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  "When he walked back, a very light footsteps came from behind him. Beside the two guards, it was almost inaudible. He didn't turn his head and ordered, 'Keep an eye on that side, he will definitely send someone out of the city tonight, keep an eye on where they go.'"

  A very low voice said. Immediately afterwards, the very light footsteps disappeared.

  Zhu Yueti stopped and stared at the artificial hill in the Moon Gate by the roadside for a while, then turned back to instruct the two guards to investigate Zhu Yuetan's relationship with the Hanlin Academy.

  One of the guards immediately responded with a "yes" and backed away.

  Zhu Yifei raised his hand, looked at the ink jade pendant in his hand, let out a cold hum, and casually threw it away before taking another step.

  The dark jade fell into the snow on the side of the road, smashing out a small pit, with half of its body buried in the snow, only revealing one corner, looking like a stone exposed in the snow...

  Along the corridor, he returned to his courtyard: Cang Yun Xuan. Before entering the gate, he had already heard the continuous sweet laughter inside, and Zhu Yuxu's eyebrows almost imperceptibly furrowed slightly as he stepped in.

  Laughter came from the side yard, where a dozen maids were flitting about under the plum tree in the courtyard, tying all sorts of colored ribbons and pearl flowers to its branches.

  There were over a dozen maidservants walking along the eaves towards this direction, each person holding a string of palace lanterns. When they arrived near Zhu Yingtai, they all stopped and knelt down to pay their respects to Third Master.

  Zhu Yingtuo didn't even glance at him, and walked away, stepping up onto the veranda and entering the house. This house was a passageway hall, and passing through this hall led to the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard had walls covered in green wisteria vines, with three bays of vermilion-lacquered wide eaves, and under the eaves outside the house were placed two or three pots of orchids.

  Zhu Yingtai walked in with big strides, this was his study, the decor had a strong scholarly flavor. Against the east wall stood a purple sandalwood couch, in the center an eight immortals table, on either side were armchairs for high officials, on the table was a chessboard and a Go box. On the south side was a large desk, on which were the four treasures of the study, a white jade pen holder, all complete.

  Zhu Yingtai sat on the edge of the kang, casually picked up a book from the couch and flipped it open, but it was clear that his attention was not on the book, and the pages had not been turned for a long time.

  The guard stood at the door of the study, watching a young woman wearing an autumn-colored satin jacket with a subtle pattern and a moon-white silver-gray mouse-fur cloak slowly walking away. The guard paused for a moment, took a few steps forward to greet her, smiled and bowed his head in respect, "Greetings, madam."

  A young woman nodded slightly and said, "I personally made a bowl of Eight Treasures Snake Soup, I want to send it in for you."

  The guard hesitated and said with a smile: "It's not that the madam is not allowed, but this study is not allowed to be entered by anyone at will... otherwise, it would be better for me..."

  The young woman nodded gently and said, "Then I won't go in, let's send it in instead."

  As she spoke, she turned around and gestured, and the maid behind her held a tray, on which was placed a white porcelain vase with a rounded belly, next to it a white porcelain empty bowl, and beside the bowl was a clean white cotton towel, on top of which lay a small white porcelain spoon. The maid handed the tray over to the guard, who hastily accepted it, bowing his head respectfully and responding with a "yes".

  The young woman glanced into the study, then turned and left. The guard stared at the back of the madam for a while before turning around and going up the steps, softly calling out "Master?" at the door of the study.

  "Who's coming?"

  "It's Late Spring Auntie, who personally made a bowl of Eight Treasures Snake Soup for Grandfather."

  "Come on in."

  The guard hastily bent over and carried the tray in, gently placing each item on the table. Zhu Yingtai didn't lift his head until the guard retreated with his head bowed, then he closed the book, without even glancing at the snake soup beside him, stood up and walked back and forth in the room a few times before walking out.

  The guard hurriedly followed behind, Zhu Yuye walked out of the courtyard gate, onto the corridor, along the corridor and out of another courtyard gate, following the path to the end, and arrived at a large courtyard gate. After entering the gate and walking in, a large red lacquer gate appeared, and the gatekeeper saw him and hurriedly smiled and came up "Third Master, you've arrived."

  Zhu Yifei smiled and nodded, "Go ahead and report to Big Brother."

  "The gatekeeper hastily smiled and said no need, the old master has said that as long as it is Third Master who comes, there is no need to report, just let him in directly." He bowed his waist and invited him in.

  Zhu Yingtuo smiled and nodded, following him in, and the guard waited at the door.

  He walked to a gate inside, an old woman came up to greet him, the gatekeeper bowed his waist and waited for him to enter before turning around. The old woman led Zhu Yingtuo further in, until they reached the second gate, where a maid came out to meet them, and the old woman stopped.

  The maid led Zhu Yujie to the upper house, and the maids inside came out to beat the curtains. When Zhu Yujie entered the room, a wave of hot air rushed towards him, and his whole body was suddenly enveloped in a warm atmosphere, with bursts of laughter coming from within.

  The music started, and several dancing girls danced lightly with their silk fans. As the music played, they began to dance, and the golden and silver incense burners around them emitted a fragrance like orchids and musk.

