you are my tomorrow

Just as Han Qing guessed, Old General Zhao retired and returned to his hometown one month after returning to Beijing. Zhao Rongzhen, who took his place, was left to live in the Wenfu not far from the imperial palace. He and his wife went back to the house in their hometown first. In order to provide for the elderly, the second is to have more time to take care of the second son who is still recovering.Although some officials in the DPRK were still somewhat dissatisfied with the fledgling Zhao Rongzhen, because of the victory not long ago, even if some people were dissatisfied, they didn't say much, and most people still held a wait-and-see attitude.

Soon after Zhao Rongzhen became a general, Comet celebrated his birthday. After all, it was a coming-of-age ceremony. After his father died, Comet had never held a birthday party. Han Qing wanted to help him organize a birthday party, but Comet refused. .

There will be a birthday every year, but it's just tacky with the word "adult ceremony", and it's good to simply live with the emperor and Zhongyi.

These are Comet’s original words. Han Qing thought for a while, and he promised Comet’s birthday party would be simple, but as the youngest son of the royal family, he and the other three brothers had held coming-of-age ceremonies before, so Han Qing still prepared a very formal royal birthday for Comet. The coming-of-age ceremony was to announce to the world that all the descendants of the royal family had grown up, and secondly, it wanted to leave some special memories for Comet. Comet didn't want to discourage Han Qing's enthusiasm, so he agreed.

The royal coming-of-age ceremony is cumbersome and lengthy, and worshiping heaven and earth is the most important ceremony. After the worship of heaven and earth, it was already past noon. Han Qing and Comet were preparing to return to the palace in a carriage. On the way back to the palace, Han Qing let the leading team Changed the route back to the palace and went to Wenfu first.

"Would you like to invite General Zhao into the palace to have a birthday party with us? The four of us together, you, me, General Zhao, and Zhongyi, it will be more lively if there are more people." Ever since Zhao Rongzhen became a general, every time after the morning court, Han Qing will stay with Zhao Rongzhen for a while longer. Once the two hit it off, there will always be many topics to discuss, whether it is the affairs of the court, or the state, or even trivial matters. But treat each other as friends.

Comet knows this. Since the last celebration banquet, he has never seen Zhao Rongzhen again, because he always talks with Han Qing in the Hezheng Palace where Han Qing handles state affairs, and rarely goes to other palaces in the palace. , Huixing usually likes to be quiet and doesn't like outsiders to disturb him, so Han Qing never took Zhao Rongzhen to his place.

However, Huixing wanted to know more about Zhao Rongzhen for no reason, but he didn't ask about state affairs, and he had no reason to meet Zhao Rongzhen. Even if he met, he didn't know what to talk about, so he gave up.

Today, Han Qing suggested that four people celebrate their birthday together, which made Comet feel that it was an opportunity to get to know Zhao Rongzhen, so he didn't refuse.

Zhongyi has been following Comet. When Han Qing proposed to call Zhao Rongzhen, Comet's eyes seemed to flash something. Comet, who usually does not want to contact outsiders, did not reject Han Qing's proposal. This in itself made Zhongyi feel a little surprised. He also faintly saw a glimmer of expectation from Comet's seemingly plain eyes.Loyalty frowned slightly.

Maybe it's just that I was wrong.

Zhao Rongzhen thought that the last celebration banquet was the last time he saw Comet, so when Han Qing came to his home and asked him to enter the palace with him to attend Comet’s birthday banquet, Zhao Rongzhen was even more surprised and couldn’t keep his mouth shut. There are only 4 people on him.Han Qing looked at Rong Zhen's expression and smiled, "Let's go, Comet is still waiting outside." Because it was a private party, Zhao Rongzhen went to the inner hall to change into a slightly more formal dress, and walked out with Han Qing house door.

Walking out of the door, Zhao Rongzhen saw Comet sitting in the carriage still wearing red clothes, but the veil on the carriage was fluttering in the wind, Rong Zhen couldn't see Comet's face clearly, "I really like red." Zhao Rongzhen silently Sighing in his heart, he walked to Comet's carriage, leaned forward, and clasped his fists in front of his chest, "My minister, Zhao Rongzhen, has seen the fifth prince, but I didn't know that the emperor and the prince were coming. I was far away to welcome you, and I hope you will forgive me." Zhao Rongzhen didn't look up, waiting for Comet to speak.

