Chapter 208: The Crown Prince's Original Wish (Part 1)
The sounds of music and the dazzling displays of wealth and power fill the air. Gold and silver treasures are poured out like coins and spent like dirt. This is the banquet of the Prince of Nan's mansion. Even though the people of the mansion rarely come to Bianjing, there are always people willing to give face to the Prince of Nan's mansion. You could throw a brick in from outside and hit a big shot.
Those from the imperial court included students of Grand Tutor Li and ministers of the Six Ministries; others were members of the imperial family, such as several marquis and duke families. The house was packed with guests, including even distinguished figures from the martial arts world, though one of these guests made no attempt to reveal his identity.
This refers to Xie Huailing.
Behind the hazy gauze curtain, she sat in a corner of the banquet, wearing a thin veil. She appeared quiet but was not silent. Although she was far from the crowd, she did not miss any of the events at the banquet, nor did she miss anyone.
Zhao Mengyun had to entertain guests tonight and wouldn't be able to speak with Xie Huailing until the banquet ended. Therefore, she sent her personal maid to stand behind a screen in front of Xie Huailing to offer her advice. Since poisoning her father and brothers, this young woman had been riding high. The actual power of the Southern Prince's mansion was entirely in her hands; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was the most powerful woman among the royal relatives.
Lowering her gaze, the maid glanced at the guest while simultaneously watching Xie Huailing's expression. Unsure of this distinguished guest's temperament, she only dared to ask softly, "Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
Xie Huailing wanted to say no. Tonight's banquet was actually hosted by Zhao Mengyun for the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. No matter how much one learns about these officials and dignitaries from rumors, it's not as good as seeing it with one's own eyes. She could see the details by glancing around from the corner, so she had no doubts about it.
But she noticed something else in the banquet layout and asked, "Have all the guests arrived yet?"
The maid was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "You have a good eye. I was going to tell you again. It's not that not everyone has arrived, but after the Taiping Prince's Mansion arrived, His Highness the Crown Prince of Taiping disappeared and didn't come to the banquet. You didn't see him when you arrived."
Xie Huailing's eyelids twitched, as if she had been pricked by something.
Gong Jiu.
For now, she really doesn't want to hear that name.
Turning to the maid, Xie Huailing asked, "The heir of the Prince of Taiping? Didn't your princess say that he never attends banquets except for state banquets?"
"That's certainly true in theory," the maid explained softly. "His Highness the Crown Prince of Taiping doesn't often attend these kinds of occasions. Normally, when an invitation is sent, they would send someone else in response. But for some reason, tonight, the Crown Prince came in person."
What seemed like a perfectly good conversation made Xie Huailing want to close her eyes and rest. She actually did close her eyes, then raised her hand to rub them, and some things started to come to mind again.
After Gong Jiu came to Bianjing and officially established a cooperation with her, he acted as if he had nothing to do at all, always finding ways to appear in front of Xie Huailing.
More than a year passed in the blink of an eye. He seemed to always emerge from various corners, and Gong Jiu could grow in all sorts of dark and gloomy places. Xie Huailing possessed a strong ability to self-discipline and tolerance, but this did not mean that she was a saint, someone who would never feel annoyed or bored.
She was capable of dealing with Gong Jiu, but that wasn't a reason for her to necessarily do so. Even someone who isn't afraid of poisonous insects would get tired of stepping on them every day, let alone her.
Not to mention that Gong Jiu is a difficult person to deal with. If you can't kill him, ignoring him will excite him, and he will come to Xie Huailing even more diligently; rejecting him and shutting him out will excite him, and he will do the same; humiliating him and attacking him... never mind.
It's exhausting to even talk about it; it's truly flawless.
But to say that Xie Huailing wanted to hide was impossible. She wasn't afraid of anything; it was just that Gong Jiu was too much of a hassle for a lazy person like her.
Without asking any further questions, Xie Huailing dismissed the maid. She then realized that Bai Gongjiu would be coming; it was only a matter of time.
So she wasn't surprised when a shadow fell from behind her like a black curtain.
Her vision suddenly darkened, but her expression didn't change. She didn't look up or glance at the food on the table, only staring at it with a bitter and resentful look. After several attempts, she finally mustered the courage to pick up a mouthful of food and swallow it. During this series of actions, Gong Jiu sat down, bringing with her a delicate fragrance that carried a hint of haughtiness.
But that's just a mask; the fragrance is to cover up corruption, and arrogance is inseparable from madness.
"Why didn't Miss Xie tell me she was coming?" The person, who didn't care whether she was invited or not, was very outgoing and, for the time being, acted like a proper person with dignified manners.
His next sentence was: "If you had told me, I would have come with Miss Xie. It's a real shame to waste some time alone together."
Xie Huailing said calmly, "If it's not yours, what's there to regret?"
Gong Jiu, as if unable to understand human speech and only able to grasp the literal meaning, simply replied, "Yes, it will be."
