CH 74

Chapter 74

(25.3)

He felt that Ming Zhu was much livelier this way.

Before, when she was in front of him, either her eyes were containing fear or she would avoid his eyes, and she also used to hide herself quite seriously. When he went to her room to spend the night, she would hide herself inside the cupboard early on, refusing to come out.

Zhao Zhi was really hard on her, and dragged the person out of the cupboard, not feeling pity for her all night long. After that time, she never dared to hide again.

He still remembered the first time he saw Ming Zhu. She was standing under the dazzling sunshine, radiant with delight as she talked with the maidservant beside her, smiling brightly, looking lively and luminous.

Zhao Zhi was very fond of that smile she had back then, and that unrestrained and vivid face.

He returned the sheet of paper to her, “Keep it for yourself.”

Ming Zhu grabbed it and rolled it into a ball, only then did she feel relieved. Suddenly, she recalled that she still had something to say to him.

Ming Zhu shyly turned around half her body, “Sister Ming Ru invited me to go to a spring outing in two days.”

Hearing her words, Zhao Zhi’s expression froze for a second before a faint coldness appeared on his neat and elegant face, “Didn’t I say, before you embroider a pouch, don’t even think about going outside ?”

Ming Zhu lowered her face, “I’ll embroider it for you, you let me go out.”

She would embroider a tortoise with a green hat for him, she would like to see if he would dare to wear it outside. Or she would have Biying go outside and buy a ready-made one. He wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway.

(TL’s note : a green hat means being cuckolded)

In short, she would do it perfunctorily.

Zhao Zhi’s tone was slightly grave, “You and your sister, didn’t you not get along?”

Ming Zhu wore a fake smile as she said, “Yes, a little, but it’s normal to have some little conflicts between children.”

She did not dare to say bad things about his future side consort in front of Zhao Zhi, he was obviously very satisfied with Ming Ru, between a side consort and a concubine, the side consort was definitely more valuable.

Zhao Zhi’s face didn’t relax much, the corners of his mouth went down slightly, as he asked without any emotion, “Is that so?”

“Yes.” Ming Zhu lifted her face and blinked, “Aren’t you going to marry my sister soon?”

One could see through her eyes with one glance, they looked clean with no other thoughts at all. Her eyes revealed all that she she was thinking inside her mind.

Zhao Zhi remained silent for a while, without saying a word, “Mmh.”

Actually, it wasn’t impossible to cancel this marriage. He just had to find an excuse, it was a bit troublesome.

But if she requested it, Zhao Zhi would consider it.

Ming Zhu, with her eyes wide-open, boasted in a rambling manner, “My legitimate sister has a good character, she is generous and dignified, she will definitely be able to share worries with you in the future.”

Zhao Zhi’s cold face tensed, the veins on his neck becoming more and more obvious. He clasped her wrist, “Are you not afraid that she will bully you?”

Ming Zhu froze for less than a second, “No, I won’t. The person chosen by His Highness is naturally good.”

Zhao Zhi’s face sank, his tone was a bit indifferent, “I know you don’t like your sister, you don’t need to say these words that aren’t true to your heart in front of me.”

Ming Zhu remained quiet for a moment. After a while, she said, “It’s true that I don’t like my legitimate sister, but the words I just said also weren’t all untrue to my heart.”

Her penetrating watery pair of eyes looked at him wordlessly, so well-behaved it made him break out in a nameless anger.

When she wasn’t supposed to be well-behaved, she was on the contrary very well-behaved.

Ming Zhu was not naive, it wasn’t like if she said that she didn’t like her legitimate sister, Zhao Zhi would really not marry Ming Ru anymore.

Besides, no matter who Zhao Zhi decided to marry in the future, she didn’t care.

(26.1)

Ming Zhu felt as if Zhao Zhi had suddenly turned chilly.

He lowered his eyes to look at her for a long time, in contemplation. The curves of his mouth made him appear a little indifferent, but in the end, it was him that was too sentimental, she didn’t even feel a bit sad nor jealous. This way was also good, that would save him trouble.

Zhao Zhi closed his eyes again, his expression appeared somewhat weary. He should long have known that she didn’t hold him in her heart, that she was only forced to stay by his side because of the circumstances.

That was probably better that way.

He just wanted the person, he didn’t need her heart.

Zhao Zhi didn’t speak with her again, he stood in front of the desk, writing for a while, and his emotions gradually calmed down. Raising his head, he saw Ming Zhu, sitting by the window, with her head down as she was embroidering flowers. Her profile was slender, quiet and soft.

Zhao Zhi stared at her for a long time, she was obviously just before his eyes, but he felt like he was very far away from her. It was as if …… she would leave one day.

He suppressed his emotions and asked, “What are you embroidering?”

Ming Zhu let go of the needle and thread and looked up, “A scented sachet, for the beginning of spring.”

Hearing her response, Zhao Zhi couldn’t say whether or not he was disappointed, but behind his back his fists were clenched, as his face remained expressionless, “Be careful of your eyes, I still have matters to attend to, I’ll leave first.”

The light penetrating through the paper windows elongated the man’s shadow, reflecting softly on his handsome face, which appeared detached.

Ming Zhu also didn’t try to make him stay, “Your Highness, be careful as you walk.”

Zhao Zhi didn’t even look at her and just walked straight away.