Chapter 45 Ye Lisheng's Jealousy

The Prince of Anyang's mansion was unusually lively tonight, as a person of supreme status had arrived, keeping everyone in the mansion busy.

All sorts of delicacies I'd never seen before were laid out before me.

Mo Niang, or rather, Consort Mo, changed out of her coarse linen clothes and into a plain white brocade dress. Although she had passed her prime, she still retained her charm.

Ye Liming sat beside her, carefully picking up food with his chopsticks, his eyes crinkling into a wide smile; he was overjoyed.

Ye Lisheng caught a glimpse of me swallowing hard as I looked at the chicken leg, and a smile crept onto my face.

Suddenly a chicken leg was placed in front of me, and when I looked up, I met his doting gaze.

"Thank you!" I muttered to myself.

Seeing us whispering, Ye Lisheng teased us, saying, "Ye'er is of marriageable age; it's time to find him a princess."

My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly lost my appetite.

I knew all along that being in the royal family meant having little control over one's own life, and although I had prepared myself for it, I still couldn't help but feel heartbroken after hearing the news.

Consort Mo nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty is absolutely right!"

"I think General Bai's daughter, Bai Juanjuan, is quite good! That girl is well-educated, gentle, and virtuous! She is a suitable candidate!"

"She is my master's daughter; this is probably against the rules!"

"I remember Bai Juanjuan loved to come to Yuhuan Palace to play with you when she was little! That child was quite lovable!"

"A woman praised by the Emperor must be extraordinary, and she and Ye Lisheng are childhood sweethearts—they're quite a match!" Thinking this, a chill ran through him. He raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, completely unaware of the wine's harshness.

Seeing my utterly dejected state, a wicked glint flashed in his eyes.

"I need not trouble you, Father and Mother, with your affairs!"

"Marriage is a major life event that should be decided by parents. Does Ye'er's behavior this time mean she has someone she loves?"

"Sixth Brother, just tell Father!"

All eyes were on Ye Lisheng. I held my breath, eager to hear what he had to say.

Under everyone's gaze, he took my hand.

He looked at me with deep affection and said, "She is the one I love!"

That night, I felt the moon was incredibly gentle, and the wind blew, lightly brushing against my hair.

I don't remember what Ye Liming and Consort Mo said.

All I remember is falling completely into the gentle embrace that Ye Lisheng had created for me.

I changed into a simple and light outfit and sneaked out the door.

Just then, I saw that Yu Shaoqing was already waiting for me outside the door.

"Shaoqing!" I waved to him.

He smiled gently at me: "Let's go!"

Last night he asked me, "Do you like watching the sunrise?"

I answered, "I like it!"

So he asked me to go out at dawn.

In ancient times, everywhere was green fields and wildflowers, with towering trees.

We set out early; a thin mist still lingered in the forest, and every leaf was adorned with glistening dewdrops.

The day he held the stick, I held one end, and we walked towards the mountaintop.

Suddenly, the view brightened up; we had finally reached the mountaintop.

Having not exercised for a long time, I felt somewhat exhausted. A gentle breeze brought a refreshing coolness.

Looking at the entire Lingqi under his feet, he suddenly felt no longer tired.

We sat on a tall, large rock, quietly waiting for the sunrise.

A beam of golden light pierced the night, illuminating the mountains and rivers, bringing a glimmer of light to the people.

"Here he is!" I exclaimed excitedly.

I gently touched him, and he straightened his back, stroking the spot I touched for a long time.

A dark red light carried the sun slowly upward, and soon half the sky was dyed orange, then turned golden yellow.

I turned my head and saw Yu Shaoqing watching the rising sun with a smile in his eyes.

The beam of light shone on his face, making him seem like an immortal descended from heaven. In my memory, he has always been a gentle and refined young man.

Perhaps noticing someone staring at him, he looked at me too. Caught off guard, before I could avert my gaze, I grinned at him, a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

"I didn't attend the banquet last night, but I heard from Xiangye that Prince Anyang has already confessed to everyone that his heart belongs to you!"

"Xiangye, that girl!"

As soon as I finished speaking, I looked away shyly, but a smile involuntarily crept onto my face.

"And you? Would you be willing to be with him?" he asked again.

"I don't know either!"

What does "not knowing" mean?

I thought for a moment and said, "Ye Lisheng is domineering and tyrannical, and he especially likes to bully me, but I don't know why I really want to see him."

"When I can't see them, my heart aches like it's being scratched by a kitten; when I see them, my heart is at peace!"

"Just being quietly by his side makes me feel the happiest!"

Seeing me say these things with such a sweet expression, Yu Shaoqing's eyes dimmed slightly, and a hint of bitterness appeared in his smile.

Suddenly he said, "Look, the sun is rising! We should go too."

Ling Ran was pacing anxiously back and forth at the gate of Anyang Prefecture, peeking out every now and then.

Seeing me return, she hurriedly said, "Miss, you're finally back!"

I asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"You'll find out when you get back!" After saying that, she gave me a "you'd better watch out" look.

"Let's go!" I said to Yu Shaoqing behind me.

To everyone's surprise, he just smiled and said, "I'll watch you go in!"

"Aren't you coming in with me?" I asked.

"That place is merely a temporary refuge for me!"

I suddenly didn't understand what he meant; parting is always sad.

Will we ever see each other again?

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