Chapter 30
The room was dim and the charcoal fire was burning brightly.
Yue Mingming had woken up long ago. She didn't move or speak, but lay quietly on the bed, watching the fire flicker.
It was Uncle Dong who brought her back home.
She only had the strength to cry at that time. Uncle Dong said nothing. He gave her a big bowl of ginger soup and added a few more pots of charcoal fire. Like a real elder, he stayed with her for a long time before leaving.
Yue Mingming really wanted to apologize to Uncle Dong. She did not come back with Zhao Congyun. She left his prince alone in the palace where it was snowing heavily.
She tried to contact the system, but the damn game AI seemed to have entered a long standby state, leaving only a glaring task bar, still reminding her that she had to "be a princess."
Now it seems that those words are like a thorn, piercing Yue Mingming's heart with pain.
She thought with regret, if she had not encouraged Su Dingrou to divorce, if she had not supported Zhao Congyun in fighting against the imperial power, if she had not told him that she wanted to be a princess... maybe they would be sitting in front of the small red clay stove at this moment, enjoying the snow, drinking and chatting.
What's wrong with being a handsome royal mascot? As an intruder who has only existed in the game world for half a year, what right does she have to dictate his life?
What's even more hateful is that she was like a scumbag. After provoking him, she couldn't take responsibility and stabbed him in the back when he was in the most difficult time.
Tears wet the pillow again. Yue Mingming took a deep breath and gathered his strength to sit up. However, as soon as he stood up, he found that his head was heavy and his feet were light, and he ended up falling off the bed.
The charcoal fire was overturned and the door was immediately pushed open. Uncle Dong kicked away the brazier, helped Yue Mingming back to the bed, and took out a bottle of burn ointment, urging her to apply a thick layer.
"My lady, please take care of yourself!" Uncle Dong advised.
Yue Mingming didn't know whether he was speaking out of kindness or on Zhao Congyun's orders. He wanted to speak several times, but finally swallowed his words back.
Uncle Dong saw that she looked like she had lost her soul and sighed, "I know what my lady is concerned about... but unfortunately, I can't get any news from the palace now, so I don't know how he is doing over there."
"Even you can't find out?" Yue Mingming asked anxiously.
Uncle Dong shook his head. "Since my wife returned home, the palace has been sealed off. Qilin Guards are guarding the outside. They know my kung fu and have recruited a few martial artists to guard against me... At this critical moment, I dare not force my way in, let alone use the secret guards, for fear of providing evidence of the prince's guilt."
Yue Mingming grabbed his sleeve and said, "Uncle Dong, tell me the truth. How dangerous is this incident? What will the emperor do to him? House arrest, imprisonment, exile, or..."
Yue Mingming didn't dare to say anything more.
Uncle Dong frowned, "The emperor's heart is hard to predict. Madam, please forgive me, I really don't know."
He paused, trying to comfort her: "...It's not a dead end until the end. Let's not give up. I believe the prince won't give up either."
Yue Mingming couldn't believe Uncle Dong's words from the bottom of his heart. Uncle Dong didn't see Zhao Congyun's expression at that time. That was definitely not the expression of a person with hope.
She murmured, "It's all my fault... He shouldn't have saved me. He should have used that will on himself."
Uncle Dong interrupted her, "Madam, can't you see? If that will is used, no matter who it is used on, it will anger the Emperor.
"That was left to the Imperial Concubine by the late Emperor before his death. He remembered their old friendship and gave it to her to save her life. Later, she passed away and gave it to His Highness.
"In reality, everyone understands that this will is a life-saving talisman. As long as it exists, no matter how wary the Emperor is, he won't take his own brother's life. But everyone also agrees that the prince must never use it... If he does, it would be like using the late emperor's legacy to slap the current emperor in the face! There's no room for two tigers in one mountain, not even between father and son!"
"Then he still..." Yue Mingming was furious: "Is he crazy? He actually wanted to die? He...he wouldn't do it for me, right?!"
She cursed in her heart: Zhao Congyun, please don't say it's for me! I don't need it, and I can't repay you for this favor!
Uncle Dong said, "To be honest, my lady, I have asked the prince the same question and even tried to dissuade him, but he did not answer."
Yue Mingming asked guiltily, "...What do you think?"
"If you have the chance in the future, you might as well ask him in person."
"There will definitely be a chance!" Yue Mingming seemed to be responding to Uncle Dong, but also seemed to be comforting himself.
Uncle Dong smiled once, a rare moment. "I knew my wife still cared about him...but the prince has a request, and I still have to pass it on."
He took out a bundle that he had prepared earlier and spread it out for Yue Mingming to see: inside was a letter, many banknotes, and several house deeds and land deeds.
Yue Mingming vaguely guessed what Zhao Congyun meant.
It was difficult for her to describe her feelings at the moment, especially the four words "Li Siqinqi" written in Zhao Congyun's elegant handwriting on the letter, which was extremely eye-catching.
Dong Shu said, "Before he entered the palace, he specifically told me that if he... couldn't come back, he wanted me to give these to you... He also said... you already have the divorce letter."
"He is quite generous." Yue Mingming pulled the corner of his mouth, his voice trembling.
The next second, she suddenly stretched out her red and swollen hand, pulled out the letter, and threw it directly into the charcoal brazier.
