novelraw Chapter 806: Will You Come With Me?
Chapter 806: Will You Come With Me?
The Jingshu Palace where Princess Consort Jing resides is somewhat remote, situated on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace, so when the upheaval occurred, she was sent away.
Now, she stays at her father’s house.
The rank of the Commanding Officer of the Imperial Medical Bureau isn’t high, and it’s not close to the Golden Hall, so he managed to escape. However, his arm was hit by falling debris when fleeing and is now recovering at home.
That day, amidst the thunderstorm, many palace maids, eunuchs, and some officials lost their lives. To have survived was truly by the grace of the ancestors.
Wen Jingzhong was recuperating at home, his arm still hung in a sling, and as he leaned against a chair, dozing off, someone suddenly came to report: "Master, Captain Yang is here to visit, he says he wants to see... Princess Consort Jing!"
Wen Jingzhong was slightly taken aback, then gave a bitter smile.
Princess Consort Jing? Where is there a Princess Consort anymore? That man doesn’t even want to be Emperor, he just cast the throne aside, and the women in his harem were either struck by lightning or sent back home... As for his own daughter, after all, she did bear him a son, but what about it? Where is he?
Did he ever come?
No, never at all!
My daughter, she’s been abandoned, hasn’t she?
Wen Jingzhong felt a bitter pain in his heart and thought that Yang Shiqi, being Li Qingmu’s close associate, must have come to convey a message. So he said, "Let him in!"
Shortly after, Yang Shiqi came in.
"Where is the Princess Consort?"
As soon as he entered, he looked around, not seeing the Princess Consort, he quickly inquired.
"Does he... have a message for my daughter? Just tell me, I can pass it on."
Wen Jingzhong said indifferently, likely not wanting Yang Shiqi to stay long.
Yang Shiqi replied, "These words, I must say to her, personally!"
He looked a bit anxious, his palms clenched tightly, he was incredibly nervous inside.
After all, standing before him was his father-in-law, who knows if he will agree to let him see the Princess Consort?
But no matter what, today he must see her, and take both mother and son back to Dazhou!
Wen Jingzhong was not a fool, sensing something was amiss, he curiously looked at him, "It’s you who wants to see my daughter, not him?"
Yang Shiqi nodded firmly, "Yes."
Wen Jingzhong seemed to realize something, looking at him with a complex expression. Seeing the young man’s face full of determination, he sighed lightly and said, "Take him to see the young miss."
The butler hurriedly responded, leading Yang Shiqi to the back courtyard.
In the back courtyard, Princess Consort Jing was sitting beside a stone table, coaxing her son.
The little lad, chubby and tender, was quite endearing. Looking at his eyebrows and eyes, clearly defined, he was sure to grow into a handsome young man in the future.
In a mother’s eyes, her child is perfect, the best in the world, with no one able to replace her son!
Princess Consort Jing had no interest in the throne, power, or wealth; she just wished for a peaceful life, accompanying her son, watching him grow up healthily and live happily, that was enough.
Just as she was entranced by her precious son, a maid approached and said, "Miss, there’s a gentleman outside wanting to see you, he says he has something to tell you!"
Princess Consort Jing was taken aback, "Who?"
"He said he’s that former Emperor’s trusted aide, seems to be called... right, Yang Shiqi?"
"Him?" Princess Consort Jing gave a dazed smile, "That man is a bit silly, seems quite interesting. By the way, what’s his business with me?"
"I don’t know, but since the butler brought him from master’s side, there should be some urgent matter, right?"
At this point, a young maid suddenly said, "Could it be that gentleman wants to bring the young miss and her son back to Dazhou? After all, the young miss gave birth to his heir! Moreover, that gentleman may no longer be the Emperor, but returning to Dazhou, he’s still part of the Imperial Family, life wouldn’t be bad, miss..."
The maid rattled on a bunch, only to find the miss and others staring at her intently. The young maid realized she’d said too much and hastily knelt down, begging for forgiveness.
"Enough, get up!"
Princess Consort Jing liked tranquility and naturally disliked the servants crying and wailing, it was bothersome.
"Miss, then... should you still meet with that gentleman?"
"Meet, why not?" Princess Consort Jing smiled gently, "There’s nothing to do anyway, having someone to chat and ease the boredom is good, let him in!"
Yang Shiqi didn’t expect to gain entrance so smoothly, he thought it would take a long time, or even require other means, but here he was, already meeting her?
He bewilderedly entered the garden, walking through the corridor, around a rockery, and finally saw the gentle woman playing with the child.
Princess Consort Jing, it’s really her!
Yang Shiqi’s breath hitched, seeing the Princess Consort again, he was somewhat excited.
"Princess... Princess Consort Jing..."
His voice stuttered, slightly hoarse, he was too nervous.
Princess Consort Jing looked up, curiously observing him, "They said you have something to tell me, I wonder, what is it you wish to say?"
Yang Shiqi gazed at her exquisite face and slightly reddened lips, feeling his heart race, as if it might leap from his throat at any moment!
"You, you, you..." he repeated ’you’ thrice, yet couldn’t continue, only after a long pause did he say, "Are you well?"
This opening line left Yang Shiqi at a loss, as if this wasn’t a relationship already long-developed yet also long-separated?
How many times have he and she met?
How could such a greeting be appropriate?
Princess Consort Jing also paused, looking up at the apprehensive Yang Shiqi, whose cheeks were red, as if he were the blushing maiden.
Princess Consort Jing, being intelligent and perceptive, clearly comprehended, she paused slightly in surprise, then said, "You... is it you?"
This inquiry felt so sudden, both were somewhat at a loss.
Princess Consort Jing blushed momentarily, lowered her head, "Is it you? Or... is it not?"
"I..."
Yang Shiqi was momentarily at a loss for words.
It’s him, it has always been him!
Princess Consort Jing observed his reaction, chuckled softly, "I knew long ago, that the man tender and thoughtful that night wasn’t him! His heart had been occupied, no room for any other woman, and his aura was too aloof, I didn’t like that. So... I was sure, it wasn’t him!"
After she spoke, she looked up at Yang Shiqi again, "It’s you, right? Each time you saw me, you’d be nervous, heartbeat quickened. Initially, just a semblance, but gradually, it became instinctive, each time you’d see me, you’d become excited, isn’t that so?"
Yang Shiqi was silent for a moment, he had... he had been seen through?
So, from that day, when he assumed Li Qingmu’s identity to favor her, she had known all along that he wasn’t Li Qingmu!
Laughable, he’d been cautiously fearing she’d see through him.
Turns out, it was all one-sided, his foolish self!
Yang Shiqi’s heart was filled with shock and dejection, yet he still had to ask the most anticipated question in his heart, also, the one he feared most.
"Since you knew, then... would you be willing to leave with me?"