Cheng placed her fingers on Duke Zhao's chest, biting her red lips coquettishly as she blinked her bewitching eyes, "Leave the matters of the inner residence to me, my lord can rest assured."
When she was younger, she had been a charming vixen, otherwise she could not have become Duke Zhao's concubine while Mrs. Lin was still in power.
Now, though older, her charm remained undiminished, and she best knew how to seduce a man.
Bewitched by her, the ferocity faded from Duke Zhao's face as he laughed. His large hand grasped her fingers and took a whiff, "Alright, I'll trust you this once, though it'll be hard to explain to the Huo Family."
"When the time comes, make Yan'er an official wife to enter the residence, then we can think of a way to demote Second Miss Gu to a concubine."
Duke Zhao pondered briefly and felt she made sense.
No longer thinking of anything else, he narrowed his eyes to gaze at the alluring glimpse of spring bared by the woman before him pulling her collar to her shoulders. His eyes instantly grew hot.
With a laugh, he embraced Cheng and headed to the rear courtyard.
...
Zhao Changdu walked out of Zhengde Pavilion with a cold face, just about to return to his own Changfeng Pavilion.
Unexpectedly, in the depths of night, he actually encountered Huo Qiyun draped in a cloak on the garden path.
Underneath she wore only a light brown robe. Her figure was graceful and delicate, the hem of her skirt swaying in a slight arc but not revealing her feet. After so many years, she remained as gentle and charming as before, walking with proper manners.
Time had left no mark on her face.
Ten years had passed, the once delicate young girl had grown into a mature woman in the prime of her beauty. Her brows and eyes now contained the sediment of time's passage.
Her eyes were moist, the rims slightly red, seeming as if she had suffered an injustice.
But that was none of his concern, she was now his elder brother's wife, her matters had nothing to do with him.
Just as the two were about to brush past each other.
Huo Qiyun suddenly slipped, her body tilting to the side and falling straight towards the man by her side.
A woman's form was too weak, the stone path was covered by a layer of thick snow on this late night of wind and snow. Why was she out here instead of sleeping warmly beside Zhao Changxing?
Zhao Changdu's brows knitted together as his large hand grasped the woman's fragile shoulder, distancing himself appropriately by two steps to steady her.
His stern eyes looked towards her maid Lv Zhi behind her, his low voice carrying a chill despite not raising it, "Why didn't you bring a lantern?"
Clearly reprimanding her, Lv Zhi shrunk back in fear, "Replying to Young Master, it was Eldest Young Master...he didn't allow this slave to bring a lantern."
Hearing it was Zhao Changxing's doing, Zhao Changdu gave a cold laugh. His heavy gaze fell on the top of Huo Qiyun's head, containing ridicule and mockery.
Was this the choice she had insisted on abandoning him for back then?
After being Zhao Changxing's wife for ten years, she still could not make Zhao Changxing cherish her in his heart. This was her own doing.
Yet even so, he still felt a weak woman should not suffer such maltreatment.
After all, when they grew up together in the past, Huo Qiyun had given him the most thoughtful care. During the period after he lost his mother, Huo Qiyun had accompanied him tirelessly to get through the darkest times. He harbored resentment and hatred towards her, but also an unseverable kinship.
"Huai An."
Huai An stepped forward, not glancing at Huo Qiyun once, "Yes, sir."
Zhao Changdu's lips curled in cold mockery, but the chill in his eyes faded somewhat. "Give the lantern to Lv Zhi."
Huai An was unhappy, his lord had just gotten close with Second Miss and now treated the official wife so well. If Second Miss found out, she would definitely be jealous.
Zhao Changdu looked at him displeased, "Oh?"
Only then did Huai An reluctantly hand over his lantern to Lv Zhi, "Here."
Lv Zhi received it apprehensively, knowing that despite the cold exterior, the Young Master still cared for her mistress. She looked at her mistress and quickly said, "Thank you, Young Master."
Zhao Changdu's attitude remained aloof, "No need."
Having said that, he prepared to leave.
However, the silent Huo Qiyun suddenly reached out to grab his arm.
Lv Zhi and Huai An were both frightened, not even daring to breathe loudly.
This was Duke Manor, with countless eyes watching these masters.
How could Lady Huo suddenly do something so outrageous! She had always followed rules and propriety, what madness overcame her now!
Zhao Changdu's brow was severe, his piercing phoenix eyes looked at her darkly. With a cold flick of his sleeve, he pushed her away.
"Please have some self-respect, sister-in-law."
Huo Qiyun endured the dull pain in her chest, raising her head. Her reddened eyes were as clear as obsidian as she stared fixedly at Zhao Changdu without blinking.
Zhao Changdu's brow wrinkled as he looked at the tender white hand still stubbornly grabbing his arm. His voice was detached, carrying a trace of mockery, "Does sister-in-law have some matter?"
Hearing this address of sister-in-law, Huo Qiyun came to her senses and released him. She gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I heard you went to propose marriage to the Gu Family today."
The woman's voice remained gentle and soothing, just like in the past, able to comfort one's heart.
She was the one with the least right to ask him this, but she couldn't restrain herself. After waiting anxiously at home all day, her mind in a daze ever since hearing he fancied someone. Her heart had pricked painfully like being jabbed with needles.
She desperately wanted an answer, one that could make her give up and let go.
Looking again at this person she had once cherished like family across the span of ten years, Zhao Changdu's heart turned over countless times. In the end, he could not bear to blame her for anything. He could only lament that fate was as such, everything was his own fault, foolishly believing there could be someone in this world who would wholeheartedly be good to him.
"Yes."
"Does Changdu like her?"
"Can't say that I do."
Huo Qiyun was startled, seeming not to expect such a response. It left the mouthful of fear and worry she had been about to spill stuck in her throat. "Then...you..."
She had thought he fell in love with someone else, so hearing this news had left her spirit chaotic and uneasy the entire time.
Zhao Changdu spoke indifferently, looking at her mockingly, "Huo Qiyun, I also need a wife."
He didn't address her as sister-in-law.
Huo Qiyun only felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by a large hand and ripped open, the pain as raw as gushing blood.
She froze again, knowing he was mocking her for abandoning him back then, but she had been helpless... The one she loved most had always been him, would forever be him.
Thinking of her own laughable yet pitiful life, she gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Changdu, I have no other skills, this is a sachet I personally embroidered for you." She fumbled anxiously in her embrace to carefully take out an exquisitely embroidered sachet and hold it out before him. Her tone was so weak and submissive, "I wanted to give this to you as a wedding gift..."
Zhao Changdu lowered his gaze to look at the sachet embroidered with pomegranate flowers. His eyes akin to the galaxy seemed to contain dangerous undercurrents swirling within their depths.
His brow wrinkled, "No need. Pomegranates have many seeds, sister-in-law should keep it for yourself and Zhao Changxing instead."
Having said that, there were no more words between them. He directly and mercilessly left this place.
Huo Qiyun's small hand stiffened in midair, only coming back to her senses after some time had passed.
