The sun is not that warm in the winter afternoon, but the light is strong enough.
It filtered in through the window behind him, reflecting the figures of the two people under the window on the floor tiles.
In the light and shadow, people were leaning on each other. Maybe the sunlight was too dim, and maybe the shadows were too long and slanted. Lin Yunyan lowered her eyes and looked at it, and she could see the feeling of eternity.
It seemed as if she and Xu Jian were no longer so young. They had really gone through a long time, reached their twilight years, and reached the sunset of their lives.
This feeling came suddenly and lingered for a while, accumulating in the chest and slowing down the beating of the entire heart.
Yes.
I am old and slow.
Lin Yunyan thought that even if she was feeling dizzy that day, it was not real, but she did like it.
For her, isn't what she wants in her new life just to be able to reach her twilight years and experience her twilight years with Xu Jian beside her?
His long eyelashes trembled, and his chest was inevitably swollen with emotions.
For a moment, Lin Yunyan wanted to cry, but there were no tears in her eyes.
The tear glands seemed to have been frozen by the cold winter. Even in the warm side hall, they could not be dissolved, so that the bloated emotions could not be vented.
The fingers pressing on the cushion were curled up, and the fingertips used some force to support her body. Lin Yunyan raised her head from Xu Jian's arms.
In her sight, she saw Xu Jian's neck, and there was a small red mark on the protruding Adam's apple.
It was something she got out last night. It was very shallow. It was so shallow that it would have been impossible to spot it if she hadn't been so close. Moreover, before the two of them went out, Lin Yunyan even covered Xu Jian with powder.
Maybe it was because it took a long time, and I went back and forth to the imperial study room again, going in and out of the hot and cold indoors and outdoors, so that I lost some color, and it was obvious when she, the instigator who knew it all, looked at me.
Further up is Xu Jian's jawline. It was cleaned up early in the morning, and now even the scum is not obvious.
Without thinking, Lin Yunyan raised her head higher and leaned over to touch it.
It's so clear and shallow that it's not enough to vent your emotions, but it's better to open some stable holes and have a place to go than to burst the embankment.
Xu Jian's hand on her back tightened, he held her waist and lifted her up, letting her sit on his lap.
Lin Yunyan thought it was her left leg, so she didn't say much to Xu Jian.
Speaking of which, she had always been accustomed to leaning on Xu Jian's left side.
Even in the past, Xu Jian ended up with both legs broken, but she still subconsciously avoided Xu Jian's right leg more. This habit was naturally developed, and it continues to this day.
No one spoke, and the kisses ranged from light to long, tender and gentle.
Lin Yunyan's whole body was relaxed, and those swollen emotions slowly dissipated under such gentle comfort.
It did not become a torrent that broke through the dam, but instead became a gurgling stream that spread slowly, moistening things silently.
When they separated, her breathing was not rapid. Lin Yunyan stretched out her hand to make gestures in the shadow of the setting sun. It didn't mean much. It was like playing with a child, and she was quite happy.
After playing for a while, she got up and went to the dressing table.
Although I haven't lived here for a while, the daily necessities are still very complete.
Lin Yunyan took a box of powder and ointment, returned to Xu Jian, raised her chin at him, revealing her long neck.
Xu Jian's eyes fell on her fair skin. Seeing that her fingers were already stained with some powder, she understood and raised her head.
Lin Yunyan stood in front of Xu Jian, got very close, and pressed the red mark on his Adam's apple with her fingertips using the sunlight that had not had time to dissipate.
The mark was really very small, the fingertips were not covered at all, and it was very shallow. Others might not be able to see it even if they were standing talking to Xu Jian, but Lin Yunyan cared about it and insisted on covering it up.
Under the fingertips, the Adam's apple slid up and returned to its original position. Lin Yunyan thought that it was enough, so she took back her hand and put away everything.
The two of them didn't rest long in the side hall, but the days were short in winter, and the twilight was getting darker and darker before they knew it. If they didn't prepare to leave the palace, they would probably have to light the lanterns.
"Back?" Xu Jian asked.
Lin Yunyan nodded.
She did not ask Xu Jian what he had said to the emperor in the royal study.
The palace is not a good place to talk. Even if it is Cining Palace, a side hall without outsiders, the two of them will not mention anything related to Li Shao here.
The two of them came out one after another and walked to the main hall.
When Uncle Yu saw them coming, he smiled and said, "My wife has been up for a while."
Lin Yunyan walked in and saw the Empress Dowager talking to Grandma Wang. She said, "You have taken a break. Why didn't you send someone to call me?"
"What you young couple say about you, the Ai family won't do," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Lin Yunyan still sat down next to her and said with a smile: "That did say a lot. I told him about the time when I lived in the palace before. There were many things in the side hall, all the same. I haven't finished yet.
