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From that day forth, Zhao Li Xin did not allow anyone from the Fu family to take even a single step in the Princess residence- including Fu Hong Wen.
“Is the Princess still not willing to let me enter?” Fu Hong Wen had difficulty hiding the disappointment in his eyes, and smiled, “No matter. I will just wait at the entrance for the Princess, so if he wants to see me any time, I can just go in at any time.”
It was originally his fault- to not want to see him would be a given.
It was exactly noon right now. The body of Fu Hong Wen who came to report in every day had long since been unable to endure it. But when he thinks, yearns- Zhao Li Xin"s heart is the most delicate. What if he thought through it, missed him, and was willing to forgive him?
The hot air was pressing- when Fu Hong Wen was about to faint, he was still thinking about if Zhao Li Xin knew about this, would it make even half his heart ache?
But as reality holds, Zhao Li Xin had only sent someone to the Fu household to bring the person back.
When those subordinates knew Fu Hong Wen fainted, each one had panicked terribly, practically a stark contrast[1] from the Zhao Li Xin who was still paying attention to reports on the side. He knew, if he had not steeled his heart with much difficulty, he would be moved again.
Was he moved?
Zhao Li Xin lightly laughed, and called in a servant to buy candied gourd on their way back from the Fu residence. He did not tell them how many to buy; that person was also a simple-minded creature, and actually bought a whole bundle of candied gourds. He looked at the person who was uneasy from thinking he did something wrong, lightly laughed, and made that person his personal manservant.
Candied gourds truly don"t taste good one bit, Zhao Li Xin thought as he ate it.
Since the Emperor"s body had slowly deteriorated with every pa.s.sing day, all the civil and military officials would speculate everyday which prince would have the ability to ascend the throne. But after fighting back and forth for so many years, isn"t the Third Prince, one that did not have a single stain or flaw bearing a considerable regal poise, the only one left?
Everyone had thought the Third Prince becoming the future Emperor would be a sure thing.
During the Mid Autumn festival, Zhao Li Xin had borrowed the excuse of being sick to refuse entering the palace. Imperial Concubine Liu could not be any more happier when she heard her informant tell her how miserable Zhao Li Xin was- she did not mind either way, and meticulously went off to cozy up to the Emperor and have him make a decision regarding the position of the Crown Prince soon.
In the courtyard stood a single peach blossom. Sitting under that tree, Zhao Li Xin raised his head to look at the partially covered moon, and finished off the cup of alcohol in one gulp.
Having received the word from a person of the Princess residence, Fu Hong Wen rushed over, dressed in Zhao Li Xin"s favourite verdant clothing- he would always tell him that he loved that n.o.ble-like bamboo disposition he had the most.
Standing not far off, looking at the Zhao Li Xin that was currently drinking alcohol, Fu Hong Wen had suddenly grown timid. He did not dare get close, afraid to see the hatred in his eyes.
It was his love that had not been pure enough- he had too many misgivings. The vow he made could not be properly realized.
“You came.” Zhao Li Xin sent Fu Hong Wen a smile, and raised a cup toward him, “Today is the Mid Autumn festival- I"ve always spent it with you in the previous years. I had originally wanted to go through it just by myself, but it was too lonely without anyone else to call, so I could only call on you.”
Even when they were not married, Zhao Li Xin would specially come to the Fu residence after the festivities in the palace every year. At that time, the parents were still very happy, and would make a lot of his favourite dishes. Then, the whole family would liven up with excitement, happily lighting the lanterns.
After getting married, two years ago, Fu Hong Wen had gone out of his way and brought him out to put down lotus lanterns- like a couple who could be no more ordinary, holding his hand while putting down lanterns down the river, his eyes bent smiling, forming crescent moons. He had told him that he hoped his Xin"er would live a long life, that everything would go as he wished.
As for the Mid Autumn festival last year, Zhao Li Xin could not remember clearly- whether it was off to go capture some adulterer in a corner of the Princess residence, or if it was to give some woman abortion medicine.
