Happy Spring Every Year

Speaking of Crown Prince Xianhuai, Jiang Xun was silent for a moment before continuing, "Back then, on the northern slope of the Wintersweet Forest, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered the planting of precious green-calyx plum trees and the construction of a viewing pavilion."

"Every year when I came to the Imperial Garden, I always stayed with my teacher in the Pavilion. I don't know when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince actually ordered someone to dig a secret passage from the Observation Pavilion, leading all the way to this place."

"The Emperor is very strict with His Royal Highness... His Royal Highness has always been self-disciplined and respectful, never committing any inappropriate acts. Yet, he has repeatedly sneaked through secret passages to seek out me and my teacher."

"We played chess while appreciating the moon in Tinghua Pavilion, brewing snow and drinking tea. His Royal Highness seemed to be enjoying it, so the teacher and I never said much."

"After His Highness passed away, this secret passage remained unused for many years..."

As Jiang Xun spoke, he looked outside, with a hint of melancholy on his face.

Shen Jiasui listened attentively. She knew nothing about the young Prince Xianhuai who died young. She only knew from people's comments that he was a perfect crown prince except for his weak body.

Her first thought at that time was: Flawless? How exhausted must that person be.

Now, from the mouth of Lord Jiang, I can get a glimpse of the truth and vitality of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"Ms. Shen, tonight has been full of twists and turns."

"You might be wondering, since I already knew that the flower viewing banquet was organized by Prince Xiang, and Prince Rui was not innocent either, why did I go to so much trouble to set up this scheme?"

After hearing what Jiang Xun said, Shen Jiasui immediately came back to his senses.

She did have this question, and she had a hunch that this was what Jiang Xun wanted to say most.

She stared at Jiang Xun and nodded slightly. The next moment, she heard Jiang Xun say softly:

"In order to... explore the emperor's heart."

Shen Jiasui's whole body stiffened when he heard this, but he quickly relaxed again.

In fact, after hearing the twists and turns mentioned above, she was already mentally prepared for this.

Whether it's the Crown Princess or Lord Jiang, Elder Lin or the eldest princess, so many people are so cautious and careful, who else could it be because of?

At this time, Jiang Xun suddenly threw off the quilt and stood up. Due to the emergency situation, he didn't even have time to take off his outer robe.

Seeing this, Shen Jiasui wanted to stop him, after all, Xifeng had just told him in detail not to stay.

But Jiang Xun shook his head, very insistent. He staggered slightly when he stood up, but still walked to sit opposite Shen Jiasui.

He panted slightly and continued to explain to Shen Jiasui seriously.

"Ever since the death of Crown Prince Xianhuai, His Majesty has been avoiding discussing the selection of a crown prince."

"His Majesty has never shown any particular favoritism towards Prince Rui, Prince Xiang, or His Royal Highness the Grandson."

"But at the same time, His Majesty placed me beside His Royal Highness the Grandson, allowing Prince Rui to win over the hearts of the people in the court, and even turning a blind eye to Prince Xiang's actions at the flower viewing banquet."

"Your Majesty's ambiguous and laissez-faire attitude means that the battle for the crown prince will become increasingly cruel and dangerous."

"Ms. Shen, I have become a chess piece on the chessboard. I cannot break free, I cannot retreat, but I am unwilling to be an obedient chess piece."

"There's a word in Go called 'eye', which is the key to the survival of a game."

"I regard every attempt to test the emperor's heart and every counterattack against his conspiracy as leaving a living 'eye' on the chessboard."

"Even if the odds are stacked against me, I always believe that success depends on human effort, and there will always be a way out."

"If I die mid-journey, I have no fear. I only fear that my death will be lighter than a feather. I will be ashamed of the Crown Prince's trust, ashamed of my teacher's love, and ashamed of the people who call me 'Blue Sky'."

Having said this, Jiang Xun slowly raised his head, looked directly into Shen Jiasui's eyes, and said softly:

"Ms. Shen, this is Xiuzhi's current situation and future predicament."

Shen Jiasui was listening attentively, and even felt his heart surge with emotion.

But Jiang Xun's change of subject made her thoughts stagnate, and she felt a little bit at a loss.

Seeing this, Jiang Xun immediately softened his voice, but his expression was still serious, and he even refused to take his eyes away from Shen Jiasui's face.

"Ms. Shen, Xiuzhi knew his future was uncertain, so he never dared to involve Miss Shen."

"But the past life that Miss Shen mentioned in the secret passage has come back to me in my dreams several times in the middle of the night."

