Chapter 98
The prison door was pushed open with a creaky sound, and a damp and moldy wind rushed out wrapped in the twilight. Luo Sanrong gathered his plain prison uniform that was washed white and stepped out of the threshold with unsteady steps.
She lowered her eyelashes and had not yet adjusted to the dim light outside when she saw a dark figure standing under an old locust tree not far away. The Pisces pendant on the jade belt around his waist glowed faintly in the dim light - it was Li Yin.
Her heart suddenly sank, and Luo Sanrong clenched the corner of her sleeve, her fingertips turning white. She lowered her head and walked quickly to him, her voice so soft as if she was afraid to disturb the twilight: "Your Highness... You are in danger again because of me."
As she finished speaking, her shoulders trembled slightly, and guilt surged over her like a tide, almost drowning her.
Li Yin stepped forward, gently raising his hand to interrupt her. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her slightly cool sleeve, his tone filled with unwavering warmth: "Don't say any more of this. Before we even knew each other, fate had already tied the knot. The tribulations and hardships we were meant to endure were meant to be shared by us. Why should you feel guilty and sad all alone?"
Luo Sanrong silently raised her eyes, gazing at the deepening dusk. The clouds were tinged with a pale orange-red, then gradually faded to a gray-blue. A few sparse stars were already quietly dotted across the sky. She pursed her lips, her voice softening. "It's getting late, Your Highness...isn't it time to return home?"
Li Yin looked at the strand of hair hanging on her temple, his eyes so soft that water could drip out of them, and said softly: "Look, although the sky is dark, the moonlight is beautiful tonight. Can you stand with me for a while?" As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the eastern sky. A pale white moon was slowly peeking out from behind the clouds, and its clear light sprinkled on the two of them, leaving a layer of light silver frost.
Luo Sanrong paused, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and in the end she did not refuse anymore. She just moved slightly closer to him, tacitly accepting this moment of companionship.
The evening breeze blew by, and neither of them spoke anymore. They just stood quietly in the moonlight, listening to the faint sound of drums in the distance. Time seemed to slow down.
After a long moment, Li Yin slowly spoke, his voice carrying a subtle hint of desolation, swaying gently like a shadow in the moonlight. "In the past, I've thought countless times, if one day, you and I could be like this, without worrying about our identities, without having to worry about worldly matters, without anyone knowing we're here, just sitting here quietly, watching the moon, listening to the wind... That would be perfect, Luo Yun."
When he called her nickname, his tone was as soft as cotton, filled with cherishment.
Luo Sanrong's heart suddenly tightened, and she was about to speak when Li Yin suddenly stepped forward, stretched out his arms and gently embraced her in his arms.
His embrace was warm and firm, with a faint scent of ambergris, enveloping her completely, as if to shield her from all wind and rain. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice filled with longing: "With you by my side, I think I can get a good sleep tonight."
——
The palace lanterns under the corridor swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the warm yellow light passed through the carved wooden lattices, casting mottled shadows on the green bricks.
Holding the palace lantern, Eunuch Zhang almost stumbled as he ran towards the main hall of Changle Palace. The jade belt around his waist made a slight sound as it hit the corridor pillar, but he didn't bother to rub it. He only regretted that his cloud-toed boots were not light enough.
"Bang--"
A muffled sound broke the silence outside the hall.
As Ji Zeming stepped over the threshold, his arm was hit and hurt. He subconsciously rubbed the impacted area, and the cuff of his ink-colored brocade robe slipped down, revealing a jade button on his wrist.
He looked up at the person who came and saw that it was the Queen's attendant, Eunuch Zhang. His brows knitted together: "Eunuch, you are so anxious, what happened in the palace?"
Zhang Neiguan leaned against the porch pillar, panting, beads of sweat trickling down his temples. He quickly bowed and apologized, "I'm sorry, Master Ji, I... I have to rush to deliver an urgent message to the Queen, and I can't wait any longer."
"Urgent letter?" Ji Zeming's fingertips paused on his arm, and his eyes suddenly darkened.
He had entered the palace recently to investigate Luo Sanrong's whereabouts. Hearing what Eunuch Zhang said, he began to suspect something and spoke with a hint of urgency, "Is it related to Luo Sanrong?"
