I never thought that I would see her here, and I couldn't help but smile on my face.

I was happy at first, and then sour—I really complained about her alienation in the past few days, and I couldn't guess the purpose of her appearance at this moment, so I deliberately turned my face cold, and asked in a muffled voice, "What are you doing here?" ”

"Your Highness's ceremony today, your subordinates have a congratulatory ceremony to present, please smile and accept it." She didn't change color because of my coldness, she still spoke tepidly, but the strength of her grip on my wrist tightened, and her eyes became clearer and brighter.

“…… Hmph, what is it? Show it to me, and if it doesn't suit your liking, I don't want it. "I said the opposite, but I was overjoyed in my heart: Could it be that she hasn't seen anyone for the past few days, just to prepare for my Shao Li?

-- She has the heart to give me a gift, which is already rare, and whatever it is, I always cherish it.

"This He Yi is not here, is Your Highness willing to move?" She asked cautiously, and there was a little subtle apprehension, and my heart immediately softened, and I nodded my head in response.

But when I saw her hook her lips and say "offended", she picked me up by the waist, jumped on the wall of the backyard lightly and skillfully, and left the palace in a few jumps.

Except for the surprise that I couldn't suppress when I was just picked up, the sudden acceleration of my heartbeat stabilized after a while, and I didn't ask her where she was taking me, but leaned on her arms with peace of mind, sniffing her breath, secretly rejoicing, silently looking forward to the endless end of this long road - compared to her heart, even Na He Yi was not so important.

As the night grew darker, the noisy streets gradually became cold and silent, and the watchmen wandered around in front of the few remaining food stalls, smacking and picking supper; The shopkeeper on duty leaned against the doorpost, staring at him to kill time, taking a nap when the shopkeeper was not paying attention; Even the sporadic passers-by looked hurried, their faces full of eagerness to return home...... No one seemed to notice Jiang Zhuo who was quickly shuttling through the roof wall, and me nestled in her arms.

It's as if there are only the two of us left in heaven and earth, and this quiet and charming night belongs to us.

I was complacent, and I unconsciously hugged her tighter, when I suddenly felt her steps stop.

"What's wrong?" I looked at her worriedly: although she carried me for a long time, her face was not red or panting, and she did not show any fatigue, so ...... It can't be that I'm too heavy, right?

Thinking uncertainly, I saw her smile slightly, put me down lightly, and turned her head to signal me to look for myself: "It's here." ”

As far as she could see, there was an empty beach with no one in sight, and there was only a lone canopy tied to the edge of the small pier, whose black hull would not be visible if it were not for the sporadic reflection of the sparkling waves on the floating water.

Jiang Zhuo brought me here, did you want to take a boat? Could it be that the gift she said was far away and needed to be taken by boat?

I thought to myself, but I saw her leap into the boat first, and then handed me a hand---the gentle eyes of the teacher, even if I doubted it, I couldn't think of a reason.

Holding her hand, I carefully stepped on the rickety boat, I slowly sat down in the center, not looking at the sides, just staring at my feet, feeling a little worried - I am a little seasick, especially this kind of boat that drifts with the current, it is more likely to cause adverse reactions, if I vomit in discomfort for a while, and lose face in front of my sweetheart, what should I do?

Nervously climbed the side of the boat, when the whole body stiffened, I felt the hull of the boat shook slightly, fluttering and suddenly breaking through the lake and swinging out, the sound of "gurgling" water surrounded all directions, accompanied by the unique aquatic weeds of the lake diffused at the end of the nose, I was defenseless, and couldn't help but whisper: "Ah! ”

After waiting for a while, there was no other movement, and it seemed that except for the initial swaying, the boat had adapted to the rhythm of the waves, and floated steadily, except for the slight jolting, which was not too uncomfortable - and it was not unpleasant to think that this had nothing to do with the skill of the helmsman.

The tension subsided slightly, and I recalled Fang Cai's own gaffe, and my face couldn't stop burning, so I had to pretend to be casual, open my eyes and look at the scenery of the lake, while glancing at Jiang Zhuo without a trace.

She leaned half-leaned over, supported the arm-thick rocking oar with one hand, and paddled a few times effortlessly, and when she saw me peeking at her, she didn't care, but she paddled twice unhurriedly, and then she put down the rocking oar, stepped to my side in three or two steps, sat down cross-legged, looked at me steadily, and asked coldly for a while: "Your Highness is afraid of water?" ”

I was embarrassed to be seen by her, I pretended to look at the scenery, turned my face away, and had the intention to say something to break the embarrassing atmosphere, at first glance I heard her question, and I was about to nod my head reflexively, and I held back at the last moment, and just smiled easily: "How come?" I, of course I am...... Fearless. ”

-- If you answer that you are afraid, it is not only to show cowardice in front of her, but also to imply that she is not thoughtful and brought me on the boat, so a little concealment is also a helpless move, and it is not a deception.

"That's fine." She nodded faintly, but I felt a smile in her eyes, which showed that I had made a good decision.

"Jiang Zhuo, what are you bringing me here for?" Isn't it just for the boat?

Although the opportunity to be alone with her always taught me infinite joy, I still prefer teahouses, wine shops and even any spacious, bright and comfortable place in the palace...... It's better than this lonely, cold, unsettled lake center.

It should be close to midnight at this hour, not to mention the human tracks, even the water birds and fish are hidden in the darkness where they can't see their fingers, and the only source of light within a radius of 100 meters is probably the small oil lamp hanging on our small canopy boat.

