One Hundred and Forty-Three Rat Eating Silver Candle

The dizziness passed, I wrapped myself in the quilt, especially making sure to cover my head, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed.

I didn't touch my dinner and only drank a glass of milk. Aunt Mei sighed as she looked at me.

Auntie came in with a smile, holding my small face with warm hands: "Scared?"

There are still tears on my face, she wiped them with her finger, saying, "You are locked up all day, not used to seeing many people, and now you have become timid. From the first day of next month, you can start working in the study."

I murmured "Mmm."

A Qiu also came in and sat on the edge of the bed, stroking me through the covers, "Sister, you've always been the most bold, it's only right for bad people to get their comeuppance, don't be afraid."

I made another "hmm" sound.

Aqiu turned to ask, "Aunt, the cost of purchasing the skin cream should not be in the treasury silver, but you filled it up yourself?"

Aunt said, "Yes. Someone set up this situation, breaking the situation also requires some cost."

"Well, that's impressive. A few people conspired to embezzle three hundred taels and falsely accused you."

Auntie laughed and sighed, "This is what they call shifting the blame."

Qiushui still couldn't accept it, "How did you know early on that the money was embezzled under the pretext of frostbite ointment? It was clearly recorded in the accounts on the day of sealing, and it was only created by Tang Sizhang at the last minute. At the time, he even lied to me, saying that the payment slip had accidentally been misplaced and was found later."

Aunt said, "Sigh, it's time to support money for ordering winter clothes and buying winter goods every year in this month, and check the warehouse to see what's missing. Then we'll know almost what's needed."

Aiqiu pouted, "Buying winter goods is the responsibility of the warehouse manager, not something to be forced on Aunt. It's too stiff."

Aunt sneered, "Starting with small items to dig for flaws and test the waters, it also makes sense."

Aqiu sniffed, "Today they coerced and tempted me to slander Aunt, it's really scary." As he spoke, his voice started to sound like he was about to cry.

Aunt gently patted her, "It's all in the past." Then she looked at me again, and taught, "After this incident, you two sisters should understand that you should believe in your aunt in everything, and not hide anything from her. The people in the palace are dangerous and cunning. Do you understand the importance of unity now?"

Both Aqiu and I nodded together: "Got it."

Auntie used both hands to hold our heads, one hand on each of our necks, making us cry in pain but not letting go.

"Do you really understand or not?"

"We both chimed in and said, 'We really understand, we really do.'"

"Alright, this will count as a guarantee. Auntie will remember this."

"Alright, I am also tired today, so it's time to go to bed." Auntie rubbed our necks, gave us a last look, and then got up and left.

On the first day of September, when I returned to Ganlu Hall after three months, I was shocked by the scene before me.

Silver candles!

On the large and small candlesticks, all the candles were changed from yellow candles to silver candles!

“Ah, this?”

宫女小树许久没见我，拉着我不松手：“这是「内给事」特供给御用的银蜡烛，十足好用！比尚寝局一贯使的红烛黄烛还足贵！别的多少烟重气腥，这个全然不同。点着了更亮堂，火苗儿还润，味儿也清香了许多！”

My scalp felt tingly: "We really need to figure out what kind of oil this wax is..."

The little tree furrowed its brow: "What kind of oil could it be? Butter, sheep fat, the most expensive would be whale oil."

"It's just person oil!"

"A scare from behind made me jump."

"The emperor walked over with a smile and laughed when he saw my changed color, 'Look at how scared this coward is!'"

"Little Shu chimed in, 'Yes, yes, why are you so jumpy now?'"

My fingers scratched the clothes road: "Sage, you're not kidding, maybe there really is human oil..."

He grinned and said, "I'm not kidding, if any of you make a mistake, we'll catch you and make you into candle wax."

On one side, Cui, the attendant, joked: "Hey, the old slave must be very careful, and dare not make any mistakes. The lard in my body must be more than these little maids have boiled!"

"Hahaha."

In the Ganlu Hall, laughter filled the air.

Everyone was laughing, except for me and a young eunuch. When I caught him giving me a dark, furtive glance, his eyes were like those of a wolf hiding in the shadows. I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck, sensing the approach of danger.

"What's so funny?"

A plump and beautiful woman appeared at the door.

It turns out to be Zhang Cai. Oh, now she is called Zhang Cai Ren.

The emperor joyfully went to pick up her one-month-old baby: "Oh, come on, let Ayi hold the baby."

That child has bright eyes, with a prominent eyelid, and a slightly darker skin tone than the emperor.

