Chapter 103 A Tribute to My Mother
Three days later will be Lou Jin's birthday.
The two were extremely busy during those three days.
They mobilized reliable personnel, inventoried medicinal materials and supplies, planned infiltration routes, and repeatedly discussed the details of the plan with Lou Yan...
All preparations for the trip to Southwest China are proceeding at a rapid pace.
It wasn't until the eve of his birthday that everything was roughly arranged, and he was finally able to catch his breath.
On his birthday, as dawn broke, Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang got up and, according to custom, went to the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor.
The emperor looked at the couple standing side by side, his gaze lingering on Lou Jin for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions, but in the end he only said a simple "Happy birthday" and did not say anything more.
After leaving the Qin Zheng Hall, Lou Jin did not leave the palace directly, but instead led Ye Xunyang towards the inner palace.
Kunning Palace.
This is Ye Xunyang's first time here.
Upon entering the palace gates, an atmosphere of solemnity tinged with a faint sadness immediately greets you.
The interior furnishings were just as they had been during the Empress's lifetime, neat and elegant, but lacking the warmth of everyday life, and feeling more empty and desolate.
The palace servants had already prepared incense and candles.
Ye Xunyang and Lou Jin stepped forward, respectfully lit three sticks of incense, raised them above their heads, bowed devoutly, and then inserted the incense into the incense burner.
Wisps of smoke rose, blurring the dignified inscription on the memorial tablet.
Ye Xunyang turned his head to look at Lou Jin beside him.
Lou Jin's gaze was fixed on his mother's memorial tablet, his deep eyes churning with a torrent of emotions, his voice clear and solemn:
"Your Majesty, I have brought someone to see you today."
He took Ye Xunyang's hand, and the two knelt down together before the altar.
“His name is Ye Xunyang, and he is the person I have decided to spend my life with.”
Lou Jin's voice echoed in the empty palace, filled with unprecedented determination, "Today, before you, your son and I bow together, hoping that the spirit of the Empress Dowager in heaven will bless us."
Ye Xunyang was startled. He straightened his posture and knelt down beside Lou Jin before the spirit tablet, and the two of them kowtowed deeply together.
This bow was both a gesture of respect to the deceased empress as a son-in-law and a promise to stay together before the spirit of a loved one.
After the ceremony, Ye Xunyang knew that Lou Jin must have many things he wanted to say to his mother alone.
So she gently squeezed Lou Jin's hand and whispered, "I'll wait for you outside."
Lou Jin nodded. Ye Xunyang glanced at the Empress's memorial tablet before getting up and quietly leaving the hall, leaving the space entirely to Lou Jin and his mother who was sleeping there.
He walked into the courtyard and looked at the crabapple tree that was said to have been planted by the Empress herself. In summer, its branches and leaves were lush and verdant, as if silently telling the story of the past years.
Just as he was waiting quietly, he heard steady footsteps behind him.
Ye Xunyang turned around and saw that Lou Yan had also arrived at Kunning Palace at some point.
"Your Highness Prince Yan," Ye Xunyang bowed respectfully.
Lou Yan raised his hand in a gesture of support, his gaze sweeping over the tightly closed palace doors before settling on Ye Xunyang. He asked knowingly, "Is Jin'er inside?"
"Yes." Ye Xunyang nodded. "Your Highness has something you'd like to say to me privately."
Lou Yan remained silent for a moment, gazing at the door, a hint of melancholy appearing in his usually cold and stern eyes.
He turned to look at Ye Xunyang, his tone much gentler than usual: "It's kind of you to wait here. He may seem cold and hard, but he is actually very sentimental. The matter of the Empress Dowager... has always been the most important thing in his heart."
“I understand,” Ye Xunyang replied softly.
The two stood under the corridor for a while, and Lou Yan suddenly spoke, his voice low but clear: "Next time, there's no need to address me as Prince Yan or Your Highness."
Ye Xunyang was slightly taken aback and looked up at him.
Lou Yan's gaze held an elder brother's approval and gentleness as he continued, "Just like Jin'er, you can call me Imperial Brother."
Ye Xunyang felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that this was Lou Yan's complete acceptance of him as family. He did not refuse, but readily changed his address, speaking solemnly: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Lou Yan nodded and said nothing more, simply waiting quietly with him outside the hall.
