The Beauties of the Song Dynasty - Chapter 17
The conversation between the two left Wanlan and Zhao Defang looking at each other in bewilderment.
"I wouldn't presume to offer advice. I've only come to find someone. I'll be leaving now." Zhao Guangyi said calmly, giving her a deep look before turning to Zhao Defang and saying, "Let's go."
Although Zhao Defang was puzzled, he didn't ask. He simply exchanged a glance with Wanlan, who also looked surprised, nodded slightly, and followed Zhao Guangyi around the screen to leave. He pondered to himself what might have happened between his uncle and his mother. In his memory, the two had never appeared together before. His mother had entered the palace at the age of seven and had been made empress in the first year of the Kaibao era, eight years ago. He couldn't recall any relationship between her and his uncle. So where did the undercurrent hidden behind the cold words come from today?
Besides, if the Imperial Uncle only wanted to find him, he could have simply sent a servant to inform him. Why did he have to come all the way here himself?
Outside the palace, a fine drizzle continued, as fine as silk threads, seemingly destined to fall forever. The flowers and plants outside the palace eaves were washed clean by the rain, their leaves as green as crystal, still swaying gently in the seemingly powerless rain. The two people who stepped out of the palace gate walked silently into the rain, one after the other, completely ignoring the eunuchs who hurriedly followed beside them with umbrellas.
"Defang".
As soon as he stepped out of Anfu Palace, Zhao Guangyi stopped, seemingly deep in thought. He turned slightly to look back at Anfu Palace and softly called to Zhao Defang, who was following beside him.
"Uncle, what is it?"
"You..." Zhao Guangyi's thin, icy lips parted slightly, but he stopped abruptly after uttering only one word. He pursed his lips, waved away the eunuch holding the umbrella beside him, and abruptly turned and stepped into the rain.
The Imperial Uncle's back view... has it never been so desolate?
Zhao Defang slowly furrowed her brows—
What exactly happened?
Chapter 17, Sharing a Bed with You, My Heart Fluttering (1)
Today seems particularly long. The light drizzle may seem gentle, but the monotonous sound of it can become tiresome after a while.
Wanlan leaned against the window watching the rain.
She is where she is now—according to Yuan Niang, that was her residence in the palace before she got married, called Qinlan Palace.
Xu'er was taken away by Yuan Niang. She knew that with Yuan Niang around, Xu'er didn't need her to worry at all. But... the Empress had also gone to rest not long ago, citing illness, leaving her alone here in a daze, completely unsure of what to do.
How could someone who was so happy at the beginning suddenly become unwell? It seems that the Empress has been acting strangely ever since Prince Jin appeared. She doesn't know what's going on between the two of them. It's inevitable that there will be some problems between uncle and sister-in-law. What's bothering her now is something she just learned.
It was pre-arranged that she would stay overnight in the inner palace, and she had already made preparations, but—just now, before Yuan Niang left, she told her that Zhao Defang would also be staying overnight in the palace tonight…
Wanlan groaned, clutching her forehead. Why hadn't anyone told her that Zhao Defang was also staying overnight?
In the Prince of Qin's mansion, it was their own territory, and no one would interfere with what they did. So, apart from the servants in the mansion, no one knew that he and Wanlan had been separated for nearly a year. But now they were in the palace, and they probably couldn't live separately anymore. Just now, Yuanniang said that she and Zhao Defang would be staying in Qinlan Palace tonight. Wouldn't this news push her into a corner? Putting aside her curiosity about how Xu'er came to be, she was extremely flustered by the fact that she suddenly had to share a bed with Zhao Defang.
Liking someone, from initial attraction to marriage, is perfectly normal, and she wasn't a stubborn person. But… everything happened so suddenly that she was completely at a loss. Zhao Defang's gentleness was etched into her heart, but the hesitation behind his actions also made her uneasy. It wasn't about distrust; sometimes fate is indeed irreversible. Just as she didn't know why she was there, she feared she was merely a puppet manipulated by fate, ready to disappear at any moment. This fear of leaving at any time mirrored Zhao Defang's hesitation, worried that Wanlan would continue to cling to Zhao Dezhao after her recovery.
How will this upcoming night teach them to be honest with each other?
"Your Highness, Her Majesty requests that you move to Funing Palace for dinner."
