After the rebirth, I was picked up by the prince

In the end, after the whole lunch, Tang Leyuan didn't say a word again, but later Qi Zishan thought he was pitiful and went to talk to him a few words.

Qi Zizhen felt a little helpless when he saw him being hit hard.

He asked Song Yaoxu to introduce himself, mainly because he didn't know what Song Yaoxu's identity was outside, but he didn't expect Song Yaoxu to report himself directly.

Look at scaring other people's children.

Song Yaoxu didn't seem to be aware of this, and talked to Qi Zizhen in a gentle voice during lunch.

After the meal was finally finished, Tang Leyuan finally regained his composure. When Song Yaoxu said he was going to buy something and left for a while, he came back to Qi Zizhen's side: "Ah Qi, that...is really His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

When the prince is not involved in government affairs, he only attends large-scale palace banquets at most. It is normal for a child of a family like Tang Leyuan who has never bothered to deal with palace banquets not to recognize the prince's appearance.

Qi Zizhen looked at the door of the side room where Song Yaoxu left when he left, with a calm expression: "It's Your Highness. No one in the capital would be so bold as to pretend to be His Highness."

Tang Leyuan still seemed a little unbelievable: "You and the prince... have such a good relationship?"

"Huh?" Qi Zizhen didn't understand why he would ask such a question, so he answered as a matter of course, "His Royal Highness and I have lived together in the East Palace for nearly four months. His Highness is gentle, isn't it normal to be friends with each other?"

Tang Leyuan still felt something was wrong, but seeing Qi Zizhen's expression of not caring at all, he didn't continue to ask, and sat back in his seat and muttered softly: "This is not like getting along with a purely friendly relationship at all..."

He muttered in a low voice, Qi Zizhen vaguely heard a few syllables, but they were not clear, so he didn't ask any more questions in the end.

The three of them just stayed in the wing room waiting for Song Yaoxu to come back, and then they got a bunch of candied haws for each of them.

The happiest one was undoubtedly the youngest Qi Zishan, even the well-mannered etiquette could not conceal the little joy in his eyes.

Qi Zizhen, who had been fed a lot by Song Yaoxu, had no other reaction. After thanking him softly, he took the candied haws and ate quietly and obediently.

Only Tang Leyuan, who has always been dismissive of sweets, looked at this and that, and finally bit down in wonder.

After the meal, the sweets were almost eaten, and Tang Leyuan, who had agreed to treat him as a host, took the initiative to call the waiter to settle the bill.

After paying the bill, he basically digested his emotions, and rubbed against Qi Zizhen again, asking, "Aqi, where are you going later? I'll go play with you, I know the capital very well."

Before Qi Zizhen could answer, Song Yaoxu on the side smiled: "I'm really sorry, we will go to the National Teacher Tower later, I'm afraid we won't be able to go with Mr. Tang."

Qi Zizhen was not aware of today's itinerary, so he nodded after hearing the words: "Sorry."

Tang Leyuan is a sensible person. After being rejected, he shrugged his shoulders indifferently: "Well then, you guys have fun——A Qi should be even more happy, and I will give you back your birthday gift some other day."

"I have a heart." Qi Zizhen didn't shirk, his words were decent and natural.

After that, the four of them didn't stay long, and said goodbye to each other at the gate of Jixian Tower.

So far, only Qi Zizhen and Song Yaoxu have been identified as distinguished guests by the National Teacher Tower. If they go to the National Teacher Tower, Qi Zishan will definitely not be able to follow him, so Tang Leyuan abducts him to play.

Qi Zizhen watched the two figures, one big and one small, gradually disappear into the crowd, and then prepared to go back to the National Teacher Tower with Song Yaoxu.

On the way, Qi Zizhen always felt that Song Yaoxu's mood became not right after lunch, but when he was about to speak, Song Yaoxu stepped forward and said: "By the way, Zizhen, I want to give this to you first."

As he spoke, he took out the porcelain bunny from the previous pile of small objects.

Qi Zizhen's attention was suddenly diverted, and the little rabbit took over and asked curiously, "Is there any special meaning?"

The gifts that Song Yaoxu would pick out alone would definitely not be chosen randomly.

Song Yaoxu nodded as expected, and said with a smile: "You may not remember, when you fell into the water in the first month, you left behind a similar little rabbit before you left."

While speaking, he also took out another little rabbit that had been kept in the small cloth bag around his waist.

Two delicate porcelain white rabbits are side by side, almost identical.

Qi Zizhen didn't expect that the small objects he placed casually at that time would be preserved so preciously by Song Yaoxu.

He gently held the little rabbit in his hand, and the cold fingertips touched the warmth and coldness, as if he could feel the unusual temperature.

He put away the little rabbit and thanked him softly again.

