However, Zhao Shouzheng and the eldest princess escaped from the sight of the younger generation under the protection of Zhao Hao and someone else.
It was not suitable to stay here for long. The two hurriedly left the temple market, called a carriage, and came to the Houhai Lake several miles away. Only then did they dare to take off the masks of the Black and White Impermanence.
At this time, there were few pedestrians on the Houhai Lake and it was unusually quiet. The frozen lake surface flashed with colorful luster under the winter sun.
The two of them strolled in this beautiful scenery that belonged only to them, and their moods gradually relaxed.
Then they smiled at each other, both feeling very excited about the other's ridiculous behavior.
"That boy seemed to have seen us." The eldest princess said softly with some embarrassment.
"He must have seen it." Zhao Shouzheng nodded and said, "Why else would he shout so loudly? Wasn't it just to attract the attention of those kids and remind us to leave quickly?"
"Who gave us this mask?" The princess looked at the Bai Wuchang mask that appeared in her hand in time and couldn't help but secretly grateful. This thing was a great help.
"It should be my servant..." Zhao Shouzheng said uncertainly.
"Do you have any servant boy?" The eldest princess widened her eyes.
"Yes, he's following us today." Zhao Shouzheng looked around but didn't see any trace of Fang Wen, so he smiled awkwardly and said, "That kid is so elusive that I often forget he exists. Otherwise, I would have sent him away long ago..."
"But it's a mistake at least." The princess smiled and thanked the unknown hero.
As the two were talking, they unknowingly arrived at the Yinding Bridge.
The princess stopped and looked at the exquisite arch bridge that looked like a silver ingot. She was lost in memory and asked, "Do you remember this place?"
"Of course I remember. It was here that we met Lu Zigang."
"Yes, and we also asked him to carve that pair of jade pendants for us." The eldest princess said softly.
"I didn't know he was so famous at the time, and I thought he was too expensive." Thinking of the situation at that time, Zhao Shouzheng's expression dimmed and he said, "I just thought that since we are separated from each other, we should always keep a memory of each other, so I spent all my last copper coin, and I still owe him 400 coins."
“Hahaha…” Then an old man’s laughter sounded from the bridge. An old man with white hair and beard came from the other side of the bridge with his hands behind his back and said, “Then pay the debt today.”
The two looked in the direction of the voice and were both surprised. Wasn't that old man Lu Zigang, whom they met sixteen years ago, the now world-famous jade carving master?
"Master Lu, weren't you in Suzhou? Why are you back in Beijing again?" Zhao Shouzheng was very surprised.
"You can return to the capital, but I can't?" Lu Zigang said with a smile.
"Brother, Master Lu was summoned to the capital by my brother to carve jade for him." The princess explained to Zhao Shouzheng in a low voice. However, with Lu Zigang's status, he could not meet the high-ranking princess, so she also greeted him openly and smiled, "I didn't expect Master Lu to still remember us."
The eldest princess was also very happy to meet the old friend who had witnessed their relationship.
"I remember every jade pendant I have ever made." Lu Zigang stroked his gray beard with his rough right hand and said:
"But I can't remember how many people asked me to make jade pendants for them."
"Then why do you remember us two?" the eldest princess asked curiously.
"That's because..." Lu Zigang hesitated for a moment and said, "I saw my own past in you, so I was naturally impressed."
"Oh?" The two looked at the old man in surprise. They didn't expect that he was also a passionate man.
"Thirty years ago, when I was discussing marriage with my childhood sweetheart, she was suddenly selected to enter the palace. From then on, we were separated and could never see each other again..." Then Lu Zigang said slowly: "It was from that time that I stubbornly engraved my name on the jade wares I made. I hoped that one day, my jade wares could flow into the palace and be seen by her. Let her know that I am still waiting for her..."
"Have you waited for it?" The eldest princess felt compassionate.
Lu Zigang shook his head slowly.
"What's her name? Maybe I can help you find it." The eldest princess asked again. As long as the person was still in the palace, she could help get him out with just a few words.
"She is no longer alive." Lu Zigang sighed dejectedly, a turbid tear rolled out of the corner of his eye, and said: "The reason why I was ordered to come to the capital this time was to find out if she was still in the palace. As a result, I asked Eunuch Chen of the Imperial Household Department to check the list, and only then did I know that she was involved in a palace coup and died tragically the year she entered the palace..."
"Ah..." The princess took a step back, her body shaking. She knew that the coup Lu Zigang was talking about was most likely the Renyin coup that cost her mother her life.
Zhao Shouzheng quickly supported Ning An, held her shoulders tightly, and gave her strength to lean on.
"I'm sorry that I made you uncomfortable on such a good day." Lu Zigang let out a breath, turned his head and looked at the two people leaning against each other, and said with envy:
"That's great! I thought at first that you two would never see each other again in this life."
Upon hearing this, the princess pressed her head tightly against Zhao Shouzheng's shoulder. Zhao Shouzheng's face immediately turned red, but he did not let go of her hand.
"By the way, are the jade pendants still there?" Lu Zigang asked again, "Remember you said 'Jade is divided by people, and people are combined with jade', I will help you put the jade back together!"
"It's still there." The eldest princess took out the half-moon shaped jade pendant that carried her body temperature from her bosom.
"..." Zhao Shouzheng was silent for a while, let go of the eldest princess, and then took out the other half of the jade pendant.
"Here I am."
When the princess saw the jade pendant with the words "Ning'an" engraved on it, her eyes immediately filled with tears. She felt happy and angry at the same time, and she even wanted to bite him.
Zhao Shouzheng smiled awkwardly and was unable to speak.
If he hadn't met Lu Zigang today and made him feel the will of heaven, he probably wouldn't have taken it out.
Lu Zigang took the jade pendants from the two and slowly put them together. Looking at the words "upright" and "peaceful" on them, he nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Go to the Fire God Temple to get them in three days."
"Thank you, Master!" The eldest princess was overjoyed and bowed to him.
"Thank you very much." Zhao Shouzheng seemed to have accepted his fate.
"No thanks, no thanks. Just keep doing this..." Lu Zigang waved his hand and said goodbye to the two with a smile.
~~
After separating from Lu Zigang, the two held hands and continued to stroll deep into Houhai.
"Didn't you say it was lost? Dead guy..." The eldest princess grabbed Zhao Shouzheng's ear.
"It hurts..." Zhao Shouzheng grimaced, and the explanation he gave was exactly the same as the one the princess had imagined.
"I was so confused at the time. Thinking of our current identities, I was afraid that I would ruin your reputation..."
"And what about you now?"
"After meeting Lu Zigang and listening to his story, I figured it out. Since it is fate's will that we meet again, let's just leave it to God." Zhao Shouzheng held the eldest princess's soft little hand tightly.
"Silly Zhao Lang, is Ning An such an ignorant person?" Princess Ning An snuggled in his arms and said softly, "Given my status, I am destined to never be with you in public. As long as you can meet and talk with me often like before, I will be satisfied..."
"Ning An..." Zhao Shouzheng finally plucked up the courage and held her in his arms.
ps. Third update, please give me monthly votes and recommendation votes~~~~