Chapter 60: Every day, I miss you.
On the seventh day after Xiao Xu left the capital, Yun Sheng learned that her parents had returned.
She should have returned to her parents' home, not because of Xiao Xu's childish and petty reasons, but because she herself had not seen her family for a long time and missed them dearly.
However, Xiao Ling's impending enlistment in the army stirred up a huge uproar in the Prince Zhao's residence.
Xiao Qingchuan was furious, Shen Yuewan was so angry that she cried, Xiao Min couldn't do anything about him, and Xiao Xu, who used to be the one who could control him the most, was not in the capital.
In the end, Xiao Ling escaped again.
Before leaving, he left a letter, which was more than ten pages long. Xiao Qingchuan angrily rebuked him for not being able to write like this when he was young and studying.
Xiao Ling seemed determined this time, using both soft and hard tactics, and the person had already escaped.
Helpless, Xiao Qingchuan could only quickly send a message to the Shuofeng Army. Yun Sheng didn't know if the message was to bring back Xiao Ling or to ask the army to take better care of him.
That day, after Yun Sheng finished practicing the zither in the palace, she opened the window and saw that the gray clouds were hanging low and the air was filled with a familiar crispness.
Just then, a cool sensation suddenly landed on the tip of her nose.
It's snowing.
The first snow of the year came a little late, exactly fifteen days after Xiao Xu left the capital.
With the Laba Festival approaching, Yun Sheng returned to the Yun residence. Without her having to mention it, Yun Hong and Xu Peilan urged her to stay at their home for a few more days.
Judging by the time, Xiao Xu would probably not be able to return to the capital for another half month, so she would not be staying at home for just a few days.
Yun Hong and Xu Peilan were naturally delighted and invited relatives and friends to hold a grand banquet for several days in a row, keeping Yun Sheng so busy that he would take a bath and go to sleep as soon as he got up at night.
Even after the Laba Festival banquet, Yun Sheng was not able to have a complete break.
As the year draws to a close and we enter the latter half of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere grows stronger day by day.
The streets of the capital city were no longer bleak in winter. Shops on both sides of the main street hung red lanterns early, and their signs fluttered vigorously in the cold wind.
New peachwood charms were put up on the gate of the mansion early on, with couplets written by Yun Hong himself. Under Xu Peilan's guidance, Yun Sheng also learned how to handle social interactions and was busy preparing New Year's gifts for each family for several days.
That evening, the Yun family members sat around the table and enjoyed their dinner.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation somehow turned to the Prince Zhao's residence.
It would be better if we didn't mention it, because just mentioning Yun Cheng makes me angry.
"How long has it been? He's busy with his wedding and busy every day. It's almost the end of the year, and he's still so busy. I think he should come to our mansion and kowtow to admit his mistakes, just like Xiao Ling!"
Yun Cheng was already under the influence of alcohol and spoke without thinking.
Yun Sheng, who was listening from the side, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Xiao Ling had never kowtowed before, but had only come to apologize respectfully.
Ye Fu and Xu Peilan smiled helplessly at her.
But after Yun Hong chimed in with a couple of words, Yun Cheng couldn't stop. He went on and on about how Xiao Xu was being berated, finally exclaiming angrily, "He's been away from the capital for so long, and hasn't even sent a letter home. This man is simply..."
Before she could finish speaking, Cui Zhu's urgent shout came from outside the door: "Princess Consort, Princess Consort, His Highness has sent a letter!"
"..." Yun Cheng choked, and the alcohol sobered him up a bit.
When Cuizhu entered the hall and saw the room full of masters, she realized that she had been too loud.
Before she could lower her head and admit her mistake, Yun Sheng quickly said, "Let me see it quickly."
Cuizhu quickly presented the letter she had just received with both hands.
Yun Cheng gave a soft snort, craning his neck slightly, but his vision was blurry and he couldn't see anything. He could only ask in a hesitant tone, "What did you say?"
Yun Sheng opened the envelope, and as soon as she unfolded the first page, her gaze suddenly fell upon a corner of the letter where red beans were drawn in vermilion ink.
Her eyes flickered, and she immediately closed the letter.
"It's nothing, I..."
