Chapter 15 Wumeng Manor (5) “So the reason why Congxing abandoned me was…
Gu Congxing suddenly raised his head and looked at the queen in disbelief.
The emperor also stroked his beard without saying a word, his eyes falling on Lan Jue.
It turned out that they had already known about the princess's flower-throwing incident, and their visit to chat about the past was just a casual visit. Their real intention was to choose a good husband for their eldest daughter!
Gu Congxing's heart grew heavier and heavier. He narrowed his eyes and his thoughts were churning.
Yes, to them, he was just a non-blood-related cousin after all. How could he be as important as their eldest daughter's lifelong event?
Ever since the current emperor married a man, it set a precedent for same-sex marriage, and for a time, homosexuality became quite popular in the capital.
Could it be that the Queen's previous recollections were an attempt to find out whether the friendship between her and Lan Jue went beyond that of childhood sweethearts?
Thinking of this, Gu Congxing's heart seemed to skip a beat.
——What kind of relationship exists between me and Lan Jue...?
"Your Highness, Lan Jue was just lucky enough to accept the flowers from the princess, but he has never thought about getting married."
The Emperor and the Empress looked over, and Lan Jue's voice was not loud but very clear.
"Besides, I am already concerned with something, and I am afraid that I will fail to live up to your trust."
Hearing this, Gu Congxing turned his head in surprise, quite incredulous.
When did Lan Jue find a lover?
But at this moment, Lan Jue happened to turn around and met Gu Congxing's eyes. His eyes were sparkling and his smile was warm.
"!" Gu Congxing turned his head and no longer looked at Lan Jue, but his heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, and an uninterrupted echo sounded in his chest.
——Could it be that Lan Jue’s sweetheart...is me?
As soon as this thought came to mind, it was as if brilliant fireworks exploded in Gu Congxing's mind, and he felt dizzy.
"Oh? Is that so?"
The Queen's voice was unfazed, still gentle as water. "But marriage is a major event in life, and it really can't be rushed. You need to consider it carefully."
"In that case, please think about it carefully and give me an answer in three days."
The emperor made the decision and left this sentence. Then he looked at the queen and stood up to leave.
After the two men disappeared, Gu Congxing could no longer suppress his anger and opened his mouth hurriedly: "Lan Jue, what you just said -"
Lan Jue looked at Gu Congxing with a bright expression and blinked gently.
Just this one action made Gu Congxing close his open lips.
——This is always the way he makes fun of himself.
Gu Congxing clenched his palms, and his mind, which had been floating in the air, suddenly fell back to reality.
The fireworks faded and returned to zero.
He stared blankly at Lan Jue's face, his scarlet lips slightly pursed. Although his face was expressionless, he looked unusually flustered and helpless.
"...From the stars?"
Seeing him like this, Lan Jue's relaxed smile gradually faded. He frowned and moved closer, his voice low.
"Cong Xing, don't forget what we talked about before."
This refers to their belief that there is something different about this place.
Gu Congxing naturally knew that the current situation seemed harmonious but was actually lurking in crisis, but he didn't understand why Lan Jue wanted to use him as a shield to reject the engagement.
Would he find it funny to see me blushing and embarrassed?
Lan Jue saw that Gu Congxing was still silent, and worry appeared in his eyes again. He took a step forward as if he had made up his mind: "Congxing, listen to me..."
He stretched out his hands to pull Gu Congxing, but was unexpectedly waved away by a palm.
"That's enough! If you have no intention, why do you have to provoke me again and again——"
When Gu Congxing looked up, his face was covered with coldness, but his glass-like eyes were a little moist, capturing a surprising light.
"I don't want to see you now! Get out of here!!"
Lan Jue's hand, which was suspended in the air, trembled and he slowly retracted it.
He stared at Gu Congxing silently for a long time, but saw that he turned his head away, his eyes falling on the ground and he was unwilling to look at him.
Lan Jue sighed softly and said, "I'll come find you tomorrow."
After saying this, he rolled up his sleeves and left.
He didn't look back.
