Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде - Глава 167
Seeing that everyone was not very interested, King Jinque took the lead in leaving the table, and the others also dispersed in twos and threes.
Walking side by side with Huangfu Xuan, I sincerely said "thank you." His words were all true; I had judged him by my own petty standards.
Huangfu Xuan smiled silently. Lin Zhao glanced at us but didn't speak. Although they were brothers who grew up together, Lin Zhao, who was used to being carefree in front of outsiders, still kept to himself. Looking at Huangfu Xuan's attitude towards Lin Zhao, some things, even if their statuses are different, will still remain in their hearts.
Once outside the palace gates, everyone was about to go their separate ways. Huangfu Xuan suddenly said, "The peace treaty has been agreed upon, and I will be returning to my country in the next few days. I wonder when I will be able to enjoy your wedding feast with the young prince." A rare mischievous glint flashed in his gentle eyes.
"You noticed all of that?" Even in the darkness of night, I couldn't help but blush.
Huangfu Xuan chuckled and said, "Others are blinded by their own involvement, but I, as an outsider, can still see things clearly." He then sighed softly, "It's just a pity for Zinuo, who has become a stepping stone for others."
"No matter what, if that day ever comes, don't forget to send a wedding invitation to Western Xia." After saying this, Huangfu Xuan and Lin Zhao got into the carriage and left.
Ruosheng caught up from behind and draped the cloak over my shoulders, and only then did I realize how cool the night breeze really was.
The coachman brought the carriage over. After getting in, I remembered what Huangfu Xuan had just said. It had been more than a month since I had seen Zinuo. We had only looked at each other from afar in the palace just now. How should I start talking to him now?
After a restless night's sleep, I woke up to the news that Shen Tingxuan had come to visit me.
After washing up, she went to the main hall, where Shen Tingxuan was already waiting. He was still wearing his light yellow robe and gold and jade crown, but he no longer had the spirited air he had when he rode through the streets. There was a hint of desolation between his brows. Her heart ached, and her eyes reddened. She stood outside the door, quietly watching him, not knowing what to say.
I got those things out of Mu Hanyan, and while I learned the truth, I also stabbed him in the heart. However, for the sake of my ultimate goal, I might have to use him one more time.
Thinking of him and Zinuo, her previously resolute heart wavered slightly at this moment. Should she hurt them for her own happiness? But if she didn't do it, no one would be happy...
Taking and giving up are always like tearing your heart out.
Shen Tingxuan scrutinized me closely, his gaze finally settling on my hair, its light brown color even more striking in the sunlight.
"Is it you? Huai En?" Shen Tingxuan asked softly, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
She forced a smile and said, "It's me, Brother Ting."
Shen Tingxuan stepped forward, reached out and touched my hair. The pain in his eyes was palpable to me: "Why have you become like this?"
"Post-poisoning sequelae." I meant to say it jokingly, but tears welled up in my eyes first. I understood Mu Hanyan's feelings and actions to some extent, but when it was me, I still felt incredibly wronged. My life, which I had survived several ordeals, was nearly taken by her, and now I was still in critical condition. At least she had her mother to care for her since childhood, and hadn't suffered much hardship. She also had a husband and children, she had so much…
"Huai'en, I'm sorry." Shen Tingxuan said "I'm sorry" to me again. He has always been as good to me as possible and has never done anything to wrong me, yet he always has to say sorry. Most of the things that hurt me were caused by him... In the end, who is sorry to whom?
"Brother Ting, don't say 'I'm sorry' to me. It wasn't your fault." It was fate. If we hadn't recognized each other again, he and Mu Hanyan would still be a loving couple, and there wouldn't have been that unexpected incident beyond the conspiracy.
"Are you doing well here?" Shen Tingxuan asked.
I nodded slightly, then shook my head and said, "Okay, but I'm tired." My eyes were filled with tears as I whispered, "Brother Ting, I want to go home." Looking at my pitiful reflection in Shen Tingxuan's dark eyes, I felt utterly contemptuous and gritted my teeth, closing my eyes.
Shen Tingxuan raised his hand to wipe away the tears on my cheek and said softly, "Okay, Brother Ting will take you home." The love and doting in Shen Tingxuan's eyes made my tears flow even more as I wiped them away. I realized how shameful I was, powerless against those who hurt me, and constantly hurting those who loved me.
