Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Her smile was sincere, touched beneath the moonlight with a young woman’s unique shyness.

Ever since that distant glimpse at Wanhe Tower, that cool, handsome face had been branded into her heart, impossible to drive away.

But out of a maiden’s reserve, she had never spoken of it to anyone. She had only probed her father indirectly for news of Sheng Zhaoning, and learned that her talent, character, and appearance were all exceptional. Even her father was full of praise for her.

When He Sui heard there would be a banquet in the palace today, she, who had never liked such occasions, followed along without a second thought, only wanting to see that person again.

She had not expected that, through one coincidence after another, the two of them would meet by chance under such circumstances.

It made He Sui even more certain that the two of them were joined by a heaven-bestowed fate.

Now, looking at that jade-like bearing and clear, refined face right before her, the secret affection flowing through the depths of her heart grew even heavier.

Sheng Zhaoning silently repeated her name in her heart.

She had some guesses as to He Sui’s identity.

The only daughter of the current Grand Secretary, He Wenbo. He Sui.

What an impressive background.

Sheng Zhaoning returned the courtesy politely.

The two stood facing each other, wordless for a moment.

“Oh? I didn’t expect there to be a show to watch in such a quiet and elegant place.”

Behind them, a teasing voice sounded, threaded with a chill so faint it was almost impossible to detect.

Sheng Zhaoning’s pupils contracted, and her body abruptly went rigid.

He Sui turned around in shock. When she saw the two people walking toward them, she quickly adjusted her expression, half bending in a curtsy as she said, “This humble girl greets the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Heir.”

The night wind was like an invisible hand, slowly climbing up Sheng Zhaoning’s spine. She clenched the corner of her robe, her lips trembling violently.

She slowly turned around, and at last, after so many years, met that familiar pair of eyes once more.

Cold, dark, carrying absolute danger, they were watching her with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Sheng Zhaoning’s legs went weak, and her breathing instantly fell into disorder.

She raised her hand and forcibly suppressed the tremor in her voice, her face pale as she said, “This humble official pays respects to the Crown Prince, and to… Your Highness the Heir.”

Wei Yi narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze shifted back and forth between her and He Sui. When it landed on their shoulders, nearly touching, his brows lifted almost imperceptibly, and the expression on his face grew colder and more indifferent.

Heh. He really had underestimated her.

Back in Liangzhou, she had been able to bewitch Chi Yu into risking his life for her. Now that she had come to the Capital City, she was tangled up ambiguously with Wei Heng on one side, while on the other, even women were quietly giving her their hearts.

How very capable.

Wei Heng looked at Sheng Zhaoning’s figure, which seemed even more frail than before, and frowned.

How had she grown this thin after just two months apart?

“Rise,” Wei Heng said softly.

Sheng Zhaoning slowly straightened.

“Your Highness the Heir has only just returned to the Capital City, so I imagine you are still unfamiliar with many of the court officials.”

Wei Heng’s gaze was gentle as he looked toward Sheng Zhaoning and said, “This is this year’s new Zhuangyuan, Hanlin Academy Compiler Sheng Zhaoning.”

Then he glanced at He Sui and said, “And this is He Sui, daughter of He Wenbo, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.”

Wei Yi stared straight at Sheng Zhaoning, his eyes brimming with mockery, the corner of his mouth curved in an inscrutable arc.

“Indeed. I am unfamiliar.”

Sheng Zhaoning’s figure swayed.

Wei Heng did not hear the malice in his tone. His gaze returned once more to Sheng Zhaoning.

“It has been a long time. Has Lord Sheng been well?”

Seeing how terribly thin Sheng Zhaoning had become, and how pale her face was now, his brows drew together as he asked with concern.

Sheng Zhaoning tightened all ten fingers and lowered her eyes. “All is well. Thank you for your concern, Crown Prince.”

From above, that sinister gaze seemed to sweep over her again.

Sheng Zhaoning kept her head lowered, deliberately ignoring it.

He Sui, standing off to the side, keenly sensed a trace of danger.

Puzzled, she looked across at them, only to see Wei Yi’s sharp gaze move away from Sheng Zhaoning and sweep toward her.

