Little Secret: A pair of thick, long eyelashes trembled slightly, Chu Ye…
The lamplight flickered, and the mistress and servant, reunited after ten years, both had tears in their eyes, holding each other's hands tightly, unwilling to part. Pu Niang, watching this scene from the side, was also filled with mixed emotions.
Qin Weixi stared intently at Xia Zhi, noticing how her appearance had changed with age. Xia Zhi was now more beautiful and serene, her once black hair now styled in a mature woman's updo, her face as radiant as a peach blossom, her eyes sparkling. Qin Weixi knew that Xia Zhi must have been very happy all these years.
Of the four maids who were by her side back then, all except Xia Zhi died in the vast river. They all died protecting her, and they had accompanied her for many years in her childhood. But fate was cruel, and they perished in their prime.
Qin Weixi looked at Xia Zhi in front of her with a smile through her tears: "Xia, have you married Bitan?"
Xia Zhi nodded vigorously: "Miss, I have already married Bitan after we worshipped heaven and earth. Bitan said that the Marquis asked us to return to the capital when the time is right."
Qin Weixi suddenly remembered the young man she had seen in the Marquis's mansion who had been extremely respectful to her; it turned out to be Bi Tan. And then there was the surprise Chu Yening had mentioned earlier.
This was undoubtedly a tremendous surprise for her. She missed Xia, Jiu Bao, her sister-in-law Zhu Ruo, and everyone else who lay buried in the earth, whom she would never see again in this life. But she wanted everyone still alive and well in this world to live peacefully. That was enough; she didn't need to see them, as long as they were well.
Xia Zhi stared intently at her, just like her: "Miss, your appearance has changed too, you've become even more beautiful, I almost didn't recognize you. Miss, you've suffered so much, I failed to protect you back then." As she spoke, Xia Zhi's voice grew softer and softer, and she began to sob slightly.
Qin Weixi held her hand tightly and smiled at her, saying, "Xia Zhi, as long as we live, there is no suffering. And stop calling me 'servant' all the time. Xia Zhi, you are just you."
Looking at the bright and resilient girl in front of her, Xia Zhi smiled through her tears: "And Mu Tong is still alive. Miss, you and Mu Tong are both my family."
Qin Weixi took the handkerchief handed to her by Pu Niang and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Xia Zhi smiled and said, "Over the years, in the village in the suburbs, there are mountains and rivers. I and Bitan have also planted a garden of vegetables. Bitan often goes hunting in the mountains and then takes them to the city to sell. Over the years, the Marquis has also often given us money, and once a year he will send someone to check on us to see if we are safe and sound."
Qin Weixi was taken aback when she heard this, recalling the box of overflowing silver notes that Chu Yening had given her on her birthday, as well as the salary she had received later.
Tears welled up silently in her eyes and dripped onto the back of her hand, but she was too heartbroken to utter another word.
After a moment she asked, "Does he send someone to Jiangnan every year?"
Xia Zhi nodded with a smile.
So every year she was in Jiangnan, that lonely young man on the desolate frontier was also thinking of everyone behind her.
Xia Zhi said, “Miss, last year I saw someone outside the courtyard who looked somewhat like Zhuang Shijun, but after Bitan came out of the house, the person ran away. But it was just a resemblance, and I couldn’t be sure. The person was hunched over and half of his face was disfigured. I immediately asked Bitan to look for him, but we couldn’t find any trace of him.”
"Zhuang Shijun?"
Zhuang Shijun, my father's advisor back then, was handsome, tall, refined, and humorous. He was always by my father's side, offering guidance and protecting him. But how could the man Ah Xia described, whose appearance was ruined and who looked like an old man, be Zhuang Shijun?
But she dared not disbelieve it, for Chu Yening had said that the people he sent to find Zhuang Shijun had briefly seen him stay in the Jiangnan area.
How could such a wonderful Mr. Zhuang...