After Shen Tingxuan left, he immediately wrote to the King of the Golden Sparrow, requesting that I be taken back to Pingcheng to clear up the misunderstanding with Marquis Qiyun and reunite with my family.
Shen Haoyu also increased his pressure, urging King Jinque to make a decision on the marriage alliance as soon as possible.
Two days later, I was summoned to the Taiji Hall by the Golden Sparrow King again. This time, Zi Nuo was also in the hall.
"The matter of the marriage alliance concerns only Jinque and Youjing; I can give Prince Qing an answer myself. As for whether you want to return to Marquis Qiyun's side, that's a decision for you to make." King Jinque spoke to me, but his gaze was fixed on Zinuo.
Looking up at Zi Nuo standing beside the Golden Sparrow King, I saw that Zi Nuo was just quietly looking at me, waiting for my answer.
If I say I want to go back, Zi Nuo will be very disappointed. From now on, he will truly be the only one left in this vast white palace. He stayed here for me, but I am going to abandon him and leave.
She averted her gaze from Zinuo's white robes and gray hair, and spoke with difficulty, each word tinged with bitterness: "I am willing to go back."
King Golden Sparrow sneered, "My son, are you really giving up now?"
Zi Nuo bowed and said, "Your subject understands. I beg Your Majesty to lift the ban and allow my sister to spend a few more days with me."
King Jinque waved his hand: "Go, all of you."
Zi Nuo lowered her eyes and walked down the jade steps, passing in front of me. I turned around and slowly followed.
Beside the white jade railing of the Jade Liquid Pool, Zi Nuo stopped and looked at the lotus flowers blooming in the hot spring. Among the large expanse of pink, there were two clusters of dark black and golden stamens that stood out.
“Sister, look,” Zinuo pointed to the two black lotus flowers, “the palace gardeners have finally grown two black lotus flowers.”
Tears then uncontrollably dripped into a clear pool.
Zi Nuo turned around, her slender fingers brushing against the corner of my eye, a glistening tear gathering at her fingertip.
"Brother Gan said that my sister has long been in love with Prince Qing. Now that the prince has come to propose marriage, let my sister have her wish."
So he already knew.
“Zinuo, I didn’t mean to hide it. I just thought I would never have the chance to see him again in this life. Who would have thought he would appear like this... Later I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t have the chance to talk to you, and I didn’t know how to start.”
Zi Nuo smiled and shook her head, her smile forlorn and sorrowful: "Too many people like my sister, so someone is destined to be heartbroken. I am just one of them."
Since the ban had been lifted, Zinuo drove me home. We remained silent the whole way.
On October 23rd, King Jinque finally issued a decree, rescinding my status as a Holy Maiden and allowing me to return to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence with Shen Tingxuan on October 28th. Shen Haoyu's marriage proposal also came to nothing. Youjing still kept Ziling in Jinque Kingdom; it wasn't that they wouldn't take her back, but rather that she refused. Emperor Kangxuan was dead, and the once-powerful Zeng family had vanished. Returning to Youjing would only add to the awkwardness.
As our parting drew near, Zi Nuo would come to my residence to keep me company every day after court. We would sit facing each other for most of the time, but we would not say much. I knew that I was really indebted to Zi Nuo, and I didn't know what to say. At this time, it seemed that saying anything would be too pale. Only when Chu Chen occasionally ran over to play around would everyone's faces show a little smile.
On October 27th, Zi Nuo brought several jars of fine wine from the palace and sat in the garden with Gan Lin, drinking heartily. Ruo Sheng and I accompanied them cautiously on the side.
After downing a jar of wine in one gulp, Zinuo's eyes were already tinged with drunkenness. I had never seen Zinuo drink like this before, and I couldn't help but reach out to stop her, but Zinuo brushed my hand away and said, "Sister, you're leaving tomorrow, I won't see you off."
With tears in her eyes, she nodded: "Okay."
“Brother Gan said that love is about letting go, not about possessing, but letting go of my sister hurts me so much.” Zi Nuo took another big gulp of wine, her eyes glistening.