Robe blanche - Chapitre 68
Shen Tingxuan smiled and shook his head, sitting down on a stone bench in the pavilion, his eyes filled with a sorrow I couldn't comprehend. I knelt down and softly called out, "Brother Ting!"
Shen Tingxuan smiled, the sadness in his eyes vanishing, replaced by the warmth I was used to seeing. "If Marquis Qiyun agrees, would you be willing to go home?" Shen Tingxuan suddenly asked, "So that we can gather together like a normal family, instead of like we are now?"
What a temptation! I could resist the first time, but could I resist the second? Besides, Zinuo is here too; this feeling of being a family together is so alluring. Although he's the Second Prince now, in my heart, he's still mostly my brother Ting, isn't he?
I looked at Zinuo, whose face, usually so stubborn, now held a mixture of expectation and confusion. Confusion again. That same expression had crossed Zinuo's face when he paid respects to his aunt that day. Zinuo, he longed for a home too, didn't he? Having only one sister was far from enough to constitute a home.
"Actually, I still miss home a little, but I'm afraid of upsetting my mother." Little Zinuo blinked her big eyes and said this in that warm little courtyard, her voice so heartbreaking. I comforted her then, saying that Mu Shaoting would take us home. Then, a series of events happened, causing us to lose our closest loved ones and the chance to go home.
Now, going home is too late for us. Even if we were willing, it wouldn't be an easy thing.
Whether I return to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence or not doesn't matter to me, since I don't really consider him my father anyway. But Zinuo is his own son. "If Zinuo goes back, I'll go back!" I glanced at Zinuo and replied. When Shen Tingxuan asked me that time, I resolutely refused. This time, I need to think more about Zinuo.
Zinuo turned to look at me and slowly shook her head: "I never considered that place my home. Home is where my sister is. So, wherever my sister goes, I will go."
Our answer seemed to be within Shen Tingxuan's expectations. His expression did not change much, and he simply said, "If you are unwilling to return to the Marquis of Qiyun's mansion, I am also unwilling to stay here. However, is the Prince of Qing's mansion a place for the long term?"
I shook my head. I've thought too much about whether to stay or leave the Prince Qing's residence lately. Meeting Brother Ting again is too late. Now it's no longer a question of whether we want to, but whether we can. It was alright a few years ago, but in the last year or two, Zinuo and I have been involved in some things, and Zinuo has learned many secrets. Once we leave the Prince Qing's residence, not to mention what the Prince Qing's political enemies will do to us, the Prince Qing's residence itself will be the first to not let us go. How can the two of us survive? Returning to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence will definitely be a lot of trouble, and it might even cause some more problems.
Compared to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence, I would much rather stay at the Prince of Qing's residence, especially since there are so many people I've lived with for years who aren't relatives but are very close to me. Since Zinuo doesn't want to go back to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence either, I have even less reason to want to go back, which saves Shen Tingxuan the trouble of arranging for us to go home.
“If you insist on this, I won’t say anything more. But…” Shen Tingxuan hesitated for a moment, but finally said, “But, Father Emperor is probably going to take action against Prince Qing soon, so you must be careful!”
I was shocked and looked up at Shen Tingxuan almost at the same time as Zinuo. I couldn't believe that he would tell us such a thing!
Shen Tingxuan smiled helplessly: "As long as you are all alive and well, that's good enough."
For a moment, I was at a loss for words, staring blankly at Shen Tingxuan. He smiled and patted my head, just like he did when I was a child. I bit my lip, trying hard not to let the tears fall. The older I get, the easier it is to be moved, and the more I like to cry.
Looking at Zinuo, I said to him, "Zinuo, I have something I want to say to His Highness alone." Zinuo turned to look at me, said nothing, and silently walked out of the pavilion.
After Zi Nuo walked away, I stared at Shen Tingxuan for a moment, thought for a while, and then said, "Brother Ting, actually I..."
