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Chapter 103 – The meaning of the summons from the palace was difficult to decipher
Chu Qing-Yan looked to the sky and gave a long sigh, she could only be resigned to her fate and go change her clothes. This Western Xuan emperor didn’t summon them earlier or later, why did he give the order at this time?
Chu Qing-Yan took a glance at the color of the sky. Could it be he wanted to keep her and Big Block of Ice to eat dinner?
Cherishing this thought, she finished changing her clothes and then got on the horse carriage that was going to the palace.
“Big Block of Ice, you say, is there a reason why His Majesty passed on this summons?” Chu Qing-Yan was unable to contain her curiosity, so she raised her head to ask the person who was currently resting with his eyes closed.
Xiao Xu indifferently replied. “This king is also not clear.”
“Big Block of Ice, then you tell me, what kind of person is your father the emperor? Is he easy to get along with? In a while when I get there, what should I say? What shouldn’t I say?” Chu Qing-Yan suddenly started to feel nervous. Only now did she start to be aware and feel that she was about to go face the person sitting at the peak of power in Western Xuan empire, the one that killed to seize this power.
The regent was someone that lived in history books, on TV and in movies. She never thought that one day she would have the opportunity to see this person alive.
Chu Qing-Yan, who was sunk in her own emotions, didn’t find out that when she asked this question, the expression in Xiao Xu’s eyes changed slightly.
What kind of person?
In fact, he also didn’t know. After he turned ten, his impression of his father the emperor became more and more shallow. Whether his father the emperor had ever boasted or praised him, whether he recognized him, whether his face exhibited affection for him, he had forgotten everything. Or perhaps, it could be said he didn’t have the inclination to recall them once again, subsequently, it was also forgotten in the depth of his memories.
It wasn’t until the little girl in front of him opened her eyes wide to look at him, that he was finally able to pull out of this train of thought. “Speak less, less mistakes. Don’t do it, won’t be wrong.”
Chu Qing-Yan stared blankly. Was this like Big Block of Ice’s way of dealing with other people?
However, when she was staring at Xiao Xu, she discovered that his eyes bubbled up with another kind of mood, unlike the coldness and cheerlessness he had normally. It had a bit of melancholy. Her heart couldn’t help but clutch up, she shifted her body to lean over to him. Then very carefully, she said. “Big Block of Ice, what’s wrong with you? Did I say something wrong?”
Xiao Xu lowered his head and looked into her eyes. Clean, clear and penetrating like a bent stream with water so clear you could see the bottom. A peculiar, deeply grieved emotion that boiled up from her heart and slowly dispersed out like a stream. He lifted a hand and stroked her head in comfort, and softly sighed. “That’s the reason I said, speak less, less mistakes.”
“Tsk!” Chu Qing-Yan’s face immediately turned away, Big Block of Ice was teasing her for fun!
Xiao Xu’s lips bent slightly, his originally bad mood became better. However, this girl seemed to be more and more free in front of him. Could this be considered a good thing or bad thing? Xiao Xu was somewhat doubtful.
At this moment, the horse carriage suddenly stopped advancing forward. Chu Qing-Yan immediately looked toward Xiao Xu.
Gu Yi’s voice came from outside the carriage. “Your Highness, it’s Second prince.”
Second prince? Xiao Yao? That prince with the reputation of being uninhibited and licentious?
Suddenly, an image of a male who loved to his heart content and wasted his energy with lascivious pair of eyes flashed through Chu Qing-Yan’s mind. She heard that this prince didn’t love to rule a country but loved beauty. Therefore, Chu Qing-Yan had a matchless curiosity towards this excessive, licentious second prince.
“En.” Xiao Xu responded faintly.
As a result, the carriage curtain was rolled up by someone outside. Chu Qing-Yan sat inside the carriage with her eyes opened wide as she aimed it everywhere randomly, wanting to see this Highness second prince with the infamous reputation.
“I say, Eldest Royal brother, you really aren’t appreciative. After returning for so long, I invited you over to my manor, you aren’t willing. Really made this younger brother feel deeply hurt!”
Chu Qing-Yan still hadn’t seen the person yet before she heard this lazy, laid-back voice coming from one side of the carriage.
Just listening to this voice, which was clear and sonorous without losing the carefreeness, it was really hard to link this tone with that rumored excessively licentious second prince.
By the time the voice fell, that person who was riding a horse had already walked to the front of the carriage.
The person was dressed in a blue-green robe, black hair wrapped up high by a gold hairpin. The front of his robe was slightly open in the front, exposing his exquisite collarbone. His entire person was leaning over on the horse’s back, looking extremely idle. Only when he was looking at Xiao Xu was he more perky. What an accomplishment at being an uninhibited man!
