Chapter 497 Playing the Piano and Talking About Love

Chapter 497 Playing the Piano and Talking About Love

Chapter 497 Playing the Piano and Talking About Love
In the backyard of the palace, Lu Xieting played the piano very elegantly. The tune was beautiful and moving. A piece of Guangling San was played like flowing spring water, refreshing the heart.

Several listeners were fascinated by the music. Xiao Xia's half-year-old son Yang Chu sat beside his mother, listening to the music quietly with an extremely clear gaze.

Even Xiaoqing, who had severe pregnancy reactions, felt much more comfortable with the piano music and no longer felt the discomfort in her chest and abdomen.

When the song ended, Lu Xieting asked with a smile, "Sister Xiaoqing, are you feeling better?"

Xiaoqing smiled and said, "I feel much better. The sound of the piano is really magical!"

Cui Yu also laughed and asked, "How did Xie Ting know that listening to the piano can relieve pregnancy reactions?"

"My mother told me that my cousin also had severe pregnancy reactions. Every time she asked me to play the piano for her, she would feel better. I know it really works."

Cui Yu picked up his son and said with a smile, "Even my Qiu Guaner was fascinated by the music. Xie Ting, please stop teaching me to play the piano and teach my son instead! Let him listen to music every day. He likes it very much."

Lu Xieting smiled and said, "Of course you can. Xiaoqing can listen too. The fetus in the belly likes to listen to the piano. But does Madam really not want to learn the piano?"

Cui Yu smiled bitterly and said, "I don't have perseverance. My husband taught me flying needles before, but I lost interest after two or three attempts. It was only when my family forced me to read and learn to write when I was a child that I learned some things. But it is true that I like reading and painting."

"I have admired Madam's paintings. They are indeed very vivid and her calligraphy is also very good. She has the style of a great master. What does Xiaoqing like?"

Xiao Qing was stunned. "Me? I like making clothes, right? I'll make you two skirts later."

"Thank you, Sister Xiaoqing. Don't worry about it for now. You need to rest."

"It's okay, just do a little bit every day, not all in one day."

At this time, the housekeeper said in the yard: "Madam, the prince is back!"

"I see!"

Cui Yu handed his son to the wet nurse and said to Lu Xieting, "Xieting, go and arrange dinner. I'll go and bring tea to my husband!"

After saying that, Cui Yu rolled his eyes and smiled: "Xie Ting, you go to serve tea today! I will arrange dinner and go to the study to serve tea, you know."

Lu Xieting agreed with a red face and got up and left.

The maid helped Xiaoqing up and slowly walked towards the dining hall.

Lu Xieting walked to the study room with a cup of tea in her hand. Her heart was pounding. She was quite nervous, but also a little expectant.

She had been looking forward to speaking to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin alone, and the princess finally gave her this opportunity.

Walking to the study, Lu Xieting knocked on the door, and Xiao Xia's voice came from inside, "Come in!"

Lu Xieting walked into the study and saw Xiao Xia drawing something. She walked over curiously and looked for a long time without understanding what was going on. She asked, "What are you drawing, young master?"

"It's you!" Xiao Xia then realized that it was Lu Xieting who brought the tea.

Lu Xieting smiled and said, "Madam asked me to serve tea to you, young master!"

Xiao Xia put down the pen, took the teacup, and asked with a smile: "I have been busy during this period and have not paid attention to you. Have fun here!"

Lu Xieting nodded. "Madam is very nice and tolerant. Sister Xiaoqing is also a good person. I really like it here. No one discriminates against me. I don't want to go back at all."

Xiao Xia drank the tea and asked with a smile: "How is your painting?"

"It's OK, but not as good as Madam!"

"Just draw better than me. Help me draw two pictures."

"What are you drawing?" Lu Xieting asked curiously.

"Look at what I drew. This is a furnace, and this is coal. Coal is coal, you know!"

Lu Xieting nodded, "I know, it's pitch black and used for burning fire." Xiao Xia then explained the principle of honeycomb coal to her. Lu Xieting was very smart and understood it immediately. She clapped her hands and laughed, "I know, just like firewood needs to be chopped into sticks, the thickness and length are just right, very suitable for use, young master also needs to make coal like firewood, so that it is convenient to use."

