T/N: Thank you patrons for sponsored this extra chapter!
t.i.tle: ChongFei Manual
Author: 风荷游月
Chapter: 047.2-048.1 out of 171
Wei Luo took the two water lanterns from Jin Lu, unfold them, gave one to Zhao Jie, and kept one in her own hands. She explained to him, “Use the match to light the lampwick inside, place the lantern on the lake, and make a wish. If the water lantern floats very far away, the wish will come true.”
She didn’t believe in this. This was just a lie to deceived ignorant little girls. She was long past that age. When she had gone outside with Chang Hong yesterday, Wei Zheng had suggested going to release water lanterns, but she didn’t go then. In the end, Wei Zheng had returned with disappointment and her eyes as cold as ice fragments.
Wei Luo hadn’t expected that she would have refused Wei Zheng yesterday and suggest releasing water lanterns herself today. Life really was fickle.
Zhao Jie held the water lantern, took the match from her hand, lighted that lampwick. Surrounded by the cold wind, the lampwick"s faint light was flickering.
After Wei Luo released her own water lantern, she turned her around and saw that he was stilling standing there, so she asked, “Older brother Prince Jing, why aren’t you coming over here?”
He walked forward, crouched down at the edge of the lake, and copied her actions in putting the water lantern into the water. As he was about let go, Wei Luo suddenly stopped him and hurriedly said, “That’s not how you do that. If you place it into the water like that, the lantern will sink into the water in a few moments.”
His lips slightly curved up. His mellow and sweet-sound voice unhurriedly asked, “How should I place it then?”
So, Wei Luo tried teaching him how to place it. Unfortunately, he seemed completely unable to learn. A glance showed that the candle in the lantern was about to be extinguished. She could only step closer and personally hold his hand to teach him. When their two hands were folded together, she gently pushed. The water lantern slowly floated away. “Just like this, gently push it…”
Instead of looking at the lantern, Zhao Jie was looking at their hands. Her hand was small and pale. When it was placed together with his, there was a clear difference. The palm of that small, soft hand carried warmth. The warmth traveled from the back of his hand to his insides and continued spreading until it arrived at his heart. His hand moved slightly and seemed as if it couldn’t resist turning over to hold her hand.
Fortunately, she moved away first and withdrew her hand into her sleeve as if she was completely unaware of what she had just done. She surveyed the surface of the lake. Her line of sight followed the two floating water lanterns. After a while, she turned around to smile and ask him, “Older brother Prince Jing, what did you wish for?”
Zhao Jie held back his smile. The back of his hand still had her residual warmth and made a person want to linger and reflect. He said, “Peace, security, and stability for the entire country.”
Actually, he wasn’t thinking anything when the water lantern was released. Her lovable, pretty small face had been in front of him. Any thought would have been superfluous at that moment. But, those eight words weren’t false. They were his ultimate ambition. If you really wanted to look into those words, a condition should be added - and under his control.
Wei Luo didn’t continue the conversation. If he really wanted to fight for the position of the emperor, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. But, she didn’t know why. In her previous life, Zhao Jie willingly acted as a regent. At that time, he had complete control of the imperial court. Zhao Zhang was only a figurehead that was completely controlled in the palm of Zhao Jie’s hand. He could have easily replaced Zhao Zhang as the emperor. Why didn’t he do it? Or, perhaps he did do it, but she didn’t live to that day?
It wasn’t impossible. Who told her to die so early?
——–
They left the palace. Wei Luo stood in front of the carriage and was preparing to say good-bye to Zhao Jie and return to Duke Ying’s residence.
Zhu Geng walked forward with a jubube red, tall and st.u.r.dy horse. Zhao Jie leapt up onto the horse and held the reins. With a smile on his face, he said to her, “Let’s go, this prince will bring you back.”
She reflexively refused, “I can return by myself. Big brother, you have your own matters. You don’t need to take care of me.”
He lowered his head to glance at her for a moment. His gaze landed on the green carriage behind her, “This is the prince’s carriage. Liuli said she invited you to the palace today, so I had people pick you up.”
