Chapter 40
That evening, the waning moon was like a hook, the north wind was howling, and even the water in the moat was covered with a thick layer of ice.
In front of a remote inn on the outskirts of Beijing, Yue Mingming stood in the cold wind wrapped in a cloak, looking towards the official road.
Uncle Dong poked his head out and gently patted the sleeping Ah Nian on his shoulder, saying, "Come in and wait, my lady! It's so cold outside, you'll freeze to death!"
Yue Mingming blew on his hands and said anxiously, "Didn't we agree to be here before tonight? The city gates are closed now, why haven't you come yet? Have you had any problems?"
A whirlwind carrying snow and foam suddenly blew past, causing Yue Mingming's cheek to ache. He trembled and said, "Uncle Dong...Uncle Dong, why don't you go and take a look?"
Uncle Dong didn't dare to let the children get cold, so he retreated into the house before the wind picked up, saying only one sentence: "The prince ordered me to stay by your side and not go anywhere!"
Yue Mingming had no choice. Seeing that the official road was deserted and in such horrible weather, the peddlers had all returned home early. The end of the year was approaching, and who wouldn't want a wife and children and a warm bed?
She looked around for a long time unwillingly, and just when she was about to freeze to death, she finally heard the urgent sound of horse hooves in the distance.
In the last glimmer of light, Yue Mingming saw a white horse approaching. The figure on the horse gradually overlapped with the person she had been thinking about.
Zhao Congyun was wearing a black cloak, and his long hair, tied high with a jade belt, fluttered in the wind.
Yue Mingming's heart finally settled down.
*
Two days ago, Yue Mingming was knocked unconscious by Jiang Huan and was sent out of the city along with Ah Nian. When she woke up, she was already in the inn. Yue Mingming wanted to return to the palace immediately, but with Ah Nian, the "burden" hanging around her, she had no time to spare for anything else.
Although Ah Nian didn't understand what was happening, she was inevitably nervous and scared at such a young age, leaving her family behind. But this child was different from ordinary children. She didn't cry or make a fuss, and refused to eat or drink. No matter how Ren Yueming tried to comfort her, it was useless. In the end, she became ill. If Uncle Dong hadn't arrived in time, she would have died in this desolate wilderness.
Yue Mingming was still in shock and didn't dare to go back. He could only follow Uncle Dong's arrangements and wait for Zhao Congyun here.
But she knew something serious must have happened in the palace, and Zhao Congyun didn't let Uncle Dong tell her. But Uncle Dong's occasional look of worry made her unable to help but guess the worst outcome.
For her, two days felt like a year.
At this moment, Yue Mingming felt a sense of dread, as if she had just survived a catastrophe. Tears rolled down her cheeks unconsciously. She was afraid that Zhao Congyun would see her, so she quickly wiped them away with her sleeve.
The sound of horse hooves came closer and closer, and stopped abruptly a few steps away from her.
Zhao Congyun dismounted, shook off the dust, and walked quickly towards her. However, at this sudden reunion, a thousand words welled up in his heart, and he didn't know which to say.
He stared at her intently, silently taking in her red eyes and the tears on her face. His throat rolled, and he finally whispered, "Why are you standing there like an idiot in the wind? How long have you been waiting?"
Without waiting for Yue Mingming to answer, he took another step forward and was very close to her: "Sorry, I'm late." Then he reached out and held Yue Mingming's hand.
Zhao Congyun had intended to warm her hand, but when he held it, he suddenly realized that his own hand was even colder than Yue Mingming's. He froze for a moment, and just as he was about to pull his hand back, it was firmly held.
"Come into the house and warm yourself by the fire! Uncle Dong and Anian are waiting for you!" Yue Mingming suddenly gave him a light, warm hug. Before Zhao Congyun could react, she had already pulled him into the house.
Zhao Congyun sped along in the cold wind, his face showing some fatigue, but at this moment, there was a clarity between his brows as if the clouds had cleared and the sun was shining.
