Mingzhu's back was slender, and she hid her face, so that the expression on her face could not be seen.
Zhao Shi rubbed his painful eyebrows, opened his thin lips lightly, and said softly, "Your sister and I will break off the engagement."
Mingzhu was somewhat surprised. She remembered that the preparations for the wedding were almost complete at that time, and there was a lot of red silk.
The candle on the candlestick next to the bed was about to burn out, so Zhao Shi picked up the lampshade and covered it. The candle, which was not very bright, was immediately extinguished, and the room suddenly fell into darkness.
Zhao Shi gently pulled his belt, unbuttoned his shirt and put it aside. The collar was slightly open, his thin collarbones were obvious, and his long dark hair fell down his back. He also got on the bed, with his slender fingers. He put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her out of the quilt little by little. He said, "We will get married after we return to Beijing."
The voice is neither high nor low, and the tone is neither urgent nor slow.
All are just right.
It's gentle and can be heard clearly.
Mingzhu's face was a little red from being under the quilt just now, and her mind was a little dazed. She thought what Zhao Shi said was like a joke.
Is he drinking tonight too? It's ridiculous to say this.
Her hands gripped the quilt hard, refusing to raise her head to look at the man in front of her.
Zhao Shi held her in his arms with neither light nor heavy force. Mingzhu buried her face and smelled the faint fragrance of pear blossoms on the man.
Zhao Shi's arms were warm, and his palms were not as warm as usual. A pair of warm arms were gently placed on her waist, "When the weather gets warmer in the summer, we can choose a suitable day..."
Mingzhu couldn't listen, "I am your concubine."
Zhao Shi pursed his lips expressionlessly. After a long time, he casually asked a few words, "So what?"
Mingzhu was so tied up by his arms that she couldn't breathe. She said, "A concubine cannot be promoted to a wife."
Isn't Zhao Shi the most disciplined person? You don't even know this bit of common sense.
On the Jade Butterfly, it cannot be changed easily.
The famous lady he likes has nothing to do with her. Not enough status, not enough talent, only a little bit of beauty left, but beauty will eventually be rejected.
Zhao Shi tightened his thumb, and the phalanges gradually turned white. He said, "Yeah. It's okay."
Mingzhu smiled and said, "How can you not get in the way? If you do this, someone will always point fingers behind your back and say you are stupid."
Make a concubine fascinated.
Mingzhu doesn't want to marry him, and she has no interest in being a princess. Do she want to be controlled by him for the rest of her life? But he can't do anything he doesn't like.
She kindly reminded him: "Don't forget, you wrote my name on the jade butterfly yourself."
Zhao Shi remembered that he was so angry at that time that he thought about recording her name in the Royal Jade Butterfly, so that no matter where she fled in the future, she would not be able to escape.
"I wrote it." Zhao Shi's eyebrows gradually relaxed, and after a moment of silence, he then said, "Isn't it just a name? Besides, they all thought you were dead."
What can I do if I just give it a random name
Mingzhu's head was buzzing after hearing this. Was he determined to marry her
Mingzhu shrank silently, she didn't bother to ask anything.
Zhao Shi hugged her and refused to let go.
Mingzhu was not feeling well and had a bad temper these days. She said, "Don't hold me. I want to take a bath."
She felt as if she smelled of blood, and her clothes were stained with sticky sweat, which made her uncomfortable.
Zhao Shi asked someone to bring hot water into the house. The wooden barrel behind the screen was steaming with mist, and the maid also spread a layer of fresh flower petals on the water.
Zhao Shi insisted on carrying her from the bed to the wooden barrel, pointing at the buckle on her skirt.
Mingzhu didn't want to die of shame and anger, she hugged her clothes tightly and said angrily: "I will do it myself."
Zhao Shi glanced lightly, frowning slightly, a little worried, but under her cold eyes, he silently retracted his finger, stepped back and stood outside the screen, "Call me if you need anything." "
Mingzhu will just tell him to get lost now.
She took off her clothes one by one, climbed into the tub, and slowly got into the warm water. She soaked until the water was almost cold before reluctantly getting out.
The clean clothes that the maid had just brought in were hung on the screen. Mingzhu dried her body and put on new clothes. There were a few drops of water on her face, and she seemed to be carrying a creeping mist when she walked out.
There were little drops of water falling from the tips of her black hair, making her whole body look wet.
Her body suddenly rose into the air, and Zhao Shi carried her horizontally onto the bed.
