Wei Luo was wearing an eight-treasure style, satin weave, blue robe with precious stone beads and a sash with a jade waist accessory. The jade accessory pleasantly jingled and the skirt swayed as she slowly walked. On the surface of the eight-treasure style brocade robe, the beads made from precious stones were streamed together like transient clouds in the sky.
The palace servant girls and eunuchs couldn’t resist turning their heads to look at her. Most of the people recognized her. Duke Ying’s family’s Fourth Miss had become even more beautiful during the past several years. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as white as snow. This teenage girl was like a peach tree’s youthful and tender flower bud. It made people want to pluck her from the tree for a closer look and tear off her petals to see what she looked like when she blossomed.
When Zhao Zhang and Li Song saw her, she was far away and only her gradually fading back figure was left.
There was a remnant of a faint, delicate fragrance in the air. Before they could carefully smell and recognize the scent, it had already dispersed.
Standing on the steps, Zhao Zhang retracted his line of sight and said,
Ah Song, did you know that Count Zhong Yi’s family’s will cancel their engagement with Duke Ying’s family?
Li Song had been following the fading figure with a complicated gaze. Hearing Zhao Zhang words, he returned to his senses and asked in astonishment,
Cancel the engagement?
Zhao Zhang turned around, slowly walked up the stairs, coldly snorted, and said,
You don’t know yet, right? My dear second brother personally met with Song Bai Ye, threatened him with the southern Xuzhou’s matter, and forced him to cancel the engagement. That cowardly Song Bai Ye immediately agreed.
His expression wasn’t good as he gloomily said,
Does he think that this prince will lose to him without Duke Ying’s assistance? He’s underestimating this prince too much.
Not long ago, Zhao Zhang had discovered that someone had taken his book. He recently found out that the stolen book, which had information that could be used against him, had fallen into Zhao Jie’s hands. He hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully. Originally, he wanted to send people to get the book back so that even if Zhao Jie publicly said the contents of the books, no one would believe him. But, Zhao Jie was an old fox with a mind as deep as the ocean. No one knew where he hid the book. On one side, Zhao Zhang had to secretly fight him and on the other side, he had to defend against that book. He was truly over-extended.
Zhao Zhang thought Zhao Jie had broken the engagement between the two families for Duke Ying’s power. Actually, he had only done this for Wei Luo.
Zhao Zhang walked forward two steps. When he turned his head, he discovered that Li Song was still standing in the same place with a perplexed expression. He didn’t what he was thinking about.
Ah Song, why aren’t you walking?
Li Song returned to his senses. Underneath his thick eyelashes, his eyes were unfathomably deep.
You said they were going to cancel the engagement. Has it already been completed?
At the mention of this, Zhao Zhang became angry. With his hands down at his sides and a malicious expression on his face, he said,
Not yet. But, it’ll happen within the next two days. Song Bai Ye, that old fellow, is preparing for this matter. He’s already told his son, Song Hui.
Li Song was silent for a while before he slowly asked,
Has Song Hui agreed?
He remembered Song Hui. Whenever he looked at Wei Luo, his eyes were full of gentleness and warmth. His love and longing for her was obvious. He had already waited so many years for her and looked forward to their marriage for so long. Would Song Hui agree to ending this engagement so suddenly?
Zhao Zhang disapprovingly said,
Does it matter if he doesn’t agree? His parents have already decided. Would he dare to disobey?
Then, not willing to continue talking about this topic, he turned around to continue walking up the stairs and left Li Song behind.
Li Song stood there for a moment, then started walking again to follow him.
–
At the palace gate, Wei Luo arrived at her carriage. As she was about to lift up her skirt and step into the carriage, she suddenly heard the sound of horse’s hooves. She turned around to look and saw Zhao Jie. He was wearing a blue robe with persimmon stem pattern and a hunting cloak and riding a fine horse. When he reached her, he tightened his grip on the reins and steadily stopped.
Zhao Jie didn’t say a word and slowly led the horse closer to her. Before she had time to react, he leaned over, wrapped an arm around her waist, and she was suddenly brought onto the horse!
On the side, Jin Lu and Bai Lan cried out in alarm,
Miss!
