Chapter 48 Moonlight [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Xu Luchuan, a pure-hearted young man.
Ten days later, Tang Shengan returned to the capital from Yongzhou under the pretext of celebrating the emperor's birthday.
In previous years, Tang Wuzheng would personally return to the capital to celebrate the young emperor's birthday. Unexpectedly, just half a month before Tang Wuzheng was about to return to the capital, the small kingdom of Xingwu launched an invasion, leaving him no choice but to personally lead the troops into battle.
Therefore, the task of celebrating the young emperor's birthday fell to the young general Tang Sheng'an.
Yongzhou was a long way off, and by the time Tang Sheng'an arrived in Jinling, it was already past 7 PM. The city gatekeeper, seeing him enter the city, immediately sent a messenger on horseback to deliver the news to the Wanshe Palace.
Inside the Shiguang Hall, Liu Shiyu set off after receiving the message. She gracefully stepped down the long steps in front of the hall, but when she looked up again and gazed at the distant lights...
Liu Shiyu was surprised to see Wei Jingshan, dressed in dazzling golden armor, spying on her in the dim light.
Liu Shiyu frowned, trying to pretend she didn't see him and brush past him. But the more hurried her steps became, the closer Wei Jingshan chased after her.
"Your Highness, are you going to pick up the young general?" A few steps away, Liu Shiyu could not escape his deep voice of inquiry.
Liu Shiyu suddenly stopped in her tracks and asked, "Do I need to report to the Marquis what I'm doing?"
Wei Jingshan gazed at Liu Shiyu's retreating figure, offering no reply. He boldly leaned forward, standing beside her, and said, "Your Highness, I will accompany you to greet the Young General. Your Highness, please."
Liu Shiyu looked back angrily, but seeing that Wei Jingshan was determined, and that time could not be wasted any longer, she had no choice but to compromise and walk forward without saying a word.
On long, cold winter nights, the only sound on the silent palace path was the wind.
Since that day, Wei Jingshan seems to have become a different person.
Before, he would only silently follow behind Liu Shiyu, always maintaining a proper distance, never daring to overstep it. But now, he brazenly stands shoulder to shoulder with her.
Wei Jingshan no longer wanted to be an insignificant presence in Liu Shiyu's eyes; he wanted her to come for him.
Outside the Wanshe Palace, Liu Shiyu stopped in her tracks. She followed the palace attendant who stood beside her, leading the way. The palace lanterns in their hands swayed in the cold wind, their light blurring her hazy eyes.
She and Wei Jingshan stood silently facing each other.
The quiet Imperial Street was suddenly broken by the soft sound of horses' hooves. Wei Jingshan looked up and saw Tang Sheng'an riding towards them in the distance. Gazing at the scene before him, Wei Jingshan narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, saying in a sinister tone, "Your Highness, do you still remember what I said?"
Liu Shiyu did not answer.
Wei Jingshan continued, "As Your Highness has said, you have no other choice, and that begins from this moment."
“Talking about dreams within dreams.” Liu Shiyu turned to look at him. “You’re not asleep yet, and the Marquis has already started dreaming.”
Wei Jingshan remained expressionless as Tang Shengan drew closer. He indifferently put his hand, which was gripping his sword, behind his back.
Tang Sheng'an approached, and a palace attendant took his horse. He dismounted. After regaining his footing, Tang Sheng'an subconsciously glanced around before bowing to Liu Shiyu and saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be well."
"Yongzhou is a thousand miles away, Young General, you must have had a long and arduous journey." Liu Shiyu raised his hand, gesturing for him to rise. "There's no need for such formalities."
Perhaps it was because the Tang family had been stationed on the border for many years. Liu Shiyu didn't seem to know Tang Shengan very well. They looked at each other, their eyes cold.
Therefore, Liu Shiyu's stiff address of "cousin" was omitted.
Tang Shengan glanced at Wei Jingshan subconsciously before turning his gaze back to Liu Shiyu and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Young General, you must be tired from your long journey." The distant greeting in the cold wind was finally broken by Wei Jingshan, "Your Highness, we should hurry into the palace to report to His Majesty, so that the Young General can return to his residence to rest as soon as possible."
Liu Shiyu remained silent, only nodding to the "distinguished guest" who had traveled from afar. The group then set off.
As you pass through the palace gate, palace servants lead the way, carrying palace lanterns and swaying them past the gray-blue walls.
Three people with different thoughts and feelings, suspicious of each other in the darkness of night.
Upon entering Xuannei Gate, Wei Jingshan suddenly stopped. Standing not far behind Liu Shiyu and Tang Shengan, he spoke: "Your Highness, Young General. I still have to make my night patrol, so I will take my leave now."
Liu Shiyu ignored her; Wei Jingshan was already used to her coldness.
