Chapter 96
When the smell of rust wrapped in moldy moisture penetrated into his nostrils, Luo Sanrong's fingertips had already left three creases on his cuffs.
The candlelight in the prison corridor flickered in the wind, projecting the back of the cross-legged figure inside the cell onto the mottled wall. The curve of the broad shoulders and slightly slumped shape exactly matched the outline in countless midnight dreams.
Her throat tightened and the tip of her tongue rubbed against her gums repeatedly.
The pain of being pushed to the ground by a naughty boy in her childhood suddenly surged up. At that time, she always clung to the old locust tree at the gate of the yard, hoping that this man would suddenly appear and protect her behind him like a hero in a storybook, even if he only scolded her with a "rude boy".
But now, the prisoner's uniform reflected by the candlelight was patched with patches, and even the hair rope was gray. He no longer looked like a hero.
The word "Dad" rolled on the tip of his tongue three times before being swallowed back into his throat.
The breath of Tail Blade suddenly came very close, carrying the chill of the night dew outside: "Hurry up, someone is coming."
Luo Sanrong breathed a sigh of relief for some reason. As his fingertips loosened, the handkerchief embroidered with white camellia slowly fell into the cell.
The silk handkerchief made a slight sound as it brushed against the iron railings. Before she could see whether the man turned back, she was dragged around the corner by the tail knife. The sleeves of her clothes brushed against the stone steps with a crisp sound, and she bumped into the corner of the bright yellow clothes coming towards her.
The sole of Li Yin's boot paused half an inch on the bluestone slab.
Luo San'er's heartbeat almost broke her ribs, and her hands hanging by her side curled up unconsciously. Fortunately, the scrutinizing gaze only swept across the top of her head, and then sank into the depths of the prison with the sound of footsteps.
When Hong Jingxiu in the prison heard the sound and turned around, only a wisp of the fragrance of clothes dissipated outside the iron bars.
Moonlight leaked through the skylight and fell on the pure white handkerchief. The white camellia with fine stitching looked like the first frost in the dim light.
His skinny fingers stroked the petals, and his fingertips rubbed the slight bulge at the joint of the embroidery thread, and a smile suddenly appeared at the corners of his mouth.
The footsteps started again, and Hong Jingxiu almost instinctively pressed the handkerchief into the inner layer of his prison uniform. The rough cloth pressed against his chest, and it was so hot that he shivered.
Li Yin had already stood outside the prison. The cloud pattern on his dark brocade robe was stained with night dew. His scrutinizing gaze was like an ice-hardened knife, cutting into people's skin and making it tight.
"Are you the real Hong Jingxiu?" The prince's voice was filled with undisguised doubt.
When Hong Jingxiu raised her eyes, her knuckles were still pressing against the silk handkerchief in her arms.
"Your honorable prince, you have condescended to come to this secret cell, not just to ask a nonsense question, right?" His tone was flat, but a hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes.
Li Yin knelt down and sat on the haystack opposite, the tips of his boots trampling over the scattered straw.
The man before him had unkempt hair and beard, his prison uniform stained with mud. He looked like an ordinary prisoner, yet he had kept his father awake for days, causing him to even change the calming incense in the harem three times. "Does your family know you've been arrested?"
"I don't have any family." Hong Jingxiu said calmly, but the handkerchief in his arms was clutched even tighter.
The embroidery of white camellia rubbed his palm, reminding him of Luo Sanrong's pigtails as a child.
Li Yin's fingertips rapped against the iron bars: "Do you know that because of you, I have lost the most precious person."
Hong Jingxiu finally looked up at him.
The candlelight flickered in the prince's eyes, reflecting the young man's stubbornness and pain.
He suddenly laughed, his voice as soft as moonlight: "Prince, do you want to ask about the Red Maple Society?"
Seeing Li Yin raise an eyebrow in agreement, he slowly shook his head. "They say that God chooses the ruler, but I think it's the people who should choose the talents. After all, the one sitting on the dragon throne should be someone who keeps the rice jar full and the cotton-padded clothes warm, not someone who just scowls and rages."
The handkerchief in his arms was warmed by his body temperature. Hong Jingxiu looked at the moonlight leaking through the skylight and suddenly remembered what Xiulan said: "White tea needs to be boiled to be warm." Unfortunately, there was only cold water in the prison and he couldn't even get a cup of hot tea.
——
The sole of Wei Dao's boot rolled over the fallen leaves in front of the steps of the side hall of the East Palace, making a crisp sound.
The lanterns in the corridor flickered in the night wind, illuminating the patterns of the peeling red paint on the palace door, like old scars.
He helped Luo Sanrong over the threshold. Dust fluttered in the moonlight, choking her so much that she couldn't help but turn her head away.
