20.Substitution

When Na Luo woke up early in the morning, she felt her right eyelid twitching non-stop, and it twitched one after another, making her feel uneasy. It was not until she reached out and touched the malachite on her chest that her disordered mood was slightly settled. In the past two days, thanks to Manya's careful care and the application of the miraculous Western Red Lotus, the wound on her leg has improved greatly. If it weren't for Istar's house arrest for several days, she would have wanted to go out for some fresh air. Although she knew that the other party did this because he was worried about her, it was really uncomfortable to be stuck in the house all day.  

There was a faint morning light outside the window, and a ray of warm golden light was projected into the house, making Na Luo even more uneasy. She just moved her body and saw Manya pushing the door in with food utensils as usual. I don't know if it was her eyes that were blurred, Manya's face looked very bad, and her eyes were a little red and swollen, as if she had just cried.  

She couldn't help asking, "Sister Manya, what's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Manya shook her head, her tone seemed a little cold, "Nothing, you should eat something first. Otherwise, the prince will blame us as slaves, but we can't bear it." Na Luo heard the resentment in her words, and was even more puzzled. Manya put down the food container and turned to walk away. After walking a few steps, she stopped again and hesitated for a long time before she spoke softly, "Sister Quchi is so good to you..." Manya wanted to say something else but hesitated. She stepped out of the door before she finished speaking. Almost at the same time, her slightly surprised voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Lord Quehu...you...why are you here?" Hearing this, Na Luo suddenly jumped up from the bed, staring at the door that was slowly opened with wide eyes - the familiar figure was stepping in, and his face seemed to be covered with a layer of light shadow under the reflection of the sun, only the turquoise earrings on the earlobes still shone with beautiful luster. Na Luo was about to stand up and salute when the other party gently pressed her shoulder. His gentle voice came into her ears, "Na Luo, there is no need to perform those empty formalities with me. I just came to visit the queen today. I heard from the palace servants that you were injured, so I came to see you. How are you? Are you feeling better?"  

Even though she was usually eloquent, she couldn't say a word at this moment. She was flattered that a man of Quehu Hou's status actually condescended to come and see her in person... Unconsciously, she felt a little more grateful and admiring for him. If it weren't for the man in front of her, her fate would probably be another tragic scene.  

Xu Che smiled and took out an exquisite silver box from his arms, "By the way, this is the Yuzhi Pill that the Queen gave you specially. It is made from the Tianshan Ganoderma Lucidum in the Western Regions, and the healing effect is also very good."  

Naro shook his head and waved his hands hurriedly, "Marquis Quehu, this... this is too expensive. Naro can't afford it..."  

Xu Che ignored her refusal and put the silver box in her hand, saying gently, "Keep it well, don't let us worry."  

After he came in, he always referred to himself as "I" and didn't put on the airs of a marquis. At this time, this "we" made Naro's heart move slightly, so he didn't refuse again, "Naro thanks the Queen and Marquis Quehu for their sympathy. Naro I really have nothing to repay you, so I can only serve the queen with all my heart and soul. "  

"If the queen can have a clever child like you, I can worry less. Unfortunately..." Suche's eyes darkened, "I'm afraid there is no such opportunity."  

Naro was shocked, and didn't care about any etiquette, and asked in a lost voice, "What did you say! ?"  

Shuche suppressed the smile on his lips, stared at her with some ambiguous eyes, and said slowly, "Princess Dana sent someone to ask the queen for someone this morning. Naro, it's you."  

Naro's face turned pale in an instant, as if a stagnation of air gradually expanded from the bottom of her heart, making her chest almost unable to bear it and burst.  

"If it was just Princess Dana's intention, then the Queen might be able to find an excuse to keep you. Unfortunately, this matter is not that simple. His Majesty has already agreed to Princess Dana. As the queen of the harem, if she can't even solve this little thing properly, I'm afraid that His Majesty will be dissatisfied, and that will be exactly what Princess Dana wants." He paused, and there was a little more pity in his eyes, "Na Luo, although you are young, you are very smart and more stable than your peers. I know you can understand the Queen's difficulties." Although Na Luo has not been in the palace for too long, he is quite familiar with the warmth and coldness of the people in the palace. The Queen will certainly not offend His Majesty because of a small servant. She has no other choice but to be a queen who goes with the flow. And she herself is the same. This matter is not something that her low status can decide. It's just... when she thinks about parting with the eldest prince... Na Luo feels as if something is pulling at her heart. The slender fingers of her right hand clenched the malachite on her chest, as if this would make her feel a little better. She lowered her eyes and looked at her white fingertips, whispering, "Since the princess wants me to go, then I will go. Lord Quehu Hou, you have been kind to me, and I don't want the queen to be embarrassed because of me."  

