Chapter 44 [44] Hot Spring Palace
【44】/First release
Although the carriages in the Marquis's Mansion were also luxurious and comfortable, their rules were not as strict as those in the Prince's Mansion.
Especially when two tall and strong men sat in the same carriage, the originally spacious carriage suddenly became cramped.
In addition to the cramped space, the deathly silence in the car was almost driving Yunshang crazy.
He couldn't imagine how his sister could be alone with King Jing?
Will you really not suffocate to death?
In just a short while, he had already wanted to jump out of the car five times, pretend to have a stomachache six times, and pretend to be asleep seven times.
My dear sister, for your pleasant journey, I, your fourth brother, have suffered so much——
"Is my uncle feeling unwell?"
A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out, and Yun Shang shuddered. Looking up at King Jing's expressionless face, he forced a smile, "No, no, I might be a little carsick. It's nothing, no need to ask about it, Your Highness."
Sima Jing noticed Yun Shang's nervousness, and also saw some of Yun Ran's shadow in Yun Shang's expression.
I didn't notice it before, but now that we are sitting opposite each other, I realize that the Yun siblings look quite similar.
Especially the expression of this little uncle, when he stands with Yun Ran, they look like brother and sister.
Because of this, he softened his tone and said, "Don't be nervous, uncle. I'm not a green-faced, fang-toothed demon. I don't eat people."
Yun Shang was stunned. "Your Highness, you're joking. You're a descendant of the royal family, a son of a dragon and a grandson of a phoenix. You're precious. I'm just intimidated by your majesty and worried that my clumsy words might offend Your Highness."
Well, this slick, fawning tone is the same as his princess.
"We are all family, you can just call me you or me."
Sima Jing said, "The princess often mentions you in front of me."
Yun Shang looked up in surprise: "What did she mention about me?"
She wouldn't be complaining to King Jing, saying that he drew a turtle on her face while she was sleeping, right?
Sima Jing said, "On the way back from Yangzhou, I told her a lot about the delicious food and beautiful sights in Chang'an."
"Oh, these."
Yun Shang breathed a sigh of relief, and then listened to King Jing say, "I'm fine. I'd like to trouble you, uncle, to introduce me to him."
Yun Shang was surprised and puzzled. King Jing was also interested in these things?
But seeing that the other party took the initiative to talk, which happened to be his forte, eating, drinking and having fun, he felt confident. After calming down a little, he told everyone without reservation what delicious food and fun things there were within a hundred miles around Chang'an City.
As he spoke, seeing King Jing listening attentively, he belatedly remembered—
Although King Jing was born in Chang'an, he never left the palace until he was captured. After finally returning to the court, he stayed in the palace and lived a secluded life.
Not to mention taking a good stroll around Chang'an, the most prosperous city in the world, maybe you haven't even visited the East and West Markets yet?
Alas, he is also a poor man.
For a moment, Yun Shang felt less afraid of this handsome and majestic prince's brother-in-law.
Although he is four years younger than King Jing in terms of age, he is the king's uncle in terms of seniority!
For his sister's sake, he had to be nicer to his brother-in-law.
The large army was moving in an orderly manner. In the leading carriage, which was inlaid with dragon and phoenix patterns in gold, silver and jade, and decorated with gems and pearls, and pulled by six horses, it was learned that Prince Jing and his wife had boarded the carriage of the Marquis of Changxin's Mansion together. Both the carriage carried by Zheng's mother and daughter, and the carriage carried by Prince Jing and Yun's fourth son, were laughing and chatting non-stop. Emperor Wenxuan, who was sitting in the middle, looked a little depressed.
"Did Prince Jing really offer to ride in a car with Yun Jia Silang?"
"Yes, I heard it absolutely!"
The one who answered was the guard who was responsible for escorting the carriage of the Marquis's Mansion. Although he didn't know why the emperor suddenly summoned him, he still imitated the conversation he heard and repeated it.
After these words were spoken, silence fell in the dragon chariot.
After a long while, I heard a faint command from above my head: "Go down."
The guards hurriedly got off the car and trotted back to their team.
Inside the dragon chariot scented with ambergris, Emperor Wenxuan leaned against a bright yellow pillow with auspicious cloud and dragon patterns. His usually gentle and easy-going handsome face was now frowning, and there was a gloom in his dark eyes that was difficult to fathom.
