Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 130

The girl actually laughed. "What if you can't kill me?"

"What?" The boy couldn't help but laugh. "Then... I'll protect you with my life from now on."

The girl's smile deepened. "Okay... I promise you..."

The young man smiled and turned to leave...

The girl suddenly smiled and turned to the peach grove, "Grandfather, look, someone is willing to protect their granddaughter with their life!"

An elderly figure emerged from the peach grove. He knelt lovingly before the girl, brushing away the peach petals that had fallen into her hair and onto her shoulders, and gently asked, "Does Nalan like this person who will protect you for the rest of your life?"

The girl nodded, "I like this fairy."

The old man smiled and touched the girl's forehead with one hand. "Good...this person will protect you for the rest of your life..."

The girl gradually lost consciousness and collapsed into the old man's arms.

I slowly reached out and touched my brow; it was indeed very painful there. Peach blossoms bloomed and withered, but the young man was still dressed in flowing white robes...

This time, the elderly man in front of him...

The old man's sword pierced his own chest, and blood continued to gush out...

"You promised, you'll keep your word, won't you? If you can't kill her, you'll protect her for life..." The old man's last words faded into a sea of flowers...

Years later, the young man in white stood in the Prince of Huainan's mansion.

In the early spring, when everything is about to melt, the weather is still chilly.

He emerged from the peach grove outside the window, snowflakes clinging to his shoulders, a glistening speck between his brows.

He has a pair of exceptionally clear and bright eyes.

"My name is Xuan, Princess," he said with a gentle smile.

At that moment... there was a sudden sense of familiarity...

When I opened my eyes, I could faintly smell the familiar fragrance of saffron. It used to be his scent, the scent of the only person in the world who could save me... Am I dead?

No, still alive... I see a slender figure standing by the window, hands behind his back...

"Master—" I called softly, my voice a little hoarse...

"You wanted to see him as soon as you woke up?" Hearing my voice, he turned around in surprise, smiling faintly.

I smiled back at him.

"I'm sorry—Lu Xiu—"

He took a few steps to my bedside and gently stroked my face...

"It's so good to see you smile..." He smiled gently, and it turned out I'd always been captivated by that kind of smile.

"You saved me?" I coughed and said softly.

"No," he shook his head, about to explain.

As she spoke, the door was pushed open, and a charming woman walked in with a smile...

"In this world, besides me, who else can save you..." She walked directly to my bedside, looking at Lu Xiu's hand that hadn't yet withdrawn, and smiled mischievously. Lu Xiu ignored her, still smiling warmly, and gently lowered his hand.

The woman helped me up and pulled me into her arms. I lingered, savoring the faint scent of saffron emanating from her.

"I knew it, you came to save me. I've never forgotten this taste." I slowly closed my eyes and leaned on his shoulder.

"I noticed the stars on Tianmang Star were getting dimmer and dimmer, and I knew you must have gotten into trouble again... You've given me a real hard time again..."

"It must have been so hard for you. I thought I wouldn't see you before I died."

"That's why I'll let you wake up and see me one last time before you go to your death..."

I straightened up and looked outside, a hint of disappointment in my eyes… Was he not there? Lu Xiu sensed my thoughts.

"Xiao Chang has taken control of power as you expected. As for Seventh Brother, he hasn't returned."

It suddenly dawned on me that I was no longer there. What was this all about? Was it all just a dream? Finding him, returning with him—was it all just a dream?

Wrapped in a long robe, I strolled along Chang'an Avenue, completely bewildered. When I fell asleep, it was just the beginning of summer, but now it seemed like late autumn. Lu Xiu followed behind me without a word. Countless pedestrians brushed past me, and the streetlights lit up one by one. I tightened my robe and suddenly felt cold. I turned to look at Lu Xiu, "Did he leave with Nalan Huan?"

"Yes," Lu Xiu said in a low voice, "He treated her with the utmost respect, like a dutiful son."