Quehu Hou's eyebrows suddenly relaxed, as if he was relieved, and then changed his tone and asked, "Naro, how do you think the eldest prince treats you?"  

Naro nodded without thinking, and answered straightforwardly, "Except for my parents, no one has ever been so good to me."  

"What if the eldest prince is bullied by others one day, what will you do, Naro?"  

Naro looked up and saw a smile on his lips, which seemed to be teasing. But his light brown eyes were unprecedentedly deep, and faintly flashed with a faint light that people could not understand.  

"Who dares to bully the eldest prince in this palace?" She replied softly.  

"How could there not be? Not long ago, because of Princess Dana's provocation, His Majesty reprimanded Ishtar." Xuche's smile was still bright and warm, but there was still a trace of worry and loss in his eyes. "The princess has been trying her best to exclude Ishtar. Over time, His Majesty has occasionally complained about the eldest prince. Now Angui and the princess have a good relationship. If Angui becomes the heir, then Ishtar's fate is really worrying. Na Luo, if you pay attention to the princess..." He paused, "Oh, forget it. Na Luo, you are just a child. I am too impatient and selfish." Na Luo's heart trembled. Just as Quehu Hou said, if Angui became the king of Loulan, with his vicious style, what can't he do? Thinking of this, she no longer hesitated, "Marquis Quehu, please tell Na Luo what you want me to do. For the eldest prince, Na Luo is willing to do anything."  

"Na Luo... you are more sensible than I thought. But..." He sighed lightly, with a look of pity in his eyes. "Life is not easy for Princess Dana's subordinates. I'm sorry for putting you in such a difficult position, Na Luo."  

Na Luo shook his head, holding the malachite on his chest tighter, and moved his lips twice but made no sound. But she heard the promise deep in her heart - Master, I will protect you well.  

After stepping out of the door, Xu Che stood quietly for a while. His light brown eyes were like a bottomless canyon, with cold wind blowing through without leaving any trace. In the rustling sound of leaves, his low and almost inaudible muttering to himself was faintly heard, "Sister, our plan... has it started..."  

At the same time, Isda, who went to pay respects to the queen, also learned the news soon. He was surprised and almost refused this matter without hesitation.  

"Mother, you also know the character of Princess Dana. She has always been cruel and ruthless, and regards human life as worthless. How can you bear to hand a child to her? Anyway, I will never agree." Isda, who has always been calm, rarely showed anxiety.  

The queen raised her eyes and glanced at him calmly, as if she had expected her son's reaction. She did not answer, but suddenly asked a seemingly inexplicable question.  

"Isda, do you still remember Jinlian?"  

Hearing the name Jinlian, Isda seemed to suddenly remember something, and his face changed slightly.  

The queen continued to speak in a soft voice, "At the beginning, Princess Dana wanted Jinlian to serve her, but was also rejected by the second princess. She didn't say anything at the time, but two days later, Jinlian drowned in the pond inexplicably. I'm afraid everyone knows what happened. Think about it, the second princess was so favored by His Majesty at the time, and Jinlian grew up with her and had a close relationship with her, but in the end she couldn't escape such a tragic fate."  

Isda was silent for a moment, and whispered, "Mother, I am different from my second sister. I will protect Naro and will never let the same thing happen again."  

"Protect?" The queen's smile was mixed with some helplessness, "You can prevent it once, but can you prevent it every time? As the saying goes, there is a loophole in a hundred precautions. Dana's revenge is so strong that she will always find an opportunity. In my opinion, it is better to fulfill her wish and give Naro to her. Although the child will suffer a little, she can still save her life after all."  

Ishtar frowned slightly, obviously unwilling to accept his mother's suggestion, "But if something happens to her with Princess Dana, won't her life be in danger? Naro is just a child after all. If he can't stand Dana's torture..."  

"Then take her back before that." The queen suddenly interrupted him, staring at him solemnly, "Ishtar, when you become the ruler of a country in the future, you can have whatever you want."  

Ishtar was slightly stunned, not knowing if it was his illusion, his mother's face seemed to flash with a hint of sharpness, which was a firmness and decisiveness he had never seen before.  

Ishtar, I know you have never been interested in power, and you have no ambition to be the crown prince, so you never showed it in front of your father. However, your identity has determined that you cannot stay out of it. In this long life, we all have to make countless choices. People have the freedom to choose, but not the freedom not to choose. Becoming the only ruler of this kingdom, this is your choice. "She paused, her deep eyes seemed to see into his heart, "Remember, my son. Only when you have enough power in your hands can you protect the people you want to protect. Otherwise, everything is just empty talk. "  

"Mother..." His heart suddenly seemed to flash a chaotic dark light. With this light, he seemed to see something clearly, but the dim light made him feel a kind of suffocating discomfort. Because even if there is freedom to choose, for him, there is still only one choice.  

