0p0 Chapter 277 Tangli Fried Snow
Chapter 277 Tangli Fried Snow
Yanxi Palace.
An Lingrong looked around and felt that the space was so large and empty that it made her feel uneasy. The walls seemed to be emitting a hint of cold air, which formed a sharp contrast with the burning stove.
For the first time, she felt so helpless.
In the past, no matter whether it was Shen Meizhuang or Zhen Huan, there would always be someone by her side, giving her support and strength. No matter what difficult problems she encountered, she only needed to glance sideways to see their determined eyes, and she could quickly come up with a solution. But now, she was the only one in the empty hall, her mind was in a mess, and she couldn't concentrate on thinking about the problem at all.
She thought that she had cleared the obstacles in Ganlu Temple and prevented the civet cats from going to Yunnan and Tibet, so that Zhen Huan could live safely in Ganlu Temple. Unexpectedly, Yongzheng broke all her plans with just a slight move.
This is the imperial power! The imperial power that no one can refuse!
She stood up and slowly walked into the courtyard, gazing up at the leaden sky. Flakes of pure white snow, breaking free from their bonds, fluttered down in a flurry. The snowflakes seemed to transform into sharp swords, piercing her forehead and brow. The icy cold instantly spread throughout her body, causing her to shudder involuntarily. Yet, this biting chill miraculously cleared her foggy mind a little.
Her mind raced, trying to find a third solution.
No matter what, Shen Meizhuang has to know about this.
An Lingrong walked out of the palace gate. Next door was the Yonghe Palace. Outside the gate, several yellow men stood with swords slung over their shoulders, staring intently at everything with a solemn murderous look.
These are the imperial guards, of noble birth, and loyal to Yongzheng. It is almost impossible to control them!
She had no choice but to turn around and go back to the Yanx Palace, staring at the tall palace walls in a daze.
The Yanxi Palace and the Yonghe Palace are separated by only an aisle.
After a moment's thought, she beckoned Xiao Luzi to come closer, and then whispered a few words in his ear.
Xiao Luzi understood and nodded slightly. Then he coughed lightly and called out in a high voice, "My Lady, please come here quickly!"
After a moment, he shouted again: "My Lady, please come here quickly."
His voice was high and clear, with great penetrating power, easily passing through the wall that separated this place from the Yonghe Palace.
Caiyue stood outside the palace, feeling a little strange when listening to this familiar voice. If Xiao Luzi was looking for Concubine Wen, why would he shout so loudly? Could it be that he was not looking for Concubine Wen but Concubine Hui?
Thinking of this, she quickly entered the palace and invited Shen Meizhuang out. While holding Shen Meizhuang's hand, she raised her voice and said, "Your Majesty, please walk slowly."
Shen Meizhuang came to the wall and pricked up her ears to listen to the movement on the other side.
At the same time, An Lingrong in the Yanxi Palace also clearly heard Caiyue's voice. She gently opened her lips, and the graceful singing voice sounded slowly:
"In early spring, in late spring, wine warms the air, flowers bloom. It's as if a lifetime of worries can only be solved by one person. Year after year, beneath the flowery eaves, we've cooked pear trees in slush, from childhood until one day, you and I, tossing and turning to the edge of the world... The lanterns in the rain are about to fall asleep, the silence has been rustling for years. It seems as if an old friend is knocking on my door. Can cooking pear trees in slush melt the wind and snow you've carried along for half a lifetime?"
Shen Meizhuang listened to the song quietly. When she heard the lyrics mention pear blossoms and distant friends, she instantly knew that it was referring to Zhen Huan. The last sentence also mentioned the returning friend.
After the song was over, she understood what An Lingrong wanted to express.
She suppressed her inner grief, and after calming down a little, she whispered to Caiyue beside her, "Go get my zither."
Soon, Caiyue deftly placed the zither in its proper place. Shen Meizhuang gently raised her bare hands, her slender fingers slowly plucking the strings. The melodious melody of "Three Variations on the Plum Blossom" began, the lingering sound drifting away, eventually reaching An Lingrong's ears.
This was the song Zhen Huan played when they first entered the palace. It praised the plum blossom's steadfast and unyielding spirit and also represented her mood at the time.
An Lingrong listened to the melodious music, and her eyes gradually became red. They were both thinking about each other!
The Emperor's intentions are clear: He's confining Shen Meizhuang to pressure An Lingrong into going to Ganlu Temple to persuade Zhen Huan to return to the palace. If An Lingrong complies, Shen Meizhuang's confinement will be quickly lifted; but if she refuses, there's no telling when Shen Meizhuang will be released, leaving her all alone in this vast palace.
The song "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms" played by Shen Meizhuang was subtly telling An Lingrong that whether to persuade Zhen Huan to return to the palace or not was up to Zhen Huan herself. They respected Zhen Huan's choice and were willing to bear the consequences of her choice.
The towering palace walls seemed like silent witnesses, separating two women with their own thoughts.
Shen Meizhuang was wearing a moon-white cloak, which looked a little thin in the deepening twilight. She stood straight but revealed endless loneliness. Tears welled up in her eyes and finally fell uncontrollably.
Not far away, on the other side of the palace wall, An Lingrong lowered her head, her face pale and her eyes filled with complex emotions as she gazed at the cold palace wall before her. The wind gently blew past, lifting her hair, but it couldn't blow away the sorrow in her heart, and tears rolled down her face like beads from a broken string.
Although their sight was blocked by the thick palace walls, and neither could see the other, the tacit understanding that came from the depths of their hearts and had been cultivated over many years of companionship was like an invisible thread that tightly connected them. They knew that on the other side of the palace wall, the other person must be crying silently just like them, standing firm in their place.
The sky grew darker and darker, and the ink-black color slowly spread like a tide, dyeing the entire sky deep.
Shen Meizhuang suppressed her inner sorrow, raised her slightly trembling hands, and gently placed them on the strings. As her fingers plucked, the strings emitted a soft vibrato, and a familiar tune slowly flowed out. The music was ethereal and playful, floating straight into An Lingrong's ears.
An Lingrong, lost in her own sorrowful thoughts, was startled by the sound of the music, instantly snapping back to reality. This was the ballad she had sung to lull Sixth Prince and Longyue to sleep that night. She knew it was her sister urging her to rest.