keep away
When Chun Tao heard Yan Shu calling her from outside, she responded crisply and hurried to the small kitchen to get the medicine. The medicine pot was still sitting on the small stove, bubbling and steaming, and a bitter smell wafted into her nose.
She carefully poured out the bowl of medicine, and just as she brought it to the door, she saw the prince striding over, almost bumping into her.
Ling Yuan stopped abruptly at the door, as if afraid of disturbing something. He took a deep breath before quietly walking inside.
He walked to the bedside, bent down, and asked in a low, tentative voice, "Shu'er?"
Yan Shu turned her head and saw that the redness in his eyes had not yet faded. Her heart skipped a beat, and she replied softly, "Your Highness."
Seeing that her eyes, though still unfocused, were no longer as empty as they had been a few days ago, Lingyuan felt somewhat relieved. He took the medicine bowl from Chuntao and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Here, drink your medicine." He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it carefully to cool it down, and then held it to her lips.
Yan Shu didn't speak, but obediently opened her mouth and drank it. The medicine was so bitter that her tongue felt numb, but she didn't even frown, and quietly finished the whole bowl.
Ling Yuan put down the empty bowl and picked up the candied fruit from the small dish beside him. Yan Shu shook her head, and simply took a sip of warm water from his hand to rinse her mouth.
Neither of them spoke again. One lay down, the other sat. The room smelled of medicine, and there was that lingering sadness, but the suffocating despair seemed to have faded a little. Some pain doesn't need to be spoken; they both understood. Just being there for each other was better than anything else.
From then on, Ling Yuan continued to conduct most of his official business at Lingxiao Pavilion, staying by her side almost every step of the way. Yan Shu cooperated, taking her medicine on time and forcing herself to eat. Although her body was still weak, her spirits improved day by day, and her face slowly regained some vitality.
Sometimes, when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she unconsciously touches her flat stomach, where she used to feel real fetal movements, but now it feels empty. Whenever this happens, Lingyuan silently takes her hand and gathers her cold fingers in his warm palm.
Days passed by like this, and it was still freezing cold outside, where your breath would condense into white mist.
That afternoon, Yan Shu leaned against the soft couch by the window, watching Ling Yuan carefully move a plate of plum blossom cakes, which she used to love, to the place where it was easiest for her to reach. He always did these little things with a clumsy yet meticulous care.
The thought resurfaced in Yan Shu's mind, growing clearer with each passing moment. She couldn't continue like this, trapped in this small courtyard, wallowing in the grief of losing her child, watching helplessly as the inevitable end drew ever closer. She had to leave, to take Ling Yuan away from this place of turmoil.
She took a breath, turned to look at Ling Yuan, and said softly, "Your Highness, would you like to go for a walk with me?"
Ling Yuan paused, looking up at her. Seeing her bright eyes, which didn't seem like she was putting on a brave face, he felt a pang of emotion, reached out and took her weak hand, replying, "Okay."
He helped her slowly to her feet, draped a thick cloak over her shoulders, tied the straps, and placed a hand warmer in her arms. The two didn't go far, but strolled slowly along the corridor of Lingxiao Pavilion.
The snow outside the corridor hadn't melted yet, and the thin sunlight made it somewhat dazzling. Yan Shu stopped and looked at the bare crabapple tree in the courtyard. After a long silence, she finally voiced the thought that had been on her mind for many days.
"Your Highness," her voice was low, trembling almost imperceptibly, "let's... leave the capital. We can come back in a few years, okay?"
She knew this idea was selfish. The bloody battle recorded in history only had a little over two years left. Xuan Gui, Consort Lin… they might not escape it either. She wanted to take them with her, but that was simply unrealistic. She could only gamble, hoping that leaving this center of power would allow her to forge a path to survival and change her and Ling Yuan's inevitable demise.
Ling Yuan tightened his grip on her hand, not answering immediately. He looked at her pale profile, seeing the deep fear and desperate hope hidden in her eyes. A prince with a large army, leaving the capital without an imperial edict, was tantamount to treason. He understood the risks and difficulties involved better than anyone.
But after only a moment of silence, he replied, "Okay."
He raised his hand and gently wiped away a tear that had somehow slipped to the corner of her eye with his fingertip, repeating, "Alright. I'll think of a way."
Yan Shu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly settled back down. He didn't ask why, nor did he think her ideas were far-fetched; he simply believed her. She nestled into his arms, burying her face in his chest, inhaling the reassuring warmth and scent.
"Xin Gu," he whispered, holding her tighter.
In the days that followed, it was still cold, but the occasional warmth in the wind made people feel that spring was not far away.
Ling Yuan began to visit the palace frequently. On this day, he went alone to the Imperial Study to request an audience with the Emperor.
The charcoal fire burned brightly in the imperial study, making it warm and cozy. The Emperor put down his pen and looked at his younger brother below him: "Speak, what is it that requires a private audience with me?"
Ling Yuan lifted his robe and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask you for a favor."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Tell me about it."
“Your Majesty, I wish to take Yan Shu away from the capital for a while.” Ling Yuan raised his head, his gaze frank. “This time… she has injured her body and her mind. There is much trouble in the capital. I wish to take her out for a walk, to change her surroundings. Perhaps it will be good for her to recuperate.”
