao felt more and more funny, and those words that she originally wanted to ask now seemed to have no need to ask.

"Niangniang, don't be patronizing and laughing!" Tan'er was a little embarrassed by her laughter, reached out and rubbed the back of her neck and said, "What's the matter?" ”

Xie Zhen pursed her lips, held back a smile, and said, "Tan'er, are you cold?" ”

"Cold?" Tan'er was inexplicably asked by her, "It's not cold!" I'm wearing a thick one! Mother, are you cold? I'll go get you a cloak! ”

"No, I don't. I'm not cold. Xie Zhen shook her head, "It's good that you don't feel cold." ”

The mother is so nice, and I'm afraid that she will catch a cold. Tan'er's heart was warm, and after thinking about it, she said: "Niangniang, I'm not cold, it's just ...... A little hungry. ”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted unconsciously to the stack of dumplings on the table.

Xie Zhen was stunned, and immediately laughed, "It's still a child after all!" Eat, eat, eat! I've got you covered with this plate of dumplings. ”

"Really?" Tan'er's eyes widened in surprise, and she hurriedly leaned over and made an exaggerated thank you salute, "Xie Niangniang." ”

Xie Zhen was amused by her and waved her hand to get up.

Tan'er didn't say anything more, and got up from the ground with a grin, her eyes still looking at the dumplings.

It's still a kid after all! Xie Zhen shook her head with a smile, and couldn't help but advise again, "When you eat later, remember to warm it up first, on such a cold day, you can't eat cold, be careful to eat bad stomach." ”

Tan'er responded with a grin.

Xie Zhen smiled again, "I didn't know you liked dumplings so much. ”

"I didn't like it that much." Tan'er smiled and narrowed her eyes, "But it's not every day that Daoist Yan Ye gets dumplings, don't blame me for being rare!" ”

"Yes, yes, yes." Xie Zhen saw her admiration, and she didn't plan to tell her about the ulterior motives of Daoist Yan Ye, so she only nodded in response, and deliberately said with a straight face: "I originally wanted to wait for Zhan'er to come back, and then we would make dumplings together, but now it seems that you are not uncommon." ”

"Rare, rare!" Tan'er hurriedly said: "The dumplings made by Niangniang and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are unique in the sky and on earth!" Where would I not be rare? I can't even chew it! When the time comes, swallow it whole in my stomach, and I will be able to taste it for a few more years! ”

This honest boy. Where can Xie Zhen still keep a straight face, she couldn't stop laughing, she even laughed out of her eyes, she stretched out her hand to wipe it, and said with a smile: "Don't, I'm afraid you'll choke." ”

Tan'er realized that Niangniang was teasing herself, and she grinned, and the master and servant laughed at each other for a long time.

After a while, Xie Hao barely stopped laughing, reached out and rubbed his stiff cheeks, and urged: "Okay, okay, don't laugh, you are about to clean up the things on the table." ”

"Niangniang, have you eaten again?" Tan'er poked her head and saw that the bird's nest in the bowl hadn't moved a few bites at all, so she couldn't help but be a little anxious, "Why don't you eat a little more." ”

"I can't eat it." Xie Zhen said, after speaking, Tan'er's expression was even more worried, and he hurriedly added: "It's full." ”

"Oh." Tan'er was relieved and stepped forward with a handkerchief.

Xie Hao took the handkerchief, wiped the corners of her mouth, and said, "After cleaning up here, you will go to find out if Yan Ye Dao is out of the palace again, if not, hurry up and send this food box back." ”

"You don't have to send it back." Tan'er shook her head as she put the dishes on the table back into the food box.

"How?" Xie Zhen'e raised her eyebrows slightly.

"The Taoist chief said that this is specially prepared for Niangniang, and there is no need to send it back." Tan'er explained, looking a little regretful, obviously regretting that she couldn't see Yan Ye anymore.

Specially? Xie Zhen only felt that this word was a little harsh.

"Tan'er." She muttered, "Don't clean it up yet, bring me the food box." ”

Looking at the food box? Tan'er looked at her inexplicably, and then looked at the food box, even more confused, but she didn't ask anything, she took out the dishes one by one, and held the empty food box in front of Xie Zhen.

Xie Hao stretched out her hand to take it and looked at it carefully.

The carved food box made of rosewood has a total of three compartments.

Xie Zhen opened it layer by layer, but there was nothing inside.

No? Xie Zhen frowned.

Tan'er stared at her and looked back and forth through the food box, and couldn't help but ask, "Niangniang, what are you looking for?" I just took the dumplings out of it, and there's nothing in it now! ”

Is there really nothing? Xie Hao bit her lip, and she couldn't tell whether she was stable or lost.

Forget it, maybe she's thinking too much. Xie Hao sighed secretly, picked up a partition in one hand, and wanted to put it back.

The partition on the hand was unexpectedly of different weights.

Xie Hao's eyes lit up, and he raised his hand to smash the slightly heavier partition to the ground.

"!" Tan'er couldn't help but exclaim, and in the next second, the cry stopped.

The partition cracked into several strips of wood on the ground, revealing what had been hidden inside.

A dagger.

Tan'er covered her mouth in surprise, for fear that she would scream and attract the people around her, how would she explain the current scene?

She gritted her teeth hard, barely suppressed the fear in her heart, and said in a trembling voice: "Niangniang, what's going on?" ”

Xie Zhen looked at her, this girl who had always loved to laugh now looked at herself with a frightened face, Xie Zhen was a little apologetic, but she didn't want to deceive her, so she said truthfully: "I don't know." ”

She really didn't know why Yan Ye sent her a dagger so secretly, did he want to frame her?

