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The next day, Yang Nuo went to the palace and told Yi Yi about the situation.
âReally, big bro Nuo Nuo? Heng Heng really said that?â
Yang Nuo nodded, his lips curled in an elegant smile.
They were in a small bamboo forest near the eastern palace. It was a small grassy field filled with young bamboo trees. This was Yang Nuo and Yi Yiâs secret little hideout. The two of them had come often in the past.
Ever since the two of them realized they were interested in each other, they had often come here on dates. Actually they werenât really dates since Yi Yi hadnât quite figured it out yet. She only felt that she enjoyed hanging out with big bro Nuo Nuo alone to chat. As for what Yang Nuo the two-faced fellow thought, it was hard to say.
Yi Yi let out a breath and revealed a sweet and beautiful smile, âThatâs good then. To think I was worried for so long.â
Yi Yiâs voice was the soft and coy kind. When her mood was good, it would sound like she was acting coquettish. Every time it would make the listenerâs heart grow soft as can be.
âNo more worries?â
Yang Nuo leaned his face over to her cheek and rubbed her little face with his nose.
âBig bro Nuo Nuo.â
Yi Yi blinked her large eyes, her face blushing. She wanted to move away but also felt it would be too obvious. In the end, she still couldnât endure Yang Nuoâs fixed gaze and lowered her head shyly.
âSilly lass.â Yang Nuo laughed lightly and softly kissed the top of her head. âI have to make a trip back to the Yun Province in a few days. We might not be able to see each other for a long time.â
Yi Yi grabbed his hand in a panic, and gently creased her brows, âWhy?â
He pinched her nose, âItâs time for me to take the exam. I naturally have to return to my hometown to register.â
Yi YIâs brows furrowed even tighter, and she pouted her lips. âThen how long will you be gone? Will I not be able to see you for a long time?â
âNot too long. Once I pass the county-level exam, I will be able to return to the capital for the city exam and finally the court exam. We can meet again at that time.â
Yang Nuoâs voice was filled with confidence. Actually, he could have already passed the county exam when he was ten years old. However, his instructors told him that he hadnât accumulated enough experience due to his youth, and although he could pass, he wouldnât be able to score high, and wouldnât be able to do well in the city exam after that.
He waited six years and accumulated experience for six years. Now, he wanted to fulfill his wishes.
Yi Yi also knew that this was important to him, and thus didnât bother him despite the endless reluctance in her heart. She merely said with teary eyes and pouted lips: âThen big bro Nuo Nuo has to come see me once youâre back.â
âEn, wait for me to marry you when Iâm back!â
âŚâŚâŚ
While the Yang family prepared for Yang Nuoâs trip back home, the Jing Emperor also gave the crown prince an assignment.
The Yellow River had overflowed its banks for two years in a row. The Jing Emperor assigned Luo Zhuo to bring people along to investigate.
Luo Zhuo was sixteen, and had been brought along by the Jing Emperor to listen to politics since he was twelve. In the past few years, Luo Zhuo had gotten better and better and handling government affairs, but it was all limited to paper. He had never experienced dealing with the suffering of the people and working with regional officials.
The Jing Emperor understood that if the water was clear, there wouldnât be any fish. After several years of purging, things were much better than before. But the matter of the Yellow River flooding twice had made him rather angry. The Yellow River flooding had always been something that gave emperors headaches throughout history. After spending hundred thousands of silver taels every year without any effect, the Jing Emperor felt that something was not right.
When an imperial censor submitted a note impeaching the river channelâs governor Hu Guang Bo for corruption and abuse of law, the Jing Emperor decided to let the crown prince gain some experience.
Knowing that things werenât simple, the Jing Emperor not only made sufficient preparations for the crown prince on the surface, he also secretly sent people to follow him.
Therefore, Yang Nuo left the capital and Luo Zhuo was about to leave as well.
On this trip, he brought Yang Heng along. Yang Heng was the most skilled in martial arts amongst the three apprentice brothers, and it also allowed him to clear his mind.
âDo you feel regretful?â
Yang Heng stood at the end of the boat, and looked pensively back at the capital. Luo Zhuo walked over and patted his shoulder.
Yang Heng stuffed something back into his robes and smiled. âWhy should I feel regretful? I was clearly the one interfering. Yi Yi and my brother have feelings for each other.â As he spoke, his voice trailed off towards the end.
Luo Zhuo sighed and patted his arm. âItâs good you can understand. A man of character wonât have trouble finding a wife. In the future, you will definitely find a good girl to marry.â
Yang Heng smiled bitterly, and didnât speak.
No matter how good of a girl, it still wouldnât be her.
Having grown up as childhood friends, it would be a lie to say there were no feelings. But he had understood too late, and by the time he realized, Yi Yi and his brother already looked at each other differently.
He had been very dispirited for a few days, and in the end he wasnât resigned. He continued to play dumb for a long time. He just couldnât restrain his feelings, but it ended up making all three of them suffer. His older brother avoided Yi Yi for his sake, and Yi Yi avoided him for his brotherâs sake.
