Xie Yun slowly pulled his fingers out of Shan Chao's palm. This action was actually very careful. However, it was so subtle in the dark that even he himself might not have noticed it.
"What do you want?" Xie Yun stared into Shan Chao's eyes and asked.
The winter night's cold wind blew through the winding corridors of Changle Palace. The trees around the pond rustled. Shan Chao did not answer.
"You have fought for eight years and returned in triumph. The Empress of Heaven has personally promoted you. Farmland, property, servants, and beautiful maids will soon flow into your residence … The Yutian diplomatic group is still in the hall. You have helped them defeat the Tufan army. His Majesty will soon announce the victory of Yutian to the world. This is political wealth that many people in the capital can't even dream of."
"But now you are here, telling me that you miss me."
Xie Yun paused. His voice was slow but clear. He asked, "What do you want, Shan Chao?!"
Shan Chao met his gaze and smiled. He raised his hand and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the hair band that had faded to a light red color. However, it was still tightly tied around his wrist.
"I miss you …" he said softly. "It's like the poem where the man woos his classmate and asks you to be his wife."
At that moment, Xie Yun's heart was cold. It was as if he had returned to the late winter night in Fenggao Palace eight years ago. The icy wind whistled and the stars were shining brightly. They were facing each other in the snow. The young man in front of him, whom he had raised single-handedly, said, "I want to ask you to be my wife. Is that okay?"
At that time, he would still mumble and ask, "Did I disturb you?
I'll leave now. "
He would still hesitate for a long time because he was rejected. Then he would sadly turn around and leave, leaving a long trail of footprints on the snow.
However, Xie Yun knew that he would not do that now.
"But I don't need your love," Xie Yun said hoarsely.
Shan Chao didn't seem surprised at all. He didn't even seem to be moved. It was as if he had known that he would say that.
"I just want to live a good life in this world. I want to hold the merit of becoming the Emperor and live a carefree life. I want to enjoy money, power, and wealth to my heart's content. I want to look down on all living things from the peak that no one can reach. In the end, I want to die in peace … Do you know what the biggest variable is?!"
Xie Yun grabbed Shan Chao's collar. Her eyes were cold and frightening. She gritted her teeth and said, "It's your deviant love!"
When he said the last sentence, a cold wind blew through the hall and affected the old wound in his heart. Xie Yun pushed Shan Chao away forcefully and pressed on his left chest to calm down. However, he saw Shan Chao staring at him without blinking.
"As long as you wish, everything will come true."
Xie Yun pursed her lips and remained silent.
"But what you said about the merit of following the Emperor …" Shan Chao said word by word, "Who did you follow?"
·
At the banquet in Changle Palace.
Xie Yun had already left for the time it took to eat a meal and still hadn't returned. Yang Miaorong looked at the empty seat beside her and hesitated for a long time. She still took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to stand up and walk out of the side door.
There was a plum forest in the garden of Changle Palace. The plum blossoms were in full bloom and emitted a faint fragrance under the moonlight.
Yang Miaorong walked along the bluestone path for a while. She felt the pleasant moonlight and the cold fragrance. She couldn't help but feel relieved. She couldn't help but stop in front of a strong plum tree.
She was just about to look around to see if Xie Yun was nearby when she suddenly heard a slightly hesitant voice behind her. "Miss Yang?"
Yang Miaorong turned around in surprise. She saw a young man standing under the plum tree. He had a weak figure but looked very refined. He was dressed in golden clothes.
"… Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Crown Prince Li Hong seemed to be very happy, but his expression was somewhat reserved. He didn't know what to say. When he saw Yang Miaorong gracefully bowing, he hurriedly stepped forward. "Miss Yang, you don't have to be so formal. Quickly, quickly get up!"
Yang Miaorong still insisted on bowing. She smiled and asked, "Isn't Your Highness the Crown Prince at the banquet?
Why did you come here? "
The Crown Prince wanted to say something, but he first covered his mouth and coughed hoarsely.
In recent years, the Crown Prince's health hadn't been very good. Recently, he had gradually contracted the disease of coughing blood.
The imperial physicians had examined him many times, but they couldn't find a reason. They could only say that the Crown Prince was busy when he was supervising the country. However, he himself knew that it was actually because he was poisoned in Ci 'en Temple. Although he didn't die, the remaining poison was still there, which led to today's result.
