Chapter 158 Extra 3
Zhao Xiheng and Xie Qingyu came in together. She was covered in dirt and her hair was disheveled, clearly showing signs of a fight. Zhao Xinglie didn't ask any questions; this was a common occurrence for her. Shen Yining had a maid lead her to the back to wash up.
Having regained his memories of his past life, Zhao Xinglie found Xie Qingyu increasingly strange.
What was once praised as gentleness and refinement has now become indecisiveness.
The gentle and kind nature I used to like has now turned into a sissy and effeminate manner.
Ultimately, it was because he was angry with Xie Qingyu from his previous life, feeling that he hadn't protected his daughter well.
Anyone with a bit of courage and guts would allow someone to marry their fiancée off to another man.
The Goguryeo emperor was the same age as his father, and his daughter was truly wronged when she married him.
The more Zhao Xinglie thought about this matter, the more his heart ached. The more he saw Xie Qingyu, the more he couldn't help but think about it. Now, it had developed to the point that he would experience heartache whenever he saw Xie Qingyu.
Unfortunately, Shen Yining knew nothing about this, and she treated the child exceptionally well, inviting him to stay for a meal.
Zhao Xinglie pursed his lips, not very happy, but dared not refute his wife.
He turned his gaze to Wei Li, who followed the two in, and greeted him warmly, "Eldest son, how was your study today? Did you understand anything the teacher taught on the first day?"
She then looked at the stack of books he was holding in his arms. "Did the teacher give these to you? They're really good."
He's going to favor Wei Li and neglect that brat Xie Qingyu, hmph~
Wei Li was a little embarrassed by the question, his face and the tips of his ears turned slightly red, and he twirled his toes on the ground. He glanced at Xie Qingyu.
Xie Qingyu was also looking at him. When she saw his gaze drift over, she quickly looked away and sat up straight.
Don't look at me, I won't gossip.
"Ahem, the master said my foundation is too shallow and I need to work hard," Wei Li said succinctly, forcing himself to speak.
Zhao Xinglie's smile stiffened for a moment, but he still patted Wei Li on the shoulder, "It's alright. Even tall buildings don't rise from the ground; they still need a solid foundation. When we have time, I'll teach you and A-Dan to study together."
Although Xie Qingyu watched them interact, her face remained calm, still wearing a polite smile, but she couldn't help feeling lonely inside.
His Majesty doesn't seem to like him much anymore. Could it be that he did something wrong that annoyed His Majesty?
Zhao Xinglie gently patted Wei Li's head with his broad, calloused hand.
Wei Li's face turned even redder.
That little liar Zhao Xiheng always says her father has a bad temper, but isn't he a good person? He's kind and loving.
If he and Zhao Xiheng were to get together, his father probably wouldn't object, right?
Wei Li looked at Zhao Xinglie with bright, sparkling eyes.
The pool, built of jade, is three zhang wide and three zhang long. Three dragon heads on its sides hold bright pearls, from which hot water flows gently. The warm water is surrounded by white mist, and flower petals and sachets float on the surface.
While the palace maid went to fetch bath beans, Zhao Xiheng secretly dived into the water, thinking she would give her a fright later.
The underwater world was very different from the outside world; her soft hair floated in the water like seaweed.
Tiny bubbles bubbled up from the water, like mermaids from fairy tales.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" The palace maids, unable to find her, began to panic and called out anxiously, rolling up their sleeves and immediately summoning people to come and rescue her.
Zhao Xiheng's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Okay, I won't scare you anymore.
She popped out of the water with a splash. She probably hadn't eaten and had dived too quickly, so her vision went black.
In the distance, one could vaguely see a mountain standing tall, its peak still covered in a thick layer of white snow, even though the surrounding area was already lush with green willows and blooming flowers.
"Why doesn't the city of Buxian be renamed Changbai City?" a young woman's voice asked.
Next came a man, who sounded impatient and agitated: "If you keep talking like that, I'll throw you into the woods to feed the wolves."
She lay on the edge of the pool, panting and trying to catch her breath.
I shouldn't have read so many storybooks every night before bed. Look, now I'm having all sorts of illusions.
But what is this "Not Salty City"? She didn't seem to have heard of this name before, nor had she ever been to this place.
The maid dried her body, changed her clothes, and took her out.
Zhao Xiheng saw Wei Li sitting on one side of the round table with her eyes down. When she saw Zhao Xiheng come over, she fixed her gaze on her.
She felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite put her finger on why.
Zhao Xiheng shivered, feeling a chill, and it seemed as if the white mountain peak on the mountaintop reappeared before her eyes.
It's so hot, yet she feels cold; it's unbelievable.
At the dinner table, Zhao Xiheng and Xie Qingyu exchanged a glance, as if they had some unspoken secret. Wei Li gripped his chopsticks tightly; this feeling was very ominous, like swallowing a large jar of vinegar, both sour and bitter.
"Ahem, Father, the Dragon Boat Festival is almost here!"
"Oh." Zhao Xinglie raised his eyelids, his expression very indifferent. Little brat, how could he not know what she was thinking?
"But I'm so bored staying in the palace all the time," she said coquettishly.
