Chapter 43

  Zi Ruoye had just stepped into the plum forest when she was enveloped in a bosom full of peach blossom fragrance, accompanied by a slight tremble. Zi Ruoye was taken aback for a moment before relaxing her body and smiling to ask, "Having a nightmare?"

  Yun Cong went to the study and didn't see Zi Ruoye's figure, thinking that she must have gone to the plum forest. Fortunately, fortunately, she was indeed in the plum forest, without secretly disappearing or suddenly vanishing.

  "Mm." With a faintly trembling voice, accompanied by a slight sob, Ye Ziye's hand hesitated for a moment before gently embracing Yun Cong's small body. Had she really had a nightmare?

  "Your Highness, Yun Qing thought you... had left without saying goodbye." Suddenly, she handed him his clothes, and his heart was in turmoil. If she had indeed left without saying goodbye, he would have chased after her no matter what.

  For Yun Cong, who was overly sensitive to the subtle feeling, he slightly hesitated, but still used a soothing tone, "How could I suddenly disappear? Am I not fine?" His eyes, without a hint of intoxication, were filled with heartache. Since she had accompanied Yun Cong to the Wang Manor, hadn't he become even more unhappy?

  Yun Cong took a deep breath and calmed himself down before releasing his grip, asking softly, "Prince Wang, why have you come to the plum forest again?"

  For some reason, since he saw Zi Ruoye faint in this plum forest, he had a feeling of resistance to the plum forest. Looking at the plum forest, his eyes flashed with danger and then hid. Looking at Zi Ruoye, she must have liked this plum forest very much, so she often came here. Since it was what she liked, he also liked it.

  Zi Ruoye turned around, looking at the bare plum tree with only branches left, and there were still sword marks cut by Liu Qingyou last time. "The flowers that bloom in splendor are also fleeting, fragile and easily broken."

  Yun Cong walked up and stood beside Zi Ruo Ye, listening to her inexplicable words, but shook his head. "Yun Cong felt that flowers blooming have their time, and wilting have their day, this is just the law that all things must follow, having lived through it is good."

  Yi Ruoye was taken aback, smiling at Yun Cong, "I've discovered that you're different today!" If it were any other day, Yun Cong might have accompanied her in lamenting the autumn, but why did he seem so transparent today?

  Yun Cong, who was meticulous by nature, couldn't understand what Zi Ruoye was saying at this time, but he didn't say a word. Today, he saw the bravery of Shangguan Meng, and his mood had changed somewhat. Perhaps waiting forever wasn't the best outcome after all.

  "Your Highness, next time you go somewhere, I hope you can inform Yun Cong in advance." At least he has a direction to look for him.

  "Alright, whatever Yun Cong says goes." However, she didn't want Yun Cong to follow her to the place she was going, not even a little bit. "Today's dance is beautiful, I wonder when will the fairy return to the heavenly court?" Zi Ruoye tilted her head, her eyebrows and eyes full of reluctance, but with a sly smile.

  Yun Cong's figure twirled in the plum forest, and he sighed, "I'm afraid it's too late to turn back..." Yes, it's too late to turn back, my heart has already fallen, how can I go back.

  "That fairy mustn't get lost in the mortal world again, remember to hold my hand tightly." Zǐ Ruò Yè stretched out her hand and smiled as she stood there, looking at Yún Níng. In less than a second, Yún Níng slowly walked over and placed his own hand on top of Zǐ Ruò Yè's, changing it so that he was holding her hand instead.

  Your Highness, today Yun Cong will remember your words. Yun Cong won't get lost as long as Your Highness is there. It's just that I hope you don't get lost either... only wishing our hearts beat as one...

  Liu Qingyao returned to the Prime Minister's mansion, but his mind was restless. A small servant saw that the young master of the house had been pacing back and forth in the room since he came back, and curiously walked forward to ask, "Young Master, didn't something happen at the King's birthday celebration today?"

  My mind keeps thinking of the look on Zi Ruoye's face today, gritting her teeth and pursing her lips. I didn't quite catch what Xiao Shier said, but he shouted unnaturally, "I'm not worried about her! What does it have to do with me that rotten person got hurt?"

  He didn't seem to ask who Young Master cares about... a rotten person? Could it be Ye Wangye? Although puzzled, he still stood quietly on the side.

