Chapter 1266 Reluctant to Part
The wind never stopped, and it picked up even more by evening.
After Shang Ruyi left, Tao Wanyin sat by the window reading, but perhaps disturbed by the constant sound of the wind and the rustling of the branches in the courtyard, she hardly turned a page in the past half hour.
After a while, amidst the noise, there seemed to be footsteps getting closer and closer.
Tao Wanyin subconsciously held her breath, and then she heard someone outside shout: "The Emperor has arrived!"
She hurriedly put down the book in her hand, tidied her appearance, and led the palace servants out to kneel and greet them. She saw Yuwen Yuan walk leisurely into Shicui Palace with his hands behind his back and a group of people, including Eunuch Yu. When he walked up to her, the wind lifted the bright yellow hem of his robe, making Tao Wanyin's eyes dazzle.
She hurriedly kowtowed: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Yuan had not entered the Shicui Palace for several days. When he saw her kneeling at his feet with her head down and a pitiful look on her face, he suddenly felt that the hard part of his chest had softened a lot.
He reached out his hand to her: "Get up."
Upon seeing that rough, large hand reaching out to her, Tao Wanyin immediately smiled with delight and hurriedly extended her jade-like hand to shake his. The two then entered the main hall together.
Although he hadn't been here for a few days, Yuwen Yuan was still very familiar with the place. He walked over and sat down, and Tao Wanyin personally served him tea. Yuwen Yuan picked it up, took a sip, looked around, and then asked, "What are you doing?"
"I have nothing to do, so I'll read a book."
"Reading is good; it can calm the mind."
"yes,"
Tao Wanyin answered, then looked at him cautiously, "Has Your Majesty had dinner yet? If not, then I'll have them—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yuwen Yuan waved his hand and said, "No need for that, I've already used it."
Tao Wanyin lowered her head in disappointment.
Yuwen Yuan took another sip of tea, glanced at her again, and said softly, "I ate the rock sugar bird's nest you sent, and I enjoyed it very much."
Tao Wanyin immediately replied, "If Your Majesty likes it, I will cook it every day and send it to Your Majesty."
Yuwen Yuan said, "That's not necessary. After all, it was a good gift from the Princess Consort of Qin, so no matter how good it is, it will all end up in my stomach."
Tao Wanyin lowered her head and said softly, "My whole being belongs to the Emperor, and what belongs to me also belongs to the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yuan smiled faintly and then gestured for her to sit down next to him.
The sun had already set, and a few cool breezes had dispelled the stuffy heat in the hall. The two of them, sitting close together, didn't feel too hot. Instead, a familiar sweet fragrance emanated from her, which was refreshing. Yuwen Yuan sighed comfortably and reached out to embrace her slender body. Tao Wanyin obediently nestled into his arms.
Then, Yuwen Yuan's deep voice came from above: "What did Princess Qin say to you today?"
Tao Wanyin's heart skipped a beat.
But her expression remained unchanged, and her breathing was not even slightly delayed. She only sighed softly and said, "It was just some reluctant parting words."
"Oh? She can't bear to part with it?"
"certainly,"
As Tao Wanyin spoke, she gently placed her hand on the back of Yuwen Yuan's hand, which was resting on his knee. Her fingertips rubbed against his nails, and although the pressure was light, a subtle, tingling sensation traveled from the back of her fingers to her heart. Tao Wanyin continued, "The Prince and Princess have lived in Chang'an for so many years, and all their relatives and friends are in Chang'an. How could they so easily sever ties?"
"..."
"Most importantly, if we go to Luoyang, the mountains are high and the roads are far, and we will no longer be able to enjoy the Emperor's company."
"..."
Yuwen Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Hmm."
After saying that, he looked down at Tao Wanyin's fair hand, which was intertwined with his own, and took her hand in his own, holding it tightly in his palm as if he were capturing a fragile bird: "And what about you?"
"Me? What?"
"Aren't you going to miss them too?"
"..."
Tao Wanyin's heart suddenly skipped a beat and almost jumped out of her throat.
But her face remained expressionless. Only when she looked up at Yuwen Yuan did she reveal a hint of helplessness and say, "The Princess Consort of Qin and I were on good terms. It is of course hard for me to see her leave like this."
"oh?"
"But it's also a good thing that they're going to Luoyang."
"How so?"
“My brother has gone to Luoyang to recuperate. He is not in good health. If His Highness Prince Qin goes to Luoyang, he might be able to take care of him.”
"..."
Yuwen Yuan probably didn't expect her to bring up Tao He's matter. He frowned slightly, his gaze sharp as if trying to see something in those gentle and kind eyes. But just like a sharp sword piercing a lake and not being able to scoop up a drop of water, those eyes only showed gentleness and kindness from beginning to end.
Just as the two were staring at each other for a while, until Tao Wanyin's breathing became uneven, they heard a muffled rumble from outside.
The two of them looked up at the same time.
A bolt of lightning ripped through the gloomy sky, followed by a torrential downpour.
The sudden rain caused the willow branches, which had been dancing in the wind, to droop down. The rain grew heavier and heavier, soon weaving a silver-gray curtain before their eyes, obscuring the distant scenery. In an instant, the two seemed to be isolated from the entire world by the rain.
A breeze carrying fine raindrops blew in from outside again, bringing an unexpected chill.
Tao Wanyin subconsciously leaned even closer into Yuwen Yuan's arms.
Yuwen Yuan looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips: "What's wrong? Are you afraid of thunder?"
"I am not afraid."
"Yes, I'm not afraid."
Tao Wanyin thought for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "Fortunately, the Princess Consort of Qin returned early."
When Shang Ruyi was mentioned, a hint of emotion, whether joy or anger, flashed in Yuwen Yuan's eyes. He gave an ambiguous "hmm." Tao Wanyin looked up at him again and smiled, "The Princess Consort of Qin told me that because she was going to Luoyang, she had been attending banquets and saying goodbye to people all day long and had rarely returned home. She heard that the young prince was being neglected in the Prince Qin's mansion and was having a lot of fun."
"..."
"She just saw that the weather was bad, so she rushed out of the palace, afraid that if she returned late, the young prince would catch a cold from fanning himself."
Only when Yuan Gan was mentioned did a hint of tenderness appear in Yuwen Yuan's deep, unfathomable eyes.
He said, "Yes, if they leave, I will hardly see this little grandson again."
Tao Wanyin looked at him: "Your Majesty is reluctant to part with it?"
Yuwen Yuan remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I can't bear to part with it, but there's nothing I can do."
"..."
"The child is grown up."
"..."
Tao Wanyin smiled and said, "Yes."
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