Free Web NovelChapter 143: Chapter 143: Qianyuan Hall, Unable to Move a Step Upon Seeing Him
Right before her eyes, the man destroyed the evidence, and he was so infuriatingly smooth about it.
Wei Chi Lianping crumpled the divorce papers into a small ball, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed.
He added with a smirk, "If you kill me now, Eldest Princess, you could still get the divorce papers out of my stomach."
Wei Chi Lianping sat up straight and leaned in close to her. "But if the Eldest Princess can’t bring herself to do it, then this whole business with the divorce papers never happened."
*
「That night.」
Ji Qingwu was alone on the large, carved Agarwood bed, sleeping soundly.
She had no trouble sleeping in strange beds. Tucked under a thin, indigo brocade quilt, she slept until the sun was high in the sky.
When Little Dongzi called for her to wake up from the doorway, his voice muffled by a screen, she pulled the quilt over her face, dazed and unsure of her surroundings.
Her sense of smell awoke before her sight.
The quilt was saturated with his scent, a cool, clean fragrance that filled her senses.
Ji Qingwu had just woken, her cheeks flushed. Lying under the warm quilt felt as if she had been sleeping in his embrace.
’This must mean Emperor Wu Su comes to Handan Hall often. He must have stayed the night here recently, so this has to be his private residence. But when the Emperor doesn’t summon a concubine to his chambers and wants to sleep alone, why wouldn’t he just stay in Zhaoyang Hall? Why go so far out of his way to sleep alone in Handan Hall?’
Two Palace Attendants entered quietly to attend to her. Once Ji Qingwu was ready, Little Dongzi met her at the door.
Little Dongzi was beaming. "Miss Ji," he said, "Chief Li himself has instructed me to escort you out of the palace, lest you get lost. Please, follow me."
Ji Qingwu did not object and simply nodded.
’Li Yuzong is quite thoughtful. Still, I remember the way out of the palace from the last time I came for the banquet at the Lotus Pond.’
It was a clear, crisp day outside. A breeze stirred, carrying the clean scent of lotus blossoms.
For the first time, Ji Qingwu walked through the palace without a trace of anxiety. Her heart was calm and peaceful, allowing her to appreciate the surrounding scenery.
But after walking for a while, she sensed something was amiss.
Ji Qingwu asked, "Mr. Dong, is this the right way? It doesn’t seem like we’re heading toward the palace gates."
Little Dongzi feigned surprise. "But it is, Miss Ji. This is the way out of the palace."
Ji Qingwu glanced around, certain she wasn’t mistaken. "But I remember we didn’t take this path last time."
Little Dongzi smiled confidently. "This is a shortcut. I’ve been in the palace for many years and know every corner of it like the back of my hand. I wouldn’t get lost even with my eyes closed. This way is faster, you can trust me."
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of a palace hall.
The grand hall towered before them, its magnificent glazed-tile roof glittering in the sun.
Little Dongzi suddenly slowed his pace, giving Ji Qingwu just enough time to read the plaque above the entrance.
Qianyuan Hall.
’The name of the hall sounded familiar,’ Ji Qingwu thought. ’I’m sure I’ve heard it before.’
Little Dongzi scratched his head, his face a picture of sudden realization. "Oh, isn’t this Qianyuan Hall, where Young Master Yuan Heng lives?"
Ji Qingwu saw through his clumsy performance at a glance.
She gave him a sidelong glance. "Mr. Dong, you just said a moment ago that you knew the palace so well you could navigate it with your eyes closed. How is it you don’t even know where Qianyuan Hall is?"
Little Dongzi said, "...I’m only familiar with the paths. I’m not as familiar with the halls themselves."
’He had deliberately taken her on a detour, and to Qianyuan Hall, where Yuan Heng lived, of all places.’
Whatever his intentions, Ji Qingwu found she was rooted to the spot.
Their voices at the main gate must have been overheard, as the heavy, black-and-gold doors were pushed open from within.
Ji Qingwu looked over, but she didn’t see the small figure she had imagined. A pang of disappointment went through her.
The person who emerged was a eunuch—Little Shunzi, the same one who had been attending Yuan Heng last time.
Little Shunzi recognized the woman as Miss Ji and saw that she was accompanied by Little Dongzi, who served in the Emperor’s presence.
His attitude was much more respectful than last time. He asked, "Greetings, Miss Ji. Are you here to see the Young Master?"
Ji Qingwu hadn’t intended to see Yuan Heng, but now that she’d been led here, she couldn’t suppress her longing. ’I want to know if the little one has grown taller, if anything about him has changed.’
She asked, "Is the Young Master in?"
Little Shunzi replied, "He is, but at this hour, the Young Master is practicing his swordsmanship."
’Yuan Heng has to practice martial arts every morning at such a young age,’ she thought. ’Jiu Jiu and I share the "excellent" habit of sleeping in. Won’t a lack of sleep affect his development?’
At this thought, she frowned.
Little Dongzi saw her expression and recalled the instructions Li Yuzong had given him.
He spoke up from the side, "His Majesty has said that morning martial practice builds inner fortitude and wards off illness. The Young Master has been training for a year now, and his body is strong and healthy. He hasn’t been sick once in over a year."
Ji Qingwu nodded.
’No wonder Yuan Heng didn’t even get a fever after falling into the water last time. In all this time, I’ve never once heard of him falling ill. In that respect, at least, Emperor Wu Su has been quite conscientious.’
Little Shunzi led the two of them into the hall. ƒrēewebnovel.com
The attending Palace Attendants were all extremely well-disciplined. Though they didn’t know her identity, they would bow upon seeing her without staring curiously, and then immediately return to their duties.
Little Dongzi said, "Miss Ji, these Palace Attendants were all personally handpicked by Eunuch Li on the Emperor’s orders to serve the Young Master. They are all reliable people from impeccable backgrounds."
Ji Qingwu nodded.
’Judging by the calm and composed demeanor of these Palace Attendants, they were clearly steady and dependable people. Emperor Wu Su might be strict with Yuan Heng, but he certainly wouldn’t allow him to be neglected in other aspects.’
"Young Master, slow down! Watch your step on the pebble path." A eunuch’s high-pitched voice came from around a corner.
Ji Qingwu immediately turned toward the source of the voice.
Soon, a small figure dressed in sapphire blue came running from a short distance away, carrying a bronze sword inlaid with jewels.
But as he drew near, about thirty feet away from her, his pace slowed. The little boy straightened his back and walked with a steady gait, suddenly possessing all the dignity of a Prince.
Yuan Heng’s face was beaded with sweat, and he was still panting when he stood before Ji Qingwu, a clear sign of his eagerness to reach her.
The moment a Palace Attendant told him that Fifth Missy Ji had come to Qianyuan Hall, he had taken off at a run, afraid she would grow impatient and leave.
Ji Qingwu’s eyes softened. "Greetings, Young Master."
Yuan Heng gave the small bronze sword in his hand a flashy flourish before sliding it into its sheath and tucking it smartly into his belt. Then, he peeked at her to gauge her reaction.
Ji Qingwu watched his little performance and let out a small gasp, her voice filled with admiration and delight.
Yuan Heng held his head high, his little face wearing an expression that said it was nothing special.
Ji Qingwu knelt and took a handkerchief from her sleeve. "Young Master, may I wipe the sweat from your brow?"
Little Shunzi started to say something, but Little Dongzi clapped a hand over his mouth and unceremoniously dragged him aside.
