Beigong Minhao followed her, and the two walked slowly down the corridor.
"Why didn't you leave after ten days? Did Prince Qingzhao force you?" Ji Wushang finally spoke, and she had Hongfei take Yaqin and Huangfu Jun'an back to Miluo Palace.
"No, it's because something has happened to the court. I'm afraid Emperor Zhou is not going to make it. I have to go back and keep an eye on things," Bei Gongminhao explained.
"I wonder how the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are doing. You should inform them as soon as possible. As for that Consort Mei, if I ever return to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, I, Ji Wushang, will personally give her a result!"
"Hmm?" Bei Gongminhao sensed something amiss. "Wu Shang?"
"It's nothing, that's between her and me," Ji Wushang said calmly. How could things before she was married be explained clearly? And who knows when it would be over even if she did?
“I have already sent someone to inform the Crown Prince and Crown Princess that the Sixth Prince will personally oversee everything in the capital,” Bei Gongminhao said when he saw her avoid the previous topic.
"Sixth Prince?" Ji Wushang's mind flashed with the image of Huangfu Yu. "Has he changed a lot?"
"Mm." Bei Gongminhao nodded. The two of them had already walked out of the palace gate. If he left, she would not be able to see him off any further.
There was no one left at the palace gate, only the two of them.
Ji Wushang looked up at him and said, "Take care." She bit her lip and gazed at him intently for the first time.
Beigong Minhao smiled, "Take care of yourself too." He sighed, his gaze fixed on her, "Take good care of Nianlang."
"Thank you for your help all this time." Ji Wushang's cherry lips moved slightly. "Please forgive me for not being able to repay you." As she spoke, she knelt down. "Please accept Wushang's bow!" She immediately bowed.
Bei Gongminhao was surprised and immediately stepped forward to help Ji Wushang up. "Get up!" A trace of pity flashed in his eyes as he helped Ji Wushang up and then withdrew his hand.
"Anything you ask for, I, Bei Gong Minhao, will personally give to you, including my life." Bei Gong Minhao looked at Ji Wushang with gentle eyes. "Wushang, if you are willing, I can give up everything and elope with you."
Ji Wushang shook his head, "You can't do this. Minhao, be a good Zhenbei King, that's what I want to see. Do a good job of what Cong left behind, that's my wish. As for me, don't worry, I won't abandon Nianlang."
A tear welled up in Beigong Minhao's eyes, and he nodded without saying a word.
"No matter how difficult it is, I will cure Nianlang's illness." By then, I should go down and keep Cong company. Cong, you have been lonely for three years... Cong, wait, wait a little longer, wait until Nianlang is better, then I will go down and keep you company.
Bei Gongminhao saw that Ji Wushang was lost in thought and knew that her thoughts had drifted away again.
"Okay, I'm leaving." Beigong Minhao coughed lightly.
Ji Wushang snapped out of his daze. "Take care."
Beigong Minhao smiled and walked out, his back straight.
Ji Wushang looked at him and knelt down in the direction he was walking.
Ji Wushang only slowly stood up after Beigong Minhao's figure disappeared from his sight.
She had always understood his feelings, but love and gratitude couldn't be confused. She had once wanted to repay his kindness with her body, but he had refused.
He knew his own heart.
Ji Wushang turned around and silently walked into the palace.
Just then, Beigong Minhao turned around in the night. He watched her walk slowly, tears already streaming down her face. He curled his thin lips upward, wiped away his tears with his sleeve, turned around, and dragged his heavy steps forward.
Ji Wushang walked quietly down the long corridor.
Those who are meant to leave will leave, and those who are meant to depart will depart. If there is a day when we meet again, we will meet again.
"Oh, isn't that Princess Wushang?" Just then, a shrill voice came over, and Ji Wushang immediately stopped in her tracks.
"So Princess Wushang went to see off an old friend. How sad!" A woman was led forward by several palace maids.
Ji Wushang did not turn around. She was weighing her own status. She had already been named Consort Ji by Tuoba Heyan, which meant she was on the same level as other consorts. According to her age or seniority when she entered the palace, she should address the woman who came as "elder sister". However, Ji Wushang disdained to do so!
