There was a slight drizzle, and the small pond in the courtyard was covered with mist, like a dream. In the pavilion near the water, a red lotus-like shadow could be vaguely seen.
The slender fingers rested on the strings, and the sporadic untune fell, splashing on the lotus leaves, making a clear sound. The girl frowned slightly, as if dissatisfied with the tone, and reached out to tighten the strings. At this moment, she was suddenly hugged from behind. A scent of rue surrounded her.
Zhao Pei was stunned, thinking that this kind of masculine aura was something her brother didn't have, and certainly not her father.
"Pepé." He called in her ear, his lips almost touching her earlobe.
Zhao Pei knew who he was instantly. She was shocked, angry, and ashamed. She struggled out and glared at him: "Xiao Lun! What are you doing!"
He stood up straight, folded his arms across his chest, and stared at her with a smile, without saying a word. His bright eyes were burning with a different kind of brilliance, which made Zhao Pei feel uncomfortable.
She said angrily, "Sixth Prince, this is the backyard of the General's Mansion. How can you come here without saying anything, and tease me like this..." "Who allowed you to come in?"
Xiao Lun smiled and replied, "You allowed me to come in, Pepe."
"When did I say that? You're kidding." Daddy isn't here today, and neither is my brother. What's the point of the two of them being alone here? Who let the wolf in? "Sixth Prince, if you have something to say, just say so. If you don't have anything to say, please go back to where you came from."
Xiao Lun pretended to be heartbroken, holding his chest and said, "Pepe is so cruel. Is this how you treat your husband? Women change their attitude quickly."
Husband? Was it hallucination? Zhao Pei was startled by his sudden words, and her head felt a little stuffy. Then she burst into laughter: "Your joke is not funny at all, change it."
Xiao Lun thought she was playing dumb, and he pouted and complained, "Some people forget everything after one night." He took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his bosom and slowly shook it open, examining it: "What is this? A mess..."
Zhao Pei saw what it was and her heart suddenly shrank. That was... what she gave to Xiao Tong last night, why was it in his hand? Did Xiao Tong give it to him again when he went back? Oh my god? What should I do
"I love you, don't you know?" Xiao Lun chanted with a smile. When he looked up at her, he was full of energy and teasing: "Pei Pei, if you want to say it, just say it in person. Why bother asking my elder brother to pass it on?"
She seemed to be still dreaming, and kept repeating in her mind, "Impossible, impossible, impossible..." She didn't believe that Xiao Tong would give the handkerchief to Xiao Lun. He must have known it when he heard the song "Xizhou" that day. How could he think that she was just a messenger
So, did he reject her
Suddenly, she felt bitter and wronged, and her eyes were filled with tears. Zhao Pei took a few steps forward to grab it, and shouted, "Give it back to me!"
Xiao Lun raised his hand high, and no matter how she jumped to grab it, she couldn't reach it. "Pei Pei, since you've given it away, how can you take it back? Don't be embarrassed, I understand your intentions. Don't worry, I'll talk to General Xu when he comes back."
Zhao Pei was tearful and choked up, "What did you say to my father? You know nothing. You don't understand anything..." Her heart ached. Xiao Tong, Xiao Tong, how could you do this to me? Why, why...
Xiao Lun smiled in a scoundrelly manner: "Look at you, your face is red."
Zhao Pei turned away from him, tears welling up in her eyes. He had clearly agreed to her proposal, so why did he refuse? Was it really as Ruhua said that he didn't want to embarrass her at the time? Or did he think that she liked Xiao Lun, just like everyone else? She didn't believe he was so foolish.
Not daring to look at him again, she lifted her skirt and ran away, letting her tears drift down with the wind, dripping on the red lotus and turning into a string of crystal dewdrops. She ignored the man behind her, and naturally could not see that his smile slowly faded, and his eyes suddenly became gloomy. The hand holding the handkerchief slowly clenched into a fist, holding the handkerchief tightly, as if it was her heart.
"What's wrong with the young lady?" Qingqing stood under the eaves and glanced into the house. Ruhua came out and said, "She's awake. The fever has subsided."
"How are you feeling?" Qingqing asked worriedly. She had been ill since Xiao Lun left, and this illness was unusual. From birth to now, the young lady had only been ill twice in her memory. The first time, she had a fever all over her body, but she was still kicking shuttlecock in the yard without noticing. But this time... she slept for three days and still had no energy.
"When the eldest young master and the third young lady came, he was in good spirits. Now he is drooping again." Ruhua shrugged helplessly. I really don't know what happened between her and Xiao Lun. But what is certain is that it is not a good thing, at least for the young lady.
Qingqing sighed and walked into the room.
The three-legged incense burner in the room was filled with spices from Qiuci, and the aroma was very rich. She walked slowly through the incense mist, lifted the layers of curtains, and sat down in front of Zhao Pei's bed.
Zhao Peiban leaned on the bed, silently staring at the tassels on the curtains, as if in deep thought or as if nothing had happened. Her thick hair was scattered on her shoulders, hanging on her snow-white inner garment, and the black and white seemed to be entangled in a myriad of threads.
Hearing footsteps, he did not turn his head to look at her, still staring at Liusu without saying a word. Qingqing lifted her tangled hair and used her hands as a comb to carefully comb it for him.
After a long while, Zhao Pei said slowly: "Qingqing, you were the one who let the wolf in, right?"
Qingqing was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses and realized who she was referring to. She felt a little amused but didn't dare to laugh. She just nodded slightly: "It was this servant. This servant knows she was wrong."
"He bit me. My heart was bitten..." She murmured, "No, it's not him, it's him." Such incoherent and strange words must be understood by only her and Ruhua.
"Miss, please relax." Qingqing had no choice but to advise. After thinking for a while, she spoke softly, "Miss, I have a sister who works in the prince's mansion. Why don't I ask her to ask?"
When Zhao Pei heard this, she instantly became angry and jumped up, her eyes shining. She pulled Qingqing's sleeve and stared at her closely, mixed with joy and annoyance: "Okay! Why didn't you say it earlier?" Otherwise, this kind of thing would not have happened.
Qingqing's sister is the mute girl Qinglan. But Zhaopei never expected that she would have so many entanglements with this woman who looks 50% like herself. (To be continued)