Chapter 180 Birthday
"I'm your humble servant." He Yunzheng bowed.
"He Yunzheng, do you have someone you like?"
He Yunzheng's eyelids twitched when he heard this. Why did the emperor suddenly ask about this matter?
Could it be... Could it be that the emperor knows that I like Princess Duanrou?
He looked up in astonishment and fear, his heart beating like a drum.
Seeing Xiao Heng sitting upright in the sedan chair, nonchalantly playing with the ring on his hand, the coldness between his brows did not seem like a test, but rather more like an inscrutable haze.
He Yunzheng answered carefully: "Yes, I have."
Xiao Heng asked calmly, "I suddenly had a thought: what does it feel like for a man to like a woman?"
The heavy weight on He Yunzheng's heart dropped a little: "Your Majesty, are you asking what it feels like to like someone?"
Xiao Heng nodded slightly.
A beautiful figure unconsciously emerged in He Yunzheng's mind, and the expression in the corners of his eyebrows and eyes gradually became softer.
"It's probably just... I'll be very happy when I see her."
"But as soon as I get close to her, my heart beats uncontrollably."
"I would be delighted for decades by her words."
"Even though... the man beside her isn't me, I still wish her long-lasting peace and harmony."
Xiao Heng's brows slowly relaxed, and he sneered softly, "Oh? So this is what the infatuated men and women in the world are like?"
What He Yunzheng just said only happened to Concubine Zhao when he was young.
For example, I would be very happy to see her, my heart would beat faster, and I would be happy for a long time because of her words.
As for Liu Yuetang, his feelings towards her were simply because he was happy to see her.
As for the last sentence about smiling and blessing even though the beloved person beside him was not himself, Xiao Heng just found it funny.
This is something that will never happen to him in his lifetime.
In this way... it proves that his love for Liu Yuetang is just the love that an emperor has for his concubine.
There is absolutely no other emotion added.
"However, this is just my own opinion. Feelings are very complicated and cannot be explained clearly," He Yunzheng said again.
After all, his feelings for the princess were just one-sided.
The feeling of being unable to be loved is different from the feeling of mutual affection.
Xiao Heng waved his hand: "I already understand, you don't need to say more."
He looked at He Yunzheng with great interest. "You, a blockhead, seem to speak so eloquently about love. Tell me, which girl do you fancy? I will arrange a marriage for you."
He Yunzheng lowered his head and looked at the gradually blurring palace road, a melancholy yet faint smile on his lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. But she has already found someone else and is married, and I have let her go now."
Xiao Heng was slightly surprised, "Whose girl is this that even you don't like her?"
He Yunzheng was born into a wealthy family, and he was both talented in literature and martial arts, and he was a beautiful and elegant man. He was the object of the admiration of many women in the city.
Xiao Heng was curious for a moment, wondering which daughter had missed such a good marriage.
He Yunzheng's heart seemed to be filled with unspeakable pain, and he couldn't express it for a long time.
Seeing him so disappointed, Xiao Heng waved his hand and said, "Forget it. It's already in the past. There's no point in talking about it anymore."
"You still have a long life ahead of you. When you meet someone you love, come and ask me for an imperial decree granting you marriage. I will surely arrange a grand wedding for you."
He Yunzheng bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
He suppressed the sadness in his eyes. If the bride was not her, he, He Yunzheng, would rather never marry.
August is the season when sweet-scented osmanthus is fragrant.
The osmanthus flowers under the setting sun seem to be inlaid with a layer of gold, which makes them particularly gorgeous and eye-catching.
After Liu Yuetang visited Su Nanqing, she sat under the osmanthus tree to enjoy the cool air.
At this time, Bu Zi'an, who was in front of the emperor, stepped forward with a smile and said, "So you are here, Concubine Xi. It's so easy for me to find you."
Liu Yuetang said in a gentle voice, "But the Emperor wants to call me for something?"
"Yes, there is something! But it's a happy event!"
Bu Zian's smile is as festive and round as a gold ingot.
"The Emperor invites His Majesty to meet at Liujin River after dark."
"Liujin River?" Liu Yuetang asked.
Bu Zian nodded: "That's right, the emperor will be waiting for the queen there after dark."
