Stranger and Chen in the Palace

Ling Yichen and Xue Zimo randomly entered a restaurant by the river, and sat down on the second floor by the window.

Ling Yichen looked out the window, the river lanterns they put up just now had merged with those put by others, and some people were throwing river lanterns into the river one after another.

Seeing the two of them sitting down, the second elder brother hurried forward to say hello, "What would you two like to eat? We have all kinds of dishes in this restaurant. You can order whatever you want..."

Xue Zimo asked softly: "What do you want to eat, young master?"

"It's all right, you can order." Ling Yichen smiled.

Xue Zimo had no choice but to say to the second brother: "Let's order some special dishes from your store."

The second brother couldn't stop nodding his head, he likes this kind of guests, he serves food casually without asking the price, it looks like a son of a rich family.In this way, no matter how expensive the dishes are, the guests won't care. He tilted his head and asked with a smile, "What kind of wine would you like to drink?"

Xue Zimo didn't like drinking, but he didn't know if Ling Yichen drank or not, so he said, "Get a pot of the best wine in your shop."

"Okay, you two will be here later, right away—" the second brother happily replied, and went downstairs after talking.

After a while, Xiaoer led a few people to serve a table full of dishes, plus a pot of clear brewed osmanthus wine.

Xue Zimo laughed, he remembered that he just said a few dishes, there are more than [-] dishes served here, not to mention the two of them, even a few more people can't finish it.

He glanced at Ling Yichen, unexpectedly Ling Yichen said with a smile: "I didn't bring any money..."

As soon as Ling Yichen said this, the little brother next to him immediately turned dark. Seeing that these two are well-dressed, how dare they come to eat the overlord's meal?

Xue Zimo saw the expression on the younger brother's face, and hurriedly said, "I'll treat you to this meal."

Hearing this, the second brother's face suddenly turned from black to red. He smiled and said to the two of them: "Two young masters, use it slowly, use it slowly..."

He bowed back while talking, and didn't look at the road. Behind him was the stairs. Xue Zimo was a little worried, this little brother should not fall down the stairs.

Of course, the little brother won't fall downstairs.

When the second brother came downstairs, Ling Yichen said: "You treat me this time, I will treat you next time."

Xue Zimo smiled: "I should have invited you, but I just said that when I saw that my second brother misunderstood."

Ling Yichen was noncommittal, Xue Zimo picked up the jug, poured him and himself a glass of wine, raised it up and said, "Today is your son's birthday, Zimo wishes you... a bright future." Xue Zimo originally wanted to say that he wished him all the best. , but suddenly remembered the wish Ling Yichen made just now, and immediately changed his mind midway.

Ling Yichen raised the cup in his hand, gave him a meaningful look, clinked the glass with him lightly, and drank it down with his head raised.

The two of them started to eat. Before Ling Yichen served himself food, he would put a chopstick into Xue Zimo's bowl. After doing this several times, Xue Zimo finally couldn't help but said, "My lord, I can do it myself."

Ling Yichen slightly paused the hand holding the food, smiled and said, "I like to take the food for you."

Xue Zimo looked up at him for a while, and seeing his persistent gaze, felt a little helpless, and started to eat vegetables with his head down.

Ling Yichen watched him eat the food he picked up, and a strange sense of happiness slowly swelled in his heart. After a long time, he whispered: "It turns out that birthday...is so good!"

Although Ling Yichen spoke in a low voice, Xue Zimo still heard it. He raised his head and asked in surprise, "Master, it's not your birthday before?"

"Well, it's the first time." Ling Yichen nodded.

Xue Zimo couldn't believe it, even if Ling Yichen lived in Yingyuan before, wouldn't there still be Concubine Yun?Even if Concubine Yun passed away later, what about before?

As if feeling his question, Ling Yichen continued: "My mother never celebrates my birthday, and she seldom even talks to me." Ling Yichen smiled a little far-fetchedly, "She always doesn't pay much attention to me..."

Xue Zimo frowned, there is such a mother in the world, what kind of life did Ling Yichen live in the cherry garden before?