Yun Sheng blushed, quickly scanned the table, then stood up and said hurriedly, "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law, I'm done eating. I'm going back to my room now."
After saying that, Yun Sheng turned and left, clutching the envelope.
She could still hear Yun Cheng's drunken shouts in her ears: "Hey, little sister, where are you going? What did Xiao Xu say in his letter? Did he bully you? Tell me, I'll help you..."
Yun Cheng's voice was suppressed, and his sister-in-law Ye Fu's words to stop him gradually faded away.
Yun Sheng held the light envelope, feeling the cold winter wind on her face, but her heart was burning.
She walked faster and faster, her skirt fluttering in the light and shadow on the mansion's path, until she finally jogged back into the house.
The floor heating in her boudoir was warm and cozy, and the light illuminated her face, making her blush clearly visible.
No one saw her; she was alone, leaning against the door, clutching her chest, unable to catch her breath or catch her heartbeat.
After an unknown amount of time, Yun Sheng slowly took out the envelope from her bosom.
Xiao Xu has been away from the capital for more than twenty days.
At first, Yun Sheng also thought about his letters, but after not receiving any, she changed her expectation from waiting for his letters to waiting for the day he would return.
More than a letter with only words on paper and no person in sight, she longed for him to come back soon.
But unexpectedly, just as his return date was approaching, I received a letter from him.
Yun Sheng muttered to herself, feeling awkward, that it was better for someone else to come back earlier than to write a letter.
With that thought in mind, she still opened the letter with great anticipation.
The red bean vines that had just flashed before my eyes reappeared, hand-drawn by Xiao Xu himself, right next to his signature.
As Yun Sheng slowly walked into the house, she focused intently on reading the letter.
[To my wife:
Seeing this letter is like meeting you in person.
The winter rains in Jiangnan have been falling for half a month. During the day, I am busy with official duties and do not feel it, but when I am alone with the lamp at night, I find that the damp cold here is even more unbearable than the cold wind in the capital.
Only now do I realize that longing has form, like the boundless rain here, omnipresent yet impossible to grasp.
The fine rain seemed to entangle my heart as well. I watched the lamplight flicker, never quite forming a complete circle. My longing for home was like the endless dripping of the eaves, counting the night watch and hoping for dawn.
Words cannot express the depth of my feelings.
I wrote this letter to tell you...
I miss you every single day.
Yun Sheng read the letter, which was neither too long nor too short, several times.
Her fingers traced the two characters "Chang Yu" at the bottom of the signature, and the string of lifelike red beans. Her eyes welled up with tears, but her heart was filled with even more anxiety.
She turned the paper over and then shook the now empty envelope face down.
But there was nothing else besides this letter.
Yun Sheng gradually frowned, and finally slammed the letter on the table.
What does it mean to only express your desire to return home without specifying when you will return?
She pouted and sat down on the chaise longue, muttering aggrievedly, "It would have been better not to write the letter at all."
Despite her complaints, after a while she carefully took the letter, folded it neatly, and put it back into the envelope.
After sitting quietly for a while, Yun Sheng still couldn't calm down the complicated thoughts in her mind.
The longing wasn't put away with this letter; instead, it grew stronger and spread.
Yun Sheng stood up, walked slowly to the window, and gently pushed it open, wanting to see the moon that might carry her longing to the distance.
As soon as the window was opened, a blast of crisp, cold air rushed in. What came into view was not the empty courtyard and the cold moon, but a tall figure that almost blended into the dark night.
"ah!"
Yun Sheng was shocked and cried out in alarm.
Xiao Xu stood quietly outside the window, wearing a dark cloak, his shoulders covered with a layer of frost that hadn't been brushed off, which shimmered slightly in the warm yellow light coming from inside the room.
The edge of his cloak was gently stirred by the night breeze, revealing the hem of his dark, close-fitting outfit underneath. He looked travel-worn, but showed no sign of dishevelment.
The light from the lanterns under the eaves slanted across his face, outlining a deep and familiar profile.
Startled, Yun Sheng staggered backward, tripped over her skirt, and was about to fall.
A large hand wearing a black leather glove reached in from outside the window, supported her arm, and steadily led her to the window.
The warmth of his hands, through the gloves and clothing, was deeply imprinted on her body.
