Chapter 121: Farewell

  This matter still requires the Fourth Prince to make a final decision.

  What would the fourth prince say?

  Chao Sheng felt that there was no suspense at all.

  She guessed it.

  The fourth prince returned when it was already time for lighting lamps.

  He already knew about this before he returned to the mansion.

  Lanterns were lit one by one and hung up. Chao Sheng sat in the house, she didn't light any lamps.

  The last afterglow of sunset on the pale white wall had also faded away, and everything around became a dull gray.

  Chao Sheng suddenly felt extremely anxious in his heart.

  No, she didn't regret it.

  She doesn't regret her choice.

  It's just that suddenly I realized, I'm about to leave this place.

  Leave all familiar people, leave this familiar place where I have lived for a long time.

  Just like when she left Yiqiu Palace.

  Although I want to leave, I still feel lost and uncertain about the unknown future ahead.

  Maybe from tomorrow on, these people will never be seen again.

  Li Auntie, Xiao Shun, Xiao Su, Qi General Manager... and also the Fourth Prince.

  Chao Sheng felt as if there was a heavy iron weight tied to his heart, constantly pulling and dragging him down.

  She couldn't bear to part with it.

  Can't bear to part with these people.

  Auntie Li treated her no differently from her own daughter, and she had also promised to support Auntie Li in her old age. But now she was going to abandon her.

  Xiao Shun is like a younger brother to her, always laughing and joking around, but actually very considerate.

  There are other people...

  And... the Fourth Prince.

  From now on, I will never see this person again... We live in two different worlds.

  Can't see, can't hear, can't smell, also can't touch...

  Completely... apart.

  Yes, a thorough separation.

  I didn't expect this feeling to be so unbearable.

  There is someone outside.

  She was somewhat dull until the door was pushed open and she came back to her senses.

  "Aunt..."

  Auntie Li held a lantern and stood at the door.

  Chao Sheng slowly stood up, having not changed his posture for half a day, his legs were numb.

  "Look at you, it's not like it's a big deal or anything." Aunt Li still spoke quickly: "The king has returned."

  "Oh..."

  My nose is itching terribly.

  "Oh, what." Aunt Li took out her handkerchief and carefully wiped her face: "The king wants to ask you something, go ahead."

  Chao Sheng held Li Aunt's hand and didn't let go for a long time.

  Although Uncle is a relative... but isn't Aunt Li also a relative?

  These years, it was all Li Auntie who taught her and protected her. If not, she might not have made it to now.

  When making the decision to leave, Chao Sheng didn't hesitate at all.

  But now I realize that with one cut, what was severed was not only her identity as a slave, but also her connection to this past.

  More importantly, these entanglements, those pasts...

  "Even if you leave, what's been said can't be denied." Aunt Li smiled and said: "I'm still waiting for you to support me in my old age."

  "Aunt..."

  "What? Regretting it? Don't want to go?" Aunt Li pinched her cheek hard: "Alright, hurry up and go."

  Chao Sheng felt that the road under his feet was different from the one he usually walked on.

  One foot deep and one foot shallow, I don't know where to go.

  If it weren't for Aunt Li walking ahead, she might not have even found the door to the study.

  The study was lit up as it had been every day before.

  But it's different though.

  Chao Sheng stood at the door and heard the voice of the Fourth Prince saying, "Come in."

  Her hand trembled slightly as she touched the door, but in an instant it went soft and had no strength at all, unable to push it open.

  Chao Sheng took a deep breath and finally pushed open the door.

  The fourth prince sat in front of his desk as he did every day. The lamp cast his shadow on the wall.

  Chao Sheng took a step forward, slightly bent his knees and bowed: "Your Highness."

  The fourth prince nodded and said, "Sit down."

  Chao Sheng was also sitting at ordinary times. When the fourth prince wrote and read books, she sat beside him doing some needlework.

  The fourth prince didn't beat around the bush and asked: "Have you thought it through?"

  Chao nodded slightly.

  "I just saw your uncle."

  Cháo shēng yǒu xiē yì wài de tái qǐ tóu lái.

  English Translation: Chao Sheng unexpectedly raised his head.

  The fourth prince quietly looked at her.

  Chao Sheng seemed as if he had never looked at someone so seriously and attentively before.

  At this moment, she didn't think about her status, etiquette...

  This might be the last time.

  Never see him again.

  Never thought he was the prince, king, master...

  If she had a camera at this moment, she would definitely take a picture of him and treasure it deeply.

  No, even if there isn't, it doesn't matter.

  She remembered with her eyes and heart.

  Even as time passes, she believes she won't forget herself.

  "After you leave... take good care of yourself." The Fourth Prince said softly.

  Yes, it is this sentence.

  I had thought of it long ago.

  It's something the Fourth Prince would say.

  She said she wanted to leave, he wouldn't say anything to stop her.

  Tide Sheng said can't tell what's in his heart.

  Reluctant? Disappointed?

  Because I don't want to leave.

  Disappointed?

  What is that faint disappointment again?

  What else does she hope to hear?

  No, she's already too greedy.

  Actually, fate has been kind to her.

  After the end of her previous life, she was given this life.

  When she encountered difficulties time and again, she always received kind help from others, turning danger into safety.

  When she yearned for kinship and freedom, it gave her loved ones and the chance to break free from shackles.

  She shouldn't be greedy anymore.

  "I've instructed your uncle to take good care of you... Tomorrow, you can follow him out of the mansion. In the future, if you encounter any difficulties, just come find me."

