Chapter Fifteen: Only the One Knows the Warmth and Coldness
Braving the raging wind and rain, the group struggled forward. As darkness fell, the deafening roar of the surging river rose behind them, and the rapidly collapsing riverbanks made the journey fraught with fear. The wind and rain were fierce, and the roads were exceptionally muddy; several carts carrying supplies overturned along the way. In this critical moment, Mu Lian ordered the soldiers of the Judicial Office to assist the Imperial Guards, selecting useful items to tie to their bodies with ropes, and continuing the march with their burdens.
Her raincoat was soaked through, and even the veil used to cover her face under her straw hat was stuck tightly to her face. Mu Lian tilted her head back and wiped the rainwater off her face, then trudged through the mud back to the carriage.
"Head of the Imperial Academy, Attendant Meng, please come to my carriage for a chat..." Ye Yuqing stood quietly by the carriage, guarded by her attendant Ye Xun, as if she had been longing to return for a long time.
Rainwater dripped incessantly from the edge of the large oil-paper umbrella. Gently lifting the umbrella, a handsome and refined face was revealed beneath it. Raindrops dampened the man's hair and clothes, creating a fine mist on his long eyelashes. Combined with his slightly pale complexion and slightly panting expression, Mu Lian was suddenly struck by a feeling of pity for him.
Yu Guangzhong caught a glimpse of Meng Yuan beside him, her face full of pleading as she frantically blinked at him. Mu Lian couldn't help but smile. She figured if she didn't respond soon, this pitiful Ye Tanhua would probably shatter, which would be a terrible sin.
Mu Lian subtly stroked the hilt of her sword with her slender fingers and gave Meng Yuan a barely perceptible nod. Meng Yuan understood and immediately said, "In that case, thank you very much, Lord Ye. This humble official will respectfully accept your offer."
"Please..." After glancing at the woman's raincoat, which was already soaked by the rain, Ye Yuqing led Ye Xun quickly toward her carriage.
Is everything prepared in the car?
"Don't worry, young master, everything is prepared..."
"good."
Originally, the carriage of the Imperial Stud was only slightly more luxurious than the one Mu Lian rode in. However, due to the Empress's favor towards Ye Yuqing, the carriage sent by those skilled at reading people was a more luxurious version. Although the exterior remained largely unchanged, the interior was extremely comfortable. Not only was it highly windproof and rainproof, but it also had a wooden couch for resting.
A soft carpet lay beneath the couch, and incense burned in a burner on a nearby table. Compared to the cold, empty, and almost leaky carriage of the Judicial Office, it was infinitely better, truly enviable. Now that she had finally received the invitation, Meng Yuan felt her wish had been fulfilled. Her posture when she alighted from the carriage seemed more agile than usual. If it weren't for Mu Lian's cold glance suppressing her, her inner excitement would probably have erupted immediately.
Inside the carriage, tea and snacks were prepared on a small table beside the wooden couch, with wisps of steam rising from it. The delicate aroma of tea wafted to her nose, and holding it in her hands brought a sense of warmth. Meng Yuan instantly felt an overwhelming fondness for this Lord Ye.
With cool, aloof eyes sweeping over the carriage, Mu Lian, now dressed, stood behind Meng Yuan, her expression serene, as if nothing before her stirred any emotion within her. But Meng Yuan knew that the Headmaster was just as overjoyed as she was.
Just then, the carriage came to a rocky area. Although it wasn't muddy, the ride was quite bumpy, but Mu Lian and Meng Yuan didn't notice anything amiss. The wafting fragrance warmed their bodies and hearts, and there were also colorful pieces of Qinghai jade specially presented beside them. Holding them brought warmth to their hands, making them feel a deep sense of comfort on this damp, rainy day.
After Mu Lian and Meng Yuan were settled, Ye Yiqing sat back down. The rain had soaked the hem of his robes and his shoes from the journey outside. His attendant, Ye Xun, noticed his young master's slightly pale face and felt a pang of heartache: "Young master, why did you have to do this?" But before he could finish, Ye Yiqing interrupted him: "Don't say anything more. I know what I'm doing..."
"Know your place? If you knew your place, would you have gotten yourself into this miserable state?" Ye Xun thought resentfully. Although he didn't say anything more on the surface, he was inwardly cursing, but he still helped his young master change into clean shoes and boots.
The Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, the heir of the Prince of Ruyang is requesting an audience outside..." The female official Hua Wan reported softly inside the Yan Ying Hall.
The Empress stopped writing and straightened up from behind the table displaying memorials, her voice light: "Oh, Young Master Li is here again?"
“Yes…” Hua Wan bowed respectfully, “We have been waiting outside the hall for some time now…”
The Empress glanced at the incense burner in the hall, estimated the time, and waved her hand, saying, "Then let Young Master Li wait a little longer..."
Hua Wan's expression shifted slightly, then she nodded and replied, "Yes."
The weather was fine today, though the capital city was already sweltering in the summer heat. Prince Li Peixuan of Ruyang waited under the blazing afternoon sun for a full hour. Although there were shady spots beside the palace, Li Peixuan remained standing quietly in front of the palace, not moving an inch.
Large beads of sweat streamed down his cheeks, past his prominent Adam's apple, dampening the collar of his shirt and leaving a wet patch on his light-colored garment. Strands of hair, ruffled by the wind and glistening with sweat, clung to his face. His slightly upturned eyes were reddened, and his once fair skin was now tinged with a red. The young Li Lang was no longer the dashing, handsome figure he had been when he first arrived. However, his expression remained calm. His profile was sharply defined, with only the slightest hint of dissatisfaction in his tightly pursed lips.
As the sun began to set, the Empress seemed to finally remember the Prince of Ruyang, and waved her hand, ordering, "It's getting late. Let young Li Lang have dinner with me. He doesn't need to leave the palace tonight; he can stay overnight..."
"Yes." The female official, Hua Wan, accepted the order and quietly withdrew to make the arrangements.
Before long, Li Peixuan, having bathed and changed, gracefully arrived. Li Peixuan understood the meaning of this "slap and then treat" approach; both the thunder and rain were expressions of imperial favor, and he would accept them willingly. However, if this could earn him the Empress's favor, then it would be a blessing in disguise, and his suffering today would not have been in vain.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well..." As soon as he entered the hall, Li Peixuan bowed deeply to the Empress.
After Li Peixuan finished his bow, the Empress slightly raised her arm and said with a loving smile, "Young Master Li, why are you being so formal? Just call me Imperial Sister..."
"Royal Sister?" Li Peixuan unconsciously raised his eyes to glance at the Empress. The Empress's expression was kind, but her eyes held a deep, unsettling light. Back then, the Prince of Ruyang had boasted in court that he wanted his son adopted by the Empress, intending to place his son a generation below her so he would address her as "Mother Empress." Now, however, the Empress wanted Li Peixuan to call her "Royal Sister." It seemed the Prince of Ruyang's scheme hadn't gone as planned.
His gaze seemed to casually sweep over Hua Wan, the female official behind the Empress, and Li Peixuan respectfully replied, "Yes, then thank you for the banquet, Your Majesty."
The banquet concluded smoothly, and the Empress bestowed many gifts upon him before ordering Li Peixuan to settle in. Behind him, the Empress's deep gaze followed the figure of the Prince of Ruyang all the way to the outside of the palace. His back view was that of a man in his prime.
Outside the palace, the moonlight was bright and clear, not yet full, a perfect summer night.
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