He let Yue Mingming lead the way and went into the inn without hesitation.
Although this wild inn was simple, the owner was very considerate. Everyone gathered around the stove to keep warm. He asked the waiter to serve hot tea and asked the kitchen to make a few bowls of vegetarian noodles. He was busy and enthusiastic.
Zhao Congyun silently lowered his head to drink tea. Uncle Dong and Yue Mingming exchanged glances, neither of them having the heart to ask. Suddenly, Ah Nian, who was sound asleep, opened his eyes and said, "Master... do you know where my aunt has gone?"
Zhao Congyun's hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and he said in a gentle voice, "Anian, your aunt married far away and can't take you with her. She entrusted you to me and this lady-in-law. Are you willing to come with us?"
Ah Nian was stunned. The little person tried hard not to cry. She bit her lip and said, "Is it because Ah Nian is not sensible enough that Auntie doesn't want to take me with her?"
Zhao Congyun comforted him, "It's not that your aunt doesn't want to go, but the place she's going to is high in the mountains and dangerous, and she's afraid that you'll suffer..."
Ah Nian said anxiously, "I'm not afraid of hardship! Please, sir, take me to find my aunt. I'm willing to work like a slave for you in return!"
Zhao Congyun opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.
Yue Mingming couldn't bear to see this and coaxed her, "Anian, get well, and then we'll go find your aunt!"
"Really?" Anian's eyes lit up.
Yue Mingming reached out and hooked his finger around hers: "A gentleman's word is as good as gold!"
Anian immediately perked up and started eating the vegetarian noodles in big mouthfuls, which made Uncle Dong look distressed. Zhao Congyun glanced at Yue Mingming silently. He did not agree with treating Anian in a deceiving way, even though she was only a five-year-old child.
But Yue Mingming shook his head slightly at him.
She had already guessed from the look on Zhao Congyun's face that Jiang Huan was probably never coming back. Knowing Anian well, she knew that telling the truth to this sick child now would probably cost her her life.
Zhao Congyun sighed silently and said nothing more.
Everyone ate in silence for a while. Uncle Dong first sent An Nian back to his room to rest, and then went to take care of the horses. Only Zhao Congyun and Yue Mingming were left at the table.
Seeing that Zhao Congyun hadn't touched his chopsticks, Yue Mingming spoke first, "This noodles don't suit your taste? How about I borrow the kitchen to make you some osmanthus porridge?"
The bottle of osmanthus honey was given to her by Jiang Huan, and it was packed up along with Anian's daily necessities and left at the inn.
Yue Mingming tried to give it to Anian, but found that Anian didn't like it. She guessed that it might be something Jiang Huan had used her to leave for Zhao Congyun.
Zhao Congyun shook his head: "No need to bother."
He paused, then casually pulled out a brocade bag from his bosom. "Before I left, I went back to the palace to get this private seal... It's not a valuable item, but it's an essential betrothal gift. Keep it for now."
"You're late...just to get this?"
Zhao Congyun did not deny it.
"The palace has been sealed off. How did you get back? What if there is danger?" Yue Mingming asked.
Zhao Congyun was silent for a moment, then explained, "...Li Pingru helped me get it."
Yue Mingming was stunned, feeling mixed emotions: "Is she... okay?"
Zhao Congyun said, "I have already signed a divorce agreement with her. I think she won't be implicated by me."
"Will she be willing?" Yue Mingming expressed deep doubt.
"This is a serious matter, and she can't get away with it from her family."
Yue Mingming sighed and said softly: "...She must be very sad."
Zhao Congyun lowered his eyes and said nothing.
He had originally had no favorable impression of Li Pingru. Her arrogant personality and the family connections behind her made Zhao Congyun both disgusted and wary. But he hadn't expected that in times of crisis, she would actually buck his usual behavior and offer assistance multiple times.
How could Zhao Congyun not understand that Li Pingru had always had true feelings for him, but he had deliberately ignored them in the past. Now that he already had someone he loved and had been cruelly demoted, he was unable to give her any response.
