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Chapter 47

Zhao Jie stopped looking directly at her. He leaned over and tied the turquoise squirrel waist accessory that had been in his hands on her waist. It seemed as if he didn’t care the slightest bit about bending his waist for her in front of other people.

Wei Luo was surprised and reflexively retreated, “What is older brother Prince Jing doing?”

His voice was low and carried masculine calmness, “Don’t move. This is a gift that I selected for you in Binzhou.” After he finished hanging the accessory, he stood up and asked, “Do you like it?”

Wei Luo held it in her palm to look and discovered that it was a little squirrel eating nuts. She asked in confusion, “Why did you give me this?”

He curved up his lips in a smile, but didn’t explain.

Wei Luo looked at it left and right and felt that it was pretty cute. Since she didn’t know that he had given her this because the squirrel and her looked similar, she looked up and sweetly thanked him. She finally remembered to ask him, “I heard that older brother Prince Jing had returned to the capital yesterday. Are you here to see the Empress?”

He didn’t speak. In a short while, he slowly nodded.

He had indeed recently gone to Zhaoyang Palace to see Empress Chen. However, she wasn’t the reason that he entered the palace this time. As for who it was, there wasn’t a reason for him to let her know. He didn’t want to frighten her.

The turquoise squirrel waist accessory was pressed down on her cherry blossom pink full skirt. The wind gently raised the edges of the skirt, so that when she walked, her pair of tiny blue silk shoes lined with sheepskin inside was partly hidden and partly visible.

Zhao Jie could see the shoes as soon as he looked down. The expression shown in his eyes was a mystery. He stopped looking at her shoes and looked at the young girl’s pretty face instead. He lifted his lips to say, “Why aren’t you asking me where I’ve been or what I’ve done for the past two years?”

Wei Luo saw that he didn’t have the intention to leave. She thought that he had already finished his business, so he was conveniently accompanying her in leaving the palace. She didn’t have any further doubts.

While walking on the winding road paved with limestone, she noticed that this wasn’t the path that she usually took. This path was narrow. It was spacious enough if it there was only one person walking. But if there were two people walking, they would have to walk shoulder to shoulder.

She wasn’t tall enough, so her shoulder could only touch Zhao Jie’s arm. She wanted to take a step back, but Zhao Jie slanted his head to look at her and she felt trapped as if she couldn’t advance or retreat.

She could only continue walking with him side by side. She pulled back her shoulders and said, “Big brother, you didn’t say anything when you left. I only found out through Liuli after you were gone for two months already. I know that you had to go to Binzhou because Huang River had breached its dam there. The common people were suffering and you had to go there to manage the damages caused by the flood.”

There were two paths in front of Qingxi Palace’s main entrance. One path was her usual path. The other path was this secluded small path. Empress Chen and palace servant girls only occasionally took this path. Perhaps, Zhao Jie was used to walking this path with Empress Chen… her mind was indulging in flights of fantasy.

Zhao Jie’s eyes showed a trace of a smiling expression. The young girl’s slippery dark eyes were spinning chaotically. How could a person not know what she was thinking in her mind? Zhao Jie’s facial expression didn’t change. Pretending to be honest, he continued, “I thought I would return in three or four months when I was sent there, so it didn’t seem worth mentioning. Unexpectedly, I was there for two years and could only come back to the capital yesterday.”

He walked unhurriedly to coordinate with her pace. He casually said, “Yesterday was Spring Lantern Festival. How did you celebrate it?”

Wei Low slightly raised her pink lips in a smile, “I went outside to see the colored lanterns. It was very lively outside from the numerous people.”

“Oh. Whom did you go with?”

Wei Luo didn’t have anything to hide and told him everything, “I went with Chang Hong, Wei Zheng …” She paused while speaking, “and older brother Song Hui.”

He stopped. His dark phoenix eyes were fixed on her, but he didn’t say anything. That pair of eyes could hide too many emotions. Without any reason, his gaze made Wei Luo feel afraid. She retreated half a step and said, “Big brother?”

He looked away from her and smilingly said, “I was on horseback.”

These words weren’t false. When he was left with three to five days of travel away from the capital, he would have to change four or five horses every day. He was in a rush to get back the entire way. Unfortunately, he still wasn’t able to return on time. While he was on a bumpy horseback, she was inside the capital strolling around to view colored lanterns and guessing riddles with other men. He was a bit angry as he thought this.