"You'll stay here for now." Weidao lowered his voice, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the token on his waist. "I'll come pick you up before dawn when the guards change shifts." He glanced at the spider webs in the corner of the hall and finally added, "If anything unexpected happens, knock three times on the carved bricks on the north wall."
Luo Sanrong clutched the edge of his faded eunuch robe and knelt awkwardly, "Excuse me, Weidao."
The silence in the side hall quickly swallowed people up.
Luo Sanrong huddled in the shadows, listening to his own heartbeat intertwined with the chirping of insects outside the window, until the familiar sound of boots knocking on the blue bricks came much earlier than expected.
She held her breath and watched the bright yellow figure holding a candle coming towards her. The candlelight cast his shadow on the mottled wall, sometimes larger and sometimes smaller.
"who?"
Li Yin's voice was hoarse as if he had just returned from prison, and the candlestick swayed slightly in his hand.
Luo Sanrong bit her lower lip and slowly walked out from behind the bookshelf. Moonlight shone through the broken window onto her temples, making her face look as pale as paper. "Your Highness, please forgive me."
The candle flame trembled violently. Li Yin froze in place, his knuckles white from exertion, unaware of the scalding lamp oil dripping down his forearm.
The burning pain penetrated the layers of clothing, clearing his hazy mind somewhat. He stared at the person before him, his Adam's apple rolling several times before finally uttering only three words: "Follow me."
There is a secret door behind the rosewood screen in the main hall of the East Palace. When it is pushed open, it makes a dull creaking sound, which echoes the sound of the palace clock outside the hall.
The dark room was not big, with thin-walled copper lamps embedded in the walls. Li Yin placed the candle on the table, and the halo of light immediately filled the small space. There was also half a piece of dried osmanthus cake on the table, and a withered plum branch in a celadon vase, all of which were traces left by the woman.
"I didn't expect that the East Palace had such a secret place." Luo Sanrong's fingertips brushed across the cold wall, and the touch was as delicate as polished jade.
"My mother disliked the hustle and bustle of the main hall and often came here to practice calligraphy." Li Yin's voice was as soft as a sigh, his eyes fixed on the celadon vase. "After she left, this place was sealed off."
Luo Sanrong immediately withdrew her hand, a burning sensation rising in the tips of her ears. She clearly remembered that when Li Yin was weeping over his longing for his mother, it was she who, disguised as a young eunuch, secretly handed him a handkerchief.
Just when I was feeling awkward, I heard him whisper, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She lowered her eyelashes to hide the sadness in her eyes, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Li Yin leaned over and flicked the wick, causing the flame to jump. "Tomorrow at 5:00 AM, when the guards' shift changes, I'll have someone take you to see him." Seeing Luo Sanrong suddenly look up, his eyes brightening with astonishing light, he coughed lightly and turned his face away, his ears still reddening. "Missing someone is too much of a pain to hold onto. We must meet once and for all."
The moment the secret door closed, the sound of jingling bells and pendants suddenly came from outside the hall.
Li Yin paused, quickly concealed the tenderness on his face, and when he turned around, he had regained the dignified appearance of a prince.
Zhao Yan'er was standing in the hall, the pearls on her phoenix hairpin shimmering in the candlelight. Seeing him enter, she knelt and saluted, "Although we haven't yet had the wedding ceremony, I am the Crown Princess appointed by the emperor. I await your return, Your Highness."
Li Yin glanced out the window. The night was already thick and dark. "It's late and the dew is heavy. Crown Princess, please come back tomorrow."
Zhao Yan'er didn't move. She stared at Li Yin, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the handkerchief. The wanted poster from the day was still flashing before her eyes, the words "Eunuch Luo is actually the daughter of a traitor" stinging her eyes.
The words that the Queen had said while holding her hand, "Your Highness the Crown Prince really feels sorry for that eunuch!" were now lingering in her ears.
But when he really wanted to question her, he swallowed the words back.
Until her eyes fell on Li Yin's wrist, which was empty.
"Your Highness's bracelet..." She asked tentatively, her voice as thin as a mosquito, "Did you take it off?"
Li Yin instinctively covered his wrist, his eyes suddenly cold, carrying a thinly veiled warning. Zhao Yan'er hurriedly lowered her eyes, her fingertips digging into her palm. "I only asked casually because I saw that Your Highness was always there, but today I'm not there."
"Put it away." His voice was as plain as boiled water.
"I heard the bracelets came in pairs." Zhao Yan'er seemed oblivious to his indifference as she continued, "Storiest people say that paired objects can lead to reunions, but how could such a coincidence happen in this world? It seems like a lie."
Li Yin slowly walked up to her, the candlelight illuminating his eyes, a dark undercurrent surging in them. He stared into her eyes and spoke word by word, "Even if it's a lie, there are still people willing to believe it. I am one of them."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
