Chapter 109

Who was he?

Wei Luo clutched her nose and pondered in bewilderment. At this time, everyone was in Rong Hua Hall for the banquet. No one should be coming here. Seeing that he was wearing clothes from the western region and didn’t look like someone from Da Liang and thinking of the important guests in today’s palace banquet, she connected the dots and guessed the identify of this person.

Who was a person that could walk around the palace during the banquet and was relatively young. It was probably Wu Rong’s fourth prince, right?

Thinking of this, she felt somewhat hesitant. She didn’t know if she should stand up to salute or pretend that she didn’t know his identity and continue sitting. In addition, she didn’t like this person’s eyes. His eyes were too exposed and didn’t show any restraint like a man-eating beast.

Wei Luo eventually decided to pretend that she didn’t recognize him. She took out her silk handkerchief and raised her head to wipe her nose. Her movement was skilled and calm without any sign of franticness.

Wan Qi Zhen leisurely looked at her. This was the first time where a first time meeting with a woman turned out like this.

The other person’s nose was bleeding. He actually felt that her pitiful appearance looked slightly cute.

This woman was more beautiful than the dancers in Rong Hua Hall. Her skin was as white as snow and her hair was black. Her eyes were bright and her teeth were white. Her face that was as small as a palm was thoroughly exquisite. When her lovely, pink lips moved, it was very touching. Wan Qi Zhen’s eyes flitted across this stunning image. Were all of the women from Da Liang this beautiful? Just looking at her made him have the desire to want to posses her.

What kind of relationship did she have with Zhao Jie? Zhao Jie was heartless and cold towards other people. But, when he was looking at her before, his behavior had actually revealed that he was feeling anxious. It seemed that she was very important to Zhao Jie. His thoughts turned and he felt that he could understand Zhao Jie. She was such a beauty. Who wouldn’t cherish her?

Just as Wan Qi Zhen was about to speak, he saw the young girl look behind him and call out, “Big brother!”

Zhao Jie walked past Wan Qi Zhen. His forehead was slightly wrinkled and the rest of his expression wasn’t good either. He didn’t greet Wan Qi Zhen before sitting down next to Wei Luo and placing the handkerchief that had been wetted by the cold water on her forehead. “Why did you sit up?”

Wei Luo lied down on the couch again, grabbed his sleeve, and said, “I recently thought you had returned, so I sat up.”

Zhao Jie was silent for a moment, then he slightly turned his head and coldly asked, “Why is Fourth Prince here?”

Wan Qi Zhen finished looking. It was finally time for him to appear on the stage. He calmly walked past the doorway and reclined against one of the building’s pillars that was carved with a cloud and dragon pattern and embossed with gold.

He meaningfully looked back and forth between Wei Luo and Zhao Jie. Then, he smiled and said, “This prince saw that Your Highness Prince Jing was in a rush, thought you were worrying about the archery and horse riding competition that would happen the day after tomorrow, and wanted to talk you about it. Unexpectedly, this prince was wrong and disturbed Prince Jing’s happy occasion.” The conversation turned and he asked Wei Luo, “And your name is?”

His words were too arrogant as if he was extremely sure he would win. It didn’t seem as if he was here to talking things through. He was clearly here to provoke Zhao Jie.

Zhao Jie’s expression didn’t show any reaction to his words. His phoenix eyes were calm.

Who didn’t know how to boast that he was a hero? At the key moment, it was real ability that mattered. Zhao Jie felt that it was beneath his dignity to lower himself to Wan Qi Zhen’s level. The person that would win and the person that would lose could only be determined during the equestrian archery competition.

Although Zhao Jie didn’t care about Wan Qi Zhen’s provocation, it didn’t mean that he was okay with the unbridled way he was looking at Wei Luo. Zhao Jie said, “Fourth Prince, are you very interested in this prince’s princess consort?”

Hearing these words, Wan Qi Zhen was slightly surprised.

He had heard that Da Liang’s second prince, Prince Jing, wasn’t married yet. How did he get married so quickly? And that little girl didn’t look old. At most, she was fifteen years old. Zhao Jie was probably at least twenty-five years old. Wasn’t this an old cow eating tender, young grass? Or, could it be that all of the people from Da Liang were like this?

(Note: Zhao Jie is currently twenty-three years old.)

