Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

What does it mean to be unkind? The answer can be found by looking at Yuwen Rui.

In such a situation, a normal person should make strong counterattack in return, fiercely teaching him a lesson, of course I also want this. I want to turn around and sharply glare at him, then reach out to poke at his temple, scolding: “Kindness kindness, do you understand what kindness is young man?”

But I cannot, because I am An Ke Lan, that paralysed face, dull, the one who had been bullied by him since young, An Ke Lan.

That’s right, you have not guessed wrong, I am the one who leads a bitter life in the imperial palace, Ah-Lan.

Deep down, I am wiping away the tears of sympathy for myself, when I’m suddenly aroused with the idea of playing copycat. I face the mirror and stroke my own face, then with a look of dullness, I say: “Eldest Cousin, you simply don’t understand my……sorrows.” (Copying her imperial Sister, see chapter one)

Behind me, Yuwen Rui’s body freezes for a moment, before burying his head into my neck to muffle his laugh, “Ah-Lan……your imitation is, en, very similar, *cough cough*, extremely similar.”

My hands tighten and loosens and tightens again, after over ten times of repeating this, they finally rest at both sides of my body, calmly. Very well, looks like I have amused you, El—dest—Cou—sin.

With his bright and clear skin against my neck, a slightly icy-cold breath brings a small trace of alternative comfort. I leave him to embrace me without any objection, since a young age I have already grown accustomed to his intimate behaviour, and I understand he will not do anything that exceeds this.

Yuwen Rui quietly embraces me for a long time, then when the sound of footsteps can be heard from outside, he raises his head, very naturally holding my hand and walks to the table, as we had just sat down, Xi Xi pushes open the doors and enters, she happily places the plate of grapes and cherries onto the table, saying: “Princess, take a look at these grapes, how fresh they are ah, how beautiful they are, quickly have a taste.” Having said that, she even glances over at the grapes a few times, eyes showing envy, her mouth is even more so, tempted.

“Xi Xi.” Yuwen Rui reaches out to pick a ripened purple grape, that grape covered in dew that lines his fingers also becomes tastier looking, “This grape, is sweet, right?”

“That goes without saying.” Xi Xi’s brows excitedly dances, “This is but a new variety Gentleman has specially found for Princess, how can it not be sweet?”

Yuwen Rui peels the grape skin with refined movements, his voice graceful as he speaks: “So, this grape skin, is it tasty?”

Xi Xi is a little suspicious, “Gentleman, these words of yours are……” The next second, her face appears somewhat like 囧, “Eh, what was that again, Lady Ling Zhi was just looking for me, may Princess and Gentleman enjoy, this servant shall take her leave first.”

Then she leaves in a rush just like how she came in a rush.

I grow disappointed, Xi Xi, how did become so dumb after staying at the Yuwen Estate for a few days, to actually be stupid enough to have grape skin stuck on your skirt after sneakily eating grapes.

“Open your mouth.” Yuwen Rui flatly says.

I obediently raise my head and open my mouth, eating that juicy grape from his hand.

“Is it sweet?” He takes a handkerchief to wipe his hand, leisurely asking.

I swallow the burst of grape juice, “Sweet.”

“Is it tasty?” He once again picks a grape but does not peel it, only casually playing with it in hand.

I blink, “Tasty.”

So sweet, so juicy, grapes are indeed really f*cking tasty.

“Say……” His cold fox eyes appear to unintentionally sweep a glance at me, “Does Meng Shao Jue also spoil you like this in the Meng Estate?”

I immediately look at him in confusion, “Meng Shao Jue?” The meaning being, who is this Meng Shao Jue person ah, do I know him, don’t suddenly pretend to be acquainted with me ah.

Yuwen Rui’s eyes considerably softens, good riddance, as he continues to peel a grape for me.

The good-looking man elegantly peeling grapes, then extending his hand to feed it to my mouth, an image like this, how gentle, how sweet, how much it captures people’s imagination.

Yuwen Rui who is like this, sure is like a gentle and perfect person, one who extremely dotes on me.

Despite me knowing, this is not the real him.

I obediently eat the grape he peeled, then reach out to pick my own, showing no unfamiliarity as I peel the skin. The grape skin separates from the flesh, becoming a thin and fragile individual, I casually throw it aside onto the plate, and just as I wanted to place it into my mouth, I was coldly stopped by Yuwen Rui grabbing my wrist. He slowly stands up and leans in towards me, his action of holding me is very gentle, but also doesn’t allow for resistance. I meet his eyes, unable to make out the emotions in his brown orbs, only seeing some bright light faintly flickering. I see his handsome face coming up close and couldn’t really react, this movement of his, this posture, could it be……

He wants to snatch my grape?

…….

Following that, I am thoroughly speechless, because this guy is actually snatching my grape for real.

……

Only seeing Yuwen Rui slightly lowering his body and approach my hand that is holding the grape, warm air circles around my fingers, and then my fingers were overcome with something wet and soft……

Yuwen Rui ate that grape of mine, and also, my fingers.

