Chapter 31 Apology
After the meeting, Ling Wei stayed behind to finalize the specific area details for each party to be responsible for with Xie Zhuo.
The two huddled together in front of the unfolded map of the palace, so close that they could almost feel each other's presence.
"This area is under the jurisdiction of my Jinwu Guard Team A..." Xie Zhuo was saying.
"Gurgle—"
A distinct rumbling sound suddenly broke the silence of the room.
Ling Wei felt the boy beside her freeze instantly.
Are you hungry at this hour? She just ate and is still a bit full.
Wait a minute, Ling Wei realized: "You didn't eat?!"
She suddenly realized, "That food box, is it your lunch?" She had thought he was incredibly resourceful and had gotten it from the kitchen.
Xie Zhuo turned his face away, his voice a little muffled: "I just get hungry quickly, it's nothing serious."
Since she had received a meal from him after all, Ling Wei took out the remaining pastry from her sleeve and handed it to him: "Thank you for giving me the meal, cousin. Use this to fill your stomach first."
At that moment, Xie Zhuo was holding the edge of the map with one hand and a red pen for marking with the other. He subconsciously looked down and opened his mouth towards the snacks.
But when he felt the other person's hand slightly withdraw, he paused, put down the vermilion brush, and took it.
That evening, the joint patrol was launched quietly. In order to be surprise, it was not announced in advance, but rather the team was assembled on short notice to assign tasks.
Because the Ministry of Justice was short-staffed, Ling Wei, the head of the ministry, personally took charge. She led a group to an area close to her residence and strolled over there leisurely.
As they walked along a secluded bamboo path, a palace maid's figure loomed ahead, glancing left and right suspiciously.
Ling Wei paused, then silently followed.
The palace maid stopped behind a rockery and paced anxiously, clearly waiting for someone.
Ling Wei crouched down and hid behind a large tree, holding her breath.
Before long, a man dressed as a guard rushed over.
The guard arrived and said, "Sister Azi, we can't meet like this anymore. I heard that Her Majesty the Empress is furious and has issued a strict decree. Things are very tense."
Ling Wei nodded in satisfaction from the shadows: Not bad, the little bit of information she had leaked beforehand had worked.
Otherwise, given the lax discipline in the harem, tonight would probably see a "grand review of troops," and she would be exhausted to death.
Unexpectedly, the palace maid, upon hearing this, was filled with grievance: "But I saw you with my own eyes yesterday, chatting and laughing with Cui'er from Jingfu Palace in the corridor, exchanging loving glances! You...you're just trying to fool me!" She became more and more heartbroken as she spoke, "No! The engagement is off! We're done with each other from now on!" With that, she covered her face and tried to run away.
The guard panicked and grabbed her wrist: "I didn't! Let me explain!"
Then came a heartfelt confession, as if possessed by a character from a Qiong Yao drama: "My heart for you is as clear as heaven and earth, as clear as the sun and moon! You are the only one in my heart. As for Cui'er, I only comforted her a couple of times because I saw her being scolded by the nanny. If I have uttered a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning!" As he spoke, he raised his hand to swear an oath.
Moved by his heartfelt performance, the palace maid tearfully threw herself into his arms, saying, "I believe you, Brother Kang..."
The two shared a passionate kiss, so intense it was almost like a scene from an R-rated movie, leaving Ling Wei completely bewildered.
Wait, buddy?
You just showed up like that?!
She didn't even have time to stop her, and it just happened like that?
She planned to call someone first; she didn't want to face this situation alone, where two naked people could be seen without her noticing.
Just as I turned around, someone suddenly appeared behind me.
Just as Ling Wei was about to scream, a hand covered her mouth with calluses.
It's Xie Zhuo! Does this guy walk so quietly?!
Ling Wei was a little annoyed, her heart still pounding wildly. "System! Why didn't you remind me?!"
The system's guilty conscience led it to hide; could it say that it had just been watching this melodramatic drama and was completely mesmerized?
The only option is to pretend to be dead and not present.
The wild mandarin ducks behind the artificial hill became increasingly wild, their panting and low moans clearly audible.
The tree behind Ling Wei wasn't very well hidden; she could be discovered if she moved her position even slightly.
Xie Zhuo probably realized this as well.
He whispered to Ling Wei, "Don't make a sound, I'll take you up the tree."
Climbing a tree? Ling Wei's mind hadn't even processed what was happening when she felt a tightness around her waist—Xie Zhuo's arm was already wrapped around her waist.
The next instant, Ling Wei felt her feet suddenly leave the ground, Xie Zhuo's movements were fluid and effortless.
Xie Zhuo placed her in a relatively safe recess in the tree branch, while he half-squatted on the outside, firmly gripping a branch above with one hand to stabilize himself, and naturally placing his other arm across her side, forming a stable and protective barrier.
Their bodies were inevitably very close, and Ling Wei felt as if he was half-encircling her in his arms.
This posture... instantly pulled Ling Wei's memory back to behind that rockery, except this time Ling Wei was fully conscious, and the clean, refreshing scent of soap shavings lingered around her nose.
All around were the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze, and... the seductive sounds of the couple below, lost in their own world.
This is so torturous! Ling Wei poked the person in front of her and could clearly feel the boy's firm chest muscles, full of power ready to be unleashed.
She asked in a low voice, "Why didn't you go and catch it...?"
The boy shuddered after she poked him, then gripped the tree branch above him to steady himself. He gritted his teeth and said, "Wait until they're done."
It turns out she wasn't the only one who didn't want a sty.
After spending the day together, the tension between the two was not as palpable as when they parted at the princess's residence, and their relationship had eased considerably. However, there was still an unspoken awkwardness between them.
Remembering this person's paranoia last time, Ling Wei thought for a moment and decided to make a disclaimer: "This time it wasn't my request..."
I hadn't expected any response, but unexpectedly, I heard something from above:
"……sorry."
Ling Wei was slightly taken aback.
"That time... I misunderstood you."
Xie Zhuo's breathy voice brushed past my ear, "My cousin was harmed by someone. I only spoke harshly to you because of you... I suspected you had ulterior motives."
"I wronged you, I'm sorry."
Ling Wei paused for a moment, then said softly, "Never mind, you didn't know the truth back then anyway."
"Hmm." Xie Zhu responded softly, his tone gentle, "But my cousin suffered more injustice."
He lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against the top of her hair, passing over the gossamer-thin golden butterfly pendant, his voice tinged with a cautious probing: "Cousin... would you forgive me?"
Ling Wei nodded gently in his arms and gave a barely audible "hmm".
Xie Zhuo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He smiled silently, and the smile seemed to be transmitted to Ling Wei through his chest.
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