klisemfg Chapter 199 Extra (1) Parallel World 04
Chapter 199 Extra (1) Parallel World 04
Lin Shiming finally stopped running after exiting the East Palace gate.
Having spent his childhood either in military camps or traveling alone, Lin Shiming had no interest in places like the imperial palace, which was characterized by strict rules and chaotic interpersonal relationships. To him, the word "imperial palace" was essentially synonymous with "prison."
After running out of the East Palace in one breath, Lin Shiming felt as if he had escaped some terrifying abyss and finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
As far as the eye can see, the red walls and green tiles of the palace road in the distance connect to a series of prisons.
In my past life, I often heard the saying that "within the palace walls there is only the sky on all four sides." But after visiting the palace in Changping today, I realized that this saying was somewhat exaggerated in the Changping Dynasty.
At least the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace was built in a poetic and picturesque style.
Standing at the gate of the East Palace, one can glimpse its lush greenery and vibrant flowers. Even the open space outside the East Palace gate is charmingly decorated with many trees, their leaves rustling in the breeze.
Lin Shiming subconsciously raised his hand to tidy up a strand of hair that had been blown into his eyes by the wind.
Unexpectedly, the first thing to touch his face was a slightly cool, fleshy sensation.
Huh? What am I holding in my hand?
!!!
Lin Shiming's eyes shifted from shock to confusion, and finally settled on a blank stare.
He slowly turned his head and met the gaze of Lu Yuxi, who was silent behind him.
Lin Shiming: "..."
He abruptly released the hand that was still tightly gripping Lu Yuxi's left hand, and rubbed it vigorously behind his back.
"Um, well..."
Lin Shiming's eyes darted around, not daring to meet Lu Yuxi's calm and deep gaze again, and he also successfully missed the touch of red behind Lu Yuxi's ear.
"I...no, Your Majesty, I was in a moment of panic, fourth...sixth...no, which prince are you again?"
"..."
They looked at each other speechlessly.
After a long silence, Lu Yuxi slowly uttered a sentence, "I am the Fifth Prince, Lu Yuxi."
"Oh, oh, oh!" Lin Shiming chuckled foolishly. "Fifth Prince, I've long admired your name; it's renowned far and wide..."
Lu Yuxi remained calm, "I generally don't leave the palace, and few people in the court have seen me."
Lin Shiming: "..."
Lin Shiming, enraged and embarrassed, revealed his true colors: "Can't you speak properly! I just held your hand! We're both men, you're not going to lose a piece of flesh, are you? What are you afraid of! If you've caused trouble, I'll have my dad and brother clean up the mess! I'll go crazy first!"
The victim, the Fifth Prince, had never seen anyone so brazenly accuse someone first. His pupils dilated in astonishment, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"What are you looking at?"
Lin Shiming was completely unashamed and arrogant, asserting that as long as he wasn't embarrassed, it was others who would be embarrassed.
"Didn't you hear what your brother said? I'm his savior, a great hero! You, why don't you hurry up and treat me well!"
He had never seen such a shameless person!
Or rather, there had never been such vibrant life in the entire imperial city.
He was unlike anyone he had ever met.
Lu Yuxi stared at this strange creature she had never seen before for a long time, until the creature felt itchy all over, before she slowly smiled.
He suddenly wanted to get to know this carefree and cheerful young man better.
“That would be the case. Young Master Lin has come in a hurry and must not have had breakfast yet. Besides, you must be tired after a night of travel. Why don’t you go to my place first, wash up, have breakfast, and then go sightseeing?”
Lin Shiming looked Lu Yuxi up and down suspiciously, feeling that the man harbored ill intentions. But after touching his empty stomach, he cleared his throat and pretended to be calm.
"Alright then! I'll give you that kind of face."
*
General Lin, showing respect, followed Lu Yuxi, glancing left and right as they entered Chonghua Palace.
Lu Yuxi first settled the person in the main hall, then ordered the palace maids to set out a table of food and instructed the eunuchs to prepare it before turning around and sitting down next to Lin Shiming.