He stepped past Tang Shengan and said in a low voice, "Young General, it's too late today. I will personally visit you at your residence tomorrow."
“Okay,” Tang Shengan replied with a composed expression.
Before leaving, Wei Jingshan glanced at Liu Shiyu one last time, his gaze truly intriguing. He was gone. Liu Shiyu and Tang Shengan continued towards the young emperor's Fenghua Hall.
Upon arriving at Fenghua Hall, the young emperor had already been waiting for a long time.
When Liu Zhizhou met Tang Shengan, it was the same as when Liu Shiyu met him. They looked at each other, displaying the proper etiquette between ruler and subject.
The same small talk was repeated once again.
It wasn't until a female official serving the emperor secretly yawned on the steps that Liu Zhizhou noticed him and spoke up: "It's late and the dew is heavy, young general, you should go back and rest early. You may leave now."
Tang Shengan bowed.
Liu Zhizhou waved his sleeve and looked at Liu Shiyu, saying softly, "Sister, you should go back too. Take it easy on the way."
"Your Majesty, you should also get some rest."
Liu Shiyu glanced up and watched Liu Zhizhou leave from his seat before turning around. Tang Sheng'an followed closely behind her as they walked out of Fenghua Hall. Standing in front of the hall, Tang Sheng'an called out to Liu Shiyu.
"Your Highness, please wait."
Liu Shiyu stopped and looked back. Tang Shengan stepped forward and asked, "Is Your Highness free tomorrow? If so, please come to my residence for a chat at noon."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu narrowed her eyes, showing some hesitation.
"This is Father's will. Whether you come or not... it all depends on Your Highness's decision." Seeing this, Tang Sheng'an walked past her, giving Liu Shiyu no chance to reply, and stepped down the long steps.
Liu Shiyu stood before the hall, watching Tang Shengan's departing figure. She sensed an ominous meaning in his expression. Yet, she felt no fear. For she knew that if she wanted to sever ties with the Tang family, she would inevitably have to take this step sooner or later.
Although Liu Shiyu was not a master strategist, she was still composed.
When Liu Shiyu came to her senses, the area in front of Fenghua Hall was deserted. Only then did she step onto the bluestone steps and head home.
...
At the beginning of Hai hour, I returned home.
The streets of Shanghe were nearly deserted, and Liu Shiyu leaned wearily against the carriage. She lowered her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
"Your Highness, we've arrived home." Lian Yue reined in her horse outside the princess's residence.
Liu Shiyu opened her eyes upon hearing the sound, silently supporting herself on the carriage door as she slowly alighted. She lifted the hem of her skirt and climbed the steps, crossing the gate and heading into the mansion.
Inside the mansion gate, the servants still stood on both sides.
Liu Shiyu didn't look up, letting the person beside her take off her fur robe. After the robe was taken away, she was about to move towards the inner room when the person who had just undressed her grabbed her arm.
Just as Liu Shiyu was about to get angry, the man spoke in a deep voice: "Why are you back so late?"
Looking back suddenly, I still see those warm and affectionate eyes.
Liu Shiyu instantly snapped out of her daze, and then a bright smile appeared on her face. She didn't want to bring her gloom to Xu Luchuan as well.
She spoke softly, "Little Green, what are you doing here?"
"If I'm not here, where am I?" Xu Luchuan looked at her smiling face and unconsciously reached out to pinch her cheek. "Are you hungry? While I was waiting for you, I learned how to make lotus root and pork rib soup from Feng Rong. Come on, let's try it while it's hot."
As he spoke, Xu Luchuan rolled up her fur robe and walked towards the central courtyard.
Liu Shiyu gazed at Xu Luchuan's tall, straight back. Suddenly, she lifted her skirt and chased after him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against his back.
He even put all his strength on Xu Luchuan.
Xu Luchuan was taken aback by the sudden choking: "Liu Shiyu, what are you doing? I waited for you to come home and made you soup. And this is how you treat me? This is utterly ingratitude! You're trying to murder your husband!"
Liu Shiyu buried her face in his back, giggling incessantly. Her anger and displeasure were all dispelled by Xu Luchuan.
She called sweetly from behind him, "My love, carry me on your back."
Xu Luchuan was secretly delighted to hear Liu Shiyu address him as "my lord." His upturned lips seemed to soar to the heavens, but he pretended not to have heard clearly and asked, "What did you say?"
“I said, carry me on your back.” Liu Shiyu put her arm around Xu Luchuan and looked up. Xu Luchuan patted the back of her hand hanging around her neck. “Not this one.”
"Not this one?" Liu Shiyu said, pulling one hand back and scratching her head in confusion.
