Chapter 37: Fate
Inside the hall, there was mist and incense lingering over the Boshan stove, but it couldn't cover up the strong, bitter smell of medicine.
The morning court session had just ended, and both men were wearing solemn and dignified formal court robes, one was the bright yellow color prescribed for the emperor, and the other was the golden yellow color prescribed for the crown prince.
Was she dreaming? Yang Manyan swallowed quietly, her mind in a daze.
This most noble and regal father and son in the world looked at her at the same time with burning eyes, their expressions were gloomy and unclear.
For a moment, the hall was silent, as if one could hear her rapid heartbeat.
The collar of the girl's snow-blue nightgown was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone, as delicate as a butterfly, and the faint trace of powder on her snow-white neck.
Xiao Yan felt it was extremely dazzling when he saw it, and his heart felt sour and contracted violently.
If he had still been feeling lucky just now, he could no longer deceive himself now. The father whom he had loved and admired since childhood actually coveted his woman.
Xiao Yan's nose felt slightly sour, he pursed his thin lips, and lowered his eyes to hide the bitterness in his eyes.
He said slowly, "Yuanyuan must have been tired from praying for blessings in the Western Suburbs Imperial Temple for a month. I am here to take you back to the East Palace."
Yang Manyan was slightly stunned and stared in astonishment.
Your Highness, are you going to... pretend that nothing happened?
The emperor asked casually, "Yuan'er, do you remember what I said to you yesterday?"
What he said yesterday was that the prince was young and might not be able to stick to just one woman, but he was confident that he could only have her in his life.
Yang Manyan's eyes were evasive and he felt a little uneasy in his heart.
She hadn't paid attention to what the man said yesterday, and she hadn't expected him to suddenly ask...
The emperor's thin lips curled slightly, "Yuan'er, tell the prince whether you want to stay here with me or go back to the East Palace with him."
If he had not given the order in advance, the prince would not have been able to reach the Hanyuan Hall in Yingtai without any obstruction.
He just wanted the prince to hear her decision with his own ears so that he would give up completely.
Yang Manyan shrank back and pondered for a while.
Returning to the Eastern Palace, even if the Crown Prince would have a grudge against her past, she was still a formally appointed Shangyi and could openly accept the worship of civil and military officials and ladies of honor, and could also summon her mother and sister into the palace to meet her openly.
If she continued to stay here, she would have to hide her identity and be locked up in this huge and magnificent cage without any status.
But in just a moment, Yang Manyan made a decision in his heart.
She took a deep breath and stammered, "I want to go back to the East Palace with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
Hearing this, the emperor's eyes suddenly became sharp and cold as a knife, "What did you say?"
The prince's expression remained normal, his brows were calm and indifferent, but the fingertips under his sleeves trembled slightly.
The girl repeated: "I want to go back to the East Palace..."
The emperor frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on her face, unwilling to miss any slightest change.
His eyes were extremely fierce and contained a murderous aura. Yang Manyan did not dare to look him in the face and looked at her husband for help.
Xiao Yan nodded at her in a soothing manner, and then continued, "I have just returned from the Imperial Temple to pick up Yang Shangyi. I am taking a short break in the West Garden. I am sorry to bother you, father. I will return to the palace with Yang Shangyi now."
He still called him "Father Emperor", as if nothing that had happened in the morning court had happened. His original intention was just to take Yang Manyan back, and he did not really want to break up with the father who had raised him for many years.
He did arrange in advance for his carriage to go to the Imperial Temple in the Western Suburbs, and then from the Imperial Temple to the Western Garden, making sure everything was arranged perfectly.
After saying that, Xiao Qing leaned over, picked up Yang Manyan from his father's arms, and walked out.
Feeling the biting cold wind outside the palace, Yang Manyan couldn't help but shiver. Xiao Yan hugged her tighter and quickly got into the carriage.
The group left the West Garden in a mighty procession and headed towards the imperial palace on the east side.
Inside the Hanyuan Hall, the emperor was still sitting motionless in the same position as before, his face as gloomy as water, his majestic figure like a standing mountain.
"Your Majesty, there is urgent news from the northwest. Do you want to..." Chang Ying spoke cautiously.
Xiao Ke then put down the medicine bowl he had been holding for a long time, anger lingering between his brows, and said coldly: "Give it to me."
Chang Ying handed it over respectfully, feeling mixed emotions.
What a twist of fate!
On the other side, the two of them returned to the East Palace, washed up quickly, and then went to bed for a nap.
Xiao Qi hadn't rested for two days, so his eyes were a little dark. Now that there was no one around, he relaxed and showed a slight look of fatigue.
He hugged Yang Manyan, lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, "Don't be afraid, Manyan, I'm back."
Yang Manyan had caught a cold yesterday and was still feeling a little dizzy. She just curled up in the man's arms without saying a word.
Both of them felt sleepy, and they didn't know who fell asleep first. But in a moment, the only sounds in the tent were two steady breathing.
When Yang Manyan woke up again, it was already three o'clock in the night.
The moonlight was shining like silver frost, and a handsome young man was standing by the window reading a book. Hearing the noise, he put the book down and walked back.
On this side of the bed, the orange-yellow candlelight reflected on the girl's delicate and beautiful face, inexplicably adding a bit of softness and charm.
Xiao Yan's eyes dimmed as he gently stroked Yang Manyan's round and plump cheek, "Is there anything wrong with you, Yuanyuan?"
Yang Manyan shook her head, but when she raised her eyes she met the man's eyes full of tenderness. Her heart beat fast and her cheeks flushed.
She thought that after what happened this month, the prince would never get close to her again...
However, Xiao Yan believed that he was extremely derelict in his duty as a husband by failing to protect her, and it was even more impossible for him to distance himself from her because of this.
It was extremely pitiful that Manyuan had to go through such an experience for no reason, and the person who bullied her was her father...
The more he thought about it, the more he felt guilty. He lowered his head and kissed the girl's smooth and plump forehead.
"I've been missing you for a month now."
"Especially at night," he added.
He kissed her again and again, his tall nose gently rubbing against her delicate cheek.
His kiss revealed desire in its suppression, but was still extremely gentle, completely different from the emperor's rudeness and roughness.
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