Chapter 369: Happiness is Round (1)

"At that time, the Xin family was colluding with Liaoyue, and many court officials were also restless. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to protect you and your child. If you gave birth to a prince, the Xin family would have endless means, and I was afraid that you and the child would be in danger. If it was a princess, with the Lou family and the Su family supporting you behind your back, you might still be safe. If there is anyone in this world who can be the father of my son, only Lou Xiyan has the qualifications. Handing the child to him, I can also be at ease." The East Sea and the Northwest frontier both had disasters. If troops were sent to fight, the frontier could be protected, but the Jingcheng's fifty thousand garrison would be less than ten thousand. If troops were not sent, Liaoyue would take the opportunity to occupy our territory. In this way, how could Qiongyue dare to claim to command the Six Kingdoms again.

Yan Hongtian always had a smile on his lips, and his voice was steady and slow, as if the situation at that time was as light as he said. Qingfeng still saw the hidden bitterness in that smile. He was even willing to let her send his son out of the palace, which showed that he was also fighting for it at that time. Qingfeng leaned gently into his arms and said in a low voice, "I was too selfish." At that time, she only thought about her own fear, never thought about his feelings as the child's father, and didn't understand his situation. The two of them, just like this, if they encounter such a situation next time, will Yan Hongtian confide in her? Will she ask Yan Hongtian for help? Perhaps... still wouldn't...

Qingfeng was rarely obedient. Yan Hongtian hugged her into his arms, stroking her smooth long hair, and suddenly felt that the early spring sunshine was intoxicating. After a cup of tea, Qingfeng was still motionless, letting him hug her, but her eyes swept over his shoulder, staring infatuatedly at the red plum painting on the stone table, her thoughts flying to who knows where.

The naked yearning in her beautiful eyes, she didn't hide it at all, pricking Yan Hongtian's heart with pain. Supporting her shoulders and pushing her away, Yan Hongtian said coldly, "You want to leave the palace, don't you?"

Qingfeng was stunned, not expecting him to be so sharp and careful, but since he saw it, Qingfeng didn't want to hide it anymore, "This Imperial Palace has too many bad memories. Out of the palace, there are not so many rules, I can often go to my eldest sister's place, and I can often see Xi'er. If you have time, come to the villa to see us mother and daughter. Without the power and strategy, interests and entanglements in the palace, we live the life of ordinary people, don't you think it would be good?"

Ordinary people again? He, Yan Hongtian, could have everything, but this life of ordinary people could never belong to him. The warmth on Yan Hongtian's face faded, and fire of annoyance flashed in his black eyes. The atmosphere between them seemed to return to when they first met. Qingfeng lowered her eyes and laughed at herself. She was indeed dreaming, how could Yan Hongtian...

Her shoulder felt a sharp pain, and she had been tightly embraced by Yan Hongtian. His breath instantly occupied her senses. Qingfeng's brain was briefly blank. When she came back to her senses, she only heard a sigh in her ear.

"You are really selfish."

The Xin family was executed, and Zhen Zhen was also rehabilitated. Although the Emperor hadn't said to restore her title of Consort Hui, he had let her return to Lingyun Palace. Ming Ze protected Fuling and Yan Han and left, and his arm was injured by a knife. When he came to Yonghua Palace to be on duty after half a month of recuperation, the inside was already a different scene.

Yan Han had already started to learn to walk, and Zhen Zhen protected him carefully and never left his side. The servants in Yonghua Palace had all been replaced, and they all seemed to be Zhen Zhen's confidants. Fuling was no longer in Yonghua Palace.

Ming Ze leaned against the palace gate and stood guard, not knowing why, feeling a bit bored.

Where did she go?

Early the next morning, after Ming Ze handed over to the guard on duty during the day, he was about to leave when he saw Fuling walking over with a basket. Their eyes met, and they immediately looked away. After Fuling sent the basket in and came out quickly, seeing Ming Ze still standing by the door, she thought about it and walked over, "Is your injury better?"

Ming Ze gave a somewhat awkward "Um." Because he was always cold, Fuling didn't care. The two were silent for a while, and Fuling still spoke, "I will leave the palace with my master in a few days. In the future, perhaps there will be no chance to see you again. You... take care." She didn't want to talk to him anymore, but he saved her regardless of his life that day, or maybe he saved Prince Han and she was being sentimental again, but she was still grateful to him. Anyway, she was leaving, so just treat it as... saying goodbye.

"You are leaving the palace?" Ming Ze didn't even notice himself that his usually low voice tone seemed a bit high.

"I have reached the age to leave the palace anyway." The two stood foolishly. Ming Ze was silent forever, and Fuling didn't know what to say, feeling a bit awkward, "There are still many things to pack, I'll go first." Fuling walked away quickly as if fleeing. Ming Ze stared at her back, feeling uncomfortable for no reason. Why was he uncomfortable? He couldn't say it. Until three days later, Ming Jian found him and asked, "Consort Qing is going to live in the Shushan Villa for recuperation. The Emperor is worried about her safety and is currently looking for a suitable candidate to protect her. You have protected Consort Qing before, and you have made contributions by saving Prince Han later. If you go, you should be able to be promoted three levels and rank fourth rank. However, I still hope you can stay by the Emperor's side, which is more beneficial to your official career. What do you think?"