"General Zhao thinks too much. Brother Huang made a temporary decision to come here. Why should General Zhao blame himself? General Zhao is a friend of Brother Huang, and he can be regarded as my friend. If you drink two more glasses at my birthday party, it will be regarded as an apology." Let’s go.” Comet responded with a smile, in the eyes of others, this smile was a bit official and reserved, but to Zhongyi next to him, it was the first time that Comet spoke to a stranger in such a peaceful tone, if it were someone else , Comet doesn't speak in a smiling voice at all, or simply ignores it.

This is the first official meeting between the two, Zhao Rongzhen can win Comet's favor, how special should he be?

Sitting on the horse, Zhong Yi condescendingly and silently looked up and down at the majestic Zhao Rongzhen. Even if he didn't say anything, he still gave people a strong sense of presence. If it was him, he would be attracted by Zhao Rongzhen's invisible presence, but How annoying is it?

Comets are never attracted to anyone.

Because of the differences between monarchs and ministers, Zhao Rongzhen still followed Han Qing and Huixing back to the palace on horseback. In fact, it was unintentional. He and Zhongyi always went hand in hand, but the people next to him didn't seem to like him very much, and they didn't seem to put themselves in the same place. In his eyes, he didn't mean to talk to himself.

"Hello, I'm Zhao Rongzhen." Rong Zhen greeted him familiarly first, and the person next to him glanced at himself, and then looked forward.

"General Zhao, I have admired your name for a long time. Li Zhongyi, His Royal Highness's personal bodyguard, has been His Royal Highness's companion since he was 9 years old."

Zhao Rongzhen took a closer look at this tall and straight man, and said that as long as there is a master, there will be a follower, perhaps because he has been following the comet for a long time, Zhongyi also has a kind of cold arrogance that rejects others thousands of miles away, But Zhao Rongzhen, who used swords since he was a child, recognized the sword on Zhongyi's waist at a glance—the eagle, the golden scabbard inlaid with high-grade bloodstone and green agate, and engraved with the totem of the eagle, which can only come from Pingyang General Li’s family can only have it. I think that General Li was also the founding general who kept pace with his father. It’s just that General Li retired and returned to his hometown in advance due to the relapse of his old wartime disease a year ago. You can also participate, and the sword named "Eagle" is only eligible to be inherited by future generations.

"Is brother Li a descendant of the Li family in Pingyang?" Although he was [-]% sure, Zhao Rongzhen still asked this question. Zhongyi looked at Li Rongzhen in surprise, "Your sword told me..." Li Rongzhen pointed at Zhongyi's Only then did Zhongyi suddenly realize that his father handed the sword into his hands a year ago, and let him inherit and carry forward the spirit of the Pu family’s loyalty and defense of the country. The sword in the middle, showing a faint smile, did not answer Li Rongzhen's question, kicked the horse's stomach lightly with his legs, and his horse walked forward at a slight speed.

Li Rongzhen didn't chase after him. He looked at Zhongyi's tall and straight back, and sighed softly. From Zhongyi's resolute eyes, he knew that if Zhongyi could do things by his side, he would be even more powerful, and he would not The feeling of knowing where you come from is that feeling.

After returning to the palace, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the food and wine for Comet's birthday banquet were ready. Han Qing ordered people to send the food and wine to the Ming and Qing Palace, and the four of them went back to the Ming and Qing Palace first.

Back at the Ming and Qing palaces, Zhongyi took out the Tieguanyin that the comet would brew when Han Qing came, and ordered the maid to boil the water. After the tea set was set, just wait for the water to boil.

Ever since entering the Ming and Qing Palace, Rong Zhen has secretly observed this unique palace. The outside gate is no different from other palaces, but after entering the gate, there is another world inside, unlike Han Qing's Hezheng Palace. The cold color of the palace, the Ming and Qing palaces are decorated with bright red, except for the gray rockery in the garden, almost all the decorations in this palace are red, red curtains, red lanterns, red doors , red stone pillars, even the roof tiles are dark red, in the unfrozen fish pond, occasionally these red goldfish swim.These bright red colors reminded Rong Zhen of the first night back in Beijing, the red flowers called "manzhu" in his dream, their bright colors were the same.

