Nangong Lie was smart, he shook his head immediately to save himself, "No, no, no! What you saw was just the outer appearance! In fact, we are not really close, not at all!"
"Why did you give her flowers?" The young man sounded a little indifferent.
But Nangong Lie noticed that his left fist was clenched tightly, so he started to clear his name, "That was because I wanted to thank her, it was her idea to give flowers. I was originally planning to give the flower to someone else."
"Do you mean Qing Zhan?" The young man said calmly, gazing back at him. The resentment that had been on his c.h.e.s.t for so long finally faded a little.
However, Nangong Lie looked like he had seen a ghost, "How, how did you know?"
The young man snickered schemingly, "It's been seven years. Of course I have to be concerned about my only brother."
Nangong Lie, "..."
Damn it!
I don't need your concern at all!
Don't tell me that you were the one who talked bad about me to Little Qing Zhan!
These thoughts crossed Nangong Lie's mind, and his handsome face was filled with grief, "What are you trying to do? Please get to the point."
"Nothing." The young man continued to give him some clues, "I noticed that you have been so carefree for the past two days, going out of the palace to pick flowers and whatnot. So I figured you might prefer some excitement in your life."
Shadow, who was standing outside the door, raised his head in silence, ...I bet nobody would like this kind of excitement.
On the contrary, Nangong Lie did not assort to self-pity, instead, he put two and two together. All of a sudden, an evil grin appeared on his face and he placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, "Ah Jue, you should have told me earlier. If I had known that you've fallen in love, I could have lent you a helping hand a long time ago."
The young man gave him a sideways glance, his gaze casually sweeping over his hand.
Nangong Lie felt chills all over his scalp, so he drew his hand back immediately.
The young man brushed his clothes, spoke in a noble and virtuous voice, "Don't think too much, that woman has rubbed me the wrong way, that's all."
"Speaking of which, what is going on between you and that woman?" There was a certain playfulness in Nangong Lie's eyes, "She doesn't tell me anything no matter how I ask her."
The young man raised his head and gave him a look, speaking unhurriedly, "She had stolen something from me. I've been searching for her for eight years just to get it back."
Nangong Lie furrowed his bushy eyebrows. Thief? That woman doesn't look like a thief.
Instead, there was something that bothered him a lot.
That woman's appearance... was too similar to the young lady from the Helian family.
There must be more to that.
Nangong Lie's eyes were bright, he then spoke carelessly, "Since she is a thief, we could just chop her limbs off and throw her out of the palace. If that's not enough, you could just kill her. You could even torture her in any way, as long as you can vent your anger. You haven't made a move for so long, it doesn't seem like you. When I get back, I'll throw her out and then you can figure out what you want to do."
The young man remained silent.
Nangong Lie knew that he had agreed.
However, he did not think that Ah Jue would do anything to that woman.
If he really detested her, there were many ways to make a person disappear in the palace. Besides, Ah Jue's status was so high that he could just kill someone with a single word.
But the expression on Ah Jue's face did not seem like he was lying.
"Since there's a way to settle this problem, shouldn't you settle the matter with Little Qing Zhan as well? She turns on her heel and walks away whenever she sees me!" Nangong Lie was in a very bad mood upon mentioning this!
The young man was somewhat inattentive and ordered Shadow to call Qing Zhan over.
Nangong Lie, with his young master style, surely would not show up to this kind of occasion. He hid behind the screen and strained his ears to listen to the situation outside.
The young man's voice was husky and graceful as usual. He spoke unhurriedly, "Qing Zhan, I've heard about the incident that happened this afternoon. It seems like you have some misunderstandings about Young Master Lie."
"No." Qing Zhan's expression was serious, looking tender and naive, "Your Highness, I've seen how Young Master Lie usually behaves. He gets into conversations with beautiful ladies whenever he meets them, and this is no longer a secret in the palace. I know you're on good terms with Young Master Lie that you just don't have the heart to badmouth him. It is his good fortune to have such a good friend like Your Highness."
