The nanny was an old-timer in the palace. When the princess was born, she was the one who brought in Fei Xing, the shadow guard.
At that time, the princess was just a baby in swaddling clothes.
And Fei Xing was merely a young boy.
Even then, he showed a tenacity beyond his peers.
On one knee in front of the queen holding the princess, with his right hand on his chest, he swore a solemn oath of life and death, just as he did now. He was not verbose, but every word was like gold.
"I, Fei Xing, will guard the princess for life, staying by her side like a shadow. Everything will be centered around the princess."
Shadow guards were all tougher than ordinary people, and Fei Xing was truly outstanding among those she had seen.
The nanny had served the royal family all her life and had taken charge of more than just Fei Xing as a shadow guard.
But this young boy left a deep impression on her.
Of course, no other shadow guard had ever won such favor from their master as he did.
Staying by her side like a shadow. She wondered what had happened to them and who they had met during the years when the princess was missing.
It had changed both the princess and Fei Xing so much.
Yes, their figures remained the same, and they were still the same people, but what had changed were Cai Xue and Fei Xing's hearts.
Both Fei Xing and the princess's hearts were no longer in this resplendent palace.
The moment they were brought back to the palace, the nanny could see the longing for freedom in their eyes.
For those who didn't want to stay, this palace was ultimately just a magnificent cage.
As the nanny thought, she sighed.
She thought of her sister A Luo.
A Luo used to be the maid of Princess Nuoxue.
Princess Nuoxue was Cai Xue's aunt. A few years before Cai Xue was born, she was sent to marry a prince of another dynasty in a diplomatic marriage.
Unfortunately, she had chosen the wrong person and died of melancholy.
Indeed, the chance of happiness in such a diplomatic marriage, which was like mortgaging a woman, was extremely slim.
Everyone knew that sending a princess on a diplomatic marriage was like sending her on a one - way journey.
But the kingdom was weak and had no choice.
So even after Princess Nuoxue's misfortune, Princess Nuobu still had to go on a diplomatic marriage.
But A Luo was brave enough to steal the princess on the way of her diplomatic marriage.
The nanny knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to the white clouds in the sky.
This was the way of praying in the Budda Kingdom.
She was grateful to A Luo.
She was also grateful to the "Miss Zhao" in the far - away Chen Kingdom who had taken good care of the princess and was always on the princess's mind.
May the gods bless them and keep them safe...
At Shiguan Villa.
Ji Shisu had that dream again.
In the dream, he was back two years ago, just after their wedding. He didn't know her well and had never tried to. Under the same moon as clear as water, she in a cyan dress sang the lyrics:
"Behold the riot of colors in full bloom, all wasted on broken wells and crumbling walls. Such lovely moments and beautiful scenes are a pity. In whose courtyard can one find true joys?"
Her clear singing voice carried a natural etherealness and heart - rending sadness.
She poured boundless emotions into every word and every line. The well - known opera lyrics seemed to come to life at this moment, and every word struck the softest part of his heart.
Then she slowly rose into the air under the moon. He didn't know what was wrong with himself in the dream. He forgot to call out to her and forgot to hold her back. As her cold voice echoed in his mind again and again, she had already ridden on the wind and left.
She turned into a celestial maiden in the moon, becoming a moonbeam that he could no longer touch or feel.
"What's wrong? Are you still cold?"
He forced himself to wake up from the dream.
A dream was just a dream, not reality.
Zhao Luoning was not a fairy. She was just a mortal, a mortal with emotions.
She wouldn't ride on the wind and leave.
He kept telling himself in his heart that Zhao Luoning was real. She was in his hands and in his heart.
"I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired. You're overreacting. What's your opinion on the matter I told you about?"
Zhao Luoning was extremely tired. She noticed Ji Shisu's strangeness, but she didn't care anymore.
She didn't want to be more entangled with him. She just wanted an answer from him.
"You're probably afraid of meeting the emperor. This time, I'll let Jing Xiu and Gui Xiu accompany you."
He agreed. He actually agreed.
She couldn't tell if she was happy or sad.
She should be happy.
The earlier she returned to Huang City, the earlier she could make her arrangements.
On the other hand...
Forget it. There was nothing more to say.
It had come to this point. She shouldn't have any more attachments.
Zhao Luoning lowered her head. It was hard to tell if she was happy or sad.
Ji Shisu naturally noticed Zhao Luoning's abnormal behavior.
It was obvious to anyone with eyes that she had something on her mind.
She just didn't want to say it, and he didn't ask.
After drinking a bowl of ginger soup, Zhao Luoning started to break out in a light sweat.
Only then did Ji Shisu feel relieved. He pulled her into his arms and fell asleep.
That dream invaded his sleep again. This time, he saw more clearly. The repeated lyrics "Behold the riot of colors in full bloom, all wasted on broken wells and crumbling walls" were even clearer and more beautiful, and even more ethereal and elusive.
Just like Zhao Luoning's thoughts.
Ji Shisu could even clearly see her fascinated look in the dream, her eyes closed, her long sleeves fluttering gently as she focused on singing.
This time was different. Ji Shisu also put on a theatrical robe and transformed into the scholar in the opera.
He appeared in the pavilion. The moonlight was like water, but they had no interest in the moonlight.
Her eyes were full of charm as she looked straight into his heart. Her sweet smile melted his heart.
"All over the green mountains, the cuckoos cry blood - red. Outside the tea - flower bushes, the misty tendrils are soft and drunk.
Although the peony is beautiful, how can it take the lead when spring is gone?
Idly gazing, the warbling of the swallows is as clear as scissors, and the chirping of the orioles is round and smooth."
Such a beautiful moment and scenery should not be wasted.
Finally having the chance to be with Zhao Luoning in this dream, Ji Shisu naturally wouldn't let this good opportunity slip away.
But Zhao Luoning didn't continue singing. She covered her mouth and laughed. She looked like a young lady who had seen through the thoughts of a lecher, and he was the lecher.
She laughed at him, laughing at his eagerness and his clumsiness in front of her.
Her giggles finally gave her a bit of a mortal touch. She was no longer the aloof and unapproachable fairy.
However, no matter how beautiful the process was, the ending couldn't be changed.
This time, she didn't ride on the wind and leave. Instead, she turned into sand in the wind, slowly disappearing in front of him bit by bit.
Ji Shisu reached out his hand, trying to grab her, but his hand passed through her body. All he felt was the coldness of the wind.
"No, Ning'er!"
This time, he suddenly cried out, and the dream ended abruptly.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already bright.
Ji Shisu instinctively reached out to the side. There was no warm body there, only a cold empty space with the morning chill.
Had Luoning already gotten up?!
"Ning'er?!"
Had she left? Had everything in the dream become a reality?