Chapter 129 Reveals: I should have slept with him more often without a care in the world...
The rain intensified, and the dark blue sky stretched endlessly, creating a heavy, damp, and oppressive atmosphere. No one would have guessed that this was June weather.
The calming incense in the room had been burning since last night until dawn, and its scent still lingered. The maids lowered their heads and quietly prepared breakfast. Mushroom and lean meat porridge was served in white porcelain bowls, and chicken slices with egg white were arranged on plates, all of which were Xiao Shu's favorite dishes.
"Withdraw."
Xiao Shu glared at them, her voice hoarse: "I told you, I don't want to eat anything."
The head maid spoke timidly, "But Madam specifically instructed the kitchen..."
"Madam! Madam again!"
Xiao Shu's eyes widened suddenly, her eyes red-rimmed and filled with fierceness: "Whose maids are you anyway? If you listen to my mother like this, you might as well all go and work in her courtyard!"
The maids were so frightened that they fell silent and hurriedly cleared away the dishes.
After everyone had left, Xiao Shu threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the blankets like a child and crying loudly: "Eat, eat, eat! All you ever do is make me eat! I don't want to eat, I want my dad! I want my dad to come back safe and sound!"
The crying was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, conveying an indescribable sense of grievance and despair.
After crying for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Shu raised her head, looking confused and teary-eyed at the other figure in the room. She sniffled and said, "I'm so sad, why aren't you here to comfort me?"
Cui Ying sat on an embroidered stool by the round table, slowly stroking the crab roe in her arms. The glossy orange cat lay on her lap, its eyes half-closed in contentment, letting her fingertips scratch the soft fur on its chin.
"I've already said everything I could to comfort you." Cui Ying didn't lift her eyes, her curled eyelashes casting shadows beneath them. "If tears could bring back Second Uncle, I'd cry with you for three days and three nights without hesitation."
"But things never go according to plan. Even if you don't want it to happen, it has already happened. The more difficult the times, the more you should cherish yourself."
Xiao Shu stared at her blankly, the tears in her eyes freezing, and murmured, "Third Sister, you've changed."
"You're becoming more and more like an adult."
Cui Ying's hand on the cat's chin paused slightly, her thoughts suddenly returning to that rainy night in the past.
The weeping crabapple quietly bloomed, its slender stamens emerging from the sepals, glistening with raindrops. The raindrops trembled and fell, landing right on her forehead, then slowly trickling down her cheeks, across her neck and collarbone, finally flowing down her flat stomach and meandering into the soft, muddy ground, battered by the rain.
The boy's dark pupils were fixed on her, a heat she had never seen before welling up in his eyes. His thin lips were crimson and vibrant, his breath hot as he called her name again and again.
"Cui Ying, Cui Ying..."
Cui Ying picked up a piece of pastry, broke it into pieces, and fed it to the crab roe. She also put a small piece in her mouth. The sweetness of the honey melted on her tongue, seemingly neutralizing the uncontrollable sourness in her heart.
Her ideas were crude and simple.
If I had known how bitter the days ahead would be, I should have slept with him more often without a care in the world.
"I'm an adult now."
Cui Ying said, "People always have to grow up."
Xiao Shu was stunned by her words and couldn't help but say, "Can't we just not grow up? I don't want to cry, I don't want to be sad, I just want to be with you and Yangyang every day, flying kites, chasing butterflies, forever like that... Isn't that good enough?"
She choked up more and more as she spoke, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
Seeing that she was really uncomfortable, Cui Ying finally couldn't help but go forward to comfort her. Just then, Cui Jin entered the room, walked up to Cui Ying, and presented her with a warm oil paper package, saying, "Miss, this was just sent by the young master. He said it's from your favorite restaurant."
The oil paper package was still hot. Cui Ying opened it and saw plump white steamed buns inside. The dough was soaked in soup, and the aroma was irresistible.
The crab roe perked up its nose on her leg, sniffing around in the direction of the aroma, meowing anxiously.
Normally, Cui Ying would have made a bun for the crab roe to satisfy its craving, but looking at this bun, all she could think of was the image of Xiao Qiyu carefully pressing the oil paper package to his heart on the way back, afraid that the heat would seep away. For some reason, she felt a little reluctant to part with it.
She couldn't even bear to eat it herself.
"Where is he?" Cui Ying took the oil paper package, feeling the slightly hot temperature on it with her fingertips, and unconsciously softened her voice.
Cui Jin shook her head: "The servant handed the buns to me and left without telling me where the young master was."
Cui Ying nodded, thinking that they should be returning to Qiyun Pavilion.
Since that night of complete honesty, although the two still talk, there's always a sense of distance between them.
Cui Ying began to hate the feeling of distance between herself and Xiao Qiyu. Although she didn't know how to get rid of it, just being able to see him made her feel much more at ease.
She got up and walked to the bedside, wiping away the tears on Xiao Shu's face with her hand, and whispered:
"Remember, torturing yourself is the stupidest thing you can do. It won't make things better or help in the slightest. Only by restoring your spirit can you wait for the person you're waiting for and see things turn around."