Xiao Xu leaned forward slightly, gazing at her with deep, passionate eyes: "Sheng Sheng, I'm back."
"You, you...you..."
Yun Sheng stared in astonishment, speechless for a long time.
This truly surprised her, even more than the last time she saw Xiao Xu appear at her bedroom window.
She had just finished reading the letter he sent back from abroad, so how could he suddenly appear?
Xiao Xu stared at her intently, unwilling to look away.
Her surprised look was quite adorable. His Adam's apple bobbed. He had a lot to say, but he couldn't help himself and pulled her arm to lean forward.
He lowered his head and kissed her slightly parted lips with irresistible force.
Separated by the window, they couldn't press their lips together, but the touch of their lips still brought an indescribable thrill, dispelling the winter night's chill and illuminated by the distant moon.
After the kiss ended, Yun Sheng stepped back, slightly panting.
She looked at Xiao Xu with shimmering eyes. No matter how surprised she was, she had to admit that he had really returned.
Instead of that, her thoughts jumped to another point: "How long have you been standing outside my window?"
Xiao Xu's voice was slightly hoarse with emotion: "Half an incense stick's time."
Yun Sheng's breath hitched, and she nervously took half a step back: "You've been here for a while, why didn't you say anything?"
"I opened the window as soon as I arrived, but when I saw you reading a letter, I didn't disturb you. I closed the window and waited for you outside."
"Who knew you'd be watching for so long."
Xiao Xu looked at Yun Sheng's face, which had turned even redder after he said those words, and wanted to kiss her again.
But Yun Sheng had already taken another step back, to a place where he couldn't even reach out and grab her.
Xiao Xu said slowly, "Sheng Sheng, come here."
Yun Sheng wouldn't listen to him.
He actually saw it just now, he saw her reading the letter.
What did she look like when she read the letter?
Yun Sheng's heart was pounding, and she couldn't even remember her expression just now.
And what about what she muttered to herself after reading the letter? Could he have overheard that too?
"You're lying, I didn't hear anything."
Xiao Xu chuckled softly: "After you finished reading, you stroked my signature, then turned the envelope over..."
"Alright, stop talking!" Yun Sheng did as he wished and went back to the window, but quickly covered his mouth with her hand.
That's so embarrassing.
Yun Sheng muttered, "Since you're already back, why are you writing a letter? Are you doing this on purpose...?"
Xiao Xu said in a muffled voice under her palm, "That letter was sent out several days ago. Perhaps it was caught in the wind and snow, I didn't expect it to arrive until today."
Yun Sheng gave a dry "oh".
Suddenly a cold wind blew by, and the frost hit the back of her fair hands, bringing a biting chill.
Xiao Xu raised his hand, took her hand down, and clenched it in his palm. With his other hand, he braced himself against the windowsill and tried to climb into the house.
Yun Sheng quickly realized what was happening and stopped him abruptly: "What are you doing?"
Xiao Xu was taken aback, and his almost jumping figure fell back to the ground, but he said matter-of-factly, "Come inside."
Yun Sheng looked at him warily without saying a word.
Xiao Xu said, "Sheng Sheng, it's very cold outside. I've been standing here for a long time, and my hands are freezing..."
He was about to say that he was frozen, but Yun Sheng scratched his palm, as if to remind him that his palm was burning hot.
"..."
Xiao Xu paused for a moment, then said, "Sheng Sheng, let me in first. The wind is hurting my face, and my cloak is covered in frost and dew, which is uncomfortable."
"Also, I miss you very much."
Yun Sheng twisted her wrist and pulled her hand away from his palm.
With her arms crossed, she said, "No, I'm getting married soon. Don't come again. My parents won't approve of us being together."
"…………"
Seeing that Xiao Xu seemed slightly stunned and didn't want to play with her, Yun Sheng reached out to close the window.
Xiao Xu reacted quickly, snapping back to reality and grabbing her again in an instant.
"Then let's elope."
"...What?" This is not what she expected.
"If your parents don't agree, we'll elope."
"Miss Yun, would you like to come with me?"
"If I say I don't want to..."
Before Yun Sheng could finish speaking, Xiao Xu suddenly exerted force on his hand.
He leaped up and stepped onto the windowsill, grabbed Yun Sheng's hand, and then wrapped his arms around her waist.
