Early the next morning, Xia Zining came to the palace, and the steward had already brought her into the courtyard and arranged her in an idle room in the east of the courtyard.

"That is the prince's study, when he is in the house, you have to often go to his study to help him make tea and pour water, if the prince calls you, you have to rush over immediately."

The steward gave him a command, and then turned and walked out of the door.

Xia Zining looked outside, thinking about what to do in the palace, when a woman in a red shirt suddenly walked in the door and said with a smile: "I heard that the king steward said that your name is Xia Zining?" ”

An Xin replied with a friendly smile: "Yes, hello." ”

"My name is Mu Xueman, and like you, I am also waiting by the prince's side, and we will be sisters in the future."

Facing this enthusiastic woman, Zi Ning's nervous mood immediately relaxed, answered, and walked over.

"The prince specially instructed me to take you well, there are really not many people who can get this kind of treatment from the prince, Zining, you are really lucky. Ah, I almost forgot about the big thing, the prince drinks tea every day at this hour, you today, go to the prince's study to familiarize yourself, it's over there......"

Xia Zining looked in the direction of the study and replied uneasily: "Okay." ”

"Knock ......"

Zi Ning held the tea tray with one hand and knocked on the wooden door with the other.

"Come in."

The magnetic voice came from the study, it seemed to be very familiar, Zi Ning frowned slightly, and pushed the door in: "Lord Wang, your tea." ”

It's the familiar voice again......

Chu Lingye glanced up at Xia Zixin, and a trace of emotion flickered in his eyes: "Put it down." ”

Xia Zining walked over nervously, gently put down the teacup, picked up the tray and was about to turn around, but when she saw the portrait in his hand, her heart suddenly felt like she had been poked by something, and she froze in place:

The portrait is painted on a white silk, in which a man and a woman stand hand in hand, and the handsome and extraordinary man in it is naturally him, and the woman, in the form of a woman, with a sweet smile on her face, seems to be very happy and content.

Why did Xia Zining feel that this scene was so familiar?

It's as familiar as if this happened to me......

"An Xin?!"

There was a sudden scream from the doorway, followed by the screeching sound of porcelain breaking on the ground.

Zi Ning looked at the door in response, only to see a young and beautiful woman stunned at the door, staring at her in surprise with her big watery eyes, and at her feet was a broken teacup, and the spilled tea soaked her delicate embroidered shoes.

This beautiful little woman, how did she look like she had seen it somewhere?

"Jiaowan, what's the matter with you?"

Chu Lingye's eyebrows frowned slightly, and he inadvertently raised his eyes to look at Xia Zining who was standing beside him.

Jiaowan......

Such a familiar name, Zi Ning's head ached faintly, and she couldn't help frowning slightly.

"Heh, what are you frowning for?" Chu Jiaowan held the door frame with her right hand, and stared at Zi Ning with a small face: "I'm very unhappy to see this county lord, don't you want to take revenge?" ”

A swaggering tone, hostile gaze......

Looking at Chu Jiaowan in front of her, there seemed to be a similar scene going on in Zining's mind, but it was vague, she frowned painfully, and she couldn't think clearly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Chu Lingye's cold voice fell.

"Hmph, Brother Wang, are you really unclear or are you pretending to be stupid? This woman is clearly An Xin back then, she felt that it was not worth dying for you, so she turned into a ghost and came back to avenge you......"

"Enough!"

Chu Lingye slapped the bookcase on the case.

"Bang!" With a loud bang, the entire study seemed to be shaken, and Xia Zining and Chu Jiaowan were both frightened.

"Humph!" Chu Jiaowan quickly came back to her senses and pursed her mouth: "Brother Wang, don't blame me for not reminding you, she can fool you and can't fool me, I recognize this woman when she turns to ashes!" ”

Chu Jiaowan stomped her feet, "Bang! He slammed the door shut and walked out of the study angrily.

Recently, she lived in Chu Lingye's mansion, and knew that he had a habit of drinking tea in the morning, so she was kind enough to send tea to Chu Lingye, but she was angry.

She believes that people can be born again after death, and the woman just now is too similar to An Xin a year ago......