***
At the hour of You, the large army finally arrived at the Lishan Palace.
Yun Ran looked out the car window. The evening mist in the mountains was like a thin veil, hazily covering the towering mountains. In the distance, there were dots of green and the sky was full of red clouds. It was the most beautiful sunset.
Having spent a very enjoyable afternoon with A Niang, and being able to meet again at the palace later, Yun Ran did not feel too reluctant to leave.
Yun Shang, however, took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention and pulled Yun Ran aside, gritting his teeth and saying, "You traitor! If you leave me behind again, our brother-sister relationship will be over!"
Yun Ran also guessed that Sima Jing's sullen nature must have made life difficult for his fourth brother, who was also talkative.
But this cannot be blamed on her. How could she have known that Sima Jing would suddenly ask to ride with his fourth brother?
"I'll be sure to pay attention next time."
Yun Ran blinked and said, "Fourth brother, calm down. I'll buy you some good wine later."
Yunshang: "That's pretty good."
After a brief pause, he glanced at the dark figure standing with his hands behind his back not far away and muttered softly, "Actually, His Royal Highness Prince Jing...is a pretty good person."
Yun Ran: "Isn't it!"
Yun Shang: "Yes, yes, yes. Okay, go over quickly and don't keep His Highness waiting."
Yun Ran chuckled and waved at him: "I'll go play with Fourth Brother in a couple of days."
After saying this, he didn't waste any more time and changed cars with Sima Jing to go to the inner area of the palace.
Since the founding of the Sima Dynasty, the Lishan Palace has gone through several dynasties and has become extremely magnificent after being expanded and repaired by several generations of emperors.
All the way from the temporary palace to the Feiluan Palace, one can see winding mountain roads, towering pavilions, carved eaves and painted buildings, and steep rafters. Its magnificence and splendor are not inferior to that of the Chang'an Imperial Palace.
Even after sitting in the carriage for a whole day, as soon as his feet touched the ground, Yun Ran returned to his usual energetic state. He looked left and right along the way, and found everything new and interesting.
Led by the eunuchs of the palace, the couple walked for half an hour and finally arrived at the Feiluan Palace, which was backed by green mountains and was quiet and beautiful.
"Your Highness, this palace is really nice!"
Yun Ran looked around the palace where he would be staying for half a month, his eyes filled with excitement. "It's nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with plum blossoms and pines and cypresses planted outside the courtyard. It's so spacious and beautiful! I love it here!"
Sima Jing glanced around calmly and walked slowly to the couch: "As long as you like it."
The maids who accompanied them quickly packed their bags. Yun Ran was not idle either. She first went to the bathroom to take care of the matter of the five grains.
After taking a cup of tea, she couldn't wait to run to Sima Jing with her change of clothes in her arms: "Your Highness, let's go to the hot springs!"
Sima Jing paused while holding the cup: "Now?"
Yun Ran: "Yeah, isn't everything fine now?"
Sima Jing glanced at the darkening sky outside the window and said, "It's almost time for dinner. It's best to wait an hour after dinner before going to soak, otherwise you'll get dizzy."
Yun Ran was stunned: "Is there such a thing?"
Sima Jing squinted at her and said, "If you don't believe me, try it."
Yun Ran smiled awkwardly: "Forget it, I don't want to faint in the hot spring. It would be so embarrassing if the news got out."
Just as she was about to carry the clothes back to the inner room, she suddenly thought of something.
Glancing around, she saw the maids were busy and no one was looking at them, so she lowered her voice and asked, "So, do we take off all our clothes to soak in the hot springs like we do in the shower, or do we need to wear underwear?"
Sima Jing's heart skipped a beat.
Looking at the man in front of him who looked like he was seriously seeking advice, he was silent for two breaths and said, "Whatever you want."
"Okay, we'll talk about it later."
Yun Ran said, "Anyway, I'll bring a change of clothes with me, it won't be a mistake."
Soon, the sky darkened completely, and the Feiluan Palace was lit up with five round sheep-horn palace lanterns in a row. The bright red color in the night was very festive.
Because he had eaten a lot of snacks during the day, Yun Ran was not hungry. He only ate half a bowl of rice for dinner and then put down his chopsticks.
If Sima Jing had not said that they had to wait an hour after dinner to go to the hot spring, she would have wanted to go straight to the Xingchen Hot Spring instead of being pressed in front of the piano table and playing the piano again.
