Free Web NovelChapter 987: Chapter 983: Yin and Yang (1)
"Mother!" Min lowered his head. "Are you well?"
Xiqiu held his hand, and the two of them sat side by side on the rose bed. She spoke softly, "I’ve heard you’re living in the West Five Houses?" Located on the western side of the Imperial Garden, before the Emperor’s adulthood, he had lived in the East Five Houses. After the Emperor ascended, the East Five Houses turned into Hehua Palace, while the west remained for the princes who had not come of age.
"Yes." Min nodded. "I’m the only one living there now, so coming and going is quite convenient." The former Eldest Prince, now the Second Prince, is still young, and given his age, he might move over next year.
Xiqiu wasn’t very familiar with the layout of the Imperial City, so she sketched a rough position in her mind. "When you encounter the Second or Third Prince, or any other nobles in the palace, always be humble. If there are any matters you find difficult to resolve, secretly ask Consort Le for help; she might handle things better than you."
Min remembered everything Xiqiu said. After she was done, he asked, "Mother, is Zhi... is he well?"
"He’s doing well." Xiqiu recounted the story of Zhi making lanterns for him. "For now, don’t let the brothers know to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings." After speaking, she looked at Min. "Whether you are brothers, you just need to remember it in your heart. Someday, there will be an opportunity to meet."
Min lowered his eyes and nodded. After responding, he remembered something, taking out a pocket embroidered with multicolored silk threads using double-sided needlework from his sleeve. He opened it in front of Xiqiu and took out a string of pearls, each smooth and plump, about the size of a fingernail. He said, "The Emperor rewarded me with this. I think it would look great on you, so I secretly hid it in the pocket to show you."
After speaking, he looked at Xiqiu expectantly, waiting for her to smile and say she liked it.
"So beautiful." Xiqiu reached over, and Min’s face brightened with a radiant smile, full of joy as he put it on her.
Xiqiu examined it carefully, smiled, nodded, and said, "Min has a good eye." She seemed genuinely pleased.
Min laughed foolishly, feeling incredibly fulfilled as he finally had the ability to give his mother something she liked, seeing her joyful smile...
"Mother!" Min started to speak, but suddenly a eunuch outside announced, "Your Highness, the hour has arrived." The voice was urging.
The joy faded slowly from Min’s face, and he looked at Xiqiu with reluctance. Xiqiu seized the moment to advise him, "You need to get along harmoniously with the two princes in Wenhua Hall. If harmony isn’t possible, avoid confrontation. In the Emperor’s eyes, you are brothers, no matter what you think in your heart, never neglect the two younger brothers."
"I’ll remember." Min nodded, holding Xiqiu’s hand, unwilling to let go. Xiqiu patted his hand and comforted him, "Don’t be afraid, you still have your father and Second Uncle. If there’s anything, secretly tell your elder uncle, and let him relay it to us." Then she pulled him to stand up. "Go back now, so the Emperor doesn’t worry."
"Mother!" Min’s eyes turned red. He would have many opportunities to meet with his father and Second Uncle, but with his mother, who knows when they would meet again. Tears fell, and he choked saying, "Take care of your health!" freewebnσvel.cøm
Xiqiu fought back her saddened heart, nodded, "Okay." Then pushed him out, "Go now!"
Min walked towards the door, turning back every few steps. He stopped at the door suddenly, ran back, and hugged Xiqiu, crying against her shoulder. He had grown much taller in the past half year, with his height reaching Xiqiu’s ear, embracing her like a young man. Xiqiu felt gratified, seeing Min grow day by day, both in appearance and maturity...
"Good!" Xiqiu patted his back. "Go now, Mother can still enter the palace. When the time comes, visit Le’an Palace under some pretense, and we can meet."
Min calmed down, released Xiqiu’s shoulder, and nodded, "Okay." Xiqiu took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears, and Min glanced at Xiqiu before lifting the curtain without looking back and leaving.
Inside the room, only the bamboo curtain swayed gently in the breeze, with no trace of Min’s silhouette. Xiqiu couldn’t hold back her tears anymore, letting them fall.
She turned around and sat on the Arhat Bed, lowered her head, gently wiped her tears, and suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Fourth Master Xiao standing before her. Xiqiu leaned against his waist, chokingly asked, "Has he left?"
"Yes." Fourth Master Xiao responded, then said, "Let’s go back; Zhi is sound asleep."
Xiqiu agreed, wiped her tears, and stood up. "Has Mother and Sister-in-law gone to rest?" Fourth Master Xiao shook his head, "They’re sitting in the Warm Pavilion."
Xiqiu then went with Fourth Master Xiao to the Warm Pavilion, where the Grand Dowager, First Madam, and Xiao Yanyi were inside. The Grand Dowager’s eyes were red too, holding the uneasily sleeping Wan, comforting her. Seeing Xiqiu come in, she said, "You should go and rest, it’s been a tiring day."
Xiqiu agreed, carried out Zhi from the green gauze cabinet, greeted First Madam and Xiao Yanyi, and left with Fourth Master Xiao, riding back to the Governor Mansion.
"Third Brother." Zhi turned over in Fourth Master Xiao’s arms, "Is the carp lantern pretty?" After speaking, he mumbled something else that Xiqiu didn’t hear clearly.
Fourth Master Xiao, holding his son, exchanged a glance with Xiqiu, saying nothing. Xiqiu reached out and touched Zhi’s sleeping little face.
Fate between people is strange. If Fourth Master Xiao wasn’t in the Capital that day, Min wouldn’t have been rescued by him. Without this beginning, perhaps everyone wouldn’t have this connection, along with the heavy burden on his shoulders. He is different from other children; the road ahead offers no choice. No matter his inner thoughts, he has only one path, which is to keep moving forward...
Thinking of this, she touched the bracelet Min gave her on her wrist, feeling a bit bitter in her heart.
"Fourth Master, Madam, we’ve arrived!" Tianjing, the driver, said as he set down the footstool and lifted the curtain. Fourth Master Xiao got out of the carriage first with Zhi. Xiqiu was helped down by Bihuai and Lyuzhi, and the group switched to a sedan chair and returned to their room.
Xiqiu lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Fourth Master Xiao lit the lamp and sat up, saying softly, "Can’t sleep?"
"Hmm." Xiqiu shifted her position, laying her head on his leg as a pillow. "Thinking about Min."
Fourth Master Xiao held her hand in his palms. "I’ve arranged everything in the palace, and there’s the Le Family inside to watch over him." After pausing, he continued, "He is the late Empress’s child, so the Emperor views him a bit differently."
The Le and Ruan Families, ever since Min entered the city, had hurriedly come to confirm. Although he never explicitly stated anything, the situation had come to this point where no explanation was needed for everyone to understand in their hearts.
