Chapter 39 Concerns [VIP]
Chapter Summary: All concerns stem from love.
Meanwhile, in Feng'an Palace, Liu Shiyu dismissed all the servants and female officials, standing alone before the portrait of the late Empress Tang Yue, lost in thought. Behind her, the courtyard was desolate; the phoenix-tail flowers that Empress Tang had personally planted during the Hongyu era had also withered.
Liu Shiyu lowered her eyes and gently reached out to remove the phoenix hairpin from her hair.
She spoke first: "Mother, could you tell your son...?"
"What should I do, son?"
Should I let go? Or should I take a gamble? But I'm afraid the ending will be that we both grow tired of each other. I know there are many things in this world that I simply can't give him. Yet I still want to give him everything. But that's not fair to him at all.
As she spoke, clear tears streamed down her cheeks. Suppressing her resentment, Liu Shiyu whispered, "Why was I the one chosen in the first place...?"
Liu Shiyu angrily helped him onto the offering table.
She wanted to marry her ideal husband like other women, and she wanted to stand openly and honestly with Xu Luchuan. She didn't want to watch Xu Luchuan leave like this, powerless to stop it. She didn't want to be without even the right to try and keep him.
But in this empty and desolate hall, no one answered her question. Everything before her eyes, just like reality, filled Liu Shiyu with despair.
With her mother dead and her father abandoned, Liu Shiyu has never felt at peace throughout her life.
So much so that now, when true happiness is right in front of her, she hesitates to reach out and grasp it.
A winter wind swept through the hall, causing the calligraphy and paintings written by Empress Tang during her lifetime to sway. Liu Shiyu turned around and saw a solitary figure, trailing a long robe, walking towards her from beneath the ethereal curtains.
The emperor stood still, his golden shoes halting his steps.
Upon hearing that Liu Shiyu had gone straight to Feng'an Palace after returning to the palace and stayed there for more than two hours, Liu Zhizhou put down his studies and rushed over.
Looking at Liu Shiyu, who seemed dazed, Liu Zhizhou softly called out, "Sister."
"Why is the Emperor here?" Liu Shiyu withdrew her gaze and placed the phoenix hairpin she was clutching tightly on the offering table. "Has the Emperor finished all the homework assigned by the Grand Tutor?"
Liu Zhizhou did not answer Liu Shiyu's question, but continued to ask, "Are you alright?"
Liu Shiyu didn't want to face Liu Zhizhou in the same state as before, so she forced a bitter smile. She shook her head, saying nothing, but that said it all.
I stepped out of the back room onto the gleaming floor and walked to the phoenix throne.
Liu Shiyu brushed away the fine dust with her palm, lowered her eyes, and called out, "Your Majesty, since you're here, please keep your elder sister company and talk to her."
Liu Zhizhou came out from the back room, his heavy brows never relaxing for a moment. He sensed her unusual behavior. But he still replied, "Okay."
"I just wonder... what does elder sister want to talk about?"
Liu Shiyu's fingertips slid down the phoenix head, and she sat down on the steps, at the foot of the phoenix throne. Liu Zhizhou remained standing proudly in the hall, beside her.
Looking at the pitch-black night outside the hall, Liu Shiyu hugged his arms tightly and slowly said, "What should we talk about? Yes, what should we talk about?"
Liu Shiyu's eyes were empty. Her mind was filled only with the lingering image of Xu Luchuan. He was the most unforgettable bond in her heart. Liu Zhizhou followed Liu Shiyu's gaze and looked outside. He spoke, "Have you asked that person what he wants?"
Liu Shiyu turned around in surprise upon hearing this.
Liu Zhizhou then said, "My sister said there are many things she can't give him, but has she asked him what he wants?"
“You heard everything.” Liu Shiyu lowered her eyes again, but Liu Zhizhou continued to press, “Sister, answer me.”
"No, not even once." Liu Shiyu lowered her guard and shook her head.
Liu Zhizhou didn't care who that person was; he only wanted to help his older sister. Liu Zhizhou was the one in the world who most wanted Liu Shiyu to be happy.
“Then why don’t you ask, sister? Perhaps what he wants is exactly what you can give him. Asking him frankly is better than losing him in fear and uncertainty.” Liu Zhizhou said as he walked towards Liu Shiyu and gently sat down beside her. “Sister, I don’t want you to regret it.”
"You have already sacrificed too much for me and for Shaoyuan. I don't want to be a burden to you."
Liu Shiyu took Liu Zhizhou's hand and smiled knowingly.
“You are my brother, my dearest and most beloved family member. You are never a burden. You are right, sister, be brave and don’t regret it.”
"Ah Zhou, thank you."
Liu Zhizhou grasped Liu Shiyu's hand in return.
"Sister, don't be afraid. Just do what you want to do, and I will be your support."
