Chapter 59: Born with Supernatural Power
Concubine Li's smile froze at the corner of her mouth, but in an instant it turned into anger: "Your Majesty always teases me~"
The slender finger stabbed at the emperor's chest, but the armor quietly curled into the palm of his hand. Three years after the death of the crown prince, the throne of the Eastern Palace was vacant, but the emperor insisted on keeping the crown princess as a cover.
Could it be that through today's test, he had discovered Long'er's thoughts?
Even more despicable was Luo Zhaohan, who actually managed to convince His Majesty to grant her marriage! If she were allowed to marry into Prince Duan's mansion, wouldn't that hinder Prince Rui's bid for the throne? And then there's the Crown Princess...
Concubine Li stared at the half-melted candle wax on the table and suddenly felt a bitter taste in her throat. Long'er had even concealed from her the collusion between Prince Duan's Mansion and the Eastern Palace. He was truly getting too powerful!
"Cold?" The emperor suddenly held her trembling hand tightly.
Concubine Li snuggled into the fragrance of the dragon robe, her nails scratching the dark patterns on the emperor's clothes: "I am worried about the thunder..."
"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings." The emperor stroked her dark black hair, but his eyes looked at Merlin through the carved window lattice.
It was also a snowy day like this when the prince was assassinated.
The fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the smell of charcoal fire drifted into Zhuhua Pavilion. Concubine Li listened to the sound of the night watchman and suddenly remembered the part of Luo Zhaohan's snow-white neck that was exposed when he knelt.
Such a slender and fragile neck, but the head refused to lower - the same stubbornness as the Crown Princess.
…
Luo Zhaohan walked out, and the voices around him gradually rose, and finally it became noisy and lively.
After turning out of a glazed archway, the view suddenly opened up and in front of me was a wide chess field.
The palace maid beside him led Luo Zhaohan forward. He saw that many people were already sitting in the surrounding stands. The highest stand was covered with a light gauze curtain, which moved slightly in the wind, and a few figures could be vaguely seen in it.
The stadium was bustling with people, with cheers and the sound of rapid horse hooves interweaving, and it was obvious that the battle was in full swing.
Even in the cold weather of December, the young men galloping on horseback with high spirits made the place full of vitality, which made Luo Zhaohan feel light-hearted and happy.
"Miss Luo, please follow me." The palace maid gave soft instructions, leading Luo Zhaohan along the path on the side of the playing field towards the highest stand.
Luo Zhaohan didn't stop walking, but his eyes were unconsciously drawn to the noisy and intense scene in the arena. He saw dozens of young men in brocade clothes galloping on their horses, fighting hard to grab a bright red hydrangea adorned with golden bells.
She was watching intently when her eyes suddenly fixed - the agile leader riding a horse in the front was actually Xie Wuqi!
He really came!
At this moment——
"sister!"
A young man's clear call, as clear as a spring, suddenly rang out, instantly attracting many eyes from the surroundings.
Luo Zhaohan looked in the direction of the voice and saw her younger brother Luo Jince sitting in the stands not far ahead, with most of his body leaning out of the carved railings. He was waving at her desperately, an excited smile on his face.
Luo Zhaohan's eyebrows curved, a smile spread across his lips. Just as he was about to walk towards his brother, he suddenly heard a gentle voice calling from the stands not far away:
"Miss Luo."
Luo Zhaohan responded and turned around, and saw Sun Honglei walking down the stands from a group of young people who were chatting and laughing, and walking straight towards her.
Luo Zhaohan paused, recalling the meaningful hint from Concubine Li in Zhuhua Pavilion just now, and her brows couldn't help but frown.
"Young Master Sun." Luo Zhaohan remained expressionless, knelt down according to etiquette, and bowed to Sun Honglei.
Seeing this, the palace maid standing by quietly stepped back a few steps with great tact.
Sun Honglei also bowed politely in return, but after he stood up, his heart suddenly beat faster for some unknown reason.
He knew perfectly well that the most prudent time to speak to Luo Zhaohan was in broad daylight, in full view of the public. Only then would he appear open and honest, beyond reproach, in the eyes of others.
Sun Honglei raised his head, and when his eyes fell on Luo Zhaohan's face, the astonishment in his eyes was hard to conceal. Miss Luo had obviously put on a lot of makeup today, and compared to her usual bright and beautiful appearance, she had added a few more dazzling brilliances, making it almost impossible for him to take his eyes away.
His hands hidden under his wide sleeves unconsciously clenched slightly, and his palms were sweating from nervousness.
Two days ago, he received a handwritten letter from his cousin, Prince Rui Chao Yinlong. The letter stated that Princess Liuyang had already set her sights on Pei Ji, the powerful Dali Temple Junior Official, and told him to stop worrying and focus on pursuing Miss Luo.