Yun Sheng lost her balance and fell in front of him.
"If you don't want to, I'll take you by force; if you don't want to, you have to elope with me today."
Xiao Xu grabbed Yun Sheng and, despite being dressed in such heavy clothes, swiftly lifted her out of the window.
That was practically a robbery.
Yun Sheng exclaimed in surprise, her feet unable to touch the ground, as Xiao Xu carried her towards the courtyard wall.
"Xiao Changyu, are you crazy? Put me down!"
"I won't let go." Xiao Xu raised his eyebrows and kissed her in his arms. "Once I snatch it, it's mine. Your parents' disagreement won't change anything."
"Let's go, we'll get married tonight."
He can carry someone with one arm and climb over a wall with the other.
Yun Sheng's exclamation and his actions caused quite a commotion, alerting the servants in the courtyard.
The servants didn't recognize the dark figure on the wall; they only saw their young mistress being forcibly abducted.
In an instant, the courtyard was in chaos.
Those shouting "Stop thief!", those unable to climb over the wall, and those calling for Yun Sheng were all left behind by Xiao Xu.
He carried Yun Sheng to the ground, his horse was under the courtyard wall, but not far away was Mu Shan's carriage that had just arrived and had not yet come to a complete stop.
Xiao Xu gave Mu Shan a look, and Mu Shan immediately understood. He waved away the people by the carriage and hurriedly went to help his master lead the horse.
Yun Sheng was carried into the carriage.
Before she could even sit properly, Xiao Xu pressed her down and kissed her urgently and roughly.
Between kisses, Yun Sheng mumbled, "You're finished. Everyone in the courtyard knows now. My brother won't let you get away with this."
"Then what should we do?"
"Please take me back quickly."
Xiao Xu bit her tongue and decisively refused: "Impossible."
He cupped her face in his hands, kissing her deeper and deeper, their lovemaking intense, pouring out the longing he had accumulated over the past few days.
"I miss you so much."
Yun Sheng replied with "Me too," seemingly swallowed up by Xiao Xu's eager and deep kiss, unable to utter a sound.
The carriage swayed, and the streets were silent.
Only in the nearby mansion did lamps gradually light up from the inside out, as people frantically searched for someone.
Yun Sheng was sent back to the Yun residence by Xiao Xu after an incense stick had burned, but this absurd and reckless incident was not simply glossed over.
Xiao Xu was scolded for a long time.
The one who was scolded the most was Yun Cheng, who went to look for someone before he had even straightened his clothes.
Yun Hong followed, furious: "This is outrageous!"
This was the first time Yun Sheng had ever seen the dignified heir of the Prince Zhao's mansion being scolded so much that he was bowing his head and remaining silent.
She was secretly smiling to herself when Xu Peilan caught her red-handed.
Xu Peilan said with a stern face, "Yun Sheng, come with me."
That night, the couple, who had been separated for a long time, were scolded together and were not let off the hook by their elders until late at night.
On the path in front of the Yun residence, Yun Sheng looked up and saw Xiao Xu striding over from the other side.
Her eyes lit up, and she jogged over to meet him.
Xiao Xu reached out and caught her, giving her a tight embrace.
You didn't hear me just now.
Yun Sheng tilted her head to listen to his heartbeat and gently told him, "I miss you too, every single day."
*
In the dead of winter, the official road was covered with a thick layer of compacted snow. A lone carriage braved the cold wind and moved forward, its wheels rolling laboriously on the icy ruts, making a monotonous and sluggish creaking sound.
Xiao Ling bent one leg and placed it on the carriage shaft, while the other leg was stretched out rather awkwardly. He sat like this, half-leaning and half-sitting, loosely holding the reins, letting the carriage slowly travel through the wind and snow.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes and brows were shrouded in a serene indifference that was even more profound than the wind and snow.
A girl's urgent call came from behind the carriage: "Hey! Wait for me, wait for me!"
Xiao Ling ignored him completely, not even lifting an eyelid.
Unfortunately, the carriage couldn't travel much faster than people, and the girl eventually caught up with it, panting heavily.
She must have run so fast, her cheeks were flushed, and her breath was scattering in the cold wind.
Taking advantage of Xiao Ling's unpreparedness, she used both her hands and feet to grab onto the carriage shaft, and with a nimble movement, she flipped over and jumped up, landing steadily in the empty space next to Xiao Ling.
A crack finally appeared in Xiao Ling's cold expression. His brows furrowed, and he coldly ordered, "Get down."
The girl didn't care at all. She patted the snow off her body and said with a smile, "You're going to help me all the way, right? Look how cold it is. I'm just a weak woman. Please, have mercy and take me with you."
Two days ago, Xiao Ling encountered bandits committing a crime on his journey. He fought off more than a dozen of them by himself and rescued the kidnapped girl.
This kind of thing happened to him again. He was kind-hearted and saved the person, but he no longer had the heart to care about what would happen to the girl he saved.
Unfortunately, this girl was incredibly noisy and persistent; this was the third time in the past two days that he had managed to shake her off only to be caught by her again.
The girl looked quite young, with bright, sparkling eyes: "My home is in Baishi Town. You said you were going to Shuofeng Pass, and we're going the same way, so please give me a ride. When we get to town, I'll treat you to hot soup noodles."
“It’s not on my way.” Xiao Ling glanced at her coldly, his tone stiff. “Miss, I’m going to join the army, not a traveler. I don’t have time to take you home.”
Upon hearing this, the girl looked him up and down, her face full of disbelief: "What soldier is like you, walking alone on the road? The main force of the Shuofeng Army passed by more than half a month ago. You're now braving the wind and snow in a broken-down horse-drawn carriage. By the time you get to Shuofeng Pass, it'll be too late, and you won't even know which way their camp gates are open."
Xiao Ling's face darkened, his jawline tightened, and he wanted to talk to her even less.
He was delayed in his journey because he had been placed under house arrest by Xiao Qingchuan, which caused him to become separated from the team that was supposed to meet him.
Now, with the snow blocking the road, and having been hit on the left leg with a blow during the fight with the bandits, although the bone was not broken, the swelling and pain are unbearable, making it impossible to ride a horse at high speed. So, I can only travel slowly in this dilapidated carriage.
He was already anxious, and this ignorant young girl was bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about.
Seeing that he remained silent, the girl leaned closer, softening her tone and adding a hint of flattery: "Just take me with you. Your leg is injured, isn't it? I can take care of you on the way. I can start a fire and cook, and I can identify herbs. Although my skills are a bit rough, it's still better than you eating cold, hard dry rations. The journey is long, and if we keep each other company and talk, it will help relieve the boredom, won't it?"
"I don't need company," Xiao Ling interrupted her coldly.
But the girl seemed to have no idea what the word "backup" meant, and kept babbling on: "Hey, don't be so fierce. Look, I can keep watch for you at night. You're injured, so you need to rest, right? With me here, you can get a good night's sleep, right? Besides, more people mean more help, in case something else happens..."
Xiao Ling's temples throbbed from her noise.
The girl kept talking until he finally couldn't take it anymore.
Xiao Ling frowned, then suddenly threw the reins in his hand into her arms: "Come here."
The girl was taken aback by his sudden action, then her eyes lit up with surprise: "Would you like to take me with you?"
"You drive the carriage." Xiao Ling said this, and enduring the pain in his legs, he bent down and squeezed into the narrow carriage, pulling the curtain down with a "whoosh" to separate the inside from the outside.
The girl, still clutching the reins that were warm from his touch, stood frozen in the cold wind for a moment before she came to her senses and shouted incredulously toward the carriage, "Hey! You...you actually let a delicate little girl drive the carriage while you hid inside to avoid the wind and snow. Don't you have any compassion for a woman?"
There was no movement inside the carriage.
The girl pouted, trying to save face, and deliberately made her voice soft and pitiful: "Alright, alright, I'm the one who needs your help. I'm already incredibly grateful that you're willing to take me along. Don't worry, I'll definitely do my best to serve you on this journey..."
"I need to write a letter." The carriage curtain was suddenly lifted a corner, revealing half of Xiao Ling's expressionless face. "Yinma Post Station is not far ahead. I need to finish writing it before we arrive. You drive quietly and wait for me to finish writing. Then you can come in and take shelter from the wind."
