Chapter 25 Chu Siheng Hates Himself
"Your Majesty, I..." Du Xianyue bit her lip, wanting to say something more, but her words were cut off by Chu Huaiyu's cold voice.
"I still have state affairs to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer, Your Majesty."
After saying that, Chu Huaiyu turned and walked away without a trace of regret.
"His Majesty!"
Du Xianyue felt a surge of anxiety and quickly chased after him, reaching out to grab Chu Huaiyu's sleeve. Just as her fingertips were about to touch the brocade, Chu Huaiyu abruptly shook her off.
Du Xianyue froze on the spot, her outstretched hand still hanging in mid-air. The tenderness and shyness in her eyes vanished instantly, leaving only astonishment and disbelief.
Du Xianyue watched Chu Huaiyu's resolute departure, her blood seemingly freezing in her veins, and her breathing becoming labored.
Chu Huaiyu's attitude towards her has been getting worse lately, which is a far cry from how he used to be!
Eunuch Wei, who was standing nearby, witnessed the scene and looked extremely embarrassed. He could only quickly turn to the side and bow to Du Xianyue.
He then gave an awkward laugh and said, "Your Majesty, this servant will take his leave with His Majesty."
Having said that, Eunuch Wei quickly followed Chu Huaiyu's pace. After walking some distance, Eunuch Wei dared to muster his courage and tentatively ask Chu Huaiyu, "Your Majesty, the deposed Crown Princess..."
Before Eunuch Wei could finish speaking, he met Chu Huaiyu's gaze, which was as cold as ice and carried an invisible pressure.
Wei Gonggong's heart skipped a beat, and he swallowed the rest of his words. Having served Chu Huaiyu for many years, how could he not see the fleeting reluctance in the depths of Chu Huaiyu's eyes?
Only after Chu Huaiyu's figure completely disappeared did Du Xianyue slowly withdraw her gaze, her eyes filled with loneliness and resentment.
After a long while, Du Xianyue suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter filled with self-mockery, which made Bai Zhi, who was standing to the side, feel a pang in her heart.
"Your Majesty," Bai Zhi cautiously stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Then Lu Zhaoxue... did Your Majesty let her go so easily?"
"Let her go?" Du Xianyue sneered, her tone icy and chilling. "Didn't you see? His Majesty stood up for her. What could I do?"
Du Xianyue glanced disgustedly in the direction Lu Zhaoxue had just left, her eyes blazing with jealousy and anger.
Suddenly, Du Xianyue snatched the jade bracelet from Bai Zhi's hand and slammed it to the ground—
"Smack!"
The jade bracelet crashed heavily onto the bluestone slab, shattering into pieces instantly. Fragments were scattered everywhere. Du Xianyue didn't even glance at the mess on the ground before turning around and leaving.
Upon seeing this, Bai Zhi quickly instructed the two palace maids beside her: "Quickly, clean this place up for me, and make sure there are no traces left!"
...
At this moment, inside Jingyou Garden, Chu Siheng was calculating the time, thinking that Lu Zhaoxue should have returned by now, but she was still nowhere to be seen, and Chu Siheng's unease grew stronger.
He was pacing anxiously when he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure at the courtyard gate. Chu Siheng was overjoyed and went to greet him, but his smile instantly froze.
Lu Zhaoxue walked slowly over, her face pale. Her once beautiful face was now swollen, half of her cheek was bruised and purple, and there were still faint traces of blood at the corner of her mouth. She looked extremely disheveled.
Lu Zhaoxue walked very slowly, as if she had exhausted all her strength. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, revealing an indescribable weariness.
"Ah Xue!" Chu Siheng's heart tightened, and he rushed over quickly.
Chu Siheng's voice trembled, his brows furrowed, "What...what happened to your face? Who did this to you?!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Lu Zhaoxing rushed out and immediately saw Lu Zhaoxue's swollen cheeks.
Lu Zhaoxing's tears instantly streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls, and she choked out, "Sister! Sister, your face..."
Chu Siheng suppressed his anger and heartache, and said calmly, "Zhaoxing, let's help your sister inside first. We can talk about it later."
Chu Siheng carefully helped Lu Zhaoxue to sit down on the soft couch inside the room. Then, Chu Siheng immediately turned around to find some medicine for her injuries and quickly returned with a small porcelain bottle.
Chu Siheng poured some milky white ointment onto his fingertips and gently tried to apply it to Lu Zhaoxue.
Lu Zhaoxue lowered her eyes, avoiding Chu Siheng's hand, her voice low and hoarse: "Siheng, let me do it myself."
"Don't move."
Chu Siheng's tone was firm and unyielding, his face was terribly gloomy, and his eyes were filled with heartache for Lu Zhaoxue.
"Ah Xue, let me apply the medicine for you."
Chu Huaiyu's fingertips, slightly cool in temperature, gently brushed across Lu Zhaoxue's swollen cheeks.
Lu Zhaoxing stood to the side, watching her sister Lu Zhaoxue's disheveled appearance, tears streaming down her face, her shoulders trembling slightly, too heartbroken to speak.
Chu Siheng glanced at Lu Zhaoxing, who was crying sadly beside him, and fearing that her emotions would upset Lu Zhaoxue, he said softly, "Zhaoxing, go out and wait for a while. I can take care of A-Xue here."
Lu Zhaoxing shook her head, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, refusing to leave no matter what. Seeing this, Chu Siheng had no choice but to give up and stop forcing her.
Chu Siheng's mind was in turmoil. Lu Zhaoxue was fine when she left in the morning, so how did she turn out like this when she came back?
Chu Siheng could not imagine what Lu Zhaoxue had encountered in the palace, or what kind of humiliation and pain she had endured.
Chu Siheng suddenly hated himself; he couldn't even protect Lu Zhaoxue! A strong sense of powerlessness and guilt welled up in his heart.
"Hiss..." Just then, Lu Zhaoxue suddenly let out a low groan, her brows furrowing slightly, clearly hurt from being touched.
Chu Siheng's heart tightened, and he quickly stopped what he was doing, asking nervously, "Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, Xue, I'll be gentler."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com