“The odor in your manor doesn’t smell good.” Xiao Xu didn’t give him face and replied bluntly.
First Xiao Yao stared blankly, then he immediately understood the meaning in his words. He couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Eldest Royal brother, what’s not good about the smell of these rouge powder? It’s pink, soft, silky, well blended in harmony, lovable and alluring, like peaches that has very suitable taste, willow like, thin but quite rough. Hug a more plump one or a thin swallow-bird like figure. Also other special flavors.”
Speaking up to here, it seemed as if Xiao Yao thought of something, smiling towards him to say. “That’s right, Elder Royal brother had always disapproved of those ordinary, rough and coarse tender girls. How about you wait until this younger brother comes across a stunning beauty next time, then invite Elder Royal brother to my manor for a chat again?”
Xiao Xu glanced at him coldly. “You managing yourself well is good enough. This king doesn’t need it.”
Chu Qing-Yan looked at the person in front incredlously. He could actually say this in a public place with numerous eyes staring. Sure enough, he was exactly like the rumors had described, engrossed in licentiousness. Only, it’s a pity to waste such good material!
When Chu Qing-Yan looked at this person, she observed that though his speech was full of laughs and playfulness, his eyes were very bright. She faintly felt that this person wasn’t like what he projected on the outside.
“Sure enough, Elder Royal brother still hasn’t changed a bit!” Xiao Yao said this with a hint of defeat. Then, it seemed as if he thought of something else, and then extended his head to look inside the carriage. “That’s right, I heard you showed extreme favor towards that little consort. Let her come out for me to have a look. Whether or not she looks extremely gorgeous!”
Xiao Xu lifted his eyes to look towards him. “Stop while you’re ahead.”
Xiao Yao, taken by surprise, trembled from the cold. It seemed as if Elder Royal Brother’s eyes had frozen over. His appearance really could scare a person to death.
He also stopped being excessive. One hand stroked the horse’s mane. His expression was still as mischievous and disrespectful as before.
“I heard today that person mentioned your family’s little consort by Father Emperor’s ears. Thus, Father Emperor, on a whim, wanted you to bring her over for him to have a look.”
Xiao Xu didn’t respond but clearly, he heard it.
“Enough, the spring nights are short and bitter. This younger brother still needs to go see some beauties. Wish you guys a safe journey!” Xiao Yao leisurely waved his hand towards them, afterwards, with his whip raised, he unhurriedly brought his people to leave, swaying in a languid manner.
Who was that person mentioned? Why didn’t Xiao Yao clearly say that person’s name? Why did he wish them a safe journey when it was merely just a trip to enter the palace? Moreover, his seemingly casual words weren’t really causal.
Chu Qing-Yan didn’t know what Xiao Yao’s words meant, but she faintly felt that it hid some profound theories. Because she saw that after Big Block of Ice heard those words, his entire person became silent.
Chu Qing-Yan pulled at his sleeves, and wanted to ask him.
“Nothing’s the matter.” Xiao Xu patted the back of her hand, then gave the order for the carriage to continue forward.
The carriage curtain was pulled down, covering up the remaining light from the setting sun.
Chu Qing-Yan thoughtfully looked at the person in front of her, then suddenly opened her mouth to say.
“After I enter the palace, I will definitely listen to your instructions. If nobody asks me, I definitely won’t talk. I will be very careful and definitely won’t create troubles for you!”
Xiao Xu, having heard this, looked at her and saw the seriousness on her little face. He knew she must have guessed something from hearing Xiao Yao’s words, and he suddenly smiled. He lifted a hand to touch her face. “No need, if there are some problems, then this king will take care of it.”
That finger was slightly coarse as it rubbed her cheek. Very quickly, he withdrew it, but that gentle and warm feeling didn’t immediately dissipate from her cheek.
She only realized and felt afterwards that just then, it seemed someone took advantage and ate her tofu (1)! Moreover, the partner was Big Block of Ice! It was simply too surprising!
However, when Big Block of Ice smiled, his eyes were really beautiful. Only, it’s a pity his face was covered by a mask, so she couldn’t see the whole view. Not fair!
1) eat her tofu: The tofu is a reference to skin, since it’s silky soft and bouncy. So when someone eats another person’s tofu, it could refer to an intimate touch, a kiss, a caress or any flirtatious contact.
Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Is Xiao Yao perhaps an ally? He certainly puts up a convincing act of being a total bed-hopping wastrel. Is he perhaps willing to compete, and just making sure Xiao Xu doesn’t want to compete?
I think so too.