The man in front of him had a serious look on his face. Ye Chongjin thought he was going to say something important, but it turned out that he was worried about the wedding day.
The corners of his mouth twitched and he said helplessly: "No matter when we get married, the person will always be yours. I'm afraid I won't be able to escape."
When Gu Chen heard this, his face became even more ugly. The meaning behind A-Jin's words was that he really meant to postpone it.
He frowned, stuffed the person into his arms, and said dissatisfied: "In A-Jin's heart, others are always more important than zhen. The kid from the Lu family was kidnapped and is most likely treated as an emperor. How could it hurt him at all? You care about him, why don't you think about how zhen's heart feels uncomfortable."
Ye Chongjin raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Gu Chen nodded.
Ye Chongjin put his palm on his chest, rubbed it gently and said, "Is it still uncomfortable like this?"
The Emperor's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. He pressed the person onto the arhat bed, and kissed him again and again. He said, "Zhen can't wait any longer. Zhen will simply use heaven and earth as my betrothal, and the sun and moon as matchmakers, and get married today."
He kissed and licked him, which made Ye Chongjin extremely itchy. He laughed so hard that tears fell down. He looked at him with squinting eyes filled with tears. The look was touching. He was really full of life. Gu Chen was so fascinated that he didn't move for a long time.
Ye Chongjin tugged on his sleeve and said, "I'm hungry."
Gu Chen sat up, tidied his clothes first, and combed his hair neatly. He knelt down and put on the youth's socks and shoes, and said to the outside: "Serve the meal."
A voice came from outside the hall, and more than a dozen palace people lowered their eyebrows. No one dared to take a look inside the palace.
Gu Chen held the youth's white and tender feet, feeling both love and hatred in his heart. He thought to himself, what's the difference between this and raising an ancestor? A majestic emperor can't even get the slightest benefit from dressing and feeding someone.
But when he raised his eyes, A-Jin smiled at him, and any complaints immediately disappeared, leaving only the sweetness in his heart.
======
When he came back from the palace, there were a few lanterns lit in front of the house. His parents and brother were all waiting for him outside the house.
As soon as Ye Chongjin got off the carriage, Madam An walked up to him and took his hand, saying, "A-Jin, it's not peaceful in the capital recently. You can't be so late next time."
Even though it was spring, it was still cold at night.
Ye Chongjin warmed Madam An's hand with his own and said with a smile: "Don't worry Mother, I will be escorted by guards all the way out of the palace."
Madma An originally wanted to say that the Young Master of the Lu family, with his status, should not be kidnapped. But thinking that her son and Lu Ziyan had always been on good terms, he must have been worried, so she swallowed these words.
She said: "Having said that, Mother is always worried."
Ye Chongjin had to promise that he would not dare to stay outside next time. Only then was Madam An willing to let him go, saying that the decoction to nourish the body should be drank while it is hot, and led him into the house.
When Ye Chongjin heard the word "decoction", his eyes became a little frightened, and he asked his brother for help with his eyes.
When Ye Chonghui received his brother's signal, a slight smile appeared in his eyes, and he just mouthed to him - finish the drink obediently.
The old man was teasing the twins in the room, and when he saw Ye Chongjin, he snorted heavily.
"..."
Ye Chongjin walked up to the old man and called out obediently: "Grandpa."
As soon as the old man saw him, his heart softened. He just deliberately kept a straight face and said: "Why are you calling me Grandpa? It's about to happen at the end of the month. In the last days, instead of staying at home to accompany your relatives, you go to the palace. There is no place for us in your heart, it is all taken up by the one in the palace."
Ye Chongjin quickly admitted his mistake. The old man was determined to show him his feelings so he didn't respond.
Seeing the medicinal soup being delivered, Ye Chongjin's eyes flashed. Then he frowned, put his fist to his lips, and coughed uncomfortably.
The old man was most afraid of his poor health. Seeing this situation, he no longer cared about being geniuine or fake. He hurriedly asked someone to bring the medicinal soup to his grandson and fed it to him himself.
Ye Chongjin took his hand and took two sips while enduring the bitter taste.
Madam An said from the side: "When he was a child, A-Jin would not drink medicine every time, but when his Grandfather fed him, he would drink it obediently."
These words struck a chord in the old man's heart. There was a kind look in his eyes, and he had long forgotten the tantrum he had been having earlier.
======
Funing Yuan.
Because the old man made a big fuss that day, Ye Chongjin didn't dare to go out for several days. He often went to the old man's yard to take a look. The old man was happy, but the one in the palace had to endure the pain of lovesickness.
Ye Chongjin was sitting in the pavilion, with bamboo leaves floating everywhere. He held white in his left hand and black in his right hand, playing chess by himself.
A man in a green robe slowly stepped into the bamboo forest and called out: "Master, Young Master Shen is brought here."
Ye Chongjin only nodded lightly.
Shen Ming stepped forward and bowed: "Second Young Master."
Ye Chongjin looked at him and said: "Young Master Shen, please sit down. Your injury is getting better?"
