Can love overcome all difficulties?
On the way back to the manor, Yan Shu held the twin lotus glass lamp in her arms. She secretly raised her eyes and saw Ling Yuan opposite her with his eyes closed, resting. His profile appeared somewhat gentle in the swaying light and shadow.
Tonight felt like a dream. He not only accompanied her shopping, wore a mask, and carried a lantern, but also took her hand outside. She looked at her hand; the warmth still lingered on her fingertips.
The carriage stopped at the side gate of the Prince's mansion. Ling Yuan opened his eyes, his gaze now clear. He got out of the carriage first and reached out to help her. And so, their hands, once clasped, remained intertwined.
Reaching the fork in the road, Yan Shu stopped: "Your Highness, your concubine..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ling Yuan pulled Yan Shu toward Lingxiao Pavilion.
Yan Shu paused, turning to look at her: "Aren't you going back?"
"Go back, go back." Yan Shu's heart was pounding.
Upon entering Lingxiao Pavilion, Lingyuan was unusually silent, his gaze seemingly fixed on nowhere. Tonight, he understood that he must follow his heart.
They were the only ones left in the room. Yan Shu stood there, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.
"Your Highness..."
Lingyuan turned to look at her. She had removed her hairpins and jewelry, wearing only her nightgown, her black hair falling to her shoulders, and her face still flushed, like a little girl who needed someone to protect her.
He didn't answer, but pulled her to the bedside: "Come here."
Yan Shu blew out the lamp and lay down beside him.
The expected silence did not last. His arm wrapped around her, not with the usual clear purpose, but tentatively, with a touch of unfamiliar gentleness, pulling her into his embrace.
His embrace was no longer an obligation, and his kisses were no longer just desire. In the darkness, his movements were imbued with an unprecedented patience, even tenderness, and though still clumsy, they made her truly feel cherished.
She responded awkwardly, her fingertips accidentally touching an old wound on his back, and her heart ached.
Afterwards, she habitually curled up, waiting for him to leave as before.
But he didn't.
He simply adjusted his position, holding her even tighter, his chin resting on the top of her head.
His breathing gradually became steady.
He fell asleep.
He stayed there.
Yan Shu froze, afraid to move, lest she wake him.
After a long while, she gently relaxed and placed her hand on his arm that was wrapped around her.
He unconsciously clenched his fist.
Moonlight streamed through the window screen, and the two people embracing inside the tent shared the same night for the first time in the royal palace.
As dawn broke, Yan Shu woke up to a warm glow.
A strong chest pressed against her back, an arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and warm breath brushing against the back of her neck.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
It's not a dream.
He really did hold her like that and slept all night.
She cautiously turned her head and saw Ling Yuan's sleeping profile. In the morning light, his brows were relaxed, and he possessed a rare serenity.
Yan Shu held her breath and gently moved her body, wanting to turn around and get a good look at him.
The moment she moved, the arm around her waist tightened, and a sleepy voice came from above her head: "Don't move..."
She froze immediately, feeling as if she could hear her own heartbeat.
After waiting a while, seeing that his breathing had become steady again, seemingly just a reaction in his sleep, I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She lay quietly in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, until Chun Tao gently knocked on the door.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, it's time to get up."
Ling Yuan frowned slightly and slowly opened her eyes. The initial confusion upon waking lasted only a moment before her mind cleared. However, she didn't want to let go of the hand on her waist.
Yan Shu quickly sat up, her cheeks burning, and dared not look at him: "Your Highness, it's time to get up."
"Mmm," he responded, his voice still hoarse from the early morning.
The maids began to assist her with washing up. Yan Shu didn't dare to raise her head; her limbs seemed to be moving uncontrollably. She secretly glanced at Ling Yuan; he had already regained his usual expression, only his brows lacked some of their former coldness.
As she picked up his outer robe as usual, preparing to help him change, her heart was still pounding.
She tiptoed and carefully straightened his collar and fastened his belt. Ling Yuan looked down at her flushed cheeks.
