094. Lantern

Soon, a graceful aqua blue figure appeared in front of the door. She was wearing a long cross-collared dress, which was dignified yet cold. Next to her was Lan Ying, who was also wearing a blue dress. Unlike Rong Zhixu, who wore a dress with wide fluttering sleeves, Lan Ying wore a dress with narrow sleeves, and her look was also lively like a bird.

"Uncle."

Rong Zhixu bowed to Rong Se.

Since she was here, Rong Se already knew her decision, so he didn't ask any more questions. After thinking for a moment, he asked the eunuch, "Who is on duty in the palace today?"

"Your Highness, it is Commander Xiao." The young eunuch answered respectfully.

Rong Se understood.

It’s Xiao Mufeng, that’s perfect.

Rong Se ordered: "Lan Ying, tell the imperial guards that the princess must come back the same way she left the palace. She must leave the palace before the palace gate is locked."

Lan Ying nodded readily: "Yes!"

Rong Zhixu could see his protection and was moved. He bowed his head again and said in a voice as cold as jade but with a little more warmth: "Thank you...Uncle."

Rong Se was still a little worried about the two little girls. He frowned and looked at them for a moment before sighing, "Xuan He, you decide for yourself."

Rong Se knew very well that he could not make any decisions for Rong Zhixu, and the final choice was entirely up to her.

Rong Zhixu lowered his eyes and said softly, "There has to be an end to this. Don't worry, uncle. Xuanhe understands."

Rong Se discovered that this seemingly fragile princess was much stronger than he had imagined. Even after knowing the truth about her biological mother's death, she never made a fuss but just accepted it all calmly.

Now, she was going to the palace to finish it.

So he felt relieved and nodded slightly.

"Then go ahead and come back early."

Rong Zhixu bowed and withdrew, his every move showing the rules and upbringing ingrained in his bones.

After getting on the carriage, Lan Ying touched the sword at her waist and the whip in her arms. She was fully armed. She whispered to Rong Zhixu, "Don't worry. I will definitely bring you back the same way I brought you out."

Rong Zhixu couldn't help but chuckle, and after the coldness in his expression faded, he became even more charming.

"Yes, I believe you."

Lan Ying was stunned for a moment, then sat back down obediently, unable to help muttering, "It's really beautiful."

Rong Zhixu heard it clearly. This was not the first time Lan Ying said this, but she was still inexplicably embarrassed. After a moment, she said softly, "You are also very beautiful."

This is the truth. Lan Ying is only eighteen years old, but there is no childishness in her eyes. Sometimes she is charming and beautiful, sometimes she is cool and charming. She is also pretty, and...

She smells like sunshine and rain, like a little bird that never gets tired.

I don't feel like myself, I'm in a cage.

When entering the palace, Xiao Mufeng, who was on duty, was not in the duty room, but waiting at the palace gate. When he saw the carriage of the Regent's Palace, he was about to step forward to salute, but the curtain was lifted, and Lan Ying poked her head out and explained Rong Se's instructions one by one.

Xiao Mufeng held up his sword and saluted, "I obey your command."

The carriage was allowed to pass, and Rong Zhixu saw Rong Jing again. He was still in casual clothes and looked approachable.

"Ah Xu, come and sit down." Rong Jing greeted her as usual, "Are you feeling better? A few days ago, the emperor's uncle said that you were critically ill, and I was worried, but you were in the palace and I couldn't see you. Are you feeling better now?"

But this time Rong Zhixu did not sit down, but stood in the lower seat and saluted respectfully.

"Thanks to my brother's concern, I'm fine now."

The smile on Rong Jing's face faded a little. He felt that his usually well-behaved sister seemed out of control. He forced himself to remain calm and said gently, "Ah Xu, what are you doing?"

"Your Majesty summoned me, so I came." Rong Zhixu's eyes were calm and her face was not smiling. "I know what you want to say, but you don't have to. I don't want to go back to the Xi family. Also... the Empress Dowager's kindness in raising me over the years, I think my mother's life can make up for it. What do you think, my brother?"

Rong Zhixu didn't want to say anything more, so he went straight to the point and made everything clear.

Rong Jing's expression suddenly changed, and he forced a smile, "Ah Xu, what are you talking about?"

"Royal brother." Rong Zhixu remained unmoved, "If you continue, it will only embarrass you and me more."

Rong Jing panicked and asked sharply, "Did Rong Se say something to you? How could a man like him, who was born to a whore, tell the truth?"

Rong Zhixu seemed to recognize Rong Jing for the first time.

Before this, he had always acted harmless and kind, and even when he pushed himself out to win over the Xi family, Rong Zhixu only thought he was cowardly and incompetent. But it was not until this moment that she realized that Rong Jing was mean and ruthless.

"After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Concubine Yan will be promoted to Noble Concubine and buried in the imperial mausoleum." Rong Zhixu sighed in disappointment, "Besides, she has passed away for many years. This matter has nothing to do with the Concubine. I have my own judgment on what kind of person the Emperor's uncle is. I am stupid, but I can still distinguish between true and false."

Seeing Rong Jing's face becoming more and more embarrassed, Rong Zhixu seemed relaxed, bowed and was about to leave.

"Royal brother, that day, if you had said just one word, you were willing to save me from the sea of ​​suffering." Rong Zhixu turned around and said lightly, "For this one word, even if I have to rot in the Xi family, I am willing." |

"My dear sister, I will take my leave."

As Rong Zhixu was about to push the door open and leave, Rong Jing suddenly stood up and shouted, "How dare you! Isn't this palace a place where you can come and go as you please?! Someone! Send the princess back to the Xi family!"

