The palace lanterns lit up slowly, and rows of dim lights enveloped the entire palace in a peaceful and ambiguous atmosphere. The lights in the imperial study were on for most of the night. Qiao Yu looked inside from outside the door and vaguely saw his lonely and upright figure. The deep fatigue and faint loneliness became more and more distinct under the flickering candlelight.
Qiao Yu thought for a while and asked, "Your Majesty? It's already late... I have to attend the court tomorrow." Xiao Yi put down the cinnabar in his hand, rubbed his temple and asked, "What time is it?"
"The third watch drum just struck." Qiao Yu looked at his expression and seemed to be delighted that he had heard what he said.
"Well, let's see tomorrow morning." Xiao Yi stood up. His body ached after sitting for so long. Qiao Yu winked and several maids came forward to massage his shoulders and legs, but Xiao Yi pushed them away.
"Which palace will the emperor rest in tonight?"
Xiao Yi glanced at the palace maids who were helping him change clothes. They were all so beautiful that they could shame the moon and the flowers. He frowned slightly, as if he was thinking of something annoying: "No need, I will rest by myself."
Qiao Yu nodded angrily, and then heard Xiao Yi say, "Is there any news from Concubine Xu?"
Qiao Yu, who was two steps behind Xiao Yi, replied, "The queen is now in Yaoguang Temple."
"Yaoguang Temple?" Xiao Yi was slightly stunned. "Where is it?"
"It's one hundred miles away from Yangzhou and eight hundred miles away from Jiankang. It's very quiet and remote." Qiao Yu wiped his sweat. This woman can really run.
"Why did he go there?" Xiao Yi muttered to himself and shook his head.
Qiao Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Do you want me to bring the queen back?" He had good intentions, but Xiao Yi didn't think this was a good idea. His voice had returned to its original coldness, and he said indifferently, "No need, she can go wherever she wants. You just follow her, and you don't need to report to me about future matters. I'm tired of listening."
Qiao Yu did not dare to ask more questions, and quickly responded, following him silently. In the quiet night, the only sounds he could hear were his own footsteps and the rustling of his clothes. Xiao Yi set his eyes on the majestic palace, the sky, the mountains and rivers, now they all truly belonged to him. It was within his reach, as easy as pie.
But why... there is something missing in my heart for no reason. Something that can never be found again, making my heart feel empty.
In the vastness, only the words "Qi Fu... I love you" kept echoing in my ears for a long, long time.
》》》》》》》》》》》》》
Zhao Pei still couldn't sleep. She was confused and felt that something was strange. When she and He Hui entered Zhitong's room, they saw an ordinary-looking man. Youan told her that this was Master Zhihui, not Master Zhitong. Youan stammered and said that Master Zhitong had left the yard for something.
It seemed as if he was deliberately avoiding her. Zhao Pei really couldn't understand why. She kept repeating "Ning Zhi Xin You Yi" and couldn't calm down. In her feeling, he was a calm and gentle man. The breeze and the bright moon, transcendent and otherworldly.
She wants to see him.
Zhao Pei was not sleepy anymore, so she put on her clothes and got off the bed. Someone knocked on the door and called out, "Zhao Pei, are you asleep?"
She went to open the door and saw He Hui's smiling face: "I saw your light was still on, so I guess you are not asleep yet. How about we go out for a walk together?"
Zhao Pei smiled and nodded. They walked out of the yard along the path. They were silent all the way. Zhao Pei looked up at the moon, and the vast green light floated down, falling on the ground like a layer of cool frost. There was a pond nearby, and the sound of "ding-dong" could be heard from time to time.
He Hui turned his head to gaze at Zhao Pei, who was sitting quietly under the moonlight, and smiled faintly: "This is really a beautiful scene. We haven't been like this for a long time."
Hearing this, she curled her lips and chanted slowly: "We were young then, how could we know that time would never come back." If she had known, she would have cherished it.
They walked casually under the scattered moonlight, talking about the past in a few words: "I always think of the young man in red clothes when I first met you. You were so brave and cheerful, so enviable."
Zhao Pei lowered her eyes but smiled without saying anything. She only heard He Hui muttering, "I thought at the beginning that I must go to Jiankang no matter what, and it would be best if I could see you. Maybe God has been kind to me, and I have been able to stay by your side for more than ten years."
Zhao Pei saw the sentiment in his words, thought for a moment and slowly asked: "He Hui, have you ever regretted it? I... your youth and talents were completely confined in that small palace without seeing the sun. And... you still don't have a family... I always feel that I am sorry for you."
Unexpectedly, He Hui laughed when he heard that, patted her shoulder and said with a light smile: "Not at all. I never felt that anyone had let me down. All these years... looking at you, looking at Hanzhen, looking at Fang Deng... I am very satisfied. I... have no regrets." His eyes were full of determination, and he looked at Zhao Pei with a smile, which made her nose sore.
The two walked aimlessly, and unknowingly they came to Master Zhitong's courtyard along the same route they took during the day. The door was half open, so they walked right in. His room was lit, and a shadow of a person was reflected on the paper window.
He Hui smiled and said, "This must be the mysterious Master Zhitong. I don't think it could be anyone else at this time."
Zhao Pei looked at the gray shadow on the paper window. He sat sideways as if reading a book. His forehead, nose, and chin were all clearly reflected on the paper window, forming a quiet silhouette. Zhao Pei's body froze. After looking for a long time, an inexplicable feeling came over him. Such a lonely and thin figure... It was as if he had seen it somewhere before... So familiar, even the throbbing was exactly the same... ...
Seeing that Zhao Pei didn't say anything, He Hui called out several times, "Should we go visit?"
Zhao Pei came back to her senses and smiled faintly: "Forget it, it's already late. It's not good to disturb the master."
He Hui nodded obediently, and the two prepared to go back along the way they came. When Zhao Pei turned around, she couldn't help but take another look at the motionless and lonely silhouette, and her heart was filled with disappointment and hesitation. (To be continued)