After a night of rain, a light mist rose the next morning.
Like misty waters, silent and boundless, thoughts are like ink-washed water, spreading like a light fog, making one completely unaware of distance, as if all things in the world are shrouded in a huge and mysterious fog.
After getting up early and dressing up, Xuan Yuan Yue went to the study with her maid Jin Lan.
Holding the secret letter he had just received from his motherland, Western Qin, he felt a surge of warmth and was about to unfold it when he suddenly heard Jinlan, who was guarding the door of the study, call out, "This servant greets Your Highness the Third Prince!"
Then, that familiar voice rang out: "Get up!"
Upon hearing the sound, Xuan Yuan Yue suddenly raised her head and actually saw Mei Zhi Xuan's familiar figure walking towards the study with his guards through the corridor.
"It's Your Highness..." she said in a low voice, her brows furrowed in surprise.
He quickly snapped out of his daze, turned around, and grabbed a thick ancient book from the bookshelf. He carefully slipped the secret letter into the book and then put it back in its original place.
After calming herself down a bit, she noticed that Mei Zhixuan had also stepped in. She quickly stepped forward, bowed, and greeted him, asking with concern, "It rained all night last night. When did Your Highness return to the palace? Did you get caught in the rain?"
Mei Zhixuan, who was always very observant, eventually noticed her unusual expression. After a moment's hesitation, he quickly bent down and helped her up, saying, "I just got back. The rain had stopped when I came back, so I didn't get wet. Yue'er, you don't need to worry."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yue finally relaxed her brows and stood up. The two sat down respectfully, and Xuan Yuan Yue said, "In that case, that's good!"
He had barely finished speaking when he called out to Jinlan outside the door, "Jinlan, serve tea!"
Mei Zhixuan sat down and glanced around the study, saying, "It's so early in the morning, why doesn't Yue'er rest a little longer? Taking care of Hai'er last night was very tiring, you should also take better care of your own health! What will happen if you overwork yourself?"
Just then, Jinlan brought over a pot of hot tea and walked to Xuanyuan Yue's side, softly calling out, "Your Majesty."
With a smile, Xuan Yuan Yue reached out and picked up a steaming cup of black tea from the tea tray in her hands, then walked over to Mei Zhi Xuan and presented it to him with both hands.
She said gently, "Your Highness thanks me for your concern, but you are indeed overthinking it. Hai'er is no longer like he was when he was first born, crying for no reason all the time. Now he is very quiet at night, so I haven't had any trouble! Please rest assured, Your Highness."
When Mei Zhixuan saw that Xuan Yuan Yue, who always liked to practice calligraphy in the study, had nothing on his desk, not even a sheet of Xuan paper, he immediately became suspicious.
While pondering this to herself, she took the tea that Xuan Yuan Yue handed her and took a sip, saying, "In any case, Yue'er still needs to take care of her health. As for studying and writing, you'll be busy with that when Hai'er is a little older."
Xuanyuan Yue, however, did not take it seriously. She turned around and sat back down, saying leisurely, "When Hai'er grows up, His Highness, as her father, will personally teach him. How could it be Yue'er's place to show off? Isn't that right?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Zhixuan suddenly realized his mistake and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, Yue'er is right! I misspoke! When Hai'er is a little older, I will start teaching him horseback riding, archery, and the art of governing a country. Our Hai'er will surely become a dragon among men in the future."
However, upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Yue's smile gradually faded, and she silently said, "But in my heart, Yue'er only hopes that Hai'er can follow his heart, be free and unrestrained, and simply be his true self."
Seeing Xuan Yuan Yue's dejected expression, Mei Zhi Xuan couldn't bear to let the two of them have any more misunderstandings. So he reached out and held her slender hand, which was resting quietly on the table, and smiled at her, saying, "Alright, let's not talk about these unhappy things anymore, okay?"
Xuan Yuan Yue knew perfectly well that the chasm between them was destined to be insurmountable from the very beginning of their relationship.
So right now, besides just smiling at him, as she has done in every argument before, what else can she do?
In a flash, she noticed that Mei Zhixuan's teacup was almost empty, so she got up and went over to refill it while tentatively asking, "By the way, Your Highness, Yue'er heard that an old friend of yours has come to that long-abandoned courtyard in the back..."
Upon hearing this, Mei Zhixuan, though already on guard, still felt a sudden jolt in his heart.
The teacup, about to be drunk, paused at her lips before she finally sipped it slowly. Then she began to explain, “Oh, yes, an old friend has come. He was originally the son of an official in the Eastern Ning Kingdom, but due to a sudden family crisis, he has nowhere to stay and has come to stay temporarily. Is it that my old friend has disturbed you, Yue’er?”
