Chapter 168 - Garden Tour II (1/2)

Third person POV

Weisheng stood silently beside her all the time. He knew that she could handle this by herself therefore he didn't say a word even though he really wanted to help her. Since Hong er's coat is with Ming Yu for now, he took off his coat and dr.a.p.ed it around Hong er's shoulder.

The coat was too large for Hong er's slim body, the coat touched the ground and the shoulder part almost reached her elbow. Hong er looked at him and patted his hand that was on shoulder while smiling lovingly at him.

There was a few reason of why Weisheng took off his coat. First of all, he afraid that Hong er would catch a cold despite it was in the middle of summer. Second of all, he didn't want other men to stare at her slightly exposed skin. Third of all, their coat was made to match each other, so if he kept wearing his coat, it would make him look like he and Ming Yu was a pair. He didn't want that, he is Hong er's and he would only devote himself to Hong er.

The other empresses and wives of the nobles were jealous when they saw how Weisheng and Hong er acted so intimately yet didn't look inappropriate. Weisheng's attention was only attached to Hong er all the time, he didn't even spare a glance to the girls that had worked hard to dress up beautifully for today's event.

The entourage continued the stroll again and forgot about what happened to Ming Yu after they saw the vast man-made lake. The water is very clear and translucent that they could see the fishes swam around the lotus and water lilies.

Ming Zhu stood alone at the side of the lake with her brows furrowed. She was scolded by father and told her to reflect on her wrong doings. Hong er glanced at her back and smiled slyly, she touched Weisheng to gain his attention. She told him to wait for her as she has something to say to Ming Zhu.

Hong er quietly approached the lone Ming Zhu and stood beside her while smiling softly. Ming Zhu was very surprised by her presence and quickly bent her knees to greet Hong er. Hong er told her to rise and accompany her for a while. Ming Zhu nervously nodded her head and followed Hong er to look at the lake.

Hong er: ”You are Ming Zhu, right?”

Ming Zhu: ”Ye-yes, Your Majesty Empress.”

Hong er: ”And why would you want to harm your little sister?”

Ming Zhu's eyes went wide and her hand shook uncontrollably.

Hong er: ”Don't worry. Ben Gong will keep this as secret to maintain your reputation. But you have to answer Ben Gong truthfully. If Ben Gong notices that you lie, you know what will happen right?”

Ming Zhu vigorously nodded her head. It was not Hong er that was cruel but it was the rule that lying to the higher-up would have a consequence.

Ming Zhu: ”Sh-she is more beautiful than me so my fiancé attracted to her. I was jealous, her mother is only a low ranked concubine so I had treated coldly since we were young. But I quietly protected her from madam and any men that l.u.s.ted for her body. But I couldn't hold my anger when I saw my fiancé looked at her with expression that he never even showed to me before.”

Huang Ming Zhu is a very talented and diligent woman, she tried hard to gain her father's heart and protected her mother and her life. Her mother is the highest concubine in her residence, however, the legal wife of her father was not happy that her children were less talented than Ming Zhu. So she frequently tried to harm her and her mother.

Hong er pitied her but hasn't fully trusted her statement yet. She need to investigate everything to the core so it wouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble in the future.

Hong er: ”En. Who is your fiancé?”

Ming Zhu: ”Wei Fang Tan, Your Majesty Empress.”

Hong er: ”En. Ben Gong give you an advice.”

Ming Zhu: ”Y-yes, Your Majesty Empress.”

Hong er: ”You are beautiful and smart, furthermore, you are still young. Don't waste your precious life by doing these things. I know, you tried to use Ben Gong as your sword to eliminate Ming Yu.”

Ming Zhu's breath hitched when her plan was exposed by Hong er.

Hong er: ”Yes, that is indeed a brave and smart movement but you have to see who you are facing with.”