Just as she smoothed out the last wrinkle and was about to step back, he suddenly spoke: "Today we need to go to the Ministry of War to discuss the military settlements and garrison operations. Dinner doesn't need to wait."
Yan Shu looked up abruptly, momentarily stunned. Was he... informing her of his whereabouts? Had he started reporting his whereabouts?
"Yes... Your Majesty, I understand," she replied.
Ling Yuan looked at her stunned expression, and the corners of his lips curved almost imperceptibly. He raised his hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Please take good care of things in the manor," Ling Yuan said before leaving.
Yan Shu was still stunned, her ears burning. Chun Tao smiled, pursing her lips, "Your Highness, the Prince has changed."
Yes, things have changed. Yan Shu touched her burning ears, and couldn't help but smile.
From then on, the atmosphere in the Prince's mansion changed.
Ling Yuan stopped returning to the main courtyard and moved directly to Lingxiao Pavilion. He also started talking more. Sometimes he would talk about interesting things in court, which old minister was afraid of his wife, or which general was arguing. His tone was still indifferent, but Yan Shu could feel that he was trying to share his world with her.
She even... laughed.
When Lingyuan returned from court that day, his face was more somber than usual. He went straight into the small study that Yan Shu had prepared for him and read official documents until late at night.
Yan Shu brought in a bowl of calming soup and gently placed it down: "Your Highness, it's getting late. Please finish your soup and rest."
Lingyuan looked up from his documents and took her hand.
"Come here," he whispered, pulling her close, resting his head on her waist, and closing his eyes.
Yan Shu's heart softened, and she massaged his temples. He didn't refuse and sighed softly.
The candlelight illuminated the two people leaning against each other, without uttering a single word.
He treated her even better. It wasn't deliberate, but rather a natural part of everyday life.
I remember her casually mentioning her favorite snacks, and when I returned from the palace banquet, I would bring a box and place it beside her; when I saw her engrossed in reading, I would quietly add tea for her; once I saw her looking worried about a wilted crabapple tree, the next day I would have someone transplant a tree that was in full bloom, and I would even make brown sugar water myself and clumsily feed it to her.
Life at Lingxiao Pavilion was as sweet as honey. Until one afternoon, Chuntao quietly brought over a small bamboo tube.
"From Fengyi Palace."
Yan Shu opened the book; it was written in Empress Cui Yunya's handwriting. The beginnings were filled with insincere greetings, but the further she read, the more the words resembled poisoned needles—
"After Xuan Gui was made a prince, Prince Duan wholeheartedly supported him and suppressed your own nephew Xuan Shuo at every turn! You have the blood of the Cui family in your veins, are you just going to stand by and watch?"
Yan Shu held the letter in her hand.
"How do you think the Princess Consort of Duan died? Was it really postpartum hemorrhage? Back when the imperial concubines were being chosen, Consort Lin insisted on making her niece, Lin Wanyi, the principal wife. How could I, as her elder sister, accept that? I simply bribed the midwife to tamper with her delivery."
"If Prince Duan finds out about this, will he still treat you well? If Prince Chen ascends the throne and investigates, what will become of the Cui family, and what will become of you? Remember, only your maternal family is your true support."
The letter fell to the ground.
Yan Shu sat there blankly, tears streaming down her face. The heart she had finally managed to warm was instantly shattered.
It turns out that there was already a deep-seated hatred between them.
She recalled the pain in Ling Yuan's eyes when he occasionally mentioned his mother, the old wound on his back, and the historical record of his "dying in melancholy."
Tears fell silently, then were quickly wiped away.
She looked at her reddened eyes in the mirror and took a deep breath.
Since history is destined to be a tragedy, then let her change it.
Since they were destined to be adversaries, she chose his side.
She got up and burned the letter to ashes.
As he turned around, a smile appeared on his face as he picked up the freshly brewed tea and walked outside.
"His Highness should be leaving court soon; I'll go to his study to wait for him."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
