Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 161 You have always made your father proud

"Mother concubine..."

Zhao Huaixiang's gentle call brought Concubine Chun back to her senses.

At this time, Pei Shiyin also staggered forward, and the three of them huddled together.

Concubine Chun smiled, took Zhao Huaixiang's hand, gently placed it on the back of Pei Shiyin's hand, and then held their hands tightly.

"Life in the nunnery may be hard, but it will bring peace and comfort to Mother Yu."

"Xiang'er, I understand your difficulties, but your methods were too cruel and ruthless. They offended both heaven and conscience. Fortunately, no evil consequences resulted. Otherwise, I would have died and would not have been able to face the Empress."

"From now on—stop. Mother will chant sutras and recite Buddhist scriptures day and night, hoping to alleviate some of your sins."

When Concubine Chun said this, she turned to look at Pei Shiyin beside her, her eyes becoming more gentle.

"In this vast world, I am so lucky to have a lover and a soulmate..."

"Xiang'er, treat Yin'er well. This is your blessing."

As Concubine Chun spoke, the tears that had been lingering in her eyes for a long time finally fell.

Zhao Huaixiang's heart was filled with bitterness. He couldn't express the regret in his heart at this moment, and he felt extremely hateful. He hated the emperor who was so high and mighty.

How could he not understand his mother's good intentions?

But he...had tried his best to get the fish on the table, but still failed to protect his mother. Instead, he made his mother come to him to prepare for the rescue.

On the other side, Zhao Huaizhang immediately stood up and helped his father up.

Even though Prince Rong was still acting a little bit just now, now looking at his beloved son's face, he could no longer hold back his tears.

His Zhang'er was in the prime of his life and had not even gotten married yet, but he had to go to guard the imperial mausoleum. From then on, the father and son were separated, and it would be difficult for them to see each other again after such a short journey.

Unless... unless a new emperor ascends the throne in the future and grants grace and pardons Zhang'er.

Zhao Huaizhang held his father's hand tightly with tears in his eyes.

At this moment in Qingle Palace, he didn't know whether there were any secret spies of the emperor, and there were some things he couldn't say, but he knew that his father would definitely understand.

Zhao Huaizhang was a child of destiny since birth. When he was young, he studied together with Prince Xianhuai and two princes, and was surrounded by young masters from various families as his study companions.

As they grew older, everyone entered the government and showed their ambitions, but Zhao Huaizhang had all the talent and knowledge but remained mediocre.

Later, he stopped attending poetry gatherings, literary gatherings, tea parties, and cocktail parties. He was cowardly, helpless, distressed, and unwilling to give up, and he lived like this until he was eighteen.

He never dared to say openly that he was the prince of Rong, because he was so incompetent that he was of no use except to bring suspicion to the palace.

But today, if he were to leave his life to guard the imperial mausoleum, the Crown Prince of Rong would be useless, and the Rong Prince's Mansion would no longer be a threat to the royal family.

From now on, Father, Mother and Huaizhen no longer have to live in fear.

Zhao Huaizhang could not repay his country, but he was able to protect his family. He could finally...

"Father, Huai Zhang isn't completely useless, right?"

Zhao Huaizhang's eyes were red, and he asked cautiously but bitterly.

When Prince Rong heard this, tears instantly welled up in his eyes and his chin and lips trembled involuntarily.

That year, good news came from heaven, and I was overjoyed. After ten months of pregnancy, I finally had a baby boy.

The princess asked him, "Your Majesty, what should we name our child?"

He teased the little person in his arms, his face beaming with joy. "You and I are blessed with a good marriage. Your son will be born into the family with a jade tablet. How about calling him "Zai Zhang"?"

"Zhang?"

The princess tilted her head at first, then responded with a smile.

"A gentleman has virtue, like a jade or a sceptre. Okay, let's call him Huai Zhang!"

At that time, he felt that the world was perfect like this. He hugged the princess and Huai Zhang tightly and said with a smile:

"May my son Huai Zhang have a character like jade, talent like spring water, upright conduct, good health, and most importantly, be blessed with endless happiness."

"Zhang'er, smile for your father!"

.......

The good times of the past are still vivid in my mind, but now when I look at the handsome and tall man in front of me, only endless sadness comes to my heart.

