Chapter 42 [42] Kissing so early today?
【42】/First release
When Eunuch Lu returned to the palace with the news, it was almost evening. Emperor Wenxuan had just finished his government affairs and came to Fengyi Palace.
Upon learning that Prince Jing and his wife had agreed to travel to Mount Li together, Empress Zheng, who had originally held low expectations, could not hide her surprise: "That's wonderful."
Emperor Wenxuan sat on a rosewood bench covered in bright yellow brocade. His fingertips gently stroked the cups and bowls, and he chuckled, "I didn't expect your cousin to be so capable. In the past, you and your mother had begged her repeatedly, but she still couldn't budge. Now that she's married, she seems to be a bit more humane."
Queen Zheng did not expect that Yun Ran could actually convince King Jing.
In fact, when she sent someone to invite them this time, she said on the surface that she was inviting "Prince Jing and his wife" together, but in her heart she hoped that Yun Ran would come alone.
She was not very familiar with her brother-in-law, King Jing, and for some unspeakable reasons, she had complicated feelings towards King Jing and just wanted to avoid interacting with him as much as possible.
But she really liked Yun Ran, her cousin from her aunt's family, and wanted to ask her to accompany her on the journey.
Unexpectedly, the little girl, despite her short stature, was so capable that she could actually shake the iceberg and make the stubborn stone nod.
only--
Empress Zheng subsided slightly, glancing at the man in brocade robes sitting on the bench, who was smiling faintly but couldn't tell if he was truly happy or angry. "The couple are newlyweds, and they are very much in love. Although Brother Jing has a cold personality, he always has some tenderness and consideration for the woman beside him."
"A hero cannot resist the temptation of a beautiful woman."
Emperor Wenxuan smiled and said, "This little brother of mine has grown up."
Empress Zheng was unsure of Emperor Wenxuan's mood.
After being married for many years, she could guess Emperor Wenxuan's mood in other matters, but she had no clue about matters related to Prince Jing.
At this time, she chose to remain silent.
Emperor Wenxuan also sensed the Queen's silence and extended his hand towards her: "Come to me."
He then glanced at the palace servants in the hall and said, "Everyone, go down."
Empress Zheng walked over to sit beside Emperor Wenxuan, and the palace maids all lowered their heads and quietly retreated.
The huge and magnificent Fengyi Palace was exceptionally quiet for a moment, with only the occasional rustling of window paper in the north wind.
"It's a good thing that King Jing is willing to go out."
Emperor Wenxuan patted Empress Zheng's hand, his voice soft and gentle, "If your mother knew this good news, she would have come with us this year. How wonderful it would be to have the whole family together, with no one left behind."
Empress Zheng smiled faintly, "Your Majesty is right. I will send someone to tell your mother the good news later, and then send someone to the Lishan Palace to carefully check and ensure that the Wanshou Hall and Feiluan Hall are properly prepared and safe."
Queen Mother Zhao used to love taking hot spring baths.
When I was young, it was a favor and honor to accompany the late emperor.
When Emperor Wenxuan ascended the throne, she went there again. Because of the illness she had contracted during the Zhaode Rebellion, she suffered from bone pain every winter, and soaking in hot springs could relieve some of the pain.
Emperor Wenxuan was a filial son. The Wanshou Hall he arranged for Queen Dowager Zhao was the most magnificent hall in the palace. It was surrounded by several springs and was very convenient.
But since King Jing returned to the court, Queen Mother Zhao never went to the Lishan Palace again.
The reason was simple: King Jing didn't want to go, and Queen Dowager Zhao didn't want to leave her young son alone in Chang'an, so she didn't go either.
For this reason, Empress Zheng, who had just married into the family, even advised Queen Dowager Zhao: "Brother Jing is no longer a child. He has his own servants in the palace to take care of him. Why does your mother need to worry about him so much?"
There was another sentence she kept in her heart and didn't dare to say, which was, "Even if you stay in Chang'an, Prince Jing may not come to the palace twice a month, so what's the point of you staying?"
Queen Zheng remembered it very clearly. After she asked that question, Queen Mother Zhao stared at her for a long time with a deep gaze.
As a woman who had lived through three dynasties and almost eliminated all the concubines and descendants of the previous emperor, Queen Dowager Zhao not only had an extremely beautiful face, but also a pair of eyes that could captivate the soul.