It was hard for him to imagine that a child who was thrown into the cold palace by his father and could only live with his mother, his mother was still so indifferent to him.

Xue Zimo heard from his father that Ling Yichen was less than one year old when Concubine Yun was thrown into the cold palace. Could it be that he has lived like this for more than ten years?

Although Xue Zimo also lost his mother since he was a child, his father loved him very much and never forced him to do anything. Even if he wanted to escape the world, his father also respected his decision...

Xue Zimo caught a glimpse of the wound on his palm again. It was not the first time he had noticed the wound. The wound was so obvious, but he always felt that it had nothing to do with him, so he never asked about it.Listening to him talking about Yingyuan's life now, I couldn't help asking: "What's the matter with the injury on your hand?"

Hearing this, Ling Yichen slowly spread out his palms, stared down at half the price, and said, "When my mother was cremated, I went to pull her and accidentally hurt her."

Xue Zimo was startled when he heard that Ling Yichen's words were flat, but whenever he thought of that scene, his heart trembled.

Speaking of Concubine Yun's death, Ling Yichen inevitably recalled the scene that day. He watched his mother and concubine who had been with him for more than ten years turn into ashes, and the dull pain in his heart could not be ignored. Cup after cup.

At this moment, Xue Zimo suddenly felt that he had overlapped with the way he was three years ago. Seeing him drinking faster and faster, he persuaded him: "Master, that's not how you drink wine."

Ling Yichen looked at him with three-point drunk eyes, and saw Xue Zimo's eyes were gentle, he raised the wine glass in his hand and said, "Look, if you drink it all at once, you can only feel the strength and bitterness of the wine, but if you Taste it slowly, and after drinking it, you will find that after the strong and bitterness, there is a faint sweetness and fragrance..." Xue Zimo paused, "It's just like your life."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Yichen suddenly held his hand and looked at him fixedly. There was something unspeakable in his eyes, Xue Zimo moved slightly, but he couldn't break free in the end.

After holding it for a while, seeing that Ling Yichen still didn't want to let go, Xue Zimo was a little embarrassed, and was about to call the second brother over to pay the bill, when he saw a drunk man stumbling towards him with a flagon.

Suddenly, the man was tripped by the stool under his feet, and his body swayed violently. All the wine in the flagon was spilled on Ling Yichen's chest, and his clothes were soaked in a big way.

Xue Zimo frowned, and the younger brother hurried over to apologize to Ling Yichen and said, "Oh, my lord, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

While wiping Ling Yichen's clothes with a rag, he scolded the drunk man: "What's the matter with you, ah, you've chased away all our guests, whoever knows him, hurry up and get rid of him..."

When Xiao Er was wiping Ling Yichen's clothes, the neckline was opened a little by the rag, revealing a corner of the jade around his neck.

Xue Zimo's gaze froze suddenly, because he realized that the piece of pendant jade was exactly the one that Ling Yichen had taken away from him a few days ago, so he looked at Ling Yichen with complicated eyes.

But Ling Yichen didn't notice, he was looking at the younger brother who was cleaning his clothes attentively, and said coldly: "That's enough, let's pay the bill."

The previous sentence made Xiaoer take back his hand, but when he heard the word "checkout", his eyes lit up again, and he said happily: "Okay, you two come with me..."

After Xue Zimo settled the bill, the two got into the carriage and went back.

Xue Zimo originally wanted to send Ling Yichen back to the palace first, but Ling Yichen insisted on sending him back to the prime minister's mansion first, so Xue Zimo had no choice but to let him go.

In the carriage, no one spoke anymore, Ling Yichen's clothes were still wet, and there was a faint smell of alcohol, permeating the small carriage...

Most of the time, the two of them didn't talk much when getting along, but neither of them felt embarrassed about each other. It seemed that the two of them had a natural understanding that didn't require words...

Back at the prime minister's mansion, Xue Zimo took out Ling Yichen's cherry blossom jade, and gently stroked the small "Chen" character in the lower right corner of the jade with his fingers.

