His Rui

The sun set and the night arrived. It was a normal day but Zhao Zhang Wei felt that the day was very long today. Seeing the dark sky from the window of the study room, Zhao Zhang Wei immediately put down the book in his hands and got up from his chair. He called for Eunuch Zhang as he started to wear his robe.

When Eunuch Zhang entered and saw this, he took this work in his hands. As he fixed the robes of Second Prince, he couldn't help but wonder in his heart.

'It seems that the new concubine is really beautiful.'

Although he had not seen the new concubine the Second Prince had taken in Xinhe Palace but he had heard the maids talking among themselves that the new concubine is very beautiful.

Now seeing how eager the Prince was, he thought it must have been true.

The robes were fixed and Zhao Zhang Wei left the study followed by Eunuch Zhang.

The young Eunuch who was following his master suddenly stopped when he saw the way they were going. Thinking that the Prince might not know where the new concubine's abode was he called out.

"Your Highness."

Zhao Zhang Wei frowned but he halted his steps to hear what the young eunuch wanted to say.

"Your Highness, we're going the wrong way. Concubine Shaolin's abode is in the opposite direction."

Being reminded of the new girl he had taken inside made him remember the morning's incident where Yi Huiqing calmly told him that she will take care of everything.

Zhao Zhang Wei coldly looked at the young Eunuch and Eunuch Zhang instantly shut his mouth. Others think that The Second Prince is a man with a gentle nature but he knows what was hidden behind this gentleness.

"This Prince will spend tonight in Lantai Courtyard."

Saying this, Zhao Zhang continued walking ahead without looking back. Eunuch Zhang came out of his stupor and followed his master hurriedly.

'Lantai Courtyard. Why does His Highness suddenly want to visit Lantai courtyard?'

It was not only Eunuch Zhang who was surprised. The whole Xinhe Palace was in chaos when its residents came to know about this.

The Second Prince visited Lantai Courtyard on the First and fifteenth of the month only. It has always been like this for four years. Since wangfei entered Xinhe Palace. Then why today the wind suddenly its direction that too when a new concubine entered Xinhe Palace?

The concubines in Xinhe Palace didn't think that The Second Prince suddenly gained some affection for the wangfei in his heart. Instead, they thought that there must be something wrong with the new concubine.

Now everyone waited for the next morning excitedly so that they could see this new concubine.

-------------------

In her abode, Lantai Courtyard, Yi Huiqing was busy in writing a letter to her mother when the maid suddenly ran inside. The maid knelt and spoke too quickly.

"Wangfei, His Highness, The Second Prince will visit Lantai Courtyard tonight. This servant was just informed about this."

Yi Huiqing frowned in confusion and said

"You must have been informed wrong. Wangye will spend tonight in Concubine Shaolin's abode. How can he...…."

She couldn't complete her sentence as someone from outside announced the arrival of The Second Prince.

Stunned, Yi Huiqing stood up as she saw Zhao Zhang Wei entering.

But soon she composed herself and bowed.

Zhao Zhang Wei saw her calmness and felt a little frustrated.

Completing her bow, Yi Huiqing raised her head and there was a polite smile on her lips as she asked

"Does Wangye want to discuss something with this wangfei?"

Hiding his frustration deep inside his heart, Zhao Zhang Wei stepped forward with a gentle smile on his face and said

"Why? Does this Prince need a reason to visit his Wangfei?"

This time Yi Huiqing didn't say anything and just smiled.

Zhao Zhang Wei felt her smile was very polite and distant.

He thought if she was the Yi Huiqing he knew then she would have blushed at his words.

"This Prince just wants to spend tonight with wangfei."

He saw her smile disappearing at his words.

"But Wangye that is against the protocol. Younger sister Shaolin is waiting for wangye in her abode so wangye should..."

Yi Huiqing didn't saw how coldly the person in front of her was looking at her because of her words.

She suddenly felt someone's warm breath on her ear.

"Wangfei seems very eager to send This Prince away."

The deep voice fell in her ears. The fragrance mixed with male scented hormones invaded her nose and she instantly stepped back.