Prince Rong felt his heart broken, and he could not help but stretch out his arms to embrace Zhao Huaizhang, saying in a trembling voice: "Huaizhang, my son——"

"You have always made father proud."

Zhao Huaizhang's eyes became sore when he heard this, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

----

After Prince Rong and his son left, Zhao Huaixiang helped Concubine Chun and Pei Shiyin up, but turned his head to look at the side hall which had been silent the entire time.

"Mother, Ayin, I have to go see someone first."

Pei Shiyin didn't know there was someone else in the side hall, but Concubine Chun seemed to understand everything and nodded, "Go."

Zhao Huaixiang patted his wrinkled hem and walked towards the side hall.

At the middle of the afternoon, the setting sun is bright.

The side hall was quiet and silent, and the setting sun quietly shone through the carved windows, becoming the only bright color here.

Jiang Xun stood quietly by the window. When he heard the noise at the entrance, he turned his head and looked over. There was a hint of sadness on his calm face.

Zhao Huaixiang knew at a glance that Jiang Xun was also waiting for him.

At this time, Jiang Xun took a step and suddenly walked towards the backyard.

Zhao Huaixiang frowned slightly, but followed without hesitation.

But Jiang Xun did not stop walking after entering the backyard, and went out from the back door. Suddenly, the view in front of him opened up and it turned out to be a small lake.

There is a pavilion in the center of the lake, connected to the shore by only a long corridor.

At this moment, a small figure was standing in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, looking at this side with fixed eyes.

It’s the emperor’s grandson Zhao Yuanye.

Jiang Xun stopped, and Zhao Huaixiang suddenly realized that the person who wanted to see him was Ye'er, not Jiang Xun.

But he didn't go over immediately. Instead, he stood beside Jiang Xun and said calmly, "Congratulations, you made another good move."

Jiang Xun shook his head upon hearing this, "There's no profound plan, it just takes advantage of 'people's harmony'."

Zhao Huaixiang chuckled, "Why be so humble in front of me? You and I both know that human hearts are unpredictable and changeable. Among all the strategies and plots, the most difficult one is to conquer their hearts."

"But once you've won people's hearts, you'll win without losing a single soldier."

Seeing this, Jiang Xun no longer denied it, because this situation seemed easy but was actually difficult.

There are so many human hearts and human natures involved, and behind them are many grievances of the previous generation and the entanglements of this generation. If you cannot fully understand all of this, and there is any deviation in the middle, you may not be able to succeed this time.

"Since it's a life sentence, I don't know when we'll meet again after today. Do you have anything to ask me?"

Zhao Huaixiang took the initiative to speak again, with a strange light flashing in his eyes as he looked at Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun tilted his head to look at Zhao Huaixiang, and just as he raised his eyebrows slightly, he heard Zhao Huaixiang say sarcastically:

"Did you see his expression when he left just now? Oh, right, you were in the side hall and didn't see it."

"This is probably the first time since my eldest brother passed away that the situation has completely gone beyond his control."

"Xiuzhi, if you ask me anything now, I will answer you."

"Because I look forward to seeing him a second time, a third time, and even..."

"Your Majesty."

Jiang Xun spoke up, interrupting Zhao Huaixiang.

There are some things that even if both of you know it in your heart, you still must never say them out loud.

Besides, he did have a question.

"May I ask, Your Majesty, was this witchcraft case your doing?"

The witchcraft case was intended to frame Jiang Xun by using the taboo date of Prince Xianhuai, but it almost caused the life of the Lady of Anyang.

When Zhao Huaixiang heard Jiang Xun's question, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up, as if it was exactly what he wanted.

"Be upright. Just because I am lowly, you cannot blame me for all the bad things I have done."

"Of all the things that happened, I'm innocent in this one."

"Of course, if you want to believe..."

Zhao Huaixiang added softly, then raised his foot and walked towards the pavilion in the center of the lake.

When his eyes fell on the face of the person in the pavilion, the smile on Zhao Huaixiang's face suddenly disappeared, and was stained with heaviness and a hint of timidity.

But as his mind raced, he quickened his pace and walked towards Zhao Yuanye.

Jiang Xun stood on the shore, watching the uncle and nephew meet in the pavilion, but he quietly clenched his hands under his sleeves.

Sure enough.

Not King Xiang, but...