The Qin family's destruction of her family undoubtedly meant they wanted to die without a burial place!
That night, Qin Weixi didn't sleep and asked Pu Niang to prepare a place for Xia Zhi and Bitan to stay. She wanted to tell Xia Zhi that whether it was the Marquis's Mansion or the current Luo Mansion, it was their home.
It wasn't until Luo Ling and her colleagues finished their banquet at Shuiyunlou and went home that she noticed a candle burning in her study and realized that her younger sister was still waiting for her.
Qin Weixi had Gu Han prepare a hangover soup and told Luo Ling about Xia Zhi and Zhuang Shijun. Luo Ling immediately sobered up completely and wrote a secret letter, which he sent to the Luo family in Jiangnan by his trusted guards.
Luo Ling said, "After Father sees it, he will definitely send someone to A-Xia and Bitan's residence. It is common for Bitan to take the game from the mountains to town to sell. In my opinion, it would be better to write down the eight characters 'Returning home to visit relatives and reuniting the sisters' and post them at their residence. If it is Zhuang Shijun, he will definitely return to the capital!"
The next day at dawn.
Before Chu Yening could find an opportunity to enter the palace, the Empress suddenly sent the Grand Steward of Kunning Palace to summon Marquis Jingning to the palace.
Jiuqu laughed and said, "While you haven't yet figured out how to enter the palace, someone else wants to invite you in."
But before Chu Yening even entered Kunning Palace, she saw Jiang Yuanjun, dressed in a moon-white fox fur coat, waiting under the palace wall with A Xiao.
Seeing the person gesturing for A-Xiao to stay put, Jiang Yuanjun stepped forward and said, "Ye Ning, I heard that the Empress Dowager has summoned you to the palace. Do you know why?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yening lifted his eyelids and glanced at Kunning Palace: "I don't know. It seems you do? Then tell me first, so I can be prepared."
Jiang Yuanjun found his expression somewhat amusing. After a moment, however, he composed himself and said, "The Empress Dowager wants you... Afu..."
It was rare to see such a somber expression on the face of a crown prince. Chu Yening, however, paid no further attention, letting out a cold laugh: "Not good."
He then walked straight toward Kunning Palace, but stopped after a few steps and turned back to Jiang Yuanjun, who was still standing there, saying, "Thank you for reminding me."
"However, I still want to tell you something, or if you can tell Jiang Yuanfu, that I was able to say these two words entirely because of the courage given to me by my father who died tragically in a foreign land. Also, if I, Chu Yening, do not want to admit something, I will not admit it even if a knife is held to my throat."
"Unless I'm dead."
"However, I won't leave myself a complete corpse."
Jiang Yuanjun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then took a deep breath, and then shook her head and chuckled.
So this is the Chu Yening he knows.
He thought to himself.
Inside Kunning Palace.
Empress Tao was quite surprised to see the two of them arrive together. She quickly instructed Qingpai to prepare some snacks and hot tea and dismissed all the palace maids serving in the palace.
She smiled gently: "How are you settling in with your post at the Zhenfu Division, Ye Ning?"
Chu Yening, who was holding a teacup in one hand, smiled faintly upon hearing this: "It's all good, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Empress Tao was about to speak when Chu Yening cut to the chase, saying, "Oh, I forgot to tell Your Majesty, my dear nephew has found a girl he likes and spends all his time with her."
Empress Tao, who was fiddling with the incense burner on the flower stand next to the phoenix chair, paused upon hearing this, and the burning incense broke in two.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuanjun, who was drinking tea, cleared her throat and put down her teacup.
Empress Tao exchanged a moment of surprise with Qingpai beside her and asked, "Is that so? Whose daughter is she?"
Chu Yening smiled and said, "When the time is right, Your Highness will know."
Before leaving the palace, Jiang Yuanjun and he parted ways. When Chu Yening saw the two following them, he raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you going back to the East Palace?"
