A life of two souls traveling through time

Two days later, at 5 p.m., Yu Cheng was ordered to come to Sanxiu Pharmacy. It was past the closing time of Sanxiu Pharmacy, and the busy pharmacy also began to return to peace from this time. Xiaolu, who came out to open the door, was surprised and happy to see Yu Cheng. Seeing that there was no one around, he secretly asked:

"General Yu, did His Highness ask me to go back?"

"Don't think too much, kid. I'm here today to deliver something to Miss Si Yao on the orders of His Highness." Yu Cheng patted Xiaolu's shoulder awkwardly and said with a smile.

"Deliver something to Sister Si Yao?" Xiao Lu was both frustrated and curious. Could it be that he was returning the business card that he had stolen from Sister Si Yao's room before?

"Don't ask too much about His Highness' affairs. Just give this to Miss Si Yao!" Yu Cheng said as he handed a beautiful, small, shiny black wooden box to Xiaolu.

Xiaolu had been with the prince for several years and had seen many rare treasures and valuable items, so he was surprised by the wooden box made of purple sandalwood in his hand. It was not necessary for His Highness to hold such a valuable box, right?

"Remember, give it directly to Miss Si Yao, and don't let anyone open it. If Miss Si Yao wants to return the box to His Highness, you can say that His Highness will be waiting for her at the Prince's Villa on the Lantern Festival." Yu Cheng continued to give strict instructions.

"I understand." When Xiaolu heard that the box still had to be returned, his doubts were finally resolved.

"Don't worry, His Highness hasn't forgotten you. Just stay here for now. I will inform you immediately if there is any news." Knowing that Xiaolu wanted to return to His Highness, but His Highness didn't say anything, Yu Cheng had no choice but to say some comforting words.

After Yu Cheng left, Xiaolu hid the wooden box in his sleeve and ran straight to the study in the backyard.

Si Yao, who was studying hard in the study, saw the wooden box handed over by Xiaolu and the words brought by Yu Cheng. At first, she thought that the prince was kind enough to order someone to personally return her ID card, but when she opened it, she felt a headache.

"Sister Si Yao, what...what's in this?" Seeing Si Yao open the box and quickly close it again, with her brows furrowed and her face darkening, Xiao Lu had already guessed that the thing inside was not a business card.

Si Yao seemed not to hear Xiaolu's question. She just stared at the shiny black wooden box and worried secretly: What is he going to do now?

It wasn't that Si Yao liked to judge others by her own standards, but the incident at the New Year's Eve banquet left a shadow on her. Besides, no reward without merit, did the prince of the clan send her such a valuable gift because he knew that she would not accept it and follow his instructions to go to the prince's courtyard? What on earth was he planning?

During the Lantern Festival, Mucheng was already bustling with people at 3 p.m., with gongs and drums blaring. Red lanterns were hung in the busy streets, waiting for the night to fall and candlelight to be lit. Fireworks were heard in every household, and the atmosphere was as lively as a rainbow. The various performances and games on the streets were even more lively than two days ago. There were juggling games such as hitting balls and kicking balls, stepping on a rope, swallowing iron swords, breathing fire, monkeys, puppet magic tricks, etc.; there were singing and dancing such as playing the zither, blowing the jade flute, and singing operas, etc. Tangtuanzi, which was indispensable in the snack stalls, was made of black sesame mixed with lard as the filling, with a little sugar added, and rolled into a round shape with glutinous rice flour on the outside. It was fried or boiled, and was sweet and soft, with endless aftertaste.

The Prince's Courtyard was as quiet as before. The former housekeepers and servants were all dismissed by Yan Zong today, leaving only Yu Cheng and several secret guards. The hall was filled with warmth and fragrance. Yan Zong sat in front of a table of food and wine, deep in thought. Yu Cheng reheated the food and looked at the sky outside, advising:

"Your Highness, it's almost dark. You should eat first. Miss Si Yao may arrive later."

"Wow, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Is Your Highness waiting for Arnold?" Yu Cheng had just finished speaking when Arnold, who was as fast as the wind outside the door, suddenly ran in and sat next to Yan Zong. He looked at the steaming food and wine on the table with his mouth watering. When he was about to pick up the chopsticks on the table, he was pulled up by Yu Cheng:

"Do you understand the rules? Your Highness hasn't even started eating yet!"

"Let him eat."

Yan Zong, who was originally listless, saw that Arnold seemed to be in a good mood, so he asked Yu Cheng to get another set of bowls and chopsticks to eat together.

"Your Highness, when are we going to enjoy the lanterns?"

After the meal, when Yu Cheng had finished cleaning up, Arnold looked at the sky outside which was gradually getting dark and asked Yan Zong anxiously.

"Have you finished copying today's military books?" Yan Zong asked expressionlessly. He was depressed that Si Yao had not shown up yet.

"I finished copying it a long time ago. Master Fan checked it himself, otherwise he wouldn't have let me leave the camp." Arnold patted his chest proudly and replied, but then he remembered to take out a small black wooden box from his arms and put it in front of Yan Zong: "Oh, this is what Sister Yao asked me to pass on to His Highness."

Yu Cheng, who was standing by, was shocked when he saw the shiny black wooden box in front of him. The corners of his mouth twitched and he looked at Yan Zong nervously.

"When did she give it to you? Where is she?" Yan Zong asked coldly with a gloomy face, looking at the wooden box.

"We met them just now at the east city gate. It seems that all the people from Sanxiu Pharmacy have come to the city to watch the lanterns..." Before Arnold could finish his words, Yan Zong had already stood up and strode out. The chill emanating from his body made people afraid to approach him.

"Your Highness...what's wrong with Your Highness?" Arnold didn't react and stared at Yan Zong's cold back in a daze.

"Let's go and see the lanterns." Yu Cheng hurriedly pulled Arnold up again and followed closely.

He had expected that His Highness would be angry. He could only silently say in his heart: Miss Si Yao, I wish you all the best.

On a beautiful evening, lanterns are blooming to celebrate the New Year. The long street of Mucheng is ablaze with lights and bustling with voices. Sanxiu and the medicine boys in the village are happily selecting lanterns in front of a stall selling lanterns. Xiuming and Siyao don't like to join in the fun so they wait outside the crowd. As there are too many people coming and going to buy lanterns, Xiuming is worried about his master's safety and has to squeeze in to help. Siyao can't squeeze in, so she can only wait outside.

Just as she was trying to find Guoying and the path that had disappeared, Arnold suddenly appeared in front of her timidly:

"Sister Yao, His Highness wants to see you."

Arnold was very scared when he saw that His Highness was very angry. He was afraid that His Highness would hurt Sister Yao, but he dared not disobey His Highness's orders.

Si Yao looked at Arnold's bitter and weak face and roughly guessed that he was forced. Since he couldn't escape, he would not make things difficult for Arnold.

Si Yao followed Arnold out of the Lantern Street and saw a carriage parked in the dark alley.

"Miss Si Yao, the prince is waiting for you inside." Yu Cheng, who was waiting in front of the carriage, saw Si Yao and hurried forward.

"I wonder what the prince wants to see Si Yao about?" Si Yao was reluctant to get on the carriage and just stood outside and asked respectfully.

There was no sound in the carriage, but Si Yao could feel through the curtain that the person inside was obviously unhappy. Yan Zong, who was silent inside, was also suppressing his anger. Tonight, he had the patience to waste time with her.

No one spoke inside or outside. Yu Cheng and Arnold also looked distressed and anxious. They had never seen His Highness sulk like a child.