bookcurios Chapter 229 Have you never doubted my identity?
Chapter 229 Have you never doubted my identity?
On the morning of the 29th, Xu Yuan got up early, changed into the clothes Wu Shiming bought for her, tied her hair into a high bun, and went out.
The streets are already filled with the atmosphere of the New Year, with every household putting up spring couplets. There are fewer vendors, and only a few large shops are still open for business.
The location of Prince Cheng’s Mansion has been indicated on the invitation.
Xuyuan was afraid of getting his clothes dirty in the snow, so he walked slower.
As the hour of noon approached, Chen Shan looked at the deserted gate of the palace and muttered, "Could it be that Xu Yuan is not coming today? If I had known this would happen, I should have personally handed the invitation to him that day so that he would not be able to refuse it."
Chen Shan had no doubt about Xuyuan's character.
But everyone in the capital knew that Xu Yuan had been frequently entering the Prince's Mansion in the past few days, and had even become the Prince's companion, thus having the opportunity to enter the Wenhua Palace.
If Xu Yuan went to the banquet at Prince Cheng's mansion at this time, it would inevitably arouse the Crown Prince's suspicion.
Thinking of this, Chen Shan said, "Third Master is the same. He knew that Master Xu was in trouble everywhere, but he had to choose this time."
"It is precisely because I know it is inconvenient for her that I chose this time on purpose."
Bei Yao leaned on the recliner, swaying from side to side and turning a white jade pendant.
If the wish comes, it means she will choose the third prince.
If Xu Yuan didn't come, it means that she was unable to attend due to the prince's concern.
Whether coming or not, Beiyao has thought of a reason for making a wish.
However, Beiyao still hopes that Xuyuan can come.
Another moment passed in the morning, and there was still no movement outside the door.
Chen Shan looked at Beiyao's increasingly indifferent expression and asked tentatively, "Why don't I go to the door to see if anything has happened."
"No need." Bei Yao shook his head.
"That……"
Chen Shan hadn't finished speaking.
Outside the door, Cheng Xi was holding a whisk and hurriedly running into the mansion, saying as he ran, "Your Highness, Master Xu is here."
Cheng Xi was born in the palace. Unlike Chen Shan, he was more polite. Therefore, he did not wait in the mansion, but waited outside. When he saw Xu Yuan, he immediately came in to report.
Hearing this, Bei Yao stood up, straightened his sleeves and said, "Have someone send breakfast to the study. Cheng Xi, Chen Shan, you are not allowed to come out without my order."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Cheng Xi and Cheng Huan looked at each other and left immediately.
Bei Yao stood up, folded his hands together, and waited quietly.
After a while, in front of the gate of Prince Cheng's Mansion, a light blue figure slowly stepped over the threshold.
Bei Yao looked over there. Even though he was a man of a calm and tough character who was not pleased by material things, he couldn't help but become nervous at this moment.
Just like a huge rock falling into a calm lake, at the moment the wish came, ripples appeared in Beiyao's heart.
Snowflakes are flying.
Xu Yuan raised the umbrella, and when he saw Bei Yao, his breathing paused and he stopped subconsciously.
That scene from afar is so beautiful.
Beiyao is a man and should not be described as beautiful.
But it is difficult to find any adjectives to describe the beauty of Beiyao.
When she first saw him, she was stunned by that face.
When Bei Yao was being hunted down and entrusted with an important mission, she was also disturbed by the young man's profound expression under the lamp.
At this moment, Beiyao was in the snow.
Wearing a white jade crown, a yellow hairband, and a white robe, he looks like an immortal.
Especially the snowflakes flying around.
She should have been the purest being in the world, but now she served as his foil.
Both of them were in the snow, and neither of them spoke.
A gust of cold wind blew, and Bei Yao was the first to come back to his senses and said, "It's cold in the yard, let's go in and talk."
After saying this, Bei Yao hurriedly turned around and went in.
