Chapter 60 060 ...encountered
Lin Wan was supposed to discuss leaving the palace and returning to the Su residence with Princess Zhaoyi the next day, but she did not see her for several days in a row.
It was learned that Princess Zhaoyi had gone to help the Empress take care of the ailing Emperor and was not available.
Lin Wan was immediately at a loss, but fortunately, there was Yue'er, a palace maid left by Princess Zhaoyi to serve her.
"Your Highness should be back today. I heard from Xiao Linzi, who came back from there yesterday, that he mentioned he was starting to prepare for the trip to Cibei Temple to worship Buddha. Your Highness will definitely return," Yue'er said softly.
"I don't know when Your Highness will be able to return. I don't know how long I will stay here either. I have been away from home for a long time, and the people in the manor are probably very worried. They just hope to go back as soon as possible."
"If Miss Lin trusts Yue'er, since Xiao Linzi mentioned that His Highness is returning today, you can go and wait for His Highness on his way back. That way you can see His Highness sooner."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wan's eyes lit up with surprise: "Is this really true?"
Her joyful expression had just begun to show when she suddenly remembered that this was no ordinary place; it was the forbidden area of the imperial palace. How could she wander around like this? Lin Wan recalled being drugged in the palace last time, and a sense of dread arose within her. She hesitated and wanted to back out.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the palace gate, and a eunuch strode in.
He walked down the corridor and loudly gave a few instructions to the head palace maid.
As the wind blew, faint sounds drifted over and reached Lin Wan, who was sitting idly in the corridor not far away.
"Your Highness... will return in an hour... and prepare..."
Before long, the people in the palace were seen bustling about.
Lin Wan glanced at the palace maid Yue'er beside her and asked with a smile, "Where is the place you mentioned that allows us to see Her Highness the Princess more quickly?"
If we wait for Princess Zhaoyi to have some free time, who knows how long that will take? It's better to take the initiative and happen to run into her on her way back, so that we can bring it up with her sooner.
Lin Wan looked up and surveyed the high brick-red palace walls around her, which seemed like an endless cage. She didn't want to stay there for another second. She had finally managed to escape from the courtyard where she had been confined for two months, so why would she want to be imprisoned in this palace again?
She knew deep down that the palace was a deep and unfathomable place. If she hadn't needed to ask Princess Zhaoyi for something, how could she have gotten involved with her, especially since she had promised to leave Xie Huaiyuan?
The thought of Xie Huaiyuan brought back memories of those days and nights spent together, which gnawed at her heart like ants, making it unbearable.
Although she was no longer in Xie Huaiyuan's courtyard, for some reason, in the quiet of the night, she would inexplicably miss that warm embrace...
Yue'er observed her hesitant expression, pointed towards the direction outside the palace gate, and smiled, "It's not far, it's right next door. Her Highness the Princess has a particular fondness for beautiful flowers, so His Majesty specially built a Garden of Ten Thousand Flowers on the palace road leading to this palace, so that Her Highness can go and admire the beautiful flowers at any time. Unless there is an emergency, Her Highness always passes through the Garden of Ten Thousand Flowers on her way back."
Lin Wan gritted her teeth and followed, even though it was only a few steps.
Walking eastward from the Minghua Hall gate, near a palace road intersection, you'll find the Wanhua Garden in full bloom. Every few steps along the covered walkway, you'll find a winding fishpond with flowing water—the scenery is truly beautiful.
Yue'er led Lin Wan straight to the covered walkway. After walking a few steps, they saw a rockery and pavilion built in front of them.
“Miss Lin, from that pavilion, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery and also see several nearby palace roads. Why don’t we go there and wait and see?”
Lin Wan nodded, lifted her skirt, and went up the steps.
The Garden of Ten Thousand Flowers in the palace truly lived up to its name. Looking around, even though it was springtime, countless unnamed flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, a truly beautiful sight.
Lin Wan admired the purple, light pink, and pale yellow flowers along the steps and slowed her pace. The palace maid Yue'er was right; the scenery here was magnificent, and even in the spring in Jiangnan, one rarely saw such a beautiful view.
She thought she would stroll through it and feast her eyes on the sights.
"Miss Lin, look, there's a pavilion right here where you can rest your feet."
Lin Wan nodded and continued to walk uphill as the palace maid instructed. Sunlight streamed down, and even the breeze was warm. The branches, leaves, and flowers swayed gently, and the fragrance of flowers surrounded her.
The two walked slowly and gradually reached the top of the artificial mountain. They could hear very little of the people in the palace talking. Lin Wan looked up at the pavilion in front of her. She saw that the steps in front of the pavilion had just turned a corner and were blocked by the lush branches of the trees that stretched out from the railing. She could not see the pavilion inside, so she continued to walk forward.
Lin Wan didn't stop walking and continued walking, thinking that there should be no one here at the moment, so she looked around at the scenery of the palace.
Once she had passed the dense foliage that had been blocking her view, the view inside the pavilion was now fully visible.
Her gaze froze instantly. Lin Wan's heart was pounding. Almost in an instant, she recognized the tall, handsome man in the pavilion, dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, as the Crown Prince she had met a few days ago in Princess Zhaoyi's palace!
In her panic, it was too late for her to slip away quietly.
"Miss Lin?"
The bright and dazzling brocade robe and gold belt all pointed to the extraordinary status of this person.
She had come all the way in silence, thinking there was no one here, but unexpectedly she encountered the Crown Prince.
