Although, at that time, the King of Yanbei might not have expected this result, he still doesn't know what he did wrong.
Chu Qiao sighed softly, her voice gentle and slowly drifted away in the silent wind.
What Chu Qiao didn’t know was that that night, those words changed the fate of many people. Sometimes, she is like a farmer who inadvertently sows some seeds. These seeds hide under the ice and snow, quietly waiting for the opportunity, until the moment when spring comes and flowers bloom.
"Qiao Qiao," Li Ce suddenly turned around, frowned slightly, and seemed to have pondered for a long time, and then asked, "Can you tell me? Why are you so confident? You are different from those brainwashed members of the big guild I have seen. What makes you so confident? Is it because of... Yan Xun?"
"No," Chu Qiao shook her head, smiled softly, and then said, "Because I saw it with my own eyes."
Li Ce was stunned for a moment, "What?"
“You won’t understand.” Chu Qiao looked at the beautiful green lake, raised the corners of her mouth, and suddenly smiled softly.
No one would understand. Yes, she had seen it with her own eyes. She knew what the world would become. The old system would die and the new system would be reborn. All it needed was a guide.
"Li Ce, do you understand? This is my belief and the meaning of my existence."
At dusk, it began to drizzle, and the moon rose from between the willow trees. It was just a silver hook, shuttling through the light clouds, as slender as a woman's beautiful eyebrows.
The imperial doctors of Mi Heju left in groups, rows of green umbrellas swaying, wide green court robes dragging across the ground, and bright blue boots stepping in the shallow puddles, stirring up tiny splashes of water on the ground. The medicine boy carried a large medicine box on his back and stood by the side with his back bent. His light blue robe looked like a banana leaf fluttering in the rain.
The withered lotus leaves outside the window were finally scattered in the rain, disturbing the last pool of clear water. A little maid ran into the outer room tiptoeing, her hair on her forehead already wet. Qiu Sui called her softly. Two young children gathered in the corridor and whispered. Although their voices were small, they still floated into the inner room.
"The remaining lotus leaves have all been scattered. Aunt Xia said that the prince likes lotus the most and asked us all to hold umbrellas for the lotus leaves."
Qiu Sui sighed maturely and said, "What's the point of beating them? We still need to thank those who deserve our thanks. Aren't the people in Jinse Palace too flattering?"
"That's right. It's September now. It's already autumn."
The maids walked away together, their voices becoming increasingly distant and gradually indistinct. Outside the ebony window, the cold moonlight is as bright and smooth as silver.
No one has lived in this house for a long time. The room is extremely large and somewhat empty. Facing north is a huge sandalwood bed with layers of green gauze embroidered with golden phoenix prints. When the wind blows, it looks like large lotus leaves swaying in the wind.
The south-facing window was wide open, and outside the fence was a pond full of green lotus. Now the wind and rain outside are getting stronger, and the lotus leaves are swaying in the wind, showing signs of decline. In order to please their master, the servants took small boats, holding up tall umbrellas in large groups, to protect the last pool of green lotus in the cool rain.
Li Ce sat on the chair, stroking the seat gently with his fingers. The red paint of the Five Blessings Holding Longevity was already mottled. The servants hurriedly cleaned up the room, but apparently they had not had time to repaint it. The surface felt a little bumpy when touched by his fingertips, but Li Ce didn't care. His eyes seemed to be closed, yet open, narrowed into a slit, as he stared at the woman lying on the bed.
Chu Qiao's illness became more and more serious. The imperial physician had just been talking for a long time, shaking his head. The piles of medical theories were like an old woman's foot binding. He was already annoyed and lost control of his emotions. He kicked the old man to the ground. Only then did the others briefly explain her condition.
In fact, the recuperation during this period has eliminated 70% of the toxins in her body and most of her injuries have been healed, but she is still bedridden. In the final analysis, it is all due to the hard work over the years. Her body is too weak to be replenished, and her internal organs are all damaged. It takes time to slowly recuperate. But for her, what she lacks most at the moment is time.
Chu Qiao wore a light green Luan gown with white silk lining. Tiny light grey daisies were embroidered on the green gauze, blooming delicately one by one, looking reserved and subtle. Her face was very pale, her brows were tightly furrowed, and her curled up body looked somewhat pitiful.
The imperial doctors had already left, and they had said reassuring words a thousand times, but there still seemed to be a sense of tension floating in the air, making people feel uneasy.
The moonlight sprinkled on the ground, and the spacious hall seemed so empty. There was no furniture or decorations here, except for a big bed and a chair. The floors are all made of ebony, and it feels very solid when you step on them.
In a place like this, every word you say will be echoed in all directions, making the place seem even more empty, desolate and dilapidated.
But this is the place closest to Li Ce's Prince's Palace. Many years ago, Li Ce grew up here. Mi Heju was once prosperous, but no one knows when it was closed off. The door was sealed with a vermilion banner, and the rose logo on it symbolized the royal dignity. Since then, this place has never been opened again.
In a blink of an eye, more than six years have passed.
Chu Qiao moved slightly. A breeze blew past her and she seemed a little cold.
Li Ce stood up, his brocade-studded boots stepping on the slightly damp floor. He walked to the window and closed it, then returned to the bed, stretched out his slender fingers, and lifted the green gauze curtain layer by layer. The woman's face gradually became clear.
Long eyelashes, a cute nose, a red mouth, delicate ears, and a slender neck...