Woolen cloth."
In front of the Empress Dowager, Xu Jian rarely showed a bit of shyness.
The Queen Mother continued casually: "What kind of thing?"
"The ones you rewarded, the Holy One rewarded, were left behind by my mother when she lived in the palace..." Lin Yunyan said, "I have to tell him more about what I drew and what I played in the side hall."
The Empress Dowager laughed: "Yes, the last few times Xu Jian came to Cining Palace, you were either in the main hall or in the garden at the back. You never entered the side hall."
Eunuch Yu was standing aside. After hearing this, he raised his eyes and looked at Grandma Wang.
The princess's words were correct. She probably didn't mean anything. Looking at the Queen Mother's reaction, she didn't think about it. It was just like the close grandfather and grandson chatting about family matters.
It's just that you can't say this out of this palace, otherwise it will fall into the ears of interested people, and it will seem like provoking trouble.
The princess spoke eloquently about the old things here. In the past few months, the East Palace had improperly stored them, and the late queen's relics were damaged a lot. Even though it was said that the prince had repaired them himself, they were still damaged...
Grandma Wang also understood what her father-in-law meant in her heart, and she also believed that the princess had no unnecessary thoughts.
It's just that those twists and turns in the middle are not something they can discuss casually.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and don't let the words get out.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The Empress Dowager is used to Lin Yunyan chatting about daily life. Even though she has talked to Lin Yunyan openly and secretly for the sake of the prince, she does not feel that Lin Yunyan is deliberately making trouble.
After all, the young couple who just got married yesterday, although they had some contact before the marriage, were still in the stage of getting to know each other and getting used to each other, and they could only talk about these topics when they got along.
Telling stories about old things is a normal way of getting along.
However, there is no room for much "unintentionality" in this palace.
After listening to Lin Yunyan talking for a while, the Empress Dowager said: "It's getting late. You go pick some tea and take it back. The Ai family will explain a few words to Xu Jian."
Lin Yunyan agreed.
As soon as she left, the Queen Mother's eyes fell on Xu Jian.
"Yun Yan has grown up in the palace. She has always been sensitive and cautious. Of course, she will occasionally be squeamish." The Empress Dowager smiled as she spoke.
If you are not squeamish, why would you call Li Shao a "duck"?
"You should mention her more," the Empress Dowager added. "If you really need anything, just discuss it with the Ai family. If you like tea and wine, the Ai family is not without them."
Xu Jian smiled.
The meaning of the Queen Mother's words was also very clear.
She originally disagreed with the way the "Guyue Tribute Wine" was handled last time, and she also knew that Lin Yunyan's behavior of begging for wine at that time was the idea behind Xu Jian's back. Lin Yunyan's squeamishness was actually taught by Xu Jian.
In this case, instead of telling Lin Yunyan to be obedient, it would be better to talk to Xu Jian directly.
Xu Jian knew that this was the Queen Mother's care and love.
Without the protection of the Empress Dowager, how could the two of them be so powerful?
Over the past year or so, all the progress that could be gained from the harem was due to the Empress Dowager's preference for the little princess.
The Empress Dowager's requirements for them were very simple, love, harmony and smoothness, nothing more.
It is precisely because of this that although the Empress Dowager helped and protected them time and time again, she still couldn't figure out why they wanted to confront Li Shao.
Some were intentional, like tribute wine, and some were intentional, like tiger bones, which in the eyes of the empress dowager were well-intentioned but Li Shao didn't appreciate. There were also the little princess's common words that anyone else would have thought were provocative.
However, Xu Jian knew that Lin Yunyan was not causing trouble just now.
In fact, the two of them didn't say anything in the side hall. They hugged and kissed quietly for a while, but this kind of intimacy was not suitable for telling the truth to the Empress Dowager. The little princess couldn't be shameless about this, so she just kept it smooth.
Made up a reason.
I have no intention of going after Li Shao.
But in the end, it was impossible for the two of them to completely settle their conflict with Li Shao in front of the Empress Dowager.
None of them are like them. They have not experienced the years when Li Shao was in sole control, and have not been forced into desperation.
"With your pampering, I will naturally have all the good things. I have benefited from the princess." Xu Jian said.
The Queen Mother was still smiling and said nothing more.
After Lin Yunyan had picked out the tea leaves to take away, the two of them said goodbye to the Empress Dowager. Eunuch Yu sent them out, leaving only the Empress Dowager and Grandma Wang in the palace.
Grandma Wang observed the words and expressions and served tea to the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager took a sip. The tea was slightly bitter in the mouth and had a sweet aftertaste.
She liked the taste very much. She stroked the tea cup with her fingertips for a long time and then smiled.
How could she not understand what Xu Jian said?