“…Oh.” The girl shrank her neck, finally quieting down for the time being.
She clumsily picked up the reins and, imitating Xiao Ling's earlier actions, urged the old horse forward.
The cold wind whipped snowflakes against my face. After a brief silence, her restless mouth opened again: "Who are you writing to? Your family? Why are you all alone out there? You're going to join the army so far away, aren't your family worried about you? Are you married? You're not writing to your wife, are you...?"
Xiao Ling's fierce voice came from inside the carriage: "If you make any more noise, I'll tie you to a stable post at the next post station."
"..."
The girl immediately fell silent and made a face at the air.
She tried to control the direction, and after a while, she finally couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Okay, okay, I won't say it then. Why are you being so fierce? You're so cold and sullen..."
Xiao Ling's letter home arrived just in time for New Year's Eve.
The entire Zhaowang family sat at the table and read the letter he had written one by one.
It was another thick stack, containing at least a dozen sheets of paper.
Xiao Qingchuan sighed a few times and ordered someone to put the letters away.
"Fine, let him go if he wants to. Let's see what he can achieve in a few years."
*
Days flowed by as usual, and before we knew it, the first month of the lunar calendar had passed.
The heavy snow fell all night yesterday, only stopping when dawn was breaking. A thick layer of snow accumulated in the courtyard, gently enveloping all the outlines, and the world was a clean, pure white.
Yun Sheng sat by the window of the warm pavilion, holding an embroidery hoop with a half-finished design in her hand, but her gaze was fixed on the snow-covered winter plum tree outside the window, lost in thought.
"Princess Consort, your embroidery is so beautiful."
Cuizhu, oblivious to Yunsheng's distraction, genuinely praised him.
Yun Sheng snapped out of her daze and looked down.
"Nonsense praise, there's a whole stitch wrong here."
As she spoke, she quickly repaired the embroidered thread that had been embroidered incorrectly.
Cui Zhu was embarrassed for a moment, then smiled and said, "His Highness may not even notice this small mistake. Once His Highness receives it, he will love it so much that he will wear it every day and will never allow anyone else to touch it."
"...It's not that exaggerated."
Although Yun Sheng said that, it was indeed an exaggeration.
That's why, after finishing up the New Year's preparations, she decided to start embroidering a few more sachets for him.
Unlike the first one, which required a lot of effort to design the embroidery pattern and had to be done secretly behind his back, now it doesn't take as much time to embroider.
In addition to the sachet she was currently embroidering, she had also embroidered a peach blossom on the inside of Xiao Xu's outer robe, close to his chest, yesterday.
This morning was not for court; Xiao Xu entered the palace in his everyday clothes to discuss official business with His Highness the Crown Prince.
I wonder if he noticed her little secret.
If he didn't notice, so be it; it's his own fault for not paying close attention, so she won't tell him.
When he suddenly discovers it someday, she will take the opportunity to scold him, since there aren't many chances to scold him.
As she was lost in thought, Yun Sheng's needle tip went astray.
"...Wrong again." She put away the needle with some annoyance, not intending to correct it.
"I'm not going to embroider anymore, let's put it away."
Cuizhu finally noticed that Yunsheng was distracted.
"Is the Crown Princess thinking of His Highness?"
"I'm not..." Yun Sheng opened her mouth to deny it.
But after moving her lips, she admitted, "I am thinking of him."
During the Spring Festival, Xiao Xu was not busy with official duties, and they spent a lively and fulfilling holiday together.
With the New Year over, and as before, Xiao Xu will likely be busy for another year.
Yun Sheng was somewhat worried that after he entered the palace today, he would return and bring her news that he was about to embark on a long journey.
Although Xiao Xu said he wouldn't before leaving, and even said that she was becoming more and more clingy, which he liked...
Stop!
Yun Sheng blushed slightly, stopping herself from thinking about Xiao Xu's words.
She was just about to say that he was becoming increasingly mushy, and she... actually quite liked it.
Yun Sheng's eyes flickered, and she stood up, embarrassed and annoyed.
"Bring me my cloak."
"Would the Crown Princess like to go to the gate to greet His Highness?"
Yun Sheng said in a low voice, "He said he would be back at this time before he left."
