Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде

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I nodded sadly and turned to leave. Zinuo could no longer speak to me now.

While waiting for Zinuo outside the cemetery, I saw a green shadow flash around the corner, and my heart immediately went on high alert. Almost every time I go to some mountain, I run into some kind of person or something happens. I really hope I don't encounter anything like this on Wangcang Mountain, where no important figures usually linger. Remembering the near-death experience last time, my already healed wounds started to ache slightly; it seems I've become a very easily frightened person.

I waited for Zinuo for a long time, but he still didn't come out. I was a little worried and was about to go in to check when I heard a soft voice behind me: "Huai'en." The voice was very familiar, but I didn't dare to turn around, unwilling to see him alone.

I started to walk into the cemetery, but I couldn't take a step because someone had grabbed my sleeve.

"Huai'en, I've finally run into you alone. Would you mind letting me say a few words?"

I turned around and saw Shen Zexuan standing amidst the ancient cypress trees in a pure white robe, seemingly untouched by worldly affairs. This was the first time I had seen him in a color other than red, but no matter what he looked like, he was beyond my comprehension and approach.

Seeing that I didn't respond, a hint of anxiety appeared on his almost perfect face, and he said earnestly, "Won't you listen to my explanation?"

I smiled slightly and said calmly, "Is there a misunderstanding between me and Your Highness that needs explaining? I only remember that I owe Your Highness a life-saving favor."

"Are you really going to erase it all?" Shen Zexuan's voice was tinged with sorrow. I looked down at the tips of my shoes, on which were the colorful butterflies that Yin Yan had embroidered for me.

"Or are you eager to sever ties with me and stay by your little prince's side?" The voice suddenly turned cold.

I looked up angrily, staring into Shen Zexuan's angry eyes, and said, word by word, "May I ask Your Highness, what is the relationship between us?"

Shen Zexuan grabbed my arm tightly: "Were those months all a lie?"

I didn't struggle, and sneered, "Is Your Highness really like that? Putting all that aside, haven't you been putting on this show for certain people all this time?"

Shen Zexuan slightly reduced the pressure on my arm and shook his head, saying, "I have other purposes, but I also have sincerity towards you. That day when you fell off the cliff, do you know what I...?"

Thinking of the red figure that urgently grabbed me that day, my heart ached slightly. Just as I was about to say something, he suddenly grabbed my waist with one hand and covered my mouth with the other, leaping behind a large pine tree beside us. I heard him whisper in my ear, "Someone's there."

After a while, I heard footsteps. I peeked outside and saw that it was Zinuo coming out. His delicate face was expressionless, only his slightly red eyes betrayed his feelings.

Shen Zexuan's voice came softly to my ear: "You've come here to pay respects to your relatives?" I nodded slightly, but in my heart I wondered, what are you doing here?

After Zi Nuo walked away, Shen Zexuan didn't lead me out from behind the tree. The two of them remained standing there, their posture somewhat ambiguous. Composing myself, I gently pushed him away slightly and said calmly, "Your Highness, you know your own feelings best, and they have little to do with me. However, whatever your purpose may be, please don't put on airs again in the future, putting me in a difficult position between you and the young prince. Neither of them is someone I can afford to offend. Thank you in advance."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zexuan looked at me with some shock and pain, and said in a deep voice, "You still don't believe me?"

I shook my head and said, "Let you believe it for now. Besides, even if it were true, I wouldn't dare presume to be your concubine. If those few months caused Your Highness any confusion, please don't blame me. After all, the game started with Your Highness. Farewell!" Before I finished speaking, I immediately used my lightness skill to escape from him, running away as fast as I could, afraid that if I was a step too slow, I would be tripped up by something.

"Do you always turn away so easily? Is that all the courage you have? Are you so afraid to face me?" Shen Zexuan's voice came faintly from behind. His lips twitched slightly, and tears welled up in his eyes. Was I too timid, or was he too complicated and made me feel insecure?

It turns out that after two lifetimes, I am still that coward who longs for love but is afraid of being hurt by it.

She finally stopped and turned back to the direction where Shen Zexuan was, whispering, "Your Highness, if you have a sincere heart, let me see it." Regardless of whether he heard her or not, she turned and headed towards Yinyin Temple.

I saw Zinuo in the Buddhist shrine where my aunt's memorial tablet was enshrined. When she saw me come in, she came up to me and asked, "Sister, where have you been?"