Just that silent gaze made Queen Zheng feel a chill down her spine and she almost wanted to kneel down.
But before she could kneel, Queen Mother Zhao smiled kindly, as if the hint of coldness just now was just her illusion.
Queen Mother Zhao said, "You are still young. When you become a mother, you will understand that no matter how old a child grows, even if his temples are gray and he walks unsteadily, in his mother's eyes, he is still a child. Moreover..."
After a long silence, she finally said, "He's already been left behind once. How can I leave him alone again?"
When Queen Zheng heard this, she felt that Queen Dowager Zhao had a loving motherly heart, so she stopped trying to persuade her.
However, Emperor Wenxuan went to persuade him again.
No one knew what the mother and son said, but Emperor Wenxuan came out with a sullen face.
That was the first time that Empress Zheng, who had just gotten married, saw the emperor angry.
She always thought that her gentle and elegant husband would never get angry.
That night she tried to be a virtuous wife, comfort her husband, and explain to Emperor Wenxuan what Queen Mother Zhao had said.
He didn't know what had touched his sore spot, so he pushed her away and said, "Queen, please rest by yourself. I will return to the Purple Palace."
That day, she couldn't sleep all night, not knowing where she had gone wrong.
It was not until they went to Mount Li that their relationship eased, and the unpleasantness of that day was tacitly put behind them.
Six years passed, and although Empress Zheng knew the crux of the matter, she was still instinctively cautious when mentioning Prince Jing, so as not to displease Emperor Wenxuan again.
For example, now, she mentioned Wanshou Hall and Feiluan Hall cautiously, and she was watching Emperor Wenxuan's expression the whole time.
Emperor Wenxuan held the Empress's hand and said with a smile, "You don't have to be so nervous. After so many years, I am so happy that my mother can go to the Lishan Palace again. As for Prince Jing..."
As if recalling an old memory, his eyes drifted for a few breaths before he pursed his lips and said, "I remember before the Zhaode Rebellion, my father promised to take Jing and me to the Hot Spring Palace next winter. He also promised to teach... teach us brothers how to ride horses and hunt rabbits."
Although so many years have passed, Emperor Wenxuan still remembers that day very clearly.
Wearing a brand new red robe, the younger brother, who looked like a bright red seal, ran to the East Palace and said, "Brother, brother!"
He raised his reddened little face from running, and a pair of beautiful black eyes, similar to his mother's, looked at him brightly. "My father promised me that he would take us to the Hot Spring Palace next year. He also said he would give me a pony and teach me how to ride and hunt rabbits! Brother, I'll ask my father to give you one too, so we can hunt rabbits together! Are you happy?"
Are you happy?
He only remembered that he smiled and touched his brother's head: "Brother is happy."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuchs and their wives came running in breathlessly, examining the younger brother with great solemnity. "Little Ancestor, how could you escape alone? If you get hurt, His Majesty and His Majesty will not forgive us servants."
When the younger brother was carried away, he waved at him and said, "Brother, when you finish your homework, remember to come and play with Ajing!"
Brother, brother...
He always calls me brother.
After returning from Rongdi, he never called him that again, only calling him "Your Majesty", and occasionally calling him "Royal Brother" was also full of sarcasm.
"His Majesty?"
A gentle voice calling out to his ear brought Emperor Wenxuan back to his senses. He regained his composure, and the cold, icy expression on Prince Jing's face dissipated. Before him appeared the gentle, moon-like face of Empress Zheng: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? You don't look well, but what's wrong?"
Emperor Wenxuan smiled and said, "I'm fine."
As he spoke, he naturally took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, poured out three small vermilion pills, and drank them with warm water.
"As for the palace, please make good arrangements."
Emperor Wenxuan put the porcelain vase away, not looking at the worried look in the Empress's eyes that seemed to be about to speak but hesitated. He simply said, "It's a rare occasion for a family to go on a trip together. We must ensure that everything goes smoothly and that both Mother and Prince Jing and his wife have a great time."
Empress Zheng's rosy lips twitched twice, then she lowered her eyes and whispered, "Yes."
***
For Yun Ran, this trip to the hot spring palace was a surprise action.
Apart from the trip from Yangzhou back to Chang'an, this was the second time she had traveled far away since she grew up!