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "That's the idea. But you don't need to make it into firewood. Instead, make it into cakes and balls, just the right size to burn in the stove. The size should be like what I drew. The important thing is that there should be nine holes on the coal cakes. The coal balls should be the same size as the oranges in Wu County. For the detailed production process, just copy what I wrote on the small piece of paper."

Lu Xieting nodded slightly, "I understand. I'll try it first."

Lu Xieting picked up the brush and began to paint gently. As expected, her painting was ten times better than Xiao Xia's. Xiao Xia lowered her head to watch her painting, and gently put her hands around her waist. Lu Xieting shuddered all over and rolled her eyes at Xiao Xia, "How can I paint you like this?"

Xiao Xia put down her pen and said, "I'll finish the painting slowly in the evening!"

He hugged Lu Xieting into his arms. Xieting lowered his head embarrassedly and buried it in his arms, saying in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "Sir, the Madam is waiting for us to have dinner!"

"I know. Just raise your head and let me kiss you."

Lu Xieting's face flushed as he slowly raised his head, his eyes moving around, feeling shy but he did not reject Xiao Xia's request.

Xiao Xia slowly approached and finally kissed her lips. Lu Xieting's whole body stiffened.

After a moment, she slowly relaxed and began to clumsily respond to Xiao Xia's passionate kiss, her hands unconsciously wrapping around Xiao Xia's neck.

At this time, footsteps were heard outside, and Xiaowanzi said in the yard: "Sir, the lady is urging you to eat."

Lu Xieting was startled and quickly separated from them. He blushed and gave Xiao Xia a blank look, then put away the materials on the table. "I'll take it back first and paint it in detail tonight!"

She didn't dare look Xiao Xia in the eye and slipped away like a frightened rabbit.

Xiao Xia arrived at the dining hall, where Cui Yu and Xiao Qing were already waiting.

"Husband, where is Xie Ting?"

Xiao Xia sat down and said with a smile: "I asked her to help me draw a few pictures. She took them back to her room and will be here soon."

"I was wondering! Why did you take so long?"

Cui Yu smiled again and said, "Achu may be back in two days, and we will have four women in our house. Didn't my husband say last time that he wanted to make some new and interesting things?"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I forgot. I'll arrange for someone to make it in two days."

At this time, Lu Xieting came over. She had returned to normal and acted as if nothing had happened. She smiled and said, "Young Master wants to make honeycomb coal. Let me draw some pictures."

"What is honeycomb briquettes?" Cui Yu asked curiously.

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "It's cheap, affordable and convenient to use as a substitute for firewood. In the future, every household will be able to drink boiled water, which can greatly reduce diarrhea symptoms and is very beneficial to the body."

"Didn't my husband say that there wasn't enough coal?"

"In fact, there is enough coal. The key is transportation. Now there are two fleets dedicated to transporting coal, so coal can be gradually used for civilian purposes. When I add five more fleets, honeycomb coal can be popularized on a large scale."

"I see. Does that mean it's the same as burning charcoal and can't be used in a closed room?"

"Exactly!"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "So I'm not worried at all. Everyone has this common sense and knows that burning fire in a closed room will cause poisoning. You can use it in the kitchen and just open the window."

As they were talking, several maids came quickly with food in their hands. The family ate together, talking and laughing, enjoying themselves.
A few days passed in a blink of an eye, and the court's support fleet arrived at Jiangdu City in a mighty manner, bringing a large amount of weapons, armor and horse feed.

At the same time, more than twenty former naval commanders also came, among whom the highest-ranking ones were three generals: Chen Leng, Zhu Kuan and Zhang Zhenzhou.

These three were all former generals of the Southern Dynasty, and Chen Leng was a general highly admired by the emperor. Xiao Xia knew very well that this was because the emperor did not want him to have complete control over the navy, so he sent three generals. But as long as they were in Jiangdu, they would be loyal to him sooner or later.

(End of this chapter)