Tan'er is right to think about it, this food box was brought back by her, how could Niang Niang know what was going on.

She then asked, "So what are we going to do now?" ”

"I don't know." Xie Hao still shook her head, now that the matter is over, let's take one step at a time, and wait for Yan Ye's next move.

Mother doesn't know? Tan Er was stunned for a moment.

But she stayed only for a moment, and the next moment, she crouched down with a resolute expression, picked up the dagger and put it into her sleeve.

"Mother." She said sternly: "You just don't know anything, I'll secretly dispose of this dagger." ”

She didn't know anything in the first place...... Xie Zhen couldn't cry or laugh, and asked her, "What are you going to do?" ”

"Don't ask, mother." Tan'er had a death-defying expression on her face, "If I am discovered, I will bite my tongue and kill myself, and I will never let my mother be involved." ”

"Bite your tongue and kill yourself?" Xie Zhen smiled, "You're not afraid of death." But if they stuff a cloth in your mouth, how do you bite your tongue? ”

"Then, I'll stab myself with this dagger." Tan'er gritted her teeth and said.

Stabbed to death...... Xie Hao felt sorry for her when she thought about it, but she still shook her head and said, "Then what if they take away your dagger?" ”

"Well, I'll just hit the wall!" Tan'er clenched her fists and emboldened herself, "Yes! I'll hit the wall! ”

"Stupid." Xie Hao shook his head with a smile and reached out to her, "Bring it." ”

Tan'er didn't follow, took a step back, dragged and cried: "Niangniang, Niangniang, I can't help it!" You must not touch this dagger! Now that the rumors outside are so fierce, and then let them find out that you have a sharp weapon, it really won't be clear! The Xie family has now suffered an injustice, and they are still waiting for their mother Zhaoxue! Mother, you can't have an accident! Let the slave and maid settle this matter! The slave and maid are light, and if they die, they will die, and the slave and maid ......"

The more you talk about this, the more ridiculous it becomes. Xie Zhen was angry when she heard this, stretched out her hand and slapped it on the table, shouting loudly: "Nonsense! ”

Tan'er was startled, and her crying suddenly choked.

Her eyes were red and her face was full of tears, which was so pitiful.

Xie Zhen couldn't help but slow down her tone and said: "It's not a big deal, don't scare yourself, give me the dagger, I can handle it well." ”

"What are you going to do?" Tan'er sobbed.

Xie Zhen smiled, this kid knew how to ask her about her.

"You stand at the door for me later, and I'll bury this dagger in the soil or throw it in the pool, and no one will find it."

When Tan'er heard this, she didn't cry anymore, she reached out and wiped her tears, and looked at her with a sparkle in her eyes - Niang Niang is so amazing! Why didn't she think of doing this!

"Now relieved, right?" Xie Zhen smiled and stretched out her hand again, "Give it to me!" ”

"Uh-oh." Tan'er hurriedly took out the dagger and put it in the palm of her hand.

When she withdrew her hand, Tan'er recalled a bit of strangeness in it, and said strangely: "Then let me bury it, can't I throw it away?" Why get your hands dirty. ”

Xie Zhen slowly put the dagger into his sleeve, and then glanced at her, and said quietly, "Then do you want me to guard the door for you?" ”

Oh too...... Tan'er sneered, reached out and touched the back of her neck.

"Also, don't say anything like light life in the future." Xie Zhen couldn't help but lecture her: "Do you think you are a cat with nine lives?" You remember, you're just going to die! What do you do to seek death for others? ”

"But it's none other than Niangniang...... Tan'er argued loudly, her voice gradually lowering under Xie Hao's burning gaze.

"I can't!" Xie Zhen grimaced and said seriously: "I am your master!" Where is the reason why the master hides behind the maid? ”

So where is the reason for the master to protect the maid? Tan'er pursed her lips, but she didn't dare to say what was in her heart.

"Remember, as long as I'm still here, you'll take care of your own little life!" Seeing her unconvinced look, Xie Zhen knew that she didn't take her words to heart, so she repeated it sharply, "Just take care of your own life!" Did you hear that? ”

"I heard it, I heard it." Tan'er nodded hurriedly in agreement.

The tone is clear and perfunctory.

Xie Zhen gritted her teeth with hatred and hatred, and wanted to reprimand a few more words, when she heard someone outside the hospital report loudly:

"The emperor has arrived."

Xie Zhen was startled, looked up, and saw that a man in a bright yellow dragon robe had entered the garden, followed only by a father-in-law who had been serving all year round, and a strange man in an indigo robe.

Tan'er also saw the person coming, and suddenly her feet softened, leaned over and pounced in front of Xie Hao, and pulled her sleeve hard.

"Mother, mother!" She hurriedly said: "It's too late, dagger, dagger to me!" ”

Xie Zhen shook her head unrefusingly, lifted her lips, and said silently:

"Get out of the way. Obedient. ”

Tan'er looked at her lips in a daze, and her body collapsed as if she had suddenly been drained of strength by leaning on the table foot, and the fingers that grabbed her sleeve slowly released and hung down weakly.

Xie Zhen stood up, straightened her clothes, didn't look at her again, bypassed her, and walked straight out of the house.

"The emperor is auspicious." She looked at the man who was getting closer and closer, and slowly bowed.