“I know, I knew as soon as you left!” Shen Tingxuan interrupted me and laughed, “As soon as you left, I went to the courtyard where we first met and found that it had been disturbed, and there were… tear stains on the painting…” Shen Tingxuan’s lips curled up, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"Huai'en, do you resent me?"
I shook my head, unable to hold back my tears: "Brother Ting, I have never resented you. Knowing that you are still alive makes me truly happy. There is nothing more joyful than being alive!"
"I didn't find you sooner, I didn't recognize you, and I almost killed you. You don't blame me?" There was pain in Shen Tingxuan's eyes, but also expectation.
I nodded firmly and said, "I really never resented it. Didn't I also not recognize Brother Ting and do things that were bad to him?" Although it was just surveillance and there was no real harm done, it was enough to make me feel guilty.
A look of obvious joy appeared on Shen Tingxuan's face. I steeled myself and asked the question I had always wanted to know: "Brother Ting, please tell me the truth, did Mother die because of this?"
Before Shen Tingxuan's smile could even fully bloom, I froze him in place, and then it shattered bit by bit. I looked at him sincerely and said softly, "Brother Ting, I just want you to tell me the truth. I believe that if you could stop it, you wouldn't want this to happen either, right? No matter what, you will always be the best Brother Ting to me."
Brother Ting, I'm not just saying this to appease you. I truly believe you and won't blame you for revealing the Emperor's intentions for the safety of me and Zinuo. Besides, you were just a child back then, and you couldn't even keep me from being kicked out of the house. How could you possibly protect our mother who accidentally learned such a big secret?
Seemingly lost in memories, Shen Tingxuan's gaze wandered aimlessly as he murmured, "That day, Father Emperor came to visit Mother and me incognito. He makes a point of leaving the palace to see us once a year, and Mother was overjoyed to see him. Marquis Qiyun had everyone else in the courtyard dismissed, leaving only the three of us. That evening, we enjoyed our brief reunion in the garden, with Marquis Qiyun guarding the gate to prevent anyone from accidentally wandering in. Mother and Father Emperor were chatting happily when they heard a cry of 'Ouch!' Father Emperor immediately rose alertly and went towards the sound. Marquis Qiyun, perhaps having heard the noise as well, came in. A moment later, Marquis Qiyun lifted a woman from the flowerbed and brought her towards us. The woman's hand seemed..." She appeared to have been cut by something and was still bleeding. In her other hand, she tightly clutched a bunch of marigolds. Seeing us, she seemed confused, completely unaware of what had happened. She simply bowed to Marquis Qiyun and addressed him as "Lord Marquis." Judging from her attire, she seemed to be a concubine in the household. Marquis Qiyun asked her what she was doing in the North Courtyard so late, as it was clearly not a place for people of their status to enter. She waved the marigolds in her hand and said she had come to pick flowers. Marquis Qiyun didn't believe her at all, seemingly convinced she had ulterior motives. The Emperor came over, looked at the woman, and said, "She cannot be allowed to stay." Marquis Qiyun then silenced her by pressing her pressure point, asked the Emperor to leave, and ordered men to come in and drag the woman out. "At this point, Shen Tingxuan looked at me with some worry. I forced a smile and gestured for him to continue."
"Later, Marquis Qiyun did not enter the North Garden again, leaving only my father, my mother, and me. My father stayed for two days before returning to the palace. After my father left, I heard that a lady from the West Courtyard had stolen something from the North Courtyard and was beaten to death by Marquis Qiyun. He ordered everyone in the household to take this as a warning, but not to mention this lady again in the future."
After listening to Shen Tingxuan's explanation, I quietly said, "Thank you, Brother Ting, for letting me know the truth. It lets me know that my mother isn't the thief others claim she is." Having confirmed my suspicions, I had nothing more to say. How innocent my mother was! How cold-hearted was Marquis Qiyun! How cruel was the Emperor? I truly doubt whether my mother ever encountered the Emperor and his secret. Even if she saw the Emperor, how could she know that person was the Emperor? How could she possibly understand the relationship between the Emperor and the First Madam? They were simply guilty and desperately trying to silence me!