But by the time she realized what had happened, her face was already flushed. She reached out her sinful, icy hand and shoved it into the back of Xu Luchuan's neck, repeatedly calling out, "My lord, my lord, my lord~"
"Carry me, carry me, carry me~"
Now, Xu Luchuan had no way to escape. He had no choice but to submit obediently.
"wait for me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Luchuan turned and handed her fur robe to a servant standing nearby. Then he turned back to Liu Shiyu and swept her up in his arms. Liu Shiyu gasped as she fell into Xu Luchuan's embrace; it was the first time he had ever held her like this.
Liu Shiyu fearfully clung to Xu Luchuan's neck, not daring to relax for a moment.
"Didn't I tell you to carry me on your back? Why are you hugging me!" Liu Shiyu complained, but she was secretly overjoyed.
Xu Luchuan easily carried Liu Shiyu and strode towards the central courtyard. After hearing Liu Shiyu's question, he replied, "What? Is Your Highness dissatisfied? But why do I see a smile on Your Highness's lips?"
"Hmph, this princess did not. It was the Right Supervisor who made a mistake."
Liu Shiyu feigned disdain and turned her head away. Xu Luchuan continued walking forward with a smile.
Under the corridor, Liu Shiyu suddenly turned her gaze to Xu Luchuan's handsome profile—a face she could never tire of looking at. Lost in admiration, Liu Shiyu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking tentatively, "Xiao Lü, how about... you don't leave tonight..."
"Why?" Xu Luchuan kept walking, not thinking about her words at all.
Liu Shiyu poked his chest with her finger, then said coyly, "No reason. It's just that the wind and the moon are so lovely!"
As she spoke, she winked vigorously at Xu Luchuan.
To everyone's surprise, Xu Luchuan, after understanding the implication, refused righteously and firmly: "Stop, no way. Before we're married, Liu Shiyu, don't even think about such a thing."
Unexpectedly, Xu Luchuan, who seemed so unserious, was actually more serious than Liu Shiyu, who appeared so proper. Liu Shiyu clenched her fist in shame and indignation after he finished speaking, silently screaming in her heart...
When will we finally be able to get married?!
Xu Luchuan, I hate that you're such a blockhead.
Liu Shiyu felt increasingly aggrieved, so she punched him in the chest. Xu Luchuan suppressed a laugh, walked through Xiaoyuezhai, and threw Liu Shiyu onto the couch.
"Ouch." The soft yet firm couch still made Liu Shiyu feel a sharp pain. "Xu Luchuan, if you didn't want to stay, then don't stay. Why are you taking revenge on me! It's like you suffered some great loss!"
Xu Luchuan remained silent upon hearing this, then leaned down without making a sound, placing one hand on the back of the chair to encircle Liu Shiyu. His heavy breathing fell evenly on Liu Shiyu's cheek, startling her so much that she dared not breathe.
What's he doing? Wasn't he unwilling just now? Is he playing hard to get?
Hehe, our little green one is really good at this.
But, isn't this place a bit inappropriate...?
Liu Shiyu became more and more excited as she thought about it. But to her surprise, after gently brushing a stray hair behind her ear, Xu Luchuan only said in a deep voice, "I'm not afraid of suffering a loss, I'm afraid you'll suffer a loss."
After speaking, Liu Shiyu remained silent, stunned.
Gazing into his clear eyes, Liu Shiyu suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
"In that case, a kiss would be alright, wouldn't it?"
"Of course."
Xu Luchuan then planted a deep, passionate kiss on Liu Shiyu, who basked in his love, lost in its sweet embrace. The thin mist of Jinling obscured the unspoken romance, but it remained forever etched in her heart.
The kiss ended, and the wind rose. Liu Shiyu nestled into Xu Luchuan's arms, whispering against his shoulder, "Xu Luchuan, if I hadn't met you, if you had married someone in Liyang, what would I have done...?"
"Don't think too much, there aren't that many 'what ifs'." Xu Luchuan felt Liu Shiyu hug him tightly, and he rubbed her head. "We will always be together."
"I'll believe you for now."
Liu Shiyu smiled and nodded, then stepped away from Xu Luchuan's embrace.
Turning her gaze to the lotus root and pork rib soup on the small table, Liu Shiyu leaned forward to pick it up, but Xu Luchuan tried to snatch it away.
"What are you doing?" Liu Shiyu gripped the soup tightly in her hand as if she were protecting her food. Xu Luchuan shook his head helplessly when he saw her like this. "It's cold. I'll have someone heat it up for you."
Liu Shiyu, however, acted like a child: "It's not cold, it's fine. I want to drink it now."
As she spoke, she picked up the bowl of not-so-hot soup and drank it down. Xu Luchuan couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had no choice but to give up. After a few gulps of soup, Liu Shiyu smiled with satisfaction: "Xiao Lü, good cooking skills~ It seems you've truly inherited Feng Rong's skills. It looks like after we get married, the work at the stove will have to be handed over to my husband."