I bowed to her along with the other palace maids, and then returned to the study, where I began to tinker with the candles on the desk. I scraped off the outer layer of silver, and the wax underneath was indeed very fine.

Smelling it, it turned out to be the scent of vanilla!

My goodness, it made me crave for it, reminiscing the rich aroma of vanilla ice cream!!

I leaned closer, feeling the urge to take a bite of the candle. Then I heard someone say, "But silly rabbit, you're turning into a little mouse, eating candles and drinking lamp oil, huh?"

I took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Aunt, did you say that mice eat candles?"

"Yes, why?"

I suddenly realized and said, "Oh no, that old Daoist you mentioned, Chen Daochang, he might be raising strange mice, and... and worshiping the 'Half Guanyin'!"

My aunt tapped my forehead and said, "What nonsense? Who is the half Guanyin."

I hurried to explain, "It's the legend of a rat spirit." Then, I quietly told my aunt what I had seen and heard after being drugged by the old Taoist.

And said, "This silver candle may be a favorite of mice, specially supplied to the Ganluo Palace, maybe to attract mice, and then cause a plague."

Aunt laughed and said, "Do you think the palace maids are all eating for nothing? Not to mention the Ganluo Palace, no mouse can get in from the Ganluo Gate."

"Don't let your imagination run wild. As for that Daoist Chen, his origins are mysterious. What you just said, don't mention it to anyone again."

I obediently nodded.

A gust of wind blew through, pushing open the door to the study.

I accidentally raised my eyes and caught sight of him.

I saw a man in a green gauze robe appearing with the wind. Drifting, he was as green as summer. With a glance, his eyes flowed like clear spring water.

The immortal came from Emei, trailing his white robe, wandering in the purple court.

She has a very clear appearance, with jade-like skin and eyebrows like mountains.

Strolling leisurely, as she approaches, she opens her silver teeth: "Miss, please take out the colored ink, I want to doodle a scroll for the sage."

I took out paper and pen to draw a picture for him. He politely thanked me, then sat down at the other end of the desk, rolled up his sleeves to reveal his fair wrists, and began to use the wolf hair brush to carefully sketch on the rice paper.

I rested my chin in my hand and watched him, full of curiosity. A talented person at painting, he created another wonderful piece of art.

Seeing his skilled painting technique, with vigorous strokes and flowing lines, a painting of a pair of twin geese shooting is quickly completed. He carefully examines the artwork, adding a few strokes to enhance and make the painted objects come to life.

It's done," he said, looking pleased with himself, as if nothing had been added or subtracted. He used a ruler to press the painting firmly, and asked, "Could you please take care of it for me, and make sure no one else touches it? I'll come to pick it up again once the ink and colors have completely dried tomorrow."

I blinked and admired the "beauty" in front of me, teasing him, "That's not good to say."

Looking at the painting again, there were two men, one with a square body and the other with a slender one. I smirked and said, "Are you painting yourself and a sage? Hahaha. Everything else is fine, but…"

Halfway through speaking I deliberately stopped and laughed, covering my mouth.

He blushed and bowed to me, clasping his hands together and said, "Please forgive me. It was the sudden inspiration of the sage, who commanded me to paint it immediately. Otherwise, I would have completed it at my lodging and then presented it."

I pursed my lips and nodded, "Alright, let's go."

As soon as he left, I couldn't hold back my mischievous laughter, and I was laughing so hard that I was banging the table. Then, with tears of laughter in my eyes, I dipped a pen in purple ink and put a few dots on the emperor's face in the painting.

Ahahaha, the emperor's thousand-year-old rotten pimple face, if these red and purple pimples are not carefully added, the painting will be distorted! I mean well, you just take it to heart!

As a result, the situation reached a small climax on the second day.

Accompanied by the two, the emperor came to see the painting. As he started to enjoy the painting with a smile, his expression changed from joy to anger, then from anger to frustration. He lowered his head, threw the painting, and walked away.

Oh... Why does this feel a bit like a bullied little wife!

The handsome man quickly picked up the painting and glared at me angrily, then quickly chased me out.

I stuck out my tongue at him and asked the little tree, "Who is this guy anyway? He looks just like an actor playing a young servant."

The little tree squeezed his eyes at me and said, "The Secretary Supervisor's Xiaoying, newly appointed by the saint. It's similar to your title as the princess of your county, you know."

I exaggeratedly gestured with my mouth, "Ah? **?"

小树一牵嘴角：“南风之好，现如今，已成了时髦。”

“怎么认识的？”

小树看了看周围：

“这得从七日前，圣人去了一趟新建成的西明寺说起。”