Lin Wan hurriedly followed the palace maid in bowing, her voice trembling as she said, "...Greetings, Your Highness. I did not notice anyone in the pavilion just now, and thus I have abruptly disturbed Your Highness's enjoyment. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
At this moment, she was in the palace, powerless and vulnerable. Fearing that she might offend a noble person in the palace and be punished, Lin Wan knelt down to pay her respects, her eyes fixed on the spotless floor, not daring to raise her head.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Lin Wan in front of him. Her elegant dress was not the style of the palace attire, yet it could not conceal her graceful figure. Her kneeling posture leaned slightly forward, and a strand of black hair slipped down her neck and onto her chest, revealing her delicate neck skin.
Her voice was charming and coquettish, and her words possessed an irresistible allure that captivated those around her.
"Your Highness... Your Highness?"
Lin Wan didn't hear the words "No need for formalities, rise" for a long time, and dared not get up rashly, not knowing what he meant.
The Crown Prince remembered that he first met her at the Peach Blossom Banquet last year. There were many noble ladies from prominent families in the capital that day, but she was the only one who left a deep impression. Since then, from the rumors that she took the initiative to be with Xie Huaiyuan to her disappearance some time ago, it seems that information about this person has never stopped.
Lin Wan kept her head down, her delicate white skin particularly striking, and the fine hair at the back of her head swayed in the gentle breeze.
Suddenly, the prince smelled a sweet and alluring fragrance, very faint, but it wafted onto him on the wind, lingering around him, clinging to him, impossible to erase.
People love beautiful women, and he was no exception.
A few days ago, Princess Zhaoyi made a very subtle suggestion. He didn't think anything of it that day, and just smiled in response without saying a word.
The woman's sweet fragrance subtly stirred up a calm heart, creating ripples in its depths.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze toward Lin Wan grew increasingly intense.
"Your Highness... if there is nothing else to instruct me, please allow me to take my leave?" Lin Wan's forehead was gradually covered in fine sweat, but she dared not look up, unsure of what to do.
These words, falling into the Crown Prince's ears, were like a tantalizing melody.
The prince pursed his lips slightly, but finally spoke, saying softly, "Yes, go."
Lin Wan, who was kneeling and bowing, finally received a response. Before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, she heard the person above her say this and felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately thanked him, stood up, and turned around without pausing for a moment to walk quickly towards the steps.
The palace maid seemed to be quite frightened as well. It was completely unexpected that she would suddenly encounter the Crown Prince here. She followed Lin Wan's footsteps and left the pavilion.
Lin Wan dared not linger for even a moment, continuing her journey along the path she had just taken towards Minghua Palace.
Soon, that beautiful figure disappeared around the corner of the stair railing.
The crown prince remained silent for a long time before letting out a silent chuckle and turning his gaze to the palace under the bright sunlight.
Suddenly, a figure was vaguely seen in the shadows at the corner of the palace path on the right. It flashed by, and before I could see it clearly, the figure had already turned and walked away in another direction.
Lin Wan, panting heavily, headed straight for Minghua Palace. She walked briskly along the brick-red palace walls, her heart pounding loudly in the quiet palace corridor, and it took her a long time to catch her breath.
Walking and stopping intermittently, just as we were about to see the gate of Minghua Palace, we unexpectedly encountered the returning procession of Princess Zhaoyi, and we quickened our pace.
Lin Wan took a moment to catch her breath and asked softly, "Your Highness, I am very grateful for your hospitality in the palace so I can recover from my injuries. When will Your Highness have some free time to..."
Before she could finish speaking, Princess Zhaoyi interrupted her abruptly.
"That thing isn't in the palace, it's at Cibei Temple. Come with me to Cibei Temple in a couple of days."
Lin Wan hesitated, but when she heard that they weren't in the palace, it meant she could leave the palace with them. Although she couldn't understand leaving, once she got what she wanted, she wouldn't have to stay by Princess Zhaoyi's side anymore, which was at least a good thing.
She nodded in agreement with trepidation and followed Princess Zhaoyi and the others into the palace.
Not far behind, in a corner of the palace wall where the bright sunlight couldn't reach, a servant emerged from the shadows. He glanced at the tightly closed doors of Minghua Palace, then turned and hurriedly left.
At the fishpond in the Imperial Garden, the koi carp swam happily at the bottom of the pond. Thinking that the two people standing by the pond had something to feed them, they all swam around in front of them.
At that moment, a servant hurried over from another direction, bowed, stepped forward, and whispered something in his ear.
Xie Huaiyuan, who happened to be standing in the shade by the pond, had a handsome face that lacked the warmth of the sunlight and instead had a cold look on it. His voice was cold as he asked, "Has the list of people going to Cibei Temple been finalized?"
While Shen Rong was looking down at the koi in the pond, she didn't look up and replied, "It's settled, but it hasn't been submitted to the Crown Prince for review yet."
Xie Huaiyuan lowered his eyes, his voice indifferent.
"Add me to the list, I'm going to Cibei Temple this time too."
"What?" Shen Rongshi was shocked by the words in her ear. She couldn't believe it and suddenly looked up, staring wide-eyed at the man standing in the shadows beside her. "Didn't you say you wanted to keep the prince here so you could settle some of the things that were left behind? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
Xie Huaiyuan gazed at the koi swimming happily at the bottom of the pond, his gaze so deep and unsettling that it sent a chill down one's spine.
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