Liu Shiyu nodded with relief. She felt less afraid now. She had thought she was walking alone, but in reality, someone had always been by her side. She had forgotten to look back, forgotten that the little prince who used to hide behind her had now become the emperor.
In this way, no matter what dangers they face next, they can face them together.
The siblings snuggled together, and Liu Zhizhou suddenly remembered the memorial sent by the Censorate that afternoon, so he said, "Sister, Marquis Shangming is coming back."
Liu Shiyu straightened up, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.
"What did they say in Yongzhou?" Liu Shiyu asked.
Liu Zhizhou truthfully recounted the contents of the memorial: "The Censorate's memorial stated that after you left, Marquis Shangming began the trial of the Yinshishan case. Seeing that the court had sent someone to personally handle the case, the local people submitted petitions one by one, exposing all the evil deeds that Prince Jing had committed over the years. Among them was evidence of the mine, which Marquis Shangming probably did not expect to go so smoothly. Therefore, he merged several cases and prepared to transfer the people to the Court of Justice and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs for joint investigation."
"After all, this matter concerns the royal family. He dared not easily convict him, but Prince Jing is now doomed."
"He has wreaked havoc in Yongzhou for so many years. No matter how he is sentenced, it will not appease my hatred, nor will it appease the hatred in the hearts of the people."
Liu Shiyu remained silent upon hearing this. As long as Liu Zhichuang received the punishment he deserved, she would be at ease.
"What time is it?" Liu Shiyu had forgotten how long she had stayed in Feng'an Palace; she only remembered that she had stayed from dawn until dusk. Liu Zhizhou glanced at the sky outside. "It's probably around 7:45 PM. Is my elder sister hungry? I'll order someone to prepare a meal."
戌时三刻？？？So late! Oh no!
Liu Shiyu suddenly stood up and walked quickly outside, ignoring Liu Zhizhou's question.
Liu Zhizhou, completely bewildered, got up and asked, "Sister, where are you going?"
Liu Shiyu waved without turning her head, then called out loudly, "Going home."
...
Once outside Feng'an Palace, Liu Shiyu, seated in his palanquin, kept urging, "Quickly, escort me out of the palace!"
Seeing that Liu Shiyu still looked worried when he went in, Lian Yue didn't bother to ask any more questions and immediately ordered the carriage to set off.
Today, the palanquin was moving several times faster than usual. The group rushed out of the inner palace, passed through the Xuannei Gate, and finally stopped outside the Wanshe Palace. Liu Shiyu stepped down from the palanquin in a few steps and then climbed into the carriage in a few more steps.
Standing between the carriage and the palanquin, Lian Yue finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Is there something urgent?"
Liu Shiyu didn't answer, but simply instructed as usual, "Return to the manor. It seems we won't be able to buy roast duck at Yanhexuan. Go straight back to the manor."
Even though Lian Yue was even more puzzled, she still set off in the carriage towards the princess's residence.
Upon arriving at the princess's residence, Liu Shiyu simply walked through the gates and entered.
Feng Rong, as usual, led the people to greet them.
"My dear prince, why are you only just returning?"
"Even when I'm working overtime, I've never seen anyone return this late. Do you know how long that person in the central courtyard has been waiting for you?"
"I told them to eat first, but they wouldn't eat. They just sat there waiting for you to come back. They didn't urge me or complain at all. Where can you find such a good husband! Mr. Xu even bought you so many things! He even prepared a small vegetarian meal for you."
"By the way, Your Highness, are you hungry? Should we prepare dinner?"
"Hey! Your Highness, are you even listening to me?"
Liu Shiyu walked further and further away amidst Feng Rong's nagging. She thought Xu Luchuan wouldn't come, or that he had already left. She never expected that Xu Luchuan would sit alone from dawn till dusk.
The faster your heart beats, the faster you walk.
Liu Shiyu would only truly believe Feng Rong's words after seeing the person she had been waiting for with her own eyes.
But for some reason, as Liu Shiyu was about to pass through Xiaoyuezhai, she subconsciously slowed down. She clenched her fists and slowly pushed open the door of Xiaoyuezhai.
She walked step by step toward the courtyard.
Looking up, Liu Shiyu saw Xu Luchuan leaning against the edge of the couch, resting with his arm propped up. He must have been waiting for a long time.
Liu Shiyu followed quietly and stood before Xu Luchuan, gazing intently at him. She neither spoke nor reached out. She simply stood there silently.
Suddenly, Liu Shiyu was surprised to find herself tightly wrapped around the waist by a pair of arms.
Xu Luchuan held Liu Shiyu without even opening his eyes. He gently pressed his forehead against her lower abdomen and then said in a deep voice, "Liu Shiyu, where did you go?"
[Author's Note]
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:44:58 on December 12, 2022 and 19:45:50 on December 13, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: mothorchid 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com