Chapter 174 - The Key To Live In Imperial Palace
Yi Lei held his elder sister's trembling hand and put it on his burned face. Smiling slightly to assure her, he whispered gently.
"Elder sister, it really doesn't hurt. Rui Jiejie is sending me some potions and medicines and they are working very well."
Yi Huiqing looked into his eyes to see whether he was telling truth or not. When confirming that he was saying the truth, she released a sigh of relief.
"Elder sister also has a cream given by the Empress. It's from the Empire Qin and helps in removing scars. Elder sister will send that to you."
Yi Lei nodded his head and whispered a small 'Alright'.
.As she stepped away, Yi Huiqing couldn't help but notice how much her naive brother had changed to a mature and emotionally stable man.
Earlier when she called him Xiao Lie, he didn't oppose her and was smiling warmly.
His whole attention was just on pacifying her. As much as she was happy about this change, she still missed the old Yi Lei a little.
With a sigh, she moved to other family members to talk, however before she could take a single step aside to talk to them, she was engulfed in a warm hug.
"My Qingqing…how have you been?"
The familiar scent made Yi Huiqing's emotional heart relax and she patted her mother's back to comfort her.
From behind Yi Huiqing's mother, Yi Yang, Grandmother Yi also stepped forward and caressed Yi Huiqing's head lovingly with teary eyes.
Yi Huiqing smiled at her grandmother softly with tears falling from her eyes.
A few moments later, she finally moved to meet her father, then Yi Junjie, and lastly her grandfather.
Her heart broke when she saw her grandfather's moist eyes which he was trying to hide from everyone.
Elder Yi patted her head and smiled softly.
"Everyone misses Qingqing in the family."
Yi Huiqing also smiled tightly controlling a new series of tears and whispered
"Huiqing also misses everyone…especially grandfather."
She said the last two words as a tear fell down from her right eye. At this moment, Grandfather Yi didn't seem to care that they were outside and he should not get too closer to his granddaughter according to the propriety.
He opened his arms widely as his mustache and beard trembled. Yi Huiqing didn't waste a second to hug her grandfather's waist just like she used to in her childhood.
"Grandfather…."
She sobbed burying her head in his shoulder and Elder Yi patted the back of her head gently with trembling hands.
"Ssshhh…it's alright"
The Yi family members were again a little emotional. Even Yi Feng who had been holding his wangfei felt pained to hear his daughter's sobs and wiped the corner of his eyes secretly.
Many times, he wished that Yi Huiqing should have been his son …at least he would not have to bear the pain of sending a daughter away from himself.
Although he had shown no sorrow when the Imperial decree of marriage between his daughter and the second Prince came four years ago, he had always been worried for his daughter thinking whether she was living well or not.
A few steps away from the Yi family members, the seemingly forgotten second prince was standing with clenched fists and lips pressed in a thin line.
There was a frown on his forehead which deepened every time he heard the sound of a new sob from Yi Huiqing who was now embracing Elder Yi.
He really wished to go and snatch Yi Huiqing so that he could wipe away her tears because they were bothering him a lot.
If he had known that Huiqing would cry like this then he would not have allowed her to meet her family in the first place.
At this moment, he just wished to stop this heart-wrenching sound.
However, amidst all this, Zhao Zhang Wei never tried to think that why did it seem to bother him so much.
It was because of his guilt that he was still not ready to accept.
The guilt that he had been suppressing thinking that everything would be fine as long as he treated her well from the moment he accepted his feelings for her.
Guilt because of not taking care of a woman who was the only person in his Palace to love him sincerely…but he never bothered to glance at her back just because of his few fears.
Ten minutes later, Zhao Zhang Wei couldn't endure it any longer because Yi Huiqing had not stopped crying so he stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly.
"Benwang thinks that Elder Yi must be exhausted after such a long day and should rest for some time now."
He saw Yi Huiqing's petite back that had been trembling freezing slightly in his Elder Yi arms who had been patting her head gently to comfort her.
Yi Huiqing was indeed stilled when she heard his voice. She had entirely forgotten his presence.
She hurriedly wiped her tears on his grandfather's shoulder who smiled helplessly feeling her actions. A moment later, she stepped backward with her head lowered.
Knowing that, she was about to leave, Elder Yi was sad but hid it very well. He patted her head again and again as if completing the loss of four years and whispered
"Qinqing…"
Yi Huiqing raised her head to look at her grandfather. She saw that her grandfather's face was very serious.
"Since you have to live in the Imperial Palace…live well. Don't bother yourself with anything. Don't attach yourself to anyone too much. This is the key to live peacefully in the Imperial Palace."
Being a martial artist, how could Zhao Zhang Wei not hear what Elder Yi was saying to his wangfei.
His face was dead cold as he saw Yi Huiqing nodding her head seriously at Elder Yi's words and then walking to stand beside him.
Before leaving, he had thought of inviting Yi family to Xinhe Palace. He had wanted to tell them that they could come to Xinhe Palace whenever they want and tell Eunuch Zhang to arrange a meeting with Yi Huiqing, however, the words didn't seem to leave his mouth at all after he heard Elder Yi's words, especially seeing how Yi Huiqing agreed with Elder Yi so easily.
He silently turned around and walked out of the banquet hall followed by YI Huiqing.