Liu Yuetang nodded slightly: "Okay, I understand. Thank you for your help, eunuch."
After saying that, Liu Zheng took out the reward money from her purse and handed it to Bu Zian.
The smile on Bu Zian's face grew wider: "Thank you, Empress Xi."
After Bu Zi'an left, Liu Zheng asked with confusion and curiosity, "I wonder why the Emperor wants you to go to Liujin River?"
Liu Yuetang fluttered her fan with a smile.
Today is the sixth day of August. I think it was because I mentioned to Xiao Heng last time that I was born at midnight on the sixth day of August, not at midnight on the seventh day of August, so he wanted to celebrate his birthday on this day.
After dinner, Liu Yuetang washed up again.
Under the soft moonlight, the hairpins in her bun swayed gently, flashing a dazzling star-like brilliance. Paired with a Yanyun gauze skirt and an apricot-colored shawl, she looked like a fairy walking out of a painting, with a touch of captivating charm in her softness.
Before approaching the Liujin River, Liu Zheng was shocked by the scene before her. Her face was filled with surprise and she said, "My Lady, look!"
Liu Yuetang looked up and saw that the entire Golden River seemed to be hung by the Milky Way. Millions of lanterns were reflected in the sparkling waves, weaving a dazzling river of light and shadow.
This scene is even more beautiful than the Lantern Festival.
"It must have been prepared by the Emperor, Your Majesty!"
Liu Yuetang smiled and poked Liu Zheng's forehead with her hand: "Look at your lack of ambition! I'm afraid your future husband could easily seduce you away with just a snap of his fingers!"
Liu Zheng pursed her lips shyly: "How could it be~"
"I was just overjoyed to see how much the Emperor cared about the Empress."
Liu Yuetang looked at the colorful lanterns all over the river. He was indeed attentive, but when it came to the emperor, he only needed to talk.
You can be happy, but there is no need to be moved.
On the other side, Concubine Zhao had a headache and fever and invited Xiao Heng over.
Seeing that it was getting dark, Xiao Heng was about to get up and go to Liujin River, but was grabbed by Concubine Zhao's clothes.
"Your Majesty, where are you going?"
Xiao Heng turned his head and saw that Concubine Zhao had woken up without him noticing. Her eyes were as white as autumn water and dark and melancholy.
"I have something else to do. I'll see you tomorrow."
Concubine Zhao pulled Xiao Heng's clothes tighter, her voice weak and feeble: "Your Majesty, please don't leave, okay?"
She has always been strong-willed and has never been so weak. Xiao Heng couldn't bear it for a moment.
But today is Liu Yuetang's birthday, and she may have already arrived in Liujin River. I already owe her a lot, and I can't let her suffer any more injustice this time.
Just as Xiao Heng was about to speak, he saw Concubine Zhao cough violently several times, and her face flushed with a sickly color.
His heart softened, and he turned around to hold Concubine Zhao's hand, saying gently, "Then when the medicine is brought up, I'll feed you before we leave, okay?"
Seeing that the emperor still did not change his mind despite her pleading, Concubine Zhao felt more and more upset. She turned her head away coldly and said nothing.
On the river bank, Liu Yuetang released the river lanterns and then boarded a small boat prepared by Xiao Heng.
The boat is covered with flowers and colorful lights. As the boat sways, the petals fall into the water, creating ripples, which is as beautiful as a dream.
"Empress, aren't you waiting for the Emperor?" Liu Zheng hurriedly asked as she watched Liu Yuetang pick up the bamboo raft.
Liu Yuetang raised the corner of her mouth slightly: "Why are you waiting for him?"
"I just want to make the emperor empty-handed."
Men should not be spoiled too much.
The thing she hated most in her life was waiting.
Just now, Eunuch Zhou came to report that Concubine Zhao was ill, so when the emperor would come later, she decided to wait for Xiao Heng for two quarters of an hour.
If two quarters of an hour were up, she would definitely leave.
With such beautiful scenery, it would be a wonderful thing to go on a boat trip with Xiao Heng.
But now, enjoying the scenery of Liujin River by myself is a different kind of feeling and I enjoy it.
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