Ming Ze didn't think much and replied, "The palace is not suitable for me."

Regarding Ming Ze's choice, Ming Jian was somewhat helpless. It was not easy for this younger brother to talk to him properly, so he sighed, "Alright. Then you go to Shushan Villa."

Shushan Villa, not bad. Ming Ze swept away the depression in his heart for the past two days.

Outside the capital, Xiaoshan

Winter goes and spring comes, the breath of spring mixed with the fragrance of grass and trees swept the earth. On the peak of the towering Xiaoshan, a woman in black stood in the early spring sunshine, holding a letter in her hand, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, but there was no joy in the smile, but a bit of sarcasm.

The tall and strong man standing behind her quietly paid attention to the woman's face, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. The wind on the top of the mountain was very strong. The woman squeezed the letter in her palm and suddenly raised her hand. Under the action of internal force, the letter turned into paper scraps.

Shui Xin hugged her chest with both hands, looking at the fragments floating in the wind, her eyes flashing with fierce color. It was true that the Ling Shui Alliance had always sold news to Liaoyue, but it didn't mean it was controlled by them. If it weren't for her acting as a bridge, how could the Xin family have hooked up with the Liaoyue Royal Family. Bai Yi actually reprimanded her in the letter for not assisting Xin Sui in forcing the palace and for being ineffective. Humph! She wasn't even afraid of Yan Hongtian, so she didn't take Bai Yi, the newly established Crown Prince of Liaoyue, seriously.

"How did the matter go?" The clear female voice sounded coldly, unable to hear joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. The strong man hurriedly bowed and replied, "It has been handled properly. The remains of the Xin family have been encoffined, and the Madam has also been buried with Xin Sui according to the Master's wishes."

After Shui Xin heard this, she suddenly laughed loudly. She was an illegitimate daughter. She didn't know what charm that old man Xin Sui had that made her mother so unforgettable, and her only wish before she died was to be buried in the Xin Family Mausoleum. If it weren't for this wish of hers, how could she be willing to be by Xin Yuening's side for ten years? Unfortunately, that old man really thought she was a soft persimmon, using her again and again, and in the end, didn't welcome her mother's ashes into the Xin family. Since that was the case, she couldn't be blamed. It was even better this way. Let alone being buried in the Xin Family Mausoleum, even if she let the two of them be buried together and smashed that so-called legitimate wife into ashes, who could do anything to her?!

Listening to Shui Xin's almost crazy laughter, the strong man standing behind bowed his head lower, not daring to make a sound. Waiting until her laughter subsided, the strong man asked cautiously, "Now there are wanted notices for the Master everywhere outside, does the Master want to... avoid it?"

After listening to the strong man's words, Shui Xin not only didn't change her face, but seemed to be in a good mood, "That's fine, leave tomorrow, go to Liaoyue." It wouldn't be so easy for them to find her!

Before Shui Xin went down the mountain, she looked back at the direction of the capital, and the smile on the corner of her mouth became very interesting. In her heart, only one person could enter her eyes, Qing Mo. I hope you and I still have a chance to compete.

Early autumn should be the best season. The air carries a slightly cool breath, making every breath refreshing. The plum forest in Shushan Villa was no longer what it used to be. The endless plum trees were carefully maintained to be lush and leafy. Even in autumn, there were no flowers to appreciate, but just looking at the vigorous branches growing wildly, it had a different kind of beauty.

The slender figure stood in the plum forest, and the cool autumn wind lifted the corner of her light blue skirt from time to time, as if she were about to follow the wind. A pair of large hands suddenly wrapped around from behind, and Qingfeng fell into a warm and thick embrace.

"It's almost autumn, and I don't know how to add clothes." The person behind seemed a bit unhappy, and the hand around her waist tightened.

Qingfeng leaned comfortably in this familiar embrace, not caring about the person's temper, but laughed happily, "This year's plum blossoms will definitely bloom better than last year."

Yan Hongtian glanced at the plum forest, which was no different from previous years, and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"With my careful care, naturally they will bloom better and better."

Speaking of this, Yan Hongtian was very unhappy. He rarely came to Shushan Villa, but Qingfeng was either busy with her plum forest or thinking about the bamboo forest behind the mountain, or she had to take care of Ning'er, almost not even looking at him. How could Yan Hongtian not be angry? Grabbing Qingfeng's shoulders and turning her around to face him, Yan Hongtian hummed lightly, "No matter how good they are, they will wither."

Yan Hongtian's expression was unkind. Qingfeng laughed and replied fearlessly, "That's true, but fortunately they can always bloom next year."

She was less and less afraid of him! Yan Hongtian glared at her and suddenly raised his hand. Qingfeng didn't dodge, only feeling a slight movement on her temple, and asked strangely, "What is it?"

While Qingfeng was asking, she reached out to feel her hair bun, touched something like a hairpin, took it down and looked at it. It was indeed a hairpin. The long hairpin made of purple gold had a very unique style. At the front of the slender hairpin was a bright red plum blossom. Each petal had a different shape. Under the plum blossom, there were several long tassels, and at the end of the tassels hung several small pendants of bamboo leaves carved from yang green jade. The hairpin was not big, but it was beautiful.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 370 =====