Sima Jing could tell she was restless and her piano playing was chaotic. He closed his eyes and endured for a while, then finally held her hand and said, "If you don't feel like practicing, come to my side."
As for what they came to the couch for, they both knew it clearly.
Yun Ran's ears felt slightly hot, and he lowered his eyes: "Then I'd better play the piano for a while. Your Highness, please sit down and listen. Don't always stand next to me like a teacher. It makes me nervous."
Sima Jing: “…”
He walked over and sat down beside her, watching her take a deep breath and play the piano again with concentration and calmness.
Gradually, the piano music became less chaotic, but his heart was a little confused.
The two of them had been kissing for several days, and she was obviously getting used to it and not as nervous as she was at the beginning, but she seemed to really treat this as a task -
Just like practicing the piano, it is a task that must be done.
Sima Jing vaguely felt that this direction seemed wrong, but...
He raised his eyelids and looked at the slender figure practicing the piano intently in front of the piano table, and his brows couldn't help but frown.
Is she a piece of wood?
After Yun Ran finished practicing the piano for half an hour and kissed Sima Jing for a stick of incense, the night outside the hall grew darker.
She held the change of clothes again and invited him warmly, "Your Highness, can we go to the hot springs now?"
Sima Jing looked at her cheerful expression and nodded, "Go ahead."
Yun Ran was slightly startled: "Aren't you going?"
Sima Jing: "I'm a little tired."
Yun Ran: "If you're tired, it's a good time to take a hot spring bath. You'll feel warm and comfortable before going to sleep. You'll sleep better."
Sima Jing still refused: "You go, I will go another day."
Yun Ran: “…”
Her eyebrows furrowed, and the brilliance in her eyes dimmed a little: "But didn't we come to Mount Li just to soak in the hot springs? We came all the way here..."
She couldn't understand why Sima Jing was so disappointed, but seeing that the man had made up his mind, she had to suppress the depression in her heart.
"Okay, I'll go by myself then."
"Don't soak for too long. Get out of the pool after a quarter of an hour to get some fresh air."
"Oh, I see—"
Although she was still a little angry that he didn't go with her, after hearing this advice, Yun Ran's anger dissipated a little.
When we arrived at Xingchen Hot Spring and saw the gorgeous large pool filled with white smoke and steaming hot water, all the stuffiness disappeared, and only the excitement and joy of taking a hot spring bath for the first time remained.
There were palace maids serving on both sides of the hot spring, so Yun Ran did not take off all his clothes. Instead, he left on a vest and thin silk trousers, and entered the pool with the help of the palace maids.
When the warm hot spring water with a faint smell of sulfur surrounded her, she felt that all the fatigue of the whole day disappeared.
And when she had soaked for a quarter of an hour, lying on the long couch covered with silky satin, letting the beautiful palace maid's soft hands dipped in rose essential oil massage her shoulders, back, waist and legs, Yun Ran closed her eyes and lay on the soft pillow, her mind full of howling -
So comfortable, so comfortable, so comfortable.
So cool, so cool, so cool.
It’s so comfortable, even gods would feel like this!
On the way back to Feiluan Palace, Yun Ran was still reluctant to leave. While thinking that she would come again tomorrow, she also felt sorry that Sima Jiu was too stupid and had no idea what good things he had missed!
With such a heartbroken and regretful mentality, when she saw Sima Jing again, she really advised him earnestly: "Your Highness, you really must go to the hot springs tomorrow. It's so comfortable, so comfortable! I feel like I'm going to become an immortal when I soak in it! If you don't go, you will regret it for the rest of your life!"
Sima Jing looked at her charming face that was rosy from soaking in the water, and the black hair that hung lazily by her ear, and his eyebrows moved slightly.
After a moment, he turned his face away and said, "It's getting late, go to bed and rest."
Seeing that he still had this indifferent attitude, Yun Ran choked again.
But it was really late, so she stopped trying to persuade him. "Alright, Your Highness, you should go back and rest early. Wrap yourself tightly in your cloak. It's still quite cold outside."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the man beside the couch looking up and asked, "Where should I go back to?"
Yun Ran: "Reply...uh..."
Yes, this is no longer Prince Jing’s Mansion, nor is it her Zhanlu Hall.
She realized it belatedly, her dark eyes flickering slightly: "Do you live here too?"
Sima Jing: “…”
No wonder she had no reaction when she saw the bed covered with a bright red wedding quilt in the evening. It turned out that she had expelled him from Feiluan Palace early in the morning.
"Yes, I live here too."
Sima Jing put down the book in his hand and looked at her with his dark eyes. "Not only tonight, but you will stay here for the next ten nights."
When Yun Ran heard the light and calm tone, she vaguely felt that the man in front of her seemed unhappy?
But how did she offend him again?
"Then let's stay. Anyway, I've seen the bed. It's big enough for the two of us."
Yun Ran didn't think there was anything wrong with sleeping in the same bed with Sima Jing. On their wedding night, they didn't know each other well and they slept peacefully without disturbing each other. Moreover, they knew each other so well now that even if one of them snored or ground his teeth, they should be able to understand each other, right?
The palace is located in the mountains and becomes extremely quiet after dark.
After all the palace servants had left, only two candles remained in the bedroom, the ones leading to the bathroom door.
Under the dim candlelight, a red gauze curtain hung over the rosewood step-out bed. The lintel was carved with a dragon holding a pearl. Silver bells dangled from the corners of the curtain, allowing the owner to call the palace maids outside upon awakening. The bed was covered with three layers of soft mattresses, the top layer a brocade cushion embroidered with a lotus pattern. Two pairs of jade-colored pillows were embroidered with bright red lotus flowers, symbolizing good luck.
Yun Ran was lying in the innermost part, his nose filled with the tranquil and pleasant scent of the soothing incense. But as soon as another person lay down beside him, the scent of the soothing incense was diluted by the other fragrance.
She turned her head and glanced to the side. The bed curtains had been drawn and she could only see a hazy shadow.
"Your Highness, are you going to sleep?" Yun Ran asked.
"……how?"
"Nothing, just saying hello."
“…”
There was silence between the bed curtains for a while, and then suddenly that soft and delicate voice was heard again: "Your Highness, you must go to the hot spring tomorrow. It's really comfortable. I won't lie to you. If I lie to you, I will be struck by lightning."
Sima Jing: “…”
After lying quietly for a while, he finally spoke: "Why do you want me to go to the hot spring so much?"
Yun Ran thought his question was inexplicable: "Because it's very comfortable, and we came to the Hot Spring Palace to soak in the hot springs, right?"
Sima Jing: "If you feel comfortable, go and bathe more often. Whether I bathe or not has no effect on you."
"That's true, but aren't good things meant to be shared with everyone?"
At this point, Yun Ran turned over and faced outside the bed. "And how could it have no effect? I find the hot springs comfortable, and I hope Your Highness can enjoy this comfort with me. Just like when I went shopping earlier and saw something delicious or fun, I also wanted to bring it to you. Seeing you enjoy the food makes me happy too."
"...Wouldn't Your Highness feel the same way?"
“…”
There was silence beside him for a moment before a deep voice rang out: "Why?"
Yun Ran was slightly startled: "Why?"
The person beside her also turned his head. Even though the light between the bed curtains was dim, Yun Ran could feel him looking at her: "Why do I feel this way?"
"...Your Highness, are you talking about the joy of sharing?"
This was the first time Yun Ran had encountered this question. He pondered quietly in the darkness for a while before saying, "Is it more about giving happiness to others than to oneself?"
Sima Jing: "Are you also like this to others?"
Yun Ran: "That's not the case. It depends on the person."
Sima Jing: "Hmm?"
Yun Ran: "For example, if it were someone else, I would at most give them a word of advice, and if they said they didn't want to go, that would be fine. But if it were my mother or my fourth brother, I would persuade them to go just like I would Your Highness, and I really, really hope that you all go."
In the darkness, Sima Jing's heart suddenly felt hot.
When he spoke again, even his voice was slightly hoarse: "Why?"
Yun Ran thought for a moment and replied, "Because... well, because I like you guys more and am closer to you... Yes, that's right!"
As she pondered, she realized, "Because you are all people I like, I hope you can live a good life. Seeing you enjoy yourself and be happy, I feel happy too."
She was happy that she had sorted out this train of thought, and couldn't help but move closer to Sima Jing: "Everyone has feelings. Wouldn't Your Highness be happy to see the person he loves living a good life?"