The moment he received the letter, an indescribable ecstasy instantly filled his chest.
At this moment, seeing Luo Zhaohan's clear eyes looking at him, waiting for the next words, Sun Honglei's throat moved slightly, and his voice took on a barely noticeable hoarseness due to nervousness:
"Miss Luo, after tonight's dinner... could you please move to the plum blossom forest for a chat?"
Sun Honglei's ears couldn't help but turn red at the seemingly abrupt invitation. This was the first time in his life that he had truly fallen for a woman, so he had no idea how to please Miss Luo.
After much thought, the only way was to find a quiet and elegant place, away from external disturbances, and express my feelings to her clearly.
Other things may be calculated and weighed, but in this matter, Sun Honglei is unwilling to be hypocritical. He just wants to show his sincere heart.
If Miss Luo agrees to be with him, then from now on, he will do his best to protect her and let her live her life as she wishes, and keep her as bright and lively as she is now.
In the brief yet incredibly long moment of waiting for Luo Zhaohan's response, countless thoughts flashed through Sun Honglei's mind. The one that came to mind the most was - what should he do if Miss Luo didn't agree?
He had no idea that his aunt, Concubine Li, had already summoned Luo Zhaohan. Just when he was feeling uneasy and on edge, he suddenly heard Luo Zhaohan respond crisply:
"Can."
Sun Honglei looked up suddenly and saw Luo Zhaohan nodding at him seriously.
He was startled for a moment, then his heartbeat suddenly quickened like a drumbeat. An uncontrollable surge of joy washed over him, as if even the biting cold wind around him had been quietly tinged with warmth. "Then...see you there?"
Sun Honglei couldn't help but try again to confirm, his eyes filled with caution and deep anticipation that Luo Zhaohan couldn't understand.
"See you later." Luo Zhaohan nodded again, and it was clear what he meant.
However, what she was thinking was completely different from Sun Honglei's, and was very simple and clear.
Judging from Concubine Li's words and expression just now, it was clear that she wanted to match her with Sun Honglei.
In her opinion, this was simply a random matchmaking. She thought Sun Honglei might not be willing to do this under such pressure.
In that case, I might as well go and hear what he has to say. It would be best if the two of them could discuss it face to face and find a reliable solution to dispel Concubine Li's inappropriate idea.
The bluestone steps were covered with a thin layer of frost. Luo Zhaohan climbed up the stairs, lifting her skirt.
When the maid who led the way stopped at the bottom of the stage, Luo Jince had already taken two steps at a time and came over: "Sister, why did Sun Honglei stop you just now?"
Before he finished speaking, the young man felt a cool breeze brushing against his back. Turning around, he saw Pei Ji standing up and adjusting the cuffs of his moon-white, dark cloud-patterned brocade robe. He hurriedly explained, "Master Pei was here to watch the game first."
Luo Zhaohan's steps faltered slightly. The vermilion lacquer railings of the stands were frosted with icicles. The man stood facing the wind, his long hair, bound up in a jade crown, fluttering in the cold wind. He seemed less austere than usual.
"Miss Luo." When Pei Ji bowed, the Buddhist beads on his wrist slipped out half an inch.
"Lord Pei." Luo Zhaohan knelt down to return the greeting and caught a glimpse of the new black iron token on his waist - a token of the Dali Temple's case handling, but now it was tied with a faded peace knot.
Luo Jince tugged at his sister's sleeve and asked, "Sun Honglei didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
"Empress Li summoned me to speak on behalf of Young Master Sun." Luo Zhaohan lowered his voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pei Ji's hand holding the teacup pause. "But Young Master Sun is quite reasonable. He asked me to talk it over alone."
"Let him try and pester me if he dares!" The young man clenched his fists and suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck - Pei Ji looked up at him at some point, his eyes like a blade soaked in snow water.
Luo Zhaohan didn't notice the undercurrent and patted his brother's hand lightly: "Since Master Sun is willing to talk it out, you don't have to act like a cannibal."
"Miss Luo," Pei Ji suddenly called out, startling the charcoal brazier with a crackling sound. His fingertips rubbed the rim of the celadon cup, his voice colder than the icy edges of the eaves: "The Imperial Garden is crowded with people, so proceed with caution."
The words were vague, but Luo Zhaohan was clear in his mind. The Crown Princess's distress was still fresh in his mind, and today's polo match had probably become someone's hunting ground.
"Thank you for your advice, sir." As she bowed, plum petals fell on her shoulders. Looking up, she saw Pei Ji was about to speak but hesitated, and she added, "Take care of yourself, sir."
Pei Ji's Adam's apple moved slightly, and a crescent mark was left on the palm of his hand in his sleeve.
As the girl turned, her pomegranate-red cape swept across the blue brick floor, burning his eyes like a flame—the Princess of Liuyang was in the highest stand, and he had received a tip-off. But when he saw her worried expression, he almost blurted out his plan...