Rong Zhixu was stunned. Several eunuchs in the room were about to step forward, but at this moment, the door was kicked open with a bang.

Lan Ying had unloaded her knife when she entered the palace. Now her hand had already touched the handle of the whip in her pocket. She said coldly, "Your Majesty, the prince said that he wants to bring the princess back to the palace."

The guards standing outside also came over to block the attack, but were stopped by the imperial guards led by Xiao Mufeng. They confronted each other and neither retreated.

"How dare you!" Rong Jing pointed at Xiao Mufeng and cursed with bloodshot eyes: "I am the emperor! Do you want to rebel?!"

Xiao Mufeng smiled cheerfully: "No, no, Your Majesty, please calm down. But Your Highness, the Princess, still has to go back to the palace. The Prince has given the order."

Rong Jing clenched his fists tightly and watched Rong Zhixu disappear from his sight with a grim look.

Xiao Mufeng waved his hand, and the guards on duty escorted the princess away. He never even drew his sword. He saluted Rong Jing and said politely, "I'll take my leave."

He is very polite, but his actions are very much in line with the true tradition of the royal palace and he is very arrogant.

.

Rong Se felt relieved only after learning that Rong Zhixu had returned from the palace safely. Lan Ying also came over to tell him what had happened in the palace.

Rong Se was not surprised to hear that Rong Jing was planning to send Rong Zhixu back to the Xi family. "It's something he could do. Queen Mother Cao raised an ungrateful person who thinks anyone who sacrifices for him deserves it. Look, he didn't even try to save his own mother."

Having said this, Rong Se showed sarcasm and sneered.

"Don't you even consider whether you are worthy of it?"

"That's right." Lan Ying agreed, but her eyes fell on the paper on Rong Se's desk. She leaned over and looked, "Master, what are you writing?"

Rong Se paused for a moment and gently ordered them to leave: "Okay, get out."

Lan Ying said "Oh" but did not ask any further questions and left as she was told.

Rong Se then lowered his eyes and looked at the ink that had not yet dried on the paper. His eyes were gentle, and his blush was also soft under the light.

——The flowers are endless, the moon is infinite. Our hearts are the same.

——At this moment, I wish to be like a willow tree with thousands of threads, attracting the spring breeze. ①

After a while, Rong Se lit the lamp and started writing, his handwriting was beautiful.

——The long years and months are full of love. ②

Every stroke of the pen expresses longing and every inch of hope is revealed between the lines.

.

Liang Shenyu hurried back to the palace from the army, riding a horse at full speed, eager to return home.

He knew what day it was today, and he also knew that person would be waiting for him today, just like the oil lamp that had been burning in his bedroom these days.

It is the light that never goes out in the long night.

Liang Shenyu went straight to the bedroom, but unexpectedly found that the light in the room was much dimmer than usual. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and saw that there were no candles in the bedroom, only a lantern on the table, which was much larger than the palace lantern and emitted a soft light, like moonlight.

Looking closer, I found that the lantern was not made of paper pasted on the lantern frame, but was made entirely of folded paper with regular creases. The whole lantern was round and delicate, and inside it was a night pearl.

Liang Shenyu chuckled.

Liang Shenyu lifted the lantern by the pole and took a closer look. He then discovered that the paper was covered with clear handwriting. The pen strokes were soft, clean and beautiful, just like that person - the handwriting really reflected the person.

Under the soft glow, Liang Shenyu could see every word clearly.

"The long years, the tenderness..." Liang Shenyu read the above sentence slowly and gently, pausing every word, his voice getting lower and lower, "All my life..."

What followed was a very light laugh.

Liang Shenyu read the tangled handwriting on the lantern carefully, and when he lowered his eyes, he found a piece of paper on the table, with a simple and clear sentence written on it - I'm in the stove room.

Liang Shenyu put the note away carefully, picked up the lantern filled with love poems, turned and walked into the night. The soft light spread around him, separating him from the night.

There was a light on in the oven room, and the smell of smoke could be seen from a distance. Liang Shenyu walked closer with a lamp and saw only one figure in the oven room, standing in the soft light with his back to him.

Hearing the sound, Rong Se turned around and saw Liang Shenyu standing at the door with a lantern. He was wearing a martial robe, a thin armor, and his black hair was neatly tied up. He looked like a sharp blade in the night, but his expression was gentle. He sheathed the sword. Rong Se was slightly stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Why did you come back so early today?"

It’s not really that early, but it’s much earlier than usual.

When he turned sideways, the dough on the chopping board appeared.

"I came back because I was thinking about you." Liang Shenyu said softly as he walked in, placed the lantern filled with love words on the cabinet at the door, and walked towards Rongse.

"I know you'll be waiting for me tonight."

Today is Liang Shenyu's birthday. Rongse mentioned it several days ago, but Liang Shenyu has not been looking forward to it for many years.

Rong Se glanced at the lantern with his remaining eyes. His cheeks felt a little hot, but his eyes were still gentle and clear like a spring.

"Then sit down first." Rong Se pointed to a stool beside him with his floury fingers, smiling, "It's not ready yet."

Liang Shenyu did not sit down, but walked closer to take a look. He stroked the thin waist with his warm and broad palm and spoke in a low voice.

"What are you doing?"

"Longevity noodles." Rong Se nudged him with his elbow and whispered, "Stop making trouble."

Liang Shenyu laughed vaguely, but he pulled his hand back obediently and said softly, "Okay."

The hot air blew past his ears and Rong Se shrank his neck, but he could still feel the eager gaze behind him.