Ever since Qing Shu learned about the queen's dream, she had stayed in the palace and sent Shi Hua to the Phoenix Elegance Palace to ask for leave day after day.
Two days later, the queen received the news that His Majesty was returning to the palace. He was expected to arrive in the capital city at noon the day after tomorrow.
The once - stuffy palace seemed to come back to life.
In Langfa Town, a hundred miles away.
A troop of horsemen was galloping full - speed towards the capital.
Di Yunjian whipped his horse, his eyes full of eagerness to return. All his heart and eyes were on the only warm place in the cold and luxurious palace, the Guanghan Palace.
It was his home.
He was dressed in a dusty gray homespun cloth robe. His face was smeared with dirt, and stubble had grown on his chin. Gone was his former noble and handsome appearance; instead, there was a touch of wildness.
The troop stopped outside the town and checked into an inn.
In the room, Di Yunjian took out the sachet that he had rubbed countless times from his bosom, a smile curving his lips.
After not seeing her for so many days, he wondered if Shu'er had lost weight and if she had been eating properly.
Knock, knock—
A dull knock on the door sounded. “Sir, your letter has arrived.”
Di Yunjian opened the door and took the letter. He said seriously, “Have my letters been sent to Suzhou?”
“Yes, sir. They were enclosed in the family letters.”
“Someone from home has already gone to Huizhou to investigate. Summon Xia Yuan back. Staying there for too long may arouse suspicion.” Di Yunjian nodded and then opened the letter. He found that it was in Yun Ai's handwriting.
After reading the content of the letter, a trace of smile and tenderness appeared in the corners of his eyes.
A few days ago, there was news that the Prince of Anding had woken up, and now he could even walk with the support of others.
It seemed that he was recovering quite quickly. When he returned to the palace, he could give Shu'er a surprise!
“Wait a moment. I'll write a letter and send it to the northwest.” Di Yunjian turned around, walked into the room, sat down at the desk, and picked up a pen to start writing.
The black ink characters formed strokes on the snow - white rice paper. After a while, he folded the letter, put it into an envelope, and handed it to his attendant.
“Send this letter to the northwest as soon as possible. This matter is very important.”
The attendant nodded solemnly, clasped his fists in salute, and was about to turn around and leave. Just as he took a step, he stepped back.
He almost forgot the most important thing.
“Your Majesty... Chief Steward Li from the palace reported that Concubine Chen of the Guanghan Palace... may be in danger...” The attendant took out another letter from his sleeve.
Di Yunjian's face changed. He took the letter and opened it hastily.
As he read the content of the letter, his fists clenched tightly with a creaking sound. The veins on his face bulged, and cold killing intent burst out from his tired eyes.
He knew that during his long - distance trip, there would surely be unrest in the palace, but he never expected that the queen would be so bold!
She had deliberately pushed Shu'er into the water and had also introduced the Gu'er Incense.
Di Yunjian crumpled the letter in his hand, put the important evidence close to his chest, and took out the sachet to take a look.
He said in a loud voice, “Get me a horse. I'll go back first!”
“Sir... If you go back now, you may...” The attendant carefully tried to dissuade him.
“Stop talking nonsense! Get the horse!” Di Yunjian roared.
His heart was filled with unease. How could he wait?
Without changing his clothes, still looking dusty, he took out the jade token for entering the palace, leaped onto the horse, clamped his legs on the horse's belly, and the horse neighed and galloped towards the capital.
A few attendants who were having a meal saw a familiar figure rush downstairs, mount a horse, and ride away. They even forgot to put the rice into their mouths.
“Was that... the sir just now?”
“It seems so...”
The attendant who had just delivered the letter came in, sat down in front of them, and started to eat.
“What are you looking at? Eat! The sir has gone back first. He told us to catch up within two days.” Seeing that they weren't eating, he picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks and put them into his mouth.
“Why is it so sudden?”
“The sir's sweetheart is in big trouble!”
“I see. Then it's really necessary to go back.”
On the road, the jet - black horse galloped towards the capital like lightning, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Di Yunjian held the reins tightly, his eyes cold and fierce as he stared ahead. All he could think about was seeing her as soon as possible.
Along the way, he changed one horse after another at the post stations and rushed in one direction. The wind whistled in his ears, and in front of his eyes was her warm smile.
All the way, his handsome face was covered in dust.
Finally, he arrived at the city gate of the capital before dawn the next day.