"Your Majesty has a fine taste, but I have other matters to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer. Please forgive me, farewell!" Ji Wushang said as he prepared to leave.
"Wait!" The woman walked up to Ji Wushang, who was sizing her up. She was extremely alluring, with a large bust and a slender waist. Her only flaw was that her frame seemed a bit large, but standing next to Ji Wushang, his petite figure paled in comparison.
Ji Wushang smiled inwardly; Tuoba Heyan's tastes were truly unpredictable.
"What is it?" Ji Wushang didn't know who this person was. He was determined to investigate everything in the palace when he returned later. He was certain of it!
"Don't you believe I'll report what happened to you today to the King?" Consort Yehe said coldly.
"And then?" Ji Wushang smiled, meeting her eyes. "Punish me? Demand my death?"
Consort Yehe was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to be so direct!
Ji Wushang sneered, "If not, then I'll take my leave!" With that, Ji Wushang immediately turned and left.
Consort Yehe looked at Ji Wushang with eyes full of anger, but there was nothing she could do!
The palace maids on the side lowered their heads and dared not speak, while Ji Wushang went straight back to his Mi Luo Palace.
"I, the Yehe clan, will never let you get away with this!" Consort Yehe said fiercely as she looked at Ji Wushang's retreating figure.
Upon hearing the name, Ji Wushang narrowed his cold eyes and quickened his pace. He'd memorized the name of Yehe's concubine!
As night fell, Ji Wushang sat in the courtyard and fed Huangfu Jun'an. Huangfu Jun'an was very obedient and listened to Ji Wushang's words.
Ji Wushang waited until Huangfu Junan had eaten his fill before having the meal removed.
"Mother, has Uncle Beigong left?" Huangfu Jun'an asked, staring wide-eyed at Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang nodded. "Let's go."
"Then, does that mean no one will play with Nianlang anymore? No one will love Nianlang anymore?" Huangfu Jun'an looked at Ji Wushang. "Mother, also, why did Uncle Beigong leave?"
"Your mother will play with you, and so will Sister Hongfei and Sister Cuiwu. They will all play with you." Ji Wushang smiled. "Your Uncle Beigong has to go back because of matters at court."
"Oh, okay then!" Huangfu Jun'an nodded seriously.
Ji Wushang smiled and stroked Huangfu Jun'an's head. His complexion was gradually improving, which was indeed due to Tuoba Heyan's medicine. It was truly unexpected that he would take out the Miluoxiang.
“Nianlang is tired and wants to rest,” Huangfu Jun’an said crisply.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Okay." He then carried Huangfu Jun'an back to the inner room and helped him to sleep.
As he came out, he saw Hongfei and Cuiwu already in the courtyard, carrying many paintings and calligraphy works. Ji Wushang quickly went up to them and said, "You've worked hard."
"It's not hard work at all. It's our honor to serve the princess!" Hongfei smiled. The three of them placed all the paintings and calligraphy on the table in the outer room. Ji Wushang dusted off the paintings and calligraphy and said with a smile, "These are all good things."
Hongfei and Cuiwu exchanged a smile and then stood aside.
"By the way, what rules are you going to learn? Are those head palace maids making things difficult for you again?" Ji Wushang turned to the group of them.
"No." Hongfei shook her head.
"That Consort Fan died, and then not many people called on the servants to learn any rules, so things became quiet."
"That's fine too." Ji Wushang nodded. "You can go now! I'll just read a book. Don't forget to bring the medicine over later so Nianlang can drink it."
"yes."
Ji Wushang watched them leave, then flipped through the picture albums, which recorded the concubines of each dynasty. Ji Wushang quickly turned to the concubine album of this dynasty.
In the imperial study, the elegant, flowing calligraphy leaped from the paper, and Tuoba Heyan's high, straight nose accentuated his handsome profile. His gaze held a hint of surprise as he looked at the words on the paper, his heart trembling slightly.
That was the "Song of No Sorrow" that he had personally memorized. He was able to write down the lyrics of the song after listening to it only once.
