Chapter 49 [49]

【49】/First release

The spring breeze blows, the ice and snow melt, and in the blink of an eye it is March.

In Yuzhang County, willow trees are sprouting and jasmine flowers are blooming, creating a vibrant spring scene.

After an absence of nearly half a year, Xiao Ningning returned to the palace again. Before she could relax from the fatigue of the journey, she received a mysterious letter.

"The person who delivered the letter was an old woman. She just said that someone asked her to deliver the letter to the princess. She knew nothing else." said the maid.

Xiao Ningning opened the letter doubtfully. When she saw the familiar handwriting, her heart started pounding. She quickly hid the letter in her sleeve and walked into the inner room.

After making sure that there were no other strangers around, he took out the letter and read it carefully, word by word.

This letter was sent by Zhao Wenshao.

In the letter, he said that he felt deeply ashamed for having let down Xiao Ningning's affection and trust. Now he was a fugitive, displaced, hiding all day long, never seeing the light of day. He was afraid that he would never be able to grow old with her again, and he only hoped that they could continue their previous relationship in the next life.

Finally, he also proposed to see Xiao Ningning one last time to put an end to the regrets in his life.

There was also a jade pendant in the letter. Xiao Ningning had heard Zhao Wenshao mention that this was a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation to the hostess.

Holding the delicate jade pendant and reading Zhao Wenshao's earnest words on the letter, Xiao Ningning couldn't help but feel tears in her eyes - it turned out that Zhao Lang was still alive and he still had her in his heart.

***

Three days later, Xiao Ningning saw Zhao Wenshao, who was thin and haggard, in a secluded farmyard.

When the two met, it was like a bolt from the blue, they hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down their clothes, and they were deeply in love and full of love and hate.

They said it was the last time they would see each other, but when the time came to say goodbye, Xiao Ningning felt extremely distressed when she saw her lover's miserable and pitiful appearance.

After much deliberation, she made a bold decision to bring Zhao Wenshao back to the palace.

"This is Yuzhang. Let's go back to my father. He will definitely have a solution."

Xiao Ningning thought that the emperor was far away and the sky was high. Even if Zhao Wenshao was wanted, in Yuzhang, her father was fully capable of helping Zhao Wenshao change his identity and let him live in Yuzhang under an assumed name.

"At worst, you can just not enter officialdom or go to the capital. You can just stay by my side and stay with me until we grow old together." Xiao Ningning was immersed in the beautiful fantasy of the future and did not notice the dark light flashing in Zhao Wenshao's eyes.

That evening, Zhao Wenshao disguised himself as a servant in the palace and returned to the Yuzhang Palace with Xiao Ningning.

As the sun sets, the sky is filled with red clouds.

In the study of the palace, Prince Yuzhang was feeling very upset about the imperial court's decree to reduce the power of the princes. Suddenly, he heard the housekeeper come to report that the princess wanted to see him for something.

Prince Yuzhang was in a bad mood and sat at the table without looking up. "I am busy, so I tell the princess to go back to her room and rest. We can talk tomorrow if there is anything else."

Shortly after the words fell, Xiao Ningning's slightly fierce voice came from outside the house: "Get out of the way, I want to see my father!"

The princess has always been favored by the prince and princess, and no one in the palace dares to stop her.

After a while, Xiao Ningning entered the study: "Father."

Prince Yuzhang frowned and raised his head to scold: "Ningning, why are you so disobedient today——"

Before he finished speaking, he saw a man behind Xiao Ningning who was dressed as a servant but had an extraordinary demeanor. His expression changed: "Who is this?"

Even though she knew her father doted on her, Xiao Ningning was still unsure about bringing the fugitive home without her knowledge. After hesitating for a while, she mustered up the courage to say, "Father, this is Master Zhao Wenshao. He is my daughter's benefactor."

Zhao Wenshao also stepped forward to pay his respects, his attitude respectful and neither humble nor arrogant: "Zhao Wenshao of Yuezhou pays homage to Prince Yuzhang. Long live the prince."

When Prince Yuzhang saw the person in front of him at first sight, he knew that this person was extraordinary. When he heard him introduce himself, he felt that the name sounded familiar. After thinking about it for a while, he suddenly remembered it.

Isn’t this the scholar from Yuezhou who caused a stir in the capital and escaped from prison secretly?

How did this fugitive end up in his Yuzhang territory? And how did he even get involved with his precious daughter?

