As winter was approaching, the first snow fell in the capital. The imperial palace was covered in white, with the bright red palace walls standing out against the snow, adding a touch of beauty and solemnity.
Shen Mingyuan had not slept well that night. He was shivering with cold, and his hands and feet ached. Eventually, the pain subsided, replaced by a numbness as if he had no hands or feet at all. When he stood up, his movements were a bit awkward.
This year, someone must have embezzled the winter clothes. However, the queen was a kind person. As long as he could endure these one or two days, once her personal maid noticed his mistreatment, he would be able to get new clothes.
Shen Mingyuan stood up slowly, his mind dull. He leaned against the bed and subconsciously let out a sigh.
He was seven years old this year and still hadn't managed to enter the imperial academy. He wondered if he would ever have the chance.
Thinking like this, Shen Mingyuan didn't have any other emotions in his heart. He just hoped to leave this dreadful place as soon as possible and then make further plans.
He knew that he was not the emperor's biological son. After his mother passed away, he had been walking on thin ice. He was too young to fully understand the implications, but a kind - hearted maid once told him that his mother had been falsely accused of having an affair. She said that once the emperor remembered him, his days would get better.
If someone could be sent to the cold palace just because of a false accusation without solid evidence, what would happen if the emperor really knew that he wasn't his son?
At that time, Shen Mingyuan just pretended to be innocent and nodded vaguely. Remembering his mother's honesty before her death, he felt that the palace was full of wolves and tigers. The uneasiness in his heart grew stronger, and he rarely left the palace, fearing that others would notice the difference between him and the emperor.
But...
Why was it so cold this year?
Wearing his old clothes, Shen Mingyuan watched as the charcoal fire was almost burned out. If he didn't go out, he would have a hard time tonight.
Gritting his teeth, looking at the empty hall, Shen Mingyuan subconsciously sighed. He found an old cloth and stuffed it into his clothes to wrap himself up, and then put on his slightly short old clothes.
When he went out, all he saw was red.
Where should he go?
He was only familiar with the cold palace. So he walked a short distance after going out and then hesitated at the door. He saw a maid walking in a hurry, wrapped in her clothes. She probably didn't notice him and rushed away.
Shen Mingyuan felt so cold that his steps became stiff. After a long moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and continued walking forward. He didn't know where to go, but staying here would be a dead end.
As he walked forward, there was still hardly anyone around.
He suddenly felt a bit feverish all over, so he leaned against the wall and sat down. His vision became blurry.
"Elder brother! Why is there someone here!"
The last thing he saw was a panicked face pointing at him. The next moment, the person took a step forward and seemed to want to reach out and grab him.
Shen Mingyuan opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he fell into a drowsy dizziness.
When he woke up.
He opened his eyes and saw a very luxurious palace.
Shen Mingyuan couldn't even name those items. The ornaments were so beautiful that they seemed like something from a dream, and they even glistened in the slightly dim palace.
The most remarkable thing was that the palace was as warm as early summer, and he even had a light sweat on his forehead.
Shen Mingyuan reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead. When he came to his senses subconsciously, he found that he was wearing a new set of clothes, but it looked a bit like... a girl's style.
It's good to be alive.
But where was this?
He got up, and the next moment, he saw a girl walking towards him. She was wearing a red palace dress, with a face like a peach blossom and a pair of bright phoenix - like eyes.
"Are you my imperial younger brother?" Shen Mingzhu looked at him and smiled. "This is the first time we've met. I'm Shen Mingzhu. You can just call me elder sister."
Shen Mingyuan was stunned for a moment and then realized that the person in front of him was the eldest princess Shen Mingzhu, whom everyone in the cold palace would mention with envy. So he obediently said, "Elder sister."
"How obedient."
Seeing him deliberately pretending to be innocent, Shen Mingzhu subconsciously took a step forward and comforted him, "You can stay in the side hall of my palace first. After the matter is investigated clearly, you can move back."
When Shen Mingyuan heard those three words, he subconsciously trembled. Finally, looking at Shen Mingzhu, he pinched his hands hard together in his sleeves. The pain made tears well up in his eyes, and he asked, "Elder sister, the palace is so cold. I'm so afraid of dying."
"Cold?"
Shen Mingzhu frowned. She immediately sensed something was wrong and comforted him, "Don't worry. I will find out what's going on."
Hiss—
If this got out, wouldn't it mean that the queen was mistreating the prince? Who on earth was so bold as to...
Shen Mingzhu was still in a daze. She felt a bit of pity for this imperial younger brother whom she had hardly ever seen, so she said gently, "Don't be afraid."
"Zhaozhao."
A gentle voice came. Shen Mingyuan looked up and saw a young man who looked a bit like Shen Mingzhu walking over.
Was this what blood - relation was like?
Seeing the similarity between the two of them, Shen Mingyuan's expression darkened a bit. Finally, he heard Shen Mingzhu say, "Imperial younger brother, you can call him elder brother."
Shen Mingyuan looked up and obediently called out "elder brother".
Perhaps because he was older, Shen Mingyuan felt that the crown prince was not as kind to him as Shen Mingzhu. There was even a bit of suspicion in his eyes. Finally, seeing Shen Mingzhu clinging to him, the crown prince helplessly sighed, smiled at him, and said gently, "Imperial younger brother can stay here first."
Shen Mingyuan nodded. His heart gradually settled down, knowing that he would have a worry - free winter.
However, he didn't expect that it wasn't just this winter that would be worry - free, but every winter from then on he would no longer have to worry about the cold.
He frowned slightly. Seeing the similarity between the siblings in front of him, he felt a deep sense of sadness in his heart. For the first time, he hated that he wasn't their real younger brother.
Coming back to his senses.
"Your Majesty, Princess Mingzhu will enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager tomorrow."
"Okay. Make preparations in advance."
After hearing this, Shen Mingyuan looked at the snow outside the window. He felt a bit dazed for a moment. When he saw the dragon robe on himself, he trembled violently.
After the chief eunuch left, he gradually fell into memories again.
After that, he followed Shen Mingzhu. By a strange twist of fate, he witnessed the tragic death of his elder brother, and he was chosen by the Empress Dowager to become the master of this place.
Previously, he always envied the intimate sibling relationship between Shen Mingzhu and the crown prince, thinking that he could never compare. He secretly hated that he wasn't her real younger brother but just a bastard with an unknown father.
But later...
Thinking of this, he suddenly sneered. Finally, thinking of the happiness on her face when she left holding Xie Lang's hand, he couldn't tell what he was feeling. His heart gradually sank.
At least...
At least he couldn't let her regret saving him that year.
Shen Mingyuan came back to his senses. Looking at the big snowflakes falling, he didn't turn around. He told the eunuch beside him, "Remember to send the best charcoal this year to Zhaozhao's mansion first."
"Zhaozhao?"
Shen Mingyuan suddenly laughed at himself and said, "It's okay. Send it to the eldest princess's mansion."
"Yes."