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To Hold One's Joy Chapter 62-2

Chapter 62-2: A-Li

He was the grandson of the second steward of Zhennan Wang Palace, whom her mother had once praised for his striking looks when he was just a young boy.

"Unlock the cell. I wish to speak with him," Luo Sheng declared, her cold voice ringing clearly in the dimly lit cell.

"This—" the jailer hesitated, glancing at Yundong.

"Eldest Brother permitted Third Miss to come here," Yundong said. This facility was under Pingli's jurisdiction, and it would be Pingli's responsibility if anything went wrong. There was no need for him to complicate matters for Third Miss.

The jailer silently unlocked the cell door and warned carefully, "Miss, don't get too close to the prisoner."

Luo Sheng gave the jailer a brief, dismissive look and bluntly commanded, "Mind your own business. Leave."

The jailer hesitated for a moment.

Luo Sheng raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter? Are you interested in eavesdropping on my conversation with my male companion?"

"I wouldn't dare—"

"If you don't dare, then why are you still here?" Luo Sheng's expression turned icy.

The jailer, not wishing to offend the Commander's beloved daughter, lowered his head and left.

"Fifth Brother, please keep watch for me and ensure no one eavesdrops," Luo Sheng requested of Yundong.

Yundong hesitated briefly before giving a slight nod. He understood that she intended to send him away, but in any case, Third Miss could do as she pleased. This place was the Jinlin Guards Prison, and even if she attempted something outrageous, there were limits to what she could accomplish.

Soon, only Luo Sheng and Si Nan remained in the cell. Luo Sheng approached Si Nan step by step, stopping just a foot away—the closest she could get to him.

Si Nan looked at her, his eyes no longer concealing the disgust and hatred he felt.

"I've heard that you are a member of Zhennan Wang Palace, which was exterminated twelve years ago," Luo Sheng's voice was hushed, but it resonated like thunder in Si Nan's ears.

His beautiful eyes lit up, and he looked at Luo Sheng with a sneer, "So what if it's true? Miss Luo, do you regret letting a wolf into your home? It's a shame that your own foolishness is to blame and no one else." He would like to thank the idiot before him for giving him the opportunity to avenge his family and Zhennan Wang Palace.

"Commander Luo may have led the siege that wiped out Zhennan Wang Palace, but it was Pingnan Wang who was truly responsible for the Palace's downfall," Luo Sheng's tone remained composed.

Si Nan smiled, and his slender eyes gleamed, "It's a shame that the Princess of Pingnan Wang Palace doesn't keep male companions. But with my limited power, I could exact revenge on the wicked person who annihilated Zhennan Wang Palace. That wasn't a bad outcome."

Luo Sheng lowered her gaze and sighed softly. "But Commander Luo has woken up."

Si Nan's complexion changed dramatically, his voice hoarse and feeble: "Nonsense!" He had personally thrust the dagger into the man's chest. There was no way he could be alive.

"I never talk nonsense," Luo Sheng maintained her unwavering gaze on Si Nan and uttered a name, "A-Li."

Si Nan was taken aback and stammered, "What did you say?"

Luo Sheng looked at Si Nan with pity and nostalgia and whispered, "I called you A-Li."

She murmured[1]:

"Green, green grass by the riverbank, Endless thoughts of a distant journey.

A distant journey, hard to fathom, Yet I dreamt of it long ago...

A guest comes from a faraway place, Leaves me two carp as a gift.

I call for my child to cook the carp, In them, I find a foot-long letter.

I kneel down to read the letter, What does it say in the end?

The words above ask for an extra meal, The words below speak of longing that never ends."

Si Nan's complexion kept changing, and he finally asked tremblingly, "How could you know?"

A-Li[2] had been his childhood nickname. One day, when he accompanied his father to Zhennan Wang Palace, he met Zhennan Wangfei. Wangfei had named him Yu Nu[3] due to his striking appearance. Since then, no one has called him A-Li. As years passed, even he had nearly forgotten that name.

This was certainly not something the Jinlin Guards could have discovered!

[1] Luo Sheng recited a poem 青青河畔草" (Qing Qing He Pan Cao) by Bai Juyi. "青青河畔草" is a heartfelt expression of the emotions and thoughts of someone separated from a loved one due to a long journey, and it captures the bittersweet feeling of distance and memories.

[2] A-Li (阿鯉) means carp.

[3] Yu Nu (玉奴) usually used to name someone with good looks.


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