The moon was obscured by thick clouds, and even the waves on the water were barely visible.

No one spoke, and the sound of breathing was exceptionally clear, but fortunately, the temperature from the body that was close to it taught people not to get lost in the loneliness of fishing alone in the cold river after thousands of sails.

"Your Highness, don't be impatient." In the flickering light, I couldn't see the look on Jiang Zhuo's face clearly, but I felt that she suddenly held my hand, and the slender, calloused fingertips aroused a layer of itching, and then it touched the warmth of my heart.

“…… Well. Resisting the urge to rest my head on her shoulder, I bit my lip and whispered, but my heart lifted in anticipation of her surprise.

After waiting quietly for a while, as if a fresh wind was blowing, the layers of dark clouds shrouded in the sky seemed to have been blown away a lot, revealing a faint and clear half of the Toad Palace.

"Here we are." I heard her mutter, and I was in confusion when my eyes suddenly darkened, but it was she who extinguished the small oil lamp with one palm, removing the only remaining light source.

In an instant, there was darkness in my eyes, and I could not see anything else, and the fear that arose in my heart taught me to hold on to her hand.

However, in the next moment, the hazy moonlight poked its head out from behind the dark clouds, like a handful of silver sand sprinkled on the surface of the lake, giving birth to a sparkling and dancing fine cold light; And against the backdrop of that round of the moon, countless bright or bright stars gradually showed their faces, shining with a unique brilliance, as if a group of soldiers under the command of the general, thousands of them gathered, and they also had a momentum that was not inferior to the moon.

"Look." I looked up at the sky stupidly, and Jiang Zhuo shook the hand I was holding tightly, and motioned for me to look down at the lake.

The calm surface of the lake reflects the scene in the sky completely, just like there are two bright moons between heaven and earth, and there are two bright and bright stars; And our humble canopy boat is the threshold surrounded by these two beautiful landscapes, and it is also a secluded island of its own, on which there are only two people, me and her.

I don't know if I'll ever receive such a novel gift or see such a magnificent view again, but I'm sure it's the most romantic thing I've ever encountered in my life.

In particular, this romance was given by Jiang Zhuo - I always thought that I would not get any response from her - this touch was even more important, as if it hit me hard in the heart, teaching me to be dumbfounded, as if I had lost the ability to speak and act, and I did not know how to express my surprise.

"On that day, His Highness sat on the roof all night just to watch the stars, and his subordinates went to visit the young eunuch of Qintianjian......" I sniffled and listened to her explain lightly, as if this intention was just a trivial matter.

"Jiang Zhuo, it's just the two of us here, you don't have to claim to be a subordinate," I rubbed my eyes to keep my choked throat from pouring out, "You can do it too...... Call my word. ”

“…… Jane. After a while, she sighed and called out my name, and then fell silent, as if there were a thousand words, but there was no way to say it.

My heart was stirring at this pause—reason told me that there were too many problems that had not been solved, and that this was not the best time; But feelings urge me to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so as not to regret it.

I have always been a person who is more rational than emotional, and I also believe in this calmness, but I don't know if the scenery tonight is too charming, or the emotions in my heart can no longer be suppressed, but after hesitating for a moment, I chose the latter.

"Jiang Zhuo, have I ever sued you, I like you?" Taking a deep breath, I let go of her hand and instead grabbed the sides of the boat on both sides, so as to cheer myself up, "I don't care about the identity of King Ling, it doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman, it's just that Jian Xin likes you and wants to be with you...... What about you, do you like me? ”

-- She bothered to do this for me, not because she was interested in me, and I was sure of it, so I dared to give it a go.

I had wanted to confess to her openly for a long time, but after procrastinating for so long, I finally had the courage to say it, and I was relieved and even more nervous about the answer.

"I like you...... And how? She seemed to chuckle, her indifferent voice was strangely soft, but also full of mocking harshness, "I don't like you, what?" ”

My heart rose and fell with her rhetorical question, one moment overjoyed, one moment sad, knowing the result, I still couldn't help the last trace of hope and said: "If you like me, we will leave this qiē mundane, wander the world, and be a pair of fairy couples; If you don't like me...... I will be far away from you, and I will not be entangled with you or annoy you. ”

The latter one, but just thinking about it, makes me feel that my heart hurts terribly.

She didn't answer, and I didn't dare to speak rashly.

The two sides were silent, and the small canopy boat was eerily empty.

The wind gradually rose, and new dark clouds were blown in, slowly piling up, once again obscuring the bright moon and the starlight, and also obscuring the clarity and tranquility that had just been created.

The lake was plunged into darkness again, and my heart was clouded with a thick mist.

――Is it still too abrupt after all?

Does her silence mean rejection?

I wanted to get a clear answer, but I was faintly afraid of the answer.

After a long time, when my fingers were almost embedded in the wood, she whispered, "Relatives, friends, duty...... There are so many things I can't leave behind, I can like you-but Jiang Zhuo...... No. ”

"Yes! Why not! Jiang Zhuo ......, "I hugged her by feeling, her body stiffened, but she didn't break away, "I, no, this king allows you-"

"Shhhhh ”

In the darkness, I felt a soft, cold object lightly imprinted on my eyebrows, and I slipped it away.

It was a kiss with undisguised tenderness and affection, and it was also what I had longed for from Jiang Zhuo.

But this kiss taught me to taste endless bitterness in tenderness and sweetness.

- I'd rather not have this kiss.