Wei Luo didn’t know what he was thinking in his heart, so she only thought that he was somewhat pitiful. During the past two years, he probably didn’t live very well in Binzhou. She had heard that the plague had spread there and thousands of people had died. Although he looked healthy and undamaged right now, he must have suffered a lot. He wasn’t even able to celebrate Spring Lantern Festival. Her heart softened and she stepped forward to grab his sleeve that was embroidered with golden clouds, “I recently gave Liuli a few water lanterns. I still have two left. Big brother, do you want to release them with me?

Zhao Jie froze. His eyes revealed a trace of his surprise.

She pursed her lips and thought that he didn’t know. So, she patiently explained, “When you release a water lantern, you can make a wish. Do you have anything that you want to wish for?”

He faintly smiled. He finally understood that this young girl was trying to comfort him through this method. He looked into her eyes and slowly said, “There is.”

——–

At this time, Wei Luo anxiously wanted to go home right away to blend her fragrant rose lotion. But, she could only delay doing this.

She went to western part of the palace’s lakeside with Zhao Jie. It was the beginning of spring at this time. The ice on the lake’s surface had already melted, but the temperature was still somewhat cold. A burst of chilly wind blew through the scene. It was so cold that she covered her mouth as she sneezed.

Zhao Jie saw this and took off the sky blue silk overcoat lined with marten fur that he was wearing and draped it over her shoulders.

She quickly refused and took it off to return to him. Without even mentioning that men and women were different, so interactions between the two must be careful, the mere sight of her wearing Prince Jing’s clothes was already enough for her to be unable to explain herself… But, Zhao Jie used his hand to press down on her shoulder. His large and powerful palm had a force of oppression that wouldn’t allow any refusal. Her margin for refusal vanished in a flash.

She could obediently drape the clothing over herself. She asked with uneasiness, “Big brother, aren’t you cold? You’re not wearing much either.”

He lowered his head, smiled, and told her, “I’m a man.”

Wei Luo said, “Oh.” She didn’t continue disputing this issue with him. She looked around. There wasn’t anyone else here at this time of the year. Because the temperature was too cold, no one was willing to come to the lakeside. Only the two of them were leisurely enough to come here to elegantly release the water lanterns.

Wei Luo took the two water lanterns from Jin Lu, unfold them, gave one to Zhao Jie, and kept one in her own hands. She explained to him, “Use the match to light the lampwick inside, place the lantern on the lake, and make a wish. If the water lantern floats very far away, the wish will come true.”

She didn’t believe in this. This was just a lie to deceived ignorant little girls. She was long past that age. When she had gone outside with Chang Hong yesterday, Wei Zheng had suggested going to release water lanterns, but she didn’t go then. In the end, Wei Zheng had returned with disappointment and her eyes as cold as ice fragments.

Wei Luo hadn’t expected that she would have refused Wei Zheng yesterday and suggest releasing water lanterns herself today. Life really was fickle.

Zhao Jie held the water lantern, took the match from her hand, lighted that lampwick. Surrounded by the cold wind, the lampwick’s faint light was flickering.

After Wei Luo released her own water lantern, she turned her around and saw that he was stilling standing there, so she asked, “Older brother Prince Jing, why aren’t you coming over here?”

He walked forward, crouched down at the edge of the lake, and copied her actions in putting the water lantern into the water. As he was about let go, Wei Luo suddenly stopped him and hurriedly said, “That’s not how you do that. If you place it into the water like that, the lantern will sink into the water in a few moments.”

His lips slightly curved up. His mellow and sweet-sound voice unhurriedly asked, “How should I place it then?”

So, Wei Luo tried teaching him how to place it. Unfortunately, he seemed completely unable to learn. A glance showed that the candle in the lantern was about to be extinguished. She could only step closer and personally hold his hand to teach him. When their two hands were folded together, she gently pushed. The water lantern slowly floated away. “Just like this, gently push it…”

Instead of looking at the lantern, Zhao Jie was looking at their hands. Her hand was small and pale. When it was placed together with his, there was a clear difference. The palm of that small, soft hand carried warmth. The warmth traveled from the back of his hand to his insides and continued spreading until it arrived at his heart. His hand moved slightly and seemed as if it couldn’t resist turning over to hold her hand.

Fortunately, she moved away first and withdrew her hand into her sleeve as if she was completely unaware of what she had just done. She surveyed the surface of the lake. Her line of sight followed the two floating water lanterns. After a while, she turned around to smile and ask him, “Older brother Prince Jing, what did you wish for?”

Zhao Jie held back his smile. The back of his hand still had her residual warmth and made a person want to linger and reflect. He said, “Peace, security, and stability for the entire country.”