The man was afraid that she would catch the cold, so he wrapped her in a blanket, held her chin with his fingers, and held a clean handkerchief with his other hand, and patiently helped her wipe her face.
Mingzhu clamored to get out of bed, but she didn't even wear socks. A pair of snow-white feet were exposed. The toes and heels were a little red, as if they had been frozen.
Zhao Shi pushed the little foot that he just stretched out back and said, "After washing, I will go to bed."
"I need to wipe my hair."
"I come."
Zhao Shi stood up and found a clean towel, sat back down next to her, and wiped her hair with a focused expression and gentle movements.
Mingzhu felt uncomfortable all over. The better Zhao Shi treated her, the deeper her disgust towards him became.
A large part of the reason for this disgust is that he is always so aggressive.
Strong and relentless.
Do whatever you want.
It didn't take long for Zhao Shi to help her dry her hair and stroke her long black and delicate hair with his fingers, feeling he couldn't put it down.
He hooked a strand with his thumb and tied it loosely to his fingertips. He lowered his head and looked a little lost.
Mingzhu couldn't wait to roll up the quilt and rolled to the end of the bed, as if even her back was resisting his touch.
Mingzhu closed her eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Mingzhu had a sweet dream after a long time. In her dream, she returned to the year when she had just grown hair.
She was still an unpopular little concubine in the family, and her life was neither good nor bad. She didn't have much money, but she could save enough to spend.
Every day she would finish her duties as her sister-in-law ordered her to do early in the morning, and then sneak out through the back door while the boy at the door was lazy.
She couldn't wait to run outside the academy where Wei Chiyu went to school, and stood under the tree with a red face, waiting for him to finish school.
Wei Chiyu saw her hiding behind a tree trunk, so he pulled her out in a funny way, unfolded the paper fan to block the sun, and said at the same time: "Didn't I tell you not to come over and wait?"
Mingzhu's voice was almost inaudible, "I have nothing to do."
Wei Chi smiled, his face turned red, and he took her hand and took her to a small restaurant outside the academy.
Mingzhu was on pins and needles, "Let's go quickly."
This place is very expensive.
Wei Chi ordered a few signature dishes, paid a little money and asked the waiter to run errands to another street to buy two pastries.
Mingzhu felt sorry for his money while eating.
Wei Chiyu asked: "Are you full?"
Mingzhu nodded: "I'm full."
Wei Chiyu went to pay the money, then grabbed her hand and went home with her.
There were not many people on the small road in the back alley.
Wei Chiyu was reluctant to let go, "Just wait for me for another two months."
Mingzhu lowered her red face and nodded, her dark eyes rolled, she raised her eyes cautiously and said to him, "You should do better in the exam."
Only then would his father agree to their marriage.
Wei Chiyu thought for a moment, then looked into her eyes and asked, "How good is good?"
Mingzhu thought about it: her concubine's husbands were all scholars, no matter how bad they were. She said, "It's already good if they are on the list."
Wei Chi curled his lips, his clear and gentle eyebrows became vivid, and he said, "I'll try my best."
This dream is really sweet.
Mingzhu was reluctant to wake up.
Two months later, Wei Chiyu was indeed named on the gold medal list. The person who reported the news rushed to his home and hurriedly reported the good news.
Not only did his name appear on the yellow list, he was also ranked at the top.
Mingzhu only knew that he did well in the exam, but she didn't know his specific ranking.
She and he successfully entered into an engagement.
In the dream, she was also wearing a wedding dress. The girls in the embroidery workshop rushed to make the wedding dress overnight. It was exquisitely made, with tapestry and gold thread craftsmanship. The large sleeves were embroidered with begonia flowers, and the waist was modified. It was very expensive. gas.
On the wedding day, she couldn't find the groom.
She ran around, looking for someone very anxiously.
The tassels on the girl's bun swayed and jingled, and the amber jade beads hit the ground one by one and rolled several times.
She still couldn't find anyone, and she was so anxious that she almost burst into tears.
Zhao Shi couldn't sleep, so he lit a lamp in front of his desk and read with the weak light.
Late at night, he heard Mingzhu's voice. Her voice was so soft that he couldn't make out what she was saying unless he listened carefully.
Zhao Shi thought she was thirsty in the middle of the night, so he poured a glass of warm water and walked to the bed.
The woman was sweating profusely and kept mumbling.
