Fan Fiction |
by in the clouds
"She still looks so beautiful." Acan thought to himself. When he caught sight of Yishang, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. All through the night, Acan could not concenrate - all his concenration was on Yishang.
"Nalan..." Hongzhou jabbed his elboew into Acan's ribs, "YOu are salivating." Hongzhou teased mercilessly.
"Wu ye!" Acan's face turned tomato-red in embarrassment.
"What?" Hongzhou gave him an innocent look. "Look, instead of standing here and staring at her, go up to her and start a conversation. Its not as if you do not know each other." Hongzhou gave Acan an 'are-you-stupid-or-what' look.
"General Nalan, a message from his majesty." An eunuch handed him a piece of paper.
"Go on, read it. I want to know what is it." Hongzhou urged Acan, showing his busybody personality. Acan looked at the direction of Qianlong who gave him a cheeky grinned that left Acan rather surprised. Although Qianlong had ascended the throne for a few years already, Acan had only seen Qianlong in person only twice since he became emperor. To tell the truth, Acan have not really gotten used to Qianlong's style of leadership; it was different from Yongzheng's as chalk and cheese.
Acan unfolded the piece of paper and read the message it contains. It reads as following:
Nalan Gioro Acan, you are ordered to go to the gardens alone and don't let that busybody He Qin Wang know where you are going.
Qianlong.
Acan folded the paper and kept it in his sleeves.
"Well, what it says?" HOngzhou demanded impatiently.
"I can't tell you." Acan answered, wondering why on earth Qianlong had ordered him to go to the gardens but he did not think much of it. In the few years under the service of Hongzhou, Acan had his fair share of weird instructions.
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IN THE GARDENS
"Yin." Acan called out softly, coming up ti her from behind.
"Hello." Yishang turned to face him. "YOu haven't change one bit. Still as handsome as ever." She studied the face that had been haunting her every waking moments and her dreams all these years.
"I've grown old." Acan laughed sheepishly as he ran his hand over his hair, "Its you who haven't change, still as beautiful as I first met you."
"I was covered with blood when we first met." Yishang laughed, "You were never known to be sweet talker." Yishang said with laughter in her eyes.
"Why are you alone? Where's your...erm...husband?" Acan looked around rather uneasily.
"YOu haven't heard about it, hae you?" Yishang looke dat him strangely - the news about her husband's demise have spread throughout the imperial court and was considered old news already.
"Heard about what?" Acan asked blankly.
"You should keep yourself updated with the gossips circulating within the courtiers." Yishang shook her head at Acan. "My husband have passed away a few months ago."
"Passed away...?" Acan repeated softly, digesting this piece of news. Then, what Qianlong had done dawned upon him. What Qianlong was trying to tell him was that Yishang was free, free to be with him, free to be his and his alone.