Chapter 62: Reunion
Sheng Qianheng sat in the hall for a moment before getting up to inspect it, confirming that there were guards outside. He immediately changed his clothes and went out to look for Chu Yi.
In just half a day, he had roughly walked around the palace, but he had not found a single clue. He hadn’t even seen the eldest princess and the little prince he had met on the road earlier.
At this hour, were Chu Rui’s children not in the palace? Impossible!
He recalled the path the person leading the two children had taken and wanted to follow it.
But Sheng Qianheng was, after all, in an unfamiliar place and was not very familiar with the layout of the Qianlin royal palace. Seeing that it was already near the zǐ hour, he had no choice but to temporarily return to the palace to rest.
He lay on the bed, tossing and turning, always feeling that something was strange. Chu Rui clearly knew that his purpose for this trip was to find Chu Yi. But he had so easily let him stay in this Qianlin royal palace?
Could it be that Chu Yi was not in the palace? Was that why Chu Rui was so at ease letting him stay?
He shot up, supported his forehead, and thought. It seemed that the only possibility was that Chu Yi was not in the palace.
On second thought, perhaps those two children were not in the palace either, and had left with Chu Yi?
It seemed that he would have to test Chu Rui tomorrow.
The next day, at the chén hour, Sheng Qianheng was already dressed and standing outside the council hall, waiting for Chu Rui to finish court.
The ministers of Qianlin ignored this unfamiliar face. Only the envoy who had been sent before looked at Sheng Qianheng as if he were seeing things, rubbing his eyes several times.
When Chu Rui came out of the hall, Sheng Qianheng immediately stepped forward to block his path and said, “King, Zhen has heard that you have a son and a daughter. Zhen does not yet have an heir and is quite curious about children. May Zhen see those two children to prepare for the future?”
Chu Rui looked at the probing expression on Sheng Qianheng’s face and felt that the situation was not right. Could it be that he had already seen that Yi’er was not in the palace?
Fearing that the ministers would overhear their conversation, he could only lead Sheng Qianheng into the council hall again and then said, “The children are still in Chonghua Palace being taught by the Grand Tutor. It is not convenient for them to see people.”
Sheng Qianheng nodded slightly. He had already expected such a reply and continued to press, “Didn’t you say that the little prince is only a year old? The little prince doesn’t need to study, right? Why can’t Zhen see the little prince either?”
Chu Rui coughed. What trick was this Sheng Qianheng playing? His two children were both staying at Chu Yi’s residence outside the palace. They couldn’t be seen today.
“You also know that my son is only a year old and can’t be exposed to the wind! It would be terrible if a child caught a cold.”
Sheng Qianheng let out a soft laugh.
Chu Rui straightened his sleeves. Seeing Sheng Qianheng’s expression, he asked in return, “You’re not looking for my younger brother, but you’re asking about my children? Why, are you planning to abandon my younger brother?”
The corners of Sheng Qianheng’s lips turned up. At this moment, he was certain of his guess.
“In that case, may I ask when the eldest princess will finish her studies? Zhen has also fantasized about what it would be like if my child with A-Yi were a girl. She would surely be very beautiful. Why don’t you let me see your older brother’s daughter first?”
In Chu Rui’s eyes, Sheng Qianheng’s appearance was not at all like that of an emperor. Instead, he was like a villain who would stop at nothing to achieve his goal…
But on second thought, Sheng Qianheng was this kind of person, a person who had killed his father to seize the throne!
What on earth did his younger brother see in this person?
Chu Rui turned his back, sighed, and said slowly, “My daughter is not someone you can just see. You should go back.”
Sheng Qianheng laughed twice, then patted Chu Rui’s shoulder twice. “Thank you for your older brother’s reminder. Zhen knows where to find my wife.”
Chu Rui’s obstruction of him seeing these two imperial heirs could only mean that they were not in the palace.
He immediately bid farewell to Chu Rui, rushed back to his hall, and packed his bags, intending to leave the palace.
Because little An’er and Mingzhao were staying at Chu Yi’s residence, he had specifically taken two days off from the private school.
On this day, at the eighth quarter of the mǎo hour, he was woken up by the crowing of the rooster outside.
Chu Yi slowly propped himself up. Only after he was fully awake did he wash up and change.
He took the two children for a simple stroll outside the palace.