I pulled Zinuo by the hand. He seemed to be feeling much better, so I smiled and said, "I was waiting for you outside the garden. I saw that you were in a bad mood, so I didn't bother you and followed you here."

"It's getting late, let's go back soon." Zi Nuo said after wiping and arranging the memorial tablet for his aunt. I nodded in agreement, and the two of us left Yinyin Temple hand in hand.

On the way down the mountain, I said to Zinuo, "I heard that the Second Prince is mainly in charge of receiving the envoys from the Golden Sparrow Kingdom. Let's go see him tomorrow and see if he can arrange for us to secretly observe those people."

Zinuo turned to look at me, her face shifting from momentary confusion to a knowing sadness.

Although I don't want to have any more contact with Shen Tingxuan, at least he treated me sincerely, right?

Brother Ting...

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 51

Chapter word count: 3747 Update time: 09-08-10 14:57

The words were spoken, but figuring out how to find Shen Tingxuan was another problem. After all, Shen Tingxuan wasn't like Shen Zexuan, outwardly appearing to be on the same side as the Prince Qing's mansion. However, even if they were each in their own faction, surely they wouldn't never interact? Shen Tingxuan seemed to attend every birthday celebration for the Prince and Princess Qing; they were both masters of appearances. Shen Tingxuan even sent someone to deliver a gift for my birthday; what excuse could I possibly give to go to the Second Prince's residence?

Thinking of the birthday gift, I recalled Shen Haoyu's expression that day. Logically speaking, I was arrested twice at the Second Prince's residence but managed to escape unscathed, and afterwards the Second Prince's residence even sent me gifts. Didn't Shen Haoyu ask any questions? Or did he already know everything he needed to know? I never dared to think about it before, but now that I have to find Shen Tingxuan again, I can't help but think about it.

After much thought and failing to find a solution, I finally had to give up, resigning myself to being a clueless fool and just taking it one day at a time.

After staying for two more days, I finally mustered up the courage to go to Shen Haoyu's study.

"Young Prince!" I gently knocked on the open door of the study.

Shen Haoyu looked up at me and asked, "What is it?"

I went into the study and carefully observed Shen Haoyu's expression. Seeing that he didn't seem unhappy, I cautiously said, "Young Prince, Huai'en has a small request."

Shen Haoyu raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a hint of doubt.

"It's like this, Zinuo was very envious after I told her about Princess Luoli's unparalleled beauty, and hoped to secretly catch a glimpse of the princess's beauty." Forgive me, Zinuo, you didn't tell me why you wanted to see the Golden Sparrow Envoy, so I had to make one up for you, otherwise how could I ask for help? Not everyone would be willing to help you fulfill your wish even if they don't know the reason clearly, so your sister still loves you the most.

Shen Haoyu stared at me with amusement. Lately, he had been unintentionally showing a rare gentleness, which made my heart flutter. I had a feeling that this person seemed to be getting further and further away from that awkward child.

"Do you think you can just see a princess like that whenever you want?" Shen Haoyu chuckled, a hint of helplessness and doting in his expression. Doting? Am I seeing things? Could it be that he's really been bewitched by Shen Zexuan?

“That day in Chongde Hall, if the princess hadn’t been so eager to relieve Prince Luochen’s predicament, she wouldn’t have so rashly shown us her face,” Shen Haoyu continued.

I said, unwilling to give up, "Can't we even sneak a peek at the inn? We promise we won't be discovered. Or could you take us to visit them openly and honestly?"

"Huai'en, don't tell me you don't know what the crime of privately associating with foreign envoys is?" Shen Haoyu sneered. Sigh, here we go again.

"Surely there must be someone who can see the envoy?"

"Of course there is, and it's none other than the Second Prince who has gone to such lengths for you." Shen Haoyu's tone turned unfriendly, and although he was smiling, it made me feel uneasy. Although I knew that finding Shen Tingxuan wouldn't be easy, Shen Haoyu's current demeanor made me even more uncertain.

"I've been waiting for an explanation from you all this time," Shen Haoyu whispered in my ear, and if I wasn't mistaken, there was a hint of gritted teeth in his voice. It's just a gift, is it really that big of a deal?

I moved a little further away from Shen Haoyu and pretended to be aggrieved, saying, "Didn't the young prince himself not ask?"