Many years ago.
After Emperor Qizhen ascended to the throne, Jingrong was kept outside the palace due to his mother consort’s transgressions, only allowed to enter the palace on specific occasions.
When young, Jing Xuan most loved running after him.
Yet unfortunately they couldn’t meet often.
Jingrong then told her that if she wanted to see him, she should fly a kite on the day he entered the palace. If he saw it, he would come find her.
So whenever the day came that Jingrong could enter the palace, Jing Xuan would fly a kite outside her sleeping quarters.
As long as Jingrong saw it, he would definitely find her.
At this moment, when Jingrong saw that white kite floating above the Third Prince’s manor, he knew it was Jing Xuan looking for him.
Since their last meeting, because of the assassin incident at his manor, Na Tuo had increased the patrolling and guarding forces, to the point where he had received no more messages from Jing Xuan.
Ji Yinshu also got down from the carriage.
Looking up, she too saw that white kite.
Against the falling snow, reflected against the ink-black sky, it appeared particularly striking!
In that moment, she immediately understood.
“It’s Jing Xuan.”
Jingrong nodded and told her: “Get back in the carriage first. I’ll go and return shortly.”
But Ji Yinshu grasped his hand, saying: “I’ll go with you.”
“Yinshu…”
“I know it’s inconvenient, but I want to see her.”
But I want to see her.
These six words were filled with longing and heartache.
After a slight hesitation, Jingrong agreed.
The guards would wait in place, ready to provide support at any time.
Because the Third Prince was hosting a banquet tonight, security was very tight.
Combined with the previous assassin incident at the manor, there were many more guards patrolling throughout the grounds.
Jingrong found the right opportunity and entered with Ji Yinshu by leaping over the wall.
At this moment.
Jing Xuan’s face was pale, her expression tightly strained.
Also very nervous.
She stood in her courtyard flying a kite.
Those haggard eyes kept gazing at the white kite that appeared especially luminous under the moonlight.
It was clearly very cold, with snowflakes drifting all around, yet her palms were covered in sweat.
The maids standing nearby didn’t understand, and could only stare blankly in the snow.
After waiting for a while, they began whispering among themselves.
“Do you think the Princess Consort is confused from illness? Why would she suddenly want to fly a kite? And late at night too.”
“I’m afraid she really is confused!”
“Flying a kite is one thing, but why insist on a white kite of all things? How inauspicious!”
“Exactly.”
“Should we go notify the Prince? In case something happens later.”
Someone immediately stopped her, saying: “You absolutely must not go. I just came from the Prince’s side—there was an assassin incident at the banquet earlier that nearly killed the two guests the Prince invited tonight.”
“Ah? And then?”
“Fortunately no one was hurt, but the Prince was furious and even killed that assassin.”
One maid sighed: “Then let’s not go. What if the Prince is unhappy and has me executed too.”
The three maids chattered on and on.
Jing Xuan didn’t hear any of it. After flying the kite for quite a while, she thought that if Jingrong saw it, he would definitely come. But she still had those maids watching her, so she had to find a way to send them away.
After thinking—
Without turning her head, she ordered: “Cailian, Dong’er, I’m somewhat hungry. Go have the kitchen prepare a bowl of something warm for the stomach and bring it over.”
The Princess Consort had been ill all day and wouldn’t even take medicine!
Now hearing she was willing to eat, they were naturally overjoyed and quickly agreed before leaving.
Jing Xuan ordered again: “Li’er, I’m not feeling well and want to take a bath. Go prepare hot water for me.”
“Yes.”
All three maids were sent away by her one by one.
Who would have thought that the usually proper and obedient Third Princess Consort had ulterior motives?
After seeing them leave, Jing Xuan quickly reeled in the white kite.
Wrapping herself tightly in the thick cloak over her shoulders, she hurriedly left the courtyard.
Guards were patrolling everywhere throughout the manor.
She quietly avoided them, passing through a corridor, planning to go to the place closest to the back gate to wait for Jingrong.
Just as she avoided a patrol of guards passing through the corridor, suddenly someone grabbed her hand from behind. Before she could react, she was already pulled into a room to the side.
It was a library, neatly filled with bookshelves!
“Mmph…”
She instinctively struggled a few times.
Until the room door closed and a familiar voice reached her ears: “Xuan’er, it’s me.”
Her eyes immediately reddened.
She turned to look at Jingrong.
“Elder Brother.”
“It’s me.” Jingrong looked with great heartache at his sister whose face was pale as paper.
The room was very dark, with only some faint light filtering in.
Only up close could he see clearly.
Jingrong: “Are you ill? Your complexion is so poor.”
“I’m fine!”
Ji Yinshu emerged from the side, softly calling: “Jing Xuan.”
Eh!
Jing Xuan looked and saw that slender figure with refined features—the “scholar” beside them.
“Yinshu.” She was extremely moved, immediately grasping her hand, “I knew you would come.”
A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
But Ji Yinshu asked worriedly: “Let me see your hand—is it better?”
“My hand is fine now.” She withdrew her hand slightly.
Ji Yinshu: “Jing Xuan, no matter what, you must take good care of your health.”
“I will. I promised Elder Brother I wouldn’t do anything foolish again.” She glanced at Jingrong.
Ji Yinshu sighed: “Actually I should have come to see you long ago, but I don’t know martial arts and was afraid I’d burden Jingrong. Only tonight when I saw the kite you flew did I dare ask him to bring me.”
“I understand! After all, it’s too dangerous here. I also took a great risk to come see you both.” She choked up, “I know doing this might invite trouble, but when I heard you were coming to the Third Prince’s manor tonight, I couldn’t care about anything else anymore. Yinshu, I only hope that in my lifetime, I can see you once more! If it weren’t for those words you said to me on my wedding day, I truly don’t know how I would have endured until now.”
“You’ve suffered!”
Jing Xuan shook her head slightly: “The suffering I’ve endured—how could it compare to yours? Everything that happened in Dalin, I’ve heard about it all.”
That so-called “everything” was Ji Yinshu’s pain!
The pain buried deep in her heart!
As if tens of thousands of ants were gnawing at her heart—a pain with nowhere to scratch.
She grasped Jing Xuan’s cold hand and said: “Everything has passed.”
“Yes, everything has already passed.” Jing Xuan smiled again. She then took Jingrong’s hand and placed Ji Yinshu’s hand in his palm, her eyes full of blessing as she said, “Elder Brother, Yinshu, no matter what, you’ve finally come together. This is what I most wanted to see while living in this world. I only hope that in the future, you can be like an ordinary couple, far from all these disputes and troubles! Go live your own lives, and then I’ll truly have no more worries.”
Ji Yinshu: “Jing Xuan…”