Chapter 508: 508: What Chu Lan Seeks_1

With that, Wei Ruo quickly looked away again.

Wei Jinyi keenly noticed this. He slowly raised his head, meeting Chu Lan’s unabashed examining gaze.

In public, Wei Jinyi still maintained a sickly façade with his pale face and cloudy, dim eyes.

Compared to him, Chu Lan’s gaze was sharp, confident, and full of insight.

Just as their gazes met, Wei Ruo subtly leaned towards Wei Jinyi, gently resting against his side.

Then she picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and moved it towards Wei Jinyi’s lips.

Such an act would be inappropriate for others as it could seem improper in public. However, Wei Jinyi’s circumstances were special, and Wei Ruo’s actions appeared more like she was taking care of him, providing him support.

Wei Jinyi’s body stiffened noticeably, and he turned to look at Wei Ruo who was leaning against him.

Wei Ruo, nestled against Wