TPATTHU Chapter 69
by VolareChapter 69: It’s Me Who Has Wronged You, Sir
As a result, the next day, Xiao Zhinian was caught by the Grand Empress Dowager Liang and given a lecture. When he returned, his face was as black as if smeared with a layer of charcoal, and he anxiously went to Shen Zhejiang to complain.
He also ordered Lan Shu and Liu Bao to be confined outside the hall door.
As soon as Xiao Zhinian entered the inner hall, he immediately threw the demeanor of an emperor to the back of his mind, threw himself onto Shen Zhejiang’s lap, who was leaning against the soft couch reading a book, and tightly wrapped his arms around his waist, sullen and silent.
Shen Zhejiang put the book aside on the nearby desk and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Zhinian snorted, and told Shen Zhejiang everything that the Grand Empress Dowager Liang had said, without holding back: “Royal Grandmother warned me to be moderate, and even specially summoned a royal doctor to lecture me, saying that the first three months are the most important time, and I must endure it no matter what. I don’t even need to think to know what they’re talking about. It’s clearly a private joy between me and Sir, how can they have the right to point fingers? It’s infuriating!”
“It’s right to be moderate,” Shen Zhejiang nodded, recalling Xiao Zhinian’s various “misdeeds” since returning to the palace, and couldn’t help but blush slightly, adding, “Once Xiao Jing’s case is settled, I’ll move out of the palace. I can’t stay in Yanqing Palace forever. As for the Grand Empress Dowager, we can’t hide it from her any longer.”
Xiao Zhinian turned over, saw a few strands of hair falling from Shen Zhejiang’s head, so he raised his hand and wrapped them around his fingers, playing with them earnestly. He said in a fit of pique, “No, at worst, I’ll just have it out with Royal Grandmother. She can beat me if she wants, but I only acknowledge Sir in this life. If they dare to force me, I won’t be the emperor.”
Shen Zhejiang covered his mouth: “Don’t speak recklessly.”
Xiao Zhinian’s eyes were curved, like two clear and bright pools of moonlight. He pulled down Shen Zhejiang’s hand, kissed his palm, and smiled, “Royal Grandmother and that bunch of long-winded ministers are there for me to deal with. What’s important to me is Sir. If Sir disappears from my side again, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something crazy. So, Sir, please stay in the palace.”
The wolf cub had grown up and was only set on Shen Zhejiang.
“……” Shen Zhejiang’s lips pursed slightly, with a hint of helpless smile. He sat Xiao Zhinian up straight, “I have nothing to do in the palace. In two days, it will be the Lantern Festival. I want to go out and take a walk.”
The Lantern Festival was a long-standing holiday in Yan Country. Legend has it that a young master from a prominent family, in order to pursue his beloved, spared no expense to release tens of thousands of Kongming lanterns on her birthday night. In the end, the two fell in love, becoming a popular story among the people.
Every year during this festival, fireworks flourished, it was extraordinarily lively, and there were bound to be many like-minded lovers going out to enjoy the festivities together, releasing lanterns to pray for their wishes to come true.
Before this, Xiao Zhinian had thought about going with Shen Zhejiang. In previous years, every invitation had been politely rejected by Shen Zhejiang. He felt it wasn’t interesting to go alone, so he hadn’t gone.
Now hearing Shen Zhejiang bring it up, joy appeared in Xiao Zhinian’s heart. He pecked Shen Zhejiang’s cheek lightly, “Okay! I’ll have Liu Bao go down and prepare! When the time comes, we’ll ditch Lan Shu, and Sir and I will have a great time!”
Shen Zhejiang said, “Don’t forget your manners. There are no small matters in court; everything must be done with caution.”
“Sir is right.”
That’s what he said, but he wasn’t necessarily listening.
