Chapter 43

  In February's afternoon, warm sunlight shines through the house, making it bright and transparent.

  I sit at the desk and flip through Su Dongpo's "Next Rhyme Cao Fu Ji Yan Yuan Shi Bian Xin Cha" and "Try Institute Jian Tea", several poems about tea. Yutuan sits beside me on the couch, embroidering flowers on a handkerchief. The two of us quietly do our own things. The room is filled with a leisurely and calm atmosphere.

  She put down the embroidered handkerchief, walked to the table, changed my cup of tea and also changed one for herself. She smiled at me and said: "People who can read and write are different." I was reading with a mouthful of fragrance, without raising my head, and casually asked: "How are they different?" She stood beside me and said: "Sister is always calm and peaceful, let alone say that the sisters entered the palace earlier than you, and were older, with a lower background. But standing next to you, anyone can tell who's higher or lower." I put down my book, took a sip of tea, smiled at her and said: "Don't just talk nonsense, if there's something serious ask me."

  Yu Dan smiled and asked, "Who will the Emperor bring to Mount Wutai this time?" I smiled and said, "It seems someone is worried that she won't be taken out to play!" Yu Dan nodded her head and said, "The Emperor rarely goes to Mount Wutai, the last time was 41 years ago, if we miss this opportunity, who knows when there will be a next time?"

  I picked up the book again and smiled, saying: "This matter I can't be in charge of, but if Li Xiang asks about it, I will definitely recommend you!" Yutan smiled and said: "Good sister, thank you very much!", turned back to the edge of the bed.

  I stared at the book, but my mind was thinking that this time Kangxi went to Wutai Mountain, and ordered the Crown Prince, Third Brother, Eighth Brother, Tenth Brother, Thirteenth Brother, and Fourteenth Brother to follow. If I can avoid going, I will not go, the farther away the better.

  Out of the palace, it's not like in the palace, and the chances of meeting have increased greatly. Although everything has already passed, I still can't truly regard him as a stranger, I need time to dilute everything, let the ripples calm down.

  Instead, I thought of the Fourth Prince. Originally, I was worried about the Fourth Prince's reaction to that letter, but now it seems he has no reaction at all, and should have also become indifferent. In my heart, I muttered a silent "Thank goodness!"

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  The Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, Eighth Prince, Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, and Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes were all present, chatting with Kangxi about the last time they went to Mount Wutai.

  I gently placed the tea cup on the table, Kangxi picked it up with ease, lifted the lid and took a light sip, smiling at me saying: "The last time I went to Mount Wutai, Yu Xi hadn't entered the palace yet, had she?"

  I smiled and replied, "Exactly! I entered the palace 42 years ago, just one year too late." Kangxi looked at Li Fuquan and said, "Did you bring her this time?" Li Fuquan glanced at me, and I quickly responded, "Because my body hasn't been feeling well lately, I took some time off. Although I'm now able to move around without major issues, there are fewer attendants when traveling outside the palace. I'm still worried that I might not be fully taken care of. Why don't you let Yutan accompany me instead?"

  Kangxi looked at me with a sigh and said, "She's been ill for so long! Now she can't even hold up her clothes!" Then he turned to Li Fuquan and ordered, "Let her stay in the palace!"

  I hastily knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!" Kangxi smiled and said: "Take good care of yourself! If you want to eat something, just let Wang Xi know! Hurry up and get better soon! Otherwise, you won't have the energy to serve me properly! In the past, even when serving tea or pastries, there was always a new idea. Now, not only is there no new idea, but even your usual responses are not as clever as before. Seeing that you're not in good spirits, I won't punish you this time!" After finishing speaking, he raised his hand and let me get up.

  I carried the tea tray and bowed my head to exit. When I reached outside the beaded curtain, I couldn't help but turn my head and steal a glance at Eighth Brother. He sat quietly with his eyes cast down, his slender figure also seemed out of place. The room was filled with people's voices, yet it was hard to conceal the desolation and loneliness! My heart felt sour, I turned my head and quickly walked away.

  The emperor left, and he also left. I don't have to worry about running into him unintentionally again, nor do I have to worry about the pang of sadness and helplessness when I occasionally see him. But it turns out that leaving can't make me forget, always inadvertently raising my head, a familiar scene will flash by, always smiling, his smile will flash by unintentionally, although I will immediately choose to ignore, choose to see but not see, but the mood has already become gloomy. Reason can control actions, but cannot control emotions, when can I truly forget? Clouds are light and the wind is gentle!

  Peaceful days always pass by too quickly, the handkerchief I was embroidering still hasn't been finished, and Kangxi has already returned from Mount Wutai. I saw Eighth Brother again, his complexion is much better than when he first left the capital, when I paid my respects to him, he smiled like a gentle breeze, his eyes were warm, and he casually raised his hand for me to rise.

  I thought to myself, he has let go, perhaps the scenery in the mountains is easy to make people forget worldly affairs. Perhaps he no longer has the leisure and energy to waste on personal relationships. Everything for him is already in the past. Isn't this what you wanted? Why do you still feel melancholy?

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  As he saw the person approaching him, he wanted to dodge but it was too late, so he quickly retreated to the side of the road, bowed his head and greeted: "Prince Beile, good fortune!"

  He said gently: "Get up!" I stood up, bowed my head and stood still. He didn't mean to leave. I wanted to bid farewell, but didn't know how to open my mouth.

  "My fourteenth brother won't bother you again!" He said gently and slowly.

  My heart is filled with mixed emotions of sadness and joy, I don't know how to respond, so I just stand there quietly.

  "What did you mean by what you said last time? Long Keduo, Nian Gengyao, Li Wei, I vaguely understand. But Ou Sidao, Tian Jingwen, I don't understand."

  I pondered for a moment and asked tentatively: "Is there a staff member named Wu Si-dao with a leg problem beside the Fourth Prince?"

  "He replied bluntly: 'No!'"

  My first reaction was that I had been fooled by "Yongzheng Dynasty"! While I was stunned, he said: "There is no one named Tian Jingwen in the imperial court, but there is indeed a person called Tian Wenjing."

  "I hastily said: 'That's Tian Wenjing, I remembered it wrong!'"

  He looked puzzled and smiled slightly, asking: "Where did these unrelated people and things come from?"

  I was stunned for a moment, then said: "Anyway, just be more careful and it'll be fine! As for where to start, I don't even know where to begin now!" After finishing speaking, he hastily took his leave. He remained silent for a moment, then softly said: "Go ahead."

  I walked back and forth, scolding the TV series and myself, fabricating and being irresponsible! My memory is rotten, I even got the names wrong!