As if sensing his mood, Song Yaoxu patted his head with a smile, and then went on to the National Teacher Tower with him.

After returning to the National Teacher Tower, the two saw that Ning Qingwei brought a recliner covered with white fur cushions from nowhere, half lying on the recliner, smoothing Ling Ning's hair with one hand, and guards sitting on the ground beside him.

"came back?"

Ning Qingwei still wore his iconic black mask, and his voice was cold and clear, but it was not out of harmony in the late spring and early summer afternoons.

Qi Zizhen and Song Yaoxu sat down in front of the small table in unison.

On the table are two plates of small pastries unique to the National Teacher Pagoda. One plate is plum blossoms with red petals and yellow pistils, and the other is green bamboo leaves.

Qi Zizhen picked up the small plum-shaped pastries, one bite at a time. The taste of the mouth was the delicate and long red bean paste, mixed with the fragrance of plum blossoms, slightly sweet and greasy.

The cakes made by Ning Qingwei are a bit different from usual.

There was more confusion in his eyes, and he raised his head and asked: "Did the national teacher make it sweeter on purpose this time?"

Hearing this, Ning Qingwei glanced at him, and responded indifferently: "The plum blossoms were made by your uncle. He remembered that today is your birthday, and he was afraid of disturbing you, so he made a special trip to send it to the National Teacher Pagoda."

After finishing speaking, he paused for a while and then added: "I learned all my cooking skills from your uncle and aunt, and you can often go to Weifu to have meals when you are free-this is because your uncle and aunt asked me to cook." Tell you."

After listening to Ning Qingwei's words, Qi Zizhen's heart moved slightly, and all the ups and downs of emotions finally turned into a soft "thank you".

And at this time, the guard who was always sitting on the side also smiled and said: "Young Master Qi, don't forget that I'm still here, this is for you."

While talking, the guard handed over a small red diamond-shaped pendant, with the golden words "Peace and Ruyi" embroidered on one side and a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water on the other side.A small tassel hangs from the bottom, which looks like a handmade peace charm.

Then the guard continued to explain: "My family believes in Buddhism. Hello, female worker. She embroidered this specially for you. I hope it can bless Mr. Qi's life in peace and happiness."

While listening to his words, Qi Zizhen stroked the delicate texture of the small pendant, and could almost feel the earnestness and wishes of every stitch and every thread.

He held the small pendant tightly and thanked him softly.

After that, the four of them ate the small pastries on the table together, and Ning Qingwei took out a lotus lantern he made himself and presented it to Qi Zizhen as a birthday present.

So far, today's trip out of the palace has ended with a lot of rewards, Qi Zizhen and Song Yaoxu are slowly and leisurely preparing to return to the East Palace.

On the way, the two passed by Chengming Lake again.

In the afternoon, the Chengming Lake is sparkling, and the golden gauze covers the surface of the lake, which complements the green leaves and colorful flowers on the lakeside.

Looking at the lake view, Qi Zizhen already felt that today's birthday was very satisfying, but he never thought that there would be blessings waiting for him after returning to the East Palace.

"Brother Zizhen, happy birthday!"

The eight or nine-year-old child's voice is clear and clear, with a faint milky sound that has not faded, his head is upturned, his eyes are shining, and he is holding a pair of hammer-like things in his hands.

Perhaps because he was worried that Qi Zizhen would not understand his intentions, Song Shi explained in a childlike voice: "Xiaoshi went to the Taifu to ask about Shiqin, and the Taifu said that Shiqin can also be played with hammers. Brother Zizhen It must be very painful to use your hands all the time, so Xiaoshi and Taifu made a pair of piano hammers for brother Zizhen!"

The child held the pair of wooden violin hammers in his palms. The workmanship was exquisite, the edges were polished evenly, and some patterns of flowers and birds were painted on the end he was holding.

In addition, Cui Liang at the side also took out two swords, and said with embarrassment: "My family is a sword maker, these days Mr. Qi and His Royal Highness always use wooden swords to practice, and the feeling will be somewhat awkward. No, I want to take advantage of Mr. Qi's birthday to present this sword to Mr. Qi and His Highness, and hope Mr. Qi and His Highness... don't dislike it."

The two swords and scabbards that Cui Liang handed over had similar patterns. One was patterned with orchids, vaguely outlining the character "Jin", and the other was the character "Zhen" surrounded by slender bamboo leaves.

Qi Zizhen looked at the piano hammer and long sword, and took it after a while, and said softly, "Thank you."

He couldn't remember how many times he thanked him today, but he didn't know what else he could say besides "thank you".

He has not felt the warmth and care of so many people for a long time.

Song Shi specially asked the Taifu for a period of leave today. Seeing Qi Zizhen grinning after taking the hammer, he waved goodbye after a while, and was going to go back to the Taifu to make up for the homework that fell today.