Taking advantage of Shen Zhejiang’s relaxation, Xiao Zhinian reached out and removed the jade hairpin from the top of his head. Ink-black hair cascaded down like flowing water. With a thought, he suddenly pushed Shen Zhejiang down on the soft couch, his expression incomparably sincere: “Sir always taught me to be a wise ruler. I promised three years ago, so I naturally won’t break my word. Sir must also promise not to leave me.”
Shen Zhejiang looked into Xiao Zhinian’s eyes, which were so close. The clear pupils reflected Xiao Zhinian’s face. Finally, he nodded, “Okay……”
–
Lanterns were strung with colorful streamers waving gently in the wind, stars reflected each other, the night was like day, it was a feast for the eyes.
People talked and laughed in pairs, accompanied by lit lanterns, adding a lot of warmth. It was nearly October, and the night breeze was a bit cool, but due to the crowded and lively atmosphere, it was still warm.
The carriage that had come from the palace stopped in an open space next to the archway, and Xiao Zhinian jumped out first.
Today, he was wearing a dark blue crossed-collar Changfu, a jade belt tied around his waist, decorated with a piece of green jade. Standing upright, he was truly a handsome young man.
His appearance attracted the admiring gazes of passing young women, some of whom even stopped in their tracks, showing signs of wanting to make a move.
Just then, they saw the carriage curtain being rustled again, and it seemed that someone else was coming out.
They saw the young man with the handsome face wearing a gentle smile, standing next to the shaft and stretching his hand upward. Before long, a slender hand with long fingers was placed on it, gently grasped and brought to the ground, and the person inside also came out.
It was also a tall and slender, refined and noble young man.
His face was pale, and he was wearing a moon-white silk dress embroidered with honeysuckle patterns. Because it was cold, he wore a cloak of the same color, with a circle of white fur tightly surrounding his neck, making him even more elegant and otherworldly.
Those burgeoning feelings of spring were instantly overshadowed—
So these two were a couple!
Xiao Zhinian was too lazy to pay attention to other people’s envious gazes. He carefully tucked Shen Zhejiang’s loose cloak collar, while re-fastening the clasp, and said, “It’s cold, Sir, don’t catch a cold. I’ve already entrusted the palace affairs to Liu Bao to handle. If Sir wants to stay out for the night, we won’t go back tonight.”
“You still have to attend court tomorrow, don’t be willful. Let’s go for a stroll and then go back.”
Shen Zhejiang raised his eyes to look at the shimmering lights illuminating the sky street. The prosperous scene was presented before him after a long absence. After hesitating for a moment, he raised his hand to put on a hood, covering half of his face in a large shadow.
Xiao Zhinian immediately grabbed Shen Zhejiang’s wrist, stopping his movement, and asked in confusion, “What is Sir doing?”
Shen Zhejiang’s eyelashes fluttered, and he explained softly, “To outsiders, I am already a ghost on the road to the underworld. Many court officials and their families are out enjoying the Lantern Festival. Some of them recognize me. I can’t expose my identity, lest it bring criticism to you.”
For some reason, Xiao Zhinian felt a pang of sadness and anger in his heart.
Clearly, his Sir, his lover, could stand by his side openly, but because of him, he had to hide in and out of the palace.
Xiao Zhinian was annoyed with himself, and secretly told himself that he had to find a suitable opportunity to let Shen Zhejiang show his face in front of everyone. He didn’t want Shen Zhejiang to hide, he wanted to be open and honest with the world and establish Shen Zhejiang as his Empress.
“…It’s me who has wronged you, Sir.”
Xiao Zhinian’s voice was a bit hoarse as he took Shen Zhejiang’s hand and intertwined their fingers tightly.
Shen Zhejiang easily noticed Xiao Zhinian’s low mood. He returned Xiao Zhinian’s grip, smiled gently at him, “It’s nothing. Let’s go, let’s find a place to release lanterns. Didn’t you always want to pray and release lanterns with me? Don’t you want to now?”
So it was to fulfill his wish.
Xiao Zhinian was suddenly enveloped in a warm current, and nodded heavily, “Yes, of course I want to!”