Actually, he wasn’t thinking anything when the water lantern was released. Her lovable, pretty small face had been in front of him. Any thought would have been superfluous at that moment. But, those eight words weren’t false. They were his ultimate ambition. If you really wanted to look into those words, a condition should be added – and under his control.

Wei Luo didn’t continue the conversation. If he really wanted to fight for the position of the emperor, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. But, she didn’t know why. In her previous life, Zhao Jie willingly acted as a regent. At that time, he had complete control of the imperial court. Zhao Zhang was only a figurehead that was completely controlled in the palm of Zhao Jie’s hand. He could have easily replaced Zhao Zhang as the emperor. Why didn’t he do it? Or, perhaps he did do it, but she didn’t live to that day?

It wasn’t impossible. Who told her to die so early?

——–

They left the palace. Wei Luo stood in front of the carriage and was preparing to say good-bye to Zhao Jie and return to Duke Ying’s residence.

Zhu Geng walked forward with a jubube red, tall and sturdy horse. Zhao Jie leapt up onto the horse and held the reins. With a smile on his face, he said to her, “Let’s go, this prince will bring you back.”

She reflexively refused, “I can return by myself. Big brother, you have your own matters. You don’t need to take care of me.”

He lowered his head to glance at her for a moment. His gaze landed on the green carriage behind her, “This is the prince’s carriage. Liuli said she invited you to the palace today, so I had people pick you up.”

Wei Luo finally suddenly realized. No wonder she was confused for a moment when she went out today. Zhao Liuli had never been this thoughtful in her actions before. Since this carriage was his, it wouldn’t be polite to keep refusing. She could only say thank you again and lowered her head to enter the carriage.

When she thought about it again, she felt there was still something wrong. Why would he know that she was going to the palace today and especially send people to pick her up?

When she had left Qingxi Palace, he was just standing there at the entrance. A single glance showed that he was waiting for something. Was he waiting for her? Did he wait for her just to give her this squirrel waist accessory? Wei Luo lowered her head and fiddled with that little turquoise squirrel. The more that she looked at, the more it seemed familiar. Had she seen it before?

The carriage slowly traveled through the streets of the capital. The curtain would occasionally be blown up by the wind and it would be possible to see the nearby person.

Zhao Jie was riding the horse next to the carriage and looking forward. His eyes were as deep as the night and his eyebrows looked handsome. His body was tall and straight. He wasn’t thin and weak like those Confucian scholars. Instead, his shoulders were wide and the muscles on his back were strong and had gone through polishing. As she was looking, it seemed that he had notice her spectating sight. He turned around to look at the carriage. His eyes held a faint smiling expression. It seemed as if he knew that she was looking at him, but was very happy that she was peeking at him.

Wei Luo’s face froze. She felt somewhat uneasy. Luckily, the curtain fell down and blocked his line of sight. She sighed in relief.

The carriage soon stopped at the entrance to Duke Ying’s residence. She stepped on the pedal to exit the carriage. Zhao Jie dismounted and walked to her side, “Go home, okay?”

She nodded, took off the overcoat to give back to him, smiled, and showed her two dimples as a result, “Thank you older brother Prince Jing.”

He curved his lips. He had resisted the entire way here, but he couldn’t resist in the end. He raised his hand to stroke the red birthmark between her eyebrows. While he gently stroked it, he asked, “Why didn’t you keep your bangs?”

Last year, the hair that covered her forehead was tied back. Fourth aunt said she had grown up and having bangs would make her seem too childish. After her bangs were gone, the red birthmark between her eyebrows was revealed on her bright and clean forehead. The red birthmark was like a vital finishing touch. Although Zhao Jie thought it looked good, he felt somewhat listless when he thought about other men being able to see it now and not just him.

Wei Luo blinked, “Does it look bad?”

He laughed and said, “Looks good.”

That’s fine then. As long as it looked good, it was fine. Wei Luo saw that he wasn’t leaving and thought that he had other matters. However, after she waited for a while, he still didn’t say anything. So, she stepped closer to the entrance and said, “Older brother Prince Jing, if there’s nothing else, I’m going home…”

He called out her name to stop her, “Ah Luo.”

Wei Luo stopped. She didn’t understand his meaning.

“Did you meet Li Song when you went outside yesterday?”

Wei Luo opened her small mouth in surprise. She didn’t understand why he would know this.

Who would have expected that his next words would leave her even more astonished?

He looked at her with a focused gaze. There was clearly a smile in his eyes, but he gave off a feeling that he was actually very unhappy, “He hugged you.”

The author has something to say:

Ah Luo thought that the squirrel seems familiar. It’s because the squirrel is you… =。