Nangong Lie, who was hiding behind the screen, felt like he had just taken a knife to his knees, and he had an upset look on his face.
Shadow, who was clear about the whole situation, was trying so hard to control his laughter.
Only the young man was calm and unruffled, "Actually he has many good qualities."
"Your Highness, do not worry. With you here, I will serve Young Master Lie well!" Qing Zhan promised. She was loyal and devoted even at a young age.
The young man said frankly, "I've tried my best. How was I supposed to know that you have the habit of getting into conversations with beautiful ladies on a daily basis?"
Nangong Lie remained silent. I'm regretting that now, okay!
"Alright, Qing Zhan will return to you in the future. Three years should be enough time to change her impression of you, right?" The young man massaged his forehead and spoke tiredly, "Shouldn't you be off to carry out your task now?"
Nangong Lie was still wallowing in his sorrows. When he went back to the Holy Worship Temple and saw Helian Wei Wei, the first thing he asked her was, "Did you take anything from Ah Jue back then?"
"No." Helian Wei Wei raised her eyebrows and asked languidly, "Why would you say that?"
Nangong Lie leaned slightly against the doorframe with an evil expression on his face, "I was at his place just now. He said that you had stolen something from him eight years ago and he had been searching for you for these eight years. He has finally caught you now, do you think that he would let you go? Oh dear, pray for yourself. I can only give you so many hints. Think about it. Perhaps you've taken something that is important to Ah Jue but you're not aware of it."
Helian Wei Wei squinted her eyes and gave it a thought. Eventually, she shook her head.
"Then there's nothing I can do anymore, you may leave now…"
Chapter 629 - His Highness' Indulgence
"Leave?" Helian Wei Wei sat on the chaise lounge with her slender legs crossed, "Are you chasing me out? What about courting Qing Zhan? Did you change your mind?"
In his heart, Nangong Lie thought, If you don't leave now, I would never be able to court Qing Zhan!
"Baili Jia Jue told you something, didn't he?" Helian Wei Wei was smart, and the light in her eyes dimmed, "Did he ask you to chase me out of the Holy Worship Temple?"
Nangong Lie stroked the bridge of his nose, "I'm sure you know as well, fighting with destiny brings about endless fun, but fighting with him brings about one's own destruction. I can't hold on anymore, but I'll help you in secret."
"But you're still chasing me out." Helian Wei Wei rubbed the teacup in her hands and s.u.c.k.e.d in a breath, feeling a chill in her c.h.e.s.t, "Do you know that it's snowing outside? Do you want me to freeze to death?"
The things she said made Nangong Lie feel guilty, which was something rarely seen in him, "The Emperor had just gifted me a fox fur cloak, I'll go and get it for you now."
"While you're at it, give me ten thousand notes as well. I'll need it out there," Helian Wei Wei requested with a faint smile, feeling a sudden dryness in her throat.
Nangong Lie glanced at her with a look that said she was absolutely merciless!
However, Helian Wei Wei did not think so. Initially, she had the intention of composing h
erself in the Holy Worship Temple, preparing to start over again.
But now, that person would not even allow her to stay in the Holy Worship Temple anymore.
She felt very warm indeed with the Emperor's fur cloak dr.a.p.ed over her body, but Helian Wei Wei's fingers still felt a little chilly.
When she walked out of the Holy Worship Temple, the palace maids and eunuchs stood in a circle, surrounding her. They looked at her before turning away and whispering to each other.
Well, there was hardly anybody being chased out at this hour.
Winter in the Capital was so cold that Helian Wei Wei's brain had frozen and shut down. Her mind was a mess too.
Was she really going to walk out of the imperial palace like this?
In the past, with Helian Wei Wei's temper, she would have left without any hesitation.
But now...
