Chapter 1438: Can't Be Forced
At this moment, a familiar, somewhat haggard voice came from the front.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine?"
Hearing this voice, Nan Yan almost subconsciously took a step back and broke free from Zhu Feng's hand.
I saw a familiar, somewhat thin figure standing on the steps. It was none other than Madam Qin, Qin Ruolan, who had been staying indoors for the past few days.
Her face was a little pale, and she looked at them with wide eyes.
When Zhu Feng saw her, he frowned slightly.
For a moment, everyone seemed to have fallen silent, and Qin Ruolan looked at them, his eyes flickering several times, and finally he slowly stepped forward and saluted them: "Greetings to the Emperor, Greetings to the Imperial Concubine, Greetings to - His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei."
“…”
Although she spoke, no one spoke for a while.
When Nan Yan saw her standing in front of her, especially when her eyes fell on Zhu Chengxuan, her whole body trembled as if she was pricked by a needle. I'm afraid no one else present could understand that feeling.
Only she knows.
Zhu Feng looked at her, still frowning.
After a while, he said, "What are you doing here?"
Qin Ruolan's voice was slightly dry, perhaps because she had been standing in this place for too long, felt cold in the wind, or for some other reason. She whispered, "My cat is lost. I came here to look for it."
"Cat? You have a cat?"
“…”
Qin Ruolan's face became paler.
She did have a cat, but Zhu Feng had no idea about it. It was obvious that he probably hadn't even thought about her these days.
Zhu Feng simply said, "It's cold, so hurry back once you find it."
"……yes."
Qin Ruolan lowered his head and saluted them. His eyes moved from Zhu Feng to Nan Yan, but he seemed afraid to look at Zhu Chengxuan. He just took a deep breath and turned away.
Nan Yan looked at her back and remained silent.
After she left, Zhu Feng turned around and looked at Nan Yan: "Are you cold?"
“…”
Nan Yan looked up at him and shook her head.
But she was clearly trembling slightly in the wind.
Zhu Feng took a step forward. Although he only moved closer to her, the familiar warm aura on his body was like an invisible pair of big hands that directly gathered Nan Yan up.
He said, "I will accompany you back to Yikun Palace."
Nan Yan was silent for a moment before she said, "The Emperor has been out all day today. I'm afraid the Imperial Study is already piled high with memorials to review."
“…”
"Your Majesty, you should prioritize state affairs."
“…”
"I, I can go back by myself."
“…”
Zhu Feng couldn't help but frown again.
Of course he wanted to get close to Nan Yan. After going out for a whole day today, the relationship between the two seemed to have eased a little. However, after they went out to find Xin Ping and came back, she became a little absent-minded again, and seemed a little distant towards him.
Normally, he wouldn't have such patience.
But now, looking at her pale, emaciated appearance, and her cautious expression, and thinking of the unrestrained look she showed when facing him, he knew that there were still wounds in her heart that had not healed.
Can't be forced.
Thinking of this, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay."
“…”
"Go back first. I'll come to see you later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Nan Yan immediately turned around to leave, and glanced at Zhu Chengxuan next to her. She saw that he was still holding Xin Ping carefully, and had no reaction at all to Qin Ruolan's appearance and departure.
He said to Zhu Feng, "Father, I will take my leave now."
"Go down."
“…”
"Leave my sister to the people below and go and rest."
"I know."
Then they went their separate ways.
In winter, the days become shorter and the nights become longer. They walked all the way to Yiku Palace. As the sky got darker, Nan Yan's pace slowed down.
"Why is it so dark in here?"
“…”
But no one responded behind him.
Nan Yan frowned slightly, stopped and turned around, only to see Ran Xiaoyu walking behind her, completely unaware that she had stopped, and bumped into her directly.
“Ouch!”
Although Nan Yan had already seen it, she was still knocked off balance by her.
"Empress!"
Ran Xiaoyu was so frightened that she came to her senses and quickly reached out to support her.
"This slave deserves death, Madam, are you hurt?"
Nan Yan stumbled for a moment before she stood firm. She turned around and looked at her, saying, "What's wrong with you? Why are you so absent-minded?"
"I--"
"What are you thinking about?"
Ran Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment, thought for a moment, and then said, "My Lady, don't you think it's strange that Lady Qin went to that place just now to look for the cat?"
"she?"
Nan Yan was originally thinking about this matter, and when she heard her mention it, she couldn't help but sigh.
So, turn around and keep walking forward.
This time, Ran Xiaoyu did not follow behind, but held her arm and helped her separate the branches and twigs in front of her. Her eyesight was also better than Nan Yan's. Although it was dark, she could still tell which way to go.
Nan Yan asked, "What's so strange about this?"
"The Queen has even confined her to her quarters."
"She is no different from others. Even if she comes out, the Queen will not punish her severely."
“…”
"Besides," Nan Yan sighed again and said, "If it were just the Emperor, me, and Xin Ping going out today, she might not be so enthusiastic. But don't forget, we're also bringing the King of Wei with us."
Ran Xiaoyu asked, "She has been staring at the King of Wei."
“…”
Nan Yan originally wanted to say that it was not a good idea to use the word "stare". After all, as a mother, it was not a bad thing for her to keep an eye on Zhu Chengxuan at all times.
Nan Yan said, "Don't forget what she did a few days ago."
"Madam, are you talking about—medicine?"
"That's right. If someone else in the palace had harmed Concubine Ning, at least they would have had a title to atone for their crime. But she is just Madam Qin. If she were found to have plotted to murder the heir to the throne, she wouldn't even have a chance to atone for her crime. She might even be sentenced to death."
“…”
"Why did she do that? Besides, whether Concubine Ning is favored or not has nothing to do with her. What she did was completely unhelpful to herself."
“…”
"She did that just for the King of Wei."
Ran Xiaoyu said, "What would she think when she saw the Emperor taking the Empress, the Prince of Wei, and the Princess out together today?"
“…”
Nan Yan did not answer this question.
Just thinking about it, she could recall the sourness.
Qin Ruolan was too far away from the prosperous scenes in the palace, and even from the warmth of her family.
but--
It's her own fault.
Nan Yan said, "What she thinks is no longer important. What's important is that the Emperor brought the Prince of Wei with him during the festival today, proving that the Emperor's attitude towards the Prince of Wei has softened considerably."
“…”
"And she—I'm afraid she will have to plan a way out for the King of Wei."
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