Chapter 72
As dusk fell over the palace walls, the search within the palace continued unabated. Ever since poison had been detected in His Majesty's meal the day before, Eunuch Zhang had been like a taut bowstring, leading the eunuchs in a thorough search, even the moss-covered stone steps at the corners of the palace.
At this moment, he was standing in the corridor of the side hall. There was a little dust on his black palace robe, his brows were twisted into a "川" shape, and his knuckles were white from holding the whisk tightly.
The young eunuch behind him hurried forward, holding a handkerchief in both hands and patting Zhang's shoulders, with just the right amount of force and a flattering smile on his face. "Eunuch Zhang, the eunuchs' quarters were searched yesterday, even the cracks under the beds were pried open to look. This side hall is usually deserted, why do you have to search it again?"
As he spoke, he kept glancing into the hall from the corner of his eyes, obviously trying to get some information so that he could show off to his colleagues as soon as possible.
Eunuch Zhang didn't even raise his eyelids. His voice was nonchalant yet carried an undeniable authority: "Did you know that there's someone living in this hall?" He paused, flicked his whisk, and pointed at the hall door. "A very strange person. Take the two children with you and search carefully. Don't miss anything."
The young eunuch's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He quickly replied "yes" and led the two eunuchs into the room.
The hall was dimly lit, with only a little sunlight coming through the window lattices, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafting in the air.
Several people rummaged through the drawers and cabinets, but they didn't dare to move too much for fear of disturbing anything.
Suddenly, a eunuch cried out "Ah" and dragged out a camphorwood box from under the bed. The moment he opened the lid, everyone was stunned. Inside the box was a set of women's clothing neatly folded. The aqua-green silk skirt was embroidered with lotus patterns, the collar and cuffs were rolled with silver thread, and the hem of the skirt was decorated with tiny pearls. It was obvious that it was made of high-quality material, which was definitely not something a eunuch in the palace could afford.
The young eunuch hurriedly ran out with the women's clothing in his arms, bowed and presented it to Eunuch Zhang: "Eunuch Zhang, look!"
Zhang Neiguan's eyes fell on the women's clothing. He was stunned at first, and then his face suddenly darkened. His already tense face became even uglier at this moment.
He reached out and grabbed her skirt, shouting, "How disgraceful!" His voice was filled with rage, startling the night birds perched in the corridor and making them fly up.
He stared at the women's clothing, his eyes sharp as a knife, as if he could see through the person hiding in the dark. "Inside the palace, someone secretly kept women's clothing. What is their purpose? Could it be that they are planning to do something usurping power?"
The whisk shook violently in his hand, the corner of his black robe was lifted by the evening breeze, and the air around him seemed to freeze.
The young eunuch was so frightened that he dared not breathe. He lowered his head and dared not look at Zhang Neiguan's face. He only heard Zhang Neiguan's gnashing voice: "Put this women's clothing away and go check again! You must find the person living here for me. I want to see who has such courage!"
——
The afternoon sunlight shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled golden hues on the nanmu couch covered with soft velvet cushions.
Li Yin lay on his side and took a nap, his black hair loosely tied up with a jade crown, a few strands of hair hanging in front of his forehead. His breathing was originally even, but he didn't know when he frowned, and his knuckles unconsciously clenched the brocade quilt under him.
At the desk nearby, Luo Sanzhen was copying a calligraphy piece. His wolf-hair brush left beautiful characters on the rice paper. The scent of ink and the burning sandalwood on the desk intertwined into a tranquil atmosphere.
Suddenly, she heard a very light groan coming from the couch. She looked up and saw that Li Yin's forehead was covered with sweat, his eyelashes were trembling violently, as if he was bound by something heavy, and vague sounds came out of his throat from time to time.
"Your Highness!" Luo Sanrong's heart tightened. She quickly put down her pen and walked quickly to the couch. She squatted down and called out softly twice, but Li Yin didn't respond. Instead, his face became even paler.
Luo Sanrong was anxious. She reached out to hold his cold hands, but they were tense and tense, their fingertips bluish-white. She tried to shake his arms, then leaned over and whispered softly in his ear, but Li Yin seemed to have fallen into a bottomless dream, and no matter how hard she tried, he wouldn't wake up.
At this time, Li Yin was trapped in a hazy dream.
Surrounding him was the familiar scenery of the imperial gardens. A bluestone path meandered to a pavilion in the center of the lake. The figure seated within the pavilion gave him a sudden jolt. It was his mother, whom he hadn't dreamed of for so long. Looking down at himself, he saw he was wearing the moon-white brocade robe of his youth, its cuffs embroidered with delicate cloud patterns. His hands, still those of a youth, were slender yet untouched by the frost of the weather.
"Mother." He called softly, his feet involuntarily moving towards the pavilion.
The queen mother turned around, her eyes still showing the gentleness she remembered. She smiled and pointed at the snacks on the stone table: "Yin'er, come here. This is your favorite jujube paste cake."
