CH 97

Zhao Zhi frowned and suddenly said to her, “Zhu Zhu, smile at me.”

Ming Zhu curled up the corners of her mouth, trying to give him the best-looking smile she could.

Zhao Zhi shook his head, “No.”

“Not that kind of smile.”

Ming Zhu was quite at as loss as to what to do, she asked seriously, “What should it be like then?”

Zhao Zhi couldn’t describe it, but anyway it wasn’t a smile like the one she was forcing out now.

He couldn’t help but reach out and poke her cheek, “Anyway, it’s not like this.”

Chapter 97

(34.3)

Ming Zhu just took it as him throwing a fit under the influence of alcohol.

She originally thought that tonight, for the most part, she wouldn’t get any quietness, but Zhao Zhi became very quiet.

Ming Zhu intended to help him wash his face and then trick him into going to bed.

Who knew that the man would suddenly hold her wrist, “I’m not drunk.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, his expression looked like he was clear-headed, he untied the jade pendant hanging from his waist and properly placed it next to the pillow.

Ming Zhu ordered the servants to bring hot water over, “Are you going to sleep?”

“Yes.”

“There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

Zhao Zhi’s eyebrows slowly unfolded, “Go ahead.”

“The princess has invited me, next month….”

Before she could finish her sentence, Zhao Zhi interrupted her, “I know, I will bring you into the palace.”

He seemed to be very concerned as he held her hand tightly, “When the time comes, don’t run around and follow me closely.”

Ming Zhu had other questions to ask, it was her first time going to such an event and she didn’t want to disappoint the princess’s good heart, and didn’t want to lose face even more. She asked, “What should I give as a gift ah?”

“There’s no need to prepare anything, she doesn’t lack anything either.”

“That’s not good.”

People would then secretly say that she has no upbringing.

Zhao Zhi said perfunctorily, “Just buy a strange and novel little toy, she likes all kind of little gadgets.”

“Mmh, okay.”

Talking about Zhao Xin, Zhao Zhi was slightly dissatisfied, “She, as a person, doesn’t have a proper behavior, you stay away from her.”

“The princess is very cute.”

Zhao Zhi couldn’t help but laugh, “Where is she cute ? She only knows how to look for trouble.”

He didn’t know how many messes he had cleaned up for Zhao Xin. He was already an expert at it.

Zhao Zhi then suddenly grabbed her arm and said in a clear and cold voice, “You’re not allowed to smile at her in the future.”

Ming Zhu took this as him being childish while being drunk, “Hurry and sleep, when you wake up, it’ll be better.”

Zhao Zhi just looked at her and repeated those two words obstinately, “Not allowed.”

Ming Zhu’s arm hurt a little from the strong squeeze of his palm, she tried to break away from his fingers, but without success.

“Let go of my arm first.”

“No.”

“Okay, I won’t smile at her.”

Zhao Zhi was hardly satisfied, “Mmh.” Stubbornly, he added, “Don’t smile at others like that either.”

That sincere and innocent, brilliant and splendid smile should belong to him alone.

“Okay.” She replied without any sincerity.

Zhao Zhi lowered his eyes and fiddled with the buddhist beads on his wrist, it was unknown what he was thinking about.

After a while, he asked, “The peace talisman I brought for you before, remember to keep it well.”

Ming Zhu hadn’t seen any peace talisman.

The peace talisman that had been placed under the pillow, back then, she did not find it.

Zhao Zhi raised his eyes and asked blandly, “Did you throw it away?”

Ming Zhu said, “No.”

Zhao Zhi said it was good, then hugged her waist and remained silent, without saying a word.

He began to seriously ponder, could it be that he couldn’t be without her ? He always thought that these pulsations of love at first sight would slowly fade away with time, no matter how strong and colorful feelings were, the work of time would all make them turn pale.

But her dazzling, flower-like, smile he saw in the afternoon seemed like a soft breeze in spring, stirring ripples.

Actually, Zhao Zhi wasn’t very willing to acknowledge that his emotions were influenced by her, it would be like him taking the initiative to put a knife in her hands, and let her decide whether to let him live or to have him die.

He didn’t like this feeling of being out of control.

Even Sheng Wenlin could see that he had indeed crossed the limits with her.

She ran away again and again.

He chased after her again and again.

Every time, he would turn soft-hearted only because of a few tears falling down from her eyes. If he could harden his heart enough, he should have sent her away the moment he knew she still had Wei Chiyu in her heart.

But he did not.

He could not let go.

As a crown prince, the controlling Zhao Zhi loathed this feeling of loss of control.

A year ago, Zhao Zhi himself thought that the fondness he had for her was superficial and that it would not last long.

She was frail and didn’t have any talent. She wasn’t the kind of person he could hold inside his heart.

Now, Zhao Zhi was wavering, but he still thought so.

He was doing a tug of war with himself, painfully and stubbornly, he thought that he didn’t necessarily need her.

After this self-introspection, Zhao Zhi raised his eyes, cupped her cheek and kissed her between her eyebrows. He covered her hand and placed it on his waist, his voice was low and hoarse, intoxicated with peach flavored wine, “I’m a little tired, help me undo my clothes.”

(35.1)

Ming Zhu suddenly felt that Zhao Zhi’s slightly drunken state was also quite good, at least he was quiet and not fussy. She asked him to spread his arms and he obediently spread his arms.

Ming Zhu lowered her head and undressed him. She put his clothes aside neatly and looked at the silk purse she had untied from his waist, in a daze for two seconds, before putting it aside.

Zhao Zhi stood quietly in front of her, the candlelight in the room was shining on his side profile, the shadow of his figure displayed some kind of loneliness. His eyes were also very good-looking, they looked indifferent yet full of emotions at the same time. His black eyes were staring straight at her face, as if he was thinking about something, as if stranded by some dilemma.

Ming Zhu whispered to him, “Your Highness, it’s better if you don’t drink in the future.”