Chapter 44: Don’t look for jokes, don’t think about them
The person in front of him is Xiao Wangqing.
The person who was in the palace, hugging her every night, calling her Ah Wei, and treating her with all kindness and tenderness, was Crown Prince Xiao Lingjun.
The sense of absurdity poured over her like ice water, something duller than fear, weighing heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She could even clearly recall the gentle touch of Xiao Lingjun's fingertips across her cheek last night as he tucked her in.
It turns out it was all a show.
“…Prince.”
Had she become the Crown Prince's private captive... a forbidden delicacy? That wasn't entirely true. Aside from the initial confusion upon waking, she hadn't suffered any abuse or humiliation. On the contrary, Xiao Lingjun treated her with the utmost care, meticulously providing for her food, clothing, and even his emotions.
This is more like an elaborately woven dream, a cage built with tenderness and lies.
The young general standing before her, or rather, the real Third Prince Xiao Wangqing, nodded.
His face was expressionless, a coldness etched between his brows. His eyes, however, were open and dark, looking directly at her, without flinching or avoiding.
"yes."
Shen Zhiwei took a deep breath.
She did develop some dependence and affection for Xiao Lingjun, on the premise that she thought he was her husband.
Now that the truth is revealed, those budding feelings seem ridiculous.
"Chen Anyu..." She recalled what he had just said. "How did my sister know I was here? And why did she ask you to come? Are you familiar with her?"
Xiao Wangqing seemed caught off guard by her initial question. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Second Miss Shen is in the palace. A few days ago, she overheard the Crown Prince's attendants discussing your placement. Unable to escape, she sought an opportunity to send a message to me. She and I...are not close friends, but since she's Miss Shen's sister and asked for help, I will do my best."
The reason sounded reasonable, but Shen Zhiwei caught a pause in his words. He and An Yu weren't close friends, yet he was willing to risk sneaking into the prince's private residence to rescue her, which seemed out of place. Either he was hiding something, or... his reason for saving her was largely because of Shen Zhiwei herself.
But what connection did she have with the Third Prince that was worth him doing this?
"Have we known each other before?" she asked directly.
Since Xiao Lingjun was an imposter, there had to be some kind of relationship between her and the real Third Prince, right? Husband and wife? Brother and sister? Uncle and sister-in-law? Or... something more complicated?
Xiao Wangqing's eyes met hers, and he said in a steady tone, "I've met him a few times."
"Only met a few times?" Shen Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, obviously unconvinced. If they were just casual acquaintances, why would he bother getting involved in this mess?
Xiao Wangqing was silent for a moment, as if he was considering his words, but he finally replied simply: "Miss Chen has done me a favor."
"What favor?"
This time, Xiao Wangqing avoided her gaze: "...It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning. The most important thing now is to leave."
He didn't want to say it, so Shen Zhiwei stopped pressing him.
Regardless of whether it is a favor or not, the most urgent thing is to make a choice, to choose to continue to stay in this gentle trap woven by lies, or to leave with this stranger who seems to be the only one who can provide the truth and a way out?
Stay? Xiao Lingjun was indeed very kind to her, almost doting. Even if it was fake, it was enough to make people addicted. Moreover, she had a vague feeling that Xiao Lingjun would not really hurt her.
That kind of meticulous care, that kind of passion that is difficult to completely disguise when in love, does not seem like pure acting.
But lies are lies after all, and stability built on falsehood is like building a tower on sand.
Leave? Follow this prince, whom he had only met twice, to an unknown place.
The risks are unknown and the future is uncertain.
Shen Zhiwei’s mind was in a mess, and he sighed slowly.
Better unknown than false.
"Okay, I'll go with you." She thought for a few breaths, then looked up at Xiao Wangqing, "What do you need me to do?"
She needs to figure out who she is, why she lost her memory, and why Xiao Lingjun treats her like this.
Xiao Wangqing breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Pack up simply and don't bring too many things. I'll pick you up in half a minute. Go through the small door in the backyard, the carriage is ready." He told her the specific time and location.
Shen Zhiwei nodded: “Okay.”
Xiao Wangqing said no more, turned around and left. His figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor and blended into the wind and snow.
Shen Zhiwei actually didn’t know what to bring.
Everything in this palace, including the gorgeous clothes and accessories, and the rare antiques, were bought for her by Xiao Lingjun, but not a single thing truly belonged to her.
The interior furnishings remained the same, the incense was wafting in the air, and on the couch lay the travel diary she had half-read last night. Everything was the same as it had been every afternoon since she woke up.