"As for me, I'll just focus on eating!"
Liu Shiyu was smug, while Xu Luchuan, with his arms crossed, looked at her with doting eyes and said nothing. When they looked up again, Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan smiled at each other.
Both of them were drunk under the moonlight tonight.
...
The next day, after the morning court session, Liu Shiyu accompanied Liu Zhizhou to Shiguang Hall to review memorials.
She seemed distracted until lunchtime. Sitting across from him at the long table, Liu Zhizhou couldn't help but ask with concern, "Sister, is something on your mind?"
Liu Shiyu seemed worried about what Tang Shengan had said last night, but she had no intention of repeating those words to Liu Zhizhou. So, she could only pretend to be fine, shake her head, pick up a piece of fish and put it down for Liu Zhizhou, and said, "It's nothing, Your Majesty. I'm sorry to have troubled you. Perhaps I didn't sleep well last night, I'm a little dazed today."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhizhou stopped asking questions, and the two of them quietly finished their lunch.
It was almost noon, and the hour of Wei (1-3 PM) was approaching.
Liu Shiyu tossed the handkerchief he had used to wash his hands onto the tray held by a palace maid, then turned to Liu Zhizhou to say goodbye, "Your Majesty, I have other matters to attend to. I shall take my leave now."
Liu Zhizhou lowered his eyes and replied, "Okay."
After leaving Shiguang Hall and Wanshe Palace, Liu Shiyu headed towards the Tang family's residence. When he arrived at the gate of the Tang family's mansion, the servant who had been waiting for a long time saw Liu Shiyu and hurriedly went up to greet him, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness. The eldest son is waiting for you in the front hall. Please follow me."
Liu Shiyu glanced at the servant boy but said nothing. He then followed him into the Tang residence.
Upon arriving at the front hall, Liu Shiyu spotted Tang Shengan from afar. Tang Shengan seemed certain that Liu Shiyu would come and sat quietly with his eyes closed in the hall.
The servant bid farewell to Liu Shiyu at the entrance of the hall, and Liu Shiyu stepped into the hall. Standing in front of Tang Shengan, she spoke arrogantly: "I wonder what business the young general has summoned me here today? Or does my uncle have any instructions?"
Tang Shengan slowly opened his eyes, picked up the teacup on the table, and silently looked up at Liu Shiyu.
Today, Tang Shengan was no longer as polite and courteous to Liu Shiyu as he had been yesterday. He even lacked manners. Liu Shiyu couldn't say whether it was because the Tang family was powerful and he was arrogant. But in any case, the atmosphere was unpleasant.
Only after Tang Shengan put down his teacup did he speak, "Your Highness, please sit down."
"Young General, let's not beat around the bush..." Liu Shiyu stood in the hall, somewhat impatiently, "I am not just here for idle talk, just say what you have to say."
Tang Shengan looked up at Liu Shiyu and said slowly, "Yuanzhang, you really look just like your aunt. If she were still alive, she would be proud of you now."
The sound of Yuan Zhang, whom Liu Shiyu hadn't heard in a long time, did not make Liu Shiyu lower her guard.
She stared intently at Tang Sheng'an and replied, "Do you think this is what the Empress Dowager wants?"
"Won't you?" Tang Shengan smiled, his smile carrying a hint of mockery. "You've protected Shao Yuan for the Tang family; Her Majesty the Empress will surely be pleased."
Liu Shiyu found this amusing and retorted, "Enough! You guys don't understand her at all...that's why you say such high-sounding things..."
Tang Shengan silently stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked past Liu Shiyu.
Once they reached the front of the hall, he finally spoke: "We don't understand? Do you, Yuan Zhang, understand?"
Tang Sheng'an shook his head unconsciously as he spoke. When he spoke again, he finally returned to the main point: "This trip back to the capital, seemingly to celebrate the young emperor's birthday on behalf of my father, is actually on his behalf. I'm taking this opportunity to speak with you, Yuan Zhang..."
Tang Shengan hesitated, glancing back at Liu Shiyu, who remained standing with her back turned.
"Your marriage."
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Shiyu turned around abruptly. She wanted to speak but felt a lump in her throat. Tang Sheng'an met Liu Shiyu's eyes again, and he could only read horror in her gaze.
[Author's Note]
First, Xu Luchuan was forced into marriage by his own father, and now Liu Shiyu is forced into marriage by her uncle.
The Troubles of Some Single Young People TT
Liu Shiyu: What did we do to deserve this?! Can't I just have a quiet, secret relationship?! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 20221230 22:05:07 and 20230102 20:14:56!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmines: Xiao Changfeng (2);
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: 54477256 (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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