CH 33

(12.2)

Ming Zhu used to be very upright, she listened to everything he said, she was well-behaved and obedient, but now she had long since learned to appear submissive in appearance but rebellious in her thoughts.

Zhao Zhi asked again, “What did you do when you went out that day?”

It seemed like a casual question.

Ming Zhu wasn’t good at lying, and after thinking a moment, she said in an evasive manner, “I bought you something.”

“Let me see.”

Ming Zhu found with difficulty something that men would use, it was a jade crown she bought before, the jade surface was dull and the craftsman’s carving was very average. She placed the jade crown in his palm, giving it up with anguish : “A gift for you.”

This is what she bought more than a year ago, when she was waiting to get married. She didn’t have much money back then, she had saved her monthly allowance to buy Wei Chiyu a present. Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to gift it to him.

She was still looking at the jade crown that she just gifted with eager eyes.

As Zhao Zhi received it, he had a faint smile as he held it, his mood seemed quite good.

His eyes couldn’t help but stare at her blushing and tender face. Taking a glance at her lapel that had been messed up during their movements just now, his eyes darkened for a moment before he tidied up her clothes with a straight face. Squeezing her soft fingertips, he said : “You’ve been very well-behaved these days.”

Ming Zhu was inattentive, “Mmh.”

She was indeed behaving better in front of him, so that she could handle her business unnoticed, later when he would notice, it would already be too late.

Twilight was setting in the west and the sky was getting darker outside the window.

Zhao Zhi seemed to have no intention of leaving, perhaps he was intending to stay here overnight. Ming Zhu put on an extra layer of clothes and looked at the man who occupied her desk before she reluctantly and slowly walked over.

Ming Zhu didn’t want him to stay, she had better use a silly method to make him angry and leave on his own.

She asked, “Your Highness, I heard from my father that you and my sister are going to get married soon, is that true?”

Zhao Zhi never mentioned other women in front of her and she also pretended to be dumb and stupid, and never asked any questions.

The man slowly raised his head and after a moment of silence, he said, “You don’t have to think too much about that, I will take care of you for a lifetime.”

When Ming Zhu heard those unlikely words, she pursed her lips and lowered her face. Not only would he not take care of her for life, but he would also want her dead.

Zhao Zhi put down the brush in his hand, he looked at her with a troubled gaze and opened his mouth, “I ……”

For the first time, he didn’t know what to say to her.

The young girl small face was downcast, her expression unclear, the shape of her lonely shadow stood under the candle flame. Her figure appeared thin and fragile.

Zhao Zhi swallowed his saliva and was silent for a long time. He did indeed like her, and sometimes, when he felt strong emotions, he couldn’t help but to consider seriously marrying her as his consort, but that only lasted for a moment before this idea would soon be dispelled.

He stepped forward and took her hands in his, “Your mother ……”

Ming Zhu interrupted him, “I know, you don’t have to say it out loud.”

Her mother was a courtesan in a brothel, she sold her performances but not her body. Later, she was redeemed by her father who took her as a concubine, and then they had her.

Zhao Zhi’s face was tense, he sighed lightly and remained quiet for a long time, unable to say anything else.

Actually, it wasn’t only because her birth was really bad, that was only part of the reason. Zhao Zhi, this person, would always think things through, Ming Zhu’s temperament was too weak, even if she became a side consort, she wouldn’t be able to shoulder this rank, she wouldn’t be able to shoulder the responsibilities that would go with it.

Zhao Zhi wanted a proper wife, who could get on the front stage and get things done. Her every word and action should be able to withstand scrutiny and criticism. The crown princess wasn’t an easy status.

“Even if there’s a crown princess, you don’t need to worry about anything.” This was the promise that Zhao Zhi could give her.

Ming Zhu smiled lightly and nodded, “Mmh, thank you for your generous love, Your Highness.”

Zhao Zhi, however, didn’t love this smile of hers, he felt that this smile was extremely forced, distant and light as if she didn’t even care about his marriage.

Zhao Zhi lightly frowned, and thought about it deeply, was she jealous? Or worried that he would like the new person and abandon the old one? He wasn’t that kind of person.

“Don’t think too much about it, let’s rest.”

Ming Zhu really didn’t care, but in Zhao Zhi’s eyes it didn’t seem so. The two candle flames left in the room were extinguished, the bed curtains blocked the moonlight coming in through the window.

Ming Zhu turned her back to him and closed her eyes, ready to sleep.

Zhao Zhi hugged her from behind, ” Are you already sleepy?”

She and he hadn’t been intimate for some nights now, and Ming Zhu had a vague foreboding feeling. Her back stiffened, slightly nervous, “Mmh.”

Zhao Zhi suddenly grabbed her shoulder and made her turn around to face him, his fingers slowly descended from her hair to her lower back as his chilly breath brushed against the nape of her neck.