Chapter 26 Thinking of Each Other
Su Jingyu blushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed by his praise: "I was just thinking randomly... Your Highness still needs to refine it..."
"Good! All good!" Xiao Jingzhan's heart was filled with excitement, and he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her. This kiss was full of praise, surprise, and an overwhelming love. His Yu'er was not only his confidante, but also his virtuous helpmate!
Even after the kiss, Xiao Jingzhan was still reluctant to let her go. He carried her to the desk, sat down, and carefully placed her on his lap, letting her lean against him. His left arm firmly encircled her waist, while his right hand picked up a vermilion brush and spread out a sheet of paper.
"Good boy, don't move, stay with me for a while." He said in a low voice and began to write a letter to his trusted subordinates, combining the points that Su Jingyu had just mentioned with his own plans, writing them down in detail, preparing to send them out immediately, and instructing them to prepare in advance.
Su Jingyu nestled quietly in his arms, watching his sharply defined profile appear exceptionally focused under the lamplight. She felt the steady strength of his arm as he wrote and the warmth emanating from his chest, and her heart was filled with a peaceful happiness. Being able to help him in this way, even in the smallest way, filled her with immense satisfaction.
After Xiao Jingzhan finished writing the letter, he blew on the ink to dry it and called He Yong, who was waiting outside the door, to quickly deliver it. He looked down at the obedient girl in his arms, his heart softening completely: "My darling, wait for me to come back."
"Mmm," Su Jingyu wrapped her arms around his neck and offered him a kiss, "Your Highness, please return safely. Your concubine and baby... miss you."
His Highness the Crown Prince was extremely gentle, giving detailed instructions and expressing his deep reluctance to part, all of which were transformed into silent tenderness and promises.
Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan has been away from the capital for five days.
For Su Jingyu in the Liuli Pavilion, these five days were filled with sweet longing and a slightly restrictive torment. For Xiao Jingzhan, who was thousands of miles away, it was a period of tireless running around during the day and finding solace in a letter from home at night.
The Crown Prince's temporary residence in the flood-prone southern border region.
Under the bright candlelight, Xiao Jingzhan, having just finished discussing matters with a group of officials, wore the weariness of days of toil, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. He quickly adopted Su Jingyu's suggestion and, based on the local situation, formulated a strategy of "combining dredging and blocking, with epidemic prevention as the priority."
He personally surveyed the water situation and ordered the opening of a flood discharge area downstream; he strictly ordered local officials to build stable camps for disaster victims, requiring them to drink boiled water, clean up filth, and disinfect with lime; he also dispatched his elite subordinates, armed with the Crown Prince's token, to directly supervise the distribution of disaster relief funds and grain, thus preventing corruption.
The results were remarkable. The raging floodwaters were diverted and brought under control, the disaster victims were initially resettled, and the epidemic was effectively contained. The displaced people, seeing that this young crown prince had not shied away from hardship, shared the suffering of the people, and acted decisively, were all moved to tears and shouted "Long live the Crown Prince!"
The accompanying officials were utterly impressed by the Crown Prince's decisive and meticulous methods.
But only Xiao Jingzhan himself knew that what motivated him to work so hard every day, besides his sense of responsibility, was the letter he wrote home every night without fail, and the reply he would receive from Liuli Pavilion every morning.
At this moment, he sat at his desk, by candlelight, unfolding the letter that had just arrived that day. The letter bore Su Jingyu's delicate and beautiful handwriting:
"To Your Highness: It is as if I am seeing you in person. The baby was very well-behaved today, without any fuss. My diet is normal, and the imperial physician has checked my pulse and said the pregnancy is stable, so there is no need to worry. It's just that the heat is unbearable, and I really want to enjoy more chilled plum juice... However, Yun Shu is watching closely and says that Your Highness has ordered that I can only have two cups a day, not a drop more, which is quite stingy. I can only drink more warm water and silently count down the days until Your Highness's return... I hope Your Highness will take care of yourself and not overwork. The baby and I await your triumphant return in the palace. Yu'er's handwriting"
Between the lines, there was a dutiful report, a touch of coquettishness, and a deep longing. Xiao Jingzhan could almost see her pouting, complaining about Yun Shu being "stingy," then obediently drinking warm water—her adorable, endearing figure. A gentle smile unconsciously curved his usually stern lips. He picked up his pen to reply, his words revealing a tender side to his otherwise tough exterior:
"My dearest Yu'er: I have received your letter and know you are well, which comforts me greatly. You are a good baby, all thanks to you. Iced drinks are cooling, so drink only a little and stop. Yunshu has done her job well and deserves reward. Everything is going smoothly for me here; the floodwaters are under control, the disaster victims are safe, and I should be able to return to the capital in about ten days. I miss you so much that I am ill, and I only long to hold you in my arms soon. There is a fruit in the south called lychee, sweet as honey; I have already ordered someone to send it back by fast horse, hoping it will help relieve your heat. Take care of yourself and wait for my return. Zhan's handwritten letter."
He carefully sealed the letter and ordered his shadow guards to send it back to the capital as quickly as possible. It seemed that only in this way could he bring his longing from a thousand miles away closer.
The Eastern Palace, the Glazed Tile Pavilion.
When Su Jingyu received the Crown Prince's reply, she would read it several times over, her fingertips tracing the familiar, sharp strokes of his pen, as if she could feel his warmth. When he said everything was going well, she felt at ease; when he said he was lovesick, her face would flush and her heart would race, a bittersweet feeling washing over her.
That afternoon, in the sweltering heat, Su Jingyu's mouth watered as she looked at the chilled fruits brought by the palace maid. She looked longingly at Yun Shu: "Good Yun Shu, could you give me just half a cup of chilled honeydew melon juice? Just half a cup!"
Yun Shu looked troubled, but shook her head firmly: "Consort, His Highness repeatedly instructed me before leaving the palace that I should not drink too much iced beverage every day, for fear that your stomach would get cold and affect the pregnancy. His Highness asks about your diet and daily life every day. If he knew that I was indulging you, His Highness would skin me alive! Please have pity on me!" As she spoke, she even pretended to be on the verge of tears.
Su Jingyu was amused by her and knew that she was doing it for her own good. She also knew that although the man was thousands of miles away, he knew the Liuli Pavilion very well.
She sighed and waved her hand, "Alright, alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Bring me a bowl of warm red bean soup." She was just craving it; she wouldn't really be willful. She knew better than anyone that only if she was well could he be at ease on the front lines.
However, the Eastern Palace was not a monolithic entity. With the Crown Prince away from the palace, some remained obedient, while others harbored their own ambitions.
In the palace of Crown Princess Li, Granny Sun was reporting in a low voice: "Your Highness, we have found out that His Highness is constantly exchanging letters with the Liuli Pavilion, and everything is fine there. Her Majesty the Empress also sends people to deliver rewards every few days, showing great concern."
The Crown Princess tightened her grip on her handkerchief, a flicker of jealousy flashing in her eyes. Even after His Highness has left the capital, he still thinks so much about that vixen!
She had originally thought that, while His Highness was away, she might be able to find an excuse to give Su Jingyu a little warning, such as restricting her palace expenses under the guise of "rest and recuperation," or having her come to Changchun Palace to "establish rules"...
As she was making plans, the head palace maid rushed in: "Your Highness, Aunt Zhuxin from the Lizheng Hall has arrived."
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