Chapter 121 "Your Highness, I have always been here..."
Yan Jiarou was startled and instinctively wanted to turn around, but the person grabbed her waist and covered her mouth with his other hand, pulling her backward.
The man was very strong. She struggled a few times, but it was all in vain. She could only be dragged backward by him.
The wind rustled through the bamboo grove, perfectly masking their movements.
Through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, she saw Ji Le standing on tiptoe, reaching out to encircle the neck of the person opposite her, seemingly... kissing him!
She stared intently at the scene, then suddenly began to struggle violently, but her body was restrained and she was unable to break free.
He could only watch helplessly as the two kissed and cuddled.
A tear rolled down her cheek, and she seemed to lose all her strength in an instant. Her eyes were empty and lifeless, and she had given up even struggling.
The person seemed lifeless, just a lifeless shell.
She was dragged along like a walking corpse until they left the bamboo forest. He turned her around, shook her shoulders, and called out "Jiarou" repeatedly. She looked up blankly and realized that the person in front of her was Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue frowned as he looked at the distraught Yan Jiarou, his eyes filled with tenderness: "Jiarou...you..."
Yan Jiarou stared at him blankly, her lips moving slightly: "Crown Prince Brother..."
She slowly opened her eyes, as if just regaining consciousness. The scenes she had just witnessed flashed before her eyes again and again. She was forced to recall Xiao Che's intimate kiss with another woman. A heart-wrenching pain and the anger of betrayal swept over her, followed by a slow seepage of despair... She shoved him violently in a fit of rage: "Why did you stop me! Do you know what I saw? Xiao Che... Xiao Che was actually with Ji Le..."
“I know,” Xiao Jueshen glanced at her, his expression cryptic, “I saw it too.”
"Then why did you stop me? They dared to do this behind my back, were they afraid I'd catch them in the act?! I want to ask him myself, after lying to me for so long, how are you going to repay what you owe me?"
"Even if you asked them yourself, Jia Rou, you should know that it won't change anything. Do you think that just because you rushed out and caught them in their affair, and questioned them, Xiao Che would change his mind?"
"No, you'll only completely break ties with him. And before the strange illness is cured, breaking ties with him now will not bring you any benefit."
Tears streamed down her face, her thin shoulders trembling slightly, like autumn leaves drifting in the wind. Her voice, broken and tearful, was tinged with profound despair: "What should I do, Crown Prince? What should I do... What can I do to go back to the way things were before with him..."
Love and hate are intertwined, and as she spoke, resentment welled up within her: "How could he do this to me? I love him so much, how could he do this to me! He said he would love me forever, he said he wouldn't lie to me, how could he break his promise..."
"He lied to me...he lied to me! He's a complete and utter liar! I will never forgive him, I will never forgive him in my entire life!"
Xiao Jue scrutinized her with a deep and silent gaze, a hint of hostility gradually rising in his eyes.
How could he not see through her thoughts? He said he wouldn't forgive her, but in reality, he couldn't let go.
“Jiarou,” he took a deep breath, “even at this point, can’t you still let him go?”
He gripped her shoulders, tightening his grip, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Wake up. He has never liked you from beginning to end. You heard it just now. He only used you as a tool to be used and an object to be humiliated, but he never treated you as a wife who loved you wholeheartedly. Only I, Jia Rou, have remained faithful to you all these years."
"That Ji Le was rescued by Jiang Chenyu when her family was destroyed in her early years. She was kind enough to take her in. Over the years, she has practically watched Xiao Che grow up. Who knows when they started getting involved together?"
"Speaking of which, my third brother's understanding of marital relations might have been honed by her. Although men in our dynasty also use cinnabar to mark their virginity, there are many tricks to it, and it's not difficult to fake it. Jia Rou, you've been spending all your time with him lately. How come you can't forget him? Haven't you ever wondered how he could be so skilled in matters of love if he were truly a virgin? Although people from Lanling are indeed exceptionally gifted, they aren't born knowing everything. These skills in the world of romance are all honed on women."
"It is said that he is not interested in women and had no maids serving him before. However, when the Consort was alive, he would run to the Pixiang Palace every few days and stay for most of the day. And as soon as the Consort passed away, he brought Ji Le over. What is his intention? Can't you see it now?"
"He says he doesn't get close to women, but that's probably just because he doesn't want to be near the Wei people. He's afraid those Wei palace maids are spies sent by my mother, so he avoids them all and turns to Ji Le for comfort. Otherwise, given the lustful nature of the people of Lanling, how could he really do what the rumors say? Jia Rou, do you believe that he and Ji Le have been secretly having an affair for many years, or do you believe that he has always secretly loved you, bickering and opposing you every day while loving you so much that he is willing to go against his nature to remain chaste for you?"
"Do you even believe that yourself?"
"If he truly loved you that much, he would probably die for you, wouldn't he? So why would he turn around and have a secret rendezvous with Ji Le at the Bixian Pavilion?"
"If we're talking about who came first, Jiarou, you're actually the one who came later. What do you want to ask? I heard that Ji Le has always been quite hostile towards you. You didn't know the reason before, but don't you understand now? Stop deceiving yourself."
Upon hearing this, Yan Jiarou's face turned deathly pale again.
Yes, she thought, what else should she ask?
Xiao Jue glanced at her, then suddenly grabbed her wrist: "If you're still not giving up, then I'll let you see another good show. Judging by the time, it's about time."
As he spoke, he took her hand and turned to walk forward. Yan Jiarou was in a daze, like a walking corpse, and let him lead her away blankly.
——
Taiye Pond is bathed in the cold mist of winter, and a breeze stirs the water, creating delicate ripples on its surface.
As soon as Xiao Che stepped across the Jade Bridge, he saw a figure leaning against the white jade railing in the distance.
The woman was wrapped in a silver fox fur coat, which was lifted by the wind to reveal a light blue brocade dress underneath. A white fox fur band encircled her neck, which framed her fair and delicate chin, making her neck appear long and slender. She exuded a cool and aloof aura.
Today she wore her hair in a bun, with a gold filigree hairpin inlaid with rubies and kingfisher feathers tucked into the center, adorned with pearls and jade, shimmering in the sunlight.
Xiao Che raised an eyebrow slightly.
Perhaps because he hadn't seen Xiao Zhen'er for a while, Xiao Che felt that she was different from usual when he looked at her from afar today.
However, he didn't notice anything amiss at the moment. He walked up slowly with his hands behind his back, a slight smile on his lips: "Zhen'er, what important matter do you have to discuss with me here?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the woman turned around.
An extremely beautiful face, with snow-white skin and cherry lips, gorgeous yet not vulgar, like a cold moon hanging high on a branch, its clear light flowing coldly, beautiful yet aloof, not to be defiled, and without heart or emotion.
Born into a top-tier aristocratic family, she was the only legitimate daughter of the Cui clan. She was born noble, and her temperament seemed to be etched into her very bones.
Her beauty is sharp and proud.
It was Cui Lingyi.
Xiao Che's smile froze, and he slowly composed himself, saying with a half-smile, "So it's Miss Cui. What a coincidence."
“Unfortunately,” Cui Lingyi looked at him deeply and said meaningfully, “Your Highness, I have been waiting for you.”
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