After kneeling for a long time, she still felt no improvement. Looking at the road ahead, she came up with an idea: "Let's go forward and ask for some water from Lord Shen's house!"
Ying Wu was a little puzzled. The best solution just now was to follow the main force to the outer palace and have a good rest. Why did they have to end up in such an embarrassing situation?
Seeing Ying Wu didn't move, Xu Yixing squinted his eyes and said, "Are you cursing me in your heart?"
"I dare not. Let's go." After helping Xu Yixing onto the horse, the two of them slowly walked towards the small shabby house that they had visited many times.
In fact, Xu Yixing didn't say it. She always felt that this disease might be mostly a mental illness, not caused by drugs. She always felt that there was a mysterious force preventing her from going to the outer palace. Could it be that Yi Yan's spirit in heaven was reminding her?
But if this is true, then wouldn’t those who go to the outer palace now be in trouble?
After forcing this dangerous thought out of his mind, Xu Yixing felt that his body seemed to be better, but he still had a severe fever and really needed to drink some water to relieve it.
Shen Yue's little hut was still the same as before, even a little more dilapidated. I didn't know if it was because Lord Shen didn't know how to take care of it, but I always felt that the weeds in front of the door were almost taller than my calves.
"Is Lord Shen at home?" Ying Wu shouted through the door. Unlike before, someone opened the door quickly this time.
When Chen Yue came out of the door and saw Xu Yixing, he couldn't help but look disappointed. Then he put on a noble attitude and said, "Who did I think it was? The princess is here again? You are so noble that you are stepping on the ground of a lowly person. I can't bear it!"
As he was about to turn back, Xu Yixing quickly stopped him, "Sir, wait a minute! After all, you and my father were both officials in the same court, so we're old friends. My father said that of all the civil and military officials in the court, you're the one he admires the most. You can't be so reserved!"
Chen Yue's expression did not change, but he did not rush to close the door. Instead, he went in by himself, leaving the door half open for the two of them.
Xu Yixing supported Ying Wu's shoulders, dismounted with great difficulty, and walked towards the door. She had seen Shen Yue clearly just now. His robe was clean and tidy, without a single wrinkle. It must have been prepared in advance.
Chen Yue was probably still hoping that the emperor would remember him and summon him back from the banquet, so he was waiting.
It’s a pity that he was disappointed.
Xu Yixing walked in and saw that the small room inside was full of books, calligraphy and paintings. It was indeed the place where the hermits in the mountains lived.
"Today is the day of the outer palace banquet. All the officials are heading towards Gushan. Why are you here in Nanshan?" Chen Yue reluctantly handed her a glass of water, which was considered as his tacit acceptance of her visit.
"To be honest, sir, I had a heart attack halfway through the journey, so I left the team. I remembered that I still have a good friend like you in Nanshan, so I came here to drink some water."
Chen Yue wanted to refute her, but seeing that she looked haggard and covered in dirt, he thought it was true, so he changed his words: "How could the Seventh Prince be so confident in you wandering around in this desolate wilderness alone? He wouldn't even come to join you."
"Oh, isn't it you, Lord Shen, who is here? The place where the saints live should be a place where all animals are kind and all things are harmonious. How could we be in danger?"
Chen Yue really disliked her compliment, but he couldn't help feeling proud inside. He finally snorted and said nothing more.
Xu Yixing drank three bowls of tea in a row before he felt refreshed and relaxed. "Master Shen's tea is really different. Good tea, good tea!"
"No need to compliment me, this is just ordinary tea, and I am no longer a master, Your Highness, please don't call me Master Shen."
"Sir is just a title, in essence, bestowed by the court. I've determined in my heart that you are Sir, and who can stop me? It's like a saint. Even though some saints throughout the dynasties may have been disapproved of by the royal family and stripped of their titles and honors, does that negate the fact that they are saints?"
Chen Yue narrowed his eyes, sizing up the woman before him rather imprudently. Ever since he'd retired to the mountains, he'd been approached by many, some urging him to form a clique, others inviting him to become a teacher. They all had their own agendas, except for the Seventh Prince's wife, who always left behind some food and information about the capital before departing.
Chen Yue had always thought that she was lobbying for the Seventh Prince, so he had never met her, but now, he was a little confused.
"Your Highness, are these words just words of persuasion or are they the truth?"
"You always thought I was here to lobby for Lu Anyuan? No wonder you never saw me. That's not the case. Think about it, if we're talking about lobbyists, he has so many disciples under him. Anyone would be better than a woman like me, right?"
Chen Yue was still a little bothered by her calling the prince by his first name, but he didn't say anything. "That's true, which is why I never understood your intentions."
"I really just admire your character as a person and an official, and I want to be friends with you, that's all." Xu Yixing said sincerely, with innocent eyes, and Shen Yue could not see any problem.
But the real problem is that you can’t see the problem clearly!
What Xu Yixing said was not wrong. She was not lobbying for Lu Anyuan. To be honest, she would rather have Chen Yue be her retainer rather than Lu Anyuan's.
A person with Chen Yue's personality could indeed become a high-ranking official under Lu Anyuan in the future, but Lu Anyuan would definitely not be able to tolerate his temper and would eventually abandon him or offend him. It would be better for him to work for himself. After all, he really admired him.
"You are the prince's consort, and I am a commoner. Our statuses are not compatible, and neither is gender. As for friendship, your father and I are a good match in terms of age, but forget about you, a little girl."
"Lord Shen is a learned man. Haven't you heard that there are friendships between gentlemen, friendships regardless of age, close friends, and even friendships for life and death? Why can't we have the same? Or am I wrong about Lord Shen? Are you also a pedantic and boring person?"
Chen Yue sneered. For the first time, he felt that this person was even more arrogant than himself. But he was arrogant because he was a favored child of heaven and the best of the three elites. Where did the arrogance of this woman in front of him come from?
"Never mind. I have my own standards for friendship, and you can't persuade me with just a few words. I see that your complexion has improved, and this place is not a place to stay for long. You'd better go to the outer palace quickly to avoid worrying the Seventh Prince."
Xu Yixing wasn't hurt by the order to expel him. He knew he should be leaving anyway. But before leaving, he told Shen Yue his opinion.
"Sir, after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is over, how about I ask An Yuan to come over? It would be a waste of your talent to just drink here every day to drown your sorrows."
"You still say you are not here to lobby for him? Please go back!" This time Shen Yue sat up directly from the ground and asked her to leave without hesitation.
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