Zhao Shi bent down and listened with his ear, and then he heard clearly what she said.
She called Wei Chiyu's name.
Zhao Shi squeezed the porcelain cup tightly, his face was gloomy, the veins on his neck popped out, his wrists were white, and the blood lines under his skin were faintly visible.
He listened to her calling Wei Chiyu again and again without saying a word.
The next day, Mingzhu woke up and had no memory of what she had said in her sleep last night.
When she got up, her waist was still a little sore, but her stomach no longer hurt at all.
The painkillers the doctor gave me last night worked, and I was almost all the better after just two pills.
They had to continue on their way to the capital, and Mingzhu and her daughter rode in the same carriage.
Mingzhu didn't pay much attention to Zhao Shi all the way. She hid if she could and didn't speak if she could.
By the time we arrived in the capital, it was already late spring and early summer. The leaves are green and the cicadas are chirping on the branches.
The steward has been waiting in front of the door early in the morning. The palace has been a bit deserted in recent years. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not come back often. He is busy with official duties. He spends a lot of time living in the palace and goes to Yangzhou City twice a year. trip.
It was not without rumors. It was rumored that His Highness the Prince had raised a Yangzhou thin horse, and he was fascinated by it.
However, Manager Lin didn't really believe this. It was nonsense and quite ridiculous.
Mingzhu didn't want to get out of the car, but now she couldn't help it. Zhao Shi had already opened the car curtain and asked her to come in.
Mingzhu held the child in her arms and bent down to walk in the car. The little girl she was carrying was sleeping soundly.
Zhao Shi took the child from her and said, "Let's go."
Mingzhu kept silent and reluctantly followed.
When Manager Lin saw the woman beside His Royal Highness, he didn't dare to recognize her at first. When she got closer and closer, he couldn't help but widen his eyes. It felt like someone had poured cold water on his head, and he suddenly woke up.
Isn't this the Pearl Girl who has passed away for several years? !
Zhao Shi glanced at him and said in a cold tone, "Has the house been tidied up yet?"
Steward Lin calmed down his shock and replied: "Don't worry, Your Highness, we've had everyone clean it carefully."
When he saw the little girl in His Highness's arms, he was shocked. Could this child be...
Manager Lin was also a half-born person, and he had heard many incredible stories. With a little thought, he made a guess.
He cast a deep look at Miss Mingzhu, never expecting that the weak and timid Miss Mingzhu could be so capable.
Mingzhu was taken to Zhao Shi's bedroom. She resisted, "I want to live in the old yard."
Zhao Shi got angry when he thought of the fire, and said sarcastically, "It's all burned down, where do you live?"
When she passed the verandah just now, Mingzhu clearly saw the newly built courtyard. From the appearance alone, it looked no different from before.
Zhao Shi put his hand lightly on her shoulder, "You will live here and you are not allowed to go anywhere."
The mansion has a nanny who specializes in taking care of children, so Zhao Shi asked someone to carry her daughter to the front yard.
Mingzhu turned sideways to face him, half of her face hidden in the dark, silent, sitting quietly aside, as if she was thousands of feet away from him.
Zhao Shi was very afraid that she would disappear into thin air like before, and no matter how hard he searched, he could not find her.
He suppressed the panic in his heart and said in a clear and cold voice, "If you want to keep your child by your side, you have to wait until your health gets better."
Mingzhu looked at the branches outside the window, her eyes a little ethereal. She remained silent, as if she didn't want to answer him at all.
Zhao Shi's eyes were sore. He hugged her waist from behind, rested his chin on the crook of her neck, and smelled the light fragrance in the woman's hair. He said, "It's not that I don't let you get close to her, I just I think you are too tired."
Mingzhu smiled and said, "Being with you is indeed very tiring."
Zhao Shi was caught off guard and stabbed by her again, but it didn't matter. His heart was riddled with holes, and even if he opened it, it was empty.
The blood has dried up, and the flesh on the head has also rotted.
Zhao Shi swallowed, her throat was dry and slightly sore, and she knew she hated him.
…
The prince wants to get married.
The news quickly spread everywhere.
Over the years, the prince's marriage has been full of twists and turns, and his marriages have been illicit several times. Each time, he broke off the engagement at the critical moment, as if it was an evil act.
People could be heard talking about this matter from everywhere in the restaurant.
"Do you think you will break off the engagement this time?"
"No way. It was excusable twice before, but this time there is really no excuse."