Li Yin walked over and picked up a piece. The sweet aroma of the pastry filled his nose. He put it in his mouth, and the delicate date paste melted on his tongue, with just the right sweetness. He narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, a childlike expression of contentment on his face.
After swallowing the snack, he looked up at his mother. After hesitating for a moment, he tentatively asked, "Mother, what kind of king do you want me to be?"
Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother paused with the round fan in her hand, then put it down and gently stroked his temples with her right hand, her fingertips carrying a familiar warmth. "I hope Your Highness will become a king with discerning eyes."
Li Yin stood aside, like a bystander, watching his younger self frown with confusion on his face. At that time, he did not understand what the word "wisdom" meant.
The Queen Mother didn't blame him for his ignorance. Instead, she took his hand and patiently explained, "Yin'er, the emperor always stands at the highest point. The glazed tiles of the palace block your view, and the vermilion walls create a distance. If you don't pay close attention, it's difficult to see the lives of the people below. Their hunger, cold, joy, and happiness should all be within your sight."
Young Li Yin nodded, seeming to understand, then picked up another piece of jujube paste cake and took a small nibble. At that moment, his eyes seemed focused solely on the pastry in his hand, completely unaware of the worry that flashed across his mother's eyes as she spoke. That worry was like ripples on a lake, gently spreading but deeply hidden.
The Queen Mother cast her gaze towards the lake in the distance. The water was as clear as a diamond-shaped mirror, reflecting the weeping willows on the shore.
She murmured, "I also hope you can become a king with keen ears. There are too many voices in the court, some loudly flattering, others clamoring for refutation. But the truly important words may be hidden in the mouths of humble ministers or in the idle chatter of ordinary people. You can't just listen to the loudest voices in front of you."
"I know!" Young Li Yin raised his head and took over the conversation crisply. "Master said that regardless of status, we should be more compassionate to the people and listen more to the ministers. But we must distinguish between honest advice and flattery, and not be deceived by flattery!"
The queen mother looked at him, the tenderness in her eyes deepening. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of his mouth. Her voice was as soft as cotton: "Silly boy, there is more to it than that. You must protect everyone as if they were the people the crown prince should protect, regardless of relationship or status. Will you promise your mother to become such a king?"
"I promise..." The young Li Yin nodded vigorously, but before he could finish his words, he heard a vague call in his ears. The voice seemed to float from a distant time and space, and it was filled with anxiety: "Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Then, a powerful force struck, instantly shattering the pavilion and his mother's silhouette before him, like an ink painting dropped into water, a hazy blur. Li Yin felt himself being sucked into a massive whirlpool, the world spinning around him before he suddenly opened his eyes.
He saw the familiar tent ceiling, embroidered with a lotus pattern. Beside the bed, Luo Sanrong was leaning over him, her brow furrowed, her eyes filled with anxiety. Li Yin opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but his throat was so dry that only a faint whisper could come out.
"Your Highness, you are awake!" When Luo Sanrong saw him open his eyes, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He quickly stood up and turned around, walked quickly to the table, and picked up the tea that had been warmed on the stove.
She carefully helped Li Yin sit up, placed a soft pillow behind his back, scooped up some tea with a small spoon, and passed it to his lips: "Drink slowly."
The warm tea slid down my throat, and the dry feeling gradually eased.
Li Yin drank half a cup before recovering. He looked at Luo Sanrong, his eyes still hazy from a dream, his voice still hoarse. "Luo Rong, tell me... Is what people see real? Who should I trust? What should I do if something I've always believed in was wrong from the beginning?"
Luo Sanrong's heart sank. She knew that Li Yin was talking about the child. Now that the matter was done, no amount of explanation or reconciliation would seem futile. She didn't know how to comfort him for a moment and could only remain silent and gently hold his hand.
Li Yin received no response, but seemed lost in his own thoughts. He asked softly, "When everything seems impossible, with fog ahead and a cliff behind, what should I do?"
Looking at the prince who had lost his dignity and was left with only fragility and confusion, Luo Sanrong felt a surge of heartache.
She moved forward, stretched out her arms, and gently embraced Li Yin in her arms. She patted his back gently with her palms, and her voice was very soft: "Your Highness, my grandfather once said that when people are sad, their hearts are like a layer of fog. They can't see the direction clearly and will doubt everything around them. This is not your fault."
Li Yin leaned on her shoulder, his nose filled with the faint orchid scent of her body, and his tense nerves gradually relaxed. He raised his head and looked into her eyes with a subtle sense of dependence: "When sadness comes, you doubt everything... Now, I'm relying on you. Use happiness to help me get rid of this doubt, okay?"
Luo Sanrong looked at the expectation in his eyes and smiled helplessly, but her eyes were full of tenderness. She lowered her head slightly and gently touched Li Yin's earlobe with her lips. The touch was as gentle as the brush of a feather. After doing this, she looked up at him and asked softly, "Is it okay, Your Highness?"
Li Yin was stunned for a moment, then a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. His originally furrowed brows relaxed, and a genuine smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Really... you made me so happy now."
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