While Wan Qi Zhen was thinking of this, he pretended to suddenly realized something. He cupped one fist in the other hand and said, “So, she’s Princess Consort Jing. Excuse this prince for my rudeness.”

Wei Luo didn’t respond to his words.

Not much time later, Zhao Liuli and an imperial physician came over. The imperial physician put down his medicine box, came to Wei Luo’s side to examine her condition. Fortunately, at this time, her nose wasn’t bleeding as heavily as before. The imperial physician took out a few pieces of ice and spread it over her forehead. Then, he put a ball of cotton into her mouth and pressed it against her upper gums. As a result, the bleeding finally stopped completely.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As the imperial physician put his things away, he warned her, “House Wei’s Fourth Miss, you body doesn’t need too much supplements. In the future, it’ll be better if you eat less longans.”

Wei Luo sulkily nodded.

Zhao Liuli was sitting next to Wei Luo as she guiltily wiped away the blood on Wei Luo’s chin. She apologized, “Ah Luo, it’s my fault… If I had known that you couldn’t take supplements, I definitely wouldn’t have asked you to drink that bowl of soup.”

Anyways, it had already passed. Wei Luo didn’t have any intentions of blaming Zhao Liuli. After all, her intentions had been good. Wei Luo had lost a lot of blood today and couldn’t become more spirited, so she weakly said, “It’s fine as long as you don’t try to give me something to replenish blood.”

Without even Wei Luo mentioning it, Zhao Liuli already had the idea of sending Wei Luo food that would be good for replenishing blood. After Wei Luo said these words, she immediately felt guilty. Even so, she didn’t let go of these thoughts. She privately had a palace servant girl secretly put many items like fleeceflower root and codonopsis root into House Wei’s carriage. By the time that Wei Luo discovered these items, it was already too late to return them.

Many people were alerted by what was happening in Xin Yan. Shortly after hearing about what happened to Wei Luo, Wei Chang Hong and Liang Yu Rong rushed over.

Liang Yu Rong had originally been very worried. Seeing that Wei Luo was okay, she felt relieved.

At this time, the palace banquet hadn’t ended yet, so Wei Luo couldn’t return home, so Zhao Liuli had one of the side chambers next to Chen Hua Hall cleaned out for her to stay and rest. Wei Chang Hong personally carried Wei Luo to the Chen Hua Hall’s side chamber, carefully put her down on the bed, and pulled the quilt over her. “Ah Luo, properly rest. I’ll wake you up when the palace banquet is over.”

Wei Luo quietly said, “En.” Then, she closed her eyes.

Wei Chang Hong was vigilant. In order to protect Wei Luo’s safety, he kept close to her as he guarded her. He wouldn’t even let Zhao Liuli see her, much less Zhao Jie.

He calmly sat on the red sandalwood stool that was next to the bed.

A little while later, a palace servant wearing a dark reddish purple robe entered the side chamber, saluted to Chang Hong, and said, “House Wei’s Sixth Young Master, Duke Ying had something he wants to say to you. Please follow me to Rong Hua Hall.”

Wei Chang Hong asked, “What happened?”

The palace servant shook his head to indicate that he didn’t know.

Wei Chang Hong could only stand up, tuck the blanket around Wei Luo, and leave the room.

After Wei Chang Hong left, just as Zhao Jie was about come out from behind the lattice rosewood side doors decorated with magpies and enter the room to see how Wei Luo was doing, he saw that someone had unexpectedly moved faster than him.

After Gao Dan Yang changed her clothes, she didn’t immediately leave the palace. Instead, she went to Qing Xi Palace to rest. She was Empress Chen’s niece and had regularly rested in Qing Xi Palace before, so the palace servants were accustomed to her and didn’t say anything. Hearing that Wei Luo was also here, she finaly couldn’t suppress the impulse in her mind and came over.

Gao Dang Yang had stopped next to the bed. Looking at the young girl who was serenely sleeping, round after round of distress welled up in her heart. Why did she easily get so much? Why did she steal away her things? Even her maternal aunt, the empress, who usually loved her dearly, was now clearly partial to this girl.

She wished that Wei Luo had never appeared in this world.