"I heard that the prince brought back a woman from Yangzhou who looks like a fairy."
"What kind of fairy? According to me, she is just a prostitute from a brothel."
The man looked disgusted and said, "How can you marry a prostitute? It's impossible."
"I don't think it's possible either."
Sheng Wenlin made an appointment with Song Huaiqing for a drink today and happened to hear this passage.
He raised his eyelids and asked, "Is it true that the prince is getting married?"
Song Huaiqing smiled half-heartedly, his cold eyes narrowed slightly, and the curvature of the corners of his mouth was a little false. He hummed, "Indeed."
Sheng Wenlin asked casually: "Which family is the girl from?"
Song Huaiqing raised his head and drank a glass of wine. His throat was sore from the strong alcohol, "It's from the Ming family."
His thoughts were not in his eyes, "The pearl is not dead, and everyone is fooling around."
Song Huaiqing felt really uncomfortable.
In fact, there was something he had been hiding from Zhao Shi.
He discovered before Zhao Shi that Mingzhu was not only not dead, but was also thriving in Yangzhou city.
He went to Yangzhou many more times than Zhao Shi. The girl Mingzhu was dating had a quarrel and a fight that went to the government office.
The other party was the master's nephew. He wanted that shrewd girl to teach him a lesson and put him in a dungeon, but he refused to let him go.
When Mingzhu went to the Yamen to knock the gong, she happened to be bumped into by Song Huaiqing.
He was acting strangely, waiting for her to come out of the Yamen, and dragged her to a deserted alley. She was so frightened that her face turned pale.
Song Huaiqing stared at her face with unfathomable eyes, and he threatened her, "Follow me, and I won't tell Zhao Shi that you are still alive."
Mingzhu slapped him.
He drank wine that day, but was not drunk.
It didn't take long for Zhao Shi to find traces of Mingzhu, an idiot.
You can't call her stupid either.
I've done all this concealing things.
…
Mingzhu looked like a marionette after trying on the wedding dress sent by the embroiderer, with a languid expression, as if she was disgusted.
The embroiderer just works and doesn't dare to talk.
If the future princess is unhappy, they cannot ask why.
After measuring the dimensions, they retreated from the house one by one.
After Mingzhu returned to the capital, she was not in good spirits. She contracted wind and cold, had a headache and coughed.
She has a bad foundation and is not getting better even after taking medicine.
When Mingzhu fell ill, he stayed away from his daughter for fear of infecting her and causing her to suffer the same fate as him.
She knew that Zhao Shi was angry privately, but he didn't say anything harsh in front of her.
"You don't have to use your body to vent your anger on me." Zhao Shi said.
Mingzhu was wronged, "I didn't."
After that day, Zhao Shi personally watched her drink medicine every day.
Unfortunately, after half a month, her typhoid fever seemed to be getting worse.
She felt uncomfortable in the house, so she went to the backyard to bask in the sun while the summer weather was bright.
On her way back from the backyard in the evening, she passed through a long corridor and saw a few familiar nuns.
Mingzhu's memory was like a thread being pulled out by someone, and her brain was stabbed violently.
She recognized these nuns as the ones who had opened her mouth and forced her to drink poison/medicine in her previous life.
Cold sweat broke out on Mingzhu's back, and the painful memory she had deliberately forgotten came back to her, and the pain was no less severe than before.
A little typhoid fever, a serious illness that is approaching menacingly. She was in a coma for two days. When her consciousness was vague, she heard Zhao Shi scolding others.
"Your Highness, your heart ailment is difficult to cure."
Zhao Shi sat by the bed and watched her all night. Mingzhu opened her eyes late at night and said she was thirsty.
Zhao Shi let her rest on his shoulder, fed her some water, and listened to her unconscious murmur, "Why do you want to kill me?"
Zhao Shi covered her with the quilt and slowly stood up. He walked to the desk and took the dagger from the shelf.
When Mingzhu woke up, her clothes were soaked and sticky and clung to her body. She was still very weak, like a terminally ill person.
Zhao Shi lay beside the bed and fell asleep.
He was haggard than she imagined, his eyes were black and blue, and his eye sockets were full of blood.
There is a dagger beside the bed.
Mingzhu woke up from a nightmare. Her eyes were blank, but she unsheathed her sword uncontrollably.
She held the handle of the knife firmly, and in a moment, the blade was touching the tip of his heart.