Hotaru [The Tale of Genji]

Cheng Xiangdian stared blankly at her child.The prince is going to be 16 years old this year.He has a heroic figure that belongs only to that kind of boy, and he also has a restraint and maturity that ordinary dandy nobles don't have.He is the child she is most proud of, the flesh and blood that cannot be parted in this life.His Highness Prince Ying was sitting in front of him with his back straight, calm and introverted, calm and relaxed.

There is also his extravagant and gorgeous appearance like a peony, and his imposing manner like a famous sword.If it weren't for those eyes that were exactly the same as her own, Her Royal Highness, the daughter of Chengxiang Temple, would have thought that she had returned to 16 years ago.

The atmosphere between the mother and son was too quiet, but not tense.On the contrary, the heart of Jiao Shibu who was accompanying him was beating like a drum, and cold sweat kept breaking out on his forehead.She followed Her Royal Highness just now, and heard such a shocking thing in the shadow of the corridor.The information contained in it, if the Royal Highness hadn't stopped her, she must have fainted on the spot.

His Majesty the handsome palace has such thoughts towards his elder brother and His Majesty...

She recalled His Highness Ying's attachment and love for His Majesty Suzaku over the years.The feeling of panic in the back was like a thunderbolt. This kind of feeling had already been foreshadowed, but she never cared about it.Until this time, the sprouts grew into terrifying vines, like a thick net that engulfed those present.

It was already very late at this time, and according to Jiao Shibu's habit, she had already rested already.But now she is obviously very tired, but she still has 12 points of energy.If the mother and son had a sudden conflict, she might be able to stop one or two of them and prevent the gaffe from getting worse.Jiao Shibu stared closely at the expressions of the two His Highnesses, and his whole body was ready to go——

A faint sigh sounded, Jiao Shibu's shoulders shook, and he looked at the maid of Chengxiang Palace.

"Firefly... Aren't you going to explain to your mother?" Her Royal Highness's tone was very helpless, and there was a sense of admitting defeat in it.

The sitting prince's expression remained unchanged, and there was even a slight smile on his lips, but the light was too dim to see clearly. "Your Highness, what do you want me to explain?"

"... when did you find out I was there?"

"Your servant has already noticed it since you arrived..." His Highness Prince Ying said, "I have always been worried that you would make noise. Yuren is weak by nature. If he knows that there is a third person, I am afraid that he will be ashamed to talk to you again." I meet."

"You care about him?"

"No, he and Bo Sheng are good friends, I don't want to cause a rift between them because of me."

"Oh……"

The atmosphere between the two became quiet again, and neither of them continued to speak.Jiao Shibu on the side panicked a lot, she moved her body uneasily, but she didn't dare to use too much movement, so as not to attract any attention.

Cheng Xiangdian fiddled with his cuffs, looked up at his son.I just feel that Prince Ying seems to be very calm, without the slightest feeling of panic - this is also the idea of ​​Jiao Shibu.If ordinary people were discovered by their elders such a shocking thing, they must be extremely panicked.Why is Prince Ying so leisurely?

Could it be that he was sure that he would not embarrass him?The maid of Chengxiang Palace thought so.She was a little reconciled, and snorted in her heart.Clearing his throat, he asked in a serious tone: "Then, as Mr. Yuren said just now, you feel admiration for His Majesty..."

Before the female royal could finish her words, Prince Ying chuckled.This laugh is extremely relaxed, without any sense of panic that should be.I just heard His Majesty Shuai say, "Didn't His Majesty the Mother already know about this matter? What else do you want my son to say..."

Clang--

Jiao Shibu on the side knocked over the low table in surprise and panic.The utensils and items on it fell to the ground, making clear noises in the quiet night.The eyes of the two Highnesses were all focused on her, and Jiao Shibu panicked, packing up the objects on the ground with trembling hands and feet, and saluted and apologized tremblingly.Her voice trembled, and the words that came out of her mouth could not be connected into sentences at all.

"Alas..." Chengxiang Hall's maiden sighed, and said comfortingly, "Shibu, it's already late, why don't you go down and rest first."

"But, Your Highness!" Jiao Shibu was panicked and anxious, with tears in his eyes, "I, you..."

"It's okay, you go down first."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness..." The old and heartfelt maid retreated in panic, and before she left, she still dutifully closed the wooden door for the two Highnesses.

After Jiao Shibu left, only Prince Ying, mother and son were left in this room.The candlelight was weak, not as bright as the moonlight outside the door.Between the shadows, it seems that the distance between the mother and the child is very far away.But it is precisely because of this that the memories in the old days overlap with the present.People can't tell how these years have slipped slowly through their fingers.

