No. 163 Palace Banquet
Shen Anan was stunned for a while, but Xiao Yuan had already opened the door and walked out.
Lanterns, it seemed like he had mentioned them before, but she had forgotten about them. She never expected that he still remembered them.
It’s just that the memory wasn’t very good, and she didn’t really want to go, but at this time, she couldn’t make him unhappy again and let anything go wrong with Jiangnan’s trip.
As for what happened to the Jiangnan woman who was taken into the palace by the emperor, the capital kept silent about it, and only Jiangnan could find out something.
There was a slight pain on her waist where his palm had pinched her, so she raised her hand and rubbed her waist. Now thinking of his eyes, she still felt a lingering fear.
I don't know why, but a feeling of uneasiness slowly rose up and lingered in my chest.
She thought that the two of them had reconciled today, but Xiao Yuan still stayed in the study that night and only sent someone back to report to her.
Shen Anan agreed and asked Mo Xiang to prepare some thicker bedding for him. After all, they were husband and wife, and they had to show due care and consideration to everyone in the mansion.
Xiao Yuan looked at the things on the bed, his face gloomy, "She even moved the things over to me. Does she want me to never go back and get in her way?"
"..." Qingfeng gritted his teeth and whispered, "Master, the princess went to see Master Shen first today, and then went to the nunnery to see Concubine Shen. I am far away and don't know what they said."
Xiao Yuan responded indifferently without asking any further questions. Instead, he turned and went to the desk. Qingfeng immediately went forward to spread the paper and grind the ink.
After writing and stamping the letters, Xiao Yuan handed them to Qingfeng and instructed, "Before the princess leaves the capital, send these letters to officials along the way in Jiangnan. Be careful and don't miss any. If someone is missing in someone's territory, I will report it to that person."
Qingfeng's eyelids twitched, and he immediately took the letter and went to handle it. This time, those officials would probably pray to God and Buddha to ask the prince's wife not to pass through their territory.
Everyone in the room left, leaving only Xiao Yuan. He sat behind his desk, his stern face shrouded in a layer of gloom, half hidden in the night.
The white jade ring turned back and forth between his fingers. He seemed to be looking at the ground, or in a daze. The coldness and silence in the room were not as heartbreaking as the sadness he exuded.
There was one thing she said that was right. As long as Xiao Yuan was here and in charge of the capital, he would be her backer. No matter where she went, there would be countless people to protect her!
That night, he was once again haunted by nightmares. It was not a fragment, but a frozen picture. She lay silently in the rocking chair in Wutong Garden. He knew clearly that she was gone.
The heart-wrenching pain was as real as a substance, driving him crazy. He hugged her cold body, screaming in desperation, asking someone to save her...
With a splitting headache, he suddenly sat up, looked at the familiar furnishings in the study, rubbed his forehead, and it took him a long time to recover.
"Master," Qingfeng pushed open the door and entered the room, "It's still early, do you want to get up now?"
He waved his hand and slowly leaned back on the soft pillow. He rarely had similar dreams since they got married, but they suddenly started again after he moved into the study.
But the dreams nowadays are more frightening and terrifying than before, and the pain and torment of complete loss still lingers in my heart for a long time.
He began to wonder, was the way she lay in the rocking chair at the end, the ending of the two of them in her dream?
Didn't he love her then? But why is it so heart-wrenchingly painful? If I love you, why am I so cold?
He couldn't help but feel pain in his chest, which caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead. He bent down slightly.
He couldn't tell for a moment whether the pain was coming from the him in his dream or the him in reality.
There are only two days left until the Spring Festival. The palace has also been given a holiday, and every family is happily preparing for the upcoming New Year.
The Fourth Prince's Mansion is also different this year as in the past, because there is a mistress in the mansion and all kinds of decorations are used. It is no longer as deserted and dull as in previous years. At least there is the festive feeling of the New Year.
Xiao Yuan stayed in the study for a whole day before he finished dealing with all the documents piled up on the desk.
During this time, he stared out the window several times in a trance.
The servants who used to be afraid to even walk loudly were extra bold today, trotting around to hang red lanterns and paste Spring Festival couplets in the yard. Even the bare trees in his yard were tied with red silk with auspicious words written on them.
Qing An followed his gaze and said softly, "That was the order of the princess consort. She said that we should celebrate the New Year in a festive manner. It would be boring if it was cold and deserted."
"Yeah." He withdrew his gaze calmly and continued to concentrate on his official duties, but a smile appeared on his lips.
His prince's mansion finally had the feeling of home.
When he came out of the study, it was already dark. During this time, Shen Anan did not come, and even the maid from Wutong Garden did not come.