"Ishtar, are you okay..." Seeing his face constantly changing, the queen couldn't help but worry.  

"I understand, mother. Tomorrow... I will send her over. "He raised his head as if he had made some decision, and his eyes regained their former purity and depth," Then, I will get her back to me as soon as possible. "It was a night with a bright moon and few stars. Na Luo tossed and turned and could not fall asleep. When she thought of the uncertain future, she was naturally worried. But when she thought about doing this to protect the eldest prince, she felt a surge of courage from nowhere and felt that her choice was not too bad. In her half-awake state, Na Luo vaguely heard the sound of the door being gently pushed open. She rubbed her eyes and vaguely saw a slender figure leaning against the door. His light brown hair was stained with a layer of cold silver by the cold moonlight. With his thin clothes, he looked like an elegant ink painting in the night. "Master..." She seemed a little bit unbelievable and called out softly like a dream. The man walked into the room with a gust of night wind and stood quietly in front of her. His expression was as quiet as the unparalleled moonlight scattered from the sky. "Na Luo, are you not asleep either? "His voice melted in the slightly cool air, sounding so gentle, so gentle - even a little sad.  

Naro then confirmed that she was not dreaming, and quickly sat up straight, stammering, "Master... Master, why did you come to me at this hour?"  

Isda did not answer, but stared at her with an apologetic look, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to say it.  

The room suddenly became quiet, and the atmosphere was slightly depressing and dull.  

Thinking of what Marquis Quehu had said to her before, Naro suddenly understood why Isda came. In order not to embarrass him, she simply said the matter herself, "Master, I am willing to go to Princess Dana."  

Isda looked at her in astonishment, "Naro, you already know about this? Who told you?"  

She didn't want to tell him that Marquis Quehu had come, but just stammered and answered, "I, I also heard it from other palace people. "  

He didn't delve into it, still choosing euphemistic words to explain the matter, "Naro, I naturally don't want you to go there. It's just..." He sighed softly, "Naro, you can blame me or resent me, I just hope you know that no matter where you are, I will do my best to protect you."  

Master, how could I blame you for blaming you? The princess won't eat me. "She fluttered her long eyelashes, and her glassy eyes seemed to have crushed a piece of stars, which spread evenly in the depths of her eyes.  

"Na Luo, it's hard for you to be so sensible at such a young age... but... I'm sorry that you will be wronged in the future." He touched her face with pity. I don't know if it was because the night dew was too heavy, her cheeks were cold to the touch, with a slight chill.  

"Master, you don't have to worry about me. I will be very careful and careful, so that the princess can't catch me." Her childish words finally made Isda smile a little.  

"My little apprentice has always been smart, I know this very well." He smiled and motioned her to lie down on the bed again, "It's getting late, you should go to bed quickly, otherwise you won't have the energy to deal with so many things tomorrow."  

She nodded obediently, and asked in a low voice when she fell asleep, "Then can I still call you Master in private in the future? "Of course." He patted her forehead gently, and a light arc appeared on his thin lips. "Once a teacher, always a teacher. Don't think that you can neglect your practice when you go to Princess Dana. You still have to take time to come to me to learn to play the flute. This matter - Princess Dana has agreed." When he went to Dana to make this request today, the other party agreed readily. The reason why he did this was because he knew that the princess would never make things difficult for him in public. In this way, even if Na Luo made a big mistake, the princess would show mercy, at least for his sake, she would spare her life.  

At this point, this is all he can do.  

Na Luo couldn't help but smile, picked up the malachite and shook it towards him, and said in a firm tone, "Master, don't worry. Xiaoqing is protecting me, I'm not afraid anywhere."  

Looking at her innocent smile, he tried his best to suppress his sour mood and smiled, "Why don't you close your eyes? "  

She stuck out her tongue and quickly closed her eyes.  

Perhaps because he was by her side, Na Luo fell asleep quickly. She slept soundly, as if she had dreamed of something interesting, with a faint smile on her lips. Her fluffy eyelashes flickered with her breathing, as if in the next second, her eyes, which were brighter than the stars, would open. Only at this time did she remove all her burdens and defenses, and was completely a pure child.  

He liked this innocent her, and he also pitied the sensible her.

Her long hair slid across his palm like silk, and the touch was like the feathers of a spirit bird. The subtle fragrance permeated the surroundings, sometimes there and sometimes not, just like his fluctuating and slightly uneasy mood at the moment.  

The pomegranate flowers outside the window were blooming gorgeously, floating in the night like an illusory dream, as if wrapped in countless darkness and secrets, blooming with all their strength.