Cui Zhu smiled and asked no more questions, carefully draping the cloak over Yun Sheng and tightening the ties.
Yun Sheng walked along the path cleared of snow and soon arrived at the gate of the mansion.
The bushes in the front yard were covered with thick snow, looking like snow-white flowers growing on the branches.
The street in front of the gate was wide, but there were no pedestrians in the freezing cold, and the surroundings were quiet.
Until the silence was broken by the sound of horses' hooves.
Yun Sheng looked up and saw Xiao Xu riding towards her from afar.
He saw her too, and with a flick of the reins, a whirlwind appeared, bringing him quickly to her side. He swiftly dismounted.
"Why are you standing in front of the door?" He was breathing rapidly, his breath turning into white mist in the air. His outstretched hand was not as warm as usual, but cold and hard as if it had been blown by the wind.
Yun Sheng handed him the hand warmer from her arms: "I thought you'd be back soon, so I came to pick you up."
As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept across his lapel.
This time, she used the hidden needle embroidery technique, deliberately embroidering the peach blossoms inside, so that no trace could be seen from the outside.
So, did he see it or not?
"Have you been waiting long?" Xiao Xu quickly interrupted her thoughts.
Yun Sheng looked up at him and said, "No, I just arrived and saw you were back."
"It's like when I think of you, you appear before my eyes."
Xiao Xu put his arm around her and walked into the mansion: "So all you've thought about all day was this one moment with me?"
"There's no such thing as a whole day; isn't a little while enough?"
"That's not enough, but if you only think of me for a little while, I'll be happy all day."
Yun Sheng blushed at his cheesy words, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to his collar.
Her little expressions were so obvious.
Xiao Xu raised the corners of his lips, tilted his head closer to her, and raised his hand to touch his chest: "Besides, I also have evidence that you've been thinking about me all day."
Yun Sheng's face instantly turned completely red, but she couldn't hide the hint of joy in her eyes: "How did you see that?"
Xiao Xu smiled but did not answer: "Go back to your room quickly, I have something important to tell you."
Yun Sheng's heart tightened as she recalled her earlier worries.
"What important matter is it?"
"I'll tell you when we get back inside."
Tell me now.
Xiao Xu quickened his pace, but there was no indication that he intended to speak now.
Yun Sheng grew anxious: "Are you leaving the capital again?"
Xiao Xu stopped in his tracks, paused for a moment, and then said, "Yes."
Seeing that Yun Sheng's originally upturned eyes were about to droop down.
Xiao Xu then added, "But this time we're together."
"What?"
Xiao Xu stopped walking, but then fell silent.
"What do you mean, 'together'?"
Tell me.
As they were about to return to the East Courtyard, Xiao Xu chuckled softly, "Are you in such a hurry to know?"
"But there are also things I'm eager to do."
Xiao Xu suddenly bent down, reached out and picked Yun Sheng up in one swift motion.
You haven't kissed me today.
Yun Sheng's body suddenly lifted into the air, and her buttocks landed on Xiao Xu's strong arm.
He took long strides, so fast that Yun Sheng couldn't keep up with him even after a few steps.
Before Yun Sheng could even struggle or feel embarrassed, he had already carried her back to the East Courtyard.
Xiao Xu pushed open the door with one hand and strode in.
The snow on the branches of the wintersweet suddenly slid off, raising a cloud of crystalline snow mist, and a gust of wind, carrying a crisp, cold air, closed the door.
Two close figures were cast onto the door by the bright sunlight, sometimes clearly overlapping, sometimes blurry and indistinguishable.
In the tranquil courtyard, a secluded and enchanting spring scene unfolds, a secret that cannot be glimpsed.
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The main story is complete!
That's all for the main content. Thank you all for accompanying me along the way! [kissing emoji]
Next, I'll request a day off, and then the extra episodes will continue until the end of the month, running from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Currently, I plan to write about the daily life of a rural couple that Sheng Sheng likes, as well as an "if" storyline involving childhood sweethearts, which is the story of how they first met and got together at the Xiyuan Palace, but starting from when they were already grown up and together.
I'm still clueless about the rest; I'll think about it as I write. [shy]
Celebrating the completion of the series with a red envelope!
Until the extra chapter is updated, all comments under this chapter will receive a red envelope!
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