At the end of summer, the remaining lotus leaves have not yet been harvested.
Zhao Pei smiled faintly as she leaned against the stone railing, playing with a white chess piece in her hand. She didn't comb her hair, which was as black as smoke and clouds and scattered casually on her white clothes, making her look more relaxed. Her thoughtful eyes were fixed on the half-played chess game, and her beautiful eyebrows were slightly frowned as if she was hesitating.
The man in blue sitting opposite with bright eyes and bright eyebrows was He Hui.
He looked confident: "You have been thinking about this for half an incense stick of time."
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll think about it carefully." Zhao Pei didn't even look at him, but stretched out her hand and gestured on the chessboard.
He chuckled and said, "I want to take a nap." Just as he finished speaking, Zhao Pei glared at him, made a move, and then said complacently, "Brother He, you have to think about it carefully. This move of mine is earth-shaking."
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and cursed the situation of today's battle. From early morning to noon, she lost all three games of chess. She couldn't lose this game again. Otherwise, she didn't know how Hanzhen would laugh at her.
Before she could calm down, she saw him smile knowingly and make a decisive move. Zhao Pei was stunned. How could her carefully planned move be broken so quickly? She leaned forward to take a look.
Her mouth suddenly opened wide, and she pointed her slender jade finger at the chess piece and said, "I, I put the piece in the wrong place! Not here." After saying that, she was about to cheat and change the piece, but He Hui grabbed her wrist firmly halfway.
Zhao Pei looked up and saw him raise his eyebrows and said, "I am willing to accept the loss, but I will not regret it."
Zhao Pei was still unconvinced and broke free from his hand, trying to touch the chessboard: "Really, I didn't check the almanac today, so my luck is so bad." But her hand was still firmly held in He Hui's palm, unable to move at all.
She sighed in frustration, "Okay, okay, I won't mess around anymore. Let's continue. I don't believe it anymore." After that, He Hui didn't loosen his grip. The warmth from his palms made Zhao Pei's heart tremble. She couldn't help but look up at him. She met those surging starry eyes, rolling waves, surging layer by layer.
Zhao Pei's body trembled slightly, and she did not dare to look deeply into the feelings, and forgot to withdraw her hand for a moment. At this moment, she suddenly heard a woman's laughter from a distance: "I have been looking for my sister for a long time, and it turns out that she is here."
Hearing someone coming, Zhao Pei panicked and glared at He Hui fiercely, and he silently withdrew his hand and lowered his eyes. Xia Qingyao had already approached, and when she saw the two of them, she smiled softly and said, "Sister is in a good mood."
Zhao Pei stood up and said with a faint smile: "Sister is looking for me?"
Today, Xia Qingyao was wearing a dark green long dress, and her figure was slender and graceful. She wore a light gauze around her waist, which made her look thin. Her makeup was exquisite, and her accessories were carefully selected, luxurious and dazzling. She looked like a peony, noble and impressive. Everywhere she looked showed Xiao Yi's love for her.
She seemed oblivious to Xia Qingyao's deliberate display of jewels and precious stones. She turned around and looked at the chess game calmly, not seeming to care about Xia Qingyao at all.
Xia Qingyao raised her eyebrows and smiled, "The prince has specially allowed me to go out of the house for fun. He's afraid that you'd be bored staying here, so he wanted to invite you to go along." Seeing that Zhao Pei looked indifferent and not moved at all, she said, "Haha, it seems there's no need for that. Did I disturb your fun?" Her eyes turned to He Hui, meaningfully.
He Hui frowned and stepped aside without saying a word.
Zhao Pei ignored the hidden meaning in her words and said, "Sister, if you want to leave the house, go early. Go early and come back early, otherwise it will be bad if it gets late."
Xia Qingyao shook her head and smiled, tucking her hair around her ears to reveal the jade bracelet on her wrist: "If my sister doesn't go, it will be boring for me to be alone. Why don't I stay here with my sister?"
"You can ask Sister Ming to go with you. It's boring for her to stay in the palace all day." Zhao Pei said to her patiently. He had wanted to chase her away in his heart.
Xiao Yi doted on her and indulged her. Whatever she wanted, Xiao Yi would definitely help her get it, regardless of financial, material, or human resources.
It seems that even Zhao Pei had never enjoyed such pampering. Zhao Pei told herself that Xiao Yi could no longer tolerate her and he no longer had the patience. So, she lost the pampering she once had when Xia Qingyao entered the mansion.
Zhao Pei didn't want to have too much interaction with Xia Qingyao. She didn't like her, no matter from which angle or aspect. But this woman always appeared in front of her as if showing off her power.
Seeing that Zhao Pei was getting a little impatient, Xia Qingyao smiled sweetly: "Since sister is still obsessed with the chess game, I won't disturb you." She smiled and slowly moved away with her lotus steps. She seemed to have thought of something and turned to look at Zhao Pei. "Sister, I have some ornaments that the prince has just awarded to me. If you like any of them, I can give you some." Her words were full of provocation.
Zhao Pei still smiled faintly: "No need, sister, keep it for yourself. I don't need it."
Xia Qingyao's gaze turned to her and she smiled, covering her lips: "Yes, sister seems to rarely dress up in the mansion, no wonder the prince..." She suddenly stopped halfway through her words, smiled apologetically and turned to leave.
Zhao Pei was furious. How dare a concubine provoke the princess like this? It was really outrageous! Before she could get angry, He Hui, who had been standing behind her, rushed forward and grabbed Xia Qingyao and asked angrily, "What's the tone of your voice? Who do you think you are?"
His brows were twisted into the shape of a "川" character and he stared at Xia Qingyao angrily.
Zhao Pei was stunned, and so was Xia Qingyao. But before Zhao Pei could step forward to speak, Xia Qingyao raised her hand and slapped He Hui in the face. A red mark soon appeared on that handsome cheek, and He Hui did not react for a while. Xia Qingyao said angrily: "What's your tone? Who do you think you are? Why do you talk to me like that? You just dare to question me like this because of the princess's favor! Who do you think you are?" (To be continued)