She walked to the dressing table. The mirror reflected a beautiful, yet slightly pale face, a hint of the languid laziness of pampering. Xiao Lingjun… no, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He played her husband with such devotion. Those meticulous cares, those soft calls of affection—were they all just acting?
Shen Zhiwei raised his hand, and his fingertips brushed across his temples.
There, the red plum blossom that he had pinned on her hair a few days ago had long been taken off, but a hint of its illusory touch seemed to still remain.
She wasn't someone who was indecisive. Since the truth was this, there was no need to linger. Tenderness constructed through deception, no matter how addictive, was still fake.
Fake.
Shen Zhiwei spread out a piece of plain paper and ground the ink in a hurry, causing some ink to splash out.
Xiao Lingjun enjoyed watching her write, and often said her handwriting had a certain elegance and grace. Thinking about it now, he couldn't tell how much of that was true and how much was a joke.
She needed to leave him a few words. Not questions, not accusations; that was pointless. She needed a way to both show her determination to leave and... perhaps even soothe her heart, which was about to spiral out of control.
She picked up the pen, pondered for a moment, and wrote:
"Your Highness, for your understanding:"
"Our separation was so hasty, I haven't been able to exchange a single word. Your Highness has taken care of me for over a month, providing me with food and clothing, and knowing my well-being. I am deeply grateful for this kindness and affection."
"However, a false phoenix will not last forever. Mirror flowers and water moons only confuse people's hearts. Your Highness has given me a warm home, but my heart yearns for the mountains and forests. Let each of us return to our proper place, perhaps we can both have the best of both worlds."
"The past is long gone, the future is bright. May Your Highness cherish your body and not dwell on trivial matters. The country is of great importance, and the reputation of the Eastern Palace is great. I hope you will control yourself and not let your obsessions lead you astray."
"Don't search, don't miss."
Shen Zhiwei bows his head
After Shen Zhiwei finished writing the last word, the tip of the pen paused slightly on the word "顿首", and the ink slightly blurred.
Then he put down his pen, gently blew the letter dry, folded it, and placed it in the most conspicuous place under the inkstone.
After finishing all this, she looked around the bedroom she had lived in for over a month. The brocade curtains, embroidered curtains, jade screens, and warm fragrances—every detail showed signs of meticulous arrangement. It was her entire world upon waking.
She walked to her trunk and took out a simple cotton dress. The material was ordinary, but it was easy to wear. She tied her long hair up with a simple wooden hairpin, removed the jade bracelets on her wrists and the pearls in her ears, and placed them neatly on the dressing table, along with the coral bead flower in her hair that Xiao Lingjun had personally pinned for her.
Finally, her eyes fell on the black cat dozing on the cushions. It curled up in an inky ball, breathing evenly, oblivious to the impending separation.
Shen Zhiwei walked over, squatted down, and gently brushed her fingertips along its warm and soft back. The cat moved comfortably, purring in its throat, and opened its golden eyes to look at her.
"I can't take you with me," she whispered, her voice very soft, as if she were talking to the cat, or to herself, "Following me, wandering around, may not be a blessing. Stay here, he... will always give you a bite to eat."
She stood up, walked to the desk, took out another small piece of paper, and wrote a few words:
"The cat is innocent, please treat it kindly."
Without signing her name, she placed the small piece of paper under the inkstone, side by side with the long letter.
The agreed time is approaching.
The moment she pushed open the palace door, a biting cold wind mixed with snow foam hit her face, blowing away the lingering warm fragrance in the palace. She wrapped her plain cotton robe tightly around her and stepped into the courtyard.
The snow had begun to fall again, soft and quiet, covering the withered branches of the rockery with a soft layer of white. Following Xiao Wangqing's instructions, she walked quickly along the veranda toward the backyard.
There was indeed a small, unassuming door in the backyard, ajar. She gently opened it, and outside was a quiet back alley. A half-worn green-covered horse-drawn carriage was parked there, with a driver wearing a bamboo hat sitting on the shaft. Seeing her come out, he only nodded slightly, but said nothing.
Just as Shen Zhiwei was about to step forward, a figure walked out from the shadows at the other end of the alley.
It’s Xiao Wangqing.
He had changed out of his conspicuous military uniform and was wearing a dark gray cotton robe similar in color to the carriage. His face was expressionless.
"Get in the car." After confirming that she was okay, he moved sideways to make room for her.
