Lovers cannot stay together forever (Part 4)
Upon seeing the person before her, Zhiwei's heart clenched. Almost instinctively, she quickly lowered her head, hunching over as if she wanted to shrink into the ground.
Zhu Liji stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Zhiwei, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"Where did these bedbugs come from?" he asked Jiang Qin.
“Your Majesty, that is Miss Yan,” Pinghai replied before Jiang Qin could.
Zhu Liji glanced at him: "Did I ask?"
"It was a slip of the tongue by this servant." Pinghai showed no mercy and slapped himself hard across the face.
Zhiwei kept her head down, staring at her mud-stained shoe tips and wet skirt for a long time before slowly uttering a hoarse sound.
Her voice was dry, like sandpaper: "This servant... kowtows to thank Your Majesty for saving my life."
Zhu Liji did not reply.
Zhiwei's forehead was almost touching the cold stream stone. After the fight, her disheveled hair hung down, covering most of her face and concealing all possible emotions.
“This servant comes from the Eastern Palace and did not mean to offend His Majesty. I deserve to die,” Zhiwei said again.
“Never heard of this person.” Zhu Liji’s gaze swept over Zhiwei. “Raise your head and let me see you.”
Zhiwei slowly raised her head, and Zhu Liji only glanced at her.
"So it's an old friend," Zhu Liji said calmly.
His gaze lingered on Zhiwei, looking at her messy, bird's-nest-like hair, her slightly trembling shoulders, and finally settling on her right wrist, whose unnatural curve was still visible even when hidden in her sleeve.
He let out a barely audible snort, as if he wanted to say something sarcastic.
But as the words reached his lips, looking at that thin, frail wrist that seemed ready to snap at any moment, something inexplicably pierced his heart, a subtle yet undeniable bitterness rising within him, silencing his mockery.
He simply looked away indifferently and flicked his sleeve: "Get up, you're blocking the way."
"Yes," Zhiwei responded softly, supporting herself with her hand as she tried to stand up.
Perhaps because she had been squatting for too long, or perhaps because she was too frightened, her legs went weak and she staggered.
Jiang Qin, who was standing to the side, subconsciously reached out to help her, but his fingertips just touched her sleeve before he suddenly stopped and quickly withdrew his hand, only whispering, "Be careful."
Zhiwei had already steadied herself, still keeping her head down, and silently retreated to the side of the road to make way, like a lifeless clay doll.
Just as Zhu Liji was about to turn around, Ping Hai hurried over from the front of the convoy, his forehead covered in sweat.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince... his horse got spooked and he fell off!"
Zhu Liji abruptly stopped, turned his head, and his eyes instantly darkened: "Where is he?"
——
Zhu Sheng was originally holding back a lot of anger.
He had finally finished writing his policy essay and thought he would get out of the carriage to get some fresh air. He saw wildflowers blooming beautifully by the roadside and, on a whim, picked a few, intending to show them to Zhiwei when he got back.
Halfway through picking the flowers, Zhu Sheng saw a figure in the flower bushes. He looked up and saw a group of scions of noble families traveling with the emperor. The person at the front was Li Tai, the adopted son of the former commander of the Mingjing Army and also a current member of the Jinwu Guard.
The two were quite far apart in age, and Zhu Sheng didn't think they had much of a relationship. But for some reason, he always felt that beneath Li Tai's respectful demeanor, there was a hint of malice towards him.
"Oh, it's His Highness the Crown Prince," Li Tai said. "Your Highness has quite the refined taste! These flowers are much more beautiful than spears, aren't they?"
It was unclear who it was, but they were all from a prominent family. Upon hearing Li Tai's words, they couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement and joined in the laughter for no reason.
He didn't actually say anything, but Zhu Sheng wasn't stupid. He knew that Li Tai was mocking him for not doing his job properly. It wasn't the first time. In front of everyone, Zhu Sheng was embarrassed and his face turned bright red.
Driven by youthful impulsiveness, Zhu Sheng threw the flower to the ground and shouted at the servant, "Bring me my 'Wind Chaser'!"
"Zhu Feng" was a prized horse bestowed upon Zhu Sheng by the emperor, which he loved dearly. However, the horse was too spirited and did not suit Zhu Sheng's temperament, so he rarely rode it.
The servants looked at each other, but dared not disobey the crown prince's order, so they had no choice but to bring the horses.
"Zhu Feng" is fierce and its body is black.
Zhu Sheng mounted his horse, whip in hand, his eyes full of provocation: "Li Tai, haven't you always boasted about your horsemanship? You only dare to make snide remarks, do you dare to have a contest with me?"
Upon hearing this, Li Tai laughed heartily. He was usually taciturn, but the case of his adoptive father being wrongly accused many years ago was a knot in his heart that he could not avoid. Now that he had the opportunity to vent, he was more than happy to do so. So he mounted his horse and said, "Why wouldn't I dare? Your Highness, please!"
The two horses galloped off one after the other.
At first, Li Tai had the upper hand, and as the wind whistled past, Zhu Sheng slowly caught up. "Chasing the Wind" was an excellent steed, and no one could match its speed. Zhu Sheng was determined to win decisively and shut those people up, so he unconsciously slammed his whip down harder.
But he hadn't ridden it enough and forgot the nature of "Chasing the Wind." The whip was too heavy, and "Chasing the Wind" suddenly felt pain, let out a long neigh, and its temper flared, causing it to suddenly increase its speed.
