Chapter 47 (1/2)

Chapter 47: The Empress's Plan

Rou'er watched as Jun Huang's frail form disappeared into the distance. For whom will a woman like Jun Huang smile with her eyes downcast, she wondered, and for what will her heart ache?

Qi Chen waited outside the relay station Nan Guyue was at for a long time before she finally came out. It was clear from her wide smile that she had lowered her guard for him. She didn't even have any servants with her.

”Qi Chen!” Her eyes lighted up when she saw him. She jogged up to him and came to a stop. There was a blush on her face. She averted her eyes upon noticing Qi Chen's gaze.

Qi Chen wasn't used to seeing Nan Guyue being so reserved. ”The princess doesn't need to be so formal with me.”

Nan Guyue looked up at him and saw her own reflection in his soft eyes. Her heartbeats quickened. This time she did not look away. She stared and stared, and yet it still wasn't enough for her.

The sound of vendors promoting their wares rang through the street. The city was thriving. Nan Guyue could not take her eyes off Qi Chen and didn't notice there was a coach coming her way. Qi Chen rushed to pull her into his arms and worriedly asked, ”Are you hurt, princess?”

Nan Guyue lifted her gaze, suddenly seized by fear. She buried herself into Qi Chen's embrace and shook her head. Qi Chen let out a sigh of relief.

It was close to evening. One by one lamps were lit and the city was glowing with dim light. Nan Guyue was born in a freezing country. She had never seen anything like this. For a moment she could only watch with her mouth agape.

”Is the imperial city always like this at night?” she asked.

Qi Chen nodded. ”It is. Does the princess like it?”

Nan Guyue looked up excitedly, but Qi Chen's tender expression drew her attention and her breath hitched.

Under the warm glow of the lamp, her bashful smile burned itself into Qi Chen's eyes. But among those born in the royal family, who dared to ever fall in love?

Qi Chen remained emotionally detached. The tenderness on his face belonged to a man that didn't actually exist.

It was a wonderful night. Nan Guyue felt her heart flutter. She never thought she would ever fall for someone so easily. This man had such beautiful eyes. Not even the famous Nan Xun could rival him.

Love works in mysterious way. Nan Guyue had never experienced such a tender kind of love before. She fell, hard. There was no turning back.

After that day, Qi Chen acted more and more attentive to Nan Guyue, as if there was nothing he wanted more than to give her the stars. Nan Guyue always accepted his gifts with a red face.

Wei Lanying seemed to have taken Jun Huang's advice. She went back to the way she had been and stayed out of Qi Chen and Nan Guyue's relations.h.i.+p. Qi Chen felt more comfortable with Wei Lanying now. He even stayed at her place every once in a while.

One day, when Wei Lanying was in Qi Chen's arms, listening to his strong heartbeats with her eyes closed, she suddenly realized that she was still the same woman she was before, but Qi Chen had become a different man.

Qi Chen had his arms around Wei Lanying, but the one he was thinking about was Nan Guyue. He got distracted and didn't even notice that Wei Lanying was looking at him.

Wei Lanying's heart sank. She took a deep breath and managed a smile. ”If Your Royal Highness really does like Princess Nan Guyue, you should marry her. Ying'er will accept it without complaints.”

That surprised Qi Chen. Wei Lanying couldn't stop him if he wanted to marry Nan Guyue, but he never expected Wei Lanying to bring it up on her own. ”Are you being serious?”

Wei Lanying nodded with a faint smile. Inwardly, she was scoffing. She knew it didn't matter that Nan Guyue enjoyed Qi Chen's favor now. Qi Chen would be with her when he felt like it, just like the way he was with Rou'er. In no time, though, he would get tired of Nan Guyue. Moreover, she'd heard that Nan Guyue was difficult and stubborn. How long would a man like Qi Chen be able to stand her?

Qi Chen was going to marry her. So what? After Nan Guyue helped him become the emperor, Qi Chen would have no use for her.

”I'm glad that you can be so understanding.” Qi Chen patted her on the shoulders, imagining holding Nan Guyue's supple body in his arms. He felt a trace of desire in his heart.

Wei Lanying had come to terms with reality. The empress, on the contrary, smashed everything on her desk after getting the news. Her spy at Prince Chen Manor was trembling on his knees, afraid that she may have him killed in her fury.

She stared at the mess on the floor, her eyes sharp and her teeth clenched. ”Qi Chen could never come up with a plan like that. And he's always hate sn.o.bbish women like Nan Guyue. Why would he take the initiative to pursue her?”

”This servant once heard the conversation between the crown prince and a fair-skinned scholar called Feng Baiyu,” the spy nervously said. ”It was the scholar who suggested him to do so.”

The empress's eyes grew colder. ”I knew it! Feng Baiyu is a real troublemaker. I can't believe he survived the poisoned wine.”