I can feel his soft tongue lightly caress my fingertips, again and again, playing back and forth, occasionally gently sucking, bringing with it a strangle ticklish feeling.

I uncomfortably think, it is fortunate I don’t grow my nails, if not, how many bacteria would he have eaten ah, heck, this really is toooooooooo……unhygienic.

Yuwen Rui finally let go of my finger, when he raises his head, the look in his eyes is a little blurred, he hooks onto my waist and lowly asks, “Ah-Lan, are the grapes, tasty?”

“At least I think……” He sticks his tongue and wickedly licks his own lips, “It’s extremely delicious.”

I look at him expressionlessly, suddenly reaching out to push his chest away, picking up a grape and shakes it in front of his face. I very seriously say to him: “Cousin, grape.”

Yuwen Rui half narrows his fox eyes at me, “En, grape.”

Following a methodical pattern, I peel the grape, then once again shake the naked grape in front of his face, “Cousin, grape that can be eaten.”

Yuwen Rui hooks up one side of his thin lips, dotingly saying: “En, grape that can be eaten.”

I stare at him for a few seconds, then solemnly turn away in front of his eyes, stuffing the grape right into my mouth with my back facing him, vaguely saying: “Mm, grapes, tasty.”

Grapes, are of course tasty. But the premise being, I eat it alone.

I believe I am not considered a good person by public standards, I don’t like to share my most cherished things with others, even if it is but courteous words on the surface. Because I understand, a lot of times, our happiness to share, would cause irretrievable loss.

I will not easily like a certain thing, because it is too tiring, too frightening, too futile.

Of course, grapes are an exception.

I swallow the grape and turn back around, seeing Yuwen Rui just stare at me quietly, a thin layer of smile glosses over his cold eyes. I suddenly grow slightly doubtful, is that cold and ruthless man in my memory, really this very person before my eyes?

“Ah-Lan.” He opens his mouth to call me, spreading his arms to me, “Come here.”

I obediently go up and enter his embrace, leaving him to lift me up and sit me on his lap. I smell that familiar faint and clean fragrance from his body, half lowering my eyes as I think, knowing him for so many years, and I actually still don’t know what fragrance he uses, ai~, I sure am a failure of a person.

He rests his chin against my forehead, voice lowly saying: “Something’s happened in the palace.”

I don’t reply, only leaning against his chest, comfortably getting ready to listen. This is how Yuwen Rui and I get along, over so many years we have already grown used to this and it has developed into a natural habit, I still remember what Yuwen Rui had said to me when he first told me about important matters.

He said: Ah-Lan, you have a face that gives people a special desire to confide in you.

…… -_-|||

Yuwen Rui reaches up to poke at my face as he says: “I should originally be in Suzhou, but one day I suddenly received father’s emergency report, his majesty has been attacked, quickly return to the Capital.”

I become aware that, the reason he had quickly rushed back to the Capital isn’t because of my disappearance, but due to Father Emperor’s matter.

He then continues: “I and Mu Yi spurred on the horses at full speed to return to the Capital, only after arriving at the palace, did I hear Father say his majesty is currently at the verge of death. The timing coincides with Yun Zhan’s Eldest Prince, He Lian Chen, proposing a marriage to Ke Zi, but was adamantly rejected by his majesty, and that very night, the assassination incident happened. Not only is your Father Emperor heavily wounded, Consort Yin has also lost the imperial child in her womb, due to all this. Prime Minister Li is furious, ordering for a thorough investigation into this matter, and a palace maid had spoken up in that moment, saying that she saw He Lian Chen’s personal bodyguard appear within the vicinity on the day his majesty was attacked, in addition, the imperial guards picked up a Yun Zhan command token nearby, so the prime minister immediately sent out orders to have He Lian Chen and his guards locked up in the imperial prison.”

I slowly look up, Yun Zhan, Yun Zhan again? Also……after the births of eight daughters, Father Emperor had already lost all hopes in having a son, when Consort Yin happened to fall pregnant in that moment, the imperial physician had originally identified the baby to be a dragon child (a prince), yet an error like this has happened now, ai~, I’m afraid Father Emperor really won’t be having a son in this lifetime.

“All of this appears to make sense, He Lian Chen was greatly angered by the rejection of marriage, in a moment of fury, he sends people to assassinate his majesty. But anyone who has a brain would know, this entire incident, has flowed far too smoothly and logically.”

I purse my lips in thinking, are you not just going around in a circle to say the prime minister has no brain? In Yun Mi, there truly isn’t anybody who doesn’t know your General Yuwen family, and Prime Minister Li family don’t mix well, like fire and water.

