16

The capital city in April was immersed in the joys of spring. Peach trees were in bloom and willows turned green.

The crab apples in the Ronghua Palace had also blossomed, and the occasional white butterfly fluttering around made the place seem like a fairyland on earth. Unfortunately, there was no one to appreciate this.

Black hair hung down a wooden chair. Her eyes were closed in thought and a lake green-colored muslin dress hugged her skin. From time to time, a warm breeze would lift the fabric and cover half of her face, bringing about an ethereal quality to the scene.

The beauty was not that of a mortal woman.

It was if...she would leave at any moment.

Wei Yu carefully covered her with a cloak.

The person who should have been asleep immediately opened her eyes. A startled and expectant expression flashed before changing to a look of disgust. "What does Your Highness mean by coming to Ben Gong's Ronghua Palace every day? Are there no important matters in the imperial court?

Wei Yu had long since grown accustomed to her unfriendly attitude and answered warmly, "Since you're awake, then don't sit here any longer. It would be better to rest inside so as to avoid catching a cold."

Having said that, he carried her with skilled ease.

"Impertinent!" she said angrily as she struggled to wrestle free from the man's arms. When that failed, her anger turned into anxiety. She simply bit his neck until he was bleeding.

Wei Yu was undeterred. He calmly walked across the threshold and gently placed her on the bed.

Linlang extended her leg and kicked him hard, but the person didn't even evade. He let her vent then spoke in a quiet voice, "Seeing you like this, you must not have eaten. How about I ask the chef to cook something for you?"

"Ben Gong does not need it. You roll, roll out of here!""

She picked up the jade pillow next to her and flung it towards the door.

Bang——Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com

The heavy item brushed past the man's temples and crashed behind him.

The blood trickling down his forehead blurred his vision.

A rusty smell gradually spread out.

"Why didn't you dodge? Do you think this kind of bitter trick will make Ben Gong feel soft?" She sneered, her tone as ruthless as it ever was.

No, who said that bitter tricks had no effect?

Wei Yu clearly saw the troubled look in her eyes.

He wiped off some of the stains but deliberately left the wound unattended. Smiling, he said, "Many thanks to Your Highness for being merciful." She did not hesitate to stab him before, but the direction of her attack just now was consciously deviated. If that was not being soft-hearted, then what is?

Wei Yu's chest felt hot.

Soon after, he returned with a bowl of steaming noodles.

A lively scene of fishes playing around lotus leaves was painted on the jade bowl. Green onions were sprinkled over the milky-white soup and the fragrance could make one finger's twitch.

"Today is your birthday. I initially planned to prepare a gift for you but... you may not want it. So, I consulted with a master worker and cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for you.

"Uh, I recently learned this. The craftsmanship may not be very good. I hope you won't dislike it."

He smiled shyly at her, like a pure-hearted scholar trying to please the person he likes.

"But don't worry, the chef said I have some talent in this area. I will practice harder and become an expert in the future. The food should be delicious by then.

"Oh, I remember you mention that you liked to eat peach blossom pastries and crystal cakes. I'm currently learning from the pastry chef but should be able to make them after a few days..."

Linlang lowered her head and her fine eyelashes covered up her emotions.

She bit her lips hard as if enduring something.

"Ben Gong will not eat. Leave."

He was surprised for a moment. Thinking that she may have misunderstood his intentions, he quickly clarified with some anxiety, "I really didn't put anything inside. If you do not believe it, I can eat it right now!"

Wei Yu immediately picked up his chopsticks took two bites only for him to scald himself to tears. His whole mouth turned red and swelled up. It was quite a sorry sight.

Linlang was in the process of brewing sorrowful emotions, but when she looked up, she caught sight of two sausages hanging brightly on the handsome man's face, creating an extremely sharp contrast.

"Pfft—"

A certain woman couldn't hold back and ruined her own work.

The other party stared at her foolishly, not understanding what just happened.

Oh shoot, this sister's heart-wrenching operation collapsed.

The woman felt a little annoyed. If she had known earlier, she would have done everything to hold back that laugh. Now the mood was gone.

"Did, did you laugh?" He stammered out.

"You must be mistaken." Linlang's face immediately became serious and with great poise, she wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"Did Ben Gong laugh?" The imperial consort sat upright in a dignified manner.

"No." He answered obediently.

Linlang almost uttered "good boy" but changed her words to, "It's no longer early. Please return, Your Highness."

"All right, the noble consort should rest soon." He stared at her deeply, but after a few moments, he opened the curtain with reluctance and left. His figure gradually disappeared down the corridor.