***
That night, Gu Congxing tossed and turned in bed and couldn't fall asleep, so he simply put on a coat and pushed the door open to go out.
It was almost noon at this moment, and the East Palace was silent. Only the guards on duty were still standing there. Seeing Gu Congxing, they wanted to go with him to protect him, but he waved his hand and walked away to a secluded place alone.
Until they reached a pavilion in the middle of a lake in the back garden, Gu Congxing looked around and saw the bright moon hanging high in the sky, the rippling lake, and silence between heaven and earth.
"moon……"
It seems that there was once a person, his whole body was shining, his silver hair was like a waterfall, he was the snow on the top of the mountain, and also the indelible white moon in his heart.
Who is it? Who is the person who should never be forgotten?
At this time, it was calm and silent, and the empty screen was completely reflected in the water. The moon in the water and the moon in the sky were facing each other from a distance, and it was difficult to distinguish what was real and what was an illusion for a moment.
Gu Congxing looked at the scene in front of him, and felt that the thick fog that had been covering his mind for a long time seemed to be blown away by the wind, and his thoughts became clearer.
——In this world where I am, is the moon in the lake or the moon in the sky?
——Is this realm real?
"Gu Congxing? Why are you here?"
The sudden voice interrupted Gu Congxing's thoughts. He turned around in surprise and saw Xiao Wangyou standing not far from him.
His long hair, which was usually tied up high, was now spread out like crow feathers. He was only wearing a black nightgown, and the gold feather and red patterned earrings could still be seen swaying gently in his hair.
As soon as he saw him, Gu Congxing felt a headache and tinnitus again, but this time the pain was much lighter than last time and he could still bear it.
A voice deep in his heart told Gu Congxing that he couldn't leave.
——He has to face this sober pain.
"I couldn't sleep, so I just took a walk. Why are you, the prince, also wandering around?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wangyou took a step forward, not caring at all that this was disrespectful and presumptuous to the prince. He just walked to Gu Congxing's side and silently gazed at the boundless lake with him.
His facial features were obviously handsome, but there was always a layer of coldness on his face. Even facing such a beautiful scenery, his brows were still furrowed.
After a long while, he broke the silence and whispered, "Gu Congxing, do you dream after you fall asleep?"
Hearing this, Gu Congxing was shocked.
"……Won't."
No, he hadn't dreamed for a long time - since he could remember, he had been dreamless every night.
How strange?!
What's even more strange is that if Xiao Wangyou hadn't asked him, he wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with it.
Someone deliberately made him ignore this, just like someone deliberately blurred his memory!
Xiao Wangyou looked at Congxing with a solemn expression and a frown, but did not interrupt his thoughts.
But at this point, the sound of footsteps came from far away, forcing both of them to concentrate their thoughts.
Xiao Wangyou turned and walked towards the bedroom. As he passed by Gu Congxing, he left a very light sentence: "Tomorrow at 11:00, at the rockery in the back hall."
Gu Congxing nodded silently and noticed that the person who came was the female official Tao Xueting.
This woman is knowledgeable and capable. She joined the Jinyiwei from a commoner and is now the deputy commander.
"Your Highness, I see you are here. Do you require my protection?"
"No need. I'll be back soon."
Gu Congxing looked at Tao Xueting in his Feiyu suit and felt strangely familiar. Tao Xueting also looked at him, then quickly averted his gaze, lowered his brows and saluted, hiding the dark color in his eyes.
****
The next day.
Lan Jue walked quickly in the East Palace, holding a small food box in his hand, which was full of Gu Congxing's favorite pastries.
His long sleeves fluttered in the wind, and he was thinking about what to explain after meeting Gu Congxing.
I have to pull Congxing into a deserted corner and tell him everything I thought about yesterday.
He had already discovered that there had always been an invisible force that made everyone indulge in love, and the appearance of the Emperor and Empress further confirmed this suspicion.
It was naturally impossible for him to agree to the marriage proposal proposed by the Queen. As for saying that he had someone in his heart, it was both to comply with the wishes of this situation and to delay the Queen's request.
There was another reason, which he didn't fully understand... a little sincerity.