At this time, other than the guards at the gate who wouldn’t say anything even if they saw something, there was no one outside the palace gate. Holding Wei Luo in his arm, he untied the moon white cloak embroidered with clouds that he was wearing, wrapped it around her body from head to feet, and looked at the two servant girls from the higher view,
I have words to say to Ah Luo. Go wait at Yu He’s entrance for us. I’ll bring her there in two hours.
Then, without waiting for their response, he pressed the horse’s stomach to urge it forward and abruptly left.
The two people left behind, Jin Lu and Bai Lan, were depressed.
Wei Luo was leaning against his chest and couldn’t see the outside scene. She twisted around and asked,
Big brother, where are you taking me?
Zhao Jie tugged at the part of the cloak that was covering her head and blocked her small face that beckoned people towards her. Instead of answering her, he said,
What’s making that noisy sound?
The two people were riding on a horse. In addition to the sound of the wind and the conversations from the people they passed by, a jingling sound could be heard from time to time. Zhao Jie slightly furrowed his eyebrows. This sound swept away the thoughts he had originally been mulling over countless times in his heart. It was really bothersome.
Wei Luo was calm and honestly said,
It’s the jade accessory on my skirt.
Hearing this, Zhao Jie lowered his head and opened the cloak to see. Indeed, there was a jade accessory with semicircular ornaments. The horse was running quickly and the sound from the colliding jade would naturally be loud. He reached his hand out to her waist and after a few moments, he removed the jade accessory and casually flung it down on the road,
Be good, don’t wear this anymore.
Wei Luo was startled by his action, but it was too late to stop him. In the blink of an eye, they had already traveled far away. She saw her jade accessory being picked up by a passerby and immediately lamented,
What are you doing? I really like that jade accessory!
Zhao Jie knew that she was a little miser. Hearing her words, he quietly laughed, placed his chin on her head,
This prince wants to quietly talk with you.
Seeing the young girl pouting her pink lips and looking distressed, he could resist pecking her lips.
When we go back, I’ll buy better looking ones for you. I’ll buy twenty of them, okay?
Wei Luo angrily glared at him. Her small beautiful face was overflowing with anger,
I want a hundred.
The smile on Zhao Jie’s lips deepened. They had already past the city gates and were on a small, remote road with very few pedestrians. They were the two most conspicuous people on the road. He slowly stopped the horse next to a poplar tree and lowered his head to directly look at her bright eyes.
After you marry me, even a thousand won’t be a problem.
Wei Luo’s anger simmered down. Feeling slightly angry and shy, she simply turned her head to look at the tree instead of him.
Zhao Jie took out the jade hairpin she had given him. As if he was denouncing a crime, he asked,
Why didn’t you give this to me yourself?
Wei Luo turned her head back and just realized that Liuli had already handed the item over to him. No wonder he had hurriedly chased after her. She pursed her pink lips and tried to cover up the truth by saying,
I didn’t buy this especially for you. When I was looking for a gift for Chang Hong, I saw this. It looked nice, so I bought it in passing.
Her words only made the matter more conspicuous. She raised her long eyelashes to look at him with her large, glittering eyes.
Do you like it?
Zhao Jie couldn’t resist scratching her little nose.
I’ll like anything if it’s a gift from you.
Wei Luo didn’t know how to reply. She slowly said,
Oh.
She didn’t want to seem too happy, but her lips involuntarily curved up into a big smile.
Zhao Jie placed the jade hairpin onto her palm,
Ah Luo, help this prince put this on.
He currently had an ivory hairpin on his head that looked more expensive than her gift. Wei Luo had only inserted a hairpin for Zhao Liuli once. This would be the first time she did this for a man. She straightened up and the cloak slid down to reveal a dainty and delicate body. But, she still couldn’t reach the top of his head.
Lean over and lower your head more.
Zhao Jie’s phoenix eyes smiled. He listened to her words and lowered his head.
One hand held his jade guan
hat with a hornless dragon pattern in place and the other hand took out the ivory hairpin from his hair and replaced it with the white jade hairpin. Although this was the first time she did this, she did a good job imitating the correct form. After she earnestly scrutinized her handiwork, she curved her almond eyes,
It looks really good.