  "Was he really hurt?" Today, seeing Li Yu's face unchanged, but that rascal was in a very painful state, lightly biting his lip, taking out the medicinal paste for treating sprains and fractures from the cabinet, putting it on the table, hesitating for a long time, with only the image of that person wailing in pain in his mind...

  Hmph! Mind your own business! Sleep!

  Put the medicine back in the cabinet, walk three steps and make two steps to get back on the bed, cover my head and force myself to sleep. However, after a long time, I still can't fall asleep, angrily pulling down the quilt, with a bewildered expression in my eyes.

  Stretch out your hand, when Li Yu touched him today, why did his heart rise with a feeling of disgust. In a few days, he will marry that bastard... So what's going on with him now?

  Shangguan Fei was now looking at her own son, very worried. As soon as Shangguan Meng returned to the mansion, he began... packing his things into a carriage.

  "Meng'er, what are you doing?" If she hadn't asked, her son might have just walked away.

  Shangguan Meng finally lifted his small face, his bright eyes were full of seriousness, and fine sweat beads had already appeared on his forehead. He took a light breath, "Mother, Meng'er is packing up his things."

  On the ground, a heap of things were scattered all over, but they were all things that Shangguan Fei had never seen before. Of course, she knew that Meng'er was collecting things, the question was, "Meng'er, where are you going to put these things?"

  Shangguan Meng wore a look of absolute normalcy, his pure eyes without any impurities filled with incomprehension towards his own mother, "Meng'er is already the wife's person, of course he still has to go and live with the wife together."

  Shangguan Fei felt an urge to vomit blood, as the saying goes, "A married-out daughter is like spilled water", now her son hasn't even gotten married yet, but his heart is already not with her!

  "Misty... can't enter the palace yet." The three matchmakers and six gifts have not arrived, the dowry and betrothal gifts are not ready, how can we get married like this?

  "How can it not be! If Rong'er doesn't go find his wife early, his wife will be snatched away by others." Today's birthday banquet has many men, they must be competing with Rong'er for his wife! His wife is so excellent, Rong'er must keep a close eye on her!"

  Will Zǐ Ruò Yè be taken away? Where did this reason come from? Shàng Guān Fēi looked at her own son, suddenly feeling helpless, and turned to her husband beside her, hoping he could help her. But the other party also returned a helpless expression...

  "Meng'er, now you go to Wang Ye's place, he must be resting. How about going again tomorrow?"

  He tilted his little head to one side, and actually seemed about to go find his wife. Looking at the sky outside, he finally made a big decision, and muttered, "Alright then, Meng'er will go again tomorrow..."

  Tomorrow, he will go find his wife! Only then did the obedient Shangguan Meng finally climb onto the bed to rest.

  "Your Highness, why haven't we seen the housekeeper?" Yun Cong only asked her question after they returned inside, as normally the housekeeper would be within a five-step range.

  Zi Ruoye reached out and gently removed the red jade hairpin from Yun Ning's head, her long black hair cascading down like a babbling brook with sparkling ripples, "Housekeeper, she is the one who poisoned me."

  As soon as she heard this, Yun Ning's expression turned cold and her eyes were filled with a dangerous glint. "So where is the person now?" Since it was her? He had been searching for the person who poisoned Wang Ye since he found out about the poisoning, but he still hadn't suspected Guan's family.

  "It's done." She didn't want to do so much today on her birthday banquet, but the housekeeper himself couldn't hold back, his eyes had an uncontrollable fatigue, although all memories were inherited, this was still the first time he stained his hands with fresh blood.

  Looking at the fatigue in Zi Ruoye's eyes, Yun Ning stretched out his hand to gently massage her temples, "You must be very tired today." This was the first time he had seen such clear fatigue in her eyes.

  Gently shaking her head, she grasped Yun Cong's hand, and although his palm was slightly cool to the touch, it seemed to calm the fatigue in her heart. She placed it against her cheek until his hand warmed up, then let go of Yun Cong's hand. "Sleep," she said. After lying down, Zi Ruoye closed her eyes. Yun Cong... why can't I love him? She longed to see a genuine smile from him, rather than the forced laughter that hid his sorrow.

  Yun Ning lay down, her cheeks slightly flushed, feeling embarrassed about their intimate actions, but also heartbroken by the fatigue that couldn't be hidden between Zi Ruo Ye's eyebrows. It wasn't until after midnight, when Zi Ruo Ye's even breathing sounded, that Yun Ning slowly opened her eyes, looking at Zi Ruo Ye sleeping beside her, and gently stroking her cheek with her fingertips, lost in thought.