Looking at the trembling door, Chu Lingye couldn't cry or laugh-

He hoped that An Xin was really reborn, and he would rather she come back to get revenge on him, so that at least he could see her again......

The gap of sadness in his heart suddenly opened, and endless pain poured out, he trembled and picked up the teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and in a trance, he found that Xia Zining was still standing beside her, her brows were furrowed, and she seemed to be in pain.

"It's none of your business here."

Chu Lingye put down the teacup and sank into the chair with a trembling body.

"Yes, lord."

Xia Zining responded in a trance, but still stood in place, looking down at him.

At this time, his eyes were sad and melancholy, his expression was sad and painful, like a widowed old man, his sad fingertips were trembling faintly, she never thought that such an indifferent and resolute man as him would have such a side, I don't know why, seeing him like this, her heart would hurt badly, and she wanted to care about him inexplicably.

"What's wrong?" He looked up, a little coldness in his deep eyes.

When I think of her, I don't want to be disturbed.

"Nothing." She smiled in a trance, and asked carefully: "Lord Wang, who is An Xin?" Is she the woman in the picture on your table? ”

As soon as the words fell, she found that his handsome face was distorted so badly, and his already cold eyes were as cold as if they were overflowing with wind and frost at this moment.

"Get out!"

He let out a deep roar, his trembling voice like the sound of silk being torn.

Zi Ning was so frightened that she took a step back in a panic, and saw the bone-crushing pain in those eyes, as if her heart had been stabbed by something: "I'm sorry." ”

Flusteredly, he turned around and walked out.

What's wrong? In the face of his indifferent appearance, I was so disappointed in my heart, this feeling was like being snubbed by someone I cared about very much......

Suddenly, she pulled the door hard, and before she could step out, there was a sudden sharp pain in her ankle, she screamed softly, the burning pain and the excessive tension just now suffocated, she squatted on the ground and gasped hard.

"Ahem, ahem......"

There was a suppressed cough at the door, Chu Lingye turned his head to look over, and saw the weak figure squatting on the ground, coughing and wheezing in pain......

His eyes suddenly seemed to be pricked by a needle, and in a blur, he seemed to see that the delicate woman was coughing softly in front of him, but he was deeply depressed, for fear that he would learn of her illness.

"Are you alright?" His voice softened unconsciously and he stepped forward.

Reaching out to touch her back, she stopped coughing lightly, stood up slowly, and looked at him calmly: "Lord Wang, it's okay." ”

The soft, familiar voice, like a warm breeze blowing in his ears, made him lose his mind, and he lowered his eyes to see the bright red blood stain on her left foot, and his heart suddenly tightened: "You are injured." ”

It was too quick to open the door just now, and the door drove the fragments of the teacup on the ground, scratching her, she smiled calmly: "A little injury, it's okay......"

Before the words fell, he had already picked her up sideways and walked out quickly.

"Ahh

She panicked, her face instantly flushed with shame, and she wanted to stop him, but the mint fragrance wafted into her nose again, mixed with the smell of good tobacco, and the sound of his steady heartbeat, everything was so familiar, and her mind went blank for a moment.

In a trance, it was as if she had fallen into a beautiful dream, this beautiful dream, she had had, she had coveted, she had sunk, however, she only remembered this breath, the love and hate of the past, she couldn't remember anything......

"Ah, my lord!"

"What?"

"Ahh Isn't the person the prince holding the new girl? ”

"The prince actually hugged a subordinate, what's going on? Alas! ”

The miscellaneous servants and subordinates in the courtyard were shocked, and they were silent at the cold eyes of Shang Chu Lingye. Or because of the pain, she was trembling slightly in her arms, just like the person who made him pity back then, and even the unique fragrance on her body was so similar to her back then......

The boundaries of time seemed to be blurred, and he felt like he was living in the past, feeling that he was holding his princess at the moment.

"Lord Wang." The steward in the palace was also stunned when he saw the scene in front of him.

"She has an injured foot, so call the doctor." Chu Lingye walked into the room and put Xia Zining on the chair.

