Chapter 76 He will be known for generations to come…

Xiao Zhuo, who was riding slowly with his eyes fixed ahead, turned his head upon hearing this.

Yuan Chaolu bit her lip lightly, tilted her head up, and looked at him expectantly; this trick almost always worked.

Sure enough, he raised an eyebrow, his expression softening as if touched by spring water. "Then let's go take a look together later."

Yuan Chaolu smiled and hummed in agreement.

For the past two days, Yuan Chaolu had been preoccupied with something, which made his expression deep and serious. Last night, when Yuan Chaolu went to Xuande Hall, she saw him sitting by the window, tapping the table with his fingertips, not reviewing any documents. He looked like a cold sculpture, his expression so serious that it seemed like water could be wrung out.

His expression softened slightly when he was facing her.

Zhong Changjun said that His Majesty has been preoccupied with state affairs lately.

Therefore, Yuan Chaolu quickly put the matter of inspecting the site for the Buddhist cave on the agenda, and also took the opportunity to relax with the emperor.

The convoy stopped in the mountains.

Yuan Chaolu lifted her skirt and stepped down from the carriage, following him. "Your Majesty's choice of this route is certainly less strenuous."

She walked alongside him, the hem of her sleeve brushing against his hem from time to time. Then, she slowly reached out a hand and took his.

The moment their skin touched, he glanced at her, and Yuan Chaolu immediately turned her face away, looking at the layers of trees on the other side, her fingertips unconsciously curling up, wanting to pull away.

Unexpectedly, the man's hand reached out and completely enveloped her hand.

She caught a glimpse of his gaze shifting away from her face, and only then did a slight smile appear on her lips.

This gentle hillside has a smooth slope, unlike steep peaks. The scenery along the way is beautiful, and when you reach the top, the vast landscape is even more breathtaking.

Yuan Chaolu's purple skirt fluttered in the mountain breeze as she turned and asked, "Are you going to carve out this mountain beneath our feet?"

Xiao Zhuo said, "It's not this one, it's the one on the other side of the river. I brought you here so you can see it more clearly."

He raised his other arm, his fingertips tracing the outline of the mountains on the opposite bank, moving from the green peaks along the undulating ridges. Yuan Chaolu's gaze followed his fingertips.

"The mountain we need to carve is the one on the opposite side. We need to have the laborers build a mountain road first."

Yuan Chaolu said, "I have just observed that the rocks here are not too hard, making them easy to carve and resistant to rain erosion. Furthermore, this place is close to the outskirts of Luoyang, making it extremely convenient for transporting materials and recruiting manpower. This location is the most suitable."

Xiao Zhuo asked in surprise, "My Empress knows so much about rocks?"

"I only know a little bit about it." Yuan Chaolu said to him, "Your Majesty said that this is a Buddhist cave to be carved for me. Shouldn't I know more about it? And the location is just right. It's not too far from Luoyang, so I can come and check on the progress from time to time."

Xiao Zhuo raised the corners of his lips slightly: "Actually, there's no need to rush. The construction of the grotto will take several years, at least three to five years."

"But I just want to see it sooner. I think about it every day, and the closer the Buddha statue gets to completion, the more joy I feel."

She stepped closer, "Will the history books record that this was carved out by His Majesty for me?"

Xiao Zhuo embraced her and said, "Of course, it will be known for thousands and thousands of generations."

Yuan Chaolu's smile widened even more. "When they all come to pay their respects in the future, they will surely mention me and Your Majesty. In that case, I cannot accept this for nothing. When my private treasury is full, I will also donate some of my money to build a statue for Your Majesty."

Xiao Zhuo chuckled: "When the Empress and I first met at Chanxu Temple, how could that not be considered a Buddhist guidance? We should make a donation."

As the sun gradually set, the sky shifted between orange and dusk, displaying a magnificent purple hue. Yuan Chaolu, bathed in the warm sunlight, continued walking with him. Seeing the smile fade from his eyes, she asked, "Is Your Majesty still worried about state affairs?"

Xiao Zhuo looked at her, and the mountain wind swept through their robes.

He asked, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Yuan Chaolu's heart trembled slightly as he said, "Yes."

She took a step forward, put her arm around his shoulder, and looked up at him. "I want to say... I really like this gift you gave me. It's been such a long, long time since I've received a gift."

It's been so long, so long that I've almost forgotten what it feels like when someone prepares a gift for me, when I'm not even dreaming about the past. It feels like a warm current is flowing uncontrollably from my chest, through my limbs, and every part of my heart is filled with a thread of joy.

Yuan Chaolu's eyes stung from the mountain wind. "I really love this gift..."

The unfinished words were transformed into a tender kiss between their lips.

