Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде

Глава 126

A warm feeling welled up in my heart. Some people are gone, but some are still by my side. I don't feel so lonely anymore.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 109

Chapter word count: 3325 Update time: 09-09-09 13:54

After we returned from dinner at Shen Haoyu's, Yinyan insisted on dragging me back to my room, saying that my appearance was too much for her eyes and that she had to help me improve my skin. Looking at Yinyan's pale face, I wondered if she had ever looked in a mirror. Didn't she realize how much better she looked than me?

I hadn't been sitting in the room for long when someone carried in water, followed by another person carrying a large basin of milk. After the water was poured into the wooden bucket, the milk was also poured in. I stared in astonishment, my mouth agape, hardly believing I was living such a luxurious life.

Yinyan glanced at me with amusement, tied my hair up high, and urged me to hurry up and take off my clothes. Smelling the milky aroma emanating from the wooden tub, I finally went behind the screen, took off my clothes, and began my first-ever milk bath. A little while later, Yinyan came to the screen with a small bowl and sat down beside the tub.

I craned my neck to look into the bowl and saw only half a bowl of off-white porridge. I quickly asked, "What is this?"

Yin Yan shook her head and laughed, "You don't even know this? Pearl powder. Close your eyes!" I did as she said and immediately felt a cool, moist sensation spread across my face, then my neck—cool, soft, and very comfortable. This must be made from real pearls. I couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Where did you get all this stuff?" Yin Yan couldn't possibly be that wealthy.

Yin Yan chuckled softly, "Do you think I could have prepared all these things? Of course, they were all ordered by Master." As she spoke, her tone turned somewhat sorrowful, "Master said you've suffered too much."

Hearing this, a slight unease settled in my heart. Had he suffered far too much? He had suffered the same hardships I had, and the hardships I hadn't endured. Who truly suffered more? Besides, given his status as a prince, he had done so many things I never even imagined. The rice in the valley must be ripe by now, probably already in Xiao Tian's granary…

After applying the pearl powder, Yin Yan massaged my back. I closed my eyes, enjoying the massage while thinking about the things that had happened recently. Then I heard Yin Yan whisper in my ear, "Huai En, do you like me?"

Do I like him? My impression of him has changed drastically in the past two years. When he's in danger or injured, I worry a lot. But do I like him? Thinking back to what I said to him in the Golden Sparrow Kingdom, if we ignore their ulterior motives, he should be a good candidate. However, I'm not sure how much he means to me, but I'm certain of Yin Yan's feelings for him. I shook my head and said, "No, he used to be my master. Now, we should be considered friends." If he doesn't mind the difference in our status.

A soft sigh came from behind, and Yin Yan said leisurely, "Huai En, there are some things I have never told you, because my heart has always been firmly placed on Master. Now that you have returned from a life-and-death experience with Master, Master treats you differently than before. I am envious, regretful, and heartbroken. I envy your position in Master's heart, and I regret why I did not insist on staying by Master's side. Perhaps I would be the one who came back with Master now. But seeing these scars on you and Master, I feel extremely heartbroken. What hurts even more is the heart Master has always had for you, and only today do I realize that you don't care at all."

Yin Yan's words struck my heart like thunder. She continued, "What you don't care about is what I've longed for every day these past few years. Do you know that the day the Princess sent me to Qiufeng Garden, seeing the Master diligently practicing his sword there, I only needed one glance, and he was in my heart. Later, the nanny said I not only had to carefully attend to the Master's daily needs, but also serve him in bed when he needed me. At that time, I was truly happy, because only Sister Yu Ying and I could serve him in bed; we were both carefully selected and sent to his side. However, from the time I was sent to Qiufeng Garden until now, the Master has never once made such a request. At first, seeing that the Master always went out with only Sister Yu Ying, I thought he only liked Sister Yu Ying and not me. Later, I learned that Sister Yu Ying also..." Just like me. Later, rumors spread that the Third Prince was fond of men, and seeing that he always treated you differently from others, I worried that he might also have such a preference. It wasn't until I learned that you were also a girl, and looking at him again, that I understood... " Yin Yan chuckled, but there was no joy in her laughter. "Before coming to Longcheng, I helped him pack his things. In his letter, he instructed me to bring the jujube wood box on his bookshelf. He usually doesn't let us touch that box. Out of curiosity, I opened it, and inside were all the things he had used to tease you about. He belittled you on one hand, but on the other hand, he hid them away like treasures. I've never seen anyone as awkward as him..." Is that so? I was shocked, but I also agreed with Yin Yan's point of view. He had indeed always been quite awkward, and he had only gotten better recently.

Yin Yan said softly, "Do you remember the day I taught you embroidery? You made a purse with a puppy embroidered on it. Grandpa kept saying it was too ugly and that he wanted to burn it. I knew he wouldn't really burn it, but I never expected that he would keep it with him until Grandpa was injured and we went to Pingcheng. Only then did Grandpa secretly take out the punctured purse and ask me to sew it back on. He said that it was your first piece of embroidery and that it couldn't be thrown away."

"Don't you feel anything when the master treats you like this?" Yin Yan asked.

Hearing these things from Yin Yan's mouth, it's hard to imagine the heartache she must be feeling. And that Shen Haoyu—not only is he awkward, but he's also so childish, just like those little boys who clearly like a girl but refuse to say it properly, insisting on going against her, thinking that this will make her notice them. My God, can't he be more mature? Wouldn't it be better if he just said it directly like Shen Zexuan? Luckily, I didn't like him back then, otherwise, all that guessing and playing games with him would have been exhausting.