He knew that he was special to Ling Yichen. When did that special start? The first time we met three years ago?

Or was it the snowy night that day?

Or is it tonight?

Xue Zimo was conflicted in his heart. He didn't want to entangle himself with the prince and the throne. This was not the life he wanted. Maybe it was what he should do to stay away as soon as possible. He slowly put Peiyu back into the box and closed it slowly. eyes.

As soon as Ling Yichen returned to Guanlan Hall, Shunde stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, you are finally back. Fourth Highness has been waiting for you for several hours."

Ling Yichen quickened his pace, and he saw Ling Yize waiting in the hall: "Fourth brother?"

Seeing Ling Yichen appear, Ling Yize quickly got up and trot to his side, happily said: "Brother Huang, you're back." After smelling the smell of alcohol, he found a large group of faint water stains on Brother Huang's clothes, "you've been drinking?"

Ling Yichen nodded: "I drank a little, are you looking for me?"

Hearing this, Ling Yize finally remembered the topic, and said excitedly: "Brother Huang, wait for me for a while, it will be fine." After speaking, he ran out quickly, leaving Ling Yichen confused.

Ling Yichen was doused with alcohol by the drunk just now, and wanted to take a bath and rest, but thought that Ling Yize would come later, so he changed into a shirt and waited for him.

That handsome figure was always lingering in Ling Yichen's mind, and he couldn't help but think of every detail of going to the night market with Xue Zimo tonight.

This feeling made him both sweet and scared. He knew that that person had completely occupied his heart, but what about him?How does he feel about himself?

"Brother Huang—" a joyful voice sounded.

Ling Yichen's thoughts were interrupted, he followed the voice and saw Ling Yize walking towards him with a bowl of noodles, slightly surprised: "Noodles?"

Ling Yize sat down, pushed the noodles in front of him, and nodded with a smile: "I have to eat a bowl of longevity noodles on my birthday, so that I can be safe, healthy and live a long life."

Looking at the steaming bowl of noodles in front of him, Ling Yichen felt a warm current flowing slowly in his heart.

"Brother Huang, eat the noodles while they are hot, they won't taste good after a long time." Ling Yize urged with a smile.

"En." Ling Yichen nodded, picked up his chopsticks and started eating noodles.

"Is it tasty?"

Ling Yichen raised his eyes, saw his expectant face, nodded and said, "It's delicious."

"Really?" Just three words made Ling Yize's eyes instantly brighten like stars, "It's as long as the emperor likes it. I studied with the master of the imperial dining room for more than a month before I could barely do half of his level. I'm afraid you won't like it, Brother Huang, if I knew I was so stupid, I should have learned it earlier."

Ling Yichen was surprised: "You made this bowl of noodles yourself?" He thought it was made by the master of the imperial kitchen.

Ling Yize nodded shyly: "Well, I know that the emperor's birthday is coming soon, so I want to prepare a gift for you, but some of the emperor's brothers in Yize have them, and there are so many good things in your palace, so I definitely won't Rare, after much deliberation, I can only cook you a bowl of birthday noodles, Brother Huang, don't blame Yize."

Ling Yichen looked at him, feeling slightly moved in his heart, patted his head for a while, and said with a smile: "Silly brother..."

After speaking, he lowered his head and continued to eat noodles. This was the first bowl of birthday noodles Ling Yichen had, and it was cooked by his brother himself.For a long time, on this forgotten day, because of Xue Zimo and Ling Yize, he felt so warm, so warm...

Ling Yize stared obsessively at Ling Yichen who was eating noodles with his head down, remembering that he was touching his head just now, a blush slowly appeared on his face.

Because of the friendship between the third prince and the fourth prince, the eunuchs and maids in Ling Yize Palace no longer dared to neglect the fourth prince, and the imperial doctors also did their best to treat him.

Even the emperor is no longer indifferent to Ling Yize.Of course, apart from Ling Yichen's relationship, it also stems from the emperor's inner guilt. If it wasn't for his father's negligence, Ling Yize would not have taken poison for so long.