It was Chu Mingzhao’s first time out of the palace, and she found the streets and alleys very novel.
Chu Yi, on the other hand, was holding the little An’er who had fallen asleep after only a short walk. He only felt that his lower back was very sore, and sweat was seeping from his temples.
Seeing this, Lianfang wanted to take the little prince, but the moment she touched little An’er, he frowned and looked as if he was about to cry.
Chu Yi shook his head repeatedly.
Fortunately, Chu Mingzhao pulled Chu Yi into a restaurant. Only then was Chu Yi able to sit down and relieve the discomfort in his waist.
Chu Mingzhao took little An’er from Chu Yi’s shoulder, then smiled at him and said, “Uncle, Zhao’er hasn’t been this happy in a long time.”
Chu Yi reached out to rub Mingzhao’s head, his heart aching. She had lost her mother at such a young age. He hoped that his company could offset some of the pain of losing her mother.
“As long as Zhao’er is happy. But your younger brother is sleeping as if he doesn’t know what’s going on in the world!”
Mingzhao wiped the saliva from the corner of little An’er’s mouth with a handkerchief and then asked Chu Yi, “Uncle, will you leave Qianlin? Zhao’er likes Uncle. It’s been a long time since anyone has treated Zhao’er like my mother did…”
Chu Yi was stunned by the question.
Would he leave Qianlin? He had never considered this question for the time being.
He had been very comfortable in Qianlin these past two months, without the confinement of the palace walls, without the resentment and jealousy of others.
He naturally liked his current little life.
But when he looked down at his swollen belly, he always felt that it was unfair to the child. He had asked the physician of Qianlin. Although the pill could suppress his xìnxiāng and thus reduce the need for a Qianyuan’s soothing xìnxiāng, this pill was usually only used by Kunze who had unfortunately lost their Qianyuan.
Therefore, the child born would be slightly weaker than others, but with careful care, they would be no different from others.
Seeing that Chu Yi seemed to be lost in thought, Chu Mingzhao waved a hand in front of his eyes and asked, “Uncle, what are you thinking about?”
Only then did Chu Yi come back to his senses and replied, “It’s nothing. Uncle won’t be leaving Qianlin anytime soon. Don’t worry.”
Zhao’er smiled and nodded.
After a simple meal, Chu Yi was very tired and was forced to take the two children back to the residence.
Zhao’er was also sensible and did her best to support Chu Yi.
She had always had a doubt in her heart. Now, seeing that Chu Yi was in a good mood, she asked in a low voice, “Uncle, why haven’t I seen the other father or mother of the child in your belly? You’re working so hard, and he/she doesn’t even come to take care of you?”
Chu Yi’s steps suddenly paused. He gave an awkward smile. He couldn’t explain this kind of thing to a child of only eight or nine, but Zhao’er was also well-intentioned.
Zhao’er said to herself, “The Grand Tutor in the palace said that a pregnant Kunze needs to be soothed by xìnxiāng. When my mother was pregnant with my younger brother, my father often used his xìnxiāng to soothe her. Why haven’t I seen that person here at Uncle’s?”
The palm of Chu Yi’s hand, which was holding Chu Mingzhao’s, was sweating. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a shadow on the ground. It seemed that someone was following them closely.
Could it be that someone had heard Zhao’er’s words “Grand Tutor,” knew that they were from the palace, and wanted to kidnap them?
He held Chu Mingzhao’s hand and unconsciously quickened his pace.
Chu Mingzhao didn’t know what was happening and asked, “Uncle, why are you walking so fast? You still haven’t answered my question.”
Chu Yi replied casually, “Let’s go back to the residence first.”
He was pregnant, holding a child in his arms, and Chu Mingzhao was still young. There was no possibility of escape.
In a moment, Chu Yi felt a dagger pressed against his lower back. He immediately held Chu Mingzhao tightly in his arms and asked tremblingly, “What are you trying to do?”
He only heard the person behind him say in a low voice, “Turn around.”
Chu Yi’s whole body was trembling. He slowly turned around and protected Chu Mingzhao behind him.
He hadn’t even had time to see the person’s face clearly before he was pulled into their embrace.
Chu Mingzhao, who had been hidden behind Chu Yi, only saw after a moment that someone was hugging her Royal Uncle!