"Is this the promise he made to He Boyun?" To care for a lonely woman until her death seems simple, yet it's truly difficult. I looked up at the increasingly gloomy sky. "This is truly good..."

Perhaps I can think of it this way: he was willing to take the place of that deceased life as her son, and she was able to let go of all grudges—that would be a truly perfect ending…

I looked up and caught the tiny snowflakes that landed on my hand, then suddenly smiled, "It's snowing."

Yes, the snow seems to have come early this year.

"very good"

"What?"

Everything is fine.

Chapter Sixteen of the Main Text: No Thoughts, No Longing, No Memories

The finale will be released within 12 hours! Stay tuned!

In the third year of the Xuanyou reign, the weather was favorable and the harvests were plentiful.

In January, I bestowed Siliang upon Jingqing as a concubine, finally realizing that Siliang was already seventeen and I couldn't waste her youth. After Siliang married out of the palace, my Kunning Palace became increasingly quiet. During the day, Zhi'er would go to Jingning Palace to learn needlework and calligraphy from the princesses of various princely residences. In her spare time, she was mostly summoned by the Empress Dowager to keep her company. If I was too lazy to move, I could only casually flip through books and look at the accounting books in the palace.

When Xiaoyu entered the palace, everything seemed different. Four years after the Fifth Prince's wife passed away, Xiaoyu was elevated to the position of legitimate wife and is now the Fifth Prince's principal wife. Having cast aside the joys and sorrows of these past years, her life has come full circle, seemingly returning to its starting point. Looking at her casual attire, I shook my head and sighed, "The most carefree woman in this capital city is probably Hua Yushang. Fifth Prince's wife, your Fifth Prince's mansion is powerful and influential; now you only think about how to spend your money for fun every day."

"Your Highness, what are you saying?" Xiaoyu gave me a perfunctory curtsy. "I'm only doing this because of your influence."

I was too lazy to pay attention to her as I was drinking my tea. Xiaoyu grabbed a cushion and leaned back on the tatami mat, asking, "Are you disappointed that Siliang got married?"

"I'm practically half a married-out daughter," I said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Xiaoyu suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Zhi'er is all grown up now."

I sighed, "Our daughter's grown up, and we're getting old too."

Xiaoyu smiled and said, "We need to think more about our children now."

Three years ago, Xiaoyu gave birth to a son for Fifth Master, and I said, "Your son Jingyu is still young, what are you worried about?"

"For our Ting'er, she's the eldest daughter, already fourteen. Although Fifth Master hasn't said anything, he's waiting for you to bestow a marriage upon her."

I chuckled dryly. "You're quite the stepmother. Let alone Ting'er, I haven't even considered arranging marriages for my own sons. Why don't you tell Fifth Master to stop waiting and find someone good for you yourselves? Inform Jinghan, and I'll make the decision for you."

Xiaoyu smiled knowingly, "I've figured out what you mean by 'it depends on you'."

"Oh? Which young master have you taken a fancy to?"

"Your son"

I sneered, "Where did you get this idea to make fun of our Xi'er? She's only thirteen."

I meant Jingrui.

I was taken aback and looked at Xiaoyu, "You don't mind that he's blind?"

"Sigh," Xiaoyu sighed, "It's not that I don't mind, it's just that my girl has taken a liking to him. Fifth Master is too shy to ask, so I'm speaking up for him."

"I should also ask Jingrui about that kid."

"Take your time, let them take their time. I'm just relieved to have my daughter with you."

As we were talking, Liu Shang handed me a memorial from behind. I glanced at it casually; it was a memorial from Lu Xiu expressing his gratitude. Seeing my serious expression, Xiao Yu gently comforted me, "What's wrong now? It's been so many years since I've seen you frown."

"It's Lu Xiu," I said with a smile, tossing the memorial onto the table. "The other day, I approved his request to resign his fiefdom and retire."