Ah Xiao trailed a few steps behind the two, while Jiang Yuanjun, with a smile in her eyes, walked with him out of the long, narrow alley that seemed to stretch endlessly before reaching its end.
At this moment, Jiang Yuanjun's smile deepened. He turned his head to look at Chu Yening, who remained calm and composed, and said with a smile, "Sometimes I really admire you."
Chu Yening glanced back at him and said casually, "Oh, you want me to admire you too? Then you'd better sit firmly in this position of crown prince."
The palace walls and alleys of yesteryear, with snow-laden branches, and the resolute departure of that young man in brocade robes riding a silver-saddled steed, seem like a world apart from today.
Now, the two of them can walk in this white world after the snow, still under these vermilion palace walls, but they are no longer the same as before, nor do they have the same feelings as they did back then.
"Ye Ning, we've always been true brothers, haven't we?"
"That's what you think?"
"Isn't that right?"
"Let's leave it at that for now."
"Then I'll just assume you're joking."
Jiang Yuanjun gazed at the clear blue sky after the snow, intending to part ways with him outside the alley, but Chu Yening, seeing him clearly heading in the direction of Cining Palace, suddenly raised his sword-like eyebrows: "Where are you going?"
Cining Palace.
"Let's go see the sea of flowers that the Empress Dowager cherishes so much."
Jiang Yuanjun led A Xiao slowly toward the inner palace when suddenly a soft voice sounded behind her: "Jiang Yuanjun, didn't I say we'd come together if anything happened?"
Jiang Yuanjun turned around, patted his shoulder, and chuckled, "Chu Yening, you're probably the only one in the whole world who dares to call me by my name so confidently."
Chu Yening had already strode away, urging, "Hurry up, hurry up! If we leave the palace too late, there won't be any tangerines left to buy. My girl is still waiting."
*
Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the Luo residence, the girl whom Chu Yening was eagerly anticipating eating tangerines was also greeted by an uninvited guest.
Yao Zizhu arrived at the Luo residence carrying an octagonal food box in each hand, specifically requesting to see the "eldest daughter" of the Luo family.
Qin Weixi led Pu Niang into the main hall, where she saw Yao Zizhu sitting leisurely in a grand chair, sipping tea. Upon seeing her enter, he quickly stood up, pointed to the food box on the table, and said, "My beauty! I stole Young Master Liang's savings to buy you some of the finest candied fruit. Doesn't that make you feel better?"
Outside the main hall, Chu Yening happily entered the Luo residence carrying a bamboo basket of plump, juicy, golden tangerines. Upon learning that Qin Weixi was currently in the main hall, she circled back from Tingyuxuan.
As luck would have it, Yao Zizhu called out "beauty" in a cheeky manner.
"Yao Zizhu!" Chu Yening chuckled, picked up an orange and threw it at Yao Zizhu.
Qin Weixi immediately turned around to look upon hearing the sound.
Upon hearing the voice that had terrified him that day, which had nearly cost him his ear, Yao Zizhu shuddered and quickly hid behind a pillar in the main hall.
Chu Yening strode forward and pulled Qin Weixi behind him, then placed one hand on his waist as if to draw his knife.
Yao Zizhu was terrified and quickly jumped out from behind the pillar: "No, let's talk this out. I'm here today because I need the antidote that will make my brains shatter into pieces soon."
Qin Weixi smiled as she looked at Chu Yening, who appeared carrying a bag of tangerines. Upon hearing this, she smiled again and said lightly, "How much time has passed? Your brain is still perfectly intact in your head, isn't it?"
"What's the meaning?"
"That's candy."
Upon hearing this, Yao Zizhu let out a loud "Aww!" and jumped up instantly: "You're telling me that all this time I've been living in fear, unable to eat or sleep well, is that sugar?"
Qin Weixi ignored him and said to Chu Yening, "I'll go make some tea."
Chu Yening nodded, then began eating the candied fruit on the table. After a moment, he gave him a sinister smile: "What? News about the imperial edict?"