"Yes, lord."

The steward glanced at Xia Zining in surprise, everyone in the palace knew that since the princess died for some reason, he was very repulsive to other women, and today he actually hugged a woman who was not good-looking......

Xia Zining seemed to have a dream, and she woke up the moment she was put down by Chu Lingye, and she coughed lightly uneasily.

"Why do you always cough?"

Chu Lingye stared down at her.

"I'm not in good shape." She smiled, and then said nervously: "But please rest assured, it will not affect the work." ”

Chu Lingye didn't speak again, and looked at her deeply for a moment, he took a deep breath as if he was frustrated, turned around and walked out of the room.

This woman, except for her appearance, looks like her almost everywhere.

However, the real one went a year ago.

She's not coming back!

The doctor asked while examining Xia Zining's injuries.

"Your lungs don't seem to be doing well, have you taken the medicine?"

"You don't have to take medicine."

Zi Ning smiled casually.

She only has one lung, Ziming said that she had a terminal illness back then, and both lungs were broken, but fortunately, there was a miracle doctor to help back then, and a sister risked her life to give her a piece of her lung.

"Oh, hehe."

Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Dr. Liu didn't ask any more questions, and buried his head in carefully bandaging her wounds.

"Isn't the prince's temper a little weird?"

Zi Ning asked suddenly.

Doctor Liu raised his head and looked at her in surprise: "Yes." He wasn't like that before, and he's been depressed since the princess's death a year ago. ”

"Her name is An Xin?" She asked.

"Yes, alas, they are all poor people, she is an outcast, she has never had a good life when she married the prince, and then she died in order to save the woman the prince loved, and the death was very miserable."

"Oh, by the way, girl, you must not mention the princess in front of the prince."

What kind of stupid woman is she who gave her life to save the woman her husband loved? How deep is love that makes a woman so persistent and selfless?

Zi Ning suddenly thought that if it was her, and the man she loved loved was another woman, she would probably choose to let go, after all, love is something that cannot be forced, and unilateral efforts may not be rewarded.

……

Xia Zining walked into the room and found that Mu Xue was looking at her strangely, and said in surprise: "What's wrong?" ”

"Just to see where you're different."

Mu Xueman's tone was sour......

Zi Ning was puzzled: "Sister Xueman, what do you mean?" ”

"It's not interesting!" Mu Xue pondered for a moment: "Zining, as a woman, we are subordinates, and we can't have any wrong thoughts about the prince, do you know?" ”

Immediately understood what Mu Xueman meant, Zi Ning couldn't help laughing: "Sister Mo doesn't like the prince?" ”

Mu Xueman pursed her lips and didn't speak.

"Sister, don't worry, I'm a promise."

"Oh?" Mu Xueman's eyes lit up, and he immediately smiled: "Hehe, Zining, you are new to the mansion, I am afraid that you will suffer a loss, so I will tell you the rules of the palace." ”

"yes, I know." Zi Ning smiled heartily.

Of course, I knew that if it wasn't for the fact that she had been engaged to Mo Ziming, Mu Xueman might not be able to trouble her next.

She doesn't blame her, there is nothing wrong with loving someone, and it is human nature to maintain her love, but she thinks that people like her are much better than those who hide knives in their smiles.

……

Out of the palace, Xia Zining saw Mo Ziming at a glance.

He was already handsome, but today he wore a white robe, standing in front of the white horse, even more handsome and clean, no matter where he was, he was still so outstanding and conspicuous.

"Zining." He smiled and waved at her.

Zi Ning also smiled and walked to his side: "Ziming, you don't have to go to such trouble to come and see me, I'm fine here." ”

"No trouble." Mo Ziming narrowed his moist eyes, where did the trouble come from? As long as she can be happy, he doesn't feel bothered to do anything.

The moment he raised his head, he was facing his eyes full of warmth, and just as he was about to say something, a familiar voice came from his side:

"I don't know if Prince Mo is coming, this king is far away."

It was obviously a polite word, but it seemed to be mixed with a kind of discordant coldness, Zi Ning couldn't help but look at him, and found that he was also looking at her, after a brief collision of eyes, he had quietly moved away, and looked at Mo Ziming lonely.

