Chongfei Manual pt. 2

136.2

Before she could finish her words, Wei Luo leaned over, grasped her chin, and harshly raised Li Xiang’s face. She mercilessly asked, “What right do you have to beg me? Why are you telling me this? Why would I care who Li Song is thinking about in his heart?”

Wei Luo's gaze hovered over Li Xiang’s lower lip. It seems that she hadn’t been living well during the past few days. Her lips were dried and cracked. She was no longer a strikingly lovely girl. Wei Luo lightly laughed and her lips curved into a beautiful smile. Her eyes were bright and glittering.

Her tone slightly softened into a sweet and moving voice, “Li Xiang, aren’t you too presumptuous? Even if Li Song wasn’t the one that injured Chang Hong, this matter is still related to House Li. Besides, the emperor was the one that personally supervised and examined this case. Do you really think the verdict can easily be changed?”

After Wei Luo thought something over, she straightened her body and lightly glanced at Li Xiang. “I wouldn’t be willing to help even if it was possible to change.”

In a few steps, she walked into Prince Jing’s residence. As she passed the guards at the entrance, she instructed, “If Miss Li wants to kneel here, then let her keep kneeling here. You don't need to pass on any messages or news.”

The servant sympathetically glanced at Li Xiang, then he turned his head and respectfully said, "Understood, Your Highness."

--------

Wei Luo was a hard-hearted person. She would never reconsider a decision after it was made or regret not changing her mind once she disliked someone.

She didn't tell Zhao Jie about this brief episode.

On the next day, a prison cart brought Prince Ru Yang to the south main street. He was beheaded at the southern east gate. Prince Ru Yang’s family that had once been famous started its downward spiral towards decline.

Because Zhao Zhang was implicated by Prince Ru Yang's actions, Emperor Chong Zhen wasn't happy with him. After Emperor Chong Zhen called him to his study and questioned him, he put Zhao Zhang under house arrest for three months. He wouldn’t be allowed to take a step out of his residence until the three months passed. Emperor Chong Zhen even took back the government affairs that he had recently given to him and handed the work over to Zhao Jie to deal with.

Gossip came from the imperial courts that Emperor Chong Zhen was going to declare who would be the heir apparent.

Zhao Jie would be overseeing the beheading. Around noontime, seeing that Zhao Jie hadn't returned, Wei Luo called Yang Hao to her side and asked, "Why hasn't His Highness returned yet?"

Yang Hao had been left behind by Zhao Jie to protect Wei Luo. With his head lowered, he said, “To respond to Your Highness, His Highness has to go to the palace to report to His Majesty after the beheading.”

After Wei Luo thought it over, it seemed reasonable, so she didn’t ask any more questions.

--------

Towards the evening, it suddenly started to rain. Raindrop after raindrop fell. The ground quickly became wet as the rain became heavier. Wei Luo was standing next to a window. She rested her chin in her hand as she admired the view of the rain falling on the osmanthus flowers in the courtyard.

A short while later, a servant girl came inside. She saluted Wei Luo and said, “Your Highness, there someone outside that wants to see you and hopes that you’ll come outside.”

Wei Luo turned her head, “Who wants to see me?”

The servant girl shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know. The person had an unfamiliar face.”