"I think that if Miss Shen's journey is as difficult as mine, and if our fates are already intertwined, I would never let Miss Shen go it alone, and I would certainly not bear to ask you to bear it all alone."

At this point, Jiang Xun's hands on the table trembled slightly, and his face flushed again.

Shen Jiasui lowered her eyes and pursed her lips. At this moment, her heart was beating like a drum. She even clenched her sleeves nervously because of what Jiang Xun might say next.

Jiang Xun was equally frightened, even his breathing was a little disordered.

He was afraid that his abruptness would scare Miss Shen, and he was also worried that he was not good at speaking and would not be able to convey his feelings accurately.

If Miss Shen had not hugged him back without hesitation in the secret passage, even if there was a connection in their previous life, he would never dare to say these words, for fear of causing Miss Shen embarrassment.

After taking a breath, Jiang Xun took a deep breath and said solemnly:

"Miss Shen, I used to worry that you would know my worries, but now I am afraid that you don't know."

"Just now in the dry well, I heard someone express his love for Miss Shen. I was so nervous that I couldn't stop feeling uneasy. It was even harder to hide my envy and jealousy."

"I also want to express my feelings to Miss Shen so frankly and openly."

Jiang Xun's words were so straightforward that Shen Jiasui raised her head in disbelief, only to meet a pair of eyes that were sparkling and gentle like water.

Jiang Xun raised his lips slightly, and for the first time, he let his emotions surge like a surging tide, breaking through the dam of his heart and showing them to Shen Jiasui intensely and without reservation.

"We've met several times, helped each other several times. Miss Shen is like a bright lamp and warm sunshine to Xiuzhi. I have admired Miss Shen for a long time."

At this point, Jiang Xun leaned forward slightly, looked at Shen Jiasui with a sharp gaze, and said cautiously:

"Today I was selfish and made my feelings known to Miss Shen without her permission."

"I know that Miss Shen is resolute and intelligent, brave and resourceful. She doesn't need to hide behind others, let alone hide under the arms of a man."

"I just want Miss Shen to know that if there is a disaster in the future, Miss Shen does not have to face it alone."

"Xiuzhi is willing to be the sword in Miss Shen's hand and the longbow behind her back. I will do my utmost to help Miss Shen fulfill her wish and protect her from harm."

"Ms. Shen, I..."

The last sound gradually became softer and slower, with a trembling tone, as if it was overflowing from the heart. It was obvious that he was so nervous and frightened that he didn't know what to say anymore.

When Shen Jiasui heard this, she felt an indescribable throbbing spread throughout her body in an instant, and the heat spread from her cheeks to her ears, almost disrupting her thoughts and reason.

She clenched her hands tightly, and seeing that Jiang Xun remained silent for a long time, she could no longer hold back and mustered up the courage to look up at him.

But she saw him leaning slightly on the low table, bending his upper body, and lowering his posture so low that he was almost looking up at her.

In a trance, Shen Jiasui felt that all the light in the room was concentrated on Lord Jiang's eyebrows and eyes, making her unable to take her eyes away.

"Master Jiang..."

Shen Jiasui spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, and even had a hint of moisture.

Jiang Xun saw the tears in Shen Jiasui's eyes, and his heart was in a panic. He hurriedly said in a trembling voice:

"Ms. Shen, you don't have to respond to me. It's my fault. I was too impatient and too abrupt and rude."

Jiang Xun stretched out his hand towards Shen Jiansui, but just now in the secret passage, he was still able to touch Shen Jiansui's cheek because he was distracted, but now he had no reason to do so.

His arms were frozen in place, and he was filled with regret. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Shen Jiasui suddenly leaned over and gently put her cheek into Jiang Xun's palm.

Time seemed to have stopped at this moment.

In the warm room, in the candlelight, two hearts suddenly started pounding.

Jiang Xun's heart was pounding and he didn't dare to move until Shen Jiasui rubbed his palm gently and a tear rolled down his soft and warm cheek.

Seeing this, Jiang Xun could no longer suppress the love in his heart. He curled his thumb slightly and wiped away Shen Jiasui's tears so gently and almost devoutly.

At this moment, in addition to overflowing joy, there is also supreme honor.

He sighed softly in a hoarse voice: "Ms. Shen, how can I be so worthy of this..."

Shen Jiasui's eyelashes were filled with tears and he shook his head gently.

She is the one who should say this.

How could she have picked the moon in the sky?