He stretched out his hand in front of the woman, as if he wanted to pull up the quilt for her, but the wind and rain outside suddenly became stronger, crackling against the window frame. The moon was dim, and its weak light fell on Chu Qiao's temples, revealing a dark and cold luster. It was so thin, but it was faintly cold and indifferent.
The fingers stopped an inch in front of the body, gradually stiffened, and finally solidified into a stagnant posture.
The moonlight was silent, casting a long, dark shadow beneath him, so thin.
The night watch drum sounds melodiously. In this picturesque imperial capital of Bian Tang, even the night watch sounds are played with red zithers. They sound so clear and pleasant, like the sound of a faint wind.
I don't know how long it took. The moon rose, hung high, and then set again. The sound of rain gradually faded away. The man finally withdrew his fixed gaze, slowly turned around, and stepped out of the secluded palace gate.
The door was opened, and Sun Di was seen leaning against the porch pillar with his shoulders folded. When he saw him come out, he suddenly looked up and smiled gently.
Li Ce seemed not to see him and just walked straight forward.
"Your Highness, Madam Yu Shu from Yushang Pavilion has come twice. She heard that Your Highness got caught in the rain and caught a cold, so she specially prepared some ginseng soup for you in the palace."
Li Ce did not answer and continued walking forward, as if he had not heard it.
Sun Di's voice became more cheerful, and he said with a smile: "Liu Liu, the dancer of Liufu Pavilion, specially sent a maid to deliver a lot of expensive medicine, saying that it is for Miss Chu's treatment. Madam Bai of Tangran Palace is said to have gone to Nanfo Temple to pray for Your Highness and Miss Chu. After hearing about it, the ladies of other palaces also followed. Now the monks of Nanfo Temple may have no place to stand. These ladies suddenly devoted themselves to Buddhism. It is really a wonderful sight! And..."
The night breeze was cool and the drizzle had subsided. A large number of guards and palace maids followed the two men, but they followed from a distance and did not dare to come close.
Sun Di seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "Oh, that's right! Lord He's daughter also came to the palace this afternoon. After hearing about what happened in the palace, she resolutely stayed in the fourth princess' bedroom, saying that she would come to pay her respects when Your Highness is free."
"What exactly do you want to say?" A deep voice sounded slowly, without any of the usual laziness and informality.
Sun Di was stunned, and said with a smile: "I want to ask, with so many interesting things, Your Highness, don't you have any interest in taking a look?"
Li Ce did not speak, but Sun Di raised his eyebrow and said, "Your Highness, this is not like you."
"Me?" Li Ce chuckled, but there was no joy in his voice, "I almost don't remember what I look like."
Sun Di laughed, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Such depressing words don't sound like coming from your mouth. My Crown Prince, have you ever been so absent-minded? Have you ever been so distraught?"
A gentle breeze blew, and on both sides of the road there were large clusters of crabapple flowers watered by rain. Li Ce stood under the tree, his eyes suddenly becoming very distant, as if he was struggling, yet also as if he was very calm. Finally, he turned around, the dejection on his face gone, and he resumed the appearance of the romantic and unrestrained Prince Bian Tang. He laughed loudly and said in a loud voice: "That's right. When life is happy, we should enjoy it to the fullest, and don't let the golden cup face the moon empty. Sun Di, tell all the ladies and dancers to go to the prince's palace to sleep with him. Those who chant the Buddha's name should also be called back. Tomorrow, tear down the Buddhist temple and build a new one, and worship...worship a happy Buddha, haha!"
"When life is good, you should enjoy it to the fullest, and don't let the golden cup face the moon empty." Sun Di muttered to himself for a while, then smiled and said, "Your Highness, you have a good poetic talent!"
Li Ce was very happy and shamelessly claimed other people's achievements as his own.
Before long, a burst of joyful singing and dancing came from the direction of the Prince's Palace. The women were fluttering their sleeves, their waists were as slender as water, and the aroma of wine wafted softly in the air.
Flowers are swaying on the branches, and the wine in the golden cups is not empty. It is another night of singing and dancing.
In a small pavilion of Mi Heju, two elderly doctors were on duty. One of them stood at the window, looking at the hustle and bustle of the Crown Prince's Palace from afar, and sighed, "I thought that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had reopened Mi Heju and summoned all the doctors for consultation, which must mean that he cared a lot about this woman named Chu. Now it seems that this is just the case!"
Another imperial physician was holding a small heater. It was already autumn and the nights were a little chilly. The old man was wearing thick clothes and slightly closed his old eyes. He didn't even look up when he heard the words. He just said lightly, "Do you still expect red rain from the sky? Don't dream about it. After Princess Fu passed away, alas..."
The imperial physician by the window obviously understood and sighed helplessly.
The night wind was cool, blowing up layer after layer of brocade. This luxurious palace had buried so many people's silent thoughts and carried so much sorrow! It rained for two days in a row. After the rain, the flowers and trees withered, but the air was very fresh.
Due to the recurrence of her illness, Chu Qiao's trip was delayed.
That afternoon, Chu Qiao was taken out by her maids to bask in the sun. Her injuries had long since healed, but she was still weak, short of breath, and her limbs were feeble. It was all because Qiu Sui and others were making a fuss. They didn't even allow her to walk, and she had to be carried everywhere. This made her drowsy and lazy all day long, and her body became much fatter.