Actually, he had long since planned on clearing things up with them, but unexpectedly his older brother had taken the lead.
During this time, his heart had been dripping blood while he acted foolish and unaware. Since one was his own brother and one was his childhood friend, he also wanted them to be happy.
Yang Heng looked out upon the churning river, expelled his air of depression and laughed loudly a couple of times. âHighness is right. Men of character wonât have trouble finding a wife. I, Yang Heng, is someone who will become a great general. I wonât start a family before I accomplish my goals!â
He scarcely imagined that his words were prophetic. In the end, Yang Heng only got married when he was thirty years old. At that time, he had already become a mighty general whose name shook all of society. And also at that time, he encountered his predestined partner.
âŚâŚ.
Luo Zhuo encountered several dangers during this trip, and only returned after half a year. What awaited him on his return was his momâs intimate embrace which he hadnât felt in many years.
Xiao Huaâs heart had been full of pain this time. Although the Jing Emperor kept reassuring her that he had sent people along to watch over him, she still couldnât bear seeing the various reports of her sonâs hardships and injuries.
Luo Zhuo was drowned in Xiao Huaâs tears. The Jing Emperor glared at him, but Luo Zhuo pretended not to see and sank into his momâs warm embrace.
The Jing Emperor got jealous easily, even towards his sons. Once they had turned seven or eight, he didnât allow Xiao Hua to hug them. Putting it nicely, it was for their own good so they wouldnât grow up to become mommyâs boys.
Xiao Hua knew this was him being petty, but also knew it was truly for their own good. This time was because she had been worried and couldnât hold back any longer.
She looked her son over and made sure everything was in order before having someone arrange food. The family sat down for a reunion meal.
After eating, the children returned to their own palaces. Xiao Hua and the Jing Emperor went to bed after a bath. When they got in bed, Xiao Hua used her influence over the emperor for the first time in her life.
âMajesty, that Hu Guang Bo truly deserves death. You mustnât let him off this time.â
The Jing Emperor nodded and stroked her silk-like long hair. âWe have already ordered for him to be arrested back to the capital. We definitely wonât let him off.â
The river channelâs governor Hu Guang Bo had truly been daring. He embezzled the silver for the river channel and sent someone to assassinate the imperial censor who impeached him. After finding people had been sent from the capital to investigate him, he sent someone after them as well. Initially, he hadnât been aware of Luo Zhuoâs identity. After he found out the crown prince had personally come, Hu Guang Bo still didnât stop trying to have him killed. This was sufficient for his nine generations to be exterminated many times over.
Once Xiao Hua felt she had successfully persuaded him, she finally slept at ease for the first time in a while. The Jing Emperor looked at the bags under her eyes, and grew a few shades angrier at that Hu Guang Bo.
This matter will be temporarily put aside. The next day, Xiao Hua received news that the crown prince had actually brought a woman to the palace.
Xiao Hua was stunned and ordered someone to investigate.
The information she received was that when the crown prince went south to handle this matter, he had stayed at a minor officialâs house to recover from his wounds. That official had offered his own daughter to serve the crown prince.
Serve?
There were several meanings to that word.
Xiao Xia Zi smiled ambiguously and said with his head lowered that the crown prince had accepted and used her.
This struck quite the blow to Xiao Hua, and in confusion she waved her hand for him to leave.
When the crown prince came of age, the palace would send some palace maids to teach the crown prince the ways of the world. When she found out about this, Xiao Hua had struggled with it for a while before bringing it up with the Jing Emperor. The Jing Emperor felt that this was something the crown prince had to experience, in case he grew obsessed with matters in bed. Unexpectedly, Luo Zhuo was extremely opinionated, and despite the arrangements he never touched those two palace maids.
Who would have thought that after leaving for only half a year, he had accepted a woman offered by a subordinate official?
Xiao Hua urgently sent the Jing Emperor a message and he soon returned.
When Xiao Hua told him the situation with a concerned expression, the Jing Emperor gave her an indifferent glance.
âIsnât this a good thing? Donât you want hold a grandson?â
Hold a grandson?
Fine, Xiao Hua was almost at the age where she should be holding a grandson.
âBut what about Zhuoâerâs wedding and marriage?â
The Jing Emperor was too lazy to explain to this silly Xiao Huaâer that men normally had many wives and concubines. Especially the heir apparent to the throne. He only had her, but he wouldnât bother with his sonâs thoughts. It was something for his son to figure out himself.
If he met someone suitable, it was good if he could figure it out. It was fine if he didnât as well. As the future emperor, he could have his pick of women.
Xiao Hua looked at the manâs apathetic expression and awkwardly stroked her nose.
She understood the Jing Emperorâs perspective, and merely had gotten too used to it just being the two of them. Her son having a harem felt very weird.
However, she also understood how hard it was for the future emperor to only have one woman. She and Sir Jing only managed to reach this step due to their many shared experiences.
