Zhao Shi borrowed Mingzhu's desk, laid it out with paper and inkstones, and held a writing brush in her hand. She was tall and upright, and the warm candlelight illuminated her face, which was as flawless as jade and as delicate as snow-white.
Not long after, Zhao Shi wrote the paperwork to break off the engagement.
The gentle breeze swept across the paper, and the ink gradually dried in a short time.
Zhao Shi stamped his seal on the divorce document, and then ordered his confidants to rush the letter to Xiangyang City.
Mingzhu was already lying on the bed, watching him quietly, wondering what he was writing.
She silently clutched the quilt tightly, turned her back, slowly closed her eyes and rested.
When Mingzhu was unconscious, the quilt on her body seemed to have been lifted off, and her ankle was caught in the palm of his hand again, and he was gently pulled over, and the thin trouser legs were rolled up little by little.
The man's hands were gentle and light, looking a little cautious.
Mingzhu was sleepy and tired and couldn't open her eyes. She was completely defenseless and showed no resistance, quietly nestling in his arms.
Zhao Shi silently looked at the wound on her knee. The bruise still looked shocking. He took the medicine powder and looked attentively with his eyebrows lowered. After applying the medicine for her, he looked carefully at her calf. There was indeed a spot on the back. Obvious cyan color. Thinking about it, the kick she received was not light.
The dark light in Zhao Shi's eyes dimmed, and he arranged her clothes, helped her put on a pair of socks, and then covered her with a quilt.
The girl has delicate eyebrows and a charming posture when sleeping. Her small face looks soft and her skin is as soft and as white as snow.
Zhao Shi rubbed the fingers in his sleeve twice, and couldn't help but stretched out his hand to pinch the soft flesh on her cheek, not too hard.
Mingzhu seemed to be disturbed by him, and she snorted before going back to sleep.
The spring was just right the next day, and the warm sun swept across every corner of the room.
Mingzhu woke up with a burst of warmth. When she was about to get up, she found that her knees still hurt.
Biying quickly stepped forward to stop her, "Girl, you should stay in bed to recuperate these days."
Biying's face was pale, and even with a light make-up, she could tell that she was very haggard.
Mingzhu asked her what happened
Biying lowered her face and replied without changing her expression: "I didn't sleep well last night."
Mingzhu said considerately: "Then you go down and have a rest."
"No need." Biying took the opportunity to change the subject. She said, "His Royal Highness specifically told the slave before he left that he must watch you for these two days and not let you get out of bed."
Mingzhu felt that Zhao Shi was really making a fuss out of a molehill, "I'm really fine."
"Please don't embarrass me."
"I'm really fine. Don't worry, I won't tell him."
Mingzhu also knew that Biying and the others respected and feared Zhao Shi, and did not have the courage to disobey his orders for fear of being punished.
But Zhao Shi is not a god with hands and eyes that can reach the sky. As long as they don't tell them, he has no chance to know.
Mingzhu got out of bed and washed herself. Breakfast was already placed on the table. She drank a bowl of sweet porridge to fill her stomach.
Biying saw that Miss Mingzhu didn't look too good, so she asked, "Girl, did you have another nightmare last night?"
Mingzhu put down the bowls and chopsticks in her hands, stretched, and let out a long yawn. She supported her listless face with her hands and said, "It's not a nightmare."
Turning over and over, it seems that the same scenes are still there. Later, Zhao Shi seems to have become the emperor? She rarely goes back to the other house where she and he lived before.
In the dream, Zhao Shi always seemed to be so sad, quiet and didn't talk much. He was always alone, standing under the moonlight, looking at where he was looking, and his back looked a little pitiful.
He became the Ninth Five Supreme Being, but the cold air on his body became stronger and stronger.
However, what makes Mingzhu happy is that Zhao Shi seems to have set up a tombstone for her and found a geomantic treasure place to bury her. But it seems that Zhao Shi has never worshiped her.
Mingzhu couldn't tell whether this was a fantasy caused by her obsession in her previous life, or whether it was something that really happened later.