  "Your Highness, as long as you don't get lost..." Yun Cong would never get lost...

  The next morning, when attending the court session, Ziyueye was absent with a majestic excuse, while Li Yu was unable to attend due to illness. When Ziyan heard about it, she only slightly raised her eyebrows and understood in her heart.

  At this time, the people in the Wang Fu saw the three large horse-drawn carriages lined up at the gate and were immediately stunned. They had only slept for a while, and the steward was gone. After sleeping for a while, there were inexplicably three more large horse-drawn carriages in front of them. The luggage inside the carriage should be luggage, but why did it stop at the gate of Wang Fu? They hadn't heard the king's order that there would be guests coming to Wang Fu? Moreover, looking at the array in front of him, the guest was afraid that he would stay for a long time?

  Just when people were in doubt, a warm figure appeared

  The upper official of the clothes department suddenly jumped out from inside the carriage.

  Is this not Shangguan Gongzi, whom His Majesty betrothed to Prince Wang just yesterday?

  "Excuse me, could you open the door and let me bring things in? Is the mistress awake?" The little face walked up with a sincere smile and said politely.

  Whoever sees such a child blinking with innocent eyes, will find it hard to resist, the servant nodded and opened the door. Xiaoguan Meng cheered and her small figure disappeared from the servant's sight.

  As he walked towards Ziyue Ye's main house, the servants would subconsciously answer his questions because no one thought he had any ill intentions. The small figure bounced and jumped along, clearly in a good mood at the moment.

  Wife, Meng Er came to find you early today! You're so lazy, still not getting out of bed, and even Meng Er is already awake.

  Shangguan Meng found Zi Ruoye's main room, and as soon as he pushed open the door, Zi Ruoye opened her eyes. "Who is it?" she asked. Normally, no one would come at this time, let alone someone who dared to enter without asking permission.

  "Is the hostess here?" A soft and sticky voice like cotton candy came, and Shangguan Meng walked in and started looking around.

  Glutinous rice balls?

  Zi Ruoye sat up, her mind still foggy from just waking up. Had she just heard the voice of Nuomi Tuanzi?

  "Wife, it's time to get up, it's already very late." Step by step, he walked in and saw Ziyue Ye, his eyes lit up like a bright pearl on a clear night.

  His figure directly pounced towards Ziyue Ye.

  Subconsciously, Zi Ruoye stretched out her hand to catch the ball that was pouncing on her. After feeling the warmth in her arms, she lowered her head and saw that Shangguan Meng had already taken off his shoes and socks and was snuggled up in her embrace.

  "Is that really Upper Official Mò?" Looking at his familiar movements, Zi Ruoye loosened her grip, but the next moment, Upper Official Mò snuggled back into her arms, like a satisfied little kitten.

  The clouds condensed and slowly awakened, only to find an extra person on the bed. Her eyes narrowed instantly, just as she was about to make a move, but then she heard Ye Zi's voice. She took a closer look and was stunned - wasn't this Shang Guan Gongzi?

  "Wife, are you and Cloud brother doing shameful things?" Father said that when a man and woman sleep together, they must be doing shameful things. Although what those shameful things were, Father had never told him, he would definitely know when he slept with his wife.

  As soon as the words came out, both Zǐ Ruò Yè and Yún Níng were stunned for a moment. The next second, they both blushed at the same time. Zǐ Ruò Yè looked at Shàng Guān Méi who was nestled in her arms, but asked this question with an innocent tone, leaving her speechless for a while.

  "No, we just slept," Zǐ Ruò Yè said stiffly, unable to think of a better excuse after a long while.

  Shangguan Meng suddenly fanned her eyes with a small voice and a small, divine whisper, "You must have done something shameful." Just seeing his wife and Yun Gege sleeping together, he felt uncomfortable in his heart, sour like eating the sourest pear.

  "How did you come?" Avoiding his question, Zǐ Ruò Yè chose to shift his attention, but in her heart, she still admired Shàng Guān Fēi, wondering how she could teach someone like Shàng Guān Méng.

  "Meng'er originally wanted to come yesterday, but mother didn't allow it. Meng'er is already the wife of the master, of course she should have come." Her small face was full of sweet smiles, "The master's wife is so silly, not understanding these principles at all."