And this time I’m going on a long journey, not to rush, but just to have fun!
For this, she was so excited that she couldn't sleep for two nights -
Before, every time I closed my eyes at night, my mind would replay the kiss with Sima Jing that night.
Whenever I closed my eyes these two nights, all I could think about was going out to see the snow, climbing mountains, riding horses, and soaking in hot springs.
Nanny Lan Gui had been to the Hot Spring Palace before, and she told her all the fun things there were, which made Yun Ran wish she could grow wings and fly there right then and there.
This state of excitement lasted for two days. On the night of the third day, seeing her keep talking about "Hot Spring Palace", Sima Jing couldn't help but pinch her mouth with two fingers.
Manually shut up.
"If you say one more word about the hot spring palace, I won't go there."
Sima Jing's face darkened. In the past, when she nagged him, at least she was talking about different things. But this time, his ears were almost callused from the four words "Hot Spring Palace".
It’s just a hot spring, is it really that serious?
If she liked, he would build a pool for her behind the palace, and as long as she didn't feel dizzy after soaking for too long, he would fill it with hot water every day for her to soak in.
“Mmmmm (I was wrong)…”
Yun Ran blinked and said sincerely: "Mmmmmm (I won't say anymore, really)."
Sima Jing: “…”
He let go of his hand expressionlessly, then tapped the piano table with his fingers: "Keep practicing. Practice with your hands, not your mouth."
Yun Ran secretly glanced at the "old master," who was particularly serious whenever he taught the qin, and muttered to herself, "If you love teaching students so much, why stay at the palace all day? Why not be like her elder brother and become a dean of the Imperial Academy, teaching and educating people? In the future, he would have students all over the world, and his knowledge would be well spent."
Although she complained in her heart, she was afraid that this moody man would really change his mind and not go, so she shut her mouth obediently and continued practicing the guqin music.
However, with Sima Jing's forced "shut up", Yun Ran's initial excitement was relieved a lot.
In addition, as the New Year was approaching, the palace sent Laba Festival gifts, and various prefectures in Chang'an also sent festival gifts.
In the past, Sima Jing stayed indoors, did not socialize with others, and did not return gifts.
But now that Yun Ran was married and became the mistress of Prince Jing's mansion, she couldn't do something like accepting gifts without giving them in return.
Women need some shame.
So she has been busy with festival gifts these days. The most important ones are of course her natal family's Marquis Changxin Mansion and her uncle's family's Duke Huguo Mansion. The next ones are the Sima clan members, as well as the princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials who have sent gifts before.
When arranging the gift list, Yun Ran suddenly realized that Sima Jing should probably not be called Sima Er.
According to the order of the Sima clan, in the lineage of the late emperor, Emperor Wenxuan was the third, Sima Jing was the ninth, and after Sima Jing, there were Sima tenth, eleventh, twelfth... all the way to the fifteenth.
But now, only the third son Emperor Wenxuan and the ninth son Sima Jing are left in this branch of the clan.
As for the others (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15), some died of illness, some fell to their death, some were killed by bandits, or some attempted to rebel, and their entire families were slaughtered.
However, several princesses who were not ranked were still alive, but they all followed their husbands to take up official posts outside the capital and were not in Chang'an.
Even though Yun Ran was naive, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when he saw that the late emperor had so many children, and in the end only the two sons born to Queen Dowager Zhao were left.
A question also arose in her heart: when she jokingly called Sima Jing Sima Er, why didn't he correct her?
Or maybe he didn't care about his dead brothers and sisters...
If she hadn't been sorting out the gift list this time, she probably wouldn't have known that there were so many descendants in the royal family.
She suddenly felt a little scared and didn't want to go to Mount Li anymore.
Sima Jing also noticed Yun Ran's absent-mindedness when he was teaching him piano that day and night.
A few days ago, she was absent-minded and her mind was completely focused on Mount Li.
Today, why?
"I played it wrong again."
Sima Jing frowned: "You must concentrate on practicing the piano. If you hurt your hand, you will cry."
Yun Ran came to his senses, his long eyelashes trembling twice: "Yeah, I understand."
She tried to play the piano again, but her fingers were held down by Sima Jing.
Yun Ran raised his head: "......?"
Sima Jing lowered his eyes, his beautiful eyes that could see through fire fixed on her: "Yun Wu, what are you afraid of?"
