"No need to be polite," Wei Yan's tone was as friendly and easygoing as usual, "Please come and sit down, Governor Zhou."
Although he felt something was wrong, Zhou Huailin sat down on a stone chair at the side without refusing.
The palace servant brought tea over, and as soon as he took it, he heard Wei Yan laughing and saying, "It's really not easy to bring you here without telling the Du family and the prince."
He said it was not easy, but Zhou Huailin knew it was not easy at all. He was more like saying that the whole court was under his control.
"Your Majesty, you are too polite," he responded calmly, "I have been waiting for your summons."
"Indeed, I have wasted time." Wei Yan smiled. He asked about some things in Junzhou and praised Zhou Huailin's political achievements.
It was a very ordinary conversation between the monarch and his subjects.
At the last moment, he suddenly asked about Liang Ying: "How is her health?"
"Nothing serious."
"Do you know if the baby is a girl or a boy?"
When he said this, his tone was strangely calm, causing Zhou Huailin to pause before answering: "I don't know."
"Boys and girls are both good," Wei Yan said to himself, his tone so familiar that one could not tell that the two were rivals in love. "The boy will enter the court in the future to assist his brother. The relationship between the monarch and his subject will surely become a good story in the future. The girl..." He thought about it seriously, and even had a slight smile on his face. "It would be nice if the girl was named a princess."
He looked like a wife in the backyard of a wealthy family who wanted to live in harmony with the concubine, which made people shudder for no reason.
Zhou Huailin frowned, and Wei Yan's voice paused before continuing: "She suffered a lot when she was pregnant with Wen Qi. This time, you should pay more attention to her."
"My wife, I will certainly take care of her."
Yes, the two were silent for a while.
"The matter in the capital is over," Wei Yan said at last, "you should go back as soon as possible."
This meant that he was going to be let go. Zhou Huailin was relieved, and he would not refuse. He just glanced at the emperor in the pavilion before leaving, and saw that he was staring at a certain place with gentle eyes. He
looked normal, but it made people feel crazy.
He retracted his gaze and stopped looking.
***
In the pavilion that was empty after he left.
Wei Yan spoke to himself in a certain place: "Liang Ying." In
a certain place that was empty in the eyes of outsiders, Wei Yan saw a familiar figure, twenty-year-old Liang Ying, wearing a goose yellow dress, lying on the railing to feed the fish.
Hearing his call, the woman looked back, with a familiar smile on her face.
Wei Yan continued to say to her: "I let him go."
As if to ask for credit.
As he wished, the woman stood up with a smile, ran over briskly, and bumped into Wei Yan's arms. Wei Yan subconsciously reached out to catch her.
Then he watched her raise her head from his arms, revealing her little face.
"Well done!"
Wei Yan heard the illusory figure say.
Yes, he knew it was illusory, but the scars in his heart were still comforted and healed by it.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Right? I did a good job, right?
I will always do well and try my best to meet your wishes, so can you... also give me some comfort occasionally?
At least let me survive these lonely and difficult days.
Okay?
Chapter 42 Returning Home
Before Zhou Huailin left the palace, he ran into Wei Wenqi who was rushing over.
Wenqi obviously rushed over immediately after knowing that he was taken away by the emperor. The hurried footsteps slowed down when he saw Zhou Huailin's figure.
When Zhou Huailin walked up to him, he had stabilized his rapid breathing due to running too fast.
"Your Highness." Zhou Huailin bowed his head and saluted.
"Governor Zhou, please don't be polite."
Wei Wenqi looked him up and down, and was relieved when he was sure that he was fine.
"Governor Zhou, are you going to leave the palace?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go together."