Thinking of this, Lan Jue paused slightly.
After a moment, he sighed softly: In this strange world where even his own memories cannot be discerned, how can he express those subtle emotions and feelings?
You must remain calm and composed, and not let your mind get distracted.
Lan Jue was thinking this when he walked to the door of Gu Congxing's room, but unexpectedly the servant outside the door told him that there was no one in the room.
"Cong Xing is really not here?"
"Yes. His Highness went out a while ago and wouldn't let us follow him. We don't know where he is now."
Lan Jue was silent for a moment and thanked the attendant.
He looked at the empty courtyard, where the autumn wind blew down the branches and leaves of the mulberry trees. He suddenly recalled Gu Congxing's roar yesterday:
——I don’t want to see you again!
Lan Jue clenched his hands, and cracks appeared on the handle of the food box.
The withered yellow mulberry leaves swayed in the wind and were caught by a slender white hand.
Gu Congxing stared carefully, then looked towards the palace road ahead.
Today, with the intention of seeking proof, he dismissed his attendants and guards and explored along the palace wall alone.
If this scene is not real, then there must be some flaws in this vast Forbidden City.
He hadn't noticed anything wrong along the way, but he felt quite unfamiliar with these places, not at all like he remembered from his childhood when he had often visited these places.
It was almost dusk at this time. Gu Congxing remembered what Xiao Wangyou said before he left yesterday and turned to walk towards the back hall.
After discussing the matter with Xiao Wangyou, I can talk to Lan Jue and let him make the decision.
The rear hall was rarely visited, and the rockery was even more remote. When Gu Congxing arrived there in the dark, he found no one else in sight.
There was only a tall figure standing silently, and when he heard the noise behind him, he turned around and spoke.
"You're here."
"Yeah. I checked when I came here, and there's no one around."
Neither of them lit a lamp, but they could still see.
Xiao Wangyou said, "I don't have much time. Someone will come looking for me in half an hour. I just want to ask you, have you noticed anything unusual?"
Gu Congxing nodded and responded in a low voice: "Indeed. What aspect are you talking about?"
"The people around me," Xiao Wangyou frowned, "are very strange. They've all been with me since childhood, but I always feel uncomfortable when I'm with them. And sometimes, when I say something unintentionally, everyone just stares at me motionlessly..."
Xiao Wangyou's eyes flashed, and he blurted out, "It's like a puppet."
As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Congxing seemed to be suddenly awakened, and memories of puppets emerged in his mind.
"I feel the same way. Not only that, I also discovered that my memory is different - it's very likely that someone has manipulated it."
"So that's how it is! No wonder... I always felt something was wrong. It turns out the mastermind behind this actually has such extraordinary abilities."
Superpowers?
The two fell silent when they thought of this. Soon after, Gu Congxing changed the question: "Come to think of it, why did you come to discuss this with me?" It was obvious that they were well-known enemies.
"The first time I saw you at the Qionghua Banquet, I felt that you were different from others."
Xiao Wangyou answered without thinking.
It should have been a rather ambiguous sentence, but Gu Congxing didn't blush at all when she heard it. She immediately understood what he was thinking: "What you said, is it a kind of familiarity and closeness?"
"That's right."
At this moment, a chill spread throughout his body again. Xiao Wangyou realized that there was not much time left, so he took a step forward anxiously.
"What about you? What did you think when you saw me?" Gu Congxing looked really unusual at that time, perhaps for other reasons.
Gu Congxing frowned and thought: "I——"
"So Congxing abandoned me and avoided me so that he could have a secret meeting with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here."
A sentence wrapped in coldness penetrated like a sharp thorn, causing Gu Congxing to tremble all over and look back in shock.
I don't know when Lan Jue arrived here. He was silent and I don't know how long he listened here.
Mingming still had the tall and graceful figure, but at this moment his face was hidden in the pitch-black night, making it difficult to see clearly.
The author has something to say:
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I recently saw a new little angel in the comment section. I'm so happy! I'll update tomorrow~
This dungeon is finished within three chapters, and a certain husband-waiting stone is already crying in the mountains.
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