"She weeps as she marries, her body grows thin and pale like a withered flower." Tuoba Heyan pursed his thin lips slightly. "Marrying someone else, you laugh; marrying me, you weep? Her body grows thin and pale like a withered flower, haha! What a 'she weeps as she marries,' what a 'her body grows thin and pale'!" He pulled out the Xuan paper and held it in his hand. "I really don't believe that your feelings for your deceased husband are so deep! I don't believe it!" His sinister eyes were dark and deep. He crumpled the Xuan paper into a ball with one hand. At this moment, there were several knocks on the door.
Tuoba Heyan lowered his eyes slightly, put the crumpled Xuan paper into his bosom, and said, "Come in." He sat back down on the table.
"Your Majesty." Long Yu quickly bowed upon entering.
"Hmm." With that, Tuoba Heyan picked up the wolf-hair brush that was placed to the side, dipped it in ink again, opened the memorial, and began to review it.
Long Yu then recounted what he had just witnessed: Ji Wushang kneeling before Beigong Minhao. He also mentioned how Consort Yehe had tried to obstruct Ji Wushang's path but failed.
Tuoba Heyan continued reviewing the documents with his head down, as if he hadn't heard Long Yu's report.
Long Yu looked up at Tuoba Heyan and said, "Your Majesty, I have finished my report."
"Hmm, just keep watching." That woman actually knelt down to see that Bei Gong Minhao off! Was she deliberately trying to infuriate me? One woman couldn't forget her deceased husband, Huangfu Zong, while this Zhenbei Prince, Bei Gong Minhao, was being seen off on his knees! Did she really think I didn't exist?
No instructions? Long Yu looked up. "Your Majesty, do you need any orders? Should we kill that...?"
"No need." Tuoba Heyan raised his dark eyes. "Hmm, keep watching." What a joke! Why should I care so much about them? Women are all troublesome; I should stay far away! Let those concubines have their fun!
Long Yu shrugged, then bowed and left.
He thought that Tuoba Heyan had asked him to investigate Princess Wushang so seriously, at least the task behind it would be either killing or protecting someone! But nothing happened at all?
No, that's not like the king. There's definitely more to come. Keep an eye on it!
Tuoba Heyan heard that Long Yu had closed the door before he put down the wolf-hair brush. He turned his head and lay down on the chaise longue next to him, with his hands behind his head and his eyes looking at the ceiling.
When you close your eyes, a face appears, but this person is covered in tears, looking like a heartbroken person!
Tuoba Heyan suddenly opened his eyes.
He rose from his seat, blinked, walked out of the imperial study, and went directly into his own bedchamber.
His body, with its golden proportions resembling that of the sun god Apollo, was now exposed to the air. Tuoba Heyan walked slowly and proudly into the enormous bath, which was still steaming.
He fiddled with the hot water, but his mind was elsewhere.
He was sitting on a stone bench by the bathtub when he gently removed the golden mask.
His handsome face, unforgettable to behold, was exposed to the air. He looked down at his face.
A dot of cinnabar between her eyebrows.
He always thought that was a face too delicately beautiful! Only women would apply vermilion! But his own face…
Tuoba Heyan, feeling somewhat irritated, stirred the water, clearing away the reflection of a face. Unexpectedly, another person's face appeared in the water—a face streaked with tears.
Tuoba Heyan couldn't help but reach out, gently thinking of touching it, "Don't cry..." But when he touched the water, endless ripples spread out, and only small waves remained.
Tuoba Heyan was taken aback.
A few days passed peacefully. Ji Wushang quietly played with Huangfu Jun'an in his Mi Luo Palace. Sometimes he would have Hongfei and Cuiwu place the chaise longue in the courtyard, and then sit on it and sew some clothes for children.
However, sometimes she couldn't help but think about sewing a slightly oversized long robe, white, with thirty-six stitches...
But then I was suddenly lost in thought; he was gone, and no one would wear the robe I made.
Ji Wushang sat there blankly on the chaise longue, still holding a needle and thread in his hand.
Tears always betray me, and in the midst of memories, they inevitably flow again.
"Princess, look, what is this?" At this moment, Hong Fei's voice came from afar. Ji Wushang immediately snapped out of her daze, took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom to wipe away her tears, and then turned around to look. "What is it?"
“These are flower petals.” Hongfei stepped forward, holding a handful of petals in her hands and placing them in front of Ji Wushang. “These are Worry-Free Flowers! I know the princess likes them, so I brought a handful.”