"Eat quickly."
Lin Shiming glanced at the table full of food, then looked up at Lu Yuxi, who had a gentle smile on her face, and tentatively asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
Lu Yuxi reached out and poured him a cup of hot tea. "I've already eaten, you can eat."
"Oh!"
After a busy night, Lin Shiming was starving, so he didn't refuse anymore. He picked up his chopsticks and started stuffing the buns into his mouth in big bites. The way he ate them without any regard for his image left the palace maids serving him dumbfounded.
My goodness, how many days has it been starving!
At the age of thirteen or fourteen, when he was growing rapidly, Lin Shiming finally put down his chopsticks, hugged his bulging belly, and let out a satisfied burp. There was hardly any food left on the table.
"I'm stuffed."
Lu Yuxi, who had been waiting patiently for a long time, nodded and waved her hand without changing her expression, summoning the palace maids to remove the bowls and plates.
"I have already arranged for the eunuch to boil water. You have just finished your meal, so rest for a while to digest before you go to wash and bathe."
Lin Shiming, having eaten and drunk his fill, comfortably squinted his eyes, while the cat lazily lay on the chair like it was sunbathing, making "mmm" sounds in response.
Lu Yuxi chuckled and took the initiative to start a conversation.
“You are Shihe’s younger brother, but I have never seen you before.”
Lin Xiaomao smacked her lips, her tone languid, "I usually stay in the military camp, or go out to play, so it's normal that you haven't seen me."
"Going out to play?"
"uh-huh."
Lin Xiaomao turned over and looked at the Fifth Prince in front of her, who was well-behaved but couldn't hide his curiosity, and curled up her lips smugly.
"I've been to more than a dozen places by myself."
As he spoke, Lin Shiming got excited, pulled out a square leather box hanging from his waist, poured the contents onto the table with a "clatter," and began to show off.
"This is my package! I only need to bring this small suitcase when I go out."
Lu Yuxi looked at it curiously and saw that quite a few things had been poured out of the seemingly small leather box.
Several fine porcelain bottles, which looked like they were for holding medicine, a roll of white cloth, a dagger, several silver notes of varying denominations, a pile of silver and copper coins of different sizes, two signal flares from the Tingyun Army, a tinderbox, a map, and even two jade pendants and a small seal.
Upon closer inspection, a bamboo tube was hanging on the side of the leather box. After asking a question with her eyes, Lu Yuxi picked up the bamboo tube and opened it. Inside were several pairs of chopsticks and a spoon.
but--
"Is this enough to handle daily life?"
"You look like a pampered young master raised in the deep palace," Lin Shiming said smugly. "Of course, this is more than enough."
Lu Yuxi lowered her head in shame, "I do lack experience."
"It's alright! This young general is always considerate and easy-going, and will certainly not laugh at you."
General Lin, who was known for his love of teaching, waved his hand magnanimously and began his lecture in a grand and unrestrained manner.
"When you go out, it's all about 'clothing, food, shelter, and transportation.' Traveling is the simplest. This little general's lightness skill is unparalleled, so I can go wherever I want. Eating is also a piece of cake. There's everything in the mountains and forests. If I get tired of roasted meat, I can go down the mountain to the county town to sell my prey. With money, I can do whatever I want!"
As for accommodation—
Lin Shiming stopped speaking and glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs around him who were also eavesdropping.
Lu Yuxi immediately understood and waved them all away.
"How's the accommodation?"
Lin Shiming did not answer him directly, but instead asked another question, "Have you been to the Tingyun Army's Western Camp in the capital?"
West camp?
The question was puzzling, but Lu Yuxi answered seriously, "My brother took me to stay there for a while and taught me some things."
"That's right!" Lin Shiming became even more smug, carried a chair and ran over to Lu Yuxi to sit down, looking very excited. "Then you must have participated in Tingyun Army's 'Wilderness Survival Training'. I was the one who originally came up with this course."