Chapter 236: Waiting for this day

Waiting for this day

Creak—

In an instant, the sound of the door opening rang out, and then Nie Jinxuan lifted her head to glance inside, after which she stepped inside. Only then did she discover that there was no one in the room!

Immediately, Nie Jinxuan surveyed the room's furnishings on her own, and couldn't help but purse her lips.

As it turned out, this was an extremely simple room, even devoid of any decoration. A modest-sized chamber with a table, a chair, and on the bed lay old, thin bedding……

Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan felt an indescribable emotion well up in her heart. At that moment, Yin Fengzhan, who had followed her inside, glanced around and then couldn't help but speak softly.

"Whose room is this?"

Yin Fengzhan spoke with doubt, but just then, before Nie Jinxuan could speak, a footstep sounded from outside, and immediately a figure walked in.

"Um… may I ask who you two are looking for?"

The person who entered the door asked in puzzlement, and at that moment Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan, with their backs to the door, almost simultaneously turned around; but the instant they saw who it was, Yin Fengzhan's brows furrowed at once, and a faint light flickered in the depths of his eyes.

As it turned out, the newcomer was none other than the elderly eunuch who daily swept the Imperial Palace's forbidden-ground courtyard! And it was obvious that the room Nie Jinxuan had entered was his!

At that moment, seeing Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan turn around, the elderly eunuch also blinked in surprise, then hastily performed a salute.

"This servant pays respects to His Highness Prince Chen and Princess An Guo."

The elderly eunuch's attitude was respectful. Upon hearing that, Nie Jinxuan hurriedly replied:

"Eunuch, no need for courtesy."

"Thank you, Princess."

He replied in a soft voice, then the elderly eunuch rose to his feet, but upon looking at Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan before him, he couldn't help but ask doubtfully:

"Um… however, today Prince Chen and Princess An Guo have honored us with their presence; I wonder what business you have with this servant?"

The elderly eunuch was puzzled. Upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan did not immediately speak, but instead couldn't help but lift her eyes to scrutinize the elderly eunuch a few times.

"May I ask your esteemed surname, Eunuch?"

"This servant's surname is Wu."

"Oh, so it's Eunuch Wu… may I ask how long you have served in the palace?"

"Um… reckoning, it's been over twenty years or so…"

"So that means Eunuch Wu, you've been working here since the time that forbidden-ground courtyard began, right?"

"Hehe~, yes."

Eunuch Wu's demeanor was very kind; his wrinkled face bore traces of hardship, yet gave a sense of closeness. And in the midst of the conversation, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but notice he still held a small watering pot, and she couldn't help but smile.

"How? Did Eunuch Wu just go water the flowers in the courtyard? It's midday… why not take a rest?"

"Hehe~, thank you for your concern, Princess; this servant is not tired. Besides, these days the weather is dry with little rain; if we don't water in time, the flowers and plants in the courtyard will suffer…"

"Oh, is that so? I see… but I never expected Eunuch Wu to be a lover of flowers."

"Not at all, Princess, your praise is too kind."

Eunuch Wu's speech was not only easygoing but also refined. Thus, upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan simply closed her mouth and then directly began to scrutinize Eunuch Wu in silence once more.

Nie Jinxuan's gaze was hard to describe as sharp, yet it conveyed an indescribable scrutiny. Meanwhile, Eunuch Wu simply stood still, letting Nie Jinxuan look at him, unafraid, unflustered, his expression calm.

For a moment, the small room fell silent as the grave. Meanwhile, Yin Fengzhan couldn't help but cast his gaze over the two of them, then after a brief pause, he walked straight to the door and shut it!

Yin Fengzhan's action was somewhat strange. But at the very instant the door was shut, Nie Jinxuan's expression tightened, and she stared straight at Eunuch Wu while bowing in salute.

"An Guo greets His Highness the Prince of Xiang!"

Nie Jinxuan's voice was gentle yet firm. Upon hearing that, Eunuch Wu froze, but in the blink of an eye he burst into laughter, straightened himself slightly, and spoke softly:

"Hehe~, the moment I saw you, I knew I couldn't hide from you. I just didn't expect to be caught by you so quickly… Not bad, I am indeed the Prince of Xiang!"

……

As it turned out, the elderly eunuch who had swept the Imperial Palace's forbidden-ground courtyard for over twenty years was none other than the Prince of Xiang who had faked his death back then!

Even though she already had the answer in her heart, seeing the Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, so readily admit it, Nie Jinxuan still startled. But before she could regain her composure, she heard Yin Yanzhuo immediately withdraw his gaze, his eyes softening as he asked:

"However, I am curious… I have concealed my identity and lain low in this Imperial Palace for over twenty years, believing no one had seen through my disguise, yet how did you, this girl, uncover me? Please, tell me so I may listen~!"

Obviously, regarding being recognized by Nie Jinxuan, the Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, had anticipated it, yet he couldn't help but feel a bit curious. Upon hearing his words, Nie Jinxuan immediately laughed.

