Chapter 66: Keep Chasing
Xiao Ziran's "wife-chasing" operation seemed to have entered a new stage after the incident of night visits and delivering intelligence.
He was no longer just clingy, but had added a bit of earnest clumsiness and persistence tinged with regret.
He still delivers breakfast every day, but it is no longer the strange Nanyue snacks.
Instead, he quietly inquired about Liu Chen's preference for light flavors and tried to make rice porridge that would nourish his stomach.
Although the cooking skills were still questionable, and even nearly burned down the small kitchen once, the careful attempt made Liu Jin, who received the lunch box, feel a very subtle... touch besides anger.
He began to collect various rare books and ingenious mechanisms, and no longer gave them directly to Liu Xiao, but asked Fu An to pass them on to Liu Chen, with a note attached that read:
"I know you like quietness, maybe this can relieve your boredom. Don't abandon me."
He knew that Liu Jin was diligent in government affairs and often exhausted, and he even got a pair of docile, fluffy-haired Western Region ferret pups from somewhere.
It was delivered in an exquisite cage covered with soft cloth, with a note saying:
"When you feel tired of reviewing, you can play with them to relieve stress. They are very well behaved and don't make any noises."
Liu Jin looked at the two little ferrets huddled together, looking at him curiously with their big black eyes, and then looked at the note. For a moment, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
He let Fuan take it away with a stern face, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly, almost imperceptibly.
This man seemed to be trying to make up for the losses of the past and get to know himself again in every way he could think of.
At night, Xiao Ziran would still "harass" her from time to time, but his method had changed.
He no longer played the noisy flute, but occasionally hummed some ancient Nanyue love songs in a low and gentle voice on the wall outside Liu Chen's bedroom.
The melody is distant and slightly sad, as if telling of twenty years of longing and regret.
Sometimes, he would quietly place a handmade river lantern painted with lotus flowers under the windowsill.
There are short sentences in it, which are no longer frivolous jokes, but subtle and affectionate poems such as "I look at the sky in the morning and the clouds in the evening, I miss you when I walk and I miss you when I sit."
Liu Jin still responded coldly, scolded him and drove him away.
But the ice in his heart quietly cracked under the other party's persistent offensive, which was a mixture of roguery and sincerity.
He would think of the Prince of Nanyue who was full of vigor and vitality and would secretly act coquettishly and naughty towards him.
I will remember the short but passionate sweetness they once had.
I will think of...the child whose fate was tragic because of their separation.
Once, Xiao Ziran tried to sneak into the Imperial Garden and "accidentally" meet Liu Jin who was relaxing.
This time Liu Jin did not drive him away immediately, but just looked at him coldly.
Xiao Ziran walked up to him, was silent for a moment, and whispered
"Liu Jin, I know I'm a bastard, and I deserve it. I don't ask you to forgive me immediately.
I just... just want you to know that in these twenty years, there has never been a moment when I truly let you go.
All that hatred is because the love is too deep and the pain is too severe.
Now I know I was wrong, I just want to... just want to be able to watch you from afar, be nice to you, even if it can only make up for one ten-thousandth of it..."
His voice was devoid of the usual playfulness, only filled with deep regret and humble pleading.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his still handsome but weathered profile, which exuded a heartbreaking loneliness.
Liu Jin's heart felt like it was struck hard by something. He turned away and hardened his heart.
"There's no point in saying this. I'm no longer the fool I used to be who could be moved by a few sweet words."
"I know."
Xiao Ziran smiled bitterly
"You're not a fool. I don't ask for anything else, just a chance to stay where you can see me. Even if you never forgive me, I'll accept it."
After saying this, he looked at Liu Jin deeply, did not pester her any further, and turned away silently.
Liu Jin stood there, watching his somewhat lonely figure disappear into the depths of the flowers and trees, without moving for a long time.
Beneath the frozen lake in my heart, it seemed as if something was surging violently, almost about to break through the ice.
He felt a wave of irritation, confusion, and a hint of... hesitation that even frightened himself.
At the same time, the second prince Liu Cong's feelings for the crown prince Liu Xiao became more intense and painful after experiencing the poisoning incident and the stimulation of Xiao Ziran's appearance.
It is a kind of love that grows wildly on the edge of the abyss of despair, but must be suppressed with all one's strength.