After an unknown amount of time, the palace door was gently pushed open. Lou Jin's figure appeared in the doorway, backlit, his expression indistinct, but the somber aura around him seemed to have dissipated considerably, and his steps appeared more firm and composed than when he entered.
He walked to Ye Xunyang's side and naturally took his hand, his palm warm. Seeing Lou Yan also there, he was slightly surprised, then nodded in greeting: "Your Majesty."
"Hmm." Lou Yan responded, his gaze sweeping over their clasped hands. He didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Now that you've paid your respects, go back. Today is your birthday, so get some rest. We can discuss the matter of the Southwest tomorrow."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lou Jin said.
Lou Yan glanced at Ye Xunyang again, nodded slightly, and then turned and left.
Lou Jin then looked at Ye Xunyang and asked softly, "Have you been waiting long?"
Ye Xunyang shook his head and grasped his slightly cool fingers in return: "No."
He paused, noticing the lingering sadness in Lou Jin's eyes, and asked in a light tone, "But Your Highness, how do you know Mother won't object to us? What if she thinks I'm not good enough for you, a prince?"
Upon hearing this, Lou Jin's gloomy expression indeed dissipated somewhat, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
He squeezed Ye Xunyang's hand: "If Mother were still alive, she would definitely like you."
"Oh? So sure?"
"Naturally." Lou Jin's gaze was distant, as if he were recalling something.
"My mother often said that the greatest blessing in life is to have a true friend to grow old with. She never cared about social status, only sincerity."
He turned and stared intently at Ye Xunyang, his eyes resolute: "How you treat me is clear to my mother in heaven. If she saw someone willing to risk their life and the family's reputation for her troublesome son, she would be overjoyed, why would she object?"
Ye Xunyang felt his ears burning from the prince's gaze, but his heart was filled with sweetness. He deliberately teased, "So even Your Highness knows you're a handful."
Lou Jin chuckled softly, leaned close to his ear, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "That's why I need to hold on tighter to you, the one who's so easy to deal with, lest you run away."
The two walked out of the palace gate hand in hand, only to see Lou Yan leaning against the carriage with his arms crossed.
Lou Jin and Ye Xunyang were somewhat surprised, as Lou Yan had just gone in when they came out after their worship.
Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Lou Yan straightened up helplessly, his tone teasing: "I've already finished paying my respects and come out, and when I saw that your carriage was still there, I knew that you two must have gone to stroll around the Imperial Garden again."
Having been guessed correctly, Ye Xunyang lowered his head somewhat embarrassed, while Lou Jin touched his nose.
Lou Yan looked at the two of them like this, a smile flashed in his eyes, and then he said seriously, "It's almost noon, don't go back to the manor, come back with me for a meal."
"Bei Chen just sent someone over. He's personally making arrangements at the manor to make sure you come over for a simple meal to celebrate your birthday."
Lou Jin keenly caught the hint of reluctance in his words and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Your Majesty's tone... suggests you don't want us to go?"
"Nonsense," Lou Yan glanced at him irritably, his tone carrying a hint of...sourness?
"I've never even eaten a meal cooked by him, and I'm only getting to eat because of you. What do you say? Let's go, or I won't get to eat today if I don't bring you both back safe and sound."
Upon hearing this, Lou Jin couldn't help but chuckle, deliberately drawing out his words: "Brother, to me, it sounds like you're showing off a bit."
Lou Yan's ears burned slightly when he heard what Lou Yan was thinking, but his face grew even colder. Too lazy to argue with him anymore, he turned and walked towards his carriage: "Stop talking nonsense and follow me."
The three of them went to the Prince of Yan's residence together.
Inside the mansion, Yu Beichen had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing them enter, he stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Lou Jin, and smiled gently on his usually cold face: "Congratulations on Your Highness's birthday."
Lou Jin quickly waved his hand, smiling as he stopped him from bowing, his tone teasing and friendly: "Mr. Yu, please don't do that. We're all family. Such formality makes us seem distant. Besides, I should call you sister-in-law."
His address of "sister-in-law" was so natural that a faint blush instantly appeared on Yu Beichen's handsome face as he looked at Lou Yan.
Lou Yan coughed lightly and glared at Lou Jin, but there was no anger in his eyes, only a hint of satisfaction.
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