"It's very simple, because of a single 'affection' character!"

"Affection?! What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly, it's 'affection'!"

Her beautiful eyes shone with sincerity as Nie Jinxuan spoke affirmatively, then she gently explained:

"The first time I saw Your Highness, Princess An Guo, was in that side room of the courtyard. At that time, Princess An Guo and His Highness Prince Chen emerged together from the secret chamber; because we had come secretly, we also feared disturbing the surrounding guards, but who would have thought that just as we stepped out, we heard a sound outside—Princess An Guo startled, thinking the outer guards had discovered us, yet who would have thought the disturbance was Your Highness tidying the flowers and grasses in the outer courtyard……"

"Of course, at that time Your Highness was dressed just as you are now, and Princess An Guo thought nothing odd about it. But later, as we waited to return, Princess An Guo increasingly felt this matter strange… After all, when Princess An Guo and His Highness Prince Chen left the secret chamber, it was already past midnight. During that hour, ordinary palace personnel were all resting, so why would anyone come to tend the flowers and grasses in the dead of night?!"

"However, Princess An Guo initially thought Your Highness had some ulterior motive, but after observing further, she found nothing amiss. Moreover, Princess An Guo had privately inquired, and from others she learned that for over twenty years Your Highness had devotedly swept this uninhabited courtyard…… Thus, Princess An Guo came to feel ever more strongly that Your Highness's conduct was extraordinary, for who would ask anyone to perform such meticulous courtyard‑cleaning work? Hence the only conclusion: the person in charge of the courtyard must harbor a feeling for it that others lack."

"But this courtyard is a forbidden zone of the Imperial Palace; who would care about a mere courtyard?! Therefore, the only possibility is that the feeling is not for the courtyard itself, but for the person within it—a deep, unimaginable affection!"

"But even so, Princess An Guo could not be certain her conjecture was correct. Until that night, when the Emperor came running, the guards burst into the stone chamber, creating a great uproar; as Princess An Guo and His Highness Prince Chen emerged, they actually saw Your Highness again… At that very moment, Princess An Guo could not help but think of this possibility!"

"But even then, Princess An Guo still could not be sure. After all, Your Highness was once a noble of the highest rank, beneath only one person yet above ten thousand—how could you hide your name and sink into the Imperial Palace as the lowliest servant?! Princess An Guo could not imagine it, yet after she asked the Emperor a question today, she suddenly realized that some things are indeed not beyond imagination!"

"Oh? What did you ask the Emperor, girl?"

The Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, who had been silently listening, finally could not hold back and asked a question; at that moment, Nie Jinxuan spoke softly:

"Princess An Guo asked the Emperor… just how deep is Prince Xiang's affection for Noble Consort Ning? The Emperor said he doesn't know how deep it is, but at least it's not less than his own!"

Nie Jinxuan spoke each word clearly, and upon hearing that, the Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, stared in shock, then couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe… you girl, you are indeed clever! Even with just this tiny clue, you managed to detect the hint—not simple!"

The Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, lavished praise on Nie Jinxuan, yet afterward he couldn't help but let his gaze fall upon Yin Fengzhan beside her.

Yin Yanzhuo said nothing, merely gazing silently at Yin Fengzhan, and the room fell quiet…… After a good while, the Prince of Xiang, Yin Yanzhuo, gave a faint smile, then casually set the small watering pot he held for watering flowers onto a leg of the furniture, and lifted his eyes to Nie Jinxuan.

"Very well! Since you, girl, have found me, I have no need to conceal anything further! Take me to see the Emperor!"

Speaking, Prince Xiang Yin Yan Duo actually was the first to walk out of the room; at the same time, he raised his voice and continued speaking.

"You should know, waiting for this day, this prince has already waited over twenty years! This prince can't wait any longer!"

Nie Jinxuan did not understand what Prince Xiang Yin Yan Duo's last words meant, but afterwards she still exchanged a glance with Yin Fengzhan, then quickly followed after. Then the three of them directly went again to Emperor Shuncheng's sleeping palace.

At this moment, Emperor Shuncheng, who had just lain down to rest, upon hearing that Nie Jinxuan and Yin Fengzhan had come again, could not help but frown; then, with Gao Caiyong's support, sat up, and immediately ordered someone to call them both in.

"What's the matter? Anything else?"

Lifting his gaze to look at the two people before him, Emperor Shuncheng opened his mouth somewhat weakly; but upon hearing his words, Nie Jinxuan pursed her lips, then stepped forward and spoke.

"Your Majesty, An Guo has come again, not for any particular matter... I just want you to meet someone!"

"Meet a person?! Who?"

Emperor Shuncheng became increasingly puzzled; but at this moment, Nie Jinxuan did not answer immediately; instead, she turned her head and called out to the outside, and then all that could be seen was a figure striding in...

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