She tiptoed into his arms, instantly feeling the warmth of his chest and seeing the tremor in his eyes. She slightly increased the pressure on her lips and gently cupped his cheek with her other hand.

The clouds on the horizon surged and purple mist floated, enveloping two figures embracing on the hillside.

The mountain wind howled and raged. The world was so vast, and she was so small, like a floating duckweed that would be blown away by the wind.

But at this moment, his arms wrapped around her so tightly.

As Xiao Zhuo felt the pressure on her lips gradually fade, her eyes sparkled, and she said breathlessly, "Your Majesty, you may call me by my childhood name, Aju."

"Aju?" He slowly uttered those two words as his thin lips parted.

"Yes, Aju."

He watched as the wisps of hair fluttered by her cheeks, her dark purple dress almost blending into the purple clouds behind her.

Some questions remained unanswered.

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him again, embracing the emperor.

Amidst their intimate and passionate kiss, she parted her lips and said, "Your Majesty, I await the day the Buddhist cave is completed."

**

The sky was filled with magnificent purple clouds. Yuan Chaolu's skirt and Xiao Zhuo's robes intertwined in the wind. The two descended the mountain path and returned to the caravan at nightfall.

It was already late, and the return journey would take several hours.

The carriage swayed and rocked, lanterns casting a dim glow, as it headed towards the imperial city of Luoyang. Xiao Zhuo, leaning against the window frame, was dozing off when he vaguely heard a rustling sound and opened his eyes—

The empress, who had fallen asleep leaning on his shoulder, sat behind her desk. She pushed the emperor's memorials aside and spread out a plain silk cloth. She picked up a brush and began to write something.

When Yuan Chaolu saw the emperor wake up, she was about to put away the plain silk when she felt those arms wrap around her, pulling her into a warm embrace.

He rested his chin on the crook of her neck, took the plain silk from her hand with his other hand, and said in a lazy voice, "The light is so dim, aren't you afraid of hurting your eyes? What are you painting?"

His gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over the drawings, and he asked, "Are these drawings of a Buddha statue?"

"The journey back was boring, and I thought of those Buddha statues I had seen before, so I decided to give it a try. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Zhuo looked at the sketches. Although they were hastily drawn, the few lines vividly depicted the Buddha's bright and holy appearance.

"I really didn't realize the Empress had such a talent for painting."

She was extremely pleased and happily took the sketch from his hands, spreading it out in front of her. "Since Your Majesty says it's acceptable, I will try to draw it again..."

Xiao Zhuo gazed at her and suddenly spoke: "Why don't you tell me about your childhood, Your Majesty?"

Yuan Chaolu asked, "Does Your Majesty wish to know?"

"Of course I want to know about my wife's childhood."

Yuan Chaolu's wrists were held by his hands, conveying his gentle strength.

He massaged her wrist, a faint smile hidden in his dark eyes.

"I am used to trying to understand people's hearts. When I face the civil and military officials, I wonder what kind of past they have gone through to gradually figure out their current character. Only by knowing these things can one truly see a person clearly."

As Xiao Zhuo spoke, the light made his eyes appear narrower and longer, and he squinted slightly, glancing at her with a half-smile.

"But the Empress never tells me about your past. How can I see through the Empress?"

"My past... Your Majesty has heard of it, hasn't it? Being wandered outside, having a fluctuating identity, being adopted, living under someone else's roof... I don't want to mention those old stories again."

"But I still want to hear what the Empress has to say."

His cheek pressed against her temples, making her feel a little ticklish, and she shrank her neck slightly.

"In the past, no one cared about the Empress, but from now on, I will feel sorry for her, so the Empress can try to talk to me about it."

Should we speak to the emperor?

Even the closest people can't be completely honest with each other. If you say something, how can you be sure it won't become a thorn in your side?

Yuan Chaolu was indeed touched by his words that he would feel sorry for her, but she was not so much blinded by them.

"Then Your Majesty must first tell me about Your Majesty's past."

There was a long silence inside the carriage. Just when Yuan Chaolu thought the emperor wouldn't speak, his voice rang out: "Yuan Chaolu, I held you when you were little."

Yuan Chaolu turned around and asked, "Is there?"

"Of course. Your mother and the late emperor were cousins. The Yuan and Xiao families had frequent exchanges. You were only three years old at that time. Every time you came to the Xiao family with your mother, the person you liked to look for the most was me."

“You like to follow behind me and let me hug you. You will also call me Third Brother in my arms. You are very obedient and well-behaved.”

Yuan Chaolu's ears burned, and the more she thought about the scene, the stranger it seemed. She shifted her body slightly and suddenly realized that she was being held in his arms.

Xiao Zhuo looked at her profile and said softly, "You are completely different from when you were a child."