Сун Синчжи жил во времена правления императора Хуэйцзуна

Глава 110

Tian Xiri was both ashamed and angry upon hearing this. She raised her foot to stomp on him again, but this time she failed as he dodged very quickly. With a single leap, he jumped ten steps away, looking at her with a mocking smile.

Seeing someone who looks exactly like you laughing at you so unrestrainedly is a very awkward feeling.

Xi Ri sighed deeply, clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth as she said to Long Ming, "You'd better stay away from me. I'm still very upset about being robbed just now, and I feel like killing someone!"

When that matter was brought up, Long Ming was in the wrong, and he also lost face because he messed things up, so he looked a little embarrassed.

Tian Shuang, who had maintained an observer's perspective, was somewhat lost in thought: Why do women all over the world only care about appearances? Sigh, how superficial! Who would have thought that the young master Long, the one who could draw crowds wherever he went, was actually this kind of person? Sigh, my Yu-gege is so much better. Thinking of Li Yu, Tian Shuang secretly rejoiced; she had seen Yu-gege again today, even though he had ultimately run away.

Actually, she secretly thought that Prince Ming was more manly. Thinking back to that night when Prince Ming looked at her window under the moonlight with such restraint and melancholy, she sighed, "If only Brother Yu loved me like that..."

As Tian Shuang was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the young lady call out, "Tian Shuang, come in and help me wash and change. Third Brother is still waiting for me in the front hall."

Tian Shuang quickly snapped out of her daze and immediately agreed. Just as she was about to follow her mistress into the room, she saw that Young Master Long was grabbing her sleeve.

The young lady stopped and turned around... She couldn't see the young lady's expression at that moment, but she saw Long Ming's eyes. Although the face resembled the young lady's, the gaze suddenly filled her with fear.

She remained silent, retreated into the house first, and considerately closed the door, leaving the outside completely to the two of them.

Actually, Young Master Long is head over heels in love with Miss. In other people's eyes, such a man is unattainable and arrogant. He is too handsome and of extremely noble status. Wherever he goes, he is the center of attention. People fawn over him like stars around the moon. But that's not the case. He is actually very easygoing and not difficult to get along with. When Miss is with Young Master Long, she always smiles sincerely and shows her true self without any reservations. In fact, Miss still likes Young Master Long more.

Alas, what a pity... Even someone as noble as you cannot choose your own life.

Although Miss likes Young Master Long, there are too many entanglements between Miss and Prince Ming. She privately believes that if Young Master Long hadn't been so protective, Miss would have eventually fallen for Prince Ming.

Sigh... Thinking of Prince Ming now, I feel a little sorry for him.

Just as Xi Ri was about to turn around and go inside, Long Ming grabbed her sleeve.

She turned her head to look at Long Ming, only to see that he suddenly seemed like a different person. His expression changed from casual to serious. Tian Xiri always felt that Long Ming sometimes didn't need to wear a mask to function as one, his face changing as quickly as turning the pages of a book. But, before he could even speak, Xiri already knew what he was thinking and said first, "Three months. I will not break my promise to him."

Long Ming's breath hitched, and she released her grip on her sleeve.

Seeing that Tian Shuang had entered the house and closed the door, she turned her head away from him, straightened her back, and said calmly, "You know everything, and I have never hidden it from you. I don't deny that I like you, but Third Brother is very important to me."

She didn't dare turn around to look at him, because what he said was the truth, but it was destined to hurt him.

"And what about me?" His voice came from behind her. She trembled slightly, unsure how to answer, when he continued, "Isn't it more important?!"

...Hmm? ...She couldn't help but chuckle.

He chuckled and said, "I have to leave for two days. Be careful in everything you do."

"Mm," she responded softly, adding, "Be careful too."

“Turn around,” he said.

"What?" She turned to the side as instructed, glancing at him sideways. Seeing that he had his arms outstretched, she was puzzled, but then she heard him say impatiently, "Give me a hug."

What?! Tian Xiri looked at him, completely bewildered.

"Give me a hug, I'll miss you terribly if I don't see you for two or three days." Long Ming tilted her head, seemingly a little embarrassed, but still urged him in a harsh tone.

Tian Xiri's face twitched slightly. He looked the man up and down with disdain, then let out a heavy snort and stormed off. Before leaving, he casually tossed something to the man, which landed right in his arms.

Stepping inside, she turned to close the door, but couldn't help glancing at him. She saw the small purse he was holding exaggeratedly in his arms, which amused her. But she pointed at him seriously and said loudly, "I embroidered this for you myself. If you lose it, you have to embroider one back for me yourself!" With that, she slammed the door shut.

She closed the door, leaned against the doorframe, and didn't leave. A big smile appeared on her face, but she forced herself not to laugh out loud. On a whim, she suddenly turned around and pressed her face against the crack in the door, shamelessly peering through the small gap. She saw Long Ming standing amidst the falling snow, holding the lotus flower she had embroidered, smiling as she brought it to her nose to smell it. She first placed it at her waist, but after looking at it from left to right, she seemed to feel it wasn't quite right, so she took it off and put it in her bosom before turning and walking away. As she walked, she covered her chest with her hand, as if afraid something would get cold.