"How can you work for your lord?" Mo Ziming chuckled, and the moment he heard his voice, his face had become indifferent: "Besides, I, Mo, are just here to visit my lady." ”

His lady?

Chu Lingye faintly trembled in the depths of his ink eyes, coldly raised his eyebrows and glanced at Zi Ning, seeing her calm gaze that seemed to be the default, a trace of sourness suddenly rose in his heart, and he unconsciously hooked his lips and sneered:

"What? Could it be that Mo Gongzi fell in love with the girl in this palace? Sure enough, it's a unique vision. ”

"Hehehe." Mo Ziming smiled dryly: "Radish and green vegetables have their own loves, Ning'er and I will get married soon, and the prince will definitely enjoy the light and drink the wedding wine." ”

It was as if his heart had been punched hard, and Chu Lingye's brows furrowed.

"Since the prince is here, Mo will take a leave for Zi Ning, I think the prince will definitely give Mo a thin noodle."

Without waiting for Chu Lingye to answer, Mo Ziming had already grabbed Xia Zining's little hand and whispered softly: "Ning'er, I'll help you get on the horse." ”

"Oh." She answered softly, and obediently got on the horse with his support.

"Lord Wang, I'm out of company."

He was still losing his mind, Mo Ziming had already dropped a sentence and jumped on the horse.

The sound of horses' hooves made Chu Lingye stand silently in place, looking at the two people who were leaning against each other from a distance, and a thick jealousy surged inexplicably in his heart.

"Brother Wang, if you don't believe me, I dare to bet with you that Xia Zining is An Xin." A clear voice came from behind him.

He was already irritable, and when he heard Chu Jiaowan mention An Xin, his brows furrowed deeply, ignored her, and walked forward.

"Brother Wang......" Chu Jiaowan trotted to catch up: "What kind of person do you think about Gongzi Mo?" How could a man as infatuated with him suddenly find a random woman and get married? ”

Chu Lingye stopped and turned to look at her: "Do you like Mo Ziming?" ”

"Hey, hey." Chu Jiaowan's little face turned crimson, she has always liked Mo Ziming, and she has taken the opportunity to pester him in the past year, but Mo Ziming is like a cold stone, and she has never even given her a good face.

Just now, she saw Chu Lingye talking to Mo Ziming, so she came over to take a look, but before she could say a word to him, he got on the horse and left.

"You are not unclear about the relationship between the Mo family and our royal mansion, stay away from him!"

With a faint sentence, he turned around and left.

"Hmph, Brother Wang, you are a small-bellied chicken intestine, a year ago, my mother and I treated An Xin badly, and you always held a grudge, so now you are also coming to obstruct me, right?"

Chu Jiaowan's angry voice came from behind her, the most painful wound in Chu Lingye's heart seemed to be sprinkled with salt, and her tall body trembled deeply, and she quickened her pace in a panic.

"Don't you miss her? Don't you regret it? Now that she's back, go get her back! Chu Lingye, don't go, you coward, coward! ”

He had already gotten into the carriage and walked away, and Chu Jiao stomped his feet on the spot gracefully.

She had just heard Mo Ziming say that she was going to marry that woman, and she hoped that Brother Wang would snatch that woman away from Mo Ziming, so that she and Mo Ziming would have a chance.

Chu Ling leaned lonely on the carriage seat, looking ahead blankly.

There was a scar in my heart that was too sensitive and fragile, and once it was touched, it was painful, and after a whole year, the scar had not healed, but became more serious.

……

"You and Chu Lingye are friends?" Xia Zining asked, feeling that the relationship between Mo Ziming and Chu Lingye was very strange, very polite on the surface, but there seemed to be some kind of hostility between them.

Mo Ziming nodded: "In the past, it was a good friend, but it was a little different since last year. ”

What a complicated relationship...... Zi Ning didn't ask again, but vaguely felt that there was something behind this.

……

Six days later.

The luxurious carriage stops in the bustling streets of the Imperial City.

