Wei Dongchen was promoted another rank after returning from the Western Border, and is now a second-rank official, on par with Chu Lingyu.
Following the great victory in the western border, Wei Huaixu specially hosted a banquet in Fanghua Hall.
In summer, Fanghua Palace is surrounded by vast expanses of green lotus leaves, clustering around delicate and blooming lotus flowers in pink, white, yellow... a riot of colors.
The palace in the center of the lake was filled with important officials of the court, with the emperor at the head of the table, and the empress and imperial concubine on his left and right.
Qingying was quite restless at this moment.
A bright gaze fell upon her from not far away; she dared not look back, nor could she avoid it.
Her hand, which was resting on her knees under the table, was suddenly covered by a large, warm palm, which startled her so much that her back stiffened.
She swallowed hard and looked over, "Your Majesty..."
"My beloved concubine seems quite nervous?" The man's deep voice was close to her ear, carrying a hint of hidden danger. "What's wrong? Are you too happy to see your old flame?"
"Your Majesty is overthinking it. I am not nervous. I am just feeling unwell because of the hot weather."
"Oh? Really?"
"Really." She looked directly into Wei Huaixu's eyes, without blinking.
When Wei Huaixu met her clear eyes, his anger dissipated in an instant, and he said softly, "Alright, if my beloved concubine is feeling unwell, she should return to the palace to rest as soon as possible."
Qingying slowly withdrew her hand, then smiled, stood up, bowed, and took her leave.
"You..." He was speechless with anger again.
However, not wanting to lose face in front of everyone, he suppressed his temper and, with a smile on his face, ordered, "Send Her Majesty back to the palace."
His hands, hidden under the table, were already clenched into fists.
Just then, Qingying left Fanghua Palace by boat and headed towards the Imperial Garden when she encountered a man in a purple official robe.
What are you doing here?
It's no wonder she was surprised; Wei Dongchen was sitting lazily in his seat when she left.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Wei Dongchen smiled and spoke respectfully, standing straight without any intention of bowing.
Qingying didn't mind, but frowned slightly and said, "You're blaming me."
"No." His tone was curt.
“I know you resent me for not keeping my promise, and I admit it. It was indeed I who wronged you first, and I apologize to you here.”
Do you think an apology can erase everything from the past?
Qingying shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant."
Wei Dongchen gazed at her silently.
It had been a long time since I'd seen her, but she had grown even more beautiful. She was in the prime of her youth, with her hair styled in a dark bun, adorned with a phoenix hairpin. Her skin was like solidified cream, her eyes like autumn water, and her delicate eyebrows, like slender crescent moons, were naturally green without any makeup. Beneath her full nose, her lips were a touch of crimson. Every smile and frown was like a flower blooming on a branch, exquisitely beautiful and beyond compare.
Yu Yue stepped forward and blocked Qingying's path, her tone slightly cold: "It's probably inappropriate for the young master to stare at the empress like that."
Wei Dongchen seemed to just come to his senses, lowering his eyelashes, "Your subject has been rude."
"It's alright. I have something I'd like to discuss with the young master privately. Would it be convenient for you?" Qingying glanced to the side and said calmly.
Wei Dongchen naturally wouldn't refuse her.
Qingying led him into a nearby palace, leaving all the palace maids and eunuchs outside.
She closed the door and immediately walked to the other side.
Wei Dongchen looked at her strange behavior with a blank expression, "What are you doing?"
"I suddenly realized that someone is missing next to me."
"What's the meaning……"
Qingying walked along the wall nervously, pushing open the windows above as she went, only to find that they were all sealed tightly.
Wei Dongchen finally realized what was going on, "You mean there's a spy in your life who's conspiring with outsiders to plot against you?"
Qingying glanced at him, "Young Master, you've been in the military camp for so long and haven't completely turned into a brute yet. Then I'll trouble you to help me think of a way to turn the tables on him."
"What are you talking about? We need strategies to fight battles, you know."
Wei Dongchen walked to her side, pushed open the window in front of her, and said, "It's all sealed off."
"I already know." Qingying sat down on a chair nearby, looking around the room with her big eyes.
The side rooms in the Imperial Garden were for palace servants to rest temporarily. The rooms only had tables and chairs, some elegant calligraphy and paintings and exquisite ornaments, and nothing else.
Wei Dongchen casually pulled up a chair and sat down, crossing his legs as he said, "There isn't even a bed. You can't expect us to be having an affair here, can you?"
Does it matter if we're having an affair? You're already here.
"That's true. So what are you going to do?"
Qingying looked up at the rooftop and asked, "With your skills, can you get up there?"
"You can get up by following the roof beams."
What if I were added to the list?
Wei Dongchen then looked up and grinned, "Then I'm afraid I'll offend Your Majesty."
"Anyway, we've had physical intimacy before." Qingying spread her hands, looking like she was at his mercy.
Wei Dongchen felt a sudden flush of heat for no reason and turned her head away. "You really are... Fine, I'll help you this time."
He stood up, walked to the beam, and with a few leaps, climbed onto the beam using the pillars as footholds. After examining it for a while, he said with his head down, "I need tools to pry the tiles off."
Qingying looked around, her gaze finally settling on the chair beneath her, lost in thought.
With a loud crash, Wei Dongchen watched as the petite girl slammed the chair against the wall, breaking off one of its legs.
"Don't be so surprised. The side rooms in the Imperial Garden are rarely visited. The tables and chairs here are quite old." As she spoke, she picked up a chair leg, tugged at it in her hand, and asked, "Can this be used as a tool?"
"Yes, that's fine."
Just then, Tongxia's voice came from outside the door: "What happened, Your Highness? Should I come in?"
"It's nothing, I just accidentally broke something. You don't need to come in."
Although Tong Xia had doubts, she dared not disobey orders.
Wei Dongchen climbed down, grabbed a stool leg, climbed back up, stood up, and reached the roof. His slender fingers searched the tiles for weak points, and once he found one, he used the stool leg to pry it open.
Things became much easier after the first tile was removed, and he quickly chiseled a hole in the roof.
Qingying remained crouched by the door, listening to the sounds outside, but thankfully it remained quiet as usual.
After confirming that the opening was large enough for Qingying to squeeze out, Wei Dongchen clapped his hands and leaped off the roof beam, landing lightly and silently.
"Come on, let me carry you up." He opened his arms to Qingying.
Qingying didn't hesitate and obediently hugged him.
Wei Dongchen scooped her up in his arms and said, "Hold on tight."
Qingying wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded.
Then, Wei Dongchen supported her with one hand and touched the beam with the other, and climbed up in a few quick movements.
Once they reached the roof beam, he did not immediately put Qingying down.
He embraced her with both arms, lowered his head, and asked, "Are you truly determined to become his concubine?"
Qingying blinked, reached out and touched his cheek, and said softly, "You've lost weight and gotten darker. Life in the Western Territory must have been tough."
He choked up, his eyes fixed on her beautiful face. Seeing the look of heartache on her face, the defenses he had just built up instantly crumbled.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that nothing else mattered.
Wei Dongchen only wanted her.
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