Prince Yuzhang straightened up and looked at Xiao Ningning in the middle of the study with a serious face: "Ningning, what is going on?"

Xiao Ningning was frightened by the solemn look of Prince Yuzhang. Turning around and seeing her beloved, she felt as if she was infused with infinite strength. She clenched her fingers, took a deep breath, and told him about her friendship with Zhao Wenshao. Finally, she knelt before Prince Yuzhang and begged tearfully, "Father, please help Master Zhao."

After hearing the whole story, Prince Yuzhang was immediately furious. Seeing his precious daughter, whom he cherished like a pearl, kneeling for such a man, his anger soared to the top of his head. He picked up the inkstone on the table and threw it at Zhao Wenshao, cursing: "You shameless boy!!"

Zhao Wenshao didn't have time to dodge and was hit on the forehead, and blood gushed out immediately.

Seeing the bright red blood winding down the man's handsome face, Xiao Ningning felt so distressed that she couldn't breathe. Her pretty face turned pale, and her petite body blocked in front of Zhao Wenshao like a hen protecting her chicks. She looked at Prince Yuzhang in disbelief: "Father, how can you be so unreasonable?"

Upon seeing this, Prince Yuzhang became even more angry and was about to call for help to put Zhao Wenshao in jail and send him back to the capital.

Zhao Wenshao saw the situation was not good, so he pushed Xiao Ningning aside. With his face half covered in blood, he looked at Prince Yuzhang intently, "Your Highness, there is no need to rush to drive me away. Although I am not talented, I can see that you are worried. If you don't mind, I have a good plan to help you solve your problems."

Prince Yuzhang sneered in his heart. With the man's appearance, he still had the audacity to say that he could help him solve his problems?

However, when he raised his eyes and met those firm and sharp black eyes, Prince Yuzhang was shocked by the power in those eyes.

I didn't expect that such a disheveled young man could have such a fierce aura.

Prince Yuzhang pursed his lips and pondered for a moment before asking, "Can you still bear the wound on your head?"

Zhao Wenshao said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I can still hold on."

"Okay then." Prince Yuzhang nodded and turned to look at Xiao Ningning: "Ningning, please go out first. Father wants to talk to Master Zhao alone."

Xiao Ningning was stunned for a moment, feeling a little worried. She bit her lip hesitantly: "Father..."

Prince Yuzhang frowned, feeling that his daughter was being too unrestrained. Where had she learned her old manners and etiquette? He sullenly repeated, "Ningning, step aside."

Zhao Wenshao also looked at Xiao Ningning, but his tone was gentle, and he forced a smile at her: "Don't worry, Princess, everything will be fine."

Seeing that he said this, Xiao Ningning had no choice but to suppress her worries for the time being and leave first.

The study door creaked shut again. There was no light in the room, and the light became dimmer.

Zhao Wenshao took two steps forward, staring intently at Prince Yuzhang. His voice, deep and low, was as follows: "Your Highness is a descendant of the royal family, a brother of the late emperor, and the uncle of the current emperor. The emperor can now implement the reduction of the feudal system, but who knows if he will come up with another plan in the future and attack the feudal lords again. By then, the feudal lords will be powerless to resist and will be nothing but fish on the emperor's chopping block, at his mercy... How can a golden fish stay in a pond? Soon, the Book of Heaven will descend to the ninth level. Your Highness, are you truly convinced?"

In the dim light, the bloodstains on half of his face looked somewhat hideous and strange.

When Prince Yuzhang met those black eyes filled with hatred, unwillingness and ambition, he felt as if something in his heart was ignited, his emotions surged and boiled, making the heart in his chest, which had been buried deep in the ashes and silent for many years, come alive again and beat violently.

***

In the capital, the weather seems to have gotten hot especially early this year.

After the Qingming Festival rain, the temperature has been rising steadily, getting hotter day by day.

Lu Zhiwan was very afraid of heat. If it was cold, he could wear more clothes and stay by the fire. At worst, he could just stay in bed. But when it was hot, he couldn't just strip off his clothes and run around naked all day.

Xiao Jingting saw that she felt uncomfortable during the day as if her body was covered with hair, and she was sick and unwilling to move at night. When she sweated, she complained of being hot, and when she was hot, she didn't want to move even more - this vicious cycle seriously affected the experience of in-depth communication.

So he waved his hand and decided to go to the summer palace early.

