Every day after court, Yan Huai would find an opportunity to appear in front of her door or in her backyard, pat the grass he had scrambled into when he jumped in, blush as he spoke to her: "I brought you a sketchbook today to cheer you up."
Li Yang was very grateful for his appearance, because he always brought her something she needed, sometimes a fun item, sometimes a delicious snack. Although it was to express his gratitude for saving her younger sister's life that day, he did much more. It was precisely because of what he did that Li Yang had less time to think about Ye Ling, and she smiled more often.
Aren't you afraid of being discovered and displeasing the Emperor? Li Yang lovingly stroked the exquisitely bound picture book. After all, I am a discarded concubine. It's too risky for you to come here every day.
Yan Huai shook his head repeatedly. He would stammer when he was nervous: No. The Emperor has been busy with the construction of water conservancy projects in the south lately, and the Empress is in charge of the harem. They don't have time to pay attention to you, really.
Seeing his clumsy appearance, Li Yang inexplicably softened and no longer refused his kindness. Later that night, the mute man came again. She changed her usual gloomy and depressed appearance and excitedly and gratefully told him about Yan Huai. She even showed him the sketchbook with great enthusiasm, but the mute man quickly avoided it.
The mute man couldn't speak and never approached her, avoiding Li Yang's touch at all costs. He would often stand on the veranda, talking to Li Yang through the window. It wasn't really a conversation; Li Yang would talk to herself while he listened silently without uttering a word.
But he would do things that Yan Huai couldn't, such as cutting down dry branches in the yard to start a fire for her, repairing the kitchen that leaked when it rained, and bringing her some novel candlesticks that made her entire bedroom shine.
Hey, even though the person I like doesn't like me back, I'm so grateful to have you all. Dad said we should know how to be content, and I feel pretty content right now. Being by Ye Ling's side, even if I can't see him, I have such good friends like you and Yan Huai, and um, and my hen. By the way, have you seen my hen? Wait a minute, I'll go get it and bring it to you.
The hen had been increasingly lethargic lately, her feathers had lost their former vibrancy, and her drooping head looked worrying. Li Yang picked her up from the nest and gently shook her, but the hen, who usually opened her eyes to look at her, remained motionless. Li Yang shook her again, but she still didn't budge.
Li Yang panicked, grabbed the hen, and ran frantically to find the mute. However, the mute was no longer outside the window. Without pausing, Li Yang continued running outside with the hen in her arms. She didn't know what to do; she just wanted to find Ye Ling.
He may not like himself, he may hate himself, but please, he must help save her hen.
If even her hen is gone, she doesn't know what she can rely on to support that past memory.
six
Ye Ling has already rested.
The palace maids carrying lanterns and standing guard outside the emperor's bedchamber told her this. The eunuch glanced at her and said, "You should go back before the emperor knows you ran away from the cold palace. Besides, the emperor won't see you."
She was stopped at the door, and the guards covered her mouth to prevent her from shouting. In the struggle, the hen fell from her arms to the ground. The sound of it hitting the ground was so quiet, without a trace of struggle or pain.
Li Yang was stunned, staring wide-eyed at the hen that hadn't moved an inch.
Seeing her pitiful state, the eunuch couldn't help but remind her: "This hen is probably dead; look, all its feathers have fallen out."
Upon hearing this, Li Yang suddenly began to struggle violently. The guards dared not draw their swords at her, and taking advantage of this, she bit the hand of the guard who was holding her back. In the instant they released their grip in pain, she squatted down and picked up the silent hen. Before anyone could react, she strode over and pounded on the door that was out of sight.
The palace servants behind her quickly restrained her and covered her mouth to prevent her from letting out a heart-wrenching cry. However, a moment later, the lights in the bedchamber suddenly came on, and Li Yang opened her eyes wide, staring intently at the door.
Ye Ling did see her after all. His black hair was unbound, and his lazy demeanor was on full display. His gaze didn't seem as sharp and cold as it used to be. Li Yang's request, which she was about to blurt out, caught in her throat when she saw the Empress following behind him.
He asked the palace servant who was on night watch what had happened. The servant looked troubled and glanced at Li Yang, who looked disheveled, not far away. He whispered, "She came to ask Your Majesty to save the hen."
Ye Ling's gaze fell on the hen. For a moment, old times and memories rushed to him, making him feel lost and breathless. He turned to look at Li Yang, whose eyes were red, his breath caught in his throat, and he moved forward.
But he stopped anyway, standing beside the hen, and asked Li Yang, who was biting his lower lip and looking pale, with a leisurely air: "Do you want me to save this chicken?" His words were full of sarcasm and irony.
Seeing no response from Li Yang, he waved his hand: Go and call the imperial physician to see if there is any hope for this chicken.
The guards released their grip on Li Yang, leaving him slumped on the ground, dumbfounded. The imperial physician arrived shortly afterward. Although treating a hen was absurd, he honestly replied that the hen could still be saved.
Li Yang's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she suddenly looked up at Ye Ling, her eyes filled with a tearful plea.
Ye Ling averted his gaze and looked elsewhere. After a brief silence, he said mischievously, "Since there's still hope, then I'll just stand by and watch this chicken die! Did you hear that? No one is allowed to save this chicken."
Li Yang stared at him in disbelief.
Ye Ling turned around and put her arm around the Empress's shoulder. The door that had been letting in light slowly closed in front of Li Yang. The light in Li Yang's eyes also gradually faded. It was as if the closed door was also in her heart, crashing down and shattering those tender and precious things into pieces like a landslide.
She didn't cry, but just sat there dejectedly, her gaze sad yet tender as she looked at the hen, powerless. She was powerless over her past memories, powerless over this fatal infatuation, and powerless over herself.
Ye Ling didn't care about her joy, which she cherished like a precious treasure.
Li Yang suddenly burst into tears. In the long, silent night, a few scattered stars echoed her cries. In the deathly silent bedchamber, Ye Ling suddenly froze. When was the last time he heard Li Yang cry so unrestrainedly and recklessly?
Back then, he was still a boy with a bright light in his eyes. He awkwardly held Li Yang's face in his hands and comforted her, telling her not to cry. Li Yang cried her heart out, but after she finished crying, she told him with a smile: It's okay, you'll forget all the unhappiness after you cry it out.
Even though Ye Ling was mentally prepared, he still couldn't resist the overwhelming panic and sorrow that swept over him like a tidal wave, silencing his breathing. All he could hear was Li Yang's loud and energetic cries outside.
She said: Ye Ling, you untrustworthy bad boy, once I'm done crying, I'll be able to completely forget about you.
As he was lost in thought, the Empress took his cold fingers and placed them against his abdomen, speaking softly and seductively: "Your Majesty, who do you think this child will look like when it is born?"
Ye Ling was slightly taken aback, then suddenly flew into a rage, pointing to the door and telling her to get out.
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