"You are really much better than me..." Nuyu relaxed her body, no longer sitting upright.Because it was too late and she hadn't rested yet, her tone was somewhat tired, "... Back then, I didn't have the calmness to face the elders' questioning like you."

There is another deep meaning in these words, which seems to imply boundless past events.But His Royal Highness Ying didn't ask, but said: "If I am not sure that my mother will not stop me, I would not dare to talk to you like this now."

"Oh? Why?" "I'm afraid you will be sad..."

Cheng Xiangdian was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"You have always been a frank and good boy...so, have you never thought of hiding this matter?"

The prince lit the candlesticks around.The light became brighter, and the queen could clearly see His Royal Highness Ying's handsome face and his nodding motion, "Indeed, I never thought of hiding this from you...but I didn't expect you to have noticed it so early. "

"Who told me to be your mother..." Cheng Xiangdian said with emotion, "At that time, you asked me so sadly about the matter of the East Palace, I probably knew about it. It really scared me It's a big jump."

Prince Ying didn't know how to answer, so he just listened to his mother silently.

"However, you guessed it, I did not mean to stop you. I am just a humble woman with little knowledge and only focus on children's affairs. It has nothing to do with me. Therefore, my son likes someone , that person's character and appearance are good, as a mother, I don't want to stop it, it's disgusting."

"Mother, don't underestimate yourself... If your knowledge is small, there will be no sensible people in this world."

"Don't tell me this," the maid of Chengxiang Hall snorted, "I ask you, how do you plan to deal with this relationship? I know what you think about His Majesty, and the young master Yuren knows it too. Your Majesty I'm afraid you've already figured out how smart you are, what are you going to do?"

Prince Ying fell silent, he couldn't answer this question for a while.If it is possible, His Highness certainly hopes to express his heart, but he doesn't know if he can afford such a consequence.

"My son naturally hopes to clarify, but..." "But, are you afraid that His Majesty will hate you from now on?"

"...That's right," His Highness Ying took a deep breath, and slowly let out the helplessness and entanglement in his heart, "My son and minister are rebellious, this situation is already difficult to tolerate in the world. What's more, brothers and sons are in the present, the laws of heaven and morals... only I am afraid that after I die, I will never be able to enter bliss again."

"The Buddha used himself to overcome the misery in the world. If he knows your difficulties, he will only help you more. Everything can turn around, so you don't need to be so disappointed."

"Thank you mother..."

"Seeing Mr. Yuren's confession today, I admire his actions very much. Haven't you been touched?"

"Why not... Erchen prides himself on being frank, and when compared with him, he can only feel ashamed."

It is precisely because of the importance that it is more cautious.However, His Royal Highness Ying also understands that Suzaku will not turn against him because of this matter.Out of brotherhood, he would only try to persuade himself to return to the right path - it's just that the two of them will never get back to the original way of getting along.However, if you can seek a momentary connection, so what if you are punished by heaven?Shuai Gong lowered his eyes and sighed in his heart.

"If all the difficulties that hinder you disappear at this time, will you stop worrying about gains and losses and seize every opportunity?"

The maid of Chengxiang Palace asked again, her tone was a little eager, even imploring.His Highness Prince Ying had always been a little disappointed, but at this moment he suddenly felt something was wrong.Her Royal Highness seemed to be confirming something from the beginning, eager to find an answer.His Highness Prince Ying was suspicious, and met his mother's eyes.Seeing her eyes glowing, she seemed to have an unstoppable momentum.He suddenly had some guesses in his mind, but he felt that this was too terrifying, and he didn't dare to think about it any further.

Seeing her son's silence, Her Royal Highness bit her lips and asked herself a question——

"If, all these are not obstacles, you will still..."

"Mother...Even if there are obstacles, I can't change my mind." His Highness Ying stood up, walked to Chengxiang Hall and squatted down beside the maid.He held his mother's trembling hands and gently comforted her back.Nuyu was a little dazed, looking at her son with an innocent and fragile look in her eyes, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, "I..."

"It's okay, mother, you don't have to work so hard for me." Her Highness Ying stopped her mother's next words, and said: "My business... my son already has his own plans."

Cheng Xiangdian's tone was difficult, and every word he said seemed to take a lot of effort, "You, do you know what I'm going to say?" "No, I don't know...but, I know, the current You're not ready to say everything."

Cheng Xiangdian was suffocated, and was about to say those words almost immediately.However, His Highness Yingying still stopped his mother.He put his finger on his mouth, made a silent gesture, and said softly: "It's late, mother, let's rest..."