In Xu Jian's words, the premise of everything is "to be pampered by you".
And she will be gone sooner or later.
This is what the Empress Dowager is worried about. When she spoke to Lin Yunyan several times, she actually meant this. Therefore, when Xu Jian mentioned it like this, it was hard for the Empress Dowager not to think about it.
Her worry comes from her age and her perception of her old age.
How could Yun Yan or Xu Jian be more worried than her?
Not only are they worried that she will leave early, but they also have no confidence in the prince's future. It seems that whether the two of them take the initiative to confront the prince, they will be in trouble...
Thinking too much.
The Queen Mother pursed her lips.
It doesn't seem right to say that. The temper Li Shao has shown in the past two years will indeed make people lose their patience.
But Xu Jian should not be included among those who are eager to stir up trouble.
There is no need for Xu Jian, and it is absolutely inappropriate. Besides, Xu Jian should not have shown the slightest tendency to be detrimental to the prince in front of the emperor.
Based on the Sage's preference for Li Shao, if Xu Jian showed any signs of it, the Sage would not treat him with such high regard and support.
So, was it because she was guessing and thinking wrongly, or was Xu Jian completely hiding in front of the emperor?
The Empress Dowager did not dare to make a complete judgment for a while.
Have to look again.
Look at your Majesty, look at Li Shao.
On the other side, when Xu Jian and Lin Yunyan returned to Fu Guogong's mansion, it was already dark.
The house was lit with lanterns, and the festive red silk lanterns were not removed. The two of them went back to their rooms to have dinner, and then sent people to talk about Xu Jian going to the imperial study.
"You have to give him something to do," Xu Jian said. "Looking at him like that, he probably won't be able to stay idle."
Lin Yunyan said: "There is still almost a month before the seal. If he can't stay idle, no one will push him, and I'm afraid there won't be much trouble."
Xu Jian said: "The two chamberlains who followed the prince to the imperial study today are Eunuch Guo and Feng."
Lin Yunyan understood.
Eunuch Guo was ordered by Eunuch Cao himself, and Li Shao had to serve him, but he also knew that this was someone arranged by the Holy One to watch over him.
In addition to this, anyone who can win Li Shao's favor must have something "exceptional" about him.
That Feng's servant was probably the one who taught Li Shao how to "turn disaster into good fortune" and make the Holy Emperor calm down. At the same time, it was probably the person behind the scenes who had inserted him into the situation.
Whether there will be a big storm or not depends on how Feng Feng incites it.
After finishing the matter, Lin Yunyan called Wan Yue to come in and wash her face.
After everything that needed to be tidied up, Wan Yue exited and saw Granny Ma spreading bedding in the second room.
"Mommy," Wan Yue stepped forward and said in a lowered voice, "Please stay with me tonight."
Mother Ma looked at her: "Okay?"
Wan Yue's face turned red. Thinking of the red marks she saw when the princess got up during the day, her face turned even redder.
"It's my job," Wan Yue pursed her lips, "I can't keep working hard, grandma."
When Mother Ma heard what she said, she agreed and whispered a few more words.
"Mother Geng is in the small kitchen. She needs water in the room. Please ask Mother Geng to bring it in. Don't be brave. If you spill the water in the middle of the night, you will be in trouble."
"I have also prepared the decoction that the princess wants. You can give it to her when the time comes."
"Be smart and don't fall asleep."
Wan Yue listened carefully and kept nodding.
The night is getting deeper.
The lamp was blown out in the bedroom, and Wan Yue quickly blew out the lamp in the next room.
She had been following the princess for so many years, so she was used to staying on night watch, but things were different now, so she was not used to it.
Fortunately, I slept soundly in the second half of the night and didn't feel sleepy when I woke up in the morning.
Because she has to go home, Lin Yunyan cannot sleep until she wakes up naturally like she did yesterday.
The homecoming ceremony had been prepared long ago, and a carriage was piled high.
After leaving the Duke's Mansion and arriving at Uncle Chengyi's Mansion, Lin Yunyan stepped out of the car and saw her family waiting for them at the door.
Mrs. Chen smiled and shook her hand: "The old lady is waiting in the house."
Lin Yunyan responded, and she saw Lin Yunfang, who was leaning against Lin Yunjing, winking at her, looking extremely naughty.
A group of people entered Zai Shou Yuan.
Little Mrs. Duan was sitting upright, with her hair combed shiny and shiny, in high spirits, looking at Lin Yunyan and Xu Jian who came in.
The granddaughter has seen too much, so she looks good, and this grandson-in-law...
Among all the young people in the capital, in terms of background, appearance, and ability, this person is the most outstanding one.
And this is their uncle from the Chengcheng Mansion!
Little Duan looked up and down, and the more he looked at it, the more satisfied he became.
