Midyear evening, East Palace

At the gate of the palace, an inconspicuous carriage has been parked there since noon, and I didn't see the people in the car come out, only to see a large family wearing emerald clothes with a handkerchief, staring at the gate of the palace, afraid that they were waiting for someone, this maid was the eldest maid of Han Shuyao, the daughter of Han Mansion.

Early this morning, Han Shuyao dressed herself carefully in front of the bronze mirror, she pasted a flower on herself today, and also painted her red lips with rouge, and put on the clothes that were custom-made in the Yuexi Pavilion a few days ago, with a purple long skirt, embroidered with rich peonies, and a series of water-green silk around her waist, which made her ice muscles and jade bones even more beautiful, and I felt pity.

Han Shuyao looked at herself in the mirror, lowered her head and contemplated, and fell into deep thought for a long time.

In recent days, the letters she sent to the crown prince Jinglan were returned, which made her very uneasy, as if the man in her heart who had never forgotten had been like a paper kite with a broken thread, gradually moving away towards her.

No matter what that person thinks in her heart, she must get an answer today, Han Shuyao raised her head again, looked at herself in the mirror with heavy makeup, and her eyes gradually revealed a strange and longing light.

She sat alone in the carriage until it became dark, and she didn't wait for Jing Lan's figure, Han Shuyao's mood gradually changed from nervousness, to anticipation, to waiting, until now, gradually losing her soul and losing her soul.

She gradually doubted herself, "No, this is impossible, the Midyear Festival is Jinglan's brother's mother's favorite festival to go out, and she will take Jinglan out of the palace gate almost every year to put river lanterns to pray for distant relatives." Even if Empress Gu is no longer alive, he will definitely come out on his own and fulfill his mother's wish. ”

Just as Han Shuyao was talking to herself, the maid Zhulan suddenly knocked on the car door and said softly, "Miss, the prince is out of the palace." ”

Han Shuyao's lost soul suddenly returned, and she hurriedly ordered, "Quick, go to the front and stop him." The groom immediately drove the horse down the main road.

Jinglan has been waiting for news in the East Palace, although he was anxious during this time, he finally saw hope, and what made him feel more relieved was that Shen Muzhou rushed back from the northwest, for a period of time when he was a child, Shen Muzhou had enrolled in school to be his study partner, and the two also got along day and night, quite a little friendship, but later my country has been encroached upon by the Yuanxia people and the Huns on the northwest border, and many Han people are killed and injured at the border every year, and the family is broken.

Shen Muzhou was worried about this, so he mainly practiced martial arts from then on, he spent most of his time at the border, and it was difficult for even Jinglan to see him on weekdays, just now he received the news that the people behind the series of Jingshi incidents tonight are very likely to use the disaster victims to attack the city, he immediately took a group of shadow guards out of the palace, this critical time, as the crown prince, can not be absent.

"Miss, it's too close, do we still want to go over?" The groom who was driving the car asked Han Shuyao.

Han Shuyao made a decision immediately, pinched the fear in his hand, and said ruthlessly, "Go!" ”

Suddenly, the people standing on both sides of the road at the gate of the Jingshi Palace saw that a carriage seemed to lose control, and rushed towards a group of men on horseback, and at the last moment, the man on horseback led by the leader hurriedly tightened the reins, and the horse was pulled into the air and roared, and the man on horseback quickly flipped off the back of the horse.

A man in black next to him immediately jumped off his horse and came over to help him, and a slightly older man immediately hurried towards the coachman of the two carriages with a horsewhip, and shouted angrily, "How did you drive?" ”

The groom was so frightened that he fell to his knees and couldn't say a word on the ground, and when the man was about to say something more, Jinglan said behind him, "Ah Si, Hugh is rude." ”

The man named Ah Si had no choice but to forcibly suppress the anger in his heart, and immediately stepped back and said, "Yes, Childe." ”

The maid Zhulan trembled and walked down from the front of the carriage, knelt on the ground, made a big salute, and said almost with tears, "I accidentally disturbed the son, please don't blame the son." ”

Seeing that it was Han Shuyao's personal maid, Jing Lan immediately understood something in his heart, so he had to say aloud, "Get up." ”

Han Shuyao heard the movement outside inside, and her hands were sweating with nervousness. But she can't go out at the moment, otherwise she will lose her gift in front of many people in Jingshi, she is very nervous at the moment, she is waiting for Jinglan's answer.

Jing Lan and his men returned to the horse, and after walking for a while, Jing Lan whispered to Ah Si behind him, "Let Miss Han go to the river and wait for me where the lanterns are placed." ”

Ah Si hesitated a little when he heard this, but then nodded again, "Yes, Childe." ”

After Han Shuyao received Jinglan's news, she was overjoyed, she didn't expect that the prince Jinglan was not only angry, but also invited her to go to the river to put lights together, which was what she had been thinking about and wanted to do with Jinglan, and she even cried with joy.

She hurriedly took the maid Zhulan and walked in the direction of the night market, she was going to pick out a favorite lantern, but the speed should be a little faster, and she couldn't make him wait for a long time.

