The sky was dim, and only the still shaking chair and the broken strings of the piano were left in the mountains.
A pair of masters and servants walked out of the woods. The fourth prince Lu Yu, dressed in plain clothes, had a sad and dazed look on his face.
Other princes came to Pingliang to see Qinghe. As soon as they arrived, they were attracted by the bustle of Pingliang and the beautiful scenery of Qinghe.
Lu Yu came to pay homage to his lost mother and concubine.
This was the place where her mother often came for walks when she was alive. He originally just wanted to come and stay quietly for a while, but he didn't expect to witness everything just now in the dark.
"It would be nice if someone was with me when my concubine left. She left so lonely..." Lu Yu said with a sigh.
Concubine Ning, who was born in the Qingliu family, was talented and scholarly, and she was once doted upon.
Unfortunately, he was ultimately defeated in the seduction fight in the palace. Later, he escaped from the palace and practiced hard in Hanshan Temple in the name of praying for the emperor.
His broken body lasted less than three years, and he died alone in the middle of the night.
"Your Highness..." The chamberlain behind him didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.
Lu Yu quickly collected his emotions and said, "This Miss Shen is different from the rumors."
Lu Yu finally took away the broken stringed piano that Shen Xingwan had played.
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After the old lady learned about Zhou Meidai's affairs, she felt very emotional and sent the old ladies around her to help deal with Zhou Meidai's afterlife.
Zhou Meidai's afterlife is kept simple according to the instructions in her suicide note.
Shen Xingwan cremated her body, and after seven months, he sent someone to take the ashes back to Jiangnan and bury her with Yu Wenjin.
The memorial tablet was placed in Hanshan Temple for salvation, and Shen Xingwan had to kneel for the afternoon prayer every afternoon after finishing his work.
For several days in a row, Shen Xingwan met a young man in plain clothes on the way there or on the way back.
The two of them would pass by each other every time, or the young master would politely let her go first.
But never said a word.
On the day when Zhou Meidai's ashes were sent away, it rained in Pingliang.
Shen Xingwan wore white clothes, held an oil-paper umbrella, and placed a blooming camellia next to Zhou Meidai's urn.
"Sister, have a good trip."
Shen Xingwan stood in the mountains and watched the team go away. He stood there without speaking for a long time.
Witnessing a living life dying before his eyes, Shen Xingwan has been feeling depressed these past few days.
What she didn't know was that someone was watching her from a high place.
Eunuch Gao quietly raised his eyes and looked at Shen Xingwan in the distance. Shen Xingwan, with her elegant dress and outstanding temperament, thought of the words, "If you want to be pretty, be filial."
The fourth prince seemed gentle, but he was actually quite cold-hearted. Eunuch Gao always felt that he paid too much attention to Miss Shen.
"Your Highness, let's go back. It's raining, cold and windy."
The fourth prince said nothing, and he didn't know whether he heard it or not.
Shen Xingwan walked up to Hanshan Temple step by step, holding an umbrella.
In the house where Zhou Meidai lived above, there are some of her relics, and Shen Xingwan wants to take them away.
Halfway through, the young man in white whom she had seen several times walked out on the side road.
The two of them remained silent. After their eyes met for a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Various people walked up the mountain holding umbrellas.
Ban Xia, who was walking behind, couldn't help but tug on Qing Hong's sleeves and motioned her to look at the two of them.
Qinghong raised her eyes and saw that both of them were dressed in white and had an extraordinary temperament. What was strange was that they were walking upwards in unison...
Looking from behind, it actually makes people feel that they are a perfect match.
Shen Xingwan soon realized something was wrong and glanced at Lu Yu.
But Lu Yu didn't seem to notice anything and walked forward without looking away.
Just when Shen Xingwan was about to look away, Lu Yu suddenly looked at her and said, "The road is slippery due to rain, so be careful where you step, girl."
After a pause, he said, "My condolences."
Probably in the wind and rain, on the steps in front of Hanshan Temple, these few words were not inconsistent with harmony at all, and Shen Xingwan surprisingly did not feel disgusted.
"Young master, are you here for a short stay?" Shen Xingwan asked.
Maybe there have been too many things going on recently, and she doesn't really believe in coincidences and strangers who appear suddenly.
Lu Yu said calmly, "Come to pay homage to your late mother."
"I said too much." Shen Xingwan said apologetically.
The atmosphere became quiet again, and no one had time to speak. After the two of them walked up the mountain together, they separated at the intersection of Hanshan Temple.
When leaving, Lu Yu glanced at her, as if he was saying goodbye to this short journey together with his eyes.
Shen Xingwan smiled back.
Until he went down the mountain and left Hanshan Temple, he had never encountered him again. Shen Xingwan didn't take it to heart.
Princess Qinghe stayed in Pingliang for more than ten days. Next month is the Queen Mother's birthday, and she finally showed her intention to leave.
Before leaving, a flowing water banquet was held for three days and three nights.
The whole mansion was very lively.
"Miss, the moonlight is pretty tonight, why don't we go out and get some fresh air?" Ban Xia advised from the side, Shen Xingwan had been in a bad mood these past few days.
"I heard that the Kongming lanterns will be set off tonight, let's go and have a look." Qinghong also said at the side.
Shen Xingwan also felt that it was time to calm down, "Let's go, let's go take a look too."
The three of them walked around Princess Qinghe's yard and walked slowly.
Finally, we stopped in a pavilion at a high place, where we had a good view of the lights.
Sure enough, when the moon reaches the zenith, countless sky lanterns float up, which is extremely beautiful. It is a grand scene in Pingliang in recent years.
"I heard that making a wish before the Kongming Lantern will come true." Banxia looked eager to try.
"Then you need a lot more." Shen Xingwan leaned on the railing and looked at him with a gentle expression.
On the stone road under the pavilion, several drunken young men from aristocratic families also noticed this good viewing position and came hand in hand.
"It seems that someone has already arrived first." You Gongzi whispered.
Lu Yu raised his head and saw Shen Xingwan standing in the pavilion. She was wearing a light green skirt, holding a round fan in her hand, the skirt of the skirt was flying, and her eyes were as clear as spring water.
It seemed that she felt something in her heart and noticed his gaze.
Shen Xingwan lowered his head and looked down. The two of them looked at each other in the light of the sky.
A drunken young man from an aristocratic family whistled, "That little girl from that family is so pretty."
Shen Xingwan took a step back and quickly disappeared into the pavilion.
Sure enough, when they went up, there was no one in the pavilion.
Only the orchid fragrance of Dai Dai remains.
Lu Yu stood where Shen Xingwan stood just now, looking at the Kongming lanterns all over the sky, a little absent-mindedly.
He wondered if he had disturbed her just now.
"How come I haven't seen this girl at the banquet..." The young man from the aristocratic family next to him was still mumbling.
A young man in green clothes was sitting on the railing, raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "It's not the girl at the banquet, but the only one who appears here is Miss Shen."
As he spoke, he looked at Lu Yu and said, "The future Crown Princess of Zhennan is very beautiful, fresh and refined. It's a pity that Prince Fu is useless now. It's a pity that the Crown Princess is gone."
