In the palace, the hurried footsteps never stopped, as if they were rushing to the rhythm of life, afraid that they would be finished if they fell behind.
This was the Palace of Empress Dowager, a palace that was situated among the crabapple trees. The roof of the palace was covered in snow, making it look like an island.
The magnificent pavilion was surrounded by the water of the Huaqing Pool. Duckweed was all over the ground, green and clear.
Li Zhan was dressed in an apricot yellow robe. He had long eyebrows and long phoenix eyes. His hair was tied up in a jade crown, making him look quite heroic. However, it seemed that he was hiding something on his mind.
Eunuch Wei had been outside the door for a long time." Your Highness, it's time to go to Chengqian Hall to meet the Emperor!”
Hearing that he was going to meet the Emperor, Li Zhan raised his eyes slightly and looked ahead. His gaze was unfocused, as if he had seen through something. He wanted to struggle, but at the same time, he had hope…hope, how could he have such thoughts?
Li Zhan walked out, and Eunuch Wei retreated to the side to wait for him. When he passed by Eunuch Wei, Li Zhan glared fiercely at Eunuch Wei and walked forward. Although Eunuch Wei had his head lowered, he had long sensed His Highness 'gaze. In fact, the servants were also in a difficult position. They did not want to offend either side. After all, the Emperor's status was higher than the Crown Prince's.
Cheng Qian Hall, the emperor's bedchamber.
Dressed in a dragon robe, Li Chen sat in front of the desk and read the memorial. At this moment, the eunuch who passed the message walked in and said that the Crown Prince had arrived.
Hearing this, Li Chen's brows furrowed. He didn't seem to be happy. He put down the brush in his hand and walked out. Coincidentally, he caught up with Crown Prince Li Zhan.
" Greetings, Imperial Father." Li Zhan stepped forward and bowed with cupped fists.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Get up quickly!”As Li Chen spoke, he stepped forward to help Li Zhan up. Speaking of which, this father and son pair did have a few similarities. Whether it was their temperament or their brows, the aura that seeped into them was the same. It was just that the eyes of those two people could never be guessed.
Li Zhan didn't get up." Your son is here to apologize to Imperial Father. I ran out of Honglan Temple on impulse and caused Imperial Father to worry. Please forgive me."”
Hearing his words, Li Chen sighed slightly and helped Li Zhan up." Get up! If you really want to leave the palace to play, tell Father and Father will let Eunuch Wei arrange it. But you have to know that you are the Crown Prince and the future Emperor. Father's country will be handed over to you in the future. You are not allowed to be alone in such a dangerous place outside the palace. There are many people who are eyeing you covetously for power. You can't have anything happen to you, understand? Imperial Father sent you to Honglan Temple to recuperate in hopes that your illness would recover quickly!”
Li Zhan looked up at Li Chen and asked," Even Father thinks that I'm sick?”
Li Chen met his eyes, and his expression flickered. Then, he turned around and said to Li Zhan with his hands behind his back," You drank so much medicine, but you haven't recovered at all, right? No matter what, Imperial Father will definitely…"
Before Li Chen could finish, Li Zhan interrupted him and said," I'm not sick!”Li Zhan just wanted to tell Li Chen that he was not sick. He was clearly not sick, so why did someone send him medicine every three days?
"Father knows!" Li Chen's back was still facing him. There was a hint of forbearance in his indifferent tone, as if he could not bear it.
"Then please stop sending people to deliver medicine to your son.”Li Zhan stared at Li Chen's back and said. The hope he had in his so-called struggle was actually on his father.
After a long time, Li Chen, who did not respond, slowly turned around. As if he had made a decision, Li Chen said," No, I still have to drink the medicine!……In a few days, Princess Furong of the Northern Liao will come to our Southern Kingdom as a guest. Zhan 'er, you have to prepare well. When the time comes, you will welcome her.”
He was calm and did not care about the princess coming. He only asked," Where's Luo Xi? Where did Imperial Father ask Eunuch Wei to take her?”
"Prison!" Li Chen spat out these two words lightly. Then, he looked at Li Zhan and said," You like that girl?”
"Imperial Father, please don't do anything to her!”Li Zhan pleaded.
Seeing his son so nervous, Li Chen went forward and patted his shoulder gently, indicating for him not to worry." It's rare for Zhan 'er to have a woman he likes. Don't worry, Father won't do anything to her. He'll only detain her for a few days. After all, that girl is guilty for running out of Honglan Temple!”
"Thank you, Imperial Father!"
After that, Li Zhan took his leave. Not long after Li Zhan left, Eunuch Wei rushed in to report," Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician Shi has gone missing outside the palace.”