Wanlan snapped back to reality. Dinner? It's already evening?
She blinked hesitantly, then remembered—they left the house at 7:45 AM and arrived at the palace close to noon. Zhao Defang and Prince Jin had lunch shortly after they left, then the Empress went to rest, and Yuan Niang took Xu'er away with her. As for her… she actually spent the whole afternoon staring blankly by the window.
"princess?"
Wanlan smiled, flicked her sleeve and stood up, looking at the palace maid who had delivered the message, "Let's go."
Qinlan Palace is located southeast of Anfu Palace, adjacent to the Empress's residence, Funing Palace. Wanlan walked alongside a palace maid under the eaves, her gaze falling on the flowers and plants in the courtyard, which were bright green after being washed by the drizzle. She wondered when this rain would end.
As soon as Wanlan stepped out of Qinlan Palace, she was stopped in her tracks by a person holding an umbrella. The palace maid who delivered the message curtsied and then withdrew, leaving Wanlan standing on the stone steps facing the person.
"I'm back."
Stepping up the stone steps and standing in front of her, Zhao Defang smiled, turned to the side to fold up the wet umbrella and set it aside, then very naturally took her hand and continued walking towards the outer perimeter, saying, "Are you going to Funing Palace for a meal? Let's go together."
"Where...where did you go?" Why were you gone all afternoon? Wanlan bit her lip and blinked lightly. Could the reason she felt today was dragging was because he wasn't around? She...couldn't rely on him too much! He was about to leave the capital...
"Tomorrow, Father Emperor will hold a joint ceremony to worship Heaven and Earth in the southern suburbs of Xijing. All civil and military officials must accompany him, and my uncle and I will naturally be no exception. Today, we are discussing our trip with Father Emperor."
After walking through the long palace corridor, Zhao Defang stopped in front of Qingyun Hall, glanced at her, and asked, "How did you get along with the Empress Dowager today? Are you still worried that your amnesia will cause her to change her attitude towards you?"
She didn't discuss these issues with the Queen at all today.
but……
"Has something happened between the Empress Dowager and the Prince of Jin? After you left, I had lunch with the Empress Dowager, and she said she was feeling unwell and went to rest."
Zhao Defang was slightly taken aback. Recalling the unusual behavior of Prince Jin earlier, he felt even more strongly that something unpleasant had happened between the two. However, he did not say anything. Instead, he patted Wanlan and led her into the Funing Palace. Before the servants came to greet them, he whispered in her ear, "This matter will be clarified eventually. Don't act strangely in front of the Empress Dowager later."
Before Wanlan could answer, the eunuch who had come to greet her knelt down and shouted, "Welcome, Your Highness and Your Highness. Her Majesty is waiting in the inner room."
"Okay, you can go now."
Chapter 18, Sharing a Bed with You, My Feelings Are Tense (2)
Passing through the archway draped with sheer beaded curtains, a large round table stood in the center of the inner room. The Empress was already seated at the head of the table. Upon seeing the two enter, she smiled and, without saying a word, gestured for them to sit beside her. She then instructed the servants to begin serving the dishes. The meal was eaten in quiet silence. Wanlan felt a strange unease. She stole a glance at Zhao Defang, who was eating quietly. After he gently shook his head at her, she frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing, eating a few dishes without tasting anything.
After the meal, Zhao Defang said he had some matters to attend to and left Funing Palace first. Wanlan, however, was kept behind by the Empress and moved to a side hall. After the two sat down together, the Empress got straight to the point:
"Lan'er, I've heard about your amnesia, but I still have to ask, what are your feelings for Defang?"
Wanlan's heart skipped a beat. She never expected the Empress to ask so directly. She thought the Empress already knew that Zhao Defang and Jiao Wanlan had no feelings for each other, so why would she ask about Wanlan's feelings?
Such a thing... she was ashamed to even mention it to Zehua, let alone to the Empress who was watching from the sidelines?
"Lan'er?"
Let's be honest.
Wanlan closed her eyes and answered slowly, "Mother, I don't know why I lost my memory, I don't know when I will remember the past, and I don't know if I will still feel the same way after I remember the past, but... my current thoughts are that I am very happy to be Zehua's wife and I am very happy to have given birth to Xu'er for him."