She remembered that when she was young, she sneaked into her father's study and saw her father often staring at the painting in a daze. Once, she even saw her father crying while looking at the picture of mountains and seas.
Her father often said that this map of mountains and seas was more important than her life.
It will be given as a gift in the future.
She once asked who the gift would be given to, but her father just smiled and said nothing. Annoyed by her constant questioning, he finally said that he would give the gift to a young man when he grew up.
But when she wanted to ask who that boy was,
My father won't say anything more.
I had no choice but to give up.
"Princess Shumin, although I cannot help you take the life of the virtuous princess, I can offer you a condition in exchange. It can also be regarded as my wedding gift to you. How do you think?"
Zhao Yunzhu raised the corners of her lips, revealing a meaningful smile.
Although Song Shumin didn't say anything, her expression was obviously moved.
"The virtuous prince lost his military power and was already dissatisfied with the queen mother. If the late emperor were still alive, how could the virtuous prince have lost his military power?"
She looked at Song Shumin and said, "The late emperor died of poisoning!"
Song Shumin was shocked. She didn't expect to hear such explosive news from Zhao Yunzhu.
"What?" She lowered her eyes and sorted out her thoughts. "Zhao Yunzhu, do you know what you are talking about?"
Zhao Yunzhu shrugged confidently, "I know who poisoned the late emperor. If the virtuous king knew this, he would naturally treat you differently. If in the future..."
Zhao Yunzhu did not say the rest.
The Liu family is now supporting the new emperor, but even so, the current situation in the court is unstable.
Although the virtuous king had his military power taken away, Queen Mother Liu did not dare to let him go to his fiefdom and could only trap him in Chang'an. But how could the virtuous king be willing to do that?
He was making plans in secret, and I'm afraid that most of the officials in the court have already secretly made friends with the wise king.
After all, the border is unstable now, and the wise king will have to lead his troops to war sooner or later.
By then, it is still unclear who will own the throne.
Song Shumin had already harbored ambitions, which was why she reluctantly formed an alliance with the virtuous king.
"Princess Shumin, the information I have is very useful to the virtuous king. It can be used as a bargaining chip for him to negotiate with the queen mother for military power. What I want is only that map of mountains and seas."
"County Lady Shumin, if you have made up your mind, bring your things to exchange with me."
Zhao Yunzhu left after saying this.
Song Shumin sat on the wedding couch in a daze, her heart still unsettled for a long time.
Zhao Yunzhu did not go to Prince Xian's mansion to join in the fun, but instead went to stroll on the street.
Prince An Qin Zongzhi was eagerly waiting for Zhao Yunzhu to come to Prince Xian's mansion.
…
"Yunzhu?"
Zhao Yunzhu was walking on the street when she saw a familiar figure not far away and her body stiffened slightly.
Du Ming'an was wearing a silver-gray gown, and his face looked a little haggard.
"Didn't Master Du go to the Xianwang Mansion for a drink today?"
Zhao Yunzhu looked at the young man who had walked quickly towards her and bowed. Since there was no way to avoid him, she simply faced him with a calm smile.
In addition to the pain in her heart, she was also awakened to her current identity.
Du Ming'an looked disappointed and gave a wry smile, "With my current status, how can I possibly go to the Xianwang Mansion and join in the fun?"
As if he was afraid of bringing his own disappointment to her, he apologized, "Why don't we go to the Pine Fragrance Pavilion and sit down?"
Zhao Yunzhu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't bear to refuse. "Okay."
Songxiang Pavilion is located in the north of Chang'an City. Because it is close to the moat, the scenery is extremely beautiful.
The servant was stunned when he saw the two of them, not knowing what to address them.
“It’s the same old place.”
Du Mingan took out a silver ingot and handed it to the waiter.
The waiter took it with a smile and without saying anything, invited the two into the private room with floor-to-ceiling windows in the backyard.
In the past, before Prince Du and Miss Zhao got married, they often came to their place for tea.
Sometimes I would sit there for half an hour.
The snacks at Songxiang Pavilion are the most famous.
The waiter led the person into the private room and ordered someone to bring the food that Young Master Du used to order.
Looking at the table full of familiar pastries, Zhao Yunzhu and Du Mingan looked at each other and fell into silence.
"It's my first time here after coming back for so long."
Du Ming'an picked up a piece of cake and looked at it carefully. He had been away from Chang'an for more than three years and now he had returned, but this Chang'an was not the Chang'an he was familiar with before.
He smiled helplessly and shook his head, finally putting the pastry into his mouth.
"Actually, this is my first time here in all these years."
Zhao Yunzhu was afraid to come here. Those good times were lingering in her memory. She didn't dare to come, for fear that those past events that had been buried with great difficulty would be brought up again.
There was another silence. The two looked at the pine tree on the river bank. It seemed to be the same as before, with no changes in the past few years.
"Is everything okay in Yong'an Marquis Mansion?"
Zhao Yunzhu didn't dare look at him and spoke in a very low voice.
"I will never forgive my mother's death." Du Ming'an's voice was filled with helplessness.
"Well, if there's anything you need help with, just let me know."
Zhao Yunzhu looked at him calmly, "Brother Du, since we are destined not to be husband and wife in this life, then let's be brother and sister. I don't want to lose you as a brother!"
Du Ming'an looked at her silently and did not answer for a long time.
How could he accept this?
There seemed to be a ferocious beast in his heart. "Yunzhu, wait until I get back the throne that belongs to me, and then I will take you back, okay? It was God who captured you before and separated us. Now that I'm back, when I have the ability, I will take you home and let me take good care of you, okay?"
"Brother Du, we...can't go back."
Before she got married, she called him Brother Du, and after she got married, she called him Ming'an.
"Yunzhu, we can go back. I don't want to lose you. We clearly love each other and have prayed to heaven and earth."
"Master Du, there's no going back. You should let it go as soon as possible. I won't leave Prince An."
Seeing that Du Ming'an was a little agitated, Zhao Yunzhu immediately changed the way he addressed her.
A flash of sadness flashed across Du Mingan's eyes.
He lowered his head dejectedly, and laughed bitterly at himself, "It's me, it's all my fault. If it were three years ago..."
"Master Du, please let go of the past as soon as possible. Just treat us as if we were already dead. I hope you can return to being the young man in fine clothes and riding a horse, and return to the battlefield that truly belongs to you."
Zhao Yunzhu looked at him and spoke solemnly.
There is no clear statement about Du Ming'an in the court now. His position as the crown prince has been taken away by his second uncle's cousin who was adopted by his father.
Moreover, the Crown Prince's Consort of Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is the niece of Empress Dowager Liu.
The Liu family is tied to the current Prince Du.
Besides, Madam Du has always favored the second wife.
No matter how much Marquis Yong'an wants his son to take back the position of Crown Prince, it is now extremely difficult.
"Master Du, instead of being trapped in the memories of the past, it is better to bravely face the current predicament and find your own direction in life as soon as possible."
"Yunzhu, thank you so much."
A bitter smile appeared on Du Ming'an's lips. He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
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