The emperor remained silent, his fingers tapping lightly on the imperial desk, revealing neither his joy nor anger.
Ling Yuan continued, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not leave and never return. We will naturally come back once she is better." He paused, took out a heavy object from his robes, and presented it with both hands. "This is the tiger tally of military power in the Northern Border. I am willing to return the military power, so that Your Majesty can give an explanation to the court officials and avoid gossip."
The Imperial Study was quiet. The Emperor's gaze fell on the tiger tally, representing military power, in Ling Yuan's hand, then slowly moved to his resolute face. Surrendering the tiger tally was tantamount to cutting off one's own arm and distancing oneself from the center of power. His younger brother had actually gone to such lengths just to take the Princess Consort out for a stroll.
After a long while, the Emperor slowly rose, walked to Ling Yuan, and took the tiger tally from him. The cool metal felt heavy in his hand.
"Rise," the Emperor sighed, his tone complex. "Since your mind is made up, I... grant your request."
A gleam flashed in Ling Yuan's eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The Emperor helped him up, patted his shoulder, and lowered his voice: "It's good to go out for a walk. Things in the capital... haven't been very peaceful lately. Be careful in everything you do, and take good care of the Princess."
"Your subject understands."
"There's one more thing..." the Emperor whispered in Lingyuan's ear.
Having received permission, Lingyuan felt a great weight lifted from his heart. Eager to return home, he wanted to tell Yan Shu the news as soon as possible. He walked briskly towards the palace gates, only to run into Xuan Gui and Qingfeng on the palace path.
Xuan Gui immediately noticed the long-lost ease in his uncle's eyes and curiously leaned closer: "Uncle, what's making you so happy? Is Auntie much better?"
Lingyuan was in a good mood and didn't hide anything from him: "Your imperial aunt is getting better. I asked my imperial brother for permission to take her out of the capital for a while and let her recuperate in a different place."
Xuan Gui's eyes lit up upon hearing this, his face revealing undisguised envy: "Leaving the capital? That's wonderful! I want to go too..." He stopped mid-sentence, then remembered his upcoming wedding and a mountain of official duties, and his spirits drooped again. "Alas, it's a pity I can't go." But then he thought again and found it unbelievable, "But, Father Emperor actually agreed?"
Ling Yuan smiled and said calmly, "I have handed over the Tiger Tally."
"What?!" Xuan Gui was so shocked he almost jumped up, and even Qing Feng beside him stared wide-eyed. Surrender military power? The price was too high!
Seeing his nephew's shocked expression, Ling Yuan patted him on the shoulder, his tone still calm: "Don't worry, we'll be back."
Xuan Gui looked at his uncle's calm demeanor, feeling a mix of emotions, and finally just nodded heavily.
The news quickly reached the Cui residence.
In the study, Cui Chong looked at the secret report that had just been delivered and said to the Crown Prince, "Prince Duan has handed over the tiger tally and asked His Majesty for permission to take Shu'er away from the capital, saying that... he wants to go out to relax and recuperate."
Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Xuan Shuo was taken aback at first, then a calculating glint flashed in his eyes: "He handed over the Tiger Tally? He's quite willing to do that! Grandfather, even so, our people cannot let their guard down; we must keep an eye on them."
Cui Chong stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "Of course. That token of succession is still nowhere to be seen. Prince Duan's actions this time seem to be for love, but who knows if he has other plans? We must keep a close eye on him." He paused. "Alright... while we're at it, let's see how Shu'er is doing."
She was, after all, his daughter.
At the Prince Duan's residence, Ling Yuan practically ran back to Lingxiao Pavilion.
Yan Shu was walking slowly around the house with Chun Tao by his side. Seeing that he had returned so quickly and that he had an uncontrollable joy on his face, she guessed what had happened.
"Your Highness?"
Ling Yuan walked up to her, took her hands in his, and said with a relieved joy, "Your Majesty has granted your permission. We can leave the capital now."
Yan Shu froze, then a huge, long-lost joy welled up inside her, making her eyes water. This was the first time she had felt genuinely happy since losing her child. Leaving meant possibly escaping that damned fate!
"Really?" Her voice choked with emotion.
"Really." Ling Yuan looked at the light that had returned to her eyes and felt that handing over the tiger tally was worth it.
Yan Shu nodded vigorously and asked impatiently, "Your Highness, where are we going?"
Ling Jiang had already made up his mind: "Let's go to the Northern Border, to Xiayun City. My maternal clan lives there, and it's where I led my troops in battle. The people there are simple and honest, and the place is peaceful. We won't disturb them. We'll find a quiet place to stay in the city and live like an ordinary couple." He looked at her, his eyes gentle. "On this journey, we won't rush. We'll take our time, enjoying the scenery, okay?"
Far from the conspiracies and schemes of the capital, it was just the two of them. This was a peace that Yan Shu had never dared to imagine.
She looked up at him, temporarily suppressing all her worries and uncertainties about the future, and gave him a genuine smile, nodding firmly:
"good."
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