Zhong Li finally understood why the Emperor had spoken to her about childhood memories in a hidden part of the palace.
She also understood why the Emperor had suddenly uttered those deeply meaningful words.
She thought, if it were her, upon learning that the person she had guarded against for twenty years was nothing but a self-deceiving joke, and that there was a vast green expanse above her head, she would be so angry she'd spit blood.
“Li’er!” Lu Wuxie reached out, cupping her delicate face, his gaze full of softness and affection.
It had only been a few months since they had developed misunderstandings and argued, and now they trusted each other again, but it felt like several years to him.
Now that he could touch her like this again, his hands were trembling slightly.
“I cannot promise you a love that is free from any calculations or schemes right now, but I promise you that once all this is settled, there will be no more calculations between us, okay?” Lu Wuxie’s voice grew softer. It was the first time he realized he could be afraid.
Zhong Li pursed her lips, looking at Lu Wuxie with a heartache in her watery eyes.
If it weren't for A Wu’s schemes against her, she might not have understood Lu Wuxie’s helplessness until now. Having experienced so much, she was hardly someone who didn't understand human relationships.
“Mo Cang, I will wait for you.”
Zhong Li spoke indifferently. In the empty prison cell, her voice still carried a faint echo, but to Lu Wuxie, it was like a traveler in the desert receiving a drop of sweet dew that could bring him back to life.
“Li’er, do you remember this?” He took out a bracelet from his embrace.
Zhong Li recognized it as a family heirloom of the Xie family. At the time, because of Shen Ying, she had returned it to him.
Lu Wuxie took her hand and put the bracelet back on her wrist, saying, “This is a gift to you, so it is yours. You are not allowed to give it to anyone else so casually anymore.”
Zhong Li knew who Lu Wuxie was referring to when he said ‘anyone else’.
Her eyebrows lifted as she said, “But it’s still you, preparing to welcome a new bride and forgetting about an old friend like me.”
“Are you saying I’m fickle?” Lu Wuxie looked at Zhong Li’s provocative and slightly proud expression. When did his Li’er learn to tease people?
“What else? Don’t think I don’t know that the Prince Xian’s mansion is already decorated with lanterns and streamers.” Zhong Li wrinkled her nose, deliberately saying so.
“How did you know?” Lu Wuxie was quite perplexed. Zhong Li had left the palace only to return to her villa in the dead of night. How did she know about Prince Xian’s mansion?
“Your old flame, Miss Tian.” Zhong Li said righteously.
“Tian Lianxue?” Lu Wuxie asked.
Zhong Li slightly raised her chin, as if to say, ‘I knew it, I was right.’
Lu Wuxie was exasperated by her gaze. He knew his relationship with Tian Lianxue better than anyone, but hearing about such things from someone else always felt easy to cause misunderstandings. He had never cared about pretending to be affectionate or ambiguous with any woman before, but now that he had her, he truly had to cultivate self-discipline and correct himself for the rest of his life.
“I really don’t know how she found out.”
“Humph!” It was rare for Zhong Li to act petulant, her charming demeanor like coquettish affection.
Lu Wuxie felt a mix of panic and helplessness. He reached out and flicked her nose, saying, “That was done by my father. I truly didn’t know about this, but I promise you, Shen Ying will have no connection with me.”
“How so?” Zhong Li became interested. She wanted to know how Lu Wuxie would push back this marriage.
Lu Wuxie sighed, leaning back lazily on the stone bed behind him, as if returning to the fearless state when they first met. “There’s no way, your husband is imprisoned. According to the law, a noble lady like Shen Ying is too good for me. Even if I were released, I would still be a disgraced person. I can only reluctantly marry a Shaoqing!”
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li shot him a glare. “If you can’t get a wife, you’ll settle for me, a Shaoqing? You’ve got it all figured out.”
With that, she stood up, preparing to leave.
Lu Wuxie reacted faster.
He flipped over and grabbed Zhong Li’s arm, asking, “Then are you willing or not?”
Zhong Li turned her head, looking at Lu Wuxie, who seemed to be joking but whose eyes were full of sincerity. She poked his shoulder with her finger and said, “If you keep tormenting yourself like this, the Prince’s health will deteriorate. I like people who are strong and healthy.”
“What?” Lu Wuxie thought he had misheard, his eyes widening in surprise. When did his Li’er start making such jokes?
No, she had said that from the beginning. She had even said he… was impotent!
Zhong Li looked at his slightly dazed expression, smiled, cupped his face, and pecked him. She murmured, “For my sake, take good care of yourself. I will solve this case and get you out.” Then, she pressed something into his hand and turned to leave.
Lu Wuxie took a long time to react. He touched his cheek, regretting that his slow mind hadn’t immediately held her down and kissed her fiercely. He sighed, sat back down on the stone bed, and opened his hand to look at what she had given him.
It was a small medicine bottle.
He opened it and smelled it. The medicinal scent was pungent. It was likely a medicine to dispel cold and strengthen the body.
At the same time, at Zhong Li’s detached villa.
“My Lord, you are here!”
The two constables guarding the entrance saw A Wu get out of the carriage parked at the entrance and quickly went to greet him.
A Wu took off the cloak he was wearing and handed it to someone beside him, then asked the two guards at the door, “How is it?”
“Replying to Your Lord, Lord Zhong has been in her room and has not gone out.”
“Mm, that’s good.” A Wu nodded. After taking two steps into the courtyard, he suddenly remembered something and asked, “Did anyone visit her during this time?”
“Replying to Your Lord, yes.”
“Oh? Who?”
The two constables glanced at each other. One of them replied, “Lord Lan.”
A Wu narrowed his eyes and asked if there was anyone else.
“Also, Miss Hua Yao.”
“Hua Yao?” A Wu repeated.
The constable reacted quickly and hastily replied, “Miss Hua did not stay long after entering and left soon after.”
Upon hearing this, A Wu’s pupils darted around. He strode quickly towards the master bedroom opposite.
“Zhong Li!” As soon as he pushed the door open, he roared.
At the same time, a gust of hot air wafted from behind the screen, making him stop a few steps in.
“Lord Zhong! What are you doing?” A Wu stood outside the screen, looking at the steaming interior, and asked with a contorted face.
However, the response he received was not Zhong Li’s voice, but the sound of running water, the meaning of which was obvious: someone inside was bathing.
“Lord Zhong, bathing at this time, right after recovering from a serious illness, is detrimental to your health, isn’t it?” A Wu narrowed his eyes, his words full of suspicion and probing.
Still, there was no sound from behind the screen, only the sound of splashing water becoming more intense.
“Lord Zhong, what exactly are you doing?” A Wu was already approaching the screen.
“If you don’t speak, don’t blame me for being rude!” His voice grew deeper.
A Wu still heard no response from inside. Gritting his teeth, he charged behind the screen.
At the same time, before he could see the situation clearly, he felt his cheek heat up.
A crisp slap echoed throughout the spacious room.
When he came to his senses, Zhong Li was standing opposite him, her icy eyes fixed on him.