0p0 Chapter 124 Some sadness and worry are silent.
Chapter 124 Some sadness and worry are silent.
It was already past midnight, the night was as dark as ink, and all was quiet.
Logically speaking, such trivial matters as night patrols should be handled by the servants in the mansion, so why should he, the steward, do it personally?
However, tonight's situation is somewhat special.
In fact, the reason he couldn't sleep peacefully and chose to personally patrol the night was not only out of his commitment to his duty, but also because of the deep-seated worry that he couldn't suppress.
At this moment, he was not the only one tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep in this mansion.
From afar, the study deep in the courtyard was still brightly lit.
The faint, flickering candlelight was reflected on the window paper, like a candle in the wind, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.
A closer look reveals that the once sturdy candle has been burned down to a short stub, yet it stubbornly continues to exert itself, striving to release its last rays of light.
In the pavilion, Wenxiang gently wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, choking back sobs as she said, "The princess has grown up in this secluded mansion since childhood, never leaving the capital even for a moment. This inexplicable disappearance, with no news of her since, how can we not be filled with worry!" As she spoke, her cries grew even more sorrowful.
Standing to the side, Uncle Lin watched Wenxiang cry so heartbrokenly and couldn't help but sigh heavily. He slowly said, "Silly girl! You mustn't cry like this in front of the Prince! You know, you're worried about the Princess, but do you think no one else in the Prince's mansion is worried about her? Of course not!"
Uncle Lin's words startled Wenxiang, who was momentarily at a loss for words.
Uncle Lin paused for a moment, then said earnestly, "Think about it, in this entire Prince's mansion, who is the one most worried about the Princess's safety?"
Wenxiang blinked her swollen, red eyes, hesitated for a moment, and softly replied, "Yes..."
"That's right! It is indeed the Prince! After all, the Princess is his own flesh and blood. Blood is thicker than water. How can anyone else compare to this father-daughter affection?"
The worries and concerns he carried were far heavier than any of ours.
As the head of the family, he had to remain calm and composed and not easily reveal his emotions.
"Haven't you noticed that His Highness hasn't slept for several days in a row?" Uncle Lin's deep eyes were fixed on the direction of the study, as if he wanted to see the situation inside the room through the tightly closed door.
His weathered face now showed deep worry, his brows were furrowed, and his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated to speak.
Just then, Uncle Lin suddenly remembered the scene when he met the prince.
The prince's eyes were bloodshot, as if they had been scorched by fire, and his eyeballs were covered with dense red blood vessels, which made people feel sorry for him.
His beard was already showing some stubble, making him look somewhat disheveled and haggard.
It seems that the prince has not had a proper bath or grooming these past few days, as he looks exhausted and mentally drained.
Thinking of this, Uncle Lin couldn't help but sigh heavily.
At this moment, Wenxiang, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but sob, and tears streamed down her cheeks like a burst dam.
She sobbed as she gently wiped the snot that was running down her nose. Then, she raised her arm and forcefully wiped away the tears that remained in the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
After calming herself down a bit, Wenxiang took a deep breath, bowed deeply to Uncle Lin, gave a proper salute, and said softly, "Thank you, Uncle Lin! I'll go back now..." Before she finished speaking, she turned and left in a hurry, leaving behind only a lonely figure.
Watching the fragrant figure fade into the distance, Uncle Lin shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself, "Sigh, it turns out I'm not the only old man tossing and turning at night! I'm still young after all, so easily flustered when things happen..."
Although Uncle Lin complained like that, he was actually overjoyed inside.
After all, he had personally witnessed Tang Luo grow from a toddler who couldn't even walk into the graceful young woman she is today!
As an elder who watched her grow up, how could I not feel genuinely happy that she has so many people who care about her and worry about her safety?
After a short stay, Uncle Lin got up and continued his night patrol duties.
As he strolled to the door of the study, his gaze inadvertently drifted into the room, where he saw the candlelight still flickering brightly.
This scene made his heart clench instantly, and a sense of worry rose involuntarily within him.
At this moment, Murong Qian was gazing intently at a portrait of a little girl hanging on the wall.
His eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if he were lost in distant memories. After a long while, he murmured to himself, "Tangluo, where are you? Why have we not heard from you at all..."
His words were filled with endless concern and longing for Tangluo.
However, no matter what situation or people he faced, in the eyes of outsiders, he always appeared calm and composed, without any emotional fluctuations.
It was as if nothing in the world could touch the deepest chord in his heart.
"Your Highness, have you not yet retired for the night?" With light footsteps, Uncle Lin slowly walked forward, carrying a dim yellow lantern, and gently knocked on the door.
The sound from the doorway instantly pulled Murong Qian back to reality. He snapped back to his senses, quickly suppressing the emotions he had just revealed, and subtly withdrew his gaze from the distance.
"Oh, it's Uncle Lin. Come in!" Murong Qian sat upright in the carved chair next to the desk, his face as calm as a lake, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts.
Uncle Lin pushed open the door and entered the room, saying with concern, "Your Highness! It's late at night, you should rest now! This old servant knows you are worried about the princess's safety, but please believe that the princess is blessed by heaven and will surely return safely. If you continue to work so hard day and night, I'm afraid your health will not be able to take it!"
Speaking of this Uncle Lin, he and Murong Qian have a rather deep connection.
As early as when Murong Qian first stepped onto the battlefield, Uncle Lin had been following him closely.
He witnessed firsthand how Murong Qian gradually grew from an unknown soldier into a valiant general guarding the border, like a majestic wolf that struck fear into the hearts of his enemies.
Uncle Lin once witnessed Murong Qian being critically wounded on the battlefield, his life hanging by a thread;
I have also witnessed his fearless figure, risking his life and charging into battle to protect his soldiers.
But who could have imagined that fate would play such a cruel trick? After the sudden death of the late emperor, Murong Qian was framed by treacherous people and forced to be imprisoned in this bustling yet suffocating capital city, as if trapped in a cage on all sides.