Helian Wei Wei lowered her head and kicked at the gravel in her path, muttering, "Baili Jia Jue, has your humanity been eaten by dogs? Chasing me out of the palace in such a cold winter, just you wait! One day, I'll…"
Helian Wei Wei could not finish her sentence, because standing right around the corner was a slender silhouette, his pale fingers gripping an oiled paper umbrella. His dark gaze fell on her and she had no idea how long he had been waiting there...
Helian Wei Wei paused mid-stride and her long leg that had stepped forward was becoming a little stiff.
The silhouette walked toward her step by step, with a fur cloak dr.a.p.ed around his shoulders. It was snowing heavily, making the scene look like a stunning and refined ink wash painting of superb craftsmanship.
Helian Wei Wei thought, The a.d.u.l.t version of him would inevitably have a composed yet imposing manner, making people afraid of looking directly into his eyes.
However, the young man now was extremely well-liked by people of all ages. Very few people could compete with his appearance and presence.
Soon, Baili Jia Jue was standing just one step away from Helian Wei Wei, gazing at her solemnly.
Shadow was right behind him. Basically, he would speak on his master's behalf for anything that his master found inconvenient to say, "According to the system, His Highness is in charge of the palace maids who have been chased out of the Holy Worship Temple."
Helian Wei Wei simply responded in agreement and said nothing more.
This was how she had always been, making it difficult to approach her when she was being cold.
Not only was she being intimidating, but she also exuded a feeling of oppression toward others.
The young man's side profile was still calm, but the warmth at the corners of his lips had faded. Besides that, he was personally holding the oiled paper umbrella. This made him look somewhat…forlorn?
Shadow could only brace himself and continued speaking to Helian Wei Wei, "You shall remain in the royal chamber first and wait for further arrangements."
Helian Wei Wei had no objections and nodded her head in agreement.
Shadow heaved a sigh of relief, "Please follow us then."
"Okay." Helian Wei Wei was distracted. She was still thinking that perhaps the extra umbrella that the young man was holding was for her. After all, it was unnecessary for Shadow and him to bring an extra umbrella. She was about to reach out to take it.
Then Baili Jia Jue said in an indifferent tone, "My humanity was eaten by dogs, so you shouldn't take this umbrella."
Without waiting for Helian Wei Wei to reply, he turned and walked into the snow. His pace was still gentle and graceful, but his figure was cold and unwelcoming.
Helian Wei Wei gave out a long sigh. He had really heard it after all. Since young, he had always been easy to hold grudges. It was really hard to deal with him.
Shadow did not say anything and promptly signaled Helian Wei Wei to keep up.
Upon reaching the royal chamber, Baili Jia Jue took off the fur cloak without any emotions on his face. He sat at the wooden table and started to deal with the official business that had acc.u.mulated over the past two days. His voice was hoarser than usual, "Pour me some tea."
Helian Wei Wei was drowsy ever since she came in. Together with the warmth inside the royal chamber, as soon as her body touched the chaise lounge that was covered with a fur blanket, she started to nod off, her head sliding down little by little.
The shadow guards, who served His Highness when he got up in the night, were just about to wake Helian Wei Wei up.
But the young man raised a slender finger to his lips, gently making a shushing gesture.
The shadow guards kept their martial Qi away immediately and faded back into the darkness again.
Baili Jia Jue glanced sideways at the person who was sliding downward as she slept. Without any time to react, he knelt down beside her silently on the precious black carpet, with one knee on the ground. His lean waist was straightened, his back facing a few shadow guards and his shoulder bore the weight of her head automatically.
As if she had found the most comfortable position, Helian Wei Wei leaned her whole body into Baili Jia Jue's embrace.
The young man was momentarily stunned. He reached his arms out to surround her, yet he did not move, for she would definitely wake up if he moved.
The shadow guards were dumbfounded. They looked at each other in dismay, with astonishment on their faces!
Holding a heater stove in his hands, Shadow did not approach and disturb them.
The shock in his heart was greater than anyone else's.