  Chao Sheng nodded: "Thank you, Your Highness."

  "You go."

  The tide rises.

  They were five steps apart.

  Chao Sheng bowed deeply and respectfully, clasped his hands together, bent his knees, and lowered his head deeply.

  Thank you for your care and protection over the past few years.

  From then on, he was a prince and she was an ordinary citizen.

  Five steps away.

  These five steps can't be crossed.

  It's impossible for us to be this close again in the future.

  After finishing the ceremony, he took a step back and then turned around and went out the door.

  The fourth prince shouted from behind: "Tide is born."

  The tide stopped in its tracks and slowly turned around.

  The fourth prince was still sitting quietly there.

  Chao Sheng couldn't see his expression clearly.

  Now their distance is no longer just five steps apart.

  My eyes have become blurry for some reason.

  Chao Sheng slightly lowered his head and said softly: "Your Highness, take care of yourself too."

  The tide was murky and confused, sleeping and waking all night. For a moment, she thought she had just dreamed it, and in fact, her uncle hadn't come to pick her up, and she couldn't leave the Wang Mansion. At another moment, it seemed as if many years had passed, and she seemed to be living in a place far away from the capital, never seeing old friends again.

  It was already morning, and Chao Sheng got up and washed as usual.

  When she was combing her hair, she saw her own eyes in the mirror.

  Red and swollen.

  Either I didn't cry, or I stayed up all night.

  There is also something from yesterday that has been packed up.

  Normally didn't think much of it, but when packing up, there's actually quite a lot. Packed two large bundles and one small bundle. Some things were moldy and not prepared to be taken away.

  When she went to the small kitchen, those people's gaze at her was different from usual.

  Auntie Li yawned: "You're still getting up so early? You don't have to go on duty today. Have you packed everything?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Auntie Li's eyes were also red.

  Chao Sheng didn't dare ask if Aunt Li also had a bad sleep.

  "Keep this as a memento. When you have time, send me a message. If your uncle dares to treat you badly, don't tolerate it, just come back and find me."

  "Hmm... I know."

  Auntie Li handed over a small package, and Chao Sheng also handed over a small cloth package.

  The things inside the result are surprisingly similar.

  Auntie Li's bag had several pieces of pure gold jewelry, no one knows how long she has been saving them.

  The package handed over by Chao Sheng also contained her two most valuable pieces of jewelry and the rewards she had received before.

  Thought of it together.

  Auntie Li thought that the child was going to be sent away, although Uncle seemed like a good person, but after all, he wasn't the biological father and mother, there was a layer of separation. Even if it were the biological parents, sometimes they would sell their children for just a few dollars.

  Having money in one's own hands is always more comfortable and doesn't require constantly relying on others.

  Chao Sheng thought that Aunt Li was not young anymore, and she had suffered a lot in the past, leaving her with chronic illness. In spring and autumn, she was fine, but during the rainy summer days and cold winter days, she always felt weak. Besides, who could guarantee that working as a servant would be trouble-free? When it came to the worst-case scenario, having money in hand would at least ease one's mind.

  It has ended up like this now.

  Chao Sheng gave her these too, and Li Auntie also gave them to her.

  "Hey, I don't need money in the city again..."

  "I'm going out with Uncle, what's the use of these?"

  "Nonsense." Aunt Li glared at her: "You're not young anymore, in a year or two you'll be getting married, we've been through thick and thin together as master and apprentice, the things I gave you are not for you to squander, they're for your dowry."

  "I don't need these, Auntie wants to keep them for self-defense and old age."

  Neither of them could convince the other, so they both backed down a bit.

  Li Aunt accepted two items from Chao Sheng's things, and Chao Sheng also accepted the "dowry" given by Li Aunt.

  Auntie Li is not unhappy.

  She thought...

  Chao Sheng can stay in the palace forever and ever...

  I didn't expect separation to come so suddenly, leaving people unprepared.

  "Remember to send me a message."

  "I know," said Chao Sheng. "If Auntie has something to say, she'll send someone to tell me... My family lives where, Auntie must remember not to forget."

  "I've got it." Aunt Li instructed her with a few more words, nothing but to be respectful to Uncle - but also to keep an eye on herself.

  All of this is for her own good; others wouldn't say such heartfelt words to her.

  Xiao Shun and Xiao Su also came to see her off. Xiao Shun rubbed his eyes and said, "Once you leave, we won't be able to taste your cooking skills again."

  Xiao Su was silent all along, and Chao Sheng didn't know what to say to him either.

  It seems like nothing is quite right.

  They were sent all the way to Jiāngmén.

  Uncle has already hired a green canvas mule cart and is waiting at the door.

  Chao Sheng stood by the door and looked back.

  Auntie Li hastily waved her hand at her and covered her mouth, turning her head away.

  Xiao Shun waved his hand and curled up his mouth, but he didn't look like he was smiling, rather, it seemed more like a crying face.

  Xiao Su is still so silent.

  Once you take this step, there's no turning back.

  Chao Sheng felt as if his feet weighed a thousand pounds.

  Her uncle waited by the car and didn't urge her either.

  Chao Sheng gritted his teeth, turned around and walked out of the door.

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  Uh, I rewrote it in the middle and deleted a few hundred words.

  Still feel like what's in my heart hasn't been expressed yet...

  Um... Hug everyone.

  A lot of votes, the ranking has been improved a lot. I remember last month it was over 30? This month it's already in the teens. Next month if I work harder... maybe I can get into the top 10? *hides face and walks away*