There was a sharp bend ahead, and Zhu Sheng couldn't control the reins in time. His body lurched to the side, and he was thrown off.
"Your Highness!" Exclamations arose from all sides.
In the face of danger, a figure rushed forward—it was Li Tai. He was indeed agile, managing to catch Zhu Sheng in his arms. The two of them tumbled together in the grass, covered in grass clippings and dust.
——
Since the crown prince was injured, the procession had to temporarily set up camp.
Inside the tent, there was a faint smell of wound medicine.
Zhu Sheng had a scrape on his forehead and a sprained wrist. The imperial physician had already examined him and said it was nothing serious. But he was clearly terrified; his face was pale, and he leaned against the soft pillows. As soon as Zhiwei entered, his eyes immediately reddened.
"Auntie..." His voice trembled with tears, as if he had been wronged when he was a child, "Am I really useless?"
Zhiwei sat by the couch, took out some ointment, and carefully wiped the wound on Zhu Sheng's forehead with gentle movements: "Li Tai is a military general, and his riding skills are extraordinary."
"Besides, horses getting spooked is common; it's good that no one is hurt," Zhiwei patted his forehead, comforting him.
Zhu Sheng sniffed and leaned into her arms. Zhiwei gently patted his back with her left hand, just like countless times before.
Zhiwei was used to seeing Zhu Sheng like this; he was just like when he was a child. He could still cry and make a fuss, so she figured he was probably alright and just wanted attention.
"Does it hurt? Do you want Auntie to blow on it for you?" Zhiwei joked.
Zhu Sheng nodded vigorously. Just as Zhiwei was about to speak, Zhu Sheng shrank back.
"Father..." Zhu Sheng's voice softened. Zhiwei followed his gaze and saw Zhu Liji standing outside the door, having overheard much of their conversation.
His face was grim, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the two people nestled together.
Zhu Sheng shuddered in fright and quickly straightened up from Zhiwei's embrace, intending to bow, but Zhu Liji raised his hand and slapped him across the face.
The slap was crisp, and Zhu Sheng blushed.
Zhu Sheng was stunned by the beating, covering his face with fear in his eyes.
“Your horsemanship is poor, and you are arrogant and competitive. You have disgraced the royal family!” Zhu Liji’s voice was devoid of any warmth. “Where are the palace servants who raised you? Summon them. I want to ask them why they let you embarrass yourself.”
The safety of the prince is a matter of great importance. Even though Zhu Liji is usually very strict with people, when it comes to a critical moment, he is a good father who is worried about his child.
Zhiwei felt a tightness in her heart and stepped forward half a step: "Your Majesty, I accompanied the Crown Prince today."
Zhu Liji's gaze then fell upon her.
“If the prince makes a mistake, this servant is also responsible. Guards, drag this servant out and give her ten strokes of the cane as a warning!” he said coldly.
Zhiwei had previously injured herself in the Xinzheku. Although the punishment was not fatal, it would still involve some bloodshed.
"No!" Zhu Sheng rushed to Zhiwei's side, spreading his arms to protect her. "It was my own idea to compete, it has nothing to do with anyone else! Father, punish me if you must!"
Seeing the two behaving intimately, Zhu Liji couldn't help but sneer.
"You're so kind-hearted, with such a bodhisattva's heart. You might as well become a monk instead of being a prince!"
Upon hearing this, Zhiwei and Zhuliji were truly enraged; if things continued like this, no one could be saved.
Zhiwei's knees buckled, and she knelt heavily on the ground: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! It was this servant's fault for failing to discipline the Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty to punish this servant and spare the Crown Prince!"
"Is that really true?" Zhu Liji leaned down and pinched Zhiwei's cheek from above. "Since you're so eager to take the punishment for him, then let's add some spice and make you take thirty lashes."
Upon receiving the order, two guards stepped forward, lifted Zhiwei up, and carried her out. Zhiwei was pressed onto the torture bench, the rough wood digging painfully into her.
The moment the plank hit her back, excruciating pain shot up her spine. Zhiwei bit her lip tightly, trying not to make a sound.
Blood quickly seeped through the plain-colored fabric, dripping dark red spots onto the ground. Sweat mixed with tears splattered onto the blue bricks, but Zhiwei kept her eyes raised, staring straight at Zhu Liji inside the hall.
Zhu Liji sat at a distance, calmly sipping his tea, not giving Zhiwei a single glance.
The afternoon sun was blazing, and Yao's eyes were tired. She didn't even know what she was looking at; she just stared intently in that direction until her vision was completely swallowed by darkness.
After the thirty strokes, she slid limply off the torture bench like a tattered rag, her back and buttocks a bloody mess, her consciousness fading.
——
The night was deep.
Zhiwei lay sprawled on the hard wooden plank bed, waves of excruciating pain surging through her back, burning every nerve in her body. Her throat was parched, yet she shivered uncontrollably, clearly suffering from a high fever, and she felt drowsy and disoriented.
She tried to reach for the cup on the bedside table, but lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground.
The cold floor tiles brought her back to her senses. She wasn't completely exhausted yet. She didn't call for help, but just crawled forward little by little. Just as her fingertips were about to touch the cup, a hand with distinct knuckles picked it up first.
Zhu Liji stood there, watching the person in front of him struggle like a dying ant.
"Want some water?" Zhu Liji's voice was mocking. He poured a glass of warm water, squatted down, and said, "How about I feed you like I'm feeding a dog?"
Zhiwei was delirious, and only acted on instinct, his chapped lips moving as he weakly nodded.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