"Huai'en," Shen Tingxuan called out to me, his tone full of concern.
I smiled sadly and said, "I'm afraid my mother will never know why she died." Stealing flowers, is that a crime punishable by death? My mother must have had that question.
Upon seeing my smile, Shen Tingxuan's expression changed drastically, and he asked anxiously, "Huai'en, how are you?"
I shook my head: "Nothing much, just that it's ridiculous." Those in power hold the power of life and death, and those who are killed have no chance to resist. My mother was silenced by acupuncture, and she didn't even have a chance to make a sound defense.
"Huai'en, you don't resent me, but you resent them?"
Do I hate? Whom should I hate? I have feelings for my mother while occupying this body, but what can I do to get back for her after knowing the truth? I'm afraid that more people will lose their lives because of this.
I could only shake my head and say, "I don't hate you, but I will never forgive you!"
Shen Tingxuan moved his lips but said nothing. He had no position on this matter either.
Marquis Qiyun and the Emperor are, respectively, my and Zinuo's father and Shen Tingxuan and Shen Zexuan's father. What kind of entanglement is this?
After a long silence, Shen Tingxuan looked at the sky and asked cautiously, "It's getting late. Let's go get something to eat first, and then head to the inn."
I followed Chen Tingxuan out of the pavilion, numbly.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 53
Chapter word count: 3257 Update time: 09-08-11 17:05
Shen Tingxuan had lunch with Zinuo and me. We had never met Mu Hanyan before, and Shen Tingxuan never mentioned her. After thinking about it, we decided not to ask any further questions, since we weren't familiar with her anyway.
After lunch, Shen Tingxuan, accompanied by several guards, headed towards the post station, with Zinuo and I sandwiched between them. Dongcheng and the other two, locked in the courtyard, would likely have to wait until Zinuo and I returned before they could leave. Thinking of Dongcheng's blushing and resentful expression, I felt a mixture of amusement and guilt.
Upon arriving at the post station, the accompanying official immediately greeted Shen Tingxuan and invited him inside. Although it was a post station, it was quite magnificent inside, with lush flowers and trees in the courtyard, filling the air with fragrance. Entering a large hall, before even stepping inside, Prince Luo Chen, dressed in a moon-white robe, emerged with a smile, bowing to Shen Tingxuan and saying, "Second Prince!"
Shen Tingxuan returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Your Highness!" The two then walked into the hall in a very friendly manner, and we followed behind.
Shen Tingxuan and Prince Luochen took their seats in the main hall, while Zinuo and I stood beside Shen Tingxuan. Soon, two cups of fragrant tea were served by maids; judging from their attire, they were probably maids brought by the Golden Sparrow Kingdom itself.
Shen Tingxuan picked up the teacup, gently lifted the lid, and a refreshing fragrance wafted out. Shen Tingxuan laughed and said, "These days I love sitting in this inn more and more, just to have a sip of this fragrant tea."
Prince Luo Chen smiled politely and said, "Since Your Highness likes it so much, it wouldn't hurt to give you a box of tea as a gift."
It turns out this is a specialty of the Golden Sparrow Kingdom. Although I'm not very knowledgeable about tea ceremony, in this backward era, my understanding of tea art is still far beyond their reach. I have a good idea of the extent of Youjing's tea industry development, and this tea from the Golden Sparrow Kingdom exudes a floral fragrance, faintly resembling jasmine. It's as if flower tea has already been invented in the Golden Sparrow Kingdom, while the flower tea from the Time-Traveling Era that I know of only began to be formally produced in the Ming Dynasty. I sighed inwardly, the Golden Sparrow Kingdom is truly not to be underestimated.
Shen Tingxuan sipped his tea, while Prince Luochen raised his voice and asked, "When will His Majesty make a decision so that we can return home in time for the New Year?"