The imperial decree bestowing marriage upon the King of Qin was probably the greatest joyous event in the palace during this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
Night had fallen, and the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the palace was finally coming to an end.
But one person was particularly satisfied tonight.
At this moment, Yi Shangyun and Yi Junhao, who had strolled through the streets and alleys, stood facing each other beside the group of men and women releasing sky lanterns to pray for blessings. The handsome man and beautiful woman looked like a perfect couple.
The two of them each held a pen and wrote their wishes on the same sky lantern. Yi Junhao secretly walked around the sky lantern and looked at Yi Shangyun affectionately for a while, but she did not notice.
Finally, after signing their names, they held the lit sky lanterns together and waited for the air inside to burn out before the lanterns rose into the air.
Sky lanterns of various shapes and sizes dotted the sky, creating a romantic and magnificent scene. The two of them looked up at them, mesmerized.
After a long while, she slowly retreated to a stall in front of a small tavern and sat down. Yi Junhao spoke up: "Girl, why do you always wear a veil?"
The scenery was so beautiful that Yi Shangyun finally came to her senses and reached out her right hand to touch the tumor on her face, saying, "Because I was born with a red birthmark on my face, I did this to cover up my ugliness."
"Oh, I see. Girl, have you ever heard a legend?" Yi Shangyun raised her head slightly to show her confusion. Seeing that she was interested, the Third Young Master slowly said.
"Legend has it that when a person dies, if a tear left by their loved one falls on their body, it will turn into a red birthmark. This birthmark serves as a token to help them find their other half in the next life and continue their relationship."
Seeing that she was listening intently, the Third Young Master continued, "So this red birthmark of yours is not ugly, but a contract between past and present lives left by someone who loved you in your past life so that they could find you in the next life."
"Girl, you said the person who shed that tear for you in your past life, it wouldn't be me, your brother, would it?" Yi Junhao suddenly said this, and Yi Shangyun immediately blushed and panicked, unable to say anything.
Yi Junhao did not back down. Instead, he grabbed one of her hands and placed it in his left hand, holding it tightly. Yi Shangyun tried desperately to break free but could not.
"Don't worry, I'm just reading your palm," Yi Junhao said, glancing at Yi Shangyun before quickly returning his gaze to her hand. He suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"Girl, look at your palm... Show me your other hand too, hurry up," Yi Junhao commanded with a serious expression.
Although Yi Shangyun was reluctant, she still reached out her hand out of curiosity. Yi Junhao looked at her other hand more carefully, remained silent for a while, and then lowered his head to speak.
"The lines on the palms are short, become thin in the middle, and disappear at the same position without any other lines to fill the gap; the lines on the head are extremely long and forked downwards, indicating that she was willing to give up everything for love and was indeed a devoted woman."
"Mind your own business!" Yi Shangyun said angrily, pouting as she tried to pull her hand away.
"Girl, looking at your palm, you're going to die young," Yi Junhao suddenly looked up and said with a serious and worried expression. Yi Shangyun glared at him, and when she saw that he had relaxed his guard, she took the opportunity to pull her hands back and hide them behind her back.
Meanwhile, Prince Xuanyuan Han of Qin was sitting in his luxurious carriage on his way back to his residence, and he saw Yi Shangyun and Yi Junhao's intimate actions through the carriage window.
This time, unlike usual when he only glanced at them, he stared out the car window for a long time until the two disappeared from his sight before turning back and whispering, "Could it be Wei Mingxuan?"
The voice was so soft that he almost didn't notice it himself, and then his icy gaze became even colder.
He was indeed in a bad mood at the moment, but his nature made him endure it, as if there was nothing in this world that he could not tolerate.
Before she knew it, the night had grown very deep. Yi Shangyun finally bid farewell to Yi Junhao and dragged her extremely tired body back to the Mingyue Pavilion of the Yi Mansion. She sat quietly by the window and looked at the bright moon outside.
After pondering for a long time, she suddenly stretched out her hands and examined them for a long time, recalling everything Yi Junhao had just said. She still couldn't figure it out. She got up and stood by the window. On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunion, she was far away from home and suddenly remembered a poem and began to recite it softly.
When will the moon be clear and bright? I raise my cup to ask the heavens. I wonder what year it is tonight in the celestial palace. I long to ride the wind and return, yet I fear the jade towers and crystal palaces are too cold at such heights. I dance with my shadow, how can it compare to being in the mortal world? The moon turns through the red pavilion, shines low through the painted windows, illuminating my sleeplessness. There should be no resentment, yet why is the moon always full when we are apart? People have sorrow and joy, separation and reunion, just as the moon has its phases of waxing and waning; nothing in this world is ever perfect. I only wish that we may all live long and share the beauty of the moon, even from a thousand miles apart.
