Anti-Knochen-Scharlachlied

Kapitel 18

The Empress was surprised for a moment, but then smiled happily. "That's good. Defang should be content with your words. As for the future, let's worry about it later."

Yes, as for the future... if the old Wanban were to come back, she, as an outsider, wouldn't have to worry about it. Why should she think so much? She should just settle down and become that man's wife, and truly love him. Anyway... she's already emotionally involved, so why make things difficult for herself and him?

Emerging from the Funing Palace, the sky was already pitch black. Red lanterns hung from the eaves, illuminating the misty night rain. Four palace maids followed behind and behind, each carrying a palace lantern. Wanlan walked silently in the middle, her thoughtful gaze drifting towards the courtyard shrouded in darkness.

This rain should stop.

I heard that before she came to the Song Dynasty, it had been raining for months in Tokyo. The weather cleared up for a few days after she gave birth to Xu'er, but it rained for a whole day and night today. Is Heaven being too sad?

Back at Qinlan Palace, the room was deserted. The silent palace maids quietly stood guard at their posts, while she alone wandered aimlessly around the palace like a lost soul. The man who had worried her all afternoon was still nowhere to be seen.

"Someone come here!"

She raised her voice and called out, and the palace maid closest to her hurriedly stepped forward, "Your Highness—"

"Where is the Prince? Why hasn't he returned yet?" She had been sitting in the Funing Palace for nearly an hour. What could he possibly be dealing with that would take so long? Was he even coming to the Qinlan Palace? Why didn't he send someone to inform her, so she wouldn't be so upset and restless here?

"Your Highness, I do not know."

Wanlan bit her lip, flicked her sleeve, and turned away. "Fine, all of you, leave. I'm going to rest." She shouldn't have to wait for him at the door; that man completely disregarded her feelings!

"Then this servant will serve you—"

"No need!"

Turning to look at the row of palace maids standing properly, Wanlan waved her hand, "You may all leave. I can do it myself. You may all leave."

"yes."

Once she was alone in the hall, Wanlan went into the inner room, took off her outer clothes, lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself down and fall asleep. However, the continuous patter of rain made it even harder for her to calm down.

Tossing and turning, Wanlan simply got up, not bothering to put on any clothes, and walked to the window in only her undergarments. She pushed open the heavy lattice window and looked at the green leaves swaying in the rain, reflecting the dazzling light, through the lanterns hanging outside.

Will he come or not?

Yuan Niang shouldn't have said that to her today. Perhaps she would already be asleep by now, so why would she be so restless and unable to sleep peacefully?

They were husband and wife, but perhaps because she wasn't just suffering from amnesia as everyone said, but was a completely different person, she couldn't truly settle down psychologically. She wasn't sure if, in this place, if everyone knew the real her, they would still accept her so easily.

Moreover, after realizing she had fallen for him, she became increasingly flustered and disoriented...

Aren't you cold?

The sudden sound in the quiet night made Wanlan scream "Ah!", but her open mouth was immediately covered by a large hand. The person behind her chuckled and said:

"Wanlan, it's me. Don't wake anyone up, or they'll think I'm a thief stealing your fragrance."

Who would dare climb into the palace to steal fragrance? Besides, why would he need to be a thief to steal fragrance and jade?

Pulling the hand away from his mouth, Wanlan turned around to look at him with a smile. "Why are you back so late? Were you busy?"

Zhao Defang grasped her gradually cooling hand, reached out and closed the lattice window, then pulled her away from the window and towards the bed, explaining, "No, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Wanlan automatically burrowed into the quilt and wrapped herself up, lowering her head slightly to cover her flushed cheeks with her long black hair, and whispered, "I can't sleep. How long will it take you to return from your trip to Xijing with Father?"

“About half a month,” Zhao Defang sat down by her bedside and pondered, “After the sacrificial ceremony, I will be going to Guizhou. Just now, my uncle wanted to talk to me about this matter, but I was worried about you, so I declined his request and came back to check on you.”

Wanlan unconsciously tightened her grip on the brocade quilt. He was leaving in half a month... "When will you be back?"

Zhao Defang, who had been looking down, raised her eyes in surprise and looked at the woman who had almost buried her head in the blankets. She raised her hand and lifted the woman's head. "Wanlan, what's wrong?"

Wanlan wouldn't let him see that. Her face must be burning hot enough to boil shrimp right now.

The moment he raised his hand to touch her face, she sprang to her feet and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and burying her face in his neck. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down, sensually covering half of their bodies. She asked again:

"When will you be back from Guizhou?"

Zhao Defang was stunned by her words and reached out to support her to prevent her from falling off the bed. Since she woke up and changed her personality, although he was attracted to her reborn self, the two of them had always kept their feelings within the bounds of propriety. That one and only uncontrollable light kiss had already made him uneasy. He always felt that the current Wanlan could not tolerate his perfunctory treatment, much less his frivolous behavior. As long as she hesitated even slightly, he would not cross the line.

Did her sudden movement today mean she was completely dependent on him?

Chapter 19, Sharing a Bed with You, My Feelings Are Tense (3)

His usually calm heart began to pound uncontrollably. He was overjoyed at the reason he had been waiting for, and carefully wrapped his arms around her waist. He said in a hoarse voice, "We can't be sure when we'll be back in Beijing yet. I think it will be around the end of the year. What's wrong?"

End of the year? No, her father will be leaving the stage of history in October. She remembered that not long after Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne, he promoted Zehua to a higher official position. Zehua is currently in Guizhou and should be back in less than half a year. She really has nothing to worry about.

Thinking this, Wanlan slowly withdrew from his embrace, but the large hand on her waist wouldn't allow it. Zhao Defang reached out and lifted her face, his bright dark eyes scanning her flushed face before asking, "Wanlan, what happened?"

She shook her head and gently rested it on his shoulder. It had just rained all day… so she felt vulnerable; just because of that light kiss and deep embrace yesterday, she wanted to lean on him…

"Wanlan?" Zhao Defang straightened her body and looked deeply into her weary eyes. "Tell me what happened. I am your husband. Is there anything you can't tell me?"

"I'm fine..." She took a deep breath and gave him a smile. "Nothing happened, I'm fine."

"you--"

"Are you tired?" She smiled gently, softly interrupting him, slowly bending her legs to get out of his embrace and get off the bed. She reached out and pulled him up as well, starting to help him undress. "You must be well-rested before setting off tomorrow. Get some rest."

She helped him unbuckle his belt and remove his outer garment. She turned around and placed the clothes on the hanger beside him. Then she turned back and pushed the stunned man to sit on the edge of the bed. She squatted down to take off his shoes. Her long, dark hair spread out on the floor with her movements. Zhao Defang's dumbfounded gaze was suddenly drawn to that smoky black hair. He couldn't help but raise his right hand, pick up a strand, and gently rub it in his palm.

"Wanlan, why are you acting so strangely today?"

Wanlan acted as if she hadn't heard him, and with a smile, pushed him down onto the bed and covered him with the blanket, saying, "Go to sleep."

"No..." He hurriedly stood up, "I just came to see you, how could I take up your bed? I'd better go to my uncle's place and have a chat while I'm there—"

"What are you going to do at your uncle's place?" She tilted her head and smiled at him, like an innocent little girl, then frowned in displeasure. "It's so late, are you going to stay at your uncle's place? Won't he scold me again for turning you away?"