Lu Zhiwan was more than happy to go to a scenic place to escape the summer heat. That night, he hugged Xiao Jingting and called out "Good Majesty" several times, and changed the wet bed sheets twice.

On a cool morning in late April, a large group of summer vacationers set out from the Forbidden City and headed all the way to the summer palace in the north.

Lu Zhiwan originally rode alone in a carriage. After leaving the capital, Xiao Lanchun was probably bored being alone, so she ran to her carriage to chat and keep her company.

"My dear Concubine Zhao, His Majesty is so kind to you. He knew you were afraid of the heat, so he sent you to the Summer Palace in advance."

Xiao Lanchun leaned against a bright red pillow embroidered with hibiscus flowers, one hand supporting her chin, and looked at Lu Zhiwan with envy: "I wonder if I will ever meet such a considerate and caring man in this life."

Lu Zhiwan lazily picked up a grape and ate it, thinking that the bastard was not considerate of her at all, he clearly wanted to be close to her. But she also felt that he was sweaty and sticky all over, and it was just uncomfortable to hug him.

She pretended to smile sweetly, "Yes, His Majesty is very good to me. But don't be discouraged, Princess. Master Gu will renovate your mansion, and you two can see each other every day. As the saying goes, dripping water wears away a stone, and a strong man is afraid of a clinging woman. Sooner or later, he will be moved by your sincerity..."

Speaking of Gu Rongyu, Xiao Lanchun's delicate features couldn't help but show a hint of sadness, and she sighed deeply, "I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for that day. I should be returning to Liaodong with my father next month."

Lu Zhiwan paused while eating grapes and looked at her in surprise: "Going back to Liaodong?"

"Yes." Xiao Lanchun nodded. "My brother's marriage to the daughter of Minister Chen was finalized at the beginning of the month, and they'll be married in March of next year. Father knows I like Gu Rongyu, but he's still brooding over her refusal. So, he asked me to go back to Liaodong with him next month to avoid seeing her every day in the capital, which would be a burden."

Lu Zhiwan: “…”

There is some truth in this.

However, when the King of Liaodong said this, did he only refer to Xiao Lanchun's feelings for Gu Rongyu, or did he also include his feelings for Queen Mother Gu - it is better to miss her than to meet her.

She let her thoughts wander for a while, then looked at Xiao Lanchun again and asked, "Princess, what do you think?"

Xiao Lanchun pursed her rosy lips, then muttered awkwardly, "I definitely want to be with Gu Rongyu. Otherwise, as you said, as a princess, I can have any man I want. Why would I cling to Gu Rongyu so much? But the problem now is... he doesn't have me in his heart."

Hearing this, Lu Zhiwan's eyes flickered slightly: "I don't think so."

Xiao Lanchun: "Hmm?"

Lu Zhiwan raised an eyebrow and looked at her: "I remember you told me that at the beginning of last month, at the Spring Banquet of Duke Dingguo's Mansion, several young men from aristocratic families were talking about the ladies of other families behind their backs. You couldn't stand it and just wanted to teach them a lesson, but Gu Rongyu dissuaded you..."

Xiao Lanchun blinked blankly: "That's right, what's wrong?"

Lu Zhiwan: "Later, it was Gu Rongyu who stepped forward and reprimanded them, right?"

Xiao Lanchun: "Yes."

Lu Zhiwan: "If he really didn't care about you at all, first of all, when you wanted to rush forward, he wouldn't have had to stop you at all. What happened to you has nothing to do with him anyway. Secondly, he wouldn't have had to speak up on your behalf and scold those young men from aristocratic families... Of course, it's not ruled out that he, like you, is a kind-hearted person who helps others when he sees injustice."

After hearing this, Xiao Lanchun's eyes lit up, but then the light gradually dimmed. She said unsurely, "Yeah, what if he really is kind-hearted? Then wouldn't I be being too sentimental?"

Lu Zhiwan: “…”

Raising her hand and patting Xiao Lanchun's shoulder, she said, "Alright, at worst, you can ask him in person before leaving the capital. If he still says he has no feelings for you, then you don't have to waste your time on internal affairs. Just go back with the King of Liaodong!"

Although the original novel mentioned Xiao Lanchun at the end, it was simply explained that she returned to the border with the King of Liaodong, and there was no further description. But Lu Zhiwan thought, after all, she was a princess, and she should be able to live a good life in Liaodong.

As expected, it is too difficult to change the fate of the original characters by one's own strength!