The Grand Tutor had taught her that only married people could hug! She immediately stepped forward and stomped hard on the person’s foot, shouting, “Let go of my uncle!”
Chu Yi smelled the mixed scent on the person and felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. He thought it was some lecher and was about to kick the person.
But who knew that the lecher would actually reach out and touch his belly!
Da Mo had the practice of diǎnqī and people who played with pregnant women. Chu Yi thought that Qianlin also had this kind of person and was about to pull out the hairpin from his hair to stab the person.
He heard a very familiar voice by his ear, “A-Yi, I miss you so much.”
Chu Yi froze on the spot and asked, “Sheng… Qianheng?”
Sheng Qianheng released his embrace of Chu Yi, pressed his forehead against his, and whispered, “It’s me, A-Yi…”
Chu Yi pushed Sheng Qianheng away, deeply afraid of accidentally inhaling his xìnxiāng.
The physician had repeatedly warned him that this pill was mostly taken by those who had lost their husbands. Therefore, if he came into contact with a Qianyuan’s xìnxiāng again, Chu Yi’s long-suppressed xìnxiāng would probably erupt, and he might directly enter his Rain and Dew Period…
Sheng Qianheng took several steps back and then asked with a wronged expression, “Did I do something wrong?”
Chu Yi only left a sentence, “Don’t follow me!”
He then stepped forward, pulled Chu Mingzhao back, and turned to walk toward his residence.
Chu Mingzhao naturally couldn’t understand the relationship between the two of them, but she would boldly guess.
She looked up at Chu Yi and asked, “Uncle, is he the father of the child in your belly?”
Chu Yi looked at Zhao’er in disbelief, then raised his head and tapped her on the head. “Don’t guess randomly!”
Chu Mingzhao rubbed her head, “oh-ed,” and then stopped talking nonsense.
After finally returning to the residence, the servant who was closing the door behind them said, “Who are you? Don’t trespass on a private residence!”
Chu Yi looked back at Sheng Qianheng. As expected, he had still followed! He sighed, then gave a few instructions and had Lianfang relay them.
Lianfang walked to the door and said to Sheng Qianheng, “Your Majesty, our master is unwilling to see you. You should go back.”
Sheng Qianheng was not willing to give up. He had already found Chu Yi. There was no reason to leave. “Tell Chu Yi that since he won’t let me in, then I’ll wait at this door. If I don’t see him for a day, I’ll wait for a day. If I don’t see him for three days, I’ll wait for three days, until he is willing to see me…”
Lianfang: “Your Majesty, please do as you please.”
Only then was the servant who was closing the door able to close the residence gate.
Lianfang repeated Sheng Qianheng’s words to Chu Yi and then said, “Your Highness, what are your plans now?”
Chu Yi shook his head slightly and whispered, “Lianfang, didn’t he announce to the public that he was ill? How did he find me?”
Lianfang: “This servant does not know.”
Sheng Qianheng sat on the stone steps in front of the residence gate. He had intentionally worn thin clothes, as if with a deep meaning.
The hidden guard, Suifeng, had been hidden in the shadows. Seeing that it was getting late and the temperature was dropping, the cold was growing stronger. He was worried that Sheng Qianheng would catch a cold and was about to step forward to hand him a piece of clothing to keep warm.
Sheng Qianheng immediately signaled for him to withdraw. He was waiting for Chu Yi’s heart to soften. Even if he froze to death, as long as he still had a place in Chu Yi’s heart, he couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.
In the middle of the night, Da Mo was in the middle of a cold winter. Sheng Qianheng only felt his teeth chattering. He didn’t know when snowflakes had started to fall, and in the process, they had dyed his hair silver-white, and even his eyelashes were frosted.
He curled up, squatting at the door, only feeling his thoughts gradually grow muddled…
Chu Yi went straight back to his bedchamber, only feeling that his thoughts were in chaos.
Hadn’t he written a letter telling Sheng Qianheng not to look for him? Although he knew that Sheng Qianheng would definitely not obey, he had found him in just over two months.
That night, Chu Yi lay on the bed, unable to sleep. He couldn’t fall asleep even until the yín hour.
He knew that Sheng Qianheng was a very stubborn person. He was afraid that he would really wait at his residence gate all the time.
After much hesitation, Chu Yi had no choice but to call for Lianfang and have her go and see if Sheng Qianheng was really squatting at the door.