He had originally thought Fu Hong Wen still cared for him- if not, how could he let him be so heartless and cruelly kill his child freely? But that had just been a product of his own imagination- the other party had only been afraid of the rank of the Princess was all.
Hearing those words, Fu Hong Wen"s heart ached a bit. He walked up across from him with big steps, brought up the other cup and finished it, “It doesn"t matter, all the mid-autumns from hereafter, I can spend it with you.”
Zhao Li Xin only laughed, but did not say anything.
The moonlight had slowly grown stronger, and with it, Fu Hong Wen"s face had gradually grown redder. He talked endlessly with Zhao Li Xin, but all it was just repenting- repenting his own cowardice, repenting why he could be strong enough, and at the same time, repenting the pain he had caused him these years.
Heh, repenting now?
Zhao Li Xin did not have any expression under the moonlight. The moonlight had separated his face into two halves- one in the dark, and the other in the light. He looked at Fu Hong Wen, his face and ears had turned red from being drunk just like that year under the moonlight, “Can you stroke my head again?”
Once will be fine.
Fu Hong Wen stared blankly for a second, hesitated in stretching out his hand for a long time before stroking his head, saying, “Qing Qing, you still have me hereafter.”
It was like time had gone back to that year, but Zhao Li Xin had no hesitation in bringing the point of the knife into Fu Hong Wen"s chest, fresh blood scattering from the hole, gradually dying a large area of his clothes.
“You won"t.”
His hereafter, will no longer have this person known as Fu Hong Wen.
Dumb-foundedly looking down at the knife handle on his chest, Fu Hong Wen lightly laughed. He held onto Zhao Li Xin"s hand tightly, not willing to let go, his mouth mumbling, “That"s great…… Really great……”
The touch on top of hand had gradually lost its warmth. Zhao Li Xin stared at Fu Hong Wen"s corpse for a good while before finally moving aside the hand that had that still had some softness to it, letting the other party fall to the ground. He picked up a candied gourd from the plate, not knowing why- the sugar coating on this candied gourd was not particularly thick, the fruit was extremely sour, directly souring into his heart.
“That"s right…… it"s great…….”
That night, Princess Chun An"s residence had gone up in big flames. It was said there were many who died inside, including Princess Chun An and her husband, together journeying towards the netherworld.
Who did not know of the things Princess Chun An did? Up and down the capital, there was not one person who did not clap their hands and say good, and went as far as thinking that this was Princess Chun An"s retribution. But how unfortunate for that husband- unable to obtain peace while alive, only to be pulled along even after death.
After Imperial Concubine Liu had received confirmation of Zhao Li Xin"s death from the informant, she could not help but laugh. The wet nurse worriedly called out to her, but was instead sent outside with a wave of her hand.
He really died. This thorn stuck inside her heart had finally been removed in the end after all.
Imperial Concubine laughed and laughed, the corners of her eyes could not help but shed a few tears. She had suddenly thought back to that year, the little child dressed in red, so joyous and delicate, who loved to bore into her embrace, clearly and sweetly calling out her Mother.
But he was a boy. Each and every moment reminding her deplorably, each and every moment telling her he would become a threat to Ming Zhe"s position.
She had previously thought, if Zhao Li Xin had been a girl, she would definitely exalt him into a brilliant pearl within her hands, and turn him into the most favoured princess under this sky.
However, it just had to be a boy.
Imperial Concubine Liu lit the paper, silently looking on as it burned. She thought- it"s great that Zhao Li Xin died. She could still give him some more paper money[2] – just don"t come into her stomach in the next world, and become a part of the imperial household.
Her Ming Zhe will finally be able to inherit the throne after all, without any more threats.
[1] As different as the sky is to the earth.
[2] Tradition holds that you would burn something in order to send the item to the person who pa.s.sed away on their journey in the netherworld, such as paper houses and clothing as well as money so they reside in the netherworld without trouble. In other words, “I"ll send you as much money as you need to make the journey down to the netherworld a good one, don"t come back to haunt me even in my dreams.”