"Follow me." Dropping a sentence lightly, Chu Lingye got out of the carriage first.

Xia Zining then got out of the carriage and followed him into the jewelry store.

This afternoon, when she went to Chu Lingye's study to make tea for him, he told her that he wanted her to do something with him, she was puzzled in her heart, and asked him what was the matter, he was silent, and Zining had to follow hard.

The jewelry store was burning fine Su sandalwood, and the huge wooden shelves were full of gold and silver jewelry, pearls, hairpins and jades, dazzling and colorful, Xia Zining's eyes were already busy as soon as she entered the door.

"Which do you like?" He asked suddenly.

Today is her birthday, is this man going to buy a gift for him?

Zi Ning was stunned: "Lord Wang, no, Ning Er is just a subordinate, how can she afford it?" ”

"Huh?" Chu Lingye looked at her puzzled, after all, he didn't have the heart to talk to her too much, and said lightly: "Just choose what you like." ”

Zi Ning still wanted to refuse, but when she saw his majestic gaze, she didn't dare to say more.

He has a very strange temper, and he is even more gloomy and melancholy all day today, as if he has some heavy heart.

There is also a custom in the palace to give jewelry to the next person on the joy of his birthday, thinking like this, she picked out a pair of jade bracelets, Chu Lingye glanced at it, didn't say anything, directly gave the store a silver ticket, turned around and walked out of the jewelry store.

The carriage went to the southeast corner of the courtyard, where there was a cemetery, and he ordered the groom to stop the carriage outside the cemetery.

"Click!"

He opened the door, silently took the pair of jade bracelets selected by Xia Zining, walked straight forward, and placed the jade bracelets in front of the tombstone.

It turned out that he asked her to pick a gift to pay tribute to the deceased, who was born on the same day as her? Zi Ning walked over and saw the portrait framed in silver frame in front of the tombstone, as if her head had been hit hard, "Ah! Exclaimed.

The woman in the portrait turned out to be exactly the same as her sister Xia Ziyan!

"What's wrong?"

Chu Lingye's eyebrows were deep, and he looked at Zi Ning with condensed eyes.

At this moment, there was obvious disgust and displeasure in his eyes, which showed that he was disgusted by her screaming loudly in front of this woman's grave, and it also showed how important that woman was to him, Zi Ning faintly brushed a trace of frustration in his heart:

"Is she the deceased princess? The woman at your desk is also her? ”

"Yes!" His voice was heavy and hoarse, and he raised his hand and pointed behind him: "It's none of your business here, you step back first." ”

His too sad voice and heavy and melancholy gaze, like wisps of silk, tightly wrapped Zining's heart in an instant, she suddenly suppressed it very much, and she responded uneasily, turned around, and walked quickly towards the direction of the room where she usually was.

Now she was sure that the painting on her desk was the same person next to the tombstone.

But the woman in the portrait next to the desk was smiling brightly, and at that time, Zi Ning just came to the palace, and she just glanced at it out of nervousness, and she just felt familiar at the time, but she didn't connect with her sister......

But the woman next to the tombstone had a quiet face, looking haggard and indifferent, both in appearance and temperament, she was almost the same person as her sister Xia Ziyan.

What's going on?

Is there such a similar person in the world? How strongly did she feel that there was something hidden behind this......

Zi Ning walked in a trance, and at some point, she couldn't help but turn around and look back, only to see Chu Lingye kneeling in front of the tombstone, her trembling figure so lonely and fragile, as if it would be broken at any time.

Why every time she sees his painful appearance, her heart will seem to be touched by something, and there seems to be a strange affection for him in the depths of her heart, which cannot be touched or grasped, but it seems to be deeply rooted, and she can't get rid of it.

When she walked outside a suite, Zi Ning suddenly felt a strange feeling, her footsteps paused, and she couldn't help but push open the door and walked in.

Clean floors, chairs, sandalwood tables, incense burners...... It's the first time here, but why does she feel so familiar with everything here?

Suddenly a vague shadow floated in her mind, her head ached faintly, she looked ahead stupidly, as if she was being led by an invisible thread, and took a stupid step, like a puppet into the suite.