Comet really likes red so much as the people outside said, but in this place where passionate colors are everywhere, there lives a prince in red, but in such a passionate color, there lives an abnormal Calm, even indifferent soul.Rong Zhen could also tell that although Comet was laughing when he was talking to him, he didn't seem to be laughing in his heart, and there was a trace of indifference in his warm voice.

Zhao Rongzhen retracted his eyes and looked at the comet leading the way ahead. That special fragrance faintly floated into Rong Zhen's nose. Rong Zhen secretly took a deep breath. He liked the smell.

As usual, Comet and Han Qing sat at the mahogany round table in the living room. This time there was an extra Rong Zhen, and Zhongyi stood behind Comet as usual, waiting for Comet’s dispatch at any time. In the stove in the middle of the living room, the charcoal fire was already raging. .

"Sit down too. It's my birthday today, so don't be too busy." Comet patted the empty round stool beside him, motioning for Zhongyi to sit down, but Zhongyi shook his head lightly.

"Serving you is my duty, Zhongyi cannot sit with the emperor and you."

"I tell you to sit and you sit, and there are no outsiders here." Comet became a little serious, Zhong Yi glanced at Rong Zhen, and Han Qing smiled knowingly.

"It's okay, comet let you sit down, Rong is really my friend, it doesn't matter, don't you usually eat with comet? Is there anything you can't sit with?" Han Qing got up and pushed Zhongyi to the round stool.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you Your Highness." Zhongyi could only be respectful rather than obedient, and leaned forward to sit down, but he was still a little cautious.

Both Han Qing and Comet looked at Zhongyi and smiled.

After a while, the maid brought up the teapot with hot water and put it by Comet's hand. Comet picked up the kettle and started to make tea. That skillful movement was not like what a pampered prince should have. Rong Zhen looked at Comet in surprise Han Qing seemed to see that Rong was really puzzled.

"Usually when I come here, I only drink the tea made by Comet. I have cultivated his tea-making skills." Han Qing glanced at Comet with a smile, and Comet hummed unconvinced. With a sound, the corner of his mouth curled up into a smile, a sincere smile.

Zhao Rongzhen looked at the fleeting but charming smile on Comet's lips, and became dumbfounded. It turned out that Comet's smile was so beautiful, like a blooming flower, coquettish yet reserved, brilliant yet at the same time noble.

When Comet handed the cup containing the tea to Rong Zhen, Zhao Rongzhen hadn't recovered yet, Han Qing patted him on the shoulder, and Zhao Rongzhen felt lost, "Thank you, Fifth Prince." Zhao Rongzhen took the teacup respectfully, After taking a sip, the aroma of tea overflowed in his mouth, which seemed to carry the special aroma of Comet, "The tea made by the Fifth Prince is indeed good tea!" Zhao Rongzhen praised without hesitation.

"Brother Huang's friends also talk without thinking like Brother Huang?" Comet looked at Han Qing with proud eyes. What exactly did he want to say, so he looked at him questioningly, "Is there only praise, without any flaws?" Comet continued to ask.

"As the saying goes, 'Things of a feather flock together, and people are divided into groups'. I remember that Zhongyi was a lively child when he was a child. After following you for so many years, he has become a dull gourd. Do you think everyone is as cold-blooded as you? Sometimes It's not a bad thing to give others more words of praise, besides, some words of praise come from the heart, don't you think so, Rong Zhen?" Han Qing looked at Rong Zhen again, and Rong Zhen nodded sincerely.

"It's enough for our loyalty to be good to me alone, so why bother to be passionate about those irrelevant people? Don't you think so, Zhongyi?" Comet shifted his gaze to Zhongyi, and Zhongyi smiled embarrassedly and bowed his head. I agreed, but that expression seemed to be acquiescing.

Later, Zhao Rongzhen didn't hear what Comet said very clearly. In fact, under that seemingly indifferent face, maybe there was also the vigor and enthusiasm that an 18-year-old man should have?

After a few cups of tea, the food and wine for the birthday party were served, and Zhongyi stood up habitually, trying to pour wine for the other three, but was pushed down by Comet again, "I said, today you are just like us , I don’t need you to help me.” Zhongyi smiled awkwardly and had no choice but to give up.