Since Ling Yichen was poisoned that time, Ling Yize would go to Guanlan Palace to find his imperial brother every morning, and then go to Wuyixuan together, and this day was no exception.

The two were walking on the road to the academy, and Ling Yichen asked leisurely, "How is your body recently?"

Hearing that Brother Huang cared about him, Ling Yize smiled very happily: "It's much better. Doctor Zhang said that although the poison can't be cured yet, as long as he doesn't continue to take the medicine, he will be much better."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Ling Yichen frowning, and quickly added: "I recently drank the medicine prescribed by Zhang Yuyi, and my head is no longer dizzy. Really, my spirit is much better." As he spoke, he tried his best to look more energetic One point, so that the emperor can trust him.

Ling Yichen nodded: "If those slaves in your palace don't work well, just replace them." He still remembered the little eunuch who came to pour tea last time.

"Brother Huang, don't worry, they are treating me very well now, and I have to thank Brother Huang." Ling Yize said hastily.

Ling Yichen patted him on the shoulder: "My brother, if you say thank you, let's go."

"Yes." Ling Yize nodded obediently.

When the two were about to reach Wuyixuan, they happened to meet Xue Zimo who had come to the academy.

Ling Yichen was very happy to see him, Xue Zimo stepped forward, bowed and saluted, "Zimo has seen your Highnesses."

Ling Yichen smiled and reached out to help him, but Xue Zimo avoided him without a trace, Ling Yichen frowned slightly.

After Xue Zimo saluted, he walked to Ling Yize. Ling Yichen glanced at him and said nothing. The three of them continued to walk to the academy.

Ling Yize felt very uncomfortable being caught between the two. He felt that there seemed to be something wrong between Brother Huang and Brother Xue. In the past, Brother Xue always walked beside Brother Huang, but today he seemed to be deliberately avoiding Brother Huang.

He didn't know what happened, Brother Huang didn't speak, and Brother Xue was also silent, both of them had the same expression, that is expressionless, completely different from the usual casualness.

Ling Yize felt that the atmosphere was a bit weird, but he didn't know what to say, so he just lowered his head and looked ahead, silently following.

All morning, Ling Yize found that his imperial brother had been looking at Big Brother Xue, but Big Brother Xue just didn't look this way.

In fact, Ling Yichen was very puzzled by Xue Zimo's anomaly. After finishing class, he was about to tell Ling Yize to go back first, when he saw that Xue Zimo had already walked out of Wuyixuan, he quickly followed and called Xue Zimo: "Xue Zimo Son—"

Xue Zimo stopped when he heard the words, turned to look at him, and asked, "What's the matter, Your Highness?"

Ling Yichen thought for a while and said, "When I was reading yesterday afternoon, I didn't understand a few questions. Come and explain to me this afternoon!"

"I still have something to do in the afternoon. Your Highness will bring the book tomorrow morning. I will tell you during the break." Xue Zimo said calmly.

Ling Yichen didn't give up: "Then what about tomorrow afternoon?"

Xue Zimo still said: "There will be some things tomorrow afternoon, and I can't get away from it."

"Then when do you have time?" Ling Yichen was helpless.

Xue Zimo said: "I've been very busy recently, I'm afraid I won't be able to spare time for a while, so let's talk together in the morning."

Ling Yichen frowned, Xue Zimo's sudden indifference made him have a very reluctant guess in his heart, he hesitated for a while before saying: "Is it because I offended you that night?"

Xue Zimo was slightly stunned, and soon realized that he was referring to holding his hand, and said a little uncomfortable: "Your Highness is in a bad mood, Zimo can understand."

When Ling Yichen heard this, his heart sank.

Did he respond by admitting that his behavior was an offense to him?

He didn't resist just out of sympathy?

Seeing that Ling Yichen was silent, Xue Zimo said: "Your Highness, if there is nothing else, Zimo will take his leave first." After speaking, he bowed and bowed before leaving.

Looking at Xue Zimo's leaving back, Ling Yichen clenched his hands slowly, and a sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth, is it really his own affection?