Shen Zhiwei didn't ask any more questions, lifted her skirt, and boarded the carriage neatly. The carriage was simply furnished, but covered with thick felt carpets, and there was a hand warmer in the corner that felt warm to the touch.
Xiao Wangqing then stepped in and sat across from her. The curtains dropped, separating the inside from the outside. The carriage immediately started moving, jolting into the alley.
Shen Zhiwei leaned against the wall of the car, looking at the silent Xiao Wangqing opposite him. He sat upright, alert even in this small space, with his eyes downcast.
He is also very handsome, but his kind of handsomeness is different from Xiao Lingjun's.
"An Yu..." Shen Zhiwei asked him, "What should we do with her? If we leave, will the prince take his anger out on her?"
This is her biggest concern. Xiao Lingjun may not hurt her, but he may not have the same attitude towards An Yu.
Xiao Wangqing raised his eyes and answered, picking up the hand warmer beside him and placing it in her arms: "Not for the time being. An Yu is in the palace, under the watchful eyes of everyone, and the Queen also likes her. The Crown Prince will not touch her lightly before he understands the reason for your departure and the extent of my involvement, so as to avoid giving people a reason to criticize her."
"I will arrange it as soon as possible and find an opportunity to pick her up, but it will take time."
This reassured Shen Zhiwei a little. There was really no better choice at the moment. She could only trust Xiao Wangqing's judgment and ability.
"Where are we going now?" she asked in a different tone.
"Let's leave the city first. It's not advisable to stay in the capital for long," Xiao Wangqing answered simply. "I have a secluded manor in the suburbs of Beijing where I can hide from the limelight for a while. We'll make plans after the storm has died down."
"And then?" Shen Zhiwei pressed, "How does Your Highness plan to place me?"
Xiao Wangqing pondered for a moment and said, "If you are willing... you can follow me to the Northern Frontier."
"Northern Xinjiang," she softly repeated the unfamiliar place name, "Is it far away?"
"If we ride fast, it will take more than half a month. If we travel slowly with the convoy, it will take a month."
"What's it like in there?" she asked.
She had no idea about the northern border, and only pieced together vague impressions of the bitter cold, the border, and the war from the fragments she occasionally heard.
Xiao Wangqing thought for a moment before answering.
"The land is vast and sparsely populated, with strong winds and sandstorms, and the winters are extremely cold," he said, his voice still flat, his expression indifferent. "But the sky is high and blue. The stars at night are much brighter than in the capital."
It was a very objective description, without exaggerating the hardships or the grandeur. Shen Zhiwei listened silently, trying to imagine what kind of land it was. The sky was high and the stars were bright, and it sounded more spacious than the world around the capital.
"Your Highness, have you been there many times?"
"Yes. I have been stationed in the army since I was sixteen." He answered briefly.
"If I go to the Northern Frontier with Your Majesty, what identity should I use?"
Xiao Wangqing was stunned by the question, and the carriage fell into a brief silence. After a moment, he said, "You can pretend to be a female clerk under my command, or...something else. We'll discuss this later. The rules in the northern border military garrison are different from those in the capital, so it will be easier to conceal."
This answer was a bit vague, obviously he hadn't thought it through completely, or there were some plans that he couldn't express clearly. Shen Zhiwei stopped pressing, at least there was a direction.
The carriage drove in silence, passing through the streets and alleys, and gradually the faint voices of the guards at the city gate checking people could be heard.
Xiao Wangqing took out something like a token from his arms, handed it to the coachman outside, whispered a few words, and the coachman responded.
The carriage continued its pace, heading straight for the city gate. Shen Zhiwei held her breath as she heard the guards outside the carriage shouting questions. The driver handed over the token, and after a few simple words, they were allowed to pass smoothly.
The carriage drove out of the city gate and its speed suddenly increased, leaving the towering city walls of the capital behind.
Cold wind poured in through the cracks, and Shen Zhiwei let out a soft breath, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly. She lifted a corner of the car curtain and looked back at the huge city wall that was gradually moving away in the wind and snow.
The time of January is like an absurd dream.
Finally woke up at this moment.
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The author has something to say: Xiao Wangqing was happy.
Since parting with Merlin, with the guidance of Miss Shen, although the nightmares still exist, I am no longer as depressed as before when I wake up.
He thought for a long time about how to express his gratitude, and after picking and choosing, he was still not satisfied. Unexpectedly, the gift had not yet been given out.
I first received a letter from the second young lady asking for help.
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