Once she had this idea, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Gao Dan Yang stretched her hands out and placed them on each side of Wei Luo’s neck. She couldn’t help slowly drawing her hands closed. Her complicated expression showed enmity and sorrow. She looked as if she didn’t have any other choice and was suffering from hardships.

Standing behind the lattice side doors and seeing this sight, Zhao Jie’s gaze suddenly dropped. Just as he was about to call out to stop her, he heard the young girl on the bed suddenly ask with her eyes still closed, “Older siser Gao, what advantage will you gain from my death?”

Startled, Gao Dan Yang’s retracted her stretched out hands and returned to her earlier position.

Wei Luo slowly opened her eyes. Her large, beautiful eyes were calm as if she could see through someone’s heart. She curved the corner of her lips and faintly smiled. Although her small face was pale, she wouldn’t lose to anyone in impressiveness. She calmly asked, “Didn’t you want to strangle me?”

Gao Dan Yang suddenly returned to her senses, wanted to maintain her remaining image, and said, “No… I only…”

Wei Luo didn’t sit up. Her dark eyes turned and she stared at the golden canopy above her. Her lips curved into a slightly sarcastic smile. She spoke for Gan Dan Yang. “You just hate me. You’re jealous of me. You wish I could die, right?”

After she concisely described Gao Dan Yang’s feelings and seemed as if she didn’t notice that Gao Dang Yang’s face had turned deathly pale, she continued, “If I were you, I definitely wouldn’t use this method. After all, we’re the only two people in this hall. If I die, you’ll definitely be the suspect.”

Gao Dan Yang opened her eyes wider. She was shocked that Wei Luo could be so calm.

Wei Luo suddenly laughed. Her eyes were bright and she looked cute and sweet. “Older sister, you want to kill me? Because I’m going to marry older brother Prince Jing? But, haven’t you made a mistake? Do you think older brother Prince Jing will marry you if I die?”

Gao Dan Yang’s face became even paler. It felt as if someone was opening a curtain that exposed her shameful delusion. Standing next to the bed, with her eyes turning red, she asked, “How do you know he won’t…”

“Because he doesn’t like you.” Wei Luo’s bright, crystal clear eyes were very moving, but her following words were very cruel, “If older brother Prince Jing likes you, why would he delay for so long? You probably don’t know this, but older brother Prince Jing told me that he wished he could be with me at every moment to accompany me. He was so impatient about going to my home to propose marriage. He also said sweet, romantic words to me. Do you know why? Because he likes me.”

Gan Dan Yang staggered back. The shock from hearing her words wasn’t light. When she returned to her senses, her tone was fierce as she said, “I’ve already liked older cousin Jing for almost ten years. My love for him is deeper than your feelings. Why is it you? Why are you the one marrying him? Clearly, I’m more suitable. I know him better…”

But, what was the use of knowing? It was only her wishful thinking. Why did she insist that the other person return her feelings?

Wei Luo slowly explained that her words were irrelevant. “I also know Chang Hong. I’ve been living with Chang Hong since we were born. We’ve known each other for almost fifteen years. According to older sister Gao’s logic, should I be marrying Chang Hong?”

Gao Dan Yang was stifled by her words. She didn’t have words to refute her.

Wei Luo’s large eyes curved. Like a stream of water, she smoothly and slowly said, “Although I haven’t know Zhao Jie as long as you or liked him for ten years, we’re going to get married. In the future, we’ll continue to know each other for a long time. Perhaps, we’ll be together for a lifetime. At that time, I’ll know him better than you and like him more than you do.”

Gao Dan Yang unexpectedly couldn’t say a single word.

Originally, she had wanted to come here to declare her sovereignty over Zhao Jie. However, Wei Luo’s words had completely defeated her. So, what if she came here? She had lost and became a shambled mess.

Gao Dan Yang stiffly stood in place for a long time. In the end, she turned around and left.

Zhao Jie stood behind the lattice side doors with his hands behind his back. Without noticing, his thin lips had curved into an obvious smile.

He hadn’t expected to hear these words from Wei Luo’s mouth, much less think she had these thoughts.

A lifetime. These words were really tempting.

When they were together, he was always the one who started things. When he wanted to be affectionate, she would refuse. Zhao Jie thought she didn’t like it and had been controlling himself lately. He would properly love her after they were married. But, now he probably wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

Zhao Jie said to Zhu Geng, “Tell imperial mother, if Wu Rong’s emperor wants an alliance through marriage, Gao Dan Yang’s qualifications would be very suitable.”