Xuan Yuan Yue hurriedly said, "Oh, no, no, Your Highness misunderstands. That young master did not disturb Yue'er in the slightest. Not only that, but some time ago, that young master also personally detoxified Xiaomi, which is why Yue'er did not lose that longing for her distant motherland."
Mei Zhixuan exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? Is that so?"
“Mm!” Xuan Yuan Yue nodded in response with a grateful expression.
A sudden, inexplicable sense of unease rose in Mei Zhixuan's heart. As he pondered this, Xuan Yuan Yue pursed her lips and tentatively asked again, "Your Highness, I've heard that you forbid anyone from approaching the back courtyard. I wonder if I could ask Your Highness for permission to see that young master?"
Mei Zhixuan asked, puzzled, "Yue'er, you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xuan Yuan Yue quickly interrupted him, explaining, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. Yue'er simply wanted to personally come to express her gratitude to that young master for saving Xiaomi's life for Yue'er and Hai'er last time. Your Highness should be able to understand how important Xiaomi is to Yue'er and Hai'er!"
After thinking for a while, Mei Zhixuan looked at the stubbornness and expectation in Xuan Yuan Yue's eyes and finally had to compromise, saying, "Alright, I'll allow you to see him!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Xuan Yuan Yue smiled and quickly stood up to bow to him, her heart filled with immense excitement!
"Jinlan, hurry up and go!" As soon as Qi Liao finished speaking, she straightened up, called to the maid beside her, and hurriedly walked towards the door of the study.
"Where are you going?" Mei Zhixuan asked, puzzled.
"The backyard!" Xuan Yuan Yue answered loudly without turning her head.
"Why are you in such a hurry? It's almost time for breakfast. Can't you eat something first? Take care of yourself!" Mei Zhixuan said with concern.
"I'm afraid Your Highness might change your mind and withdraw your order later, so we can't delay for even a moment. Your Highness, please have your breakfast first this morning. I'll be right back!"
Before the words were even finished, the master and servant had vanished in the blink of an eye.
Mei Zhixuan seemed to have some reservations, but he wasn't too worried. Right now, he had something more important to confirm.
Seeing that Xuan Yuan Yue had already left in a state of blissful abandon, Mei Zhixuan put down his teacup, got up, and slowly strolled over to his desk.
On the desk, the writing implements—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—were all the same as always, with no difference whatsoever.
He stared at it for a long time, then slowly turned around and finally focused his gaze on a row of ebony bookshelves behind him.
He slowly extended a slender finger and gently swept it over each of the neatly arranged ancient books and scrolls on it.
Finally, he gently closed his eyes, as if carefully recalling each book he had just touched and the state of mind of those days.
Suddenly, he opened his deep eyes, reached out and pulled out a book from the middle, opening it.
Sure enough, there was the secret letter that Xuan Yuan Yue had just put in there, which she herself hadn't even had time to open yet. She quickly took it out and unfolded it.
His gaze moved quickly across the paper, and his thick, dark eyebrows gradually furrowed.
Suddenly, a loud "smack" was heard, and he slammed his hand heavily on the desk, angrily saying, "Hmph, King Xuanyuan Han of Qin, he really isn't dead yet?"
The guard was startled and hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, shouldn't we reconsider our next move?"
However, Mei Zhixuan seemed to have no idea what to do, and raised a hand, saying, "No need. The guardians of Western Qin are now in our hands. What is there to be afraid of? Let's proceed according to the original plan."
"Yes," the guard replied, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect.
"Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, I truly underestimated you. But let's see what you have left to fight me with!" Mei Zhixuan said, revealing a ruthless expression.
As autumn deepens and frost forms, leaves fall in a flurry. Year after year, it comes and goes, always arriving and departing so gracefully.
In the pavilion in the garden, Yi Shangyun, dressed in a blue and white brocade robe, skillfully plucked the strings of a zither with her slender, fair fingers. The music flowed smoothly, like a babbling brook, yet carried a deep sorrow. She slowly murmured:
We became husband and wife, and our love for each other is unwavering.
Joy fills this evening, a time of tender beauty and perfect timing.
The traveler, yearning for the distant road ahead, rises to see how late the night is.
The stars of Orion and the constellations have all vanished; I depart from here.
We are on the battlefield, and there is no guarantee that we will meet again.
A handshake and a long sigh, tears welling up as we part ways.
Cherish the beauty of spring and never forget the joyful times.
If I live, I will return; if I die, I will forever yearn for you.
The fallen petals clinging to the branches seemed to sense her sorrow, scattering and falling to the ground, as if quietly waiting for the moment when they would turn into mud to nourish the flowers.
A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the fragrance of withered flowers. In an instant, white sleeves fluttered, and the stirring sound of a zither echoed through the nearby bamboo grove, lingering for a long time.
With each stroke of the pen, the song ended, its lingering notes echoing in the air. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face...
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