She softened her voice, blinked her bright, watery almond-shaped eyes, and returned to her usual lively and cheerful demeanor, coaxing softly, "Don't cry, get up and eat. When the rain stops, I'll take you to the street to play."
Xiao Shu choked back tears and nodded: "I still want to eat belt noodles."
Cui Ying nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll definitely eat it."
"I also want to drink and watch dancing."
"Drink, drink, drink; look, look; do whatever you say."
After Cui Ying left, Xiao Shu remained silent for a long time, her eyes welling up with tears again, but she didn't let them fall.
Wiping away her tears, she finally spoke, instructing the maid, "Help me up, I want to eat."
...
After leaving Xiao Shu's residence, Cui Ying first returned to Qiyun Pavilion, but failed to find Xiao Qiyu. She then went to Puti Hall, but still did not see him. Finally, she went to the front study.
The military treatises on the desk remained open, and the ink in the inkstone had long since dried up, showing no signs of anyone having been there.
Even though it was a minor matter, and Xiao Qiyu was probably busy with important matters elsewhere, Cui Ying felt an inexplicable unease, as if something else was about to happen.
She changed her clothes and went outside to think about where Xiao Qiyu might be.
On the street, the rain continued to fall, and the crowds were dense.
Cui Ying stood on the wet street. There were so many people on the street, but she couldn't see the figure she wanted to see. Her heart felt empty and painful, and she couldn't calm down.
She even considered grabbing anyone and describing Xiao Qiyu's appearance before asking if they had ever seen him before.
But this is too absurd. It's impossible for a young, strong man to be kidnapped by human traffickers.
Cui Ying held back.
Just as Cui Ying continued to worry silently, a group of people suddenly walked slowly from the end of the long street. The soldier at the head was wearing heavy armor, and in the middle were several middle-aged men dressed in Turkic clothing. They all stood tall and proud.
The procession headed towards the palace, and the people along the way quickly made way for them. Whispers spread through the rain as everyone discussed the Turkic envoy who had suddenly arrived in the capital.
As Cui Ying watched the departing figures of the group, her heart sank.
The two sides were already at war and had suffered countless casualties. It was impossible that the Turkic envoys came to the capital at this time to negotiate peace.
Cui Ying paused for a moment, and a terrible thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Wang Shanxiao conspired with the old Khan to rebel years ago. Now that the new Khan has imprisoned the old Khan, he must have already obtained evidence of the rebellion. What else could be the reason for sending an envoy at this time?
If Wang Shanxiao's treason were exposed at this time, the Emperor would be furious and would thoroughly investigate the Wang family. If the charges were proven true, the court and the public would be shocked and the Emperor would be enraged.
At that point, whether Xiao Qiyu will be implicated will seem secondary.
A single move can have far-reaching consequences; internal chaos will inevitably affect the border regions, leading to internal collapse and external disintegration, allowing the Turks to seize the opportunity to invade...
Cui Ying dared not think any further. She felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet, flowing up her spine and through her limbs. Her knuckles, gripping the umbrella handle, turned white.
Xiao Qiyu!
Cui Ying was on the verge of tears, screaming in her heart: Where are you?! This is going to be a disaster!
No matter how loudly she calls out in her heart, the person she longs for will never appear by her side immediately.
Rain pattered on the street, mingling with the chatter of the people, creating a chaotic and hazy atmosphere.
Inside the palace gates, raindrops fell on the white marble imperial road. There was no sound of people coming and going, only the lion-shaped beasts on the roof ridge of the main hall silently overlooking the scene.
In the imperial study, the faint scent of ambergris wafted through the air, the smoke curling around the elaborate and ornate dragon-patterned ceiling.
Beneath the caisson ceiling, the young man, his back ramrod straight as bamboo or pine, knelt on the golden bricks, facing the imperial desk, and spoke in a clear voice:
"Your Majesty, I, Xiao Qiyu, hereby expose my maternal uncle, Wang Shanxiao, for his treasonous act of colluding with the Turks ten years ago in an attempt to rebel."
“I am deeply ashamed that such a rebellious subject was born into my maternal grandfather’s royal family. I am unworthy of Your Majesty’s grace.”
"To demonstrate my resolve to break with the traitors and to show my unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty, I humbly request Your Majesty to immediately revoke my title of Military Scholar and my status as the second-place scholar."
"Your Majesty, I humbly request to serve as a palace guard, to protect Your Majesty for life, and to remain within Your Majesty's sight. Every move I make will be subject to Your Majesty's scrutiny."
Xiao Qiyu's voice was calm, yet his words were resolute and forceful:
"If I harbor even the slightest disloyal intention, Your Majesty can behead me in an instant and display my head to the public."
"If Your Majesty still finds this inappropriate, I dare to request permission—"
The somber sunlight cast a shadow on the boy's pale face, his phoenix eyes gleaming with black pupils, his expression resolute.
"I am willing to be a vanguard soldier, to go to the northern battlefield, and to wash away my own disgrace with the blood of the enemy!"
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Author's note: I'm really going all out to stay with my wife forever.
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