Xi Ri turned around, remembering the warmth of her body still lingering on the purse, and couldn't help but chuckle, "I've already given you something, if you don't bring me a gift when you come back, don't bother coming to see me again." She didn't care that the other person could no longer hear her.

A smile played on her lips, her heart overflowing with sweetness. Lost in her blissful reverie, she didn't notice Tian Shuang had approached her and asked, "Miss, weren't you going to change your clothes to see Prince Ming?"

Xi Ri was startled by the sound, but after a moment she realized what was happening and exclaimed, "Oh dear, I forgot!"

After quickly washing up and changing his clothes, he went to the front hall with Tian Shuang.

In the front hall, Lady Tian, the birth mother of the current Imperial Concubine Tian, was chatting happily with Prince Ming. Upon seeing Xi Ri arrive, she greeted her with a smile and a kind expression. Since Xi Ri's status had been confirmed, and with rumors circulating in the palace that Prince Ming would soon be granted a fiefdom, her status would become even more prestigious. Therefore, everyone in the Tian household fawned over her and treated her with great kindness. Xi Ri and Tian Shuang stepped forward to greet the two, and only then did Xi Ri take her seat, with Tian Shuang attending to her side.

When Madam Tian saw Xiri arrive, she excused herself, saying she had business in the back hall, and withdrew with Liu, who served her. Before leaving, she deliberately dismissed all the maids and guards near the front hall. Minglu's entourage also left the hall shortly afterward.

At this moment, only Minglu, Xiri, and Tianshuang remained in the hall.

Tian Shuang stepped forward and kowtowed first, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was in a hurry just now and disregarded etiquette, bumping into Your Highness at the door. Please punish me."

On the way here, Xi Ri briefly told Tian Shuang what had happened at the entrance. Tian Shuang understood the reasoning behind it. After all, she had been used to singing and acting in harmony with the young lady since she was a child. Of course, sometimes she had to take the blame.

Ming Lu glanced at Tian Shuang's respectful demeanor and eyes, and said with a smile, "It's alright, you may rise. You were just worried about your young lady, it was truly unintentional, and I will not blame you."

Tian Shuang smiled, his goodwill towards Prince Ming increasing even more. He immediately kowtowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Prince Ming, for your kindness in not punishing me." Only then did he respectfully rise and retreat behind Xi Ri.

Minglu then said to Xiri, who still seemed somewhat dazed, "Fifth Sister, it's snowing heavily today. If the weather clears up tomorrow, how about we go hunting together at Phoenix Mountain?"

Hearing this, Xi Ri came back to her senses and said, "Third Brother is so busy, how come you have time to take your little sister hunting?"

“Snow foxes are not common; they only appear when Phoenix Mountain is covered in snow for the first time. Last year, I saw Xi’en and Nalan each hunt one, and I was very envious. I’m determined to go this year. Moreover, Phoenix Mountain stretches for several miles, covered with pine trees. In winter, the branches are covered in snow, creating a stunning landscape. There are also ice caves and hot springs, making it a wonderful place to visit this season. Xi’en, Nalan, Fu Jin, and I have already made plans to go hunting together when the first snow of winter covers Phoenix Mountain. We plan to spend the night on the summit, visit the ice caves the next day, soak in the hot springs, and then return. I wonder if Fifth Sister would like to come with us?” Minglu asked.

Minglu's words had already made her yearn for these things. These were things that only men could do, and she had never had the chance to try them. She really wanted to, but... she smiled slightly and said, "How can Fifth Sister casually go and soak in the hot springs that Third Brother mentioned?"

"Fifth Sister, don't worry. You can take Tian Shuang with you. There are two hot springs. We can go to one, and you and Tian Shuang can go to the other. Isn't that perfect?" Ming Lu said.

When Minglu mentioned that Tian Shuang could also come along, she subconsciously glanced at Tian Shuang and saw that Tian Shuang's eyes were bright and pleading, probably because she had longed to go as well as she had. She was never one to hesitate, and if she thought it was okay to go, she replied, "Alright, if the snow stops tomorrow, I'll go with my brothers."

Tian Shuang behind him seemed unable to suppress a slight jump, and Xi Ri gave him a slightly reproachful look.

Seeing her readily agree, Minglu smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed, and his expression revealed a hint of pleasure, exuding an indescribable charm and elegance. Tian Xiri and Tian Shuang, who were present, both paused in surprise. Although they were used to seeing extremely handsome men, especially Long Ming, Minglu's elegance at this moment was not deliberate, but rather an unintentional revelation in his every gesture, word, and smile. It was extremely natural, and even when he picked up the teacup beside him and gently blew on it, the faint languor he displayed was an elegant and captivating charm that even the peerless Long Ming could not exhibit.

At this moment, Xi Ri suddenly remembered that when she first met Third Brother at Shi Xiang Lou, she saw exactly this kind of demeanor.

The next day, Tian Shuang got up early and was overjoyed to see that the snow had stopped. She quickly got to work.