The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 87

Wanlan looked at the closed door in front of her and recalled the lonely, silent, and very dejected man she had seen at the late emperor's funeral. She let out a soft sigh.

What's wrong with this man?

Given what he had done to Zehua before, she should have hated him, even loathed him, but—at this moment she realized so clearly that she was the one who had taken away this man's beloved first.

She stepped forward to stop Xiao Luzi from knocking on the door and said softly, "I'll do it."

After a pause, Wanlan raised her hand to knock on the door and called out, "Zhao Dezhao, open the door."

There was no movement inside the room, not even the slightest sound. Wanlan glanced at Xiaoluzi and asked, "Are you sure he's in there?"

"Yes, Master hasn't come out all day."

With a slight nod, Wanlan pursed her lips, then pushed forward with all her might. The door, which hadn't been bolted, suddenly swung open to both sides, and she stepped inside.

"Zhao Dezhao, come out here!"

After a long silence, a languid voice from inside the room casually asked, "...Who?"

Wanlan frowned. Was the owner of that voice Zhao Dezhao?

She walked slowly toward the inner room, but her steps stopped at the screen. She stared blankly at the man who stepped out and his deep, desolate eyes, and she was startled.

This person...this person in front of me...is their heart dead?

Why do people have eyes like that?

Before she could even react, the person in front of her suddenly pulled her into his arms, a low, husky voice whispering in her ear, "Lan'er... you're finally back. I've been waiting for you for so long..."

Wanlan stiffened for a moment, then struggled to stand up: "Zhao Dezhao, let go..."

"Lan'er, I've been waiting for you... I've been waiting for you..." The man holding her tightened his grip, and Wanlan could hardly breathe, as if the air in her chest was being squeezed out.

"Zhao Dezhao... let me go first..." Wanlan pushed against the unmoving man in vain, having no other choice but to shout, "Xuan'er! Pull him... tear him away from me!" She was going to suffocate if she didn't let go!

Upon hearing this, the three people who were standing frozen at the door rushed in and separated the two who were locked in a stalemate.

Wanlan clutched her aching chest, breathing heavily, her face pale. She took two steps back before looking up at the man staring intently at her, shaking her head as she said, "Zhao Dezhao, please look carefully. I am not your Lan'er—even if I look like her, I am not her." Strange, every time they met before, wasn't this man able to tell at a glance that she wasn't Princess Deqing?

Seemingly heeding her words, Zhao Dezhao stared intently at her with his dark, inky eyes for a long time before finally raising his lips in a slight smile. That smile startled the panting Wanlan—

Never before had she seen such a gentle and warm smile on this man's face, but his next words truly rendered Wanlan unable to move.

"Lan'er, call me Rixin."

Rixin?

What is Zhao Dezhao's courtesy name?

Has he made a fool of himself? Or has he suffered some kind of shock that makes him unable to distinguish her from the real Princess Deqing?

Wanlan stared at the smiling man opposite her, feeling a terrible headache coming on.

From yesterday to today, except when he absolutely had to go to sleep, he would only let her go to the east wing. The rest of the time, he would stare at her intently with wide eyes. His serious expression was terrifying, but she couldn't shake it off. Whenever she had the thought of stepping out of this courtyard, before she could even take any action, Su Li and Xiao Luzi would kneel in front of her and beg her to stay. This was because since she arrived, their prince had finally started eating and living a normal life.

Wanlan frowned, her head throbbing. The man who had been staring at her immediately leaned closer and asked with concern, "Lan'er, what's wrong? Does your head hurt?"

"No." She rubbed her throbbing forehead, stood up to leave, but her wrist was immediately grabbed—

"Lan'er! Where are you going?"

Wanlan's forehead twitched violently, and she cursed inwardly, almost gritting her teeth, "I'm going to sunbathe!" Heaven knows that although the weather was still a bit cool at the beginning of summer, there was no need to sit in the sun.

However, upon stepping out of the west wing, she discovered that the sun was not out today. The sky was filled with drifting clouds, and a cool breeze was quite comfortable. Wanlan took a deep breath, suppressed the depression in her heart, and smiled faintly with a slight curve to her lips.

The air in ancient times was really suitable for a healthy pregnancy!

Wanlan sighed softly as her right hand unconsciously touched her flat stomach.

I wonder what Zehua is doing now? Is he really so comfortable letting her meet his older brother alone?

After spending a day in Xingze, the resentment I felt towards Zehua gradually subsided, and longing filled my heart, which slowly calmed down.

She knew that Zehua would not abandon her. There must be a reason why he sent her alone. Perhaps... Zehua already knew about Zhao Dezhao's current state, but was afraid that his presence with her would upset Zhao Dezhao, so he sent her alone?

She didn't know the real reason, so she could only comfort herself with this thought.

"Lan'er, what are you thinking about?"

Wanlan glanced at the man beside her. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have imagined that a man as cold as Zhao Dezhao could have such a tender side. When the two first met at the Thai Royal Palace, she only saw the vulnerable and ruthless side of this man. It was the first time she had seen him speak so gently and cautiously like this.

She was certain that Zhao Dezhao had been traumatized to become like this. She felt helpless and could only continue to treat him like this for the time being. Perhaps after some time he would remember everything and realize that the woman in front of him was not his Lan'er.

"Lan'er?"

"Hmm?" she responded with a faint smile. "Rixin, why didn't you go to Yongxing?" She relented under the man's stubborn insistence. Would calling him by his name remind him of everything sooner? Would it help him distinguish more quickly that the woman he was facing was completely different from the woman he loved? He had to understand the difference between the woman before him and his "Lan'er."

"It's fine to go to Yongxing later. We can stay here for a month before setting off, or, where would you like to go for some fun?"

Zhao Dezhao's question startled Wanlan, who shook her head and smiled bitterly, "No." Her purpose in leaving the capital was clearly to elope with Zehua and travel around, but she never expected to be trapped in this small county town.

However, the grudge between her and Zhao Dezhao would have to be sorted out sooner or later, so she might as well resolve this matter in advance so that she would have no worries about abducting Zehua in the future.

The man beside her suddenly pulled up her hand, which was hanging by her side. "Lan'er, I'm taking you somewhere. Come on!"

Completely unable to break free from his grasp, she didn't even have time to refuse before Zhao Dezhao pulled her out of the courtyard. They headed straight into the depths of the alley.

"Rixin! Tell me where we're going first! And... slow down!"