It was like a corner that had been forgotten and despised by the world. It was a wall apart, and it was snowing outside the wall. The prison was rotten and ironic. Even though it was daytime, there was still a trace of cold wind blowing in through the cracks of the wall. The friction made a miserable sound of "wu…wu…". The dust that fell to the ground floated in the air and filled the entire prison. It was mixed with the smell of decay and rot, seeping into the hearts of every prisoner. They were inexplicably afraid. In this quiet and dark prison cell, the sudden clanging sounds or the indignant roars of a prisoner seemed to have awakened the vengeful spirits and ghosts that had been sleeping for years, hurting their eardrums.
Ro Xi sat quietly in the corner with her body curled up. The dim light shone in through the wooden window. Her empty eyes seemed to be thinking about something until someone walked over.
"Luo Xi!" Dressed in black, Park Hyok stood by the door. He was not wearing a black bamboo hat, only a sword at his waist. The scar at the corner of his eye was exposed to the air.
"Master!" Ro Xi raised her head and looked over. When she saw that it was Park Hyok, she was a little surprised and scared.
"Are you scared?" Park Hyuk-man Glacier said coldly.
"I'm scared!" Luo Xi bit her lip and spat out a word.
"If you know how to be afraid, why are you still disobeying my orders?，Do you know what happens to those who disobey my orders?”
"Master, I didn't. Didn't I already lure Eunuch Wei and the others up the mountain? And…and didn't His Highness also return to the palace?”Luo Xi shook her head and defended herself.
" But you shouldn't hesitate." Park Hyok glared at her." Once you hesitate, you're giving the other party a chance to hurt you."”
Luo Xi lowered her head as if she had nothing to say.
"Your Highness, what have you been doing these past few days?”Park Hyok asked.
Luo Xi shook her head." I don't know. I don't understand either. His Highness has been surrounding a hundred miles outside Fu 'an City.”
"Didn't I tell you anything?" Park Hyok asked.
Luo Xi still shook her head.
"If you dare to do this again, I won't let you off!”Park Hyok said, scaring Ro Xi so much that her body trembled.
Park Hyok seemed satisfied with Ro Xi's reaction." I'll let you stay here for a few days. I'll let you out when the time is up."”
"Understood, Master!" Ro Xi raised her head again, but Park Hyok was already gone. Ro Xi fell to the wall and leaned against it, like a fish out of water returning to the river.
After that, Li Zhan also came. He only said one sentence," Don't be afraid. Just bear with it for a few days!”
Before Li Zhan left, he specifically instructed the constables in the prison to take good care of Luo Xi.
In the streets and alleys of Shaomen, the roof tiles were all snow-white. It was really a scene of fireworks in the mortal world. Of course, now was not the time to talk about it.
On the third day of Shi Changqing's disappearance, everyone in Shaomen County knew about it. Even the local government sent out to investigate, even the mountains. However, they still didn't find anything. The people sent to the palace to investigate came back and said that Shi Changqing didn't return to the palace. Shi Changqing's disappearance was also brought to the palace. After all, he was the imperial physician in the palace. The Emperor would definitely send someone to look for him.
Yu Zhi, who could not sleep or eat well, finally could not bear it and fainted during the search.
Duan Deran's heart ached as he brought her back to rest. However, before she could rest for an hour, Yuzhi was instantly awakened by a nightmare. At the same time, it also disturbed Duan Deran, who was accompanying her by the side.
"Uncle, is there any in front of my mother's grave?”This was the first thing Yuzhi said when she woke up. Duan Deran comforted her and said," I went, but there's nothing. I've searched everywhere I should, but there's nothing!" Don't worry, it's actually a good thing that you didn't find him. It means that your father must still be somewhere.”
"Really?" Yu Zhi's confused eyes were filled with anticipation as she looked at Duan Deran. Duan Deran immediately responded and gently hugged her in his arms to comfort her.
"I'm afraid, Uncle. My father has never been like this!”Yuzhi cried.
"It's okay, it's okay. Rest first. You haven't had a good rest."
Yu Zhi shook her head. How could she rest in such a situation?
Seeing how stubborn she was, Duan Deran sighed and asked," Before your father went missing, did he say anything to you?”
"No, he only said that he would take me out of the palace after that matter is done! Then, she said that she wanted to go to Uncle's place!"
"That matter? What was that?" Duan Deran asked, but Yuzhi shook her head and said she didn't know.
Instantly, Duan Deran thought of what Shi Changqing had said to him that day. Shi Changqing had indeed said that he would bring Yuzhi out of the palace, but he also said that he would wait until he found a cure for the Crown Prince's illness. Could it be related to this matter?
"Uncle, do you think something will happen to my father?”Yu Zhi asked with a trembling voice.
"Silly girl, don't let your imagination run wild. We will find him. Your father is not a child.”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。