Yue Mingming glanced at Zhao Congyun's expression. Not wanting to see him embarrassed, he deliberately said jokingly, "Your Highness, you originally had three wives, but now I'm the only one left. You better treat me better!"
Zhao Congyun smiled faintly, but a gloomy look flashed across his eyes. Yue Mingming's unintentional joke reminded him that even if they had already married, she would still leave one day.
Yue Mingming didn't notice his mixed thoughts and thought he was in a better mood. He couldn't help but open the brocade bag. Inside was a plain white jade seal with the four words "Dunshou Zaibai" engraved in ancient official script.
She didn't understand the purpose of using the private seal as a betrothal gift, but since he was so serious about it, she thanked him solemnly.
Zhao Congyun shook his head. "The betrothal gift is so simple. I'm sorry for you. I'm afraid I can't give you gold, silver, silk, glory and status now. The only things I have are this seal and marriage certificate... If I save these, I will feel even more guilty towards you."
Yue Mingming wanted to say, "I don't really care about this," but she knew that although Zhao Congyun said it lightly, it was actually him who really cared. A casual comfort would only make his kindness look down upon her.
So she smiled and said, "The fortune teller said that I am destined to be rich and powerful. Your Majesty, you must work hard to make a comeback and not let the fortune teller's words go to waste!"
Zhao Congyun curled his lips: "I understand."
At this moment, the door curtain was lifted, and Uncle Dong walked in with a cold air. He looked at Zhao Congyun hesitantly, and the latter nodded to him. Only then did Uncle Dong quickly come over and sit down again.
Zhao Congyun suppressed his smile and told them everything that had happened in the palace. After listening, the two were speechless for a long time.
Thinking of Xing'er's tragic death and his farewell to Jiang Huan, Yue Mingming felt confused at first, and then felt boundless sadness.
She murmured, "I didn't expect that the trump card Sister Jiang Huan mentioned was actually herself..."
How could someone who is so calculating and always tries to stay out of trouble choose to die alone in such a tragic way?
She subconsciously looked at Zhao Congyun. Zhao Congyun understood her doubts and said after a moment of silence, "If I had known in advance, I would have stopped her... This matter was not well thought out by me... I owe her."
He paused and continued, "But the trump card she was talking about wasn't this."
"What is that?" Yue Mingming was puzzled.
"My Royal Brother spared my life this time and secretly joined forces with me, not out of consideration for brotherly love." A hint of self-mockery flashed in Zhao Congyun's eyes. "What truly made the Emperor compromise was his own bloodline inheritance."
"Isn't it Consort Zheng who is pregnant with Your Majesty's child? She is on the side of Empress Li and Lord Fan!"
Zhao Congyun smiled coldly: "I don't know whose child she is pregnant with, but it's not my brother's! Your Majesty has been unable to have children since the Xinghua Tower incident, so he has been childless all these years."
"..." Yue Mingming and Dong Shu took a deep breath: "Your Majesty also knows?"
"He didn't know before, but Xing'er told him recently. Back then, he accidentally injured himself in Xinghua Tower. The witch doctor there checked his pulse but didn't tell him. Instead, he told Jiang Rao. Xing'er accidentally learned about it while serving her."
Zhao Congyun raised his eyes and said, "After His Majesty learned the truth, he secretly summoned several imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital. Under pressure, they told the truth... Over the years, no one dared to say that the medicines they prescribed to nourish the emperor and prolong his lineage were completely useless!"
"So he'll never have children?"
"There won't be any in the future, but one was left behind in the past. That was Jiang Huan's real trump card."
"Could it be... Anian?!" Yue Mingming and Dong Shu blurted out at the same time.
Zhao Congyun: "That's right. Before your majesty's dragon body was damaged, Jiang Rao was already pregnant with a dragon fetus... and it was none other than Anian."
"It's great to have a princess!" Yue Mingming was shocked and moved.
Zhao Congyun said calmly: "It's not a princess...it's a prince!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
