Shan Xing murmured, “This……”
Shan Shu’s brows also furrowed, his expression a bit odd.
No one was pleased by his proposal, puzzling Meng Huan. “What’s wrong?”
Shan Xing: “It’s just…… how to say it…… this ……”
Although Lin Bozhou’s eye disease was known to everyone in the court, outsiders had never seen his appearance when he lost his eyesight. Lin Bozhou considered his blindness ugly and never appeared before people when he was ill. When he occasionally traveled, his subordinates had to avoid him.
He was so proud that he refused to show his fear and weakness to outsiders.
And Meng Huan asked him to go out to see the Lantern Festival. That’s the Lantern Festival! Lantern Festival! Crowded! Many people would see Lin Bozhou’s blindness!
Meng Huan responded, “I…… I……”
He immediately wilted like a cabbage, feeling extremely dejected, and his lips could not help but turn down. “I… just think… the prince usually revolves around the prince’s residence and the Imperial City. It is not easy to have a break, so he can go out and see more and will not be so bored.”
Lin Bozhou, a 007 iron-blooded* worker, supported the prince’s residence and the court by himself, making Meng Huan distressed. He only wanted to take him out for fun and did not consider these. Meng Huan felt bad. “In that case, then forget it.”
*Iron-blood: Having a strong will and an unyielding spirit.
Lin Bozhou’s hand hanging in the sleeve at the side of his body was initially clenched. Hearing these words, the slender fingers slightly loosened now.
The young man’s voice was soft and kind to him, not because Meng Huan wanted to go to the Lantern Festival–
–But Meng Huan wanted to go with him to see the Lantern Festival.
This person, who thought he was too dull and tired, wanted to add more color to his dark world.
Lin Bozhou’s heart was wrapped in layers of a thick cocoon, protecting him but at the same time making him dull and stuffy. Now, a person stood outside and knocked gently with probing fingers, asking, “Can you go out and play with me?”
The hands, soft as they were, seemed to pull him out.
It was silent.
No one spoke in the pavilion for the time being.
Shan Xing knew it was impossible for Lin Bozhou to leave the house, but it must be awkward for him to reject his wife directly, so he hurriedly began to rack his brain. “Ah, actually, we can light lanterns in the prince’s residence. Besides, the imperial physician has also instructed His Highness to recuperate and not to move around. His Highness would like to leave the house, but there is no way to–”
Beside him, Lin Bozhou’s voice rang out, “Mm.”
Shan Xing: “Mm?”
What do you mean by ‘mm’?
Meng Huan also turned to look at him. “To see the Lantern Festival?”
Lin Bozhou raised his head slightly. If a white veil did not cover his eyes, Meng Huan could have detected the gentle glimmer in those slightly narrowed eyes.
He said, “Mm, to see the Lantern Festival.”
–
After Lin Bozhou said he would go, the subordinates hurriedly prepared for the trip. The prince regent’s safety was a top priority, but the luxurious carriage and hundreds of attendants were sent back with a simple word from him.
Very few people had seen the prince regent’s face. If Lin Bozhou walked among the crowd, no one would recognize him, but the commotion would be huge if he traveled with imperial guards.
Having to clear the venue and disperse the crowd in the street would make people’s lives difficult. The Lantern Festival would only become a Lantern Festival for him alone.
This would be boring.
Occasionally, he would like to put down the prince regent’s identity and go for a walk.
So, the order was given for the imperial guard to wear plain clothes, conceal themselves in the crowd behind him, and go out on this trip.
“Eat dinner first and go out, or go out and eat dinner?” Lin Bozhou said, “Huan Huan has been in the prince’s residence for so long but only went out twice. If you like, this husband can accompany Huan Huan to walk around.”
Meng Huan, two steps away, looked at him and quietly pursed his lips.
Why was Lin Bozhou willing to go out of the house?
Because of his own proposal?
Meng Huan did not want to see Lin Bozhou uncomfortable or be seen and ridiculed after he left the house.
Meng Huan wanted him to be as comfortable as possible, and after thinking about it, he said, “Your Highness, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to feel any burden because of me. Lantern Festival, we can watch it any time–”
“It’s not like that.”
Lin Bozhou opened his mouth to cut off his words. In the past, he became manic-depressive and pessimistic when he lost his eyesight. It would be almost difficult to glimpse a smile from his taut lips; there was only impatience, gloom, and chill.
Now, he sounded as if he had released something and spoke calmly. “I want to go with you.”
“……”
The cool breeze blew the white veil around his ears along with his hair, gently fluttering them backward, and the many things weighing on his shoulders seemed to be briefly unloaded at this time.
Meng Huan’s heart was quiet for a moment.
But then, something thumped up and kept expanding and reverberating, mixed with the summer’s hot feeling, and became a sound that could not be ignored in the ears.
He opened his lips and said, “Oh.”
Stepping closer, he gently took his hand; his soft five fingers nuzzled against his slender, well-defined ones.
“Let’s go then.”