As it was almost time for the New Year's Eve dinner, Xiao Yuan thought she had forgotten about him.
"Where's the princess?"
Qing An said hurriedly, "The princess is dressing and changing her clothes."
Hearing this, Xiao Yuan's smile deepened, thinking that it must be because he said he wanted to take her on a cruise yesterday that he dressed up so carefully.
Qing An carefully glanced at his expression and said, "Just now...someone came from the palace and said that the emperor prepared a family banquet and asked the master to bring the prince's wife to attend. You refused to go in previous years, but this year you have married a queen, so you should not be absent again."
Xiao Yuan's face darkened instantly, "Does the princess know?"
Qing An nodded, "The housekeeper reported it to the princess right away, but he didn't tell you in time because you were busy."
Otherwise, how would the princess dress?
Xiao Yuan's face was very cold. After all, he was just being too sentimental!
He strode out of the study and returned to Wutong Garden.
"Son-in-law." Mo Xiang hurriedly bowed and immediately went into the house to dress Shen Anan.
She was dressed in the palace dress customary for a prince's consort, with her hair tied up high, hairpins in her temples, and her face lightly made up.
But she was already beautiful, and even with just a little bit of makeup, she was still eye-catching.
Every gesture and movement is dignified and noble.
Xiao Yuan's eyes deepened, he walked behind her, slightly bent down and looked at the woman applying lip balm in the bronze mirror.
"Are you done?" Shen Anan put down her lip balm naturally and said to him with concern.
If he really cared, why wouldn't he send someone to ask if he was hungry, cold, or when he would be done with his work? Make a bowl of soup by yourself, or even have the kitchen prepare it and have someone deliver it to you.
But she had completely forgotten about him and was not willing to even say a word to him.
Xiao Yuan put his fingertips on her lip balm and answered her, "I'm done. Madam, you are going to a banquet or a beauty pageant?"
His fingertips swept to the side as his voice sounded, successfully smudged the lip balm that Shen Anan had applied on half of her porcelain-white face.
“…”
“…”
Not only Shen Anan, Mo Xiang and Mo Ran were also stunned for a moment, and then they were about to jump up.
Shen Anan pursed her lips, picked up the handkerchief very good-temperedly to wipe off the lip balm on her face, and reapplied makeup on that area.
Mo Xiang and Mo Ran took a step forward and stared at Xiao Yuan vigilantly, fearing that he would cause more trouble.
Xiao Yuan stopped moving and sat down in the chair behind Shen Anan, crossing his legs. His dark eyes were lazy but sharp as he stared at Shen Anan's little face.
She felt uncomfortable being stared at by him, and her makeup was almost done, so she asked Mo Xiang and Mo Ran to step back.
She turned around and looked at Xiao Yuan, "You don't want to go?"
"We agreed to go boating on the lake in Hua'an Street tonight." He said with a hint of resentment in his tone.
Shen Anan said patiently, "The palace banquet should be over soon. We should go early and come back early. It should be urgent."
But he had been preparing for a long time for tonight's lake cruise, hoping to offset the regret in her heart. Xiao Yuan lowered his eyelids, looked away, and said nothing.
She didn't seem like someone who liked the hustle and bustle, especially at a palace banquet, where verbal battles were inevitable. He glanced at her very formal attire and nodded slightly.
"If you want to go, then go ahead."
He was very casual, just changed into an outer robe and took Shen Anan out. At this time, firecrackers were heard one after another on the street, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
The New Year atmosphere is everywhere.
This was the first time in several years that Xiao Yuan left his house on New Year's Eve. In the past, he did not attend banquets in the palace, nor did he like to go to crowded places. He would eat alone, standing by the window, watching the fireworks in the sky.
The first time they set off fireworks by themselves was on their wedding day.
This was their first New Year after their marriage. Xiao Yuan's gaze fell on the woman opposite him, and joy was reflected in his eyes.
"How is the Lin family doing now? I asked someone to deliver a letter to Miss Lin a few days ago, but there has been no reply."
Xiao Yuan said, "You are temporarily imprisoned. You cannot leave the Lin Mansion until you return to the capital."
"Now it seems that big brother and Miss Lin's engagement will be postponed again." She said with regret.
"If you come back earlier, they can get married earlier." Xiao Yuan looked at her and said, "If it's too late, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect the Lin family."
"Well, I'll be back soon."
Xiao Yuan didn't say anything else. No matter what she wanted to do, she would have to come back to him eventually. It was enough for him to keep her safe.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate.
There was already a carriage here at this time, and the Second Prince's wife was being helped down from the carriage by a maid. Xiao Ze was standing on one side, looking bored.
When he saw Xiao Yuan, his eyes lit up like a dog seeing a bone.
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