The silvery moonlight shone peacefully on the blue bricks and stones, and the sound of the night watchman's drum grew louder as it approached.

"I miss Xi'er too," I said softly, gazing out the window. "It's been so long since I've seen him that I can't even remember what he looks like. I heard he looks a lot like me?"

Under the moonlight, he smiled faintly, "I'm afraid the days of chatting and laughing with Your Majesty under the moon like this will be few and far between."

“Actually, you don’t have to leave,” I smiled. “You know I trust you, and Jinghan trusts you too. He relies on you more than anyone else.”

"It's a pity he's not my son. I only know how to raise my own son, unlike you who's overflowing with maternal love. I don't raise other people's sons."

Knowing it's just an excuse, I'd rather believe it.

"I'm a widower now. Xiwen is really heartless, abandoning this whole family so easily."

"I heard you left all your family members with your fourth brother; you really know how to save yourself trouble."

Lu Xiu smiled again, turning to look at the purple jasmine bushes below the steps. The moonlight flickered on his face. "I once thought... it would be good to quietly stay by someone's side for a lifetime."

I was startled and turned to look at Lu Xiu. He was still smiling, meeting my stern expression. I tried to say something, but found myself unable to form a single complete word.

He understood my feelings at that moment, and smiled with relief, "But a lifetime is too long. I'm afraid that by the time I'm old and gray, she'll grow tired of me, so I have to leave."

I was speechless, and could only stop and turn back to gaze at him silently.

His raised hand paused in mid-air, then fell back down. He gazed at me intently, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet could not express them.

I remember the line, "I return the pearl with tears streaming down my face; why didn't we meet before I was married?"

"Yes, I remember," I smiled softly, a smile tinged with bitterness.

The draped corridor before me was both incredibly familiar and incredibly strange. It seemed I had to finally let go.

The first snow of the new year had just melted when I received a secret report from Nalan Manor—Xi'er said he saw that person at the manor. Lu Xiu had led him there many years ago, but Xi'er still habitually referred to him as "that person," not "Father." Holding that thin, red silk report, I was momentarily lost in thought. A withered leaf was blown in by the wind, swirling gently as it landed on the report. Without a word, I slowly closed the report.

Lu Li, how long has it been since I last mentioned that name? He is the wise and mighty late emperor in their mouths, the monarch all the women in the harem longed to see return, their heaven.

He sent letters to the palace every year, but I never read a single one. Jinghan obediently kept those letters safe for me until one day I suddenly discovered that the letters had filled the bookshelves in the East Pavilion, and I still hadn't read a single word. Zhi'er often asked me when I could forgive him. Actually, there was no forgiveness between us. I just wanted to forget that person. Only by forgetting could I be happier, just like now, everything is fine.

Stepping into Donglan Residence, I was startled by the sight before me. Lu Zhen was buried in a pile of books—a veritable "pile" of books. His study looked like it had been dismantled. I picked one up and flipped through it; it was either this book on military strategy or that book on military tactics. Looking at the one in his hand, it was *A Hundred Strategies for War*. "So, he's into these kinds of books now?" I sat down at the next table and began tidying up the messy books.

Lu Zhen looked up. "These were all left to me by my Eighth Uncle. He said that because Mother liked to read them, he had saved several copies. I suddenly found them yesterday and thought they were quite interesting."

Thinking of Lu Xiu, I couldn't help but pause, and Lu Zhen quickly pushed the book away, "Mother, I misspoke."

"What did you say wrong?" I forced a smile and replied.

He tidied up his messy desk. "Keep an eye on Yao. And Ti and... don't think you can bully them."

Lu Zhen couldn't help but smile. "She's the daughter-in-law personally chosen by the Empress Dowager. How could I dare to neglect her?"

"Just remember that she's someone I cherish deeply," I said, glancing at his reaction. Seeing that he was still smiling calmly, I felt relieved.

Lu Zhen looked at me, thought for a moment, and finally said, "Mother, you and Eighth Uncle..."