Soon, news came out from the palace that the fifth prince, Yu Guming and the Huns' hostage Yi Zhigui, together with several ministers from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, would soon leave for Mobei to discuss the matter of the strike.
Before leaving, Yu Guming came into the palace to say goodbye to Concubine Rong.
Concubine Rong was naturally reluctant to let go, but she also said: "You are doing it for national affairs, and no matter how reluctant my grandmother is to let go, she can't stop you.
But there is one thing: going out is no better than at home, so be careful. Wind and frost are coming along the way, so take care of yourself and don't show off.
No matter where you go, you cannot go alone, and you must have someone to protect you. You and your fifth brother will take care of each other and come back safely."
She said Yu Guming promised, and finally the concubine said: "You and Lao Wu will definitely fulfill their mission on this trip. Come back and celebrate with you again! I will pray for you every day in front of the Bodhisattva."
"Grandma, please take care of us and don't worry about us too much." Yu Guming said, "As long as you sincerely pray, the Bodhisattva will definitely bless us."
"Oh, go! Go! When the child grows up, it will be like the little eagle with hard feathers. It must fly to the sky." Concubine Rong said with joy and reluctance, "Especially for men.
, If you don’t go to see the heaven and the earth, you won’t be able to survive through the wind and rain.”
Then he called Xue Hengzhao on the side: "Send off the crown prince for me."
Outside Tong'an Palace, Yu Guming and Xue Hengzhao walked one behind the other, two or three steps apart.
At first, neither of them spoke, only the rustling of footsteps.
The shadows on the palace wall were a bit long because the weather was not very sunny and the shadows were light.
Finally, Yu Guming stopped and turned around. He looked at Xue Hengzhao and said, "It's cold, you should go back!"
Xue Hengzhao did not leave, but warned: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself along the way!"
It wasn't that Yu Guming really had nothing to say to her, but that he couldn't bear to show sadness when parting.
What's more, the weather was really cold, and he was afraid that Xue Hengzhao would be frozen.
"You should be more careful in the palace," Yu Guming said, "there are too many evil-hearted people here."
Xue Hengzhao couldn't help laughing after hearing this, and asked with a smile: "Am I a good person?"
"You... you are different from them." Yu Guming couldn't help but blush, but his tone was extremely determined, "They all deserved their punishment, you... you had no choice but to do it."
Seeing his serious look, Xue Hengzhao couldn't help laughing and bent over.
Others don't know how vicious his methods are, but Yu Guming knows it.
He is such an upright person, yet he tolerates his own mistakes time and time again and feels that he is excusable.
Yu Guming stood there and looked at Xue Hengzhao, his face full of affection and he couldn't move his eyes away.
Xue Hengzhao smiled enough, straightened her expression, and took out the white jade rosewood that Yu Guming had given her from her sleeve.
"This was given to me by the Crown Prince at the beginning. It has been with me for many times, and it has indeed helped me turn misfortune into good fortune and help me resolve difficulties.
Now that the prince is leaving the country, take this with you! May you return to Beijing soon and be safe and sound."
Yu Guming looked at the white jade plant cherishingly, but shook his head resolutely and said, "Since I gave it to you, I will never take it back."
Not only this thing, but everything he has given will never be taken back, even if there is never a response.
Xue Hengzhao's heart moved slightly, he took off a hairpin from his head and said: "The meaning of this hairpin in a jade vase is very good, why not give it to the prince!"
There was a look of joy on Yu Guming's face, but he still shook his head: "I...I want you to give me something else, not this."
"Then what does the prince want?" Xue Hengzhao asked.
"You...you are so smart, you can definitely guess it." Yu Guming's face turned redder, "If I can come back from the desert safely, can you...can you send me off?"
Xue Hengzhao lowered his head and remained silent. Yu Guming thought she was angry and couldn't help but panic: "No, it doesn't matter, you don't have to take it seriously...just think that I...didn't say anything.
I...I'm leaving the palace, you...take care of yourself."
As he spoke, he turned around and left, his steps staggering slightly in a hurry.
Why did he leave so quickly? Maybe he was afraid that Xue Hengzhao would be embarrassed, or maybe he was afraid that he would continue to make a fool of himself!
He blamed himself for being so rude? People were kind enough to see him off, but he wanted to take advantage of it...
Alas! This is really not the behavior of a gentleman.
Xue Hengzhao will definitely stop talking to him from now on, he really deserves it!
"Your Majesty," Xue Hengzhao called him from behind, "Wait a minute."
Yu Guming stopped and turned around awkwardly, but never dared to look at Xue Hengzhao again.
Xue Hengzhao walked up to him unhurriedly. Yu Guming was very tall, and Xue Hengzhao had to raise his head to see his face - a very handsome face, which looked a little childish because of the intense redness.
"Will the prince just stand there?" Xue Hengzhao asked.
"I..." Yu Guming was even more at a loss.
"Stretch out your hand!" Xue Hengzhao felt helpless.
"I..." Yu Guming didn't know why.
"Since you feel at ease that you want me to give you that thing, then extend your hand first." Xue Hengzhao said, "Otherwise, how would I know what size you want?"
"I...you..." Yu Guming stuttered for a long time before asking, "You want to send me away? Is it true?"
"Do I like teasing?" Xue Heng glanced at him, "If you don't reach out, I'll leave."
"Don't...don't..." Yu Guming became anxious and stretched out both hands.
Xue Hengzhao held back his laughter, pulled out a strand of hair from his head, gently passed it around the ring finger of Yu Guming's left hand, then flexibly tied a knot to mark it, and then pulled the strand out.
"Okay, the prince can leave." Xue Hengzhao said, "I've measured it."
Yu Guming was a little in disbelief, and he asked: "You... you should know that this thing has a profound meaning, and it... cannot be given away casually."
"Of course I know," Xue Hengzhao's face turned cold slightly, "If you hesitate, I won't give it away."
"Don't... don't..." Yu Guming wanted to slap himself twice in the mouth, and said with a silly smile, "It's okay if you know, it's okay if you know."
Like an overjoyed child, he suddenly turned around and ran forward, but then he seemed to remember something and suddenly turned around and ran back to Xue Hengzhao: "Hengzhao, wait for me, I will come back safely."
Xue Hengzhao smiled and whispered: "Fool."
Yu Guming couldn't say anything anymore, looked at Xue Hengzhao with a smile on his face, and walked away backwards.
Xue Hengzhao didn't want to see him look so stupid anymore, so he turned around and walked away.
It wasn't until Xue Hengzhao's figure completely disappeared from Yu Guming's sight that he turned around and strode forward.
At this moment, his heart was so light that he could fly into the sky. Even if he was heading to a frozen desert thousands of miles away and facing the bloodthirsty Xiongnu, he still felt happy.
The fingers entangled by Xue Hengzhao's hair were kissed again and again by him along the way.
The thing he wanted Xue Hengzhao to give him was a ring, as a sign of caution and affection.