Cheng Yi jumped off the horse. Even though he didn't say anything, he still felt that something was wrong with Cheng Ning.
But we have been separated for too long, not in terms of time.
But when he was imprisoned for more than half a year, and Cheng Ning was imprisoned in the palace for a long time, there was no tacit understanding between brother and sister between them.
"What's wrong with you?" Cheng Yi held onto Cheng Ning's shoulders, only to realize that her sister had lost a lot of weight.
Cheng Ning's hand in his sleeve trembled for a moment, and his fingertips lightly curled together.
But none of this was conveyed on her face. She still smiled: "What can I do? I can live a better life than my brother."
Not wanting the topic to be brought to her, she asked: "Where are you going?"
Apart from never being able to return to Beijing, Wei Yanzhou should not have restricted Cheng Yi's freedom.
Where to go is up to him.
Cheng Ning thought it was pretty good. She once thought that Kyoto was a utopia for their group and would never leave.
But actually now, leaving is the best result.
"Let's go north." Cheng Yi saw her smiling and calmed down a little: "Yili has always wanted to visit the north. Wherever she is, I have to go and take care of her."
After a pause, he said, "I'm sorry, Xiao Ning, but I can't stay with you in Kyoto."
"Why do you accompany me?" Cheng Ning smiled: "We are all adults, how we live is up to us."
"I heard -" Cheng Yi's gaze slowly lowered, resting on Cheng Ning's belly: "You used your child to threaten him to let us live."
No one dared to bite the back of Wei Yanzhou's tongue if he didn't hear everything.
But the sudden release of the Cheng family showed a tolerance that was inconsistent with Wei Yanzhou's ruthlessness.
So he asked a few more questions.
"Don't ask why," Cheng Ning said softly, "As long as you can leave, it doesn't matter what the price is."
She didn't want Cheng Yi to think about her sacrifice or her difficulties, as that would hinder people's feet.
"But, even if you do this...he still won't let you go?"
Cheng Ning was startled. She hadn't thought about this matter for a long time, but Wei Yanzhou and her couldn't decide whether to let it go or not.
Cheng Yi saw clearly the flash of confusion on his sister's face. He was heartbroken but could do nothing.
It's fate, it's man-made, it doesn't matter, no one is innocent when it comes to this point anyway.
He hugged Cheng Ning and gave his sister a very light and warm hug: "My father was buried beside mother's grave. No matter what he did, perhaps his last wish was to return to mother."
So he took matters into his own hands.
Cheng Ning's chin gently touched Cheng Yi's shoulder, clinging to each other like two kittens that had been soaked in the rain.
She hummed bitterly.
"I still want to tell you that it wasn't Wei Yanzhou who wanted to kill us and move us to the imperial mausoleum. I guess he didn't want you to have the opportunity to come into contact with us. After my father's death, the child in Yili's belly... belongs to the Xie family. Handwriting."
He stroked Cheng Ning's long hair. Ever since he became wise, he had rarely been so close to her.
But they are the last brothers and sisters connected by blood.
Cheng Ning grabbed the corner of his clothes. It seemed that these words did not touch her: "Why did you tell me?"
My brother probably hates Wei Yanzhou.
Regardless of whether Wei Yanzhou took the initiative or not and directly caused the death of the Cheng family, all he lost was his father and children.
"You are my sister, Xiao Ning. If you are destined to be in the palace, then I hope you will hate less and suffer from yourself...that is, self-abuse."
After going through a prison, after a life and death, Cheng Yi is no longer the person who clamored to question Cheng Ning.
He understands grudges and self-transcendence.
If a person lives with hatred, every day will be so long that there is no end in sight.
"Hate has turned Wei Yanzhou into this, and I don't want you to become like that," Cheng Yi patted Cheng Ning on the back: "Be well."
Cheng Ning closed his eyes and felt his brother's warm comfort.
"I really want to take you away," Cheng Yi said with difficulty, "Just nod, and I'll take you out."
But they all knew it was in vain.
Wang Xi was standing ten meters away, surrounded by many invisible shadow guards.
I don't know how many there were, but it was enough to trap them all and prevent them from getting out.
Cheng Ning pushed Cheng Yi away and smiled: "Let's go quickly. It's sunny and we can travel quickly. Don't worry about me."
Cheng Yi got on his horse again.
He took one last look at Cheng Ning. The wind blew the hem of his robe, and he saw someone who looked very similar to Cheng Ning.
Everything that needs to be said is said, and everything that is left unsaid is understood.
Cheng Ning watched him turn his horse's head and watched him raise his whip.
She just stood, watching Cheng Yi's horse go away, watching him turn into a black dot in her field of vision, and finally disappear.
got windy.
She didn't move.
Chunhua stood beside her, wanting to urge him but not daring.
The empress has always been like this recently, looking into the distance and being lost in thought for a long time.
Since that night, many things in the palace were different.
It's obvious that winter has passed, but the coldness seems to linger.
In the end, Wang Xi stepped forward and urged: "If you keep blowing it any longer, you will catch a cold. Madam, please go back to the palace."
Cheng Ning came to his senses and said hello.
But she didn't get in the car. She said to Wang Xi, "Father-in-law, please come with me for a walk."
Unexpectedly, she would nod him. Wang Xi was stunned for a moment, and then said respectfully: "Yes, empress."
Chunhua took a cloak from the car and put it on Cheng Ning, then helped her walk.
"Chunhua doesn't need to follow, just stay in the car."
*
Outside the city are walking traders, carrying burdens or pushing carts, and earning coolie money.
When I saw Cheng Ning, I couldn't help but stop for a moment.
In the past, when I returned to the imperial court to report on my duties, I would pass here every time I entered Kyoto. Cheng Ning's horse trampled every inch of this place.
I unexpectedly saw an old vendor in a familiar location.
He sells some home-grown fruits and melons, and the front of the stall is green.
When the old man saw Cheng Ning, he was confused for a moment, but then he asked tentatively: "General Cheng?"
I haven’t heard this title for a long time.
Cheng Ning smiled at him: "Uncle Chen."
When returning to the city, the horse needs to be saddled. Cheng Ning has trimmed it here many times.
I also took care of the old man’s business.
Cheng Ning smiled at him, but she couldn't bear the sound from General Cheng.
The old man was sure that she was Cheng Ning, so he grabbed a handful of plums from the stall and stuffed them over her.
"I didn't believe you at first when you said you wouldn't fight anymore." He looked at Cheng Ning up and down with a look of pity: "I didn't expect it to be true."
Cheng Ning's appearance was completely different from that of the majestic female general from before.
Taking the plum, Cheng Ning was not polite: "How are you?"
"Okay, okay!" Then Uncle Chen glanced at Wang Xi again, as well as the guards closely watching behind him.
He felt sad in his heart, but he could only lament in his heart that things have changed.
After saying goodbye and leaving, Wang Xi followed Cheng Ning carefully, waiting for her to speak first.
She was probably far enough away from the carriage before she spoke: "Can you tell me your father-in-law's original intention of placing Chunhua in Linhua Palace?"
Prize-winning quiz: Wang Xi’s life experience.
