Jiu You was sowhat hot-tempered, unable to bear the sight of the Princely Heir’s impassive deanor. Seeing him motionless, he couldn’t help saying:
"The Princely Heir is the person the Princess is closest to. You should really go and talk more with your lady..."
Pei Jue looked up at him.
Jiu You, frightened by his gaze, scratched his head.
Yet he couldn’t restrain his prattling.
"When I was very young, my mother taught that I have to speak up for what I want. If you don’t say anything, even if you cry to death, no one will know why..."
Pei Jue’s gaze grew sharp.
He suddenly realized the analogy of "crying" was unsuitable for the Princely Heir.
He hurriedly added, "The Princess cares a lot about the Princely Heir. I heard from Alou that when the Princely Heir went missing on Cangyan Mountain, the Princess sent several groups to inquire about your whereabouts, even seeking an audience with Crown Prince Chunyu..."
Pei Jue couldn’t listen any further, "It’s just you who talks too much."
At that ti, his fate was uncertain, and Feng Yun was already preparing for the future.
To inquire about his news was rely for the convenience of advancing or retreating.
Of course, there was nothing reprehensible about this, for if one did not look out for oneself, heaven and earth would combine to destroy one...
For Feng Twelve of this lifeti, life was ever clearer.
Jiu You curled his lip, completely unaware of what the Princely Heir was thinking, and mustered his courage to advise again, "In a few days, we’ll return to the capital, what’s the Princely Heir still hesitating for? Hurry and tell the Princess to pack up so you can return to the capital together for the New Year."
Pei Jue said, "She won’t go."
Jiu You puzzled, "The Princely Heir hasn’t asked, how do you know she doesn’t wish to?"
Pei Jue gave him a cold look, "Everyone, leave."
"As you wish."
Jiu You and Qian Sanniu exchanged glances and withdrew.
Pei Jue picked up the teacup, silently contemplating it.
The light from the fire reflected on his body, casting a crimson hue over his black clothes, his handso face aglow. Despite the warmth, his entire being seed enveloped in a layer of frost.
"To cast aside entanglents, to take only what is needed. To avoid the inner quarters, not to sire offspring. In company, to indulge in joy, upon parting, not to cling..."
She always wanted to keep her distance from him, detested his control most of all, and had no desire to follow him back to his residence...
How could he betray his promise and ask so much of her?
-
In the twelfth lunar month, the cold wind was piercing and mournful.
Feng Yun was alone in the room, listening to the sound of the wind against the bamboo, filling the windows for about an hour, before gradually regaining her calm.
She liked to heal alone.
There were so things that couldn’t be shared with others, and there was no one to share them with.
When she stepped out again, it was as if nothing had happened, wearing a light smile, her eyes and brows warm.
Xiaoman ca running to tell her.
"The Princely Heir has left. He said that since the lady was resting, he would not disturb you and sent a servant girl to inform you that he won’t be coming back tonight, and that you should go to bed early."
Feng Yun responded with a sound of acknowledgent.
In any case, he was going to leave.
One day earlier or later made no difference.
She gathered her spirits and went to the study.
With New Year’s approaching, there were still many things to be done. Those brothers who followed him shouldn’t be left unrewarded for their heroic efforts; what should be given must be given, and what should be rewarded must be rewarded—all these needed careful planning.
After the New Year, she would open a new workshop. There were too many things to tend to, leaving her no ti to wallow in the springti sadness of parting.
The room was silent.
The charcoal fire in the crimson stove had gone out, but sitting near it, one could still feel the warmth, and it seed as though even the cushion held a trace of Pei Jue’s warmth.
Feng Yun was taken aback, her gaze falling on the old elm desk.
The paper that lay spread out was still marked by fresh ink—it was Pei Jue’s freshly written characters.
She picked it up and looked.
It was his copy of the "Letter of Recovery," the characters bold and vigorous, each stroke steady and strong...
"I do not know Le Zhengzi, nor do I understand the ’Letter of Recovery.’"
Feng Yun thought of his words, slowly picked it up to appreciate it, the corners of her mouth slowly turning up, wanting to smile. In the end, the smile just as slowly faded from her lips...
Their relationship now, neither good nor bad.
Just as she had wished from the beginning.
They offered each other solace, yet spoke not of love.
Mutual respect, but not infringing upon privacy.
One point too much is excessive.
One point too little is superficial.
Isn’t this just right?
She called Xiaoman and had just asked her to put away the "Letter of Recovery" when she seed to rember sothing else.
