Xin Zizhao recalled the characters written by his newly - wed wife. They were just as ugly as these, so ugly that one could hardly bear to look. Thinking of all that had happened before, he couldn't help but show a knowing smile.
However, when he skimmed through the first part of the letter, a look of surprise flashed across his originally cold and handsome face. Why... Why did Xuan'er know the way he contacted Xin Shang? Had Xin Shang been exposed? Was Xuan'er angry with him for breaking his promise?
Because he was extremely eager to know Wei Shuxuan's thoughts, Xin Zizhao continued to read the following content of the letter impatiently.
"Xin Zizhao, after traveling for some time, I feel that I've had quite a few thoughts. Didn't I tell you that I've been hiding something incredible from you? I don't know if I should tell you or not. So, I'm very conflicted. Moreover, I don't like being confined in the palace. Therefore, I decided to leave the palace..."
Something incredible? Xin Zizhao thought that if one loved someone, they wouldn't care about such things.
"However, I've been to several places. I think of you almost every day. I just can't help it. I've tried to suppress my longing for you, but it's useless. It seems to have become an inborn conditioned reflex. No matter where I am, a reflex arc of longing will form. At first, when you didn't send anyone to look for me, do you know how sad I was?"
Xin Zizhao felt it was quite miraculous. What on earth had his Xuan'er experienced to become so frank?
"Later, your subordinate Xin Shang accidentally showed his hand while saving me. So, I played along and lured him out. Actually, when I learned that you sent Xin Shang to protect me, I wasn't angry at all. Instead, I was very happy. I admit that I said those words before. I just didn't expect you to take my words so seriously... I really appreciate your master..."
Master? Had Xuan'er gone to Qiuling Mountain and met his master?
At this moment, Xin Zizhao felt that something bad was about to happen. That old rascal who was almost two hundred years old didn't know what embarrassing things about him he would tell Xuan'er. If Xuan'er came back to the palace, she would surely tease him about those embarrassing things.
"Your master is really amazing. He knows a lot about me. I feel like I've met a good confidant. I told your master all my troubles. Your master told me that if I don't do something, I'll never know the outcome. Also, on my way back, something happened that made me completely understand the relationship between you and me. After I left the palace, I missed you more and more."
Xin Zizhao continued to read, "Finally, Xin Zizhao, guess when I'll come back. If you guess right, I'll come back earlier. If you guess wrong, there will be a punishment. Waiting for your reply."
At the end of the letter, Wei Shuxuan even drew a smiling face. Seeing this, Xin Zizhao couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. "This silly girl..."
How could he possibly guess such a thing? After all, it was just a subjective answer. He might be able to guess Wei Shuxuan's real thoughts, but if she changed her mind, he would be helpless. However, since she wanted to play, he was willing to accompany her.
Xin Zizhao sat down, quickly ground some ink, then picked up the writing brush and wrote down all the words he wanted to say to Wei Shuxuan on the letter. They had been separated for too long. He really had too much to say to her.
In the Fragrant Inn in Qiuling Town.
Sima Yongheng looked at Wei Shuxuan in surprise. "Xuan... Sister Xuan, are you going home? Aren't you going to wander anymore? Aren't you going to take me with you?"
Seeing Sima Yongheng's tear - filled look, Wei Shuxuan found it a bit funny. "Silly boy, I didn't say I wouldn't take you back. It's just that I've been away for too long. My newly - wed husband will be angry."
"Sister Xuan, are you already married?" Sima Yongheng looked at Wei Shuxuan in surprise.
"Yes, I'm already married. I just ran away on the second day after the wedding," Wei Shuxuan teased Sima Yongheng. "What? Do you like me, Yongheng? You seem very sad when you know I'm already married."
"No... No. I'm just sighing about how lucky the person who married Sister Xuan is!" Wei Shuxuan was right. Sima Yongheng was really sad. He did like Wei Shuxuan and even thought about whether he could marry her in the future.
How could Wei Shuxuan not know Sima Yongheng's little thoughts? But she couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of this pubescent boy for love. She subtly gave him a way out so that he wouldn't be so embarrassed.
"Yongheng, when you grow up, you will surely meet such a girl. Happiness is in your own hands."
Xin Shang watched as Wei Shuxuan had been communicating with Xin Zizhao by carrier pigeon. He really wanted to ask her when she would be willing to return to the palace. Since that day, they had been staying in Qiuling Town for two days.
Wei Shuxuan opened the letter from Xin Zizhao. There wasn't much content on it, and he had answered the question she left in the last letter.
"I'm relieved to know that you're doing well. I'm happy to know that you miss me. Since you want me to answer this unrealistic question, I'll answer. I guess you'll come back in half a month. According to your personality, you'll surely visit all the nearby towns before coming back to me obediently. I'll always be waiting for you in the palace."
"What a silly boy..." Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but shed tears, but at the same time, she couldn't help but laugh. Laughing and crying at the same time, people who didn't know might think she was crazy.
Wei Shuxuan thought that maybe she had suppressed her longing for Xin Zizhao for too long. Once she started corresponding with him, she couldn't stop talking. Now, she picked up the pen and wrote a passage on the rice paper, as if she could release her inner emotions through this way. She felt much more comfortable.
Now, after the morning court every day, the thing Xin Zizhao looked forward to most was returning to the imperial study and waiting for a carrier pigeon, a pigeon that could send his longing to the person he missed. The flapping sound of its wings was what he yearned to hear every day.