11 Brother and Sister (Big Revision)
◎Don't you like me calling you brother?◎
In the hidden rockery, Wei Che raised his hand and stroked his cheek, which was still warm, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a happy smile like that of his youth.
He lowered his head, but saw that the girl was not as shy as before. Instead, she tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips tightly, with obvious resistance on her face.
It was as if he had just done something extremely disgusting.
The smile in his eyes faded away layer by layer.
How could she feel ashamed when a man who was always philandering forced another woman to do the same? She should be more disgusted.
After all, he is now Wei Che, the prince of Fuguo, and not Xie Qi, the major general of the Southern Border Army.
"The assassin that day..." After a long pause, Wei Che spoke again, his voice already a little hoarse. He only realized it after he opened his mouth, so he covered it up with a light sigh, and then continued: "I have already found out that the assassin that day was from the Cen family of the Shangshu Mansion, but it was not Miss Cen San."
Emperor Yongshun ascended the throne at a young age, and Empress Dowager Wei ruled the country from behind the curtain. She cultivated many loyal ministers in the court.
Later, when Emperor Yongshun took power, a rift arose between the emperor, empress, and their mother and son over power. The disagreements grew greater and greater. Empress Dowager Wei was unwilling to give up power, while Emperor Yongshun was bent on seizing power. In the end, a struggle between the two major forces behind enemy lines occurred in the court.
Minister of Works Cen Liangping wanted to show his favor to the Queen Mother, so he chose to marry Miss Cen San to the Queen Mother's maternal family, the Wei family, that is, the eldest son of the Wei family, Wei Ming. However, Wei Ming had already fallen in love with Xu Qinghe and made a big fuss about it, forcing the Cen family to send assassins to kill her when she was outside the palace on her birthday.
But what puzzled Wei Che was that Xu Qinghe was so loved by the Queen Mother, how dare those people from the Cen family?
He didn't know, but Xu Qinghe knew it very well.
As long as you investigate carefully, it will be no secret what the Queen Mother Wei's attitude towards her is. The Cen family will naturally act without restraint. Even if the Queen Mother finds out in the future, they can easily cover up the matter.
After all, to Queen Mother Wei, Xu Qinghe was sometimes more like a disturbing beauty who brought disaster.
Seeing that there was no trace of surprise on her face, Wei Che understood: "You have known about this all along? Is that why you didn't ask me to investigate that day?"
Xu Qinghe nodded and didn't care.
But in Wei Che's eyes, she was infatuated with Wei Ming and only wanted to marry him, not caring about anything else.
After all, there are a lot of rumors about the two of them.
Childhood sweethearts, devoted to each other.
We are of one mind and will grow old together.
These were the words that should have been used to describe her and Xie Qi. Those looks of envy or praise were now directed at another man, the outstanding young man in Kyoto, the eldest son of the Wei family, Wei Ming.
As if deliberately opposing him, a male voice suddenly sounded outside the rockery.
"Nanzhi? Why are you here alone? Where is your princess?"
Nanzhi's voice, deliberately raised, came from outside: "...Master Wei, my princess got drunk and felt dizzy, so she came out to sober up. She wanted to hide away and avoid being seen, so she stood inside and waited for me to call her out."
Wei Ming said it was not necessary, and was very understanding: "Since she is not feeling well, she can just go back to the bedroom. Why bother to endure it?"
Nanzhi said, "The princess probably doesn't want to spoil the New Year's Eve banquet."
But in his heart, he was hoping that the princess would come out sooner. Young Master Wei could say that it was not necessary, but if the princess just went outside to sober up, he could not avoid her. If the Queen Mother Wei knew about this, she might be punished again.
Xu Qinghe, who was almost trapped in Wei Che's shadow, had the same idea. She looked at Wei Che and signaled him to move aside quickly to let her out.
Wei Che's figure was facing the warm candlelight outside, and the light in his eyes was a little dim. He touched Xu Qinghe's hair again and showed her the transparent spider silk on his palm.
It really was hooked on the spider silk.
Xu Qinghe nodded and bowed to express his gratitude, but still wanted him to give way.
Wei Che did not move, but took out an exquisite sandalwood box from his arms and handed it to her.
Xu Qinghe raised her eyes and signaled to him with her eyes: What do you mean?
Wei Che took her hand and wrote three words on the palm of her hand: Birthday gift.
He looked the same as usual, but the affection on his face had faded a little. Except for his eyes that seemed to still have a smile, the rest of his expression was indifferent.
The man's hot fingertips stroked the palm of her hand, which was slightly itchy, but for Xu Qinghe, it was more of a resistance to strangers.
This was only the second time she had met the Prince of Wei, but he seemed a little too familiar with her.
But maybe all romantic and passionate people are like this. He treats me as just another girl.
She put the box into her sleeve pocket, straightened her clothes, took the palace lantern which still had the warmth from his palm, and walked out through the space he had left for her.
Wei Ming stood outside in a royal blue robe, a white jade crown on his head, and a lake blue belt around his waist, which made him look handsome, dignified and polite.
Seeing her come out, he smiled gently and called out, "Sister Qinghe."
Qinghe's sister.
Inside the rockery, Xie Qi pinched the spider web wrapped around his hand and pulled the corner of his lips.
When she was very young, Xie Qi always liked to call her "Sister Qinghe". Later, when she grew up a little, the girl frowned and stopped him from calling her that.
"My last name is Xu, your last name is Xie, and I don't want to be your sister."
Xie Qi responded with a smile, but she still often chased him and called him brother. He laughed at her for being overbearing and arrogant, saying that she only allowed the officials to set fires but not the people to light lamps.
The girl straightened her chest confidently and said logically, "Then you are two years older than me, so you are my older brother. Besides, don't you think brother sounds good? Don't you like me calling you brother?"
Of course he thought the word "brother" sounded nice, and of course he liked her calling him "brother".
But now, she greeted another man with a smile, and with a smile on her face, she called him, "Cousin Wei."
In fact, Xu Qinghe outside the rockery did not have a smile on her face, nor did she greet him. She still had the same indifferent expression as she had in the rockery just now. When walking side by side with Wei Ming, it was always Wei Ming who was talking or asking, and she was listening or answering.
"I've been busy studying these days and haven't been to the palace to see you. Is everything okay? How are your injuries?"
Xu Qinghe nodded. "Thank you, cousin Wei, for your concern. I'm fine. My injuries have healed. The weather has been cold these days. Cousin, while your studies are important, you should also take care of yourself and not fall ill."
She cares about him.
This realization made Wei Ming feel happy, and a delighted smile appeared on the corner of his lips: "Okay, thank you for your advice, sister. I will definitely do it."
Xu Qinghe could feel his burning gaze on her, so she just lowered her head to look at the hem of her skirt being lifted up when she walked.
After the two had walked away for a long time, Wei Che finally came out of the rockery. He could no longer see the backs of the two walking side by side.
She couldn't be seen with Prince Wei, but she could have a pleasant conversation with Wei Ming.
Perhaps, Wei Ming is the good husband she said she found for herself after coming to Beijing?
No matter what, this has nothing to do with him, Wei Che.
Wei Che lowered his head and restrained his expression. When he raised his eyes again, a smile appeared on his face again. He walked in the opposite direction to Concubine Zhao as he had just said to his younger brother Wei.
As he was about to go out, a thin and short eunuch came out from the bamboo forest near the rockery.
The young eunuch did not hear the conversation between the two people in the rockery, but he saw with his own eyes that the maid beside Princess Qinghe personally led Prince Wei Che to the rockery for a secret meeting.
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