"Send it to the city to find a skilled artisan to mount it," she instructed.
Xiaoman laughed softly, "Yes."
Feng Yun watched her antics and raised an eyebrow, "What are you laughing at?"
"I’m laughing at mistress," Xiaoman, who was bold and not the least bit afraid of Feng Yun, gave a curtsey and then slipped away with the item.
Feng Yun chuckled, "Spoiled rotten."
-
Feng Yun had not expected that the official news of their return to the capital would first co from the mouth of Yuan Shangyi.
The Young Emperor had grown accustod to staying at Huaxi and had developed a deep fondness for Feng Yun. Learning that they were to return to the capital, he stopped studying and, ignoring the Female Historian’s objections, ran straight to Changn to find Feng Yun.
Upon seeing her, he lunged forward and embraced her without a word.
"Mistress, will you return to the capital with the great king?" he asked.
Feng Yun fell silent for a mont, then bent down to pick up the child and sat him on the soft couch, touching his icy little face.
"Why are you running so fast? Your face is all cold. If you break out in a sweat, be careful not to catch a cold. Otherwise, Female Historian Lin will scold you..."
Yuan Shangyi looked up at her.
He was silent for a few monts, not asking why she hadn’t answered, but seemingly understanding sothing, expressed his disappointnt in a low voice.
"Mistress really isn’t going back?"
Feng Yun laughed lightly, "Why do you say ’really’?"
Yuan Shangyi looked down, "Female Historian Lin said, she saw the decree for the Imperial Carriage to return to the capital along with the roster... and mistress’s na was not on it."
After thinking for a while, Feng Yun smiled and said, "I have matters to attend to this ti and cannot return; Ayuan, obediently go back and spend New Year with Empress Dowager Duan to fulfill your filial duty. Andu is now the accompanying capital. Once the sumr palace is repaired, if you wish to stay, no one can stop you."
Yuan Shangyi said, "Prince of Yonghuai can stop ."
Feng Yun saw his stern face and laughed.
"Why would Prince of Yonghuai want to stop you?"
Yuan Shangyi’s little head drooped, "Everyone doesn’t like it when I’m at Andu; they want to return to the capital. They say that the Emperor should sit on the Golden Throne Hall..."
The child’s voice was soft and as he spoke, his arms suddenly tightened around Feng Yun, pressing his head against her.
"Mistress, can you talk to Female Historian Lin and say that I won’t study anymore before I return to the capital? Is that okay?"
Feng Yun looked down at him, wanting to lift his small head, but he insisted on staying close to her.
Feng Yun, feeling helpless, smiled and asked, "Why don’t you want to study anymore?"
Yuan Shangyi pouted, "I want to accompany mistress..."
A warmth filled Feng Yun’s heart, and she stroked his back again, "Ayuan is so good, but mistress is an adult now; you don’t need to worry about ."
Yuan Shangyi shook his little head slightly, "Once we all return to the capital, mistress will be alone for the New Year, and that will be very lonely. Ayuan wants to keep you company..."
Feng Yun fell silent.
For a mont, her throat was dry.
Fearing that her voice would reveal sothing unusual to the child.
"Not at all. Why would I be? "she laughed softly, "I still have Grandma Han, Xiaoman, Alou, Ge Guang, Ge Yi, Master Xing, Azhou, and so many, many more people at Changn..."
"That’s not the sa," Yuan Shangyi frowned and looked at her, repeating solemnly, "It’s not the sa."
Feng Yun smiled, appeasing him.
"Alright, alright, if Ayuan says it’s not the sa, then it’s not the sa. But you still have to study..."
Yuan Shangyi said, "Can’t I stop studying just for these few days?"
He was an obedient child who understood his responsibilities and seldom acted wilfully or rashly, even though he was now the Emperor.
Feng Yun felt sorry for him.
"Alright, I’ll talk to Female Historian Lin tomorrow; Ayuan won’t have to study before the New Year. Don’t worry; I know how to convince her," she assured him.
Finally, a sweet, well-behaved, and warm smile appeared on Yuan Shangyi’s face.
"I want to keep mistress company, and I want mistress to stay with too."
Feng Yun laughed softly, unsure of how best to show her affection for him, she then heard him say, "I’m afraid that once I go back to Xijing, I might never see mistress again..."
With that, he hugged Feng Yun tightly once more.
"Mistress, being Emperor is so tiring. Ayuan doesn’t want to be the Emperor..."
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