He devoted almost all his time and energy to protecting Liu Xiao.
Apart from necessary military duties and reporting to the emperor, he hardly ever left the Eastern Palace.
He personally took care of every meal and every piece of clothing Liu Xiao wore, and even personally checked every corner of Liu Xiao's bedroom every night. Only after confirming that it was safe would he keep watch outside.
His eyes always followed Liu Xiao. They were as deep as a cold pond. Although calm on the surface, underneath they were surging with burning emotions and worries that could devour a person.
When Liu Xiao was studying seriously, he would stare at the focused silhouette in a trance;
When Liu Xiao rubbed his eyebrows due to fatigue, his heart would tighten, and he wanted to go forward and soothe all his discomfort;
When Liu Xiao showed him a smile of dependence and trust, that smile was like the strongest sunshine, instantly illuminating his dark world, but also bringing deeper pain.
Because he knew that this smile could only remain within the boundaries of "brotherhood".
He became extremely sensitive, especially to anyone who tried to get close to Liu Xiao.
His hostility towards Xiao Ziran reached its peak, not only because the other party had poisoned him, but also because his undisguised attitude of trying to get close to Liu Jin again made him feel a huge threat and... an indescribable jealousy.
Once, Liu Xiao accidentally scratched his finger while practicing sword, and blood instantly oozed out.
Liu Cong rushed to him almost instantly and grabbed his hand with astonishing speed.
His eyes were filled with undisguised panic and heartache
"What's going on? Does it hurt? Doctor! Call the doctor!" His voice sounded a little sharp because of his urgency.
Liu Xiao was startled by his overreaction. Looking at his tightly grasped fingers and his second brother's pale and nervous face, a strange feeling flashed through his heart.
The emperor's concern for him... always seemed to be particularly strong, so strong that it made him feel a little overwhelmed.
"It's okay, Royal Brother, it's just a minor wound." Liu Xiao tried to pull his hand back, his face feeling a little hot.
Liu Cong held on tighter until the imperial physician arrived, carefully cleaned and bandaged the wound, and confirmed that everything was fine.
He slowly let go of his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on Liu Xiao's fingers.
He realized his own loss of composure and quickly lowered his eyes, hiding all his emotions and regaining his usual composure: "Your Highness, please be careful in the future."
But the loss of control at that moment was deeply imprinted in Liu Xiao's heart. He began to vaguely realize that his second brother's feelings for him seemed to be more than just brotherly love.
This realization made him confused and a little inexplicably panicked, but strangely, he did not feel disgusted.
Late at night, Liu Xiao was already asleep.
Liu Cong sat alone in the outer room, polishing his sword by the light of a solitary lamp.
The light outlined his cold and hard profile, but softened his eyes as he looked towards the inner bedroom.
It is filled with inextricable tenderness, pain and an almost pious desire to protect.
He carefully took out a very old peace locket with frayed edges from his arms.
That was the first gift Liu Xiao gave him. Although it was not valuable, he still treasures it to this day.
His fingertips caressed the cold jade, and he murmured softly, like the most solemn oath:
"Xiao'er... I ask for nothing more than a peaceful and happy life for you. No matter how you view me, no matter what the future holds, I will always be your shield, your sword. Anyone who wishes to harm you must walk over my dead body."
His love is as deep as the sea and as hot as flame, but it can only be locked forever under his cold and restrained body, burning silently until it turns to ashes.
Two completely different but equally strong emotional lines silently intertwine and collide in the deep palace.
Xiao Ziran uses his roguery and persistence to knock on Liu Jin's frozen heart little by little.
Trying to regain their lost love, they don't know that the biggest barrier between them - the child they share - is right in front of them, yet so far away.
Liu Cong used his silence and protection to build an invisible wall, keeping Liu Xiao tightly in his own world.
He endured the great pain of unrequited love alone, and watched vigilantly for all possible disturbances, especially Xiao Ziran, who made him extremely uneasy.
Liu Xiao, who is at the center of the storm, feels the strange enthusiasm from "Mr. Xiao" and the unusually heavy concern from his second brother in his ignorance, and the doubts about his life experience and emotions in his heart grow bigger and bigger.
At the same time, the shadow of "Owl Feather" has not dissipated, and the bandit problem on the border remains a problem.
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