At the same time, in the night market of Jingshi, Ning Yu, the eldest lady of Ningguo Mansion, was eating and shopping at the moment, she was constantly attracted by all kinds of gadgets on the street, and sighed as she walked, "It's better to be Jingshi, I will stay longer when I come back this time." ”

In the eyes of outsiders, Ning Yu is a standard noble lady with a very measured move, but in private, only she and the maid Ah Jiu know that she is a woman who advocates freedom and likes the prosperity of the world in her heart.

In the past few days, Ning Yu followed her father's army back to Beijing, but before the emperor's edict, the army did not dare to enter Beijing without permission, she received news from Shen Muzhou's eldest brother that someone was going to do something in Beijing tonight, and she had an irrepressible excitement in her heart, as if she smelled the breath of prey, but before that, she had to fill her stomach first.

Tonight she wore her hair up with a red rope and looked heroic.

The maid behind her, Ah Jiu, reminded her, "Miss, should we go and change the river lantern?" ”

After Ning Yu heard it, he turned around, "Do you want to let it go?" There was a girl's cunning glint in her eyes.

Ah Jiu smiled embarrassedly, "Well, I want to pray for Ah Niang and my younger brother, next February is the spring festival every three years, I hope my brother can get a good score in this spring festival." ”

Ning Yu smiled heartily after hearing it, "Okay, it's up to you." ”

When Prince Jinglan arrived at the river, he found that Han Shuyao was already waiting for him by the river, he had just gone to the city tower, and after a look at Shen Muzhou, he hurried over.

Han Shuyao stood dignified in the night breeze, looking out of place with the others.

Jing Lan knew that some words had to be made clear in person, and when he and Han Shuyao finished putting the river lantern together, he decided to refuse her in person. Since he has decided that he can't marry her, he must cut off her thoughts.

In fact, Jinglan's relationship with Han Shuyao is not very deep, in the deep palace, when he is most lonely and helpless, Han Shuyao often writes to him quietly.

Those letters became the pillar of his loneliness in those years, but he also knew in his heart that he couldn't be so lonely and helpless forever. If you want to stand up, sometimes you have to get a little cold-blooded.

He has already heard that Ning Guogong Ning Wu is about to return to Beijing with his daughter Ning Yu, he must seize this opportunity, Ning Yu has reached the end of this year, presumably Ning Guogong Mansion is already planning a marriage for her.

At this moment, Jing Lan and Ah Si both wore masks on their faces, and he asked others to wait for him in the dark, and the shadow secret guard has now become his only pillar, this is a secret army specially cultivated for him when the great general Gu Mo was still alive, and these are loyal to him alone, protecting his safety at any time.

At this point, he was really grateful to his uncle, but what he didn't expect was that Gu Mo was only in his thirties and disappeared on the battlefield, and this incident has always become the deepest pain in his mother's heart.

Although Jing Lan was wearing a mask on his face, he still couldn't stop his noble son's temperament, he walked towards the river, Han Shuyao recognized them at a glance, and suddenly smiled on her slightly lonely face, her face was slightly red, although she had exchanged a lot of letters with Jing Lan, but every time they met, they were just a greeting, and the two had never talked in depth.

"You're here." Han Shuyao's face showed a girl's shyness.

Jinglan nodded, "Well, you've already bought the lanterns." ”

Han Shuyao immediately took out the lantern in his hand and held it high, and said to Jinglan, "I bought it, it's in the shape of a rabbit, I don't know if you like it or not." ”

There was some anticipation and some nervousness in her eyes. Although wearing a mask, Jing Lan still smiled and said softly, "If you like it, it's fine." Seeing this girl with such happiness on her face, he couldn't bear to interrupt.

Han Shuyao gently put the lantern on the surface of the river, watching it slowly walk away along the current, she closed her eyes and made a wish, hoping that she could come with Jinglan every year to release the lantern.

Jing Lan stood quietly a foot away from her with his hands behind his back, under the night wind, his standing posture was extremely quiet, and he knew in his heart that he should speak.

At this time, Ning Yu and Ah Jiu were also putting lanterns not far away, Han Shuyao was turning her back, they didn't recognize her, but Ah Jiu saw the rabbit lantern and shouted loudly, "Miss, Miss, look, it's a rabbit lantern, exactly like ours." ”

Ning Yu instantly gave Ah Jiu a big shudder, and said to her fiercely, "I've told you a hundred times, don't speak so loudly when you're out of the house, how can you mess with Miss Ben after you have no brains." ”

Ah Jiu touched his beaten head with some distress, and said aggrievedly, "Oh, Ah Jiu knows." ”

Seeing that the lanterns were already drifting away, Jing Lan said to Han Shuyao, "Miss Han, is it convenient for us to take a step to talk?" ”

Han Shuyao was born with a woman's sensitivity, and she seemed to have some expectations of what Jinglan was going to tell her, but the man in front of her did not allow her to refuse.