Cui Liang, who was a bodyguard, still had his own affairs to be busy, so after Song Shi left, he temporarily resigned.

Only Qi Zizhen and Song Yaoxu were left in the quiet small courtyard.

Qi Zizhen held the piano hammer and long sword stuffed into his arms, and his mood was still difficult to calm down.

At this time, someone patted his shoulder lightly, and when he raised his head, he bumped into Song Yaoxu's gentle smile.

"It just so happens that it's still early at this moment, so you want to try the sword that Cui Liang gave you first? I'll put the rest of the items back in the room for you first."

Qi Zizhen nodded, and handed him the piano hammer and the sword that belonged to Song Yaoxu.

Song Yaoxu didn't say much, turned around and walked back to Qi Zizhen's room, giving him enough time and space to calm down.

He could feel Qi Zizhen's overwhelmed feeling of being overwhelmed by flattery, and he couldn't help but feel that Qi Zizhen deserved the purest and most sincere care.

If there was no such thing as Qi Yuan, perhaps he could have become a beloved child of his parents in a scholarly family.

Song Yaoxu sighed softly, put all the objects in his hands on the table in Qi Zizhen's room, stopped for a long time before taking the sword that Cui Liang gave him, walked to the door and looked at the figure in the yard.

The sun in Shenshi gradually sank to the west, and a thick yellow was blurred, covering the dancing figures in the courtyard.

Hunting in red, the sword glow flickered, and the sharp tip of the sword pierced through a fallen leaf.

Qi Zizhen quickly drew his sword and turned around, took a sword flower and retracted the sword back into its sheath, letting the shattered leaves fall lightly without touching the corner of his clothes.

The straight figure stands proudly in a small world, like a red plum blossoming under the sunny sun, unrestrained and unrestrained, cold and lonely.

Song Yaoxu leaned against the door frame, and couldn't help but recall what happened today and the people he met.

Everyone cared about Qi Zizhen from the bottom of their hearts, and except for the two children, Qi Zishan and Song Shi, they were all much better than him.

A proud young man like Qi Zizhen deserves better people to spend time with him in the future.

And he is not qualified to be the person who can accompany him for the rest of his life.

On the other side, Qi Zizhen, who was in a good mood, raised his head to look in Song Yaoxu's direction, and saw that Song Yaoxu who was at the door seemed to be in a bad mood instead.

He took the sword in his hand and walked over step by step, obediently: "Your Highness."

Song Yaoxu came back to his senses and smiled slightly: "How do you feel?"

"It went smoothly." Qi Zizhen nodded, and then asked with concern, "What's on your highness' mind? I see that your highness seems to be in a bad mood."

Song Yaoxu met his caring eyes, and the word "nothing" that he wanted to blur the past came to his lips, but he couldn't say it for some reason, and after a while, he asked in a strange way: "Zizhen, do you feel that... ...I am a dignified prince, so I am really useless."

"Huh?" Qi Zizhen's eyes were filled with confusion, "Why would Your Highness think so suddenly? Did you encounter any difficulties in political affairs today?"

Song Yaoxu shook his head, lowered his eyelashes halfway, and said with a bit of loneliness in his tone: "Actually, I also know that I am not a prince who can be loved by others. There are many people who care about Zizhen, and most of them are better than me... ..."

He didn't continue to speak, but Qi Zizhen understood what he meant, suddenly smiled, and said softly: "But Your Highness is the most unique to me. It is His Highness that makes me who I am today."

He faced the light, the smile in his eyes faintly blurred, pure and sincere, shrouded in the hazy warm yellow, it was extraordinarily bright and dazzling.

He used to freeze himself in a small, narrow and dark world, but now he is able to break through the cold, step by step to the bright sunshine, to the gorgeous blooming flowers, and break out of despair with his unshakable pride.

——All of this is inseparable from Song Yaoxu.

He likes Song Yaoxu, not only because of Song Yaoxu's gentleness, but also because Song Yaoxu gave him the purest and most sincere hope and light in his most silent time, and gave him a piece of love that he once thought he could never have again. sincerity and trust.

If it wasn't for Song Yaoxu, in this life, he would probably just be buried in prison again like in his previous life, or he would be reborn and die forever.

Song Yaoxu looked at his light smile under the warm sun, and unconsciously recalled that day by the Chengming Lake.

At that time, Qi Zizhen was also facing the light, standing in front of him in a flamboyant red dress, almost piously vowing to be loyal to him.

He was stunned for a while, and finally came back to his senses, stepped forward and walked down the small steps, and gently hugged Qi Zizhen: "Thank you, Zizhen."

Qi Zizhen listened to the soft whisper in his ear, sniffed the elegant and delicate fragrance from the tip of his nose, and after a while, he raised his hand and slowly hugged him back, greedily absorbing the warmth from his body.