Wei Luo finally suddenly realized. No wonder she was confused for a moment when she went out today. Zhao Liuli had never been this thoughtful in her actions before. Since this carriage was his, it wouldn’t be polite to keep refusing. She could only say thank you again and lowered her head to enter the carriage.
When she thought about it again, she felt there was still something wrong. Why would he know that she was going to the palace today and especially send people to pick her up?
When she had left Qingxi Palace, he was just standing there at the entrance. A single glance showed that he was waiting for something. Was he waiting for her? Did he wait for her just to give her this squirrel waist accessory? Wei Luo lowered her head and fiddled with that little turquoise squirrel. The more that she looked at, the more it seemed familiar. Had she seen it before?
This translation belongs to FuyuNeko. Please read from the original source, mew.
The carriage slowly traveled through the streets of the capital. The curtain would occasionally be blown up by the wind and it would be possible to see the nearby person.
Zhao Jie was riding the horse next to the carriage and looking forward. His eyes were as deep as the night and his eyebrows looked handsome. His body was tall and straight. He wasn’t thin and weak like those Confucian scholars. Instead, his shoulders were wide and the muscles on his back were strong and had gone through polis.h.i.+ng. As she was looking, it seemed that he had notice her spectating sight. He turned around to look at the carriage. His eyes held a faint smiling expression. It seemed as if he knew that she was looking at him, but was very happy that she was peeking at him.
Wei Luo’s face froze. She felt somewhat uneasy. Luckily, the curtain fell down and blocked his line of sight. She sighed in relief.
The carriage soon stopped at the entrance to Duke Ying’s residence. She stepped on the pedal to exit the carriage. Zhao Jie dismounted and walked to her side, “Go home, okay?”
She nodded, took off the overcoat to give back to him, smiled, and showed her two dimples as a result, “Thank you older brother Prince Jing.”
He curved his lips. He had resisted the entire way here, but he couldn’t resist in the end. He raised his hand to stroke the red birthmark between her eyebrows. While he gently stroked it, he asked, “Why didn"t you keep your bangs?”
Last year, the hair that covered her forehead was tied back. Fourth aunt said she had grown up and having bangs would make her seem too childish. After her bangs were gone, the red birthmark between her eyebrows was revealed on her bright and clean forehead. The red birthmark was like a vital finis.h.i.+ng touch. Although Zhao Jie thought it looked good, he felt somewhat listless when he thought about other men being able to see it now and not just him.
Wei Luo blinked, “Does it look bad?"
He laughed and said, "Looks good."
That’s fine then. As long as it looked good, it was fine. Wei Luo saw that he wasn’t leaving and thought that he had other matters. However, after she waited for a while, he still didn’t say anything. So, she stepped closer to the entrance and said, “Older brother Prince Jing, if there’s nothing else, I’m going home…”
He called out her name to stop her, “Ah Luo.”
Wei Luo stopped. She didn’t understand his meaning.
“Did you meet Li Song when you went outside yesterday?”
Wei Luo opened her small mouth in surprise. She didn’t understand why he would know this.
Who would have expected that his next words would leave her even more astonished?
He looked at her with a focused gaze. There was clearly a smile in his eyes, but he gave off a feeling that he was actually very unhappy, “He hugged you.”
The author has something to say:
Ah Luo thought that the squirrel seems familiar. It’s because the squirrel is you… =。=
End of chapter 47.
Wei Luo"s eyes widened. How did he know?
When did they hug? Why did he say it so seriously? Although she didn’t know why he was saying this, she still had to explain, “He didn’t hug me… I accidently b.u.mped into him and we were crowded together by the people around us.”
At that time, she couldn’t control her own movement because of the bustling crowd. If she could, she wouldn’t have wanted to b.u.mp into Li Song. But, not only did she b.u.mp into him, he also firmly pressed her against the wall. But, why would Zhao Jie know this? Didn’t he go home last night without going out into the streets?
Zhao Jie saw through her doubtfulness. Without changing his expression, he explained, “Yang Hao returned to the capital earlier. On the way back, he saw the two you by chance.” His eyebrows were furrowed when he said, “Are you two still in contact with each other?”