  Zhu Yujie's elder brother, the Crown Prince Zhu Yuhan, sat in the upper seat, accompanied by several officials and a few people of similar appearance. Zhu Yuhan sat sideways, holding an ancient bronze-colored copper tripod cup with one hand, smiling as he watched the dancing girls dance.

  The officials all stood up and saluted Zhu Yizhao, who smiled and returned their greetings one by one. He came to the front of Zhu Yihui and smiled as he saluted, saying "Greetings, elder brother."

  Zhu Yuhui smiled and pointed with her slender white fingers to the seat next to her, "Third brother, sit down. Have you gone to the front?"

  "I've been there, I went to both Father's and Mother's places. Tell big brother for me." Zhu Yuxu sat down and replied with a smile.

  Zhu Yuhui smiled and nodded. Just in time, someone gave me a small croaker, let's roast it for dinner tonight."

  Zhu Yingtai smiled and said that her brother was not so lucky. Her mother told her brother to take three of his cousins to the Moon-Watching Pavilion in the evening to watch the lanterns.

  Zhu Yihui was stunned, and then suddenly said, "Is she the cousin from my uncle's family?" "Not a few words" A ambiguous smile appeared on his handsome face. "Good luck to my younger brother."

  Zhu Yingtai's face turned red as she smiled and said, "Big brother, don't tease me."

  Zhu Yihui looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, "But the river fish meat is tender and delicious, it's a rare delicacy... if you have some, brother."

  Zhu Yingtuo smiled and nodded on horseback, "That's good too. Brother, the chef who cooks fish here is said to be the most famous in Jiangnan. I can finally taste this renowned braised pork with fish flavor, what a delight!"

  Zhu Yuhui smiled and nodded at the maid standing beside her, who hastily bowed and went out.

  A young man sitting below the seat laughed and said: "I heard that this pork fish is poisonous, but I don't know if it's true or false?"

  Zhu Shi smiled and didn't say anything, Zhu Yi Hui raised his head and finished the wine in his cup, put down the cup, lazily leaned back on the deep green velvet cushion embroidered with small flowers behind him, watching the dancer dancing in the middle.

  Two maidservants came up and placed a wine cup, a wine jug, a plate of dried fruit, a plate of fresh fruit, and two plates of cold dishes in front of Zhu Yingtai.

  Another official smiled and replied, "River puffer fish is indeed poisonous, but only the blood is toxic. If a mediocre chef were to cook it, they might not handle it properly and there could be poison. The chefs in the Young Master's residence are naturally the best at cooking river puffer fish in Jiangnan, so there won't be any mistakes."

  Another one hastily said "No, no, I heard it's not just blood, there are other places that are poisonous..."

  "Oh, where did Brother Gu say?"

  "This..."

  Zhu Yuhui smiled as he listened to the people below, raised his eyes and glanced at Zhu Yuexu, seeing that he didn't move the wine in front of him, but was intently watching the dance moves of the dancer in front of him.

  Zhu Yuhui smiled and asked, "Third brother, aren't you drinking?"

  Zhu Yingtai hastily looked at him and smiled, saying "Brother, I've always been unable to drink on an empty stomach, one sip and I'm drunk. If I can just have a bowl of congee, that's fine."

  Zhu Yuhui looked at the maid beside Zhu Yu'e and asked, "Did you prepare the fish porridge with fresh flavor in the kitchen? Does Third Master want some?"

  Zhu Yifei nodded, "Alright then, let's have a bowl."

  The maid hastily backed out and left.

  Soon after, a bowl of fish slice congee was served, and Zhu Yingtai drank it. Only then did he slowly start drinking the wine in front of him.

  The music ended, and several maids were waiting at the door, each holding a tray with a porcelain plate on it, covered with a silver lid.

  The dancing girls withdrew, and the maids entered in a line, placing a dish in front of each person. The dishes used by Zhu Yihui and Zhu Yixu were slightly different from those below them; they used Qinghua porcelain gold-edged plates, while the others used white porcelain plates.

  The silver lid was lifted, and inside the plate were slices of puffer fish meat as thin as cicada wings. Each slice was crystal clear. Zhu Yihui and Zhu Yizhen's plates had these slices arranged in the shape of a crane, while others had them arranged in the shape of a pheasant.

  Everyone looked at this possibly poisonous delicacy with some hesitation, only Zhu Yuxu took a crystal chopstick and picked up a piece, put it in his mouth, chewed lightly and swallowed, nodded and said that the entrance was dissolved, indeed it was exceptionally fresh and delicious.

  Zhu Yuhui burst out laughing, picked up her chopsticks and picked up a piece, dipped it in the sauce beside her, and elegantly put it into her mouth.

  The people below looked at each other and saw that they had eaten, so they also picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

  Another group of dancers took the stage, this time with a different melody that was tense and exciting, thrilling and intoxicating. The dancers' movements were bold and free, with a hint of gentle strength. It perfectly matched the mood of everyone eating fugu now, both nervous and stimulating.

  Zhu Yingtuo ate the pork fish, drank wine, and watched the dancing girl dance until the night fell outside. The plate of pork fish in front of him was also finished. He smiled and said, "Brother, this delicious dish is indeed not to be delayed. I must leave first, as I cannot neglect my mother's orders."

  Zhu Yuhui smiled and nodded, "Alright, go ahead. Wear your fur coat, it might snow tonight."

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