CH 36

Chapter 36

(13.2)

During this past year and a half, Wei Chiyu always had dreams where he saw Ming Zhu crying. She was wearing a beautiful dress that she could never dare to wear when she was in her family, her eyes redder than those of a rabbit while her face was covered with tears. She would ask him why he still hadn’t come to take her away yet.

Every time Wei Chiyu woke up from that kind of dream, his pillow was wet.

He took a deep breath, his chest felt stuffy and painful, but he endured the pain and finally just said, “Zhu Zhu, take care of yourself.”

“Mmh.”

Ming Zhu met Wei Chiyu, but her heart hurt. She returned to the residence in a trance, without even noticing what had happened to her skirt, who was drenched with rainwater. Biying saw her lost in thought and asked in a low voice, “Miss, what’s wrong ?”

Ming Zhu returned to her senses, “It’s nothing.”

“Miss, this slave will go get you a new set of clothes, the one you’re wearing is soaked all over.”

Ming Zhu yet again let her mind wander as she changed her dress. Seeing this, Biying was feeling worried and stuffed a warm bowl into her hands, it was ginger soup that had just been boiled in order to let her warm her body.

Ming Zhu really was unable to drink ginger soup as smelling its pungent smell always made her slightly want to vomit. Biying diligently tried to persuade her: “Miss, you better drink the ginger soup, if you get a cold, his Highness won’t be happy.”

In that case, the crown prince and the miss would definitely have a small argument again.

Even Biying, being a maidservant, knew that His Highness liked the well-behaved and obedient ones, when one crossed the limits, His Highness’s indifferent coldness really had some ability to frighten people.

Ming Zhu was a little annoyed and said in a small voice filled with disinterest, “If he’s not happy, then he’s not happy.”

Biying thought she had misheard, “What did you say?”

Ming Zhu lifted her head and repeated with clear wording, “I said if he’s not happy, then he’s not happy, it’s none of my business.”

Biying saw that miss Ming Zhu’s face was weary, and thus, fearing that it would have a reverse effect, she didn’t try again to persuade her to drink ginger soup, she only silently added a few more pieces of fragrant wood charcoal to the charcoal burner to make the room warmer.

After that day, Zhao Zhi didn’t come again to the Ming residence. Nearing the New Year’s eve, he was busy all day and could not find the time to come see her.

The palace had a lot of complicated issues and the people below failed to do their job, thus the crown prince, who always treated people well, remained angry for three days in a row, during which he canned a number of officials, slammed reports, and fired some officials.

There were a lot of people who had been dismissed from their posts. Ming Zhu’s third uncle was also among those who got dismissed. The third master of the Ming family had been taking advantage of his position for many years to be greedy for money while being idle on the job. He had gotten used to leading such a good life and now that this happened, he was astounded. Moreover, he felt that his colleagues were all looking at him like he was a joke, which made him very upset.

On the day of New Year’s eve, Zhao Zhi took some time off to go the palace to have a lunch with his mother before he was called upon by his grandmother.

“Your cousin is spending the New Year’s eve in the capital for the first time, you can’t neglect her even if you’re busy.”

These two children, a talented boy and a beautiful girl, both had an excellent moral character and they were a good match for each other. Moreover, Zhao Zhi also had agreed to this marriage, so after the New Year, the decree for the marriage would be sent to the city of Xiangyang. Following that, the two children would be married next fall at the latest. It probably wouldn’t be long before she would able to hold her little great-grandson in her arms.

Zhao Zhi frowned lightly, “This grandson understands.”

“I’m getting old, I’m going to rest now, the two of you can keep sitting here and have a chat.”

Sheng Ling, who hadn’t seen her taizi gege for a few days, missed him terribly. She had grown up in Xiangyang with her father and brother since she was a little girl, so she had a lively and bold temperament and was unlike ordinary girls who would easily get shy. Taking the initiative, she stood up and said, “Taizi gege, how about playing one game of chess with Ling’er ?”

Zhao Zhi blandly replied, “You can’t defeat me.”

Sheng Ling smiled lightly, “We have yet to play, how are you so sure that I can’t defeat you ?”

Zhao Zhi’s chess skills were practiced from childhood with his master, the taifu, and nowadays there were very few people in the whole capital who could match him, he then said, “No need to play, I already know.”

(TL’s note : Taifu is the designated master of the crown prince)

Sheng Ling insisted on pestering him to play chess today. She set up the chess table without his assent, then tugged his arm, and made him sit on the chair, “You use the black pieces, I’ll use the white pieces.”

Sheng Ling didn’t really want to play chess with him, she just wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to talk to him more. Her mind was not focused on the game of chess at all, and she was dazed while looking at the side of his face.

Zhao Zhi was the best-looking man she had ever seen. His face was like carved with ice, coupled with his detached and indifferent temperament, she really couldn’t help but to fall for him.