Yao Zizhu was furious at his actions but quickly suppressed her anger and said irritably, "I'm here to ask you for a solution."
Chu Yening had already sat casually in the grand chair, stroking his chin as if deep in thought: "Is the gate of my Marquis's mansion here?"
Yao Zizhu slowly moved to the eaves outside the hall, laughing heartily, and said, "It's not that I, Yao, had the foresight to know that you, Marquis, would come to the Luo residence. But speaking of which, why have you come here today, Marquis?"
Chu Yening smiled and said, "As you know, my daughter is quite clingy to me. I can't live without her either."
"Get out—" As he spoke, Yao Zizhu suddenly saw an orange-yellow fruit thrown straight at him. He had no time to dodge and was hit all over, leaving him in a sorry state. He hurriedly left the mansion.
Qin Weixi, who was standing under the eaves holding a cup of hot tea, saw this scene, went into the house and smiled at him: "Fourth Brother, when have I ever been clingy to you?"
However, Chu Yening's expression shifted from clear skies to dark clouds in an instant, his jaw clenched tightly.
Qin Weixi then glanced at the two food boxes on the table that were filled with candied fruit, and found that they were completely empty, not a single piece left.
Qin Weixi was instantly stunned.
"You ate it all?"
"Chu Yening! It will hurt your stomach!"
Qin Weixi put down the tea tray and turned the handsome face, which was full of displeasure, around, only to find that the man was still tense and silent.
Seeing this, she stretched out two fingertips and pulled them up high at the corners of his mouth, just like she had done in the carriage on the day they returned to the capital, pretending to smile.
Chu Yening smiled suddenly, but his expression remained tense.
Qin Weixi leaned down, propped her elbow on the flower table, rested her chin on her hand, and tilted her head slightly to look at the man whose face was not cold but who was pretending to be annoyed.
She said, "Chu Yening."
"Um?"
She kept her eyes fixed on him, watching the Adam's apple bob on the angry man's neck. Just as he was about to speak, the man suddenly stood up and reached out with his long arm, placing his other hand behind her head and leading her to the chair.
"Qin Luo, you're never allowed to eat anything that idiot bought again! Nothing!"
With a quick glance, Qin Weixi suddenly smiled slyly: "How could Third Brother and Fifth Brother do that?"
"That's different."
"He's an outsider!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Weixi suddenly withdrew the hand that had been supporting the back of her head. Then, smiling, she took the hand covered in knife scars and gently rubbed it against her cheek.
Chu Ye Ning, who was also looking at the faint knife mark on her palm, felt his Adam's apple bob slightly. Then, he used his other hand to reach around her slender waist, lifted her up, and slammed her into his arms before kissing her deeply.
Their lips met, their breaths were slightly disheveled, and a faint scent of tangerines surrounded them.
After a long silence, Qin Weixi said, "Chu Jiayou!"
“We’re in the main hall! If my elder brother comes back, my cousin is still in the mansion…”
"I don't want to hear it."
Qin Weixi said again: "Chu Yening!"
The man who was holding her tightly suddenly pulled away from her in that instant, reluctant to part, and withdrew from her teeth and that soft warmth. His brows gradually relaxed, but a trace of despondency remained.
Qin Weixi smiled and beckoned to him: "Chu Yening, give me your ears."
Without hesitation, Chu Yening leaned closer and then bent down slightly.
A sweet, soft voice soon rang in my ears: "Fourth Brother?"
Only then did Chu Yening nod with satisfaction: "This is still the most welcoming place."
It's as if I've never left you. Qin Luo!
Qin Weixi wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing freely, while the handsome young man with eyes like stars held her tightly in his arms with tender affection.
"Chu Yening, how did you know I like tangerines?"
A pair of thick, long eyelashes trembled slightly, and Chu Yening suddenly smiled slyly: "Hmm... it's a little secret."
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