Chapter 412: Peace within reach

At the same time, in a quiet and elegant guest house flower hall on the west side of the Wen Mansion, Wan'an came to look for his younger brother Liu Can who was living there.

The flower hall is built by the water, with a few tall bamboos outside the window. A gentle breeze brings the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.

Liu Can was sitting at the desk by the window, holding a pen and concentrating, as if reciting an article silently.

The sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows on him.

A few years have transformed the thin, silent and frightened boy into a completely new person.

He was dressed in a moon-white Hangzhou silk gown, with a jade belt around his waist, and his posture was as straight as a bamboo.

She has clear features, fair skin, and a gentle and calm temperament.

If you didn't know his background, at first glance, who wouldn't think he was some well-educated and well-read noble young man?

The Wen family treated him as their own son, and his food, clothing, housing, transportation, writing brushes, inkstones, and strict teacher instruction were all the same as those of his cousin, Liang Qingxi.

Even because of his miserable life, I felt more pity for him.

Wan An stood quietly at the door of the flower hall, looking at his brother's focused profile, and was a little dazed for a moment.

That tragic scene back then—the kind faces of his grandmothers frozen in terror, his father and mother lying in a pool of blood, his eldest brother desperately trying to protect him and Ah Qing, only to be beheaded...

After so many years, it can still instantly pierce through his deliberately sealed memories, bringing bone-chilling cold and heart-wrenching pain.

The gentle young man in front of him overlapped and separated from the young figure in his memory who had just come to the Wen Mansion, tightly clutching the corner of his clothes, with fear in his eyes.

He felt sincerely relieved and grateful.

The fact that my younger brother was able to be protected by the Wen family, grow up safely, and even take the imperial examination and bring honor to the family was the greatest mercy that God had bestowed upon the Liu family.

Even if he were to be torn to pieces, he would never be able to repay the Queen and the Wen family's kindness.

My grandparents, my father, my mother, and my elder brother, may they rest in peace in heaven.

"Achan." Wan'an walked lightly into the flower hall and called out.

When Liu Can heard the voice, he looked up and saw that it was his brother. A warm smile immediately broke out on his handsome face. He put down his pen and stood up.

"Second brother! Why did you leave the palace? But the queen is coming home? Come and sit down."

He personally stepped forward and poured Wan'an a cup of hot tea.

The two brothers sat down opposite each other.

Wan An felt relieved when he saw his brother's calm demeanor, but he still asked with concern, "You and Young Master Qingxi are going to take the imperial examination in two days. Are you nervous?"

Liu Can shook his head, his smile calm and confident, with the clarity unique to young people.

"Don't worry, second brother. You've read all the books you need to read and practiced all the essays you need to practice. Just wait for the day of the examination and do your best. Second brother and elder sister are in the palace serving the Empress, so you must be more cautious and take care of your health."

His tone was calm, his eyes were clear, and he had the power to soothe people.

Wan An felt extremely comforted when he saw his brother being so calm.

He patted Liu Can's shoulder and said repeatedly, "Good, good! I'm relieved that Ah Can has such a magnanimous demeanor! Just focus on taking the exam and don't feel burdened."

The maid brought fresh fruits, snacks and freshly brewed hot tea in due time and placed them on the small table in the middle of the hall.

The two brothers chatted about family matters in this elegant and peaceful atmosphere.

Liu Shen inquired about the situation in the palace, especially the recent situation of the Empress and several young masters;

Wan'an was concerned about his brother's diet and daily life, and also carefully reminded him of many things to pay attention to in the examination room.

The warm sunlight shines on the two of them, the fragrance of tea is lingering, and time seems to become especially slow and gentle at this moment.

Wan'an picked up the teacup, feeling the warmth passing through the wall of the cup to the palm of his hand, and felt that the time was peaceful and quiet at this moment.

When Ah Can passed the imperial examination, secured a position and established a firm foothold;

When Aqing is old enough, she will leave the palace and find a reliable and good man to marry and live a stable life;

And he could continue to stay in the palace without any worries, taking care of the Empress and several young masters, seeing them safe and happy, until he lived out his life in peace.

This was the best outcome he could have hoped for.

However, Wan'an was completely unaware at this moment that the peaceful picture in his heart that seemed within reach was being quietly torn apart.

The poisonous needle that pierced the softest part of his heart did not come from an external enemy, but from his blood-related relatives whom he wanted to protect with all his might.

…

Within the palace walls.

As the night deepened, the sound of palace clocks could be heard from afar.

Inside the Pineapple Palace.

Even though the Queen Mother had left the palace, the palace maids on duty were still busy in an orderly manner, while the other palace maids went to bed early.

Liu Qing sat alone in the clean, tidy but slightly cold little room.

The doors and windows were closed, blocking out the night outside.

She walked to the bathtub, which was filled with clear warm water, with flower petals and spices that the queen usually used floating on the water.

She stepped in naked and washed every inch of her skin very carefully.

When she came out, she took out those precious little porcelain bottles from under her pillow as she did in the past.

She dipped her fingertips into the cream that exuded the elegant fragrance of pear blossoms and slowly and attentively applied it to her body.

From the smooth forehead, to the delicate neck, to below the collarbone...

Not a single inch was left out.

The fragrance spread in the small space, with a hint of loneliness and coldness in its sweetness.

The familiar fragrance belonging to the Queen, symbolizing supreme grace and nobility, now lingered around her.

A hint of twisted pleasure and an almost sacrificial determination intertwined in her eyes.

She walked to the window, gently opened a crack, and looked at the quiet queen's bedroom in the night, which symbolized supreme favor and was where its owner had temporarily left.

He closed the window silently, turned and walked to the cabinet, and carefully took out a flat package the size of a fingernail, tightly wrapped in oil paper, from the bottom layer of the box.

She held it tightly in her palm, and the cold touch made her blood seem to burn.

The gears of fate have been making a heart-pounding clicking sound in an unnoticed corner.

When the moon reached its zenith and its bright light spread over the palace eaves, Yan Shixu, who had been busy all day, rubbed his aching brows and walked out of the imperial study.

The relentless court affairs, the disputes over the succession and the imperial examinations had exhausted his mind, and he almost instinctively raised his legs and walked towards the Pineapple Palace.

Yongtai behind him hurriedly reminded: "Your Majesty, the Queen is not in the palace tonight."

Yan Shixu said "hmm" and continued walking forward.

Yongtai quickly slapped his mouth.

When the Empress is not in the palace, His Majesty usually goes to sleep in the Empress's palace.

He just felt sorry for His Majesty, and the time spent walking could be used to rest.

Today's Pineapple Palace seemed particularly deserted without the presence of the Empress and several young masters.

This huge palace was filled with empty silence, and the palace servants on duty saluted silently.

Yan Shixu waved his hand tiredly, signaling them to leave.

He personally pushed open the heavy carved wooden door of the bedroom and stepped in.