Chapter 1 The End A muffled sound suddenly echoed from the dark, damp, and cramped water prison, followed by a ray of light that quickly disappeared, and the narrow space returned to darkness. Light, subtle footsteps approached from afar, standing out clearly in the deathly silence of th
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Capítulo 58
Zhang Yu led Song Shuhao to the dining hall, where Madam Xu had also been brought there. Seeing her mother dressed up with her hair flowing like clouds and her face as beautiful as a flower, aside from the marks of time, her gorgeous clothes made her resemble the child she had known as her father, who had always been beaming with joy. Tears welled in her eyes.
Xu's epilepsy seemed to have improved somewhat. Upon seeing Ahao, she beamed and patted the table repeatedly, saying anxiously, "Sit, sit." Feeling the person beside her squeeze her palm, Ahao forced back her tears, smiled, and nodded heavily, reassuring Xu, "Okay, okay, Mother, don't worry, I'll sit down now."
After inviting Zhang Yu to take a seat, Ahao followed suit. Servants then began bringing food to the dining room, one dish at a time. The table was laden with a variety of dishes, clearly prepared in advance, with the soft and delicious glutinous rice balls served last. Zhang Yu didn't say anything, but Ahao understood without him needing to.
Eating while trying to hold back tears, Ah Hao's meal was anything but easy. She couldn't quite distinguish the flavors of the food, but her heart was filled with a bittersweet mix of emotions, and a smile remained on her lips throughout. Xu Shi seemed very happy, whether from Ah Hao's company or from being infected by the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival, it was unclear.
The family reunion dinner lasted a long time, and before they knew it, it was late at night. Xu, who was used to going to bed early, became so sleepy that she kept yawning. After the meal, Ahao and the young girl who had been taking care of Xu escorted her back to her room, helped her wash up, and then helped her lie down on the bed. Ahao sat by the bedside, and Xu held her hand, smiling all the while, but soon closed her eyes and fell asleep, softly snoring.
Ah Hao withdrew her hand, tucked Xu Shi's arm under the covers to keep her warm, and then pulled the covers up and tucked the corners in before quietly getting up and leaving. Zhang Yu wasn't in the dining hall; he was waiting for her on the veranda outside the room. The scene felt strangely familiar; it seemed like the last time Zhang Yu brought her back to the manor, it was just like this. Ah Hao thought for a moment, then walked over.
Zhang Yu turned slightly and saw Song Shuhao looking into the distance. He turned his face away and did not speak immediately. Ah Hao finally spoke first, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty. This servant has not spent the New Year with my mother for so long. This servant is grateful, moved, and thankful..." Her words were pale and unable to express her gratitude clearly. She was also somewhat incoherent and did not know what to say. Saying thank you a thousand times would not have been enough.
Song Shuhao wasn't looking at Zhang Yu at the moment, so she naturally missed the smile that flashed across his lips. He ended the palace banquet early and had these preparations made in advance because he knew she hadn't been able to have even one meal with Madam Xu during so many holidays. He needed to let her know that he would treat her very well, even better than she imagined.
"If you don't know what to say, then there's no need to say anything. I have received your thanks." Zhang Yu said calmly, suppressing his emotions, his tone revealing composure.
He paused for a moment, then added, "Sometimes, actions speak louder than words." It was as if he was saying that he wasn't used to making empty promises, or as if he was implying that Song Shuhao could express her gratitude in other ways than by simply saying thank you.
There was no one else around, near or far; it seemed as if all the servants in the mansion had suddenly disappeared. Song Shuhao turned to look at Zhang Yu. In the dim candlelight, his resolute, handsome, and impeccable profile seemed to have lost its coldness. Shuhao thought, she knew what His Majesty the Emperor wanted her to do.
Fireworks lit up the distant night sky, piercing the darkness and illuminating the heavens. Even from a considerable distance, the sounds of the fireworks exploding drifted over. With each explosion, Ah Hao closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and gently planted a kiss on Zhang Yu's cheek.
Without any warning, the sudden soft touch on his cheek stirred up a storm in Zhang Yu's heart. The candlelight illuminated his smiling eyes, but he simply pulled Song Shuhao to his chest, lowered his head to look at the person in his arms, and said, "It's getting late, we should go back."
Song Shuhao paused for a moment, then nodded gently. She opened her eyes, and two tears silently streamed down her face, quickly disappearing without a trace...
Chapter 61 Joy
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When Ahao returned to the palace with Zhang Yu, it was almost midnight. She had originally planned to go back and rest after His Majesty the Emperor returned to Xuanzhi Hall, but Zhang Yu insisted that she stay in Xuanzhi Hall that night.
Even though she hadn't moved her things out yet, Ah Hao still felt uneasy. However, Zhang Yu insisted, saying her room was overflowing with stuff and uninhabitable, and refused to agree, leaving Ah Hao with no choice but to compromise.
So he accompanied her back to get some things she might need temporarily, and then Zhang Yu took Ahao back to Xuanzhi Hall. Zhang Yu had a room prepared for Song Shuhao that was fully equipped with everything she needed and was kept very clean, so she could indeed move in at any time.
After confirming that she wouldn't cause any more trouble, Zhang Yu left without letting her serve him. She felt exhausted on the way back to the palace, and after the ordeal upon her return, Ah Hao washed and dressed, ready to lie down and rest. Unfortunately, Zhang Yu, whom she assumed had gone to rest as well, turned back.
Having clearly seen what he was holding, Ah Hao could only remain silent. When she was little, every year on the Lantern Festival, her father would personally make a rabbit lantern for her to cheer her up. The frame was woven from bamboo strips, a section of red candle was placed in the middle, and colored paper was pasted on the outside to make it look like a rabbit, symbolizing good fortune and luck in the new year.
The rabbit lantern in Zhang Yu's hand was a little different. Although it looked like a plump rabbit, it was made of glass and its hollow belly contained not a candle, but a luminous pearl.
Compared to those she had seen before, the rabbit lantern before her was luxurious and opulent. After the candlelight was extinguished, the luminous pearl shone even brighter, reflecting the glass with dazzling, multicolored light. In the darkness, only the rabbit lantern emitted a faint glow; in fact, this light made both of their faces appear somewhat eerie.
"Time was a bit tight, so this is all we could make. I was supposed to take you to join the lantern market, but you can keep it." After looking at the rabbit lantern with Song Shuhao for a while, Zhang Yu finally said this, almost suggesting that she just make do with it.
Zhang Yu prepared one surprise after another for her, each one showing his thoughtfulness. Ahao wasn't some detached, worldly-wise person, so it was impossible for her to remain unmoved. His intentions were clear... In any case, until he lost interest in her, she would treat him as well as possible, going along with his wishes. He said he would give her what she wanted, and so would she.
On her way back to the palace, Ah Hao, who had bee
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