Xie Huailing often couldn't be bothered to criticize Gong Jiu.
Losing the desire to communicate with him was effortless for her now. Regardless of whether he tried to start a conversation, Xie Huailing remained silent, sparing with words. Her prolonged silence mirrored Gong Jiu's ability to talk on and on in the face of her silence.
"If Miss Xie would like, I would like to invite you to a spring outing in a few days, and then take you shopping for some things..."
Whether or not he received a reply was unimportant to Gong Jiu, and whether she responded was even less important to him. Everything about Gong Jiu belonged to him; his devotion stemmed from his love, and his love was fueled by his burning desire. All his actions towards her were for his own self-gratification.
Xie Huailing knew it all too well.
Perhaps because Gong Jiu was talking, Xie Huailing, who didn't want to listen at all, focused her attention on the food, so much so that she ate a few more bites. When she came to her senses, she had already eaten several mouthfuls of food, which could be considered a good deed on her part.
But after regaining her senses, she involuntarily stopped eating. Xie Huailing always ate in fits and starts; eating was not something she particularly enjoyed.
With her chopsticks on the plate, Xie Huailing remained in that position, thinking of other things. She coaxed herself to take another bite, and as she pondered, she tapped her fingers on the edge of the plate.
When she lifted it up again, she accidentally knocked her jade bracelet off. By the time Xie Huailing realized what had happened, the bracelet had already rolled under the table, hidden in the shadows, and she couldn't see it at all.
She sighed, intending to call someone to handle the situation, but before she could turn her head, she caught sight of Gong Jiu bending over.
His Highness knelt on one knee, and thankfully there was enough space under the table for him to reach out and grab her jade bracelet. Remembering that she was picking it up for her, Xie Huailing shifted her position, but he immediately pressed himself against her, his face touching her leg.
"Over here," Gong Jiu explained.
Xie Huailing glanced at him, still too lazy to scold him. Anyway, he would pick it up and leave it to him.
This is a decision I really regret.
Gong Jiu easily picked up her jade bracelet, but showed no intention of getting up. He seemed obsessed with looking up at Xie Huailing, not to mention being so close and smelling her scent, so he didn't plan to get up quickly to take Xie Huailing's hand and put it on her wrist.
Xie Huailing didn't want it and reached out to take it herself, just wanting Gong Jiu to come out quickly.
Regret came right there. Looking down, Gong Jiu seized the opportunity to grasp her hand. He was now completely hidden in the shadows, concealed by the screen and the potted plants behind it. Only she knew there was someone under her table. His noble appearance was also hidden in the shadows. The environment was good enough to make his hypocrisy disappear, and the obscure things quickly flowed from his eyes.
Xie Huailing couldn't pull her hand away anymore. She closed her lips and stared coldly at Gong Jiu. This kind of gaze was just right; it was best to look down on him and not regard him as anything special, just an object.
Gong Jiu exhaled a breath of hot air, coming from the deepest part of his body.
This was a sign; Xie Huailing realized that this person was starting to act up again.
It was too late. Even if she didn't open her mouth, Gong Jiu would. In a corner of this noisy banquet, no one knew what was happening. The young man, who was of noble birth, knelt down and curled his upper body on her legs. He was so bold as to press his lips to her fingers in such a setting.
Then there's the damp, warm, and enveloping sensation.
Xie Huailing was right not to treat him like a human being. This guy couldn't be considered human; he was truly an animal, even more uncontrollable than an animal. He would always reach that stage without warning.
Xie Huailing watched him swallow and then reveal the mouth beneath his thin lips. Everything inside was transmitted to her through her senses. He must be pouring out something, trying to seduce something.
She became familiar with his tongue, with many familiar sounds, and even a little bit of water, but his panting was louder than the water sounds, drowning out the others.
Will they hear it? Will they be discovered?
The young man, who had been licking her fingers and repeatedly seeking a certain taste, didn't care about that. He had given her all sorts of hints, and his face gradually turned red on her leg. He must have been thinking about something, and Xie Huailing knew what he was thinking.
She suddenly withdrew her hand, the object hanging on her fingers glistening like water. Perhaps out of disgust or loathing, after a while, she slapped Gong Jiu across the face again.
Here, under the table.
It wasn't very loud, but the force was considerable, and his face immediately turned red—no, not necessarily because of pain, no, definitely not because of pain.
He immediately began to beg her, to embrace her waist; he immediately began to submit. Filthy, rotten desire overwhelmed everything; his physical form hung precariously on his body, and even his aloof, indifferent appearance became part of the amusement: he was of noble birth, he was begging to be admired, he was exceptionally gifted, he was humble and indulgent…
He picked it up from below.
Xie Huailing finally spoke.
She simply said, "Get out of the way."
————————
What this article is is, please see the title (Whistling).
Typos are included to pass the review process.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com