Yang Miaorong frowned and said, "Your Highness, please take care of your noble body."
"It's okay. It's just a coincidence."
The Crown Prince raised his head and smiled. He said softly, "I saw Miss Yang leave the banquet, so … so I followed you."
These words had a deep meaning. Yang Miaorong couldn't help but be startled. A trace of suspicion suddenly rose in her heart.
However, she reacted quickly. She forcibly swallowed the words' why did you follow me? 'and said with a smile, "Commander Xie drank too much and said that he wanted to come to the Plum Garden to take a breather. I came to find him. Why did Your Highness call me Miss Yang?
In a few days, you should call me Madam Xie. "
The Crown Prince didn't know whether he understood or not. His entire body seemed to stiffen.
However, just when Yang Miao Rong thought that he wouldn't say anything more, she saw the Crown Prince swallow his saliva and slowly said, "I have something to say to a stranger, please forgive me by all means.
Commander Xie, he … was a very cold person, and he was also vicious and merciless. Lady Yang, on the other hand, was gentle and gentle like water. Why did she want to marry such a person?
Xie Yun isn't a good match! "
As he said this, he seemed to have gathered his courage. His bright eyes looked towards Yang Miaorong.
Yang Miaorong was speechless. For a moment, the Plum Garden was completely silent. Even the sound of the wind seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
After a while, she helplessly sighed. She raised her slender and pure white hand and pointed at a horizontal plum branch beside her, "Your Highness, please tell me. What is this?"
The Crown Prince hesitated, "A branch."
"What kind of branch?"
"It's black and dry. It's covered in snow. I'm afraid that the gardener will come to cut it at daybreak … like this?"
Yang Miaorong gently turned the branch around. The snow rustled down, revealing the red flowers blooming on the other side.
"You see, Your Highness. Just by changing the angle slightly, the things in front of you will become completely different.
Xie Yun is the same. In your eyes, he may be a thorn in your side, but in my eyes, he is gentle and considerate. He is my future family. "
Yang Miaorong casually picked a plum blossom and pinned it in her hair, saying, "As for whether or not he is a good match … since he hasn't married yet, how do you know that he definitely isn't?"
The Crown Prince repeatedly repeated her words like he was possessed. For a moment, he was almost dazed. After a while, he laughed bitterly, "It seems that I was born at the wrong time. I can only regret that I didn't meet him earlier!"
Yang Miaorong helplessly ignored the last four words. She only advised the first half of the sentence, "Your Highness, you must not be so unduly humble.
Your Highness is today's Crown Prince and tomorrow's Emperor. The country and the people will be entrusted to Your Highness. How can you say that you were born at the wrong time? "
"Is that so?"
The Crown Prince asked, "I thought that the people around Xie Yun had already decided that the country and the country would be entrusted to another woman's hands. How can it not be that I was born at the wrong time?"
"Your Highness misunderstands. Xie Yun's current position is closely related to his past experience. In the future, no matter who sits on that chair, Xie Yun will do his duty as a subject …"
Even Yang Miaorong felt that this explanation was very weak, but she had indeed done her best. She could only sigh.
As long as the Crown Prince refuted half a sentence, then she really wouldn't be able to answer anything. Fortunately, the Crown Prince did not do this. Instead, he stood there and said self-deprecatingly, "I understand."
Immediately after, he smiled very warmly and said, "But the four words' regret that we didn't meet sooner 'are undeniable. Isn't that right, Miss Yang?"
Yang Miaorong did not know what to do, but she also felt a bit of sympathy.
Just as she was thinking about what to say in response, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps not far away. Immediately after, a trusted eunuch from the Eastern Palace quickly walked to the Crown Prince's side and said respectfully, "Langjun!
The Sage has already left the Zichen Hall and is about to arrive at Changle Palace to receive Yu Tian's delegation. You should quickly go back! "
The Crown Prince smiled and nodded at Yang Miaorong, then turned and walked toward Changle Palace.
·
A dozen steps away, at the other end of the plum blossom forest where no one could see, a little palace maid restrained her breathing and did her best to not make any sound as she retreated step by step out of the inner garden.