“I heard my father say, He Lian Chen is also a rather capable one, young in age but has a body of domineering air that cannot possibly be overlooked, and can definitely make a name for himself in future. Having been locked in the imperial prison, he has not shown the slightest trace of panic either, only saying that it wouldn’t be too late for them to wait for his majesty’s awakening, before reaching a conclusion, the prime minister is of course unwilling to do so, but in the end, He Lian Chen is a prince, although not Yun Zhan’s heir, he is still not one that can be carelessly disposed of, not to mention, my father has also stepped in to stop him, at last, He Lian Chen has been confined in the west side of the imperial palace.”

West side……which is also the side palace that had once confined Yun Ze’s child hostage?

“His majesty has awoken after half a month, the first thing he did was ask for the whereabouts of He Lian Chen, and to the surprise of everyone……” Yuwen Rui’s long and slender fingers winds up my long hair, wrapping one circle after another, “His majesty said, on that night, He Lian Chen’s personal bodyguard had saved his life.”

Which also means, the one that should originally be the suspect, is in fact an emissary of justice? If that’s the case, that means someone had……

“Fabricated evidence to frame another.” Yuwen Rui’s ice-cold voice sounds beside my ear, “Someone had foreseen this opportunity to frame He Lian Chen, and the ultimate goal is none other than one.”

I understand, the person placing the blame can only be intending to provoke discord between Yun Mi and Yun Zhan, reaping the benefits amidst all of it. And the one placing the blame, is most likely Yun Ze.

“His majesty naturally will not like that person to have their way, releasing He Lian Chen and providing great hospitality, just that in the end, remnants of suspicions remains in his heart, thus sending Seventh Brother to He Lian Chen’s side, to put it nicely, for protection, but in reality, to monitor. And over these past few days, Yun Zhan’s emperor has fallen critically ill, therefore, his majesty tells Seventh Brother to escort He Lian Chen to return to his kingdom, temporarily putting an end to this matter.” Having spoken up to here, Yuwen Rui suddenly yanks at my hair, “As for you……”

“Cousin.” I raise my head, eyes truly sincere, “I was wrong.” A wise man is guided by the current course of events, I am the greatest wise man amongst wise men.

Yuwen Rui coldly harrumphs, “You still know to admit wrong? Did you know, when I came back to hear Seventh Brother say he lost you, I almost had Mu Yi and Mu Er stand at the street you got lost in for twelve sichen a day (twenty-four hours)? Who knew there would be not a single news of you, very good, turns out whilst Mu Yi and Mu Er were busily finding you, you were hiding in the Meng Estate, living happily. Got lost? Ah-Lan, how very fun huh?”

I get slightly scorched by his flames of fury, quickly grabbing a handful of his hair, lightly tugging it: “Cousin sure is amazing, to still be able to find Ah-Lan like that.” Ah, a slip of tongue, it should be, ‘To still be able to find Ah-Lan despite that.’

Just that Yuwen Rui seems to have already gotten used to the way I talk, he looks at me with a seeming smile, and says: “En, starting to bootlick me now? You sure are being clever this time around, why didn’t you treat that Meng Shao Jue like this too?”

I shyly smile, saying: “Because none of them are Eldest Cousin.” En en, I am not familiar with them, not familiar at all.

Yuwen Rui instantly softens, his action firm as he pulls down the hand of mine that had been pulling at his hair the entire time, “That Meng family is a recently new and rising merchant, amongst the current applications for providing food supplies to the army, there includes the Meng family, having heard Mu Yi say he seems to have seen you enter the Meng house, I was just thinking to send people in to investigate but received Meng Shao Jue’s invite. That maid who had accompanied Meng Shao Jue, made a passing mention of your name, thus confirming my guess. I was originally feeling unhurried as I take Meng Shao Jue to tour around my newly established tea house, who knew the next day, that young lady of the Meng house would desperately find her way there, saying you have been captured by the ministry of punishment.”

So that’s what happened.

I rest my face against his chest, saying: “Cousin, sure is nice.” The him that is like this, seems to really be very nice.

Yuwen Rui does not hold back in hugging me, lightly laughing, before speaking unknown meaning: “Ah-Lan, this Meng Shao Jue, is not a simple one.”

I don’t reply, but deeply think to myself, Young Master, Meng Shao Jue, your secret, what could it be?

Just like that, I stayed in Yuwen Rui’s estate. Yuwen Rui, as the emperor’s top favoured subject, is naturally exceptionally busy, every day I stay in my room bored to death, occasionally thinking, don’t know how Ying Lu is doing right now, seeing how anxious she was that day, she must have been really worried about me, right?

This lass — Ying Lu, indeed suits my taste.

Today, I head over to Yuwen Rui’s study room, climbing onto a high stool, going on my tip toes as I try hard to boost my short arm and legs to get that one book at the very top shelf, who knew the high stool would suddenly be knocked by something, thus causing my entire person to unsteadily fall down, but instead of hitting the ice-cold, hard stone floor, I fall into a warm embrace.

I nonsensically think, this nice-smelling rosin scent, other than Meng Shao Jue, who else could it be?

Indeed, that person’s captivating voice mockingly speaks: “Ah-Lan, not seen you for a few days, and here you are……throwing yourself onto me?”