  Zi Ruoye looked at Yun Ning helplessly, didn't she understand? Of course, she understood! However, Yun Ning was gazing enviously at Shang Guan Meng who could naturally snuggle into Zi Ruoye's arms.

  Shangguan Meng took out an envelope from his bosom and handed it to Ziyue Ye, saying sweetly, "This is for the madam from my mother."

  Zi Ruoye took the letter with a puzzled expression, and as she opened it, the contents made her want to kill someone... What did they mean by saying that her own son's heart had already fallen onto her body? What did they mean by saying that they were already powerless and at a loss for what to do?

  Looking at Shangguan Meng who apparently still didn't fully understand the basic common sense, Ziyue Ye could only say in a soft voice, "Meng'er, you're still too young and don't know..."

  Passion?** Before the words were finished, Shangguan Meng covered Ziyue Ye's mouth with his small hand, his face puffed up with inexplicable dissatisfaction. "Meng'er is no longer young, wife!" He's really not young anymore. This year he's already fourteen! Father said that Meng'er has reached the age of marriage.

  Others say he's small, he doesn't care, but his wife can't say that. Pouting with a small mouth, puffing out a small face, as if about to cry.

  "The wife cannot say that the young master is small..." In an instant, tears fell pitter-patter on the brocade quilt, forming droplets of water stains.

  "I was wrong." Seeing the little man in her arms really crying, Zǐ Ruò Yè suddenly panicked, this was still her first time seeing a man cry, and she hurriedly comforted him, "You're not young, you've grown up, really."

  After getting Zi Ruoye's affirmation, Shangguan Meng finally stopped her tears, but her small face was still puffed up, indicating that she had not yet dissipated her anger. "Wife, hurry up and wake up! The sun is already shining on our buttocks. Meng'er will go down first." After finishing speaking, she immediately put on her shoes and ran out.

  Zi Ruoye watched as the small figure rushed out, rubbing her temples. It seemed she needed to have a good talk with Shangguan Fei. Although the people in the Wang estate found it strange that Guan's family suddenly disappeared, after hearing Zi Ruoye's explanation, they let it go. Even if the master of the house had directly fired Guan's family, they didn't have the right to express dissent.

  Zi Ruoye finished washing up and walked into the hall, only to be startled by the luggage piled up in the hall. "Whose is this?"

  The little servant came forward and said respectfully, "All of these are the things of Master Shangguan. He said that they were allowed by Prince Wang, but since the steward is not here, we don't know where to move them, so we can only pile them up in the main hall for now."

  "Does Shangguan Meng really want to live here? What about his reputation as a man?" After looking around and not seeing Shangguan Meng, "Arrange him in the west wing house first."

  Yun Ning sat alone in the house, usually when Zi Ruoye went out, he spent most of his time at home. Hearing the sound of the door, he looked up and saw Shang Guan Meng leaning against the door, blinking at him.

  "Officer Gong's son?" He got up and walked in front of him, asking softly, "The king just looked for you, where did you go?"

  "I don't want to see her." His long eyelashes slightly curled, like a small fan gently trembling, he didn't want to see his wife now, and he was deliberately avoiding her.

  "Why don't you want to see me?"

  "Just don't want to see."

  Yun Ning pulled his small hand, leading him into the room, pouring tea, looking at the little person in front of her, pursing her lips. "Young Master Shangguan, do you really like Prince Wang?" Now that there were only two people, she could finally ask boldly.

  "What is it to really like?" Shang Guan Mou's eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if he didn't quite understand the concept of "really liking". He looked at Yun Ning with his hands supporting his chin. All he knew was that he liked being by his wife's side, seeing her made him happy, and unlike other women, he enjoyed fighting villains together with his wife, but he didn't have this so-called "really liking" feeling.

  "It's just... seeing her hurts, but knowing that loving her is futile hurts even more. Yet, I couldn't help but sink deeper." Yun Cong's voice carried a hint of bitterness, although the king had been slightly more affectionate towards him lately, it was only by a tiny margin.

  "Hurt?" Xiang Guan's small hand was placed on Yun Cong's chest, seriously asking, "If you really like someone, will it hurt a lot? Brother Yun, does your heart hurt?"

  Cloud's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded lightly and smiled faintly, "But it's also good to be in pain..."