Immediately after, she madly ran, familiarly passing through the intricate corridors of Changle Palace. From the back door, she bypassed several marble screens and stepped into the main hall. Secretly hiding behind the curtains, she whispered, "Sister!"
In front of the curtains, there was a banquet in full swing. The Emperor on the head seat had not yet arrived.
Queen Wu's trusted palace maid, Mi Sheng, turned her head and revealed a surprised expression. Immediately after, she got up and quietly walked over.
"Where did you go to play?
The Heavenly Empress just asked … "
"I saw the Crown Prince in the plum blossom garden," the little palace maid's face was pale. Trembling, she said, "I saw the Crown Prince and … and Commander Xie's family's Miss Yang …"
·
"The Sage has arrived!"
Everyone in Changle Palace stood up and prostrated themselves on the ground. They saw the palace doors open and ceremonial guards set up everywhere. Under the support of the palace maids, the Emperor entered the hall and sat down. Looking around, he smiled and said, "All my beloved officials, please rise!"
The palace maids immediately helped King Yu Tian and the Princess up. Then, the Honglu Temple official stepped forward and received a thick, gilded tribute list from the hands of Yu Tian's envoy. The eunuch handed it to the Emperor. The Emperor was very happy and bestowed rewards. King Yu Tian then led his disciples and chiefs to kowtow three times and kowtow nine times, kneeling and thanking the Emperor.
Under the banquet table, Yang Miaorong quietly glanced at Xie Yun beside him and asked softly, "Where did you go?"
Xie Yun came back a step later than Yang Miaorong. Her complexion didn't seem very good. She only shook her head and didn't say anything.
Probably because it was very cold outside, Xie Yun's cheeks were extremely transparent and faintly a little green.
But her lips were an abnormal color of blood. On her cold, white cheeks, there was even a hint of redness.
Yang Miaorong stared at her for a while. Just as she was wondering if she had seen wrongly, Xie Yun sensitively tilted her head and avoided her gaze.
Yang Miaorong was suspicious, "You …"
Suddenly, her voice stopped. She followed her line of sight and looked.
Not far from the Heavenly Empress, Shan Chao was quietly staring at her.
They all said that this brave general who guarded the northwest for eight years was cold-hearted and ruthless. But at this moment, Yang Miaorong couldn't find a trace of fierceness in him. On the contrary, he was very calm.
It was just that this calmness was like deep water with dangerous undercurrents, making people feel fear.
Shan Chao politely nodded to her and then poured wine in front of him. He saluted her from a distance and then drank it.
"Quickly help the Little Princess up!"
The Emperor cheerfully ordered the palace servants. He then turned to King Yutian and said, "You are too honest. You must be tired on the way to the capital. Why did you bring your precious daughter?"
King Yutian hurriedly said with a smile, "What does Your Majesty think of my daughter?"
As usual, this question should be answered by the Empress. She only needed to close her eyes and praise the Princess's beauty, knowledge, virtue, and virtue … and she could perfectly deal with the situation. In Queen Wu's many years as the Empress, this kind of scene had happened many times.
However, this time, before Queen Wu could speak, the Emperor said, "The Little Princess is worthy of being the Pearl of the Western Regions. Seeing you today, you really live up to your reputation!"
Queen Wu choked.
King Yutian also felt that something was wrong, but he didn't react in front of everyone. He directly followed the original plan and said, "To tell you the truth, Your Majesty, I brought my daughter to the capital this time because I wanted to leave my most cherished daughter in the Kingdom of Tan to form an eternal bond between Qin and Jin …"
Normally, the Emperor should have praised the Crown Prince and said that his son was worthy of his daughter. He would definitely treat her well and give her the title of the Crown Prince's Liangdi to show the importance and comfort of the vassal state.
However, the Emperor didn't do this.
Queen Wu was cruel. When she came back from the pilgrimage to Mount Tai, she directly poisoned the Wei Kingdom's Madam. Since then, there had been no trace of the young beauty in the palace.
The Emperor's turbid eyes looked at Princess Shada Li. He was quite pleased. He laughed and asked King Yutian, "Oh?
To form an eternal bond between Qin and Jin, you want to give the Little Princess to me, Fu Jaxiong? "