She came back to her senses and didn't want to talk about this topic anymore. She said, "Biying, help me get the calendar."
Biying handed her the calendar.
Mingzhu glanced at the days and saw that there were only two days left before the Lantern Festival.
Now she has everything ready, all she needs is the east wind.
She didn't want to be Zhao Shi's shady concubine, nor did she want to be his concubine.
Her mother told her before she died that even if she was married to a man from an ordinary family as a wife, it would be better than being a concubine to a young man from a wealthy family.
Being a concubine is inherently inferior to others. The husband is not her husband, and he still has to live under the eyes of his wife. He is cautious and dare not speak loudly.
Moreover, Zhao Shi only liked her skin, but he didn't really like her. Until she gets old and loses her looks, he will kill her without hesitation just like he did in his previous life.
"Girl, what are you looking at?"
"It's nothing, I'm just thinking about what to wear on the Lantern Festival."
"His Royal Highness will definitely help you prepare in advance."
"Um."
Biying's words are also true. Zhao Shi has many hobbies, especially her hobby of dressing up. She must be dressed up to be particularly beautiful to be satisfied.
But no matter how nice the clothes are, they will often be torn by him in the room before she can wear them out.
Gentle and elegant, but strong in hand.
There was a lot of excitement in the palace at this time. The news that the prince was going to break off the engagement had spread like wildfire and everyone knew about it.
Sheng Ling cried endlessly, never expecting that her cousin would break off the engagement just because of such a cheap concubine! What a disgrace.
The Prince's outburst yesterday has been spread throughout the palace. It is rare for the palace people to see the talkative His Highness the Prince get so angry.
Just one look and my hands and feet feel cold.
It's useless for Sheng Ling to cry and cry. The prince's marriage is entirely up to him, and there is no room for negotiation.
Sheng Ling went to Zhao Shi with red and swollen eyes and burst into tears in front of her, "Can't I punish your concubine?"
Although the marriage has not been decided and she has not yet entered the marriage, why can't she use the rights of the Crown Princess in advance? !
Zhao Shi asked calmly: "Why do you do that?"
He took two steps back and stood further away from her, "I told you earlier that I only married you because it was suitable. I have no feelings for you between men and women. If you can't accept it, I won't." Marry by force."
"Yes, you told me. But... but..." Sheng Ling couldn't find an excuse.
She will be jealous too.
Everyone is greedy, and the title of Crown Princess alone cannot satisfy her greed. She still wants him to love her.
Zhao Shi's patience ran out, "Sheng Ling, if you don't want to stay in the capital, I will send someone to take you back to Xiangyang tomorrow."
Sheng Ling was in a daze and was shocked by these words. She said with a pale face: "I won't go back."
The man said nothing, and the breath around him seemed to be a bit colder than the winter wind and snow.
Zhao Shi knew that Mingzhu had been looking forward to the Lantern Festival for a long time, and she seemed to have always liked this lively day.
He wanted to make it up to her and wanted to make an exception and take her to a river lantern viewing party on the night of the Lantern Festival. But he might not be able to come back in time that night.
So Zhao Shi took Mingzhu out one night early.
Before leaving the house, Zhao Shi put his black cloak over her body.
Mingzhu disliked the heat and was reluctant to wear it, "I don't want it, I'll give it back to you."
The wind outside the house was like snow, and the spring night breeze was carrying a chill.
Zhao Shi held her little hand and led her into the carriage. After a while, the carriage stopped outside the restaurant. Before getting out of the car, Zhao Shi covered her face with a gauze curtain and ordered softly: "Don't take it off."
Mingzhu is used to it.
His Royal Highness is very possessive, and it is not easy to take her out, but he will never want anyone to see her face.
The shopkeeper respectfully welcomed them into the private room that had been arranged in advance. The window faced the most prosperous street scene in the capital.
The prince's personal guards were guarding the outside of the restaurant, and they all had sharp swords on their waists.
