Chapter 172 A Natural Success
Turning around, Hongzhao grabbed his bewildered third brother who was still trying to follow him forward. He silently looked away. Actually, watching the show from afar was the best course of action, but the scene that followed was too beautiful for him to bear.
"Fifth Brother, why don't we go in with Father?" Although Hongshi didn't understand, he still obediently stopped and went back.
He looked into the room, puzzled, but couldn't see anything. "Is this where Consort Zhen used to live? Shouldn't we go in and say hello? I've seen Father Emperor go in for a while and there's been no movement. Is he waiting for us?"
Hongzhao paused almost imperceptibly. He had been so busy feeling embarrassed for others that he hadn't noticed that there had been no scolding, no angry shouts, no smashing of dishes, no crying or begging for mercy, and even the figure of Su Peisheng, who was faintly visible at the door, was standing there calmly.
Hmm? Can three people really blend in so quickly?
He quickly told himself to turn on the surveillance camera, but found that there was no three people together. In Zhen Huan's view, there was only one person in bright yellow.
What about Prince Guo? Even if there was a back door, it would be impossible for him to escape in such a short time. He must still be in this room. As the viewpoint shifted, Hongzhao looked at the large mahogany cabinet by the bed and fell into deep thought.
The hanging ring on the cabinet was still trembling slightly, clearly having just been moved. Unfortunately, Yinzhen was completely focused on the woman opposite him, whom he hadn't seen for two years, dressed in a nun's robes, looking as pure and beautiful as a lotus emerging from clear water, and he didn't notice this at all.
In truth, Hongzhao had many ways to "accidentally" expose them if he wanted to, but he hesitated as he took a step back. If the Emperor caught them red-handed, these two would truly be doomed for the rest of their lives, and it was uncertain whether they would even have a future.
But Zhen Huan never intentionally harmed her mother or herself while in the palace. Prince Guo was a good uncle to her. It would be hard to believe that she only wanted to watch the show for herself.
He pondered for a moment, then thought to himself, "So be it. If Zhen Huan is lucky enough to get away with this, and they can live a carefree life outside the palace without ever having to enter again, that would be a pretty good ending."
Fortunately, her clothes were loose, and even in her shock, Zhen Huan didn't forget to bend over and turn to the side to cover her stomach. Her voice trembled, and her expression as she turned to the side was full of panic.
Just now, Yunli brought the marriage compatibility chart and wrote their names on it. She was overjoyed and was holding the chart, reading it word by word to her four-month-old baby. But then the door was suddenly pushed open, and the cold mountain wind rushed in, making her shiver. Then came the Emperor's voice, which sounded like a nightmare.
He regarded his marriage certificate with Yunli as a symbol of his longing and affection for him.
She glanced at the mahogany cabinet beside her, closed her eyes tightly, suppressed the emotions surging in her chest, and spoke in a sorrowful and nostalgic voice.
"Your Majesty...Why is Your Majesty here?"
She refused to turn around, only showing Yinzhen a sorrowful profile. Her brows were full of worry, and her elegant temperament made Yinzhen even more irresistible. He wanted to take a step closer, but Zhen Huan wouldn't let him get close, only twisting her body and avoiding him.
The room wasn't large to begin with, and as he wandered around, Yinzhen inevitably ended up next to the mahogany cabinet. He casually sat down on the bed, even taking the time to touch the scraped red paint on the cabinet door. "Your place is too austere. Even the cabinet is old and worn. Inside..."
Hearing the tone of the voice, which clearly indicated a desire to open the gate and see what was going on, Zhen Huan felt her heart leap into her throat. Without even looking back, she turned around and quickly walked to the Emperor—"Fourth Prince! Lingyun Peak is remote and difficult to reach. Why has Your Majesty come here?"
Yinzhen's attention was drawn to her again. He looked at the woman who was half-squatting in front of him with a comforting gaze—"I heard from the nuns outside that you were living separately due to illness. It was not easy for me to leave the palace, so I was naturally worried about you and had to come and see you. Who knew that I would hear your heartfelt words?"
She couldn't maintain this half-squatting position for long. Zhen Huan knew that since the Emperor had come today and heard such words, he would not leave easily. Thinking of Yunli, who was still hiding in the mahogany cabinet and could be discovered at any time, and her parents who were seriously ill in Ningguta, she gritted her teeth, calmed herself down, and leaned her head close to the Emperor's shoulder.
"As long as Huan'er knows that Si Lang still has a little bit of sincerity in his heart, even if she dies right now, it will be worth it." Her voice was filled with endless sorrow, and her soft and weak words once again touched Yin Zhen's heart.
"If you had been like this back then, why would I have punished you so severely?" He raised his hand and stroked Zhen Huan's thin back, feeling the warmth and breath of the person in his arms.
To avoid her already protruding belly, Zhen Huan raised her hand and pressed it against the Emperor's chest with some force, her face flushed with a mixture of anxiety and embarrassment.
She understood better than anyone what such an action meant. But now it seemed there was no other way for her. The Emperor was not one to hide his desires, and everything that followed was simply a natural progression.
The most urgent task is to get Yunli out of there.
She lowered her head, tugged at the Emperor's sleeve, then bowed and backed away step by step. She pushed open the half-closed door of the inner chamber. Su Peisheng stared blankly at the two people who walked out from inside, their eyes filled with affection. He was stunned for a moment, then walked out of the outer hall where the Buddha statue was enshrined, making sure to close the door tightly after he came to his senses.
He took two steps back and waited outside for a moment, but did not hear the expected sound of clothes falling to the ground. Instead, a strange, indescribable sound came through the door.
He pursed his lips, thinking to himself that he was in a good mood. He turned around and shooed the group of nuns who had followed him back. He bowed and walked up to the two princes. “Your Highness, Third Prince, even if we go up to the top of the mountain in April, it will still be windy. Let’s go to the temple halfway up the mountain to wait. This servant will speak to the Emperor.”
As he spoke, he looked back and suddenly remembered something—"Hey, where did this little Dezi go? He finally gets to go out, why isn't he properly serving the Crown Prince?"
Hongzhao's expression was unreadable, but he felt a pang of regret. The happiest time of her life was finally coming to an end, and his act of kindness had ultimately been in vain.
I just hope that Xiao Dezi has gained something, that he has something on their hands, so that no matter what happens in the future, they won't be able to threaten me and my mother.
"Thank you, Eunuch Su. I've told Xiao Dezi to stay with Hong Jin. Hong Jin didn't bring many people with him this time. We're going to offer incense to the Empress Dowager."
At the same time, a soft sound came from a place unnoticed in the backyard. A disheveled and staggering man emerged from a small door, about half a person's height, hidden by a pile of firewood.
As he walked down the mountain path, looking back every few steps, completely lost in thought, he failed to notice that the marriage compatibility chart, which had been peeking out from his bosom, had quietly disappeared into a pair of slender, well-defined hands.
Xiao Dezi carefully put the marriage certificate into his arms and hurried quickly towards the mountainside.
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