(These chapters will be a bit long, so that you can also get to know Xia Zheng and Jiang Mei by the way, after all, the male and female protagonists can't like each other at once, right?) Momda. When I was about to start writing, I had a hunch that this would be a long article, although I didn't know how many of my relatives would accompany me to the end, but this article that I conceived with my heart will definitely be written in the end. ）

"Actually...... Your Majesty, the minister is more curious about the scars on your body. Jiang Mei smiled, pretending to be relaxed, but her heartbeat missed a few beats, afraid that Xia Zheng would avoid this topic and refused to tell herself.

"Which one are you asking?" For some reason, Xia Zheng's gaze became cold, and Jiang Mei saw that his expression was wrong, so he hurriedly waved his hand, trying to avoid the topic: "If the emperor rejects this topic so much, the minister can change ......"

Xia Zheng pointed to the one on his chest and took the lead in saying, "This one was blocked in the imperial garden by a guard when I was a child. He grabbed me and dipped me in the water of the Imperial Garden Pool, which was autumn, and I scratched his face, but he nearly cut his chest. ”

Xia Zheng's expression was light, and he poured himself wine as he spoke.

It turns out that after such a long time, it can be so calm now. The scars that I thought would scab over, although they have healed, leave behind a tragic memory like a brand.

Jiang Mei looked at Xia Zheng, whose eyes were as calm as water, and remembered what Zhuo Wangsun said that day at the Lantern Festival.

"Xia Zheng, he's an evil ghost."

This sentence is still in the ear, and now Jiang Mei sounds it, but he feels a feeling of stuffiness in his heart.

"My mother has no status, just a nameless palace maid, if it weren't for the palace maid who was drunk and raped the virtuous concubine, maybe I wouldn't be where I am today."

The corners of Xia Zheng's lips hooked up a self-deprecating smile, and his eyebrows were still the same.

"My origins are a joke, and so is my cunning, because when I was fifteen years old, I was deprived of the right to study in the upper study, just because I was what they called a 'fool'. In order to avoid the bullying of those princes, there is this scar. ”

Xia Zheng pointed to his right arm, which had a scar that had long since recovered, and only some traces could be seen superficially.

"Fool......?" Jiang Mei asked tentatively, but her heart was moved by Xia Zheng's story.

The so-called fool is actually just the worst way a person can come up with to protect himself.

Jiang Mei really couldn't imagine how Xia Zheng, who didn't have any background and didn't rely on any favor, survived at that time.

In addition to being distressed, the rest of Jiang Mei's heart was awe.

"Yes, I have been a fool for seventeen years in order to survive."

has been a fool for seventeen years, and from the boy who shrunk behind his mother, he has today's Yiqiē, relying on his own hands, relying on his own strategy, and relying on his own forbearance.

Jiang Mei poured her jade cup full of monkey brew without saying a word, turning all the previously gloomy atmosphere into a glass of wine, she raised her glass and smiled at Xia Zheng: "Your Majesty, this cup of wine respects the young son of heaven." ”

Young man.

Xia Zheng smiled, his eyebrows stretched, Jiang Mei looked at him smiling like this, thinking that it would be nice if he could always smile like this. But if you always laugh like this, it's not Xia Zheng anymore.

"Concubine Lu...... Did you know the emperor at that time? Jiang Mei's fingers drew circles on the side of the jade cup and asked casually.