After the maid filled the wine glasses of the four people, Han Qing raised the wine glasses first, and the other three also raised the wine glasses, "Today is Comet's birthday, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rong Zhen for coming to this small banquet, and thank you Zhongyi has been with Comet for so many years," Han Qing glanced at Rong Zhen and Zhongyi, and finally fixed his gaze on Comet, "Of course, I am most grateful to Comet for always supporting me unconditionally. Although it is your birthday, but This first cup, I'll drink it first." The four clinked glasses, Han Qing drank it down first, and the three drank all the wine in the glasses afterwards.The maid refilled the wine glasses of the four of them again.

"Then let me say something first for the second cup." Comet raised his cup again, and the other three followed, "I'm very glad that Brother Huang can manage the current world safely and smoothly. Today is the day of my adulthood." Today, my wish is that in the days to come, I can rely more on the assistance of General Zhao to make my brother more comfortable and our country more prosperous." Comet clinked glasses with the three of them and drank it all in one gulp.

"The minister will definitely help the emperor with all his strength, fifth prince, please rest assured." Zhao Rongzhen looked at Comet sincerely, and agreed without hesitation, Comet nodded trustingly.

Perhaps it was because of the effect of the wine, Zhongyi, who was still a bit reserved just now, also relaxed, the four of them chatted in a relaxed atmosphere, Zhao Rongzhen told the three of them many things that were unheard of in the palace outside the pass, and all three of them envied Rong It's amazing to see so many things at such a young age.Although the various documents in the palace are the most comprehensive in the country, they are still not as real as what they have seen or experienced with their own eyes.

After drinking for three rounds, the sky gradually turned late. The overwhelmed Han Qing finally passed out drunk on the table. Comet asked the maid to take out an extra quilt and put it on his bed. With Han Qing's state, he couldn't go back at all. .

Zhao Rongzhen was also a little dizzy. He felt that if he didn't leave, he might not be able to leave, so he got up and prepared to leave, "Can General Zhao go home? It's cold outside. If the wind is blowing after drinking, maybe I'm going to be sick." Although Xixing also drank a lot, he ate a lot, so he wouldn't be sad, but he looked a little wobbly when he stood up.

"It's...it's okay, my house is not far from the palace, I can...can go back." Zhao Rongzhen's speech was a little unclear, he took two steps, and took the cloak handed by the maid, but he couldn't tie it on his chest front strap.

"General Zhao, if you don't mind, I'll have someone tidy up a guest room for you, and you can stay here tonight." Comet walked up to Rong Zhen, untied the messy belt, and helped him take off the cloak by the way.

Rong Zhenxu stared at Comet, who was slightly shorter than himself, his delicate eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of water vapor, slightly reddish, and looked at him with a faint smile. He couldn't hear Comet clearly. He was saying something to him, as if he wanted to let himself stay, but he couldn't match Comet's request, and his head seemed to be getting dizzy, so Rong Zhen nodded indiscriminately, and agreed.

"Zhongyi, take the general to the guest room."

"Yes, Your Highness, you should go to bed earlier. I'll take the general off." Zhongyi has always been drinking well. Although he drank a little too much, he was not as drunk as Han Qing and Rong Zhen. Zhongyi supported Rong Zhen Slowly walking out of the living room, Comet sent the two to the door and watched the two go to the east wing of the statue.

When Comet wanted to go back to the room, a small, cool thing fell on his nose, "It's snowing again..." Comet stretched out his hand, welcoming more snowflakes falling on his hands, melt.

Comet remembered his birthday 8 years ago, when he was supposed to see Zhao Rongzhen, the first snow fell, but today, he and Zhao Rongzhen met on this day, and the first snow fell profusely. Is this a coincidence, or is it inevitable? ?

Who knows.

I don't know how long I stayed at the door, the snow was a little heavy, and I felt the wind was blowing, so Comet held the corner of his mouth and went back to sleep.

But Comet didn't notice, he had already come out of the wing room, and Zhongyi, who was standing in the dark, kept looking at him, until he turned back, Zhongyi came out from the darkness, recalling Comet's smile, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise stand up.