She had no choice but to nod and say, "There's time." ”

Jing Lan took Han Shuyao and walked in the other direction on the side of the road, there was an old tree there, there was no one around at this time, and the old tree was silently wrapped by the shadow guards not far away, but Jing Lan was worried about disturbing the people, and there were only four shadow guards guarding the surroundings.

The maid Zhulan is also on the periphery, and at this moment, under this old tree, only Jinglan and Han Shuyao are left.

"Brother Jinglan," Han Shuyao lowered her head and shouted, her face had gradually turned from joy at the beginning to loss, "Is A-Yao doing something wrong?" She squeezed her handkerchief a little bewildered.

Jing Lan was a little ashamed to see her like this, but still said, "Thank you for the letter that the girl wrote to Lan Zhi on the saddest and sad day of Lan Zhi, Lan is very grateful in her heart, and she has always remembered the girl's kindness." ”

Han Shuyao shook his head and said, "That's all my willingness, if Brother Jinglan wants to sincerely thank Ah Yao, can you take Ah Yao to see the fireworks in the city tower tonight, I heard that it will be released every year, but you have to wait until midnight, Ah Yao specially took leave with her father today, and wanted to come and see the style." ”

Seeing the girl in the night breeze cautiously saying her wishes, Jinglan had no choice but to say, "I'm afraid I can't accompany you, and I won't be able to go in the future, I have changed my mind, and I ask the girl to forgive me. ”

After Han Shuyao listened, her body trembled slightly, and tears flowed down involuntarily.

At this time, Ning Yu's maid Ah Jiu didn't know where she came from, and she also held a few strings of rock sugar gourds in her hand, and she shouted loudly, "Miss, Miss, where are you, don't scare Ah Jiu." ”

Ah Si followed behind her and said to Jing Lan with some shame, "Childe, that woman's strength is very strong, and the small one didn't stop her." ”

Ning Yu knew that she had nowhere to hide, and it was also her bad luck to meet such a stupid girl, she thought to herself, Ah Jiu was born with divine power, you have to stop it.

Just now, Ah Jiu had to say that this thousand-year-old tree had aura, so that Ning Yufei hung the wishing belt she asked for on the top, saying that in this way she could manifest the spirit, she just climbed up, and the ghost girl didn't know where to run, and then she was very embarrassed to encounter the scene that happened below, and what was even more embarrassing was that she also knew these two people, Prince Jinglan and Taifu Mansion daughter Han Shuyao, but she had been away for many years, and she didn't want to be familiar with these two, she didn't even know Prince Jinglan's appearance, she had only seen it from afar when she was very young.

"Who is the girl, and why is she eavesdropping?" No matter how good Jinglan's temper is, he is a little angry at the moment.

After Ning Yu heard it, she was furious, thinking that Jing Lan didn't know her anyway, so she reasoned with him, "You seem to be Sven, but you are very rude, what is eavesdropping, this girl is above board, one of them, everything is first-come, first-come, first-come, first- Second, I saw that you and that girl spent the moon before and after, showing their hearts, and I was afraid that it would ruin your good deeds, so I couldn't bear it, and I was bitten by mosquitoes on the tree, but you are so ignorant. Third, I see that you are dressed noblely, and you seem to be a rich and noble family, I can't see you people the most, you whisper by yourself, and you have to send others aside, if you speak privately, you can find a private room in a restaurant and teahouse, why let others not be free. ”

Han Shuyao saw that someone had broken it, and before she could see who this person was, she hurriedly left with Zhulan, she was a woman who valued her face very much.

Seeing that the woman was a little aggressive in her speech, Ah Si wanted to step forward to theorize, but was held by Jing Lan.

He carefully observed the woman in front of him, saw a pair of small unicorns on her sleeves, and knew her identity a little clearly, the two opposed each other, and did not speak for a long time.

Jing Lan's attitude turned to gentleness, slowly lifted the mask on his face, smiled generously and made a gentleman's salute, and said softly, "It's abrupt, what I did wrong in Xia today, I also ask the girl to understand, he should send someone to the girl's house in the future to send good medicine to the girl." If you are still in the body, you will retire first. ”

After seeing this person's true face, Ning Yu couldn't take her eyes off it, she had seen a lot of bloody men on the battlefield, but she had never seen such a man who made people feel so warm, and she couldn't help but be a little stunned, and immediately left what happened in front of her.

Jing Lan turned to leave, Ah Si followed closely, and after sitting on the horse, Ah Si asked curiously, "Why did Childe suddenly change his attitude and lift his mask." ”

Jing Lan smiled, "You send someone to escort Miss Han home, remember, don't be discovered by her." “

When Aji heard this, he said, "Yes."

Jing Lan then said firmly, "If what I expected is right, the girl I just talked to should be the daughter of the long house of the Ningguo Mansion, Ning Yu. “

Ah Si's expression changed slightly, but then he thought that there was only a tiger girl like Miss Ning Yu who could bring a maid with infinite strength.

Jing Lan took Ah Si and his party to rush towards the east gate of the Beijing Division.