The imperial hunting grounds on the outskirts of Beijing were bathed in the crisp autumn air, the perfect time for a hunt. Horns blared, horses neighed, and banners fluttered in the wind. The emperor, in high spirits, led his imperial relatives and close ministers on horseback, the sound of arrows piercing the air never ceasing.
However, the atmosphere was somewhat tense under a makeshift, ornate pergola at the edge of the hunting grounds.
Luo Qingrou, daughter of Prime Minister Luo Heng, was dressed in a fiery red riding outfit that accentuated her slender figure, and should have looked dashing and heroic. But at this moment, her bright and beautiful face was covered with frost, and her beautiful eyes were fixed on the young man a few steps away who was slowly wiping the horn bow in his hand.
The young man stood tall and straight like a poplar tree, with a handsome face, sharp eyebrows that swept upwards, and a pair of peach blossom eyes that naturally carried a hint of cynical amusement. He was none other than Lu Zheng, the heir of the Marquis of Jing'an. Today, he was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with tiger patterns embroidered in gold thread on the cuffs, adding to his unruly air. Facing Luo Qingrou's almost fiery gaze, he was completely unconcerned, even twitching the corners of his mouth into a lazy, clearly provocative smile.
“Miss Luo, with that look in your eyes, are you trying to shoot me through like prey?” Lu Zheng slowly handed the polished bow to the servant behind him, his tone drawn out with his usual roguish air, “Too bad, I’m thick-skinned and tough. Your fancy footwork probably won’t even scratch a hair on my head.”
"Lu Zheng!" Luo Qingrou trembled with anger, her voice rising several decibels, attracting curious glances from several female members of the imperial family who were resting nearby. "Stop spouting nonsense! I'm asking you, what outrageous things did you say yesterday at Zuixianlou in front of so many people?!"
“Drunken Immortal Pavilion?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, feigning thought, then suddenly realized, “Oh! I remember now! I was just telling the truth. What, Miss Luo, do you think I’m wrong? Your zither playing is quite loud, but to say it ‘lingers for three days’? Tsk…” He shook his head exaggeratedly, clicking his tongue, “It probably wouldn’t even wake up that old yellow dog dozing in the backyard of Drunken Immortal Pavilion. At most, it’s just ‘ear-piercing noise,’ but it’s passable for driving away mosquitoes.”
"You—!" Luo Qingrou had never suffered such humiliation, especially in front of so many people! She had been renowned for her talent since childhood, excelling in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her musical skills, in particular, had been honed by a renowned teacher, and were always her proudest asset. Now, being so contemptuously trampled upon by Lu Zheng, she felt a surge of anger and shame rush to her head. She took a sudden step forward, raising her hand to slap that hateful handsome face!
"Qingrou!" came a hurried whisper from the side. It was Luo Qingrou's close friend, trying to pull her back.
Lu Zheng didn't even blink, and even tilted his head slightly with a leisurely air, as if waiting for her to hit him, the playful smile on his lips deepening.
Luo Qingrou's hand stopped abruptly just inches from Lu Zheng's cheek. She bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled, her chest heaving violently. Her beautiful eyes burned with rage, but deep inside, there seemed to be a hint of grievance and tears that even she herself was unaware of.
Luo Qingrou's earth-shattering statement, "Tearing up the marriage certificate in front of His Majesty," exploded like boiling oil poured into ice water! The whispering women of the imperial family and noblemen around them were now all dumbfounded. Even the faint shouts from afar disappeared. Countless gazes, like searchlights, focused on Luo Qingrou and Lu Zheng, filled with shock, astonishment, disbelief, and some even had excited glints in their eyes.
Tearing up the marriage certificate? And in front of His Majesty? Has this Miss Luo really been driven mad by Prince Lu?! Her audacity is simply outrageous!
Lu Zheng's usual nonchalant, roguish smile froze completely, as if he'd been punched hard in the face. His fingers tightened around the riding crop, knuckles turning white, veins bulging on the back of his hand. His usually playful, peach-blossom eyes were now sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the woman before him, trembling with anger, her cheeks flushed, yet her back stubbornly straight. Besides the burning fury in her eyes, there seemed to be a hint of resentment, a tearful grievance driven to despair? This resentment, like a tiny needle, unexpectedly pricked him, and an unprecedented feeling of frustration, irritation, and an inexplicable palpitation gripped his heart, more intense than any previous confrontation.
"Luo Qingrou," Lu Zheng's voice deepened, carrying a chilling undertone of offense, each word deliberate and forceful, "Do you know what you're saying?" He stepped forward, his tall figure exuding an oppressive aura, "A marriage agreement—do you think you can just dismiss it like that? In front of His Majesty? Ha, you have quite the nerve!"
“No matter how bold I am, I can’t match your ability to twist the truth and humiliate people so wantonly, Young Master Lu!” Luo Qingrou met his icy gaze without flinching, her chest heaving with emotion, her voice filled with a desperate resolve, “Since you treat me like trash and disregard the reputation of the Luo family, why should I continue to uphold that laughable verbal agreement? Today’s events are witnessed by everyone! I, Luo Qingrou, always keep my word! Bring me the marriage certificate!”
She stretched out her hand again, palm up, her fair fingers trembling slightly in the sunlight, yet carrying an undeniable determination.
"You!" Lu Zheng was speechless for a moment, choked by her uncompromising attitude, and the nameless fire in his chest burned even more fiercely. He wanted to say that it was just a few jokes from Zuixianlou, he wanted to say that it was because she always acted so aloof in front of him, especially... especially when she was around Crown Prince Xiao Chengjing! This thought suddenly shot into his mind like a venomous snake, instantly igniting a deeper anger and a kind of indescribable bitterness.
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