Read Novel Full Chapter 1548 - 1543: Can You Still Like Him?
Chapter 1548: Chapter 1543: Can You Still Like Him?
He felt an unusual chill in the air of the courtyard as he turned and left, though autumn had not yet arrived, his heart felt as cold as ice.
Rong Yun curled up under the blankets, her emotions swirling at the departure of Qin Muyan, yet she lacked the courage to rush out again, throw herself into his arms, and brazenly kiss him.
It seemed that he had grown distant from her.
After Qin Muyan’s permission, Rong Yun could go to the prince’s mansion’s front hall to receive Long Ze’s visit.
Rong Yun changed into clothing from Beiling City, a white nine-petal lotus long dress that trailed along the floor, which swayed gracefully with her steps, enveloping her body yet unable to hide her slender waist and graceful figure.
When Long Ze first saw Rong Yun, he had only one thought: Jingjing has grown up.
During the moment he was lost in thought, Rong Yun had already approached him, and he knelt down, paying homage to Rong Yun, "General Long Ze, at the service of the Princess of Scarlet Flame King!"
"Get up quickly, brother Long Ze!"
Rong Yun instinctively reached out to help him up, but a strict glare from Madam Yan stopped her.
Rong Yun glanced at the servants standing outside the hall, a hint of regret flashed in her eyes, and she said as Madam Yan had taught her, "General Long, please rise."
"Thank you, Princess!"
Long Ze stood up.
Once he was standing, Rong Yun realized that not only had she grown taller over the past two years, Long Ze had also grown much taller.
"You’re even taller than the Crown Prince, brother."
A bright smile lit up Rong Yun’s fair and delicate face.
After Long Ze stepped back and maintained a distance from Rong Yun, he casually said, "Yes, I have grown quite a bit during the past two years on the border, far more than I did in the imperial city. The Princess has also become even more beautiful and unlike in your past appearance."
Rong Yun’s growth was unexpected to Long Ze.
He was three years older than Rong Yun and had always been like a brother to her, watching her grow from a radish-headed girl. He had not been able to make it back for her wedding, but seeing her now turned into such a stunning beauty, his heart was truly filled with surprise and comfort.
He presented the letter written by the Crown Prince and the tokens from the Imperial Consort.
Seeing the handwriting of the Crown Prince, Rong Yun’s eyes reddened, and as she read each sentence, she burst into tears, even her questions were interspersed with sobs, "Mother... is mother and the Crown Prince brother doing well? I miss them so much! I miss my brother, I miss my mother, sob..."
Long Ze felt pity for her, softened his voice, and gently comforted, "Princess, rest assured, the Imperial Consort is well, and so is the Crown Prince. They equally miss the Princess, and only hope that the Princess can live well. Surely, the Scarlet Flame King must be very affectionate towards the Princess?"
The activities of Great Wei were often sent back to Beiling City, where both the Imperial Consort and the Crown Prince knew that Rong Yun was not neglected in Beiling City; on the contrary, Qin Muyan often took her out for enjoyment.
And on his way, he had heard that although the Scarlet Flame King had taken a secondary consort, his affection for the Princess remained undiminished, having met him personally just a few days ago, everything seemed well.
"Affection... there’s affection, perhaps," said Rong Yun as she carefully put away the letters, choking back a sob.
"What, the prince does not adore the Princess anymore?"
Long Ze asked with concern, realizing that Rong Yun seemed reluctant to talk about this topic.
He thought, considering Qin Muyan, a man decisive in battle and gentle towards others in public.
Could it be that he was harsh to Rong Yun in private?
Rong Yun shook her head, "He has started to be harsh with me, I’m afraid of him."
She always lost the demeanor of a princess in front of Long Ze, speaking whatever popped into her mind just like when they were children, and even appearing a bit willful and spoiled.
"Brother Long Ze, after he took a secondary consort, he doesn’t like me anymore. Do you think... I can still like him?"
Rong Yun neatly arranged her things, her hands clasped on her lap, eyes full of hope as she gazed at him.
Long Ze felt a sharp pain in the depths of his heart.
Mu Yan sat in his newly arranged study, his entire body like a bundle of fire, consumed by anger. He wanted to demolish the study room as well, but after smashing a set of calligraphy tools, he felt depressed and summoned people to clean up.
Wei Jue stood guard outside the door, listening to the sounds inside. He guessed that Mu Yan was agitated because of Rong Yun.
"Your Highness, the princess is probably meeting with General Long Ze now. Perhaps Your Highness could accompany her? It would demonstrate the love between husband and wife, give Beiling City more confidence in the princess, and enhance the interactions between the two states." Wei Jue, thinking of the bigger picture, advised Mu Yan.
Mu Yan knew this all too well!
He wanted to go, yet he couldn’t bring himself to step forward!
He wanted to see Rong Yun, but he didn’t want to see her with another man, his possessiveness over Rong Yun sprouting uncontrollably from his heart, making him extremely uncomfortable.
Especially fearing to see them chatting and laughing together.
Compared to Long Ze, Long Ze grew up with Rong Yun, childhood sweethearts for over a decade, whereas he had been married to her for merely two years.
How could he compete?
Mu Yan waved dismissively, "I will not go."
He sat in the study trying to distract himself with military books.
But the words and diagrams on the pages could not penetrate his mind; his eyes were full of Rong Yun’s face.
Eventually, he couldn’t resist and started walking towards the front courtyard.
Wei Jue followed behind him, slightly slower than usual to avoid the intense resentment emanating from Mu Yan. He felt that the prince had changed!
Even when formerly infatuated with Su Yingxue, he had never been so troubled.
In the garden, Rong Yun was walking with Long Ze, followed closely by a cluster of nursemaids and maidservants, while Long Ze was accompanied by two palace guards, appropriately avoiding suspicions. Their conversation revolved around their days in Beiling City, and Rong Yun was initially delighted to reminisce about life in the past.
But the more she talked, the greater the sorrow that surged within her.
When they reached a magnolia tree, tears welled up in Rong Yun’s eyes, her voice quivering with grief, "Brother Long Ze, do you think I could ever return to Beiling City?"
Everything about Beiling City made her yearn, day and night, unforgettable.
Long Ze looked up at the blooming magnolia flowers, curving his lips into a gentle smile, "If the prince finds time, he can naturally take the princess back to Beiling City. At that time, I will eagerly welcome the princess in Beiling."
"But I want to go back to Beiling with you now. There’s nothing in this prince’s mansion that holds me back anymore." Rong Yun’s tears fell heavily.
Even though Nurse Yan constantly reminded her from behind not to speak like this, Rong Yun couldn’t help it.
She simply missed her home, her family, her mother, and her brother.
"A princess cannot be as willful as when she was a child."
Long Ze bent down to pick up a fallen flower, holding it in his palm and softly said, "This fallen flower can never return to its branch. The princess, now married, naturally cannot return to the imperial palace in Beiling. Our lives can only move forward, and the princess must not dwell on the past but look ahead constantly."