He didn't dare to delay. He rode his horse straight towards the palace, threw the jade token at his waist to the guard at the palace gate, and rushed all the way to the Meridian Gate.
The sun had just crossed the horizon, shedding the first ray of morning sunlight.
He rode the horse to the palace stable. Di Yunjian used his light - body technique to shuttle on the city walls. Finally, he saw the place that he had been longing for in the past dozen days. A gentle smile curved his lips, and he quickened his pace.
In the Guanghan Palace, Zhu Yao was keeping watch at the corridor. She opened her eyes slightly and saw a figure appear in front of her. Just as she was about to make a sound, the person in front of her took out a sachet.
Seeing the familiar sachet, Zhu Yao kept silent. She looked up and, after recognizing the familiar figure and face, she let out a sigh of relief.
Zhu Yao supported the pillar and stood up to salute. “Your Majesty...”
Di Yunjian nodded, held the sachet in his hand, and motioned for her to step back.
After saluting, Zhu Yao took a few steps back and turned to leave. She let out a slight sigh of relief. Now that His Majesty was back, the empress would surely eat more.
She always felt that the empress had lost a lot of weight recently.
But His Majesty looked so dusty... and so tired. Did he come back overnight?
Di Yunjian gently pushed open the door and walked in quietly. The familiar furnishings came into view. His eyes reddened slightly. He had missed her so much in the past dozen days.
He lifted the beaded curtain and entered the bedroom. Looking at the slender figure sleeping in the shark - silk curtain, Di Yunjian felt a surge of warmth in his chest.
With red eyes, he slowly approached and sat on the edge of the bed. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, he didn't want to disturb her. He just stared at her blankly, a smile curving his lips.
Thank goodness you're okay.
Di Yunjian slumped against the edge of her bed and quietly waited for her to wake up.
Qing Shu had a beautiful dream. She dreamed that Liulang had come back, and she happily threw herself into his arms.
The warm sunlight shone through the window lattice, and a ray of it fell right on her face, waking her up.
She slowly opened her eyes. The sunlight made her eyes sting. She shifted her gaze and saw a man sitting on the edge of her bed. Her face turned pale in shock. She hugged the quilt and sat up, pulling open the shark - silk curtain.
“Y - you...” Who are you!
The unfinished words got stuck in her throat. Her stunned eyes met a pair of familiar glassy eyes, gentle and smiling...
Her eyes suddenly turned red.
She put down the curtain and suddenly threw her slender body at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yunjian, you're back!”
Di Yunjian saw that her face was rosy and she looked lively. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and tried to pull her away. “Don't hug me. I'm too dirty.”
“I don't care!” Qing Shu held back her tears. Her voice was choked with sobs, and she hugged him tightly again.
“Liulang...”
The choking tone echoed in his ears. Di Yunjian let out a soft sigh and hugged her.
Scalding hot tears fell on his neck, making his heart tremble.
He reached out and gently patted her back, stroking her tenderly. His love and longing surged but were held back by reason, turning into gentle caresses and soft whispers in her ear.
After getting out of his embrace, Qing Shu looked at him with heartache. Her fair hand stroked his rough skin, his weather - beaten eyebrows and eyes, and even the stubble on his chin.
“You've lost weight and look haggard.”
“But weren't you supposed to arrive at noon tomorrow? Why did you come back so soon?”
Her eyes fell on him. Seeing him looking so dusty, with some dirt on his body and red, blood - shot eyes, she knew that he must have rushed back day and night without rest.
Qing Shu's tears fell uncontrollably. The crystal - clear tears splashed on the back of his hand.
“Don't cry,” Di Yunjian reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. “I thought they were too slow, so I rode back first.”
Qing Shu's lips trembled. Her longing, like a surging tide, turned into hot tears, which were the best proof of her longing.
“Liulang, you've lost weight...” Qing Shu held his face in her hands. Her eyes were as red as a rabbit's, and her pink face was like a freshly peeled litchi, so endearing.
“You've lost weight too. Did you not eat properly when I was away?” Di Yunjian said.
Just as she was about to kiss him on the face, Di Yunjian hurriedly pushed her away, took off his clothes, and walked towards the bath in the Guanghan Palace.
“I'm dirty. I'll take a bath first and then come back to accompany you.”
Seeing his hasty back, Qing Shu's lips curved into a smile. She hugged the quilt and lay down, her eyes still fixed on the direction of the bath.
Her dream had come true!