Then, looking up at the bright moon, he gently said: "Wei Mingxuan, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
......
The Mid-Autumn Festival has come to an end.
Thinking back on this day, the most depressed person was probably Prince Xuanyuan Han of Qin. He was given a princess by Emperor Jing to be his queen for a political marriage. As a member of the royal family, he knew his fate in matters of marriage and had no right to choose, at least not now. But deep down, he may have already had some expectations for someone, but he was just unaware that he loved someone.
Having been used to a cold and aloof facade since childhood, perhaps even if I do have different feelings for someone, I've long since forgotten how to express them or how to express them at all.
Moreover, he may not even be aware of it himself, or he may be aware but dare not and do not want to admit that he has that person in his heart.
Upon learning of Wei Mingxuan's existence, his already vague feelings were further shattered, making him even more hesitant to harbor any disrespectful thoughts towards her.
He was actually very lonely and pitiful.
The next day at daybreak, Yi Shangyun packed her belongings. Her so-called belongings were actually just a bundle containing two old clothes, and she was preparing to go to the Imperial Pharmacy in the palace to report for duty.
When the emperor punishes a commoner, how dare they disobey?
She stood reluctantly in her boudoir, looking at every object in the room. Now she couldn't tell whether this reluctance came from the original owner or from herself. Finally, she steeled herself, strode downstairs, crossed the living room, and walked out of Mingyue Pavilion without looking back. With her back turned, she reached out and gently closed the door of Mingyue Pavilion.
Looking up, she saw that Yan'er was already standing in Lin Yuexuan's courtyard. Yi Shangyun paused for a moment, looking at Yan'er's red eyes, realizing that this little girl must have been crying sadly for a long time, and she slowly walked towards her.
"Miss, will you come back? Yan'er can't bear to see you leave." Yan'er's tears fell again instantly, and her voice was choked with sobs.
Seeing Yan'er's state, Yi Shangyun felt even more distressed and couldn't bear it. She pulled her into a deep embrace but didn't say a word. The two of them remained silently embracing each other...
"Yan'er, Chen Yan, the two names are so similar," she murmured to herself. She had long regarded the current Yan'er as her special assistant Chen Yan in the 21st century. Therefore, this feeling was not simple.
Yi Shangyun finally spoke up, saying, "Yan'er, no matter what happens, remember what I said and believe me."
Yan'er looked innocently bewildered and didn't understand. Yi Shangyun glanced at her but didn't say anything more, and went into the front hall.
Her mother, Lady Nian, and Consort Lan were already waiting for her to take her leave in the hall. Although Consort Lan held a deep grudge against her, her entry into the palace was due to the master's influence, and besides, Yi Shangyun's condition clearly no longer posed any threat to her and her two children.
As the saying goes, once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. Even if she were to become a lowly medicine girl, she would probably waste the best years of her life in the palace. Thinking about it, Aunt Lan didn't seem to dislike her that much anymore.
Yi Shangjun and Yi Shangxue no longer gave her a hostile look.
Madam Nian was filled with worry. She didn't know when her daughter would return, and her future was already ruined because of the broken engagement. She had hoped that her daughter could live a peaceful and carefree life in the manor by her side, but now... Thinking about this, she could only hold Yi Shangyun's hand, her eyes brimming with tears, her face full of worry, but she didn't know what to say.
"Mother, your daughter is unfilial and cannot serve you at all times. I hope you will take good care of yourself." She said only this, and the room fell silent.
And so, after a reluctant farewell, Yi Shangyun embarked on her journey to the Imperial Pharmacy.
The job of a medicine girl is the lowest-ranking job in the Imperial Pharmacy. After entering the Imperial Pharmacy, everyone disperses after a brief introduction and job assignments by the head medicine girl, and begins to attend to their own tasks.
The chief medicine woman arranged for Yi Shangyun and another medicine woman named Dingxiang to decoct the medicine together.
"This is Princess Fenghua's medicine. The princess has been suffering from a cough for a long time. You all need to be careful and make sure it is ready before sending it to the princess to take it." The head medicine girl gave a stern instruction and then turned to leave. As soon as she stepped out the door, she revealed a smug look on her face and then strode away.
It turns out her intentions weren't good at all...
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