"Young Mada..." Wei Zhong stepped over the threshold and, after paying respects to Bai Qingyan through the screen with the landscape painting, said, "The Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom heard that the Emperor has arrived in Pingyang City, and he has co with his entourage to seek an audience, wishing to discuss the alliance with the Emperor."
Xiao Rongyan has arrived...
Bai Qingyan’s eyes gained a faint hint of a smile. Just in ti, she was troubled by the contents of these books left by Empress Ji, and Xiao Rongyan, being the Empress’ son, was likely more inford than she was.
"Please have the Ninth Prince wait in the front hall. I’ll change clothes and be right there!" Bai Qingyan said, gripping the bamboo slip she was holding a little tighter.
Upon hearing this, Chun Zhi discreetly went to fetch Bai Qingyan’s attire.
·
Wearing a mask, Xiao Rongyan was led to the front hall by Wei Zhong to enjoy tea. Yue Shi and the guards accompanying the Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom stayed at the main hall’s entrance of the Governor’s residence and were soon drawn by the whistle of the Bai family Hidden Guard as they brushed off the snow on their bodies.
Yue Shi feigned an urgent need for the toilet to follow the sound of the whistle to a secluded wing behind, where he saw a Bai family Hidden Guard waiting for him behind a tree.
Just as Yue Shi smiled, the Hidden Guard grabbed Yue Shi by the back of his collar, dragging him into a dimly lit side room and shutting the door.
"You little rascal! What’s going on with you? Now that the young master is gone... why aren’t you by the Young Mada’s side and instead beca a guard for that Regent Prince of the Yan Kingdom?" The Bai family Hidden Guard knocked on Yue Shi’s forehead, "You’re the young master’s personal guard. Would the Young Mada still mistreat you? The Young Mada is the Emperor of Zhou. Wouldn’t following her promise a better future than serving a Yan Kingdom prince?"
Previously, Xiao Rongyan had ntioned to Bai Qingyan that he originally wanted Yue Shi by her side to protect her and the child. However, he worried that Mrs. Dong would think he left Yue Shi there to spy, so ultimately, he kept Yue Shi with him. Yet, when traveling, Xiao Rongyan let Yue Shi blend in with the guards, acting rely as an ordinary guard.
Yue Shi understood the Bai family Hidden Guard was treating him as one of their own by speaking this way, and he was truly grateful in his heart.
Yue Shi deeply bowed to the Bai family Hidden Guard: "The Ninth Prince of Yan once saved our master’s life, but the master passed before he could repay the favor. So... I wish to stay by the Ninth Prince of Yan’s side as a way to repay it for the master!"
When planning to keep Yue Shi around, Xiao Rongyan had already thought out an explanation, and Yue Shi was rely reciting what he was told. However, deceiving the Bai family Hidden Guard, who genuinely cared for him, left Yue Shi feeling undeniably guilty.
Seeing Yue Shi’s face unable to hide the guilt, the Bai family Hidden Guard opened his mouth but ultimately pressed his lips together again. No matter the circumstances... Yue Shi was a kid who knew gratitude and repaid his benefactors.
The Bai family Hidden Guard placed a large hand on Yue Shi’s head, simply saying "Take care" before slipping out of the side room first.
Yue Shi stood unmoving in the room, lantern light filtering in through the lattice windows, casting an expression of guilt upon his face...
After so ti, Yue Shi finally stepped out of the room. He looked at the falling snow, illuminated yellow by the lantern’s fla, tightened his fists, not knowing how he’d face the trusting Bai family Hidden Guard when his master and the Young Mada were reunited.
·
Xiao Rongyan had gone through two cups of tea when he finally saw Bai Qingyan, with Chun Zhi’s help, stepping over the main threshold.
Xiao Rongyan looked at the elegantly composed Bai Qingyan and rose, elegantly lifting the hem of his robe, and bowed to Bai Qingyan: "Your humble servant greets the Emperor..."
Bai Qingyan nodded: "Qingzhu is guarding outside, there’s no need for others to co in... I need a private conversation with the Ninth Prince of Yan."
With that, she released Chun Zhi’s hand.
Chun Zhi quickly withdrew beyond the main hall, dutifully closing the door for Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, then stepping back behind Shen Qingzhu, though she couldn’t resist peeking inside.
Wei Zhong, standing across with a duster, coughed slightly and said with a smile, "Miss Chun Zhi..."
Startled, Chun Zhi quickly pulled back, not daring to look again, as she was still quite intimidated by Wei Zhong.
Wei Zhong, still with his amiable smile, said, "The Emperor has always been sensitive to the cold. Perhaps Miss Chun Zhi could return and warm the Emperor’s bed with a warming pan, so that the Emperor can have a comfortable sleep later."
"Right away!" Chun Zhi, hands folded over her lower belly, saluted and withdrew quietly.
At that mont, the main hall, aglow with lights, remained shut tight. Wei Zhong and Shen Qingzhu guarded either side of the main entrance, while the guards brought by the Ninth Prince of Yan stood silently in the corridor, intimidated into silence by Shen Qingzhu’s presence, which was even colder than the snowstorm.
Xiao Rongyan initially assud that after so many days apart, Bai Qingyan would have been longing for him, at least... that they would sit together and exchange words of longing.
But upon eting, after he asked a few questions regarding Bai Qingyan and the child, she spread out the bamboo slip and waved him over to look, questioning him relentlessly about the constitutional monarchy and republican system recorded by Empress Ji on the bamboo slip, with questions rapid and unending like a barrage.
Xiao Rongyan removed his mask, turning his head to watch Bai Qingyan’s delicate face, bathed in light, ticulously pointing out words on the bamboo slip. Her exquisite, beautiful features were glowing, especially those tranquil dark eyes, which shone brightly with focus, making one want to dive deep.
Xiao Rongyan smiled and guided her to sit on a chair, then knelt on one knee before her, gently caressing her already noticeably rounded abdon. Supporting her by the sides of her chair, he stood upright, brushing his own nose against hers, staring at her flawless skin outlined by the flickering lamp, a deep, still gaze upon her, his voice rich and deep, pressed low as he asked, "After many days apart, did Kid think of ?"
Imrsed in the writings left by Empress Ji, Bai Qingyan snapped back to reality when she noticed Xiao Rongyan’s deep eyes. Unsure if it was because of the light, Xiao Rongyan’s voice seed more alluring than ever, her heartbeat unconsciously quickened...
They were so close, their breaths mingled with every inhale, familiar and stable scents filled her senses, making her palms itch, and her ears gradually ward. She suppressed her embarrassnt and calmly looked at Xiao Rongyan, "Of course I thought of you."
Upon hearing her affirmative answer, Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes, gently grasped her hand, kissed her palm softly, then placed it on his shoulder and leaned in closer to her...
When his nose touched hers again, she instinctively held her breath, not yet kissed, but all her strength seed silently to fade away.
A pressing touch on her lips, she clasped Xiao Rongyan’s strong wrists, tilting her head to accommodate.
Due to Bai Qingyan’s pregnancy, Xiao Rongyan dared not kiss deeply, unsure what impact it might have on the child, also fearing loss of control, which could harm Bai Qingyan and the baby.
Reviews
All reviews (0)