(T/N: Below are pictures of a person wearing a jade guan
hat with a jade hairpin inserted to keep the hair bun in place. )
Zhao Jie stared at her. His eyes gradually deepened. Before she had time to put away her smile, he hugged her and sucked and nipped at her lips to vent the emotion in his heart.
Wei Luo made a noise of surprise, then she pushed against his chest with both of her hands in an instinctive refusal.
They were on a road in broad daylight. This was a public place. Did he want other people to see them?
Zhao Jie didn’t let go of her. Sticking close to her soft lips, he asked,
Why did you decide to give a present to this prince?
Wei Luo twisted her head to hide. He caught her and lightly nipped her lips. He had an attitude of unwilling to give up until he received her answer.
Ah Luo, why?
Wei Luo had been firmly confined by him. Her body was entirely covered by his scent.
No reason… I thought it looked good, so I gave it to you.
Zhao Jie kept pushing,
Then, why didn’t you give it to someone else?
Her thick eyelashes quivered. Her conscience was its guiltiest. She opened and closed her mouth and was preparing to confess. But, at this moment, she saw a glimpse of a couple passing by them in an oxcart from her peripheral vision. The peasant woman was looking at them with a smile in her eyes. Her expression was mocking and teasing. Wei Luo’s face rapidly became red. She threw herself at Zhao Jie’s chest and pinched his arm,
Not here… Other people will see
Zhao Jie involuntarily laughed. He deliberately distorted the meaning of her words,
Okay, we’ll go inside the woods then.
Wei Luo didn’t utter a word or sound.
They rode the horse into the woods. After seeing that there was no one else around, Wei Luo lifted her head from his chest.
Zhao Jie’s hand was around her waist and the other hand was holding the reins. He huskily said into her ears,
And you said you didn’t like me… little liar.
Wei Luo was unexpectedly obedient and didn’t refute his words.
He bit her ear and slowly nibbled on it. His voice became quieter and quieter,
Little liar…
His hand wasn’t honest and went up from her waist to grasp her dainty and delicate peach. He almost couldn’t stop himself from possessing her here.
Wei Luo whimpered. That area was still sore. How could it be touched?! She tried to remove his hand and speak about a serious matter.
When we go back, I’ll tell daddy… to cancel the engagement between me and older brother Song Hui.
She didn’t know yet that Zhao Jie had talked to Song Bai Ye, so she was wholeheartedly thinking about canceling her engagement. She didn’t know that this engagement had already reached the end of the road with no way to continue further.
Zhao Jie smiled and comforted the girl in his arms.
Don’t worry. Before three days have passed, Count Zhong Yi’s son will go to your home to rescind the marriage agreement.
Wei Luo and Song Hui weren’t formally engaged. It was only an informal agreement before Wei Luo was born. If Count Zhong Yi’s family rescinded the marriage agreement, at most it would be them not keeping their promise, it wouldn’t harm Wei Luo’s reputation.
Wei Luo curiously turned her head and directly looked at him,
Why? What did you say to Count Zhong Yi’s family?
Zhao Jie didn’t tell her. He touched her forehead and said,
Anyways, after you come back from Zi Yu Villa, you just have to wait until you marry this prince.
Wei Luo wanted to continue to ask, but his hand tightened around her and he quietly said to her,
This prince heard that if you rub it, it’ll stop feeling sore. Ah Luo, do you want to try?
Wei Luo’s face was so red that it looked like she was dripping blood. Who wanted to try? If she was match for him in physical strength, she really wanted push him off the horse!
–
On the sixth day of the sixth month, a group of people traveled together to Zi Yu Villa at Wang Su Mountain.
Wei Luo and Liang Yu Rong were sharing a carriage with Zhao Liuli. The three girls were about the same age and Liang Yu Rong had an extroverted and easy-going personality. Very quickly, she became more familiar with Zhao Liuli. On the way to Zi Yu Villa, the three of them talked, joked, and laughed. They reached Wang Su Mountain without noticing.