He Sui hurriedly lowered her head.

She did not dare look up again. She only felt that Your Highness the Heir’s gaze was… strange.

For a moment, she could not quite put it into words. She could only assume that after so many years of fighting on the battlefield, a natural ferocity had settled between his brows, impossible to dispel. Even his eyes seemed to carry a faint, icy killing intent.

It made people afraid to meet his gaze.

Wei Heng’s eyes, however, remained fixed on Sheng Zhaoning, never shifting in the slightest.

Since they had parted on the palace road that day, Wei Heng had not been deliberately avoiding her. It was only that everything had piled up at once, and he truly had not been able to get away.

In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed since they last met.

“Things have been complicated lately. Another day, I will have a proper, private talk with Lord Sheng.”

He did not seem to mind the unhappy way they had parted that day at all. Even the gloom he had felt at first had long since faded, leaving only endless indulgence and partiality toward Sheng Zhaoning.

Listening to Wei Heng’s gentle voice, the unease and fear in Sheng Zhaoning’s heart seemed suddenly diluted. A faint current of warmth passed silently through the depths of her chest.

Wei Yi gave a cold laugh.

A proper, private talk?

His lips pressed together, and the anger in his eyes deepened.

The air around them seemed to grow several degrees colder.

Wei Heng glanced toward the lights not far ahead. The music at his ears was gradually becoming clearer, so he said, “The banquet up ahead is about to begin. We may as well go over first.”

He Sui lowered her head and answered, “Yes.”

Wei Heng stood where he was, smiling as he waited for Sheng Zhaoning. Only when she moved to follow did he step forward beside her, walking shoulder to shoulder with her.

Wei Yi was so furious he laughed aloud.

He stood off to the side, watching the two of them walk together. Their figures looked like a perfectly matched pair. How very well suited they were!

He Sui followed behind him, shrinking her neck as she shivered.

She lifted her head and glanced around.

Strange. It was clearly August. Where had this chilly feeling come from?

The group made their way toward Guangyang Hall. No one spoke along the way.

…

It had been a long time since the court had held such a grand feast.

Inside Guangyang Hall, golden drums thundered and pipes and songs filled the air.

At the banquet, civil officials and military generals gathered together, drinking to their hearts’ content. Cups clinked and passed back and forth, and even the turbulent undercurrents that usually surged through court seemed, at this moment, to have become noticeably shallow.

The emperor and Prince Zhenbei crossed blades in secret, neither one falling into disadvantage.

Sheng Zhaoning was swept along and made to drink several cups in a row, yet those civil officials still refused to let her go.

The newly appointed Zhuangyuan, deeply favored by the emperor and also supported and protected by the Crown Prince, was currently at the height of her fame. Everyone wanted to come over and press a cup on her.

It was not necessarily malicious. It was only the kind of rowdy urging that came when people were in high spirits and crowding together. Unfortunately, Sheng Zhaoning had an excellent tolerance for alcohol. After drinking for most of the day, her face was not red, her breathing was not uneven, and there was not the slightest sign of drunkenness.

That stirred the competitive spirit of these civil officials, who were normally fond of comparing drinking capacity. No one was willing to admit defeat. One cup from you, one cup from me, and soon they were locked in a contest.

Although the crowd was no longer collectively attacking Sheng Zhaoning, she was caught in the middle of it all. There was no chance of slipping away. She could only brace herself and follow along, drinking nearly another half pot.

This time, her tolerance had truly reached its limit.

A faint blush gradually climbed across Sheng Zhaoning’s face. Her eyes turned a little moist and hazy, losing their usual cool clarity. At this moment, there was even a faint, alluring softness about her.

Li Ji looked at Sheng Zhaoning’s face, and his slightly drunken eyes went blank for a moment.

Why did he feel that the drunk Sheng Zhaoning was… strangely beautiful?

Below the dais, seated beside the dragon throne, Wei Yi unconsciously tightened his grip on his wine cup.

He looked at Sheng Zhaoning, surrounded by a crowd of men, and the anger in his chest burned all the way into his eyes, howling like a sudden storm.

For reasons he could not explain, he wanted to lock this person away, where no one else was allowed to look.