Linlang picked up the bowl and sniffed it for a while. It was probably made with bone broth. The smell was very rich and appetizing.

She couldn't help but take a few mouthfuls.

What Linlang didn't know was that the person who had walked far away made a turn, climbed onto her roof, then uncovered a green tile to conduct the voyeuristic routine he did three times a day.

The prince had a foolish smile all the way.

This is great. She's finally willing to eat my food, he thought contentedly.

Sure enough, to grab a woman's heart, one must first grab her stomach.

Yes, those strange folk stories were not read in vain. He went back and asked his men to pick up a few more books for him to study.

From then on, Prince Wei's daily route went like this: go to the Ronghua Palace to cook, climb the roof to peek, return to the mansion to study recipes, then plot a rebellion in the night.

On this day, he uncovered the roof tile to sneak a peek when he heard a violent cough coming from below.

He froze.

The handkerchief in her hand was dyed scarlet.

After the bloody discharge, the person was unsteady on her feet, as if she was about to fall over.

Wei Yu's heart tightened. He immediately pulled the tiles away and jumped down.

Bang——Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com

The large sound shocked Xiuyu who was standing on duty outside. She quickly pushed the door open, but what she saw was the brocade-robed prince cautiously holding Her Highness on the bed. He ordered her without looking back, "She lost consciousness. Call for a physician right now."

"No, don't bother."

Linlang opened her eyes, her energy was faint.

"It's merely a chronic illness. Some rest will suffice."

"Your Highness..."

"Yu'er, you go back first, Ben Gong has something to say to the prince." Linlang comforted the worried palace maid who could only bow and close the door behind her.

Linlang's gaze fell on the man covered in dirt. His face had been injured from the rubble and skin had been torn in some areas, but he didn't notice at all. He only looked at her nervously, afraid he would never be able to see her again at a moment's notice.

"I don't have much time left," she said. Her voice was slow and clear as if she was discussing something trivial.

Wei Yu was shocked. How does she know?

He clearly...

"Did you think I wouldn't know if you bribed the palace servants and imperial physicians?" Linlang narrowed her eyes at him. "I am not as stupid as you who can't even recognize the roads." His sweetheart's tone was full of pride. It was rare for her to inadvertently reveal such intimacy.

Hearing her mentioning the past, Wei Yu's eyes gradually turned red.

He has never lost his way on the road.

In order to make the little girl feel sorry for him, he deliberately separated from her while out on the streets and huddled in a corner where he waited for her to find him. This was so she could pity him, then give him more opportunities to appear before Chancellor Zhou.

She was very afraid at the time.

After she finally found him, he had not even begun to tear up. Instead, she was the first to cry her heart out. The girl cried so hard that she developed a high fever that lasted two days, during which she would call out his name in her dreams.

Since then, every time the two of them went out on the street, the girl held his hand with her chubby little ones and say, 'Don't worry, Brother. Hu'er knows the way. Hu'er will not lose you.'

Hu'er was her nickname, but the little girl disliked people calling her that because it sounded too ordinary.

Once, a female friend of hers inadvertently called her by this and the infuriated girl never played with her again.

He learned about it by accident.

Back then, he had been calling her Hu'er for an entire year. Over time, he became the only one who could call her by that name.

But later...

Later...

Wei Yu's heart suddenly throbbed.

While he was lost in his emotions, the man suddenly felt a cool sensation on his face.

Cold fingers gently brushed over his cheeks.

He was taken aback and could only stare at her.

The tender moment felt unreal. His figure was reflected in those beautiful dark eyes, and the glistening tears served to add a hazy luster.

"I thought that after I died and turned into a ghost, I would surely find you to act out on my revenge." She murmured, "But I can't bear to. I can't drain what's left of my short life seeking revenge on the person I like. I will have no peace in my afterlife.

"I'm tired. I no longer want to argue over right and wrong. I want to be willful to the very end."

Linlang's fingers gradually fell and touched the man's lips.

They were soft and rosy.

He stopped breathing.

"On the first day of the Spring Festival, I made a wish by the lake...Do you want to know what it was?" Her soft, almost doting tone gave him the urge to cry.

"I do, I really do."

He said this with a smile, but tears were already falling down.

"Hu'er...liked you the most."

Long black hair swept over the pair's clothes, caressing, and intertwining.

The crab apple trees outside the window bloomed beautifully. As if enjoying a good dream, a flowery branch had quietly extended inside and settled on the table.

Blame me for being too young and not understanding the sentiment in your eyes, so that the first real kiss we shared after growing up was a blessed farewell.

I bless you, may your peerless talent never wane.

I bless myself, may I never love so deeply again.