But what kind of answer did Yin Yan really want to hear? "Sister Yin Yan, do you want me to fall in love with the young prince?"

Yin Yan stopped what she was doing and said after a long while, "Personally speaking, if you don't like me, and I can give up on you, I will naturally be happy. However, if I am sad because of this, then I would rather you like me too. That way, at least I will be happy."

I turned to look at Yin Yan, speechless. Yin Yan raised her hand to wipe away the tears in her eyes and smiled, "Let's get your skin healed first."

I closed my eyes and leaned against the wooden tub, but my mind was becoming increasingly chaotic.

After getting out of the water and washing off the pearl powder, my skin was indeed smoother when I looked in the mirror. Natural products are definitely better! However, my complexion is still dark, and I'm afraid it won't return to its original color anytime soon.

After Yin Yan finished helping me, she gave me a box of ointment, saying it was for removing scars. However, the scars on my body had been there for a long time, and I hadn't taken good care of them at first. Now, even with the best medicine, it would be difficult for them to return to their original smoothness.

After Yin Yan left, I hadn't even had a chance to sort out Shen Haoyu's matter in detail before I was invited to Prince Qing's study. I didn't meet with Prince Qing alone many times, but each time it was far from pleasant; perhaps, there were many undercurrents that I was unaware of.

"News has come from the capital that a brothel called Fengyuelou has been shut down recently, and its main figures have been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail," Prince Qing said, waving a piece of paper in his hand.

Upon hearing the words "Fengyue Tower," my breath caught in my throat for a moment. How much did Prince Qing know about Fengyue Tower? From the fact that he summoned me here, I knew he must have learned about my relationship with Aunt Yun, but how much contact did he actually have with her?

"What crime?" I asked. They actually raided the place in such a high-profile manner. What exactly did Aunt Yun and the others do?

Prince Qing snorted, but the smile on his lips was cold: "Harboring a wanted criminal."

"Harboring a wanted criminal?" I was a little confused. "Which wanted criminal are you harboring?" Come to think of it, Aunt Yun and her group are all criminals.

"Does it matter who we're harboring? As long as we have a legitimate reason, that's enough," Prince Qing sneered.

The emperor has taken action against Aunt Yun and the others. "What will happen to them?" I asked anxiously. Being locked up in prison is no joke.

Prince Qing shook his head: "I don't know for now, nor do I know what the false emperor intends to do."

I was filled with anxiety. Although I wasn't close to Aunt Yun, she was my mother's younger sister and my closest relative now. How could I not worry? That emperor had already taken away all my relatives one by one. Was he going to leave this last one behind? Was I just supposed to sit and wait to die? "Your Highness, I need to go to the capital." Even though I couldn't do much, I could at least gather information nearby.

Prince Qing nodded and said, "Go. But don't tell Yu'er."

I looked at Prince Qing with some doubt. Did he want me and Shen Haoyu to leave without saying goodbye? But I heard Prince Qing say coldly, "If you tell him, you won't be able to leave. Before you leave, someone will send you some travel expenses for the journey."

Back in my room, recalling my conversation with Prince Qing, I began to understand. He had deliberately told me about Aunt Yun and the others, hoping I would leave on my own. I smiled bitterly to myself. It seemed Prince Qing really didn't like me that much. At least he gave me this excuse to leave, instead of directly kicking me out. He must have considered Shen Haoyu to some extent.

Having figured this out, he felt even more unable to stay any longer. The next morning, since Shen Haoyu was not there, he went to bid farewell to Prince Qing, received some silver, and then left the palace. Although he was still being indirectly kicked out, he couldn't turn down the silver. He would take it if someone gave it to him, otherwise he would suffer on the road.

As I was leaving, someone brought me a horse. I thanked them gratefully, took the horse, and headed towards the west gate of Taki Castle.

On the banks of a stream in the suburbs, young women were washing clothes, chatting and laughing, occasionally splashing in the water. Golden sunlight shone on them, making them radiant and full of vitality. Smiling as I watched them, I thought back to a time when I lived like that in the valley; though simple and frugal, it was a happy time.

Now, I am truly all alone.

He glanced back at the group of happy girls, mounted his horse, and embarked on a solitary journey.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 110

Chapter word count: 3673 Update time: 09-09-09 13:54

I don't know why I'm so unlucky. I've barely left Prince Qing's territory, and before I even reached Xiangzhou, I've been surrounded by a group of bandits in the mountains outside the city, blocking my way. My martial arts skills are supposedly much better than theirs, but as the saying goes, even the strongest fists can't fight four hands. Seeing that I'm about to be overwhelmed, I'm really panicking. It's bad enough that they've stolen my silver, but what if they find out I'm a woman? Will I be forced to become their wife?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but shudder. He figured he should just give them the money and let them run away. If he lost the money, he could always go back to his old ways and get it back the same way he left.

Without hesitation, he shouted, "Stop! My lords, I have something to say!" He took off his money pouch and waved it at them.

"You're here to rob me, right? This is all I have, take it all, consider it my way of showing my respect to you all."

The leader of the bandits, a burly man with a thick beard, snatched the money bag and spat, "Where were you all this time? Now you've injured so many of my brothers, and this little bit of silver isn't even enough to buy medicine. Who cares?" He then shouted, "Brothers, charge! Chop this little brat to pieces!"

I was so angry I gritted my teeth! These bastards! But I couldn't beat them, and I couldn't escape, so I had no choice but to keep fighting!