"I'll keep the rest." She neatly wrapped up the banknotes and stuffed them under her pillow, pretending to be nonchalant. "I'm so poor and have no dowry, so I'd be remiss not to take advantage of the prince! Isn't that right?"
Uncle Dong's eyes were slightly red: "On behalf of the prince... I thank you for your unwavering support!"
"Uncle Dong, I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
Yue Mingming was very angry at Zhao Congyun's "thoughtful" action, but suddenly he became a little more energetic and decided to fill his stomach first and then think of a way to save people.
The letter gave her some idea - perhaps there was someone in the court willing to help him.
Uncle Dong said hurriedly, "I'll go prepare it for my wife right away."
"Where's Xing'er? Just let her handle these little things!"
Uncle Dong's expression darkened. "My lady, you don't know that most of the servants in the mansion have been taken away and locked up. Only those in the concubine's courtyard have been spared."
"Why? They didn't do anything wrong!" Yue Mingming said angrily.
Dong Shu said, "I heard it was Queen Li who proposed it, and the Emperor approved it... Now that the prince has been convicted, they have become criminal slaves. I'm able to stay in the palace because I saved the emperor in my early years, and the Emperor has shown me favor."
Yue Mingming sneered, "So now only Li Pingru is fine? Where's she... How about we team up and beat her up again! I'm so angry!"
Uncle Dong smiled helplessly: "My lady, stop talking like a child! The Concubine has not returned to the palace since she entered the palace. I think she knew that something happened to the prince and deliberately avoided suspicion."
"She's lucky! It's good that she's not here. We'll be more at ease and won't have to worry about her eyes and ears."
Uncle Dong nodded: "I will have to ask my wife to try my cooking skills later."
Yue Mingming suddenly remembered that Zhao Congyun had complained about Uncle Dong's cooking being difficult to swallow, and she couldn't help but feel a little panicked. Uncle Dong obviously saw through her thoughts and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, my lady, it's just that the prince is too picky...it's not that bad."
Yue Mingming also laughed. She almost forgot that Zhao Congyun was really picky in all aspects. He was particular about food, clothing and daily necessities. Perhaps only the dishes in the small kitchen and the invitation building caught his eye. He didn't even touch the Sichuan dishes made by Su Dingrou herself.
Thinking back now, it all seemed like yesterday. I wonder if he can still get used to the food in the lonely and cold Yongshang Palace...
Yue Mingming wrapped himself in a thick outer robe and followed Uncle Dong into the garden. The snow had stopped, the crescent moon was curved, the stars were shining, and the night sky was quiet and clear.
The smell of smoke rose from the small kitchen, and Yue Mingming's heavy mood improved. She was bored, so she simply walked towards Zhao Congyun's study.
The study was actually heated up by Uncle Dong.
Zhao Congyun's desk was always neat and tidy, with only a half-opened book and a scroll neatly placed on it. Smoke rose from an incense burner nearby, a familiar aroma. Every item was neatly arranged, ready for its owner to enter.
Yue Mingming walked around to the desk and sat carefully on the chair. He imagined Zhao Congyun's focused and calm writing style as usual, and gently turned the book.
Then she saw the picture of the night stream.
The last time I saw it, it was unfinished, with a large blank space in the center of the picture, but now a huge full moon hangs behind the quiet mountain.
The signature was inscribed with a line of small characters: "August 16th, the night is as cool as water, the moon is full on the long street, I met Mingming for the first time. I wake up the bright moon, it shines on my heart full of ice and snow, and now my heart has a place to return to."
Yue Mingming wanted to take the painting away, but she felt that it would be an insult to his writing. Finally, she put the book back in its place, covered the scroll again, and left quietly.
Zhao Congyun would not notice her presence, nor would he know that she had seen the painting. She would continue to keep the secret for him, which he did not want to reveal.
But when they met again, she wanted to tell him a common sense that the ancients did not know: no matter whether it was cloudy or sunny, waxing or waning, no matter whether it was morning or evening, rainy or snowy, the moon was always there.
*
The Qilin Guards didn't expect that Li Pingru would appear in front of the palace in the middle of the night.
The leading General Song of course recognized that this was the Queen's niece and Zhao Congyun's concubine. He did not dare to neglect her and hurried forward to greet her, but was slapped in the face by Li Pingru.
"Get out of the way! Let me in!"
General Song's cheeks flushed red. "We are here to guard the palace under the orders of His Majesty. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Princess, please go back!"
Li Pingru shouted, "You still know I'm a concubine? What's wrong with me returning to my own palace? The emperor's decree says I can't leave the palace, but he didn't say I can't go in! Don't try to trick me with a chicken feather!"
General Song was speechless. The palace was now a place of trouble that everyone in the capital avoided. She had clearly stayed out of it, but she insisted on going back. Was she mentally ill?
But he didn't dare to say so, so he just asked, "I wonder what the Concubine is going to do back home?"
"kill!"
Li Pingru suddenly pulled the sword from his waist and put it on his neck: "Let me in! Otherwise, you will be the first one to be killed!"
Since he couldn't afford to offend her and it wasn't against the rules, General Song felt there was no need to confront a crazy woman. He winked at his subordinates, and two guards immediately opened the door to the mansion: "Princess Side, calm down! Please come in!"
Li Pingru pushed the crowd aside, held the long sword upside down, and stumbled towards the ginseng garden with a limp!
As she walked, she shouted, "Little devil, get out here! I'm going to kill you and avenge the prince!"
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