The entire stadium suddenly erupted in thunderous cheers and shouts. The sound was so overwhelming that even the stands beneath their feet seemed to tremble slightly.
Almost at the same moment, everyone's eyes were cast towards the field, and Luo Zhaohan was no exception.
It turned out that Xie Wuqi had snatched the red ball. He was sitting on his horse, full of vigor and vitality, holding the bright red ball high in the air, like the blazing sun in the sky, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Pei Ji finally dared to lower his eyelids. His gaze, as light as it could be, fell on Luo Zhaohan's bun, finally settling on the shimmering golden hairpin.
The tiny tassels swayed slightly with her movements, reflecting bits of gold, and the halo seemed to make a subtle sound as it flowed.
The shaking, the light and shadow, were like a stone thrown into the lake of his heart, causing ripples to spread silently and quietly disturbing the tranquility in his heart.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind: This hairpin really... suits her.
At this moment, Luo Jince, who was standing by, stared at Xie Wuqi, who was beaming with joy and eager to show it to the world. He couldn't help but curl his lips, his disdain evident in his words: "Humph, look at how he's showing off. He's just like a peacock spreading its tail, with it almost reaching the sky!"
“Puff—”
Luo Zhaohan couldn't help but burst out laughing. The hairpins in her hair tinkled and swayed with the slight tremor of her shoulders. This subtle movement startled someone so much that they immediately averted their gaze, as if burned.
Luo Zhaohan was completely oblivious. She turned around, raised her hand, and patted her brother's shoulder with approval: "You're absolutely right!" Jin Ce's words really touched her heart. It seemed that keeping a close eye on Xie Wuqi, the "peacock", might actually yield some results.
She then instructed, "Alright, sister, go upstairs first. You stay here, don't run around, and be careful."
After saying that, she turned to Pei Ji again and was about to nod to indicate her departure, but she saw that he lowered his eyes and his gaze was actually falling on... the ground?
Luo Zhaohan subconsciously followed his gaze - the blue brick floor was clean and empty, without even a fallen leaf.
Strange… She muttered to herself. There was no time to lose.
Without giving it any more thought, Luo Zhaohan turned around and walked briskly towards the high platform where the best view was. She lifted the draped brocade curtain and stepped inside.
"Zhao Han! You're finally here!"
Chao Yinzhen, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stepped forward and looked Luo Zhaohan up and down carefully with his bright eyes. Seeing that she was safe and sound, the barely perceptible worry between his brows quietly dissipated and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Zhaohan smiled at her, his gaze passing Yinzhen and settling into the depths of the stands. There sat the graceful Crown Princess, and beside her—the girl with lively, curious, and scrutinizing eyes—was none other than Xinyi Zhaoyang, Princess of Liuyang.
Luo Zhaohan stepped forward and respectfully saluted the Crown Princess. As she stood up, Chao Yinzhen eagerly took her hand and introduced her enthusiastically, "Zhaohan, look! This is Princess Zhaoyang."
Luo Zhaohan knelt again, politely saying, "Your servant Luo Zhaohan greets Princess Liuyang."
Upon hearing this, Xinyi Zhaoyang actually jumped up from her seat, took a few steps to Luo Zhaohan, opened her eyes wide without any hesitation, and scanned her from head to toe several times, her gaze direct and frank.
"Are you Luo Zhaohan?" she asked crisply, with a hint of innocent questioning. "Sister Yinzhen praised you to the skies, saying you were 'superb in martial arts' and 'strong enough to lift a tripod'!"
"But when I look at you..." She paused, then took a closer look at Luo Zhaohan's slender figure. "You are so delicate and graceful, and your arms and legs don't look like those of someone with such supernatural powers."
Luo Zhaohan remained calm after hearing this. Instead, she glanced sideways at Chao Yinzhen with a smile, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She had no idea that she had such a "reputation" in the eyes of Princess Yinzhen.
"Your Highness, your praise is too kind. When Princess Yinzhen said 'strong enough to lift a tripod', I shamelessly accepted it as a compliment." She spoke in a calm voice, neither admitting nor denying.
Seeing that she didn't refute or shirk her motives, Xinyi Zhaoyang's eyes grew even more interested. She casually extended her right hand to the side.
Standing in the corner was a tall woman dressed in Dongling-style clothing. She had a resolute face, a strong body, and a solemn expression.
Seeing the princess's gesture, she immediately took off the thing on her back - it was a longbow with a strange shape, much larger than the bows commonly used in the Western Wei army. The bow was wrapped in tough animal skin, and the heavy texture seemed to be felt through the air.
Xinyi Zhaoyang raised her small chin slightly, a hint of challenge. The Dongling female warrior understood and strode forward, steadily handing the weighty bow to Luo Zhaohan with both hands.
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