Xu Yuan came back to his senses and followed Bei Yao's steps, saying, "Didn't you say that the Third Prince wanted to see me? He specially invited me here, but now that I'm here, the host is not here?"
Although he knew that there was a 90% chance that the person in front of him was the third prince Bei Yao.
But there is still a 10% chance that it is not.
Moreover, Bei Yao did not reveal his identity clearly, so Xu Yuan pretended not to know and just accompanied him to play the role well.
Bei Yao did not answer Xu Yuan's words, but said: "I invited you here so early because I guessed that you have something important to do tonight, so I invited you to a banquet in advance."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled and said, "I have nothing to do today."
Bei Yao didn't say anything, but continued to lead people inside.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan could only find a topic to talk about: "This Prince Cheng's Mansion is so big, doesn't it have servants? I didn't seem to see many servants on the way here."
"Too many people will make secrets leak out easily. Having fewer people will help protect the Third Prince."
"That's right. The palace is full of intrigues. If one of my subordinates doesn't keep his mouth shut, he might die without knowing how he died."
"That's right, so naturally there aren't many people in Prince Cheng's Mansion."
Bei Yao said as he pushed open the door of the study, made a "please" gesture and said, "Come in and take a look."
Xu Yuan didn't refuse and walked in.
Charcoal was burning in all four corners of the study. When Xu Yuan entered the room, a warm feeling hit him in the face.
Xu Yuan took off his cloak, but he didn't see any place to hang it, so he asked Bei Yao, "Where should I put my cloak? After all, this is the Prince Cheng's mansion, so I can't just leave it there casually."
"I have only been out of the palace for a few days. There are many things in Prince Cheng's Mansion that are not yet fully prepared. Just give me the cloak."
Bei Yao took the cloak from Xu Yuan's hand and put it on a chair at the entrance. Seeing Xu Yuan looking around and wanting to take action but looking reserved, he couldn't help but smiled and said, "There are no secrets in this study. Just look around."
"I'm not interested in those secrets. I just want to know what kind of charcoal fire is burning in this room. There's no smell of smoke at all."
"This Prince Cheng's Mansion was originally Prince Yan's Mansion, which is now the residence of the emperor. When this study was first built, the problem of winter heating was taken into consideration. Therefore, the walls around it are made of peppercorns, which are crushed into mud and applied to the walls to form an insulation layer. This is the so-called Pepper Room. In addition, a piece of auspicious charcoal is burned in all four corners of the room. A piece of auspicious charcoal can burn for ten days, so this study can also be warm as spring."
Hearing Bei Yao's words, Xu Yuan sniffed it gently and said, "There is indeed a fragrance in it. The royal family and nobles really live a luxurious life."
After Xu Yuan finished his sigh, he realized that Bei Yao was still there, and immediately changed his words: "It's not called extravagance, it should be said that I know how to enjoy myself too much."
Bei Yao laughed when he heard this and said, "What you said is indeed true. Compared with ordinary people, the food, clothing and daily expenses in the Chengwang Mansion are indeed extravagant."
Xu Yuan didn't know how to respond, so he could only bring up the previous incident and said, "You haven't told me yet about the invitation that the Third Prince wanted to send. Why haven't you met the Third Prince yet?"
Hearing this, Bei Yao tapped the table lightly with his fingers. After thinking for a while, he said, "Xuyuan, you and I met in the desert, and walked all the way from Sishui County to the capital. I always feel that you are a smart person."
"Huh?" Xu Yuan didn't understand.
The question she asked and what Bei Yao said seemed to have nothing to do with each other.
Xu Yuan said, "I know I am a moderately smart person, otherwise, I would not have caught your eye, but what does this have to do with the Third Prince?"
Bei Yao walked towards Xu Yuan. The study was not big, and Xu Yuan was not far away. After only two or three steps, Bei Yao arrived in front of Xu Yuan.
The candle flame danced.
Bei Yao looked at Xu Yuan's increasingly flustered eyes as he approached, and said, "What I mean is, after all this time, have you never doubted my identity?"