His tone was so calm, yet his eyes were so sharp, like a blade that could break through anything.
Yun Ran's forced composure was completely vulnerable. His lips moved twice, but he finally lowered his head: "Nothing, just busy with the festival gifts, I'm a little tired."
Sima Jing frowned slightly: "Tired?"
Yun Ran: "Well, I don't want to practice today."
After he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.
Yun Ran felt a little nervous, wondering if he would be mean to her. After all, he often said, "Diligence brings success, while laziness leads to failure."
But she really wasn't in the mood today. If he insisted on forcing her to practice, then she would... cheat.
He couldn't force her to learn.
She had made up her mind, but she heard the flat voice of the man beside her: "If you are really tired, then take a rest."
As he spoke, he called out to the outside: "Serve the meal."
Yun Ran didn't expect him to be so easy to talk to today. She sat in front of the black lacquered piano table and stared at him in a daze.
When Sima Jing turned around, he saw her looking dazed and silly.
He pursed his lips and squinted at her, saying, "I've been busy with chores these past few days, so I'll put my piano lessons aside for now. I'll resume practicing once we reach Mount Li."
Although he didn't understand why she was so keen on interacting with people.
The Changxin Marquis Mansion is fine, but why should she bother and waste her time on other messy mansions?
Seeing Sima Jing lift the crystal bead curtain and walk back to the warm room, Yun Ran also hurriedly stood up and followed him.
But she was worried today and was not as active as usual.
Sima Jing could also see that she was not just tired, but she had been staying in the mansion for the past few days. What could have made her so depressed and troubled?
After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke: "What happened?"
Yun Ran: "It's okay, I'm just tired..."
"Cloud Five."
Sima Jing asked, "Has anyone ever told you that it's so obvious when you're lying?"
Yun Ran raised her head and met the man's gaze.
Unable to avoid it, she quietly clenched her fingers in her sleeves, took a deep breath, and asked, "Actually, His Highness is not Sima Er, but Sima Jiu, right?"
Sima Jiu...
This name is not much better than Sima Er.
Sima Jing frowned slightly, then looked at the bright black eyes of the young lady sitting opposite him and nodded slightly: "Yes, I am the ninth in the family."
Before the Zhaode Rebellion, he was the youngest ninth prince in the palace.
Later, when he was in Rongdi, he could hear the Rongdi people say from time to time:
"The old emperor of Dajin has given birth to another prince."
"Wow, which number is this? Twelve or thirteen?"
"Hahaha, the fifteenth one!"
"I didn't expect that the useless emperor who was crushed by us and fled everywhere was still quite powerful in bed. Hahahaha, he has a son every year."
The Rongdi people laughed wantonly and kicked him, "Little loser, your loser father has a new son. Do you think he still remembers you?"
Will the emperor still remember him?
Sima Jing didn't know.
Before he could return to the court, his father passed away and Sima Ji ascended the throne.
His brother, who was born of the same mother, became the new emperor, and the Rongdi people saw his value again and were reluctant to let him die.
As for his other brothers, when he returned to the court, only a few were left.
But in these six years, they all died one after another.
He had never met them and had no interest in knowing them, until today, when his princess suddenly mentioned them.
"Are you distracted by this?"
Sima Jing looked at Yun Ran and saw her face tense as she nodded. Then he heard her bite her lip and say, "Your Highness, I'm a little scared. They... they're all dead."
Sima Jing's eyes moved slightly.
He thought, if everyone is dead, then there is nothing to be afraid of. If only one person survives by chance, then that would be frightening.
But he couldn't say such words, because it would definitely make her more scared.
How could she, a little girl raised in the countryside without any restrictions, know how many evil and ugly tricks were hidden under the supreme imperial power?
"Come here."
Sima Jing nodded at her.
Although Yun Ran was confused, he still walked towards him.
When he came in front of her, her wrist was strangled and she was caught off guard and was skillfully pulled into his arms.
Yun Ran's bright eyes widened: "Your Highness? You haven't had dinner yet."
Kissing so early today?
She didn't understand what she had done to make him so impatient, but the next moment she saw the young man raise his hand and press her head into his arms.
Yun Ran: “……?”
She leaned against the solid and broad chest in a daze, her nose lingering with the familiar and pleasant scent of Sima Jing's camphor.