Zhao Xinglie snorted. Wasn't the imperial street built especially for her in the palace enough for her to stroll around? It's true that a young lady's heart gets wild as she grows up.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I want to go out and have fun during the Dragon Boat Festival. I heard that there are river lanterns to release at night and floating competitions during the day."
"Who are you going with?"
Xie Qingyu quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "Your Majesty, I will protect the princess well."
Zhao Xinglie tightened his grip on the chopsticks. Why was he so unhappy with Xie Qingyu right now?
He could forgive him for not watching over his daughter in his past life, and he was magnanimous enough not to punish him. How dare you provoke my daughter again in this life? With how clingy Ah Dan is with Xie Qingyu now, he always feels that one day he will have to hold his nose and marry his daughter off to this good-for-nothing.
He wants to go out with Xie Qingyu now? No way!
What if three parts of affection turn into seven parts?
He didn't say anything, but put a pickled goose leg on Zhao Xiheng's plate and gave the other one to Wei Li. A goose has two legs in total, so each of the two children got one, but Xie Qingyu didn't get any.
Although he remained silent, Xie Qingyu sensed something was amiss. His Majesty clearly disliked him and wouldn't allow the princess to play with him.
From childhood to adulthood, he had always been a good child in the eyes of his elders, a prodigy. He had never been subtly reprimanded like this before, so he blushed and silently sat back down.
Zhao Xiheng didn't care about any of that. She put down her chopsticks, rushed over, and hugged Zhao Xinglie, shaking him. "Father, please, please, let me out. Father is the best."
Zhao Xinglie was so shaken by her that he almost gave in. Who could refuse this little devil's request?
Shen Yining offered timely advice, and he, bewitched, nodded.
Wei Li almost broke his chopsticks while watching this harmonious scene.
Zhao Xiheng is going out to play with Xie Qingyu...
How wonderful, childhood sweethearts.
Zhao Xiheng kissed her parents on the cheek, "Father and Mother are the best, the best in the world. I love you both the most in this life!"
Zhao Xinglie was so flattered that he felt like he was floating on air, and it took him a while to realize that something was wrong.
But a gentleman's word is as good as his bond; once spoken, how can one take it back?
He looked at Wei Li, pulled him along, and said, "Let Wei Li go out with you all; the three of you can look after each other."
Zhao Xinglie then instructed Wei Li, "Keep a close eye on your little sister, A-Dan."
Ignoring Zhao Xiheng's eye roll and Xie Qingyu's dissatisfaction, Wei Li obediently nodded in agreement, though his heart was already overflowing with sourness.
He wanted to go with them, not wanting to leave Zhao Xiheng and Xie Qingyu alone, but their rejection of him made him feel ashamed. Being shameless and forcing himself on them when they didn't like him wasn't his style.
Afterwards, Zhao Xiheng pushed him into a corner, solemnly encircled him, stood on tiptoe to try and be level with him, and then threatened him fiercely, "You'll just say you're sick and can't go, you hear me? We don't want to take you out!"
Wei Li lowered his eyes, and after a while, nodded, "Okay."
He didn't care to get close to her. Zhao Xiheng could like whoever she wanted and be with whoever she wanted in her life.
Zhao Xiheng left satisfied.
Wei Li returned to his bedchamber.
The bedchamber was empty. Although Shen Yining had put a lot of effort into making it cozy, it still felt particularly desolate because there were so few people.
After washing up, he curled up in the blankets.
Zhao Xiheng's expression of disgust felt like a knife being plunged into his heart.
Indeed, how could this pampered little princess possibly fall for him?
The more he thought about it, the more his nose stung, his eyes reddened, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He's only eleven, he's young, it's not shameful for him to cry.
Wei Li looked around; there was no one there, and the bed curtains were tucked in tightly.
He no longer needed to hold back; the bitterness in his heart flowed freely from his eyes, and the tears soaked the blanket.
The more he wiped away his tears, the more they flowed, so he simply let them flow.
Zhao Xiheng could never like him in this lifetime. Such a sad thing, shouldn't he be allowed to cry?
As he pondered, he pulled a broken beaded flower from under the soft pillow. It was the one Zhao Xiheng had dropped on the ground earlier that day, and he had picked it up.
While crying, Wei Li disassembled the broken beaded flower, then went to the drawer to find gold thread, and threaded the pearls back one by one to restore their original shape.
He was crying so hard that his eyes were blurred with tears and he couldn't see the pearl flowers clearly, only the warm luster reflected by the pearls.
This made him feel even worse.
After finally stringing the beads, it was already late at night. Although they were not as beautiful and exquisite as those made by the skilled craftsmen in the palace, the general shape had been restored.
He found a small box, put it inside, and then tucked it under his pillow.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the government would hold a large-scale dragon boat race, and the emperor would go to watch it with the empress and princess. However, under the spotlight, it was always inconvenient to do anything, and Zhao Xiheng didn't like to have to put on airs.
This year she finally had the opportunity to go out and have fun on her own.
Xie Qingyu had been waiting in front of the palace gate for a long time, dressed in a blue straight robe, which was both appropriate and elegant.
Zhao Xiheng specially changed into her most vibrant water-red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and skipped and hopped towards the palace gate.
Xiao Tao followed behind her, but could barely keep up.
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