Eunuch Zhang suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise, then lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard: "Your Excellency knows too? She's found her! I just saw her with my own eyes, coming out of the prison and heading to the Eastern Palace, and... she was even walking with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
After saying this, he couldn't help but mutter, "This man is really bold. He actually hid in the palace for so long. If I hadn't happened to pass by today, no one would have discovered him."
Ji Zeming suddenly stopped rubbing his arm, and his knuckles turned slightly white.
He looked towards the East Palace, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, and even his breathing slowed down.
Eunuch Zhang didn't notice anything unusual about him. He just bowed hastily and ran to the main hall holding the corner of his robe. When he pushed open the door of the hall, a gust of wind blew up, blowing the petals of the crabapple tree outside the hall all over the ground.
But a moment later, the voice of Queen Ji Zelan could be heard from the palace. She first expressed her suppressed joy, but then calmed down again: "With the Crown Prince? Go and call Wei Zheng. I want to go to the East Palace to take a look myself."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Zelan walked out with the hem of her scarlet skirt embroidered with a golden phoenix lifted up, and the golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with gems on her head swayed gently with her steps.
But as soon as she arrived outside the palace and saw Ji Zeming still standing in the corridor, the anxiety on her face faded a little, replaced by a bit of surprise: "Zeming? Why are you here? Is it important for you to enter the palace at this time?"
Ji Zeming retracted his gaze, bowed, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, my father got some pre-rain Longjing tea a few days ago and asked me to bring some for you to try. Also, there are some family matters I'd like to discuss with you privately."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zelan showed a polite smile on her face, but the anxiety in her eyes could not be hidden: "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I have something urgent to do in the East Palace right now. How about I talk to you in detail when I come back?" After saying that, she was about to turn around.
"Your Majesty, please stay."
Ji Zeming stepped forward and reached out to grab her sleeve. His movements were gentle, but his tone was calm and unyielding: "I think it's best to clarify some things now to avoid any further trouble later."
Ji Zelan suddenly shook off his hand, her sleeves embroidered with gold thread swept through the air, with a bit of anger: "Ji Zeming! I told you to wait until I come back to talk about it, don't you understand?" As the mother of a country, she had never been stopped like this before, and her tone was full of impatience.
Ji Zeming, however, was not afraid at all. He bent down slightly and leaned close to Ji Zelan's ear. His voice was very low, but every word was clear: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. What I want to talk about is the matter of the baby who was sent out from the back door of Changle Palace not long ago. Are you sure you really want to talk about it later?"
The evening breeze suddenly grew cooler, causing Ji Zelan's hair to sway slightly. The anger on her face froze for a moment, then turned to disbelief, her voice trembling. "You... you're going to threaten me with such a trivial matter?"
Ji Zeming raised his eyes and glanced at Zhang Neiguan beside him. Zhang Neiguan understood and quickly waved away the palace servants outside the hall. Only the two siblings were left in the vast corridor. Ji Zeming stood up, his tone calm but sharp: "It was never me who threatened this country, but you, Your Majesty."
"Shut up!" Ji Zelan suddenly lowered her voice, her eyes full of warning, her fingertips tightly gripping her sleeves, her knuckles turning white. "If others hear this, neither you nor I will end up well!"
Ji Zeming remained unmoved. He slowly said, "Pretend you've never heard what Eunuch Zhang said, and don't tell His Majesty or Father. As long as you keep your mouth shut, I'll keep that matter to myself."
Ji Zelan calmed herself down, a hint of provocation flashing in her eyes. She raised the corners of her lips with a hint of disdain: "What if I don't agree? Are you going to tell His Majesty that I replaced the Crown Prince's child? Who would believe such a ridiculous rumor?"
Ji Zeming picked up the teacup on the stone table in the corridor, brushed his fingertips along the fine lines on the rim, and said slowly, "What if I had evidence? For example, the nanny who sent the baby out, or the guard who was guarding the back door at the time?"
The tea in the cup swayed gently, reflecting Ji Zelan's instantly pale face. She was silent for a moment, then sighed heavily, her tone filled with a hint of grievance: "Zeming, we are siblings, do you really have to force me like this?"
Ji Zeming looked down at the tea in his cup, his eyes deep. He asked, "You said I forced you? But if that child hadn't died, wouldn't the situation be different now?"
The palace lanterns in the corridor were still flickering, but the atmosphere between the two seemed to be frozen, and even the evening breeze became heavy.
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