Zi Yu Villa was built on a mountainside and faced a large body of water. The area was surrounded by unbroken mountain ranges. It took four hours to go from the bottom of the mountain to the villa. When they arrived at Zi Yu Villa’s entrance, it was already dusk. The rosy clouds set each other off as the sun started to set in the western horizon. The orange light that was scattered over half of the mountain had a roundabout beauty.
Wei Luo and the others came down from their carriages and followed the villa’s servants to their rooms.
Wei Luo would be staying in the third room from the east side at Jin Tai Courtyard. One room separated her and Liang Yu Rong. As a princess, Zhao Liuli would be staying in her own separate courtyard that wasn’t far from them. They wouldn’t have to walk far to see each other.
The inner room and outer room weren’t small. They had been properly cleaned and were completely free of dust. Wei Luo walked inside. Just as she was going to have Jin Lu and Bai Lan bring her baggage inside, Wei Zheng came over, stood at the doorway, and seemed to be preparing to discuss something,
Fourth older sister.
She rarely took the initiative to talk to Wei Luo and was even less likely to call her
Fourth older sister.
She probably wasn’t up to anything good. Wei Luo turned her head to look at her and wasn’t moved by her address,
Fifth younger sister, is there something you want to say?
Wei Zheng lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief in her hands,
I want to change rooms with you.
Not in a hurry to refuse, Wei Luo said,
Oh, why?
She rarely lowered her head in front of Wei Luo. It seemed as if she was different person. Not only was her head lowered, even her tone was sweet as she said,
The bed in my room is facing the window. I’m not used to it… Could you change rooms with me?
Wei Luo’s lips curved up in a smile and she thoughtfully asked,
I didn’t know you have this type of habit. What’s wrong with facing the window?
She pursed her lips, overlooked the displeasure she felt from Wei Luo’s mocking, and continued,
I can’t fall asleep if the bed is facing a window. I’ll be scared at night.
In fact, changing rooms wouldn’t be a difficult thing. Wei Luo merely wanted her to suffer for a little bit. She walked towards the doorway,
Has fifth younger sister done something shameful? What’s there to be scared of?
Wei Zheng lifted her head to look at her. Her eyes were red. It wasn’t clear whether the redness was from being angry at Wei Luo or from genuine fear,
I…
She shed her arrogant and despotic manner and pretended to be a pitiful, innocent white flower. It looked very realistic.
Wei Luo knew that it wasn’t as simple as her being afraid and wanted to see what trick she was trying. Having achieved her objective, Wei Luo agreed,
Since fifth younger sister is afraid, we can change rooms. It’s only because you’re the one that’s asking that I’m willing to change. If it’s someone else, I might not agree.
The implication was that she wanted her to remember this favor.
Wei Zheng internally wanted to grit her teeth, but her face only showed a grateful appearance as she said,
Thank you fourth older sister. I’ll definitely express my thanks to you after we return home.
Before Wei Luo left, she profoundly looked at her. That glance was meaningful and chilly. For a moment, Wei Zheng thought she had figured something out.
–
After they changed their rooms, Wei Luo was closer to Liang Yu Rong. Only a wall separated their rooms.
After they respectively unpacked their stuff, Wei Luo and Liang Yu Rong prepared to go to courtyards on the eastern side to look for Zhao Liuli.
Just as they walked out of Jin Tai Courtyard, they saw a vermillion-lacquered, flat-roofed carriage parked outside. Wearing a green summer robe, Li Xiang came down from the carriage while talking to Li Song. Li Song was wearing a deep black robe with a treasure flower design.
Li Song’s hand was already mostly healed. The bandages had been removed and he could do most normal activities without problem.
Li Song’s eyes were looking down as he said something. When he looked up, he saw Wei Luo walking. She was wearing a moon white gauzy top and a colorful skirt with red plum flowers. There was a wonderful smile on her apricot-like face and her cheeks look like peaches. She was talking to Liang Yu Rong,
The scenery from the back of the mountain looks pretty good. Let’s go there to take a look…
His fingers twitched. His heart couldn’t resist feeling moved. He wanted stop her here. But, his face didn’t show any of his feelings.
Before he had time to say anything, she passed by him as if she hadn’t seen him.