Zhu Geng immediately understood his meaning and felt sympathetic towards Gao Dan Yang for a while, then he departed.

Wu Rong was thousands of miles away from Da Liang’s capital and the journey there was arduous. If she went to Wu Rong, she might never return to Da Liang’s capital.

It seemed that the prince was truly angry this time.

Zhao Jie walked past the lattice doors. Wei Luo was still preoccupied and staring at the canopy. Who knew what she was thinking about?

When her line of sight changed, she suddenly saw him. She froze in surprise for a moment before exclaiming in surprise.

Zhao Jie took off his ink color boots and silently sat down on the bed.

Wei Luo didn’t understand his intentions. She opened her eyes wider and asked, “Why are you here? Why didn’t you go back to Rong Hua Hall to attend the palace banquet?”

What was the palace banquet when compared to her? Zhao Jie pressed her hand down against the bed, covered her body, and in the passing, unhooked the golden curtain. The bed curtain fell down. In a single moment, the scene inside the bed was separated from the rest of the room.

Zhao Jie’s tightened his arms around her petite body and brought her closer to his chest. His face was pressed against her face as he slid down to find her soft and tender lips and kissed her. “You like to hear this prince say sweet, romantic words?”

It was at this moment that Wei Luo realized he had heard the words between her and Gao Dan Yang. She opened her mouth to explain, but he used the opportunity to enter her mouth, suck on her tongue, and continue kissing her. She quietly whimpered. A long time later, he finally let her go. She pursed her pink lips. She didn’t know who’s saliva was between her lips and teeth. In a lovable tone, she accused him, “You were eavesdropping.”

Zhao Jie quietly laughed, sucked the bottom of her small, soft ear, and said. “There was a little one that said she wanted to be with this prince for a lifetime. If this prince didn’t hear those words, wouldn’t it be such a pity?”

Wei Luo buried her face into his neck. She felt slightly embarrassed.

Even so, she didn’t disagree.

Zhao Jie really loved seeing this sweet and cute appearance. He held her hand and moved it down.

He leaned against her forehead and slowly rubbed against it. He painfully said, “Darling, this prince almost can’t stand it anymore.”

There was still one more year before they would marry. Even though she belonged to him, he couldn’t do anything to her. He was aware of propriety. He wanted to properly cherish her and didn’t want to have her so soon. After all, she was still young. He wanted to wait until she was slightly more grownup.

But this process of waiting, it was very much like torture.

Fortunately, there were other ways to ease the pressure.

Startled and panicking, Wei Luo tried to move her hand away. But, how could she win against his strength? While struggling, her hand slipped twice. The sound of Zhao Jie quietly and hoarsely moaning went into her ears and made half of her body feel numb.

This was next to Zhao Liuli’s resting chamber. Liuli could come inside at any moment. He actually… actually…

Wei Luo’s cheeks were so red that they could drip blood. She originally wanted to resist. But for some reason, she yielded after making a show of resistance and let him have his way.

She knew a little about these things. After she was engaged to Zhao Jie, fourth aunt had secretly hinted at this. She knew that it was very normal for a married couple to do these things, but she still felt slightly embarrassed. After all, they weren’t married yet…

Zhao Jie was breathing right into her ear. It was close that she could even feel it on the back of her neck and made her whole body have small goose bumps. She pulled her shoulder away. Her voice was as delicate and powerless as a small bird.

There was suddenly the sound of footsteps inside the room. It was neither too fast nor too slow. It was followed by Chang Hong’s clear voice, “Ah Luo?”

Wei Chang Hong had recently been called away by Duke Ying. It actually wasn’t a serious matter. After finding out about Wei Luo’s condition, Wei Zhang Chun and Wei Kun had asked a few worried questions. Wei Chang Hong had explained everything in full detail and they stopped worried after knowing that Wei Luo was fine.

Wei Chang Hong was worried about Wei Luo, so he came back here after leaving Rong Hua Hall.

Seeing that the dense curtains were hanging down, he furrowed his eyebrows.

Strange. Why were the curtains closed?

Surprised by the sound, Wei Luo accidentally increased her hand’s strength.

Zhao Jie stiffened and immediately uttered a smothered groan.