She looked at Zhao Zhang Wei saw a smile on his face. But she could only feel that he was mocking her.

"Daiyu, Go to the kitchen and prepare something according to Wanye's taste."

The maid, who was standing with lowered head, withdrew in haste.

On the table, Zhao Zhang Wei there were mostly two kinds of dishes. One which tasted spicy or one that tasted mild sweet or sour.

Just like the previous day, Yi Huiqing picked the spicy one and Zhao Zhang Wei saw as she ate them without any change of expression. He picked his favorite dessert with chopsticks and put it on her plate.

"Here, Wangfei should not eat only one kind of dish. This one remembers that wangfei used to eat this with relish in the past."

The chopsticks in Yi Huiqing's hands halted as she looked at her plate.

Yes, she used to eat it because he liked to eat it. That's was the only reason behind it. Now she no longer had these reasons also.

She didn't pick it and said with a small smile.

"Wangye seems to remember something wrong. This wangfei never really liked sweet dishes."

Zhao Zhang Wei hands on his chopsticks tightened but outwardly he maintained his smile and said

"Oh..Then I really seem to have mistaken."

Half an hour later, the maids left the room leaving Zhao Zhang Wei and Yi Huiqing alone. Sitting in front of the dressing table, Yi Huiqing removed the accessories from her hair as she sneaked a glanced at the bed from the mirror.

Zhao Zhang Wei didn't lie down. His head was leaning on the headrest and his eyes were closed.

She heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed he just came here to sleep.

But she could not help but feel a little wronged.

He didn't follow the protocol and did everything according to his mood. But his moodiness will cost her.

Wouldn't that girl Shaolin dislike her because Wangye spend the night she deserved in her abode?

Lost in her own thoughts about how she would deal with this situation, Yi Huiqing  got up and walked towards the bed.

As she sat down on the bed and picked the blanket to cover herself, her hand was suddenly grabbed. The sudden touch surprised her and then she remembered who was the other person inside the room. She tried to take her hand back but her hand was held tightly.

She raised her head to look at the man in front of her.

Zhao Zhang Wei looked down at Yi Huiqing and saw a confused expression on her face. She was still trying to get her hand free from him but he didn't let go.

With a gentle smile on his face, he raised his other hand and cupped her smooth cheek.

His frustration came back when he felt her stiffening under his touch. In her eyes, he tried to find something he was looking for but couldn't find anything.

He didn't get discouraged and leaned down to catch her pink lips.

However, those soft lips never touched his ones as Yi Huiqing had already turned her face sideways. He felt her hand on his chest stopping him from leaning down any further.

Zhao Zhang Wei smiled and despite her hand stopping him, he leaned down more. Stroking her cheek gently, he asked

"Is Wangfei still upset about the child's death from a few days ago?"

He felt it was reasonable for him to think of this as it was only after that Yi Huiqing suddenly changed.

At his question, Zhao Zhang Wei saw a smile on Yi Huiqing's face but the smile didn't seem to be humorous at all.

"It is not the first time this wangfei had lost her child. This one now knows how to deal with her sorrows. Wangye doesn't need to worry about this."

The smile on Zhao Zhang Wei's face stiffened.

He didn't why but he felt as if someone was pinching his heart mercilessly when he heard her saying these words calmly.

After this, the woman in his arms spoke the words he had never heard in his life.

"Wangye, This wangfei is feeling not well. Hope that wangye will understand."

Zhao Zhang retracted his arms. He saw Yi Huiqing lying down on the bed without giving him a single glance.

The feelings in his heart disappeared as if they were never there and his eyes were void of any gentleness.

In his lifetime, when was Zhao Zhang Wei rejected?

Never.

He had never even initiated intimacy with the women in his courtyard.

This was the first time and he was rejected. How could he accept something like this. He left the bed and stepped out of the room.

That night, Zhao Zhang Wei left Lantai Courtyard with a cold face. Yi Huiqing turned to look at his leaving figure and she suddenly felt a little satisfaction in her heart.