Thinking of how good he was, and how he was only good to her, Xiao Huaâs face turned red and she cuddled into his arms.
Looking at the sweetly smiling Xiao Huaâer who rubbed her face into his royal robes, how could the Jing Emperor not know what she was thinking?
His heart melted and he kissed the top of her forehead.
***
On the path in front of the Fengqi Palace, there were two figures walking slowly.
The one in front was tall, and wore a golden embroidered crown princeâs outfit, his hands clasped behind his back. The one behind was small, with dark hair and fair skin. A round figure whose face still contained some baby fat, round almond eyes and pouted little lips.
The figure in front stopped and turned with a frown: âWalk faster.â
The person behind let out an âayeâ and ran a couple of steps to catch up. Then, the person in front started walking again and the other fell behind due to her short legs.
Entering the Fengqi Palaceâs main hall, Luo Zhuo greeted Xiao Hua with a salute.
Then, Luo Zhuo stood up and looked around before pulling someone out from behind him. âPay respects to my mother empress.â
That young lady glanced at the beautiful woman upon the throne in a panic before kneeling with proper etiquette and kowtowing, âRespects to the empress, may the empress live long and prosper.â
âRise.â
Xiao Hua didnât expect her son to bring the girl over to see her. Her gaze was a little strange as she glanced at him.
Luo Zhuo sat on the side and said with a rigid expression: âMother empress, this is someone personally serving your son. Sheâs called Zhuâer. In the future when your son is busy, Iâll have her come fulfill my filial duties in my stead.â
Xiao Hua was embarrassed but still nodded.
What was this repressed son of hers up to?
Xiao Hua offered Zhuâer a seat, and saw that the girl was tiny, probably not yet fifteen. The young and round little person sat obediently behind Luo Zhuo, and only took up half a seat. She was clearly a timid one.
Luo Zhuo spoke with Xiao Hua for a while before leaving with Zhuâer.
Seeing her son leave, Xiao Hua revealed a complicated expression. This expression remained until the Jing Emperor returned.
Hearing Xiao Huaâs account, the Jing Emperor revealed a mysterious expression and didnât say anything.
Authorâs notes:
Haha, laughing a hundred times towards the heavens.
Really like the thought of Zhuoâerâs cool expression while a round little thing is following behind him.
Little Zhuoâer is only sixteen, this author is a baddie.
On another topic:
Regarding Yang Heng, Yang Nuo and Yi Yiâs matter, this author feels that since Yi Yi is such a cute girl, it is normal for both her childhood friends to like her. Before, Yang Nuoâs feelings were hinted at. Back then Yi Yi was only eight and Yang Nuo was older by a year but something was already going on.
Because this is the epilogue of Xiao Huaâs story, I didnât dare write in too much detail. The summarized style is a little different, where the main point is brought up first before the details were filled in this chapter.
Yang Hengâs acting was very good, even Yang Nuo was fooled. The only one who knew his feelings was Luo Zhuo who was the bystander. Therefore, Xiao Hua and Lin Qing Wan had both thought he was just Yi Yiâs childhood friend as well. Xiao Huaâs thoughts could be seen when she said âwho knows what those little things are thinkingâ. She was lamenting why they couldnât just say it directly, and had to avoid each other. Therefore, the situation where Lin Qing Wan objected to her two sons liking the same girl didnât happen.
As for Yang Nuo, he matured early and started liking Yi Yi early, so he made a move (who knows when the little brats learned to meet up in private. This authors didnât note a concrete time, everyone can use their own imaginations, hehe)
As for Yang Heng, he was always fooling around and was bit of a boor. He reacted too slow (by the time he realized, Yi Yi and his brother already looked at each other differently), and thatâs why he told Luo Zhuo it was him who was interfering.
Of course, this author also considered that Yang Nuo is a scholar while Yang Heng is a martial artist. Yang Heng had always wanted to become a great general. This was mentioned in Wan Wanâs novel. The Dingyuan Marquis also planned on nurturing Yang Heng, saying that he is a good sapling.
Everyone can imagine that a warrior becomes famous by bathing in the blood of his enemies. If Yi Yi married him, what would happen in the future? Worrying every day? Sure, she could use the royal familyâs authority to give him an official position, but this would be too cruel towards someone who truly has ambition. Lin Qing Wan would also not permit it. It is clear from the Yang familyâs way of doing things that they want to rise up via their own efforts, and not rely on others. How could Yang Heng choose between his love and his dreams? In order to not let Yi Yi worry, he would have to give up his ambitions. Would it be a lifelong regret? (Alright, perhaps this author overthought things, but I really thought this way)
Therefore, I feel like Yang Hengâs ending should be to fulfill his dreams first before finding his own destined person. Everyone has a first love in their hearts, and if they think of them in the future, it would just be a beautiful memory. Itâll probably be the same for himâŚ..
Donât know if this explanation is satisfactory, please donât hit meâŚ.