Chapter 17 I Can Never Marry Another Person
In fact, Chu Siheng knew Lu Zhaoxue long before Chu Huaiyu, and had admired her even earlier.
When the Crown Prince's wife was being chosen, all the noble ladies in the court displayed their beauty and charm, but Chu Siheng's gaze was fixed on Lu Zhaoxue from beginning to end. She was the only candidate in his heart.
However, this fervent sentiment could not ultimately withstand the majesty of imperial power—Emperor Mingwu resolutely rejected Chu Siheng's request.
Chu Siheng was filled with incomprehension and resentment, yet he was powerless to do anything about it. During that time, he drank heavily every day, trying to numb the pain in his heart with strong liquor.
Not long after, an imperial edict spread throughout the capital, and Lu Zhaoxue became the fiancée of the Fourth Prince, Chu Huaiyu!
The moment Chu Siheng heard the news, the wine glass in his hand crashed to the ground, shards of porcelain flying up and cutting his palm. But Chu Siheng felt no pain at all; he only felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out.
...
The sycamore leaves rustled in the courtyard. Lu Zhaoxue sat on a stone bench, holding a small dog in her arms, her fingertips gently combing its soft fur.
Lu Zhaoxue had thought of Tuanrong countless times in the middle of the night, wondering if it had already wandered and starved to death in the chaos of the world. Every time she thought of this, her heart was filled with guilt.
To my utter surprise, we met again today in Jingyou Garden. Moreover, it looked like it had soft fur and a plump body, clearly indicating that it had been well taken care of.
"Tuanrong, it's so good to see you back!" Lu Zhaoxue smiled gently, a hint of warmth in her eyes. Tuanrong seemed to understand Lu Zhaoxue's words and wagged its tail.
Just then, a deep, pleasant male voice broke the tranquility of the courtyard from behind: "Is this the pet you used to keep at the Lu family's house?"
Lu Zhaoxue hurriedly got up and walked to Chu Siheng's side. Her gaze fell on his pale face, and she asked with concern, "Siheng, you're awake? Is anything bothering you?"
Chu Siheng gently shook his head, his gaze falling on the fuzzy figure in Lu Zhaoxue's arms, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.
Chu Siheng tentatively reached out, wanting to pet the exceptionally well-behaved little dog. Tuanrong seemed to sense something and wagged its tail at Chu Siheng.
Chu Siheng's eyebrows unconsciously curved upwards, a faint smile appeared on his lips, and he reached out to gently stroke Tuanrong's head.
Just then, Lu Zhaoxue also raised her hand to stroke Tuanrong's head, and their hands unexpectedly touched.
Lu Zhaoxue froze, instinctively wanting to withdraw her hand, but then she thought that if she backed down now, it would be too deliberate. She was caught in a dilemma, and her cheeks quietly flushed.
Chu Siheng seemed oblivious to Lu Zhaoxue's embarrassment. He lowered his head, looking tenderly at the little ball of fur in his arms, and smiled at Lu Zhaoxue, saying, "Ah Xue, don't we look like a family now?"
The words "family" stirred up ripples in Lu Zhaoxue's heart. Her cheeks flushed instantly, even her ears turned crimson, and her eyes darted around in a panic.
Then, Lu Zhaoxue said somewhat flusteredly, "Siheng... are you hungry? Should I go and make you something to eat?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Zhaoxue hurriedly tried to turn around and run away, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed tightly by Chu Siheng.
Lu Zhaoxue stood frozen in place, as if the blood in her body had frozen at that moment. She could clearly feel the warmth emanating from Chu Siheng's palm.
"Ah Xue, I've been waiting for you, and I will keep waiting." Chu Siheng's voice was deep and earnest, and his words struck Lu Zhaoxue's heart heavily.
At this point, Lu Zhaoxue could no longer pretend to be ignorant. A blush lingered on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she finally told Chu Siheng the truth: "Siheng, Empress Dowager Yu... she wants to remarry in your place..."
Chu Siheng frowned sharply, as if he had heard something unbelievable.
"I can never marry another person!"
Chu Siheng's heart sank to the bottom the moment he heard Lu Zhaoxue's words, and a chilling coldness swept over his entire body.
“Siheng…” Lu Zhaoxue wanted to explain something, but before she could finish speaking, Chu Siheng abruptly interrupted her.
"Ah Xue, stop talking, I don't want to hear it."
Chu Siheng took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging anger in his heart. He was afraid that if he continued to talk, he would lose control of his emotions, and even more afraid that his anger would affect Lu Zhaoxue.
The next day, Chu Siheng did not speak a word to Lu Zhaoxue again. He stayed alone in his study, and the atmosphere around him was frighteningly tense.
Lu Zhaoxue felt a mix of emotions.
At night, Lu Zhaoxue lay in bed, holding Tuanrong tightly in her arms, feeling its warm body temperature, and fell into a deep sleep.
Chu Siheng, however, did not sleep a wink all night. The candlelight burned all night, reflecting the struggle and pain in his eyes.
As the morning light shone through the window, Lu Zhaoxue slowly woke up. Her first instinct was to reach for the plush blanket in her arms, but all she touched was a cold sheet of bedding.
Lu Zhaoxue was startled and sat up abruptly, looking around, but there was no sign of Tuanrong anywhere. If it weren't for the few strands of Tuanrong's dog hair still remaining on the bed sheet, she would have almost thought it was just a dream that was too real.
Lu Zhaoxue hurriedly got up and searched around the outer courtyard again and again, but she still couldn't find Tuanrong. She stopped and looked at the empty courtyard, feeling disappointed.
So be it, it has found a better home, and she was just a passerby in its past.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhaoxue slowly lowered her eyes, sighed deeply, and felt a slight sting in her heart, as if something had gently pricked her.
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