There were already people waiting in the room for a long time, including Sheng Wenlin, the crown prince of the Cheng Dynasty, and Song Huaiqing, the new champion in science. Both of them were important ministers from the hairpin family.
Sheng Wenlin caught a glimpse of His Highness the Crown Prince's hands on the woman's waist and narrowed his eyes, "Who is this girl?"
Zhao Shi sat down, saw the wine pot on the table, and said lightly: "Go and pour a pot of tea."
When a distinguished guest with extraordinary status comes to visit, the shopkeeper can't be negligent. He personally serves tea and pours water without daring to make any negligence.
Sheng Wenlin didn't shy away from looking at the pearl. He looked straight at the pearl and glanced up and down. Just by looking at her facial features, she could tell she was a rare beauty. Her skin was fair and her waist was slender. Her figure was one of a kind. This must be the little beauty that His Royal Highness the Prince uses to warm his bed.
It turns out that the serious and serious Crown Prince cannot escape the soft beauty.
However, Sheng Wenlin didn't have a good impression of Mingzhu. His Highness the Crown Prince was so angry that he canceled his cousin's marriage for this bed-warming thing. He put this debt on her head.
"Don't ask questions that shouldn't be asked." Zhao Shi obviously didn't intend to answer him, and showed displeasure.
Sheng Wenlin looked as if he couldn't understand, "Your Highness doesn't say anything, but I know it."
Song Huaiqing deliberately tried to smooth things over by "drinking and drinking."
Sheng Wenlin stopped in time, but the eyes he glanced at Mingzhu were still cold. The children of aristocratic families like them have seen many lowly maids who want to rise to the top through their beauty. This is why His Highness the Crown Prince fell into her trap. If it had been anyone else, he would have beaten these evil-minded people to death long ago.
Mingzhu pretended not to notice the cold scrutiny. Her beautiful eyes couldn't help but look out the window. The various lanterns that filled the long street were connected together and looked extremely beautiful.
Zhao Shi thought she was looking at Song Huaiqing, so he tightened his wrist a little and pinched her waist until it hurt a little.
Mingzhu came back to her senses and heard a gentle voice in her ears, "Don't look around."
She didn't.
Instead, the man sitting opposite her stared at her with evil intentions.
The three men discussed the political affairs of the DPRK in front of her. Mingzhu felt on pins and needles and gently tugged on his finger.
Zhao Shi turned his head and spoke to her in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Mingzhu whispered: "I want to blow some air."
"Go ahead."
Mingzhu couldn't wait to escape from Zhao Shi's arms and opened half of the window. The night wind blew her hair and blew the gauze curtain, revealing half of her delicate and small profile.
Sheng Wenlin looked at her side face, his eyes paused, and he suddenly lost consciousness.
Soon, he came back to his senses, picked up the wine glass at hand and took a few sips.
Zhao Shi didn't stay long. He really didn't like Mingzhu's public appearance, and he didn't like her focusing on others, so he left in advance and went back with others.
On the way, Zhao Shi spent some money to buy a cute rabbit lantern for Mingzhu.
Mingzhu held a lantern and didn't say whether she liked it or not.
That night, there was another strong wind and rain in the bed tent. Mingzhu's face was flushed, her fair little face was like spring tide and rain, and the voice coming out of her throat became softer and softer.
Zhao Shi was still concerned about the injury on her knee, so he didn't strike too harshly.
Before falling asleep, Mingzhu raised her heavy eyelids and asked softly: "Your Highness, when will you come back from Changtai Mountain tomorrow?"
Zhao Shi kissed her face and looked at her moist eyes, feeling a little guilty. He pursed his lips and said, "Maybe I won't be able to come back in time."
Mingzhu held back her joy and said, "Oh, okay."
When he leaves tomorrow, she will take Xinruan and run away to Jiangnan to live a good life of her own.
Zhao Shi took her question as a reluctant invitation to stay, and he thought silently that he would come back as soon as possible to spend the holidays with her.