zChapter 1032 - New Year’s Eve (1/2)
A few days passed quickly and in a blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve of the 25th year of the Tianwu era.
Because Imperial Concubine Yun was living at Chun Palace, Xuan Tianming’s side took his whole family to Chun Palace to celebrate the New Year. In reality, ‘whole family’ referred to just him and Feng Yuheng. At most, they would be bringing their own attendant Baize and maids Wang Chuan and Huang Quan. Originally, Feng Yuheng would bring Xiangrong along, but since Xiangrong was already living at Chun Palace, there was no one else she could bring. And during the last morning court session of the old year, Xuan Tianming suggested having Zirui leave the palace to spend the New Year, but the Emperor rejected it. Using the reason of “We really like that child”, he forcefully kept Feng Zirui in the Imperial Palace.
Feng Yuheng did not say much about this, after all she was unable to control many things. At least right now in Da Shun’s court, the Emperor’s words were still final. If the Emperor wanted to keep one person in the Imperial Palace, other than stealing, how else could she bring a person out? The good thing was that Xuan Tianming and Xuan Tianhua had arranged people in the Imperial Palace to watch him, so she did not need to be overly worried.
The group sat in the imperial carriage, driving through the snow which accumulated last night to head to Chun Palace. At this moment, at the gates of the Chun Palace, the Fourth Prince Xuan Tianyi left the palace personally, rushing over there to bring Xiangrong to his palace to celebrate the New Year.
Xiangrong stood in front of the gates of Chun Palace. A maid was holding an umbrella over her head. She was wearing a pure white cape with a fluffy collar and hood, making her small face look even more clean and fresh, with a vague resemblance to Xuan Tianhua when he was wearing white.
Xuan Tianyi did not like seeing this and said while frowning: “This colour does not suit you, why is a young girl like you wearing white for? Are you showing filial piety?”
Xiangrong ignored his words and only said flatly: “Go back, I will not spend my New Year at Ping Palace. The relationship between us is just master and student, I have never heard of a master going to the student’s place to celebrate the New Year. In addition, you are a prince, this is against the rules.”
“Old Seventh is still a prince!” Xuan Tianyi angrily pointed towards this Chun Palace and shouted: “Old Seventh is also a prince, how about that? You celebrating New Year at his house would be following the rules?”
Xiangrong explained as well: “That is because the relationship between the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince is closer. And I am the sister of the Ninth Princess. I am staying here to wait for my older sister to come over and celebrate New Year together. If you do not believe me, then wait for a while more at this palace gate. I believe that the Ninth Prince and my Second Sister are almost here.”
“You said that the both of them are also coming here for New Year?” Xuan Tianyi did not really understand, “It’s their first year as newlyweds, why are they coming here to join the festivities instead of properly enjoying their time with each other at home?”
Of course, Xiangrong could not tell him that it was because Imperial Concubine Yun was also here. After all, Imperial Concubine Yun leaving the Imperial Palace was a secret, other than Chun Palace and the two at Yu Palace, no one else knew, and no one was allowed to reveal it to outsiders. She only told Xuan Tianyi: “They are children brought up by Her Highness Imperial Concubine Yun, it’s natural for them to celebrate New Year together.”
“Hmph!” Xuan Tianyi scoffed, “You’re just saying that they are brothers, right? Yes, I do not have any blood related brothers, so I deserve to celebrate New Year alone in the manor. I spent those days with you in Ji An Prefecture, yet you would not celebrate New Year with me, how heartless.”
Xiangrong said: “I wanted to celebrate New Year with Second Sister, even if I did not stay at Chun Palace, I will definitely not go to Ping Palace. Fourth Prince, I told you in Ji An Prefecture very early on, master and disciple is master and disciple, I understand my own feelings. You are very good, but since I have already have such feelings stored, I should not give you any more hope, this is not something my conscience can bear.”
“You want to be together with him that much?” This was the first time Xuan Tianyi pointed out Xiangrong’s inner feelings so clearly, he asked Xiangrong: “Do you know how many people like him in secret? But who does he like? Does he look like he would ever look for a woman in his lifetime?”
Xiangrong’s smile was a little sad, she said: “I have never hidden anything from you. I have someone in my heart, and I cannot remove it no matter how hard I tried. This is my fate, I can only submit to it.”
“But he does not like you at all!”
“That is his issue.” Xiangrong looked up at Xian Tianyi, and said very determinedly, “Whether he likes me or not, that is his issue, I can only manage myself. Fourth Prince, go back!”
After saying this, she did not stay, and left together with the maid. Xuan Tianyi did not stop her, and only touched his face subconsciously, mumbling to himself: “Does she feel that I’m too old? Compared to a young girl, I really am old!”