Just as he was lost in thought, a man's slow voice echoed from above him: "You must have heard that the imperial family is the most ruthless. They are gone, and that's it. And sometimes, death is much better than life."
Yun Ran's ear was pressed against his chest, and when he spoke, his chest trembled slightly.
That feeling made Yun Ran's ears numb, and it was like two worlds apart from the man's cold and ruthless words. But Yun Ran was not completely confused. She tried to refute: "How can death be good? When I die, there will really be nothing. Your Highness must have heard the saying that a good death is worse than a miserable life. Life is so precious, we must cherish it. Anyway, I can't bear to die no matter what. I will live on even if I have to eat bran and vegetables, peeling tree bark and eating dirt..."
Sima Jing was silent.
He naturally believed what she said and could also feel the endless vitality in her.
Compared to her, he was like a pool of stagnant water, a dead tree, just waiting day after day for his body to grow old, waiting for the day when death would come.
He didn't even want to have a soul or an afterlife. He just wanted it to end completely and never come back to this world again.
He didn't envy her vitality, but he wanted to... protect her.
Keep that fire burning.
"Of course it's good to be alive."
Sima Jing lowered his eyelids and said indifferently, "But as for those Sima princes who disappeared, if it wasn't them who died, then it would be me and Your Majesty. Even so, are you still afraid?"
Yun Ran: “…”
Even more scared.
But perhaps it was because he was wrapped in Sima Jing's arms at this moment, feeling his warm embrace and familiar breath, that Yun Ran, besides being afraid, gradually developed a very clear preference in his heart -
"If that's the case."
She raised her face from the man's arms, her eyes complex yet firm: "Then I still hope that His Highness is alive."
Everyone has selfish desires, and she is no exception.
Compared to those disappeared people she had never met before, she preferred Sima Jiu in front of her.
Just, "I will never call you Sima Er again."
Yun Ran bit his lip and said, "Don't call me Yun Wu anymore! Someone who doesn't know me would think I'm your little eunuch!"
When Sima Jing heard her say, "I still hope Your Highness is alive," his eyes became a little dazed.
After hearing her dissatisfied complaints, he couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, I won't call you Yunwu anymore."
Yun Ran: "Is it a deal?"
Sima Jing: "Yeah."
Yun Ran stood up from his arms and looked at him expectantly: "Then how will Your Highness call me in the future?"
Sima Jing met her sparkling eyes, his throat rolling slightly, and after a while, he moved his thin lips and said, "Yun Ran."
Yun Ran exclaimed, feeling a little disappointed.
I thought he could call her Ranran. After all, they had kissed so many times and were quite familiar with each other.
But compared to Yun Wu, Yun Ran sounds much better.
Thinking of this, Yun Ran didn't bother with him anymore.
She sat up from Sima Jing's arms, and when she sat back on the couch, she regained her usual energetic appearance. She talked to Sima Jing about which families she had sent gifts to today, which families she would send gifts to tomorrow, and what her plans were for tomorrow's Laba Festival.
The next day, we drank Laba porridge all day long on Laba Festival.
On the morning of the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yun Ran was woken up from her bed by Nanny Lan Gui, who said, "Princess, it's time to get up."
Yun Ran was still sleepy. He leaned over the bed and looked out the window at the dark sky, his eyes blurry. "Is it so early?"
Nanny Lan Gui: "After we finish washing up, we have to rush to Danfeng Gate to meet the imperial carriage and set off together."
Yun Ran: “…”
Well, for the hot springs!
At the beginning of the morning, she wrapped herself in a thick pink brocade cloak and got into the carriage in a daze.
Unexpectedly, Sima Jing was there too.
Yun Ran, who had woken up too early and was still in a state of dullness, but with politeness etched in his subconscious, said: "What a coincidence, Your Highness."
Sima Jing was just about to say, "You and I were going together anyway," when he saw the bundled-up young woman move toward him and collapse directly into his arms. "I'm so sleepy. I want to sleep a little longer. Your Highness, please call me when the carriage stops."
Sima Jing: “…”
Looking at the little girl in his arms who was already fast asleep with her eyes closed, he pursed his thin lips into a straight line, but raised his arms and firmly embraced that softness.
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The author has something to say: Sorry for being late, I'll give you a red envelope to compensate you! [Melt down]
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