He had been staying by his master's side ever since he was young.
He did not know about others.
But this woman was probably the only person in the world who was able to make his master willingly abandon all his honor, hide away all of his vicious and foreboding aura, and hold this pose.
Halfway through, the shadow guards wanted to say something but were silenced by the young man's noble gaze.
But it had already been half an hour, no matter how soft the carpet was, kneeling on the ground for so long would definitely hurt his knee.
Fortunately, the one who dozed off finally opened her eyes. She stared at the young man who had his arms around her, still not completely wide awake yet, "There are times when you're still so young, you look so handsome."
Chapter 630 - The First Kiss Was
As she spoke, Helian Wei Wei leaned over and pecked Baili Jia Jue on the corner of his lips.
However, the young man's eyes turned frigid in that moment.
It was a no-brainer.
Who did she take him for?
Instead of rage, what he felt was the feeling of emptiness within his heart.
Without any warning, the young man withdrew his hand as he stared down at her in a condescending manner. His tone was dark and cold, "When I allowed you to return, it wasn't so that you could slack on your job. You better learn the ropes on becoming a palace maid."
By the time when Helian Wei Wei's fingers touched the floor, she was wide awake. She frowned in confusion as she looked into his emotionless eyes.
Even though it was in the middle of the night, she was being ordered about. Not only was she instructed to pour tea for him, but she was also made to grind ink.
Helian Wei Wei did not find these tasks troublesome, but she disliked the feeling of being treated as a palace maid.
Especially when she had to prepare lunch to fete His Highness' confidante on the next day.
Helian Wei Wei felt that the entire world was simply filled with malice.
"This is spicy, I can't eat this." The lady in plain-colored clothes gazed at the boiled fish served by Helian Wei Wei and shook her head awkwardly. She was not being pretentious, rather, she really could not handle spicy food at all.
But Helian Wei Wei was calm and unfazed. As if wind spun from the heart of her palm, a surge of force exerted from her slender and pale fingers which sent the dishes flying into the air.
She immediately followed up with a gentle pat on the tabletop.
In a blink of an eye, the dishes landed back on the tabletop without any traces of spillage, the only difference being an altered layout of the dishes.
When the lady in plain-colored clothes saw this, her eyes were filled with astonishment, "You... With such plentiful martial Qi, you would be a first-class winner if you participated in a competition!"
There was also a change to the calmness within Baili Jia Jue's eyes. His fingers tightened around the chopsticks that he was holding.
It was about how she avoided the guards in the imperial palace and disappeared back then.
At last, he had come to realization. Based on the agile trick she pulled just now, if she wanted to escape, none of the guards outside the royal chamber could stop her at all...
"Your Highness, Your Highness..." The lady in plain-colored clothes called him gently. She had obviously noticed the change in him and a sense of trepidation was evoked within her eyes.
"Hmm?" Baili Jia Jue replied, even his gaze toward her was soft. Naturally, this would make all the bystanders envious.
But only the lady in plain-colored clothes knew that kind of gentleness would be fake as time passed.
Since she had known him, people had feared him except during his childhood.
Later, he always acted chivalrous with a refined manner toward her. Not once did he get angry or moody before her.
Everyone said that he had given her all of his patience.
Truthfully, this kind of patience seemed forced...
"It's nothing." The young lady had forgotten what she wanted to say. Adding to her feeling of dread towards him since young, she was particularly cautious whenever she dealt with Baili Jia Jue.
As Nangong Lie watched from the side, the corner of his mouth lifted, "Ah Jue, have you found the thing you lost?"
"No." Baili Jia Jue replied monotonously as he wiped the corner of his mouth with a white handkerchief in his hand.
Nangong Lie glanced at Helian Wei Wei who was standing there, his smile became more apparent, "Well then, you better look for it carefully. Say, Ah Jue, that day was probably your first time being intimate with a woman right?"
The Anarchic Consort c1-1376 Page 271