Wei Luo shook her head no. Who would want to talk to that person? It would be best if she never saw him again. “We just met on the street by coincidence and exchanged a few words.”
She recalled something and after hesitating for a moment, she still chose to be honest, “He was with the fifth prince. The fifth prince also invited Chang Hong and older brother Song Hui to partic.i.p.ate in the Spring Hunt Ceremony.”
Zhao Jie seemed lost in his thoughts. He smiled and asked, “What else did old five say?”
Wei Luo shook her head, “He didn"t say anything else."
He stroked her head, “You should go too. This prince will hunt a fox for you at that time.”
“Older brother Prince Jing, you’re going too?”
He nodded.
The Spring Hunting Ceremony was an opportunity for the n.o.bility to show to their abilities. Although Emperor Chong Zhen wouldn’t be present, the results would be reported to him so that he would know. Every year, the emperor would bestow a reward for the top three hunters, so this was a good opportunity to stand out and be noticed by the emperor.
The youths were hot-blooded. They couldn’t wait to show off their youthful vigor. While they were hunting, they liked to invite young woman from n.o.ble families to watch their hunting. After all, the presence of women was necessary to energize hunting’s excitement. It would be too regretful for a bunch of young men to fight and sweat profusely without young women to admire and appreciate them.
This wasn’t a rare event. There was a villa on Zhang Xun Mountain with scenic views. The imperial family devoted this villa for young men and women to stay during the hunt for two days and one night, so there wasn’t a worry about a place to stay.
Wei Luo didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she said, “I’ll go if Chang Hong goes.”
She didn’t enjoy going to this type of lively event. Compared to watching a group of men competing with each other for hunting the most animals, she would enjoy fiddling with scented lotions in her own room more. Also, she didn’t like foxes… She feared all long-fur animals. When she was a child, she had been scared to death of the three kittens being raised by Zhao Jie. Foxes were even worse. She understood that Chang Hong wouldn’t be going, so these words also had the meaning of refusal.
If they stood outside for too long, it would inevitably attract the attention of people pa.s.sing by.
She said her good-bye to him, “Older brother Prince Jing, if there’s nothing else, I’m going inside.”
He didn’t stop her this time. He stood at the entrance and watched her entering the residence until her figure disappeared, then he turned around and mounted the horse.
——–
Wei Luo plucked half a basket of roses from the greenhouse, brought them over to Han-s.h.i.+‘s Orchid Courtyard, and asked Han-s.h.i.+ to help her by creating a new scented lotion.
Han-s.h.i.+ agreed and said to come back after three days.
Wei Luo still didn’t leave after she finished talking about this matter. She sat down on the beautiful wooden couch and embarra.s.sedly mumbled, “Aunty Han, do you have any method for dealing with a sore chest?”
Because she had already experience this in her previous life, she couldn’t tolerate having to the go through this again. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s felt sore and swollen, especially when she was walking. It would be great if there were a way to make them not hurt, or make them finish growing faster… So that she wouldn’t be in pain every day. Han-s.h.i.+ knew so much. She probably knew a way to fix this problem, right? She didn’t have a mother and wouldn’t be comfortable asking fourth aunt this type of thing. She could only come here to ask Han-s.h.i.+.
Han-s.h.i.+ listened to her problem and as expected, she did have a method. Han-s.h.i.+ turned around, took a small cloisonné enamel bottle from her cabinet, put the bottle into Wei Luo’s hands, and said, “Pour a little bit of this medicine into your palm, after its warmed up, rub it on the area that hurts every night. This medicine can only speed up the growth a little bit. It can’t actually remove the pain, but the result is the same. They won’t hurt anymore after they’re done growing. Consistently try using this medicine for a few months.”
Wei Luo blushed from her blunt words. She accepted the bottle and made a sound of acknowledgement. She held the bottle in her hand as if it were a hot potato, quickly said her good-bye, and didn’t continue staying in Orchid Courtyard any longer.