Sima Jing could only hear her saying "I like" over and over again, and the faint warm fragrance coming from her approaching made his throat tighten.
"Happy."
He spoke in a hoarse voice, and the long fingers in front of him moved slightly.
But before he could turn sideways and hold her in his arms, she smiled and said, "That's it," and rolled back wrapped in the quilt.
Sima Jing: “…”
"By the way, Your Highness, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
"……No."
Sima Jing took his hand back and asked her, "Do you have it?"
"yes."
Yun Ran said, "Madame Lan Gui said that since we're now living in the temporary palace, I, as her daughter-in-law, must pay my respects to the Empress Dowager every day. So I plan to go pay my respects to her first thing tomorrow morning, and then ask her if she wants to play mahjong. If she's interested, I'll ask my cousin, the Empress, to join us."
"I plan to ask Yingying and Jiuniang to go strolling around the garden this afternoon... Your Highness, you don't know yet, do you? My mother told me this afternoon that they're coming with their family this time. That's fantastic..."
"As for tonight, of course I'll be soaking in the hot springs! Tomorrow I plan to soak for half an hour, and then ask Sister Hanlu to give me a half-hour massage! Oh, yes, Sister Hanlu is the palace maid I met tonight. She's so pretty, and her hands are so deft. I love her so much..."
The darkness could not conceal the joy and happiness in her tone. Sima Jing could even imagine her fluttering eyebrows and sparkling eyes at this moment.
But her plan included the Queen Mother, the Empress, the daughter of the Lu family, the daughter of the Yao family, and even the palace maid whom she had only met once, but not him.
Yun Ran finished his perfect plan in a flurry. Seeing that the person beside him was silent, he gradually lowered his voice: "Your Highness?"
She whispered, "Are you asleep?"
There was still silence around me.
Yun Ran felt embarrassed. She knew she was a bit of a chatterbox, especially when she was happy. She just didn't expect that she could talk Sima Jing to sleep...
She tilted her head to look at the blurry shadow beside her and sighed softly in her heart——
I had wanted to ask him if he wanted to go with me to pay his respects and appreciate the flowers tomorrow.
Now it seems that he must have been very uninterested, which is why he was so sleepy that he fell asleep.
Forget it, since he doesn't want to, she won't force him.
Yun Ran closed her eyes and quickly felt sleepy. As her hands and feet were warm from the hot spring, she soon fell asleep.
I was in a daze and didn't know how much time had passed.
She felt a little stuffy in her chest, as if it was pressed by a stone, and her neck was itchy and moist, as if something was drilling into it.
She was half asleep and half awake, thinking of her former dog Baisui.
It was cold in winter and the bedding was thin. The puppy felt cold and crawled into her bed.
But the stingy little dog hadn't appeared in her dreams for a long time.
"One hundred years..."
She mumbled in her sleep, wanting to raise her hand to touch the puppy's head: "Stop making trouble."
Her palm touched a little fur, but it didn't feel like the fur on a puppy. She stroked it twice more, wondering when Bai Sui's fur had grown so long, and she opened her eyes dazedly.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a strong embrace without her noticing. Half of a man's body was pressed on her, and his head was buried deep in her neck.
In an instant, Yun Ran, who was used to sleeping alone, missed a beat.
I could clearly feel the skin on my neck being squeezed like a kiss and bitten, and my first reaction was sleep paralysis.
"Let me go..."
She pushed it subconsciously, but when she smelled the familiar aroma of camphor, she suddenly woke up - tonight, she seemed to be sleeping with Sima Jing?
"Your Highness...Your Highness?"
She placed her hands on the man's chest and tilted her head slightly.
The man's face was still buried in her neck. Although his lips and teeth loosened, they gradually moved to her earlobe: "Yun Ran, what about me?"
"ah?"
Yun Ran was a little confused, not knowing what this incoherent sentence meant.
The next moment, her earlobe was suddenly bitten by the man. The warm and moist breath made her tailbone numb and her body tensed up instantly.
The delicate earlobe was rubbed twice by the sharp teeth. As if worried about hurting her, he extended his tongue and licked it gently.
The wet touch made Yun Ran's body tremble again. Just when her mind was blank, the man's hoarse voice sounded faintly in her ears again: "Since I am dispensable to you, why did you ask me to come to the palace with you?"
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The author has something to say: Dark crawling ing
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