149 Part Ways (1/2)
Afterwards, silence ensued. It wasn't comfortable, nor was it awkward. It was just quiet. Neither of them spoke a word, and neither of them knew what to say. They sat opposite each other, quietly observing the other whilst looking away each time they were caught looking at the other. Seconds ticked by, trickling into minutes.
Li Xueyue took a sip of her tea, leaned back in her chair while Yu Zhen sat cross-legged in a relaxed posture.
After a few minutes of watching her eyes dart from the tea to the floor and then to him, he finally asked, ”Is there something you want to tell me?”
Li Xueyue pressed her lips together. There was so much she wanted to tell him. ”How long will you be staying in Wuyi?” she asked again.
”I received an interesting letter on the day I saw you in the Palace,” Yu Zhen suddenly said, leaning back in his chair, mirroring her leisure posture.
”Oh. From who?” she curiously asked.
”The Emperor of Hanjian.”
Li Xueyue's lips parted. She already knew where this conversation was going. She forced a smile onto her face, widening her eyes and hoped to come off as optimistic.
”Good news, I hope?”
Yu Zhen's eyes narrowed at the wince on her face. She was great at smiling, but not faking it. ”It can be seen as good news to others, but not to us.”
Li Xueyue blinked in confusion, waiting for him to continue.
”My father has changed his mind on who might become the Crown Prince.”
It was great news from an outsider's perspective. The Second Prince was outshining the First Prince—something that rarely happened. So why was it that he seemed so depressed?
Li Xueyue took another sip of her tea, debating her next response. She didn't want to present him with false happiness. It wasn't in her nature to do so. She wanted to be honest with him.
”You seem far from happy,” Yu Zhen commented, his lips tugging into a slight smile. ”Why?”
”I should be asking you that,” she deadpanned.
”What's there to not be happy about? I'm going to become the Crown Prince, the center of everyone's attention. I will have more servants to command, more chatter about my name. An eternal life of luxury without needing to live in my older brother's shadows.”
”But that's not what you care about.”
Yu Zhen's eyes snapped to her, wide and caught off guard. What did she just say?
”And how do you know that?”
Li Xueyue slowly smiled. ”A man who doesn't abide by tradition doesn't care about gossip. If you preferred luxury, you would've arrived in Wuyi in the loudest manner possible, whether it's a large parade or troops of servants accompanying you.”
”Well, I brought my guards—”
”Every Prince needs a guard.”
Yu Zhen softly chuckled. ”You speak as if you know me.”
Li Xueyue should've been offended by his accusing words, but she wasn't. ”Well, I want to learn more about you.”
Yu Zhen smiled and shook his head. ”You asked about my childhood. It's my turn to ask the questions now.”
”Okay then, take your pick.”
”If I asked you to drop everything and come to Hanjian, will you?”
Li Xueyue tightly gripped her teacup, raising her head to stare him down. ”You said you'd give me time.”
”I did.” Yu Zhen nodded in agreement. ”But I was given interesting advice today.”
”Funny, so did I.”
”Oh?” Yu Zhen quirked a brow. ”Let me guess, it's about our departure from each other?”
”Unfortunately, yes.”
”Why unfortunately?”
Li Xueyue's gaze narrowed out of frustration, disbelief written all over her face. They wouldn't be able to see each other for a while, isn't that news worthy of displeasure?