Shen Ming sat on the stone bench beside him, and said cautiously: "Shen's injury is no longer serious, but I am used to using my right arm. Currently I am not used to using my left arm. Given time, I can get used to it."
Ye Chongjin said nothing and just dropped his hand lightly.
Shen Ming glanced at the exquisite chess game, then lowered his eyes to hide the surprise in his eyes.
"Song Yi, let's have some tea."
The man in green robe responded. He took off the purple clay pot from the stove, poured a cup of hot tea, and brought it to Shen Ming himself.
Shen Ming hurriedly took the cup and thanked him.
There was only the rustling of leaves in the bamboo forest. The man in green robe stood aside and said nothing. One of them was playing chess by himeself, and the other was drinking tea with his head down.
After an unknown amount of time, a group of servants passed by on the side path. They were carefully carrying a wooden box painted in red, and walked towards the yard.
When Shen Ming saw the box, his pupils suddenly shrank.
Ye Chongjin also glanced at it and said calmly: "Is that not an antique left by my Grandfather? Why did you bring it into my yard?"
Song Yi replied: "The Master will enter the palace soon. Madam asked someone to carry it into the Master's private treasury as dowry."
"..."
Ye Chongjin frowned as the word dowry struck him.
He raised his hand to disrupt the chess game on the table and said, "It's boring. Young Master Shen, that's all for today's tea. I won't accompany you for now."
After saying that, he walked out. Song Yi hurriedly lowered his head to follow.
Shen Ming stood up, and stooped to see off the two people.
After leaving the bamboo forest, Ye Chongjin raised his hand to pick up a fallen leaf from the sleeve of his garment, and said, "Are there signs of him being disguised?"
Song Yi said, "I can't see it."
Ye Chongjin said curiously, "Even you can't see it. Is it possible that his disguise skills are better than yours?"
Song Yi said: "Master, although this slave's disguise skills are exquisite, my eyesight may not be as good, just like he may not be able to see this slave's disguise."
Ye Chongjin nodded.
The person sent by his brother to investigate Shen Ming didn't reply for a long time. If the journey was not too long and he was delayed, then he would have been killed.
Is it because he is worrying too much, or is this person really a hidden master?
======
An Mansion.
When Chen Zizhao received the secret letter, there was a trace of deep thought in his eyes.
The book boy asked: "Young Master, since you have found such a thing, will you take action tonight?"
Chen Zizhao shook his head and placed the secret letter to the candlelight. The letter quickly burned to ashes.
"Ye Chongjin, the second son of the Ye family, is the first Empress of Daegu. His courtyard is more difficult to break into than the palace. What's more, this person is extremely deceitful. There may be some deception involved."
"If something like that is allowed to enter the palace, what will happen to the Young Master? Wouldn't it be even more dangerous?"
Chen Zizhao pondered for a moment and said: "Of course we can't let it enter the palace, and we are unable to break into Ye Mansion. The only opportunity is to steal it from the ceremonial guard entering the palace on the wedding day."
"But the Emperor's wedding will inevitably lead to martial law in the whole city, and it will be even more difficult..."
"You have forgotten that the Marquis of Zhenyuan is looking for someone everywhere now. If something happens and the people in the city are in chaos, you take advantage of the chaos to snatch the box of betrothal gifts."
The boy suddenly said: "Young Master is wise."
Chen Zizhao picked up the wick and said: "Let Han Yan help you. He is in Ye Mansion after all."
"This subordinate understands."
Lu Ziyan was leaning on the wall, only listening vaguely. He got a rough idea, it seems that they want to steal something on A-Jin'swedding. But even if he knew, he couldn't do anything.
Usually only Chen Zizhao and the book boy come in and out here. The mechanism is opened from the outside. To get out from inside, you must have a key.
Being trapped here all the time, he was anxious and had already smashed several rare things, such as colourful glass lamps and South Sea night pearls. They were all priceless treasures. The man who called himself his brother just laughed and ignored it.
This was the first time he had met such a stubborn person.
Since hard won't do, he will use the soft method.
When having dinner, he said to Chen Zizhao: "Tell me about Father and Mother."
Chen Zizhao was stunned for a moment. With a hint of surprise in his eyes, he replied: "Okay."
"Father's name is just the word "Shu". You also know that we can't say anything about our surname Chen, so he had always used his mother's surname and the pseudonym Murong Shu. When he met Mother, he used this name. Father and I are different. He is a good man and always treats others kindly."
Lu Ziyan poured him a glass of wine and said, "How did he and Mother meet?"
Chen Zizhao took the glass of wine, took a sip and said, "Father had never been well. Well, he also knew that he would not live long and had never thought about returning to the country. However, he had been hunted since the fall of the Jin Dynasty. He was really seriously ill at that time, so Yao Yidao brought him to the capital for medical treatment. Then he met Mother. Mother was raised by the Lu family and is the adopted daughter of the Marquis family. She had never suffered much. The biggest disaster in her life was meeting Father."
After saying this, he drank several more drinks by himself.
"This is the fate of some people. If she had not met Father, she would have been stable all her life and lived a life of fine clothing and fine food in the capital. If Father had not met her, he would have been able to face life and death calmly instead of dying with his eyes open."
But they happened to meet.
Chen Zizhao was obviously a little drunk, and there was a trace of pain on his calm face. He said quietly: "My parents named me Zhao. Zhao means light. My parents have been looking forward to it, so that we don't have to live hidden and in darkness. Later, I named you Yan. I only hoped that you can survive and extend their lives."
Lu Ziyan frowned slightly, not knowing what the feeling is in his heart. He unconsciously drank a cup of peach and plum.
When he was in his mother's womb, he had been in a state of light sleep. He only vaguely remembered that the woman who gave birth to him was very gentle and often whispered to him. When he regained consciousness, she was already buried.
Then, his uncle came to pick him up.
A man with a scar on his face and an unpleasant voice carefully placed him in Lu Lin's arms and said, "Madam named this child Ziyan."
His father never showed up, so he always thought that since the man abandoned his wife and son, he would just think that he has no father.
But it turns out that there is too much helplessness involved.
He advised: "Since our parents hope that you and I can be safe, and we are all living a good life now, they can also rest in peace. Why commit such a serious crime that would kill the nine clan? If the deeds are exposed, with the cruelty of the people today, neither you nor I can run away. How are you going to explain to our parents when we go underground?"
Chen Zizhao was already drunk, and he just said in a daze: "I can die, but Ziyan can't."
Lu Ziyan pushed him. The man was leaning in the wheelchair, already very drunk.
Lu Ziyan sighed, and helped him to the bed. He covered him with a brocade quilt.
He took out the key from Chen Zizhao and said: "Don't worry, I will come back. If you don't give up revenge, I will not leave. Let's see who can outlast the other."
After saying that, he opened the door of the darkroom with the key. He walked up the stone steps, and happened to meet the book boy who brought wine.
The book boy glanced at him, and took the initiative to open the stone door for him. He lowered his head and said: "Young Master Yan, outside the door is our Young Master's study. When you go out, stay out of sight, so as not to be caught as a thief."
Lu Ziyan responded and ran out quickly.
The book boy chuckled and entered the underground palace. Sure enough, Chen Zizhao was awake.
"Young Master, are you going to let Young Master Yan go just like that?"
"He will come back."
The book boy added, "If he reveals what happened here to Lu Lin..."
Chen Zizhao rubbed his forehead and said, "He won't, and this underground palace has been discovered a long time ago. It is only a matter of time before the entrance is found. Let the people below prepare in advance and leave the capital in the near future."
"Yes."
======
The wedding day is approaching, and the palace sent the Empress's phoenix robe. Ye Chongjin had seen it before and didn't find it novel anymore. On the contrary, Madam An and the maids in the room all stared blankly.
Because he is a man, his clothes are slightly different from the ordinary phoenix crown. The gold embroidered phoenix pattern on the bright red dress is like a fire phoenix soaring in the nine heavens. The momentum is overwhelming and the fire is burning. Every line is extremely beautiful. The belt is inlaid with white warm jade and it showed luxury everywhere.
Madam An came back to her senses, and stroked the vivid phoenix pattern. She said, "You can see that he put lot of thought into it."
The maids kept saying, "There has never been a more magnificent and noble phoenix robe."
Ye Chongjin held his chin and smiled. Gu Chen ordered many people to make many such magnificent phoenix robes. He would wear this one when he enters the palace, and when he goes back to be canonize and offer sacrifices, each one will be different. The rest were placed in Zichen Palace for changing later. That person would naturally have to handle it personally.
While they were talking, Song Yi suddenly walked up to him and whispered: "Master, the Young Master of the Lu family is here. He is in your bedroom. He seems to have come secretly."
Ye Chongjin was startled and asked: "What are you talking about? Young Master Lu from the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion?"
Before Song Yi could answer, he had already walked out quickly.
Returning to Funing Yuan, he opened the door of his room and saw Lu Ziyan with an anxious look on his face. He looked good, which showed that he had indeed not been treated badly.
"Ziyan, you have been missing for almost a month. Your uncle..."
"A-Jin, listen to me first. My uncle is looking for me everywhere now, but I can't see him now, otherwise he will not let me go."
Ye Chongjin frowned and said: "You want to leave? Go to where?"
Lu Ziyan said: "I can't say, but there is no danger... In fact, I found my biological brother, and he is doing a dangerous thing. I can't leave him alone. I have to save him, otherwise my conscience will be uneasy for the rest of my life."
Ye Chongjin looked at him and asked, "How are you going to save him? If you can't save him, you will be implicated too."
"No, he is actually a very gentle person, but he has suffered too much hurt and injustice. I will find a way to make him soft-hearted."
He sighed softly, and then said: "Also, I accidentally learned something about your dowry. There seems to be something very important hidden in it. There will be some accidents on the wedding day, so be careful."
It's the dowry again...
Ye Chongjin was pricked and suddenly paused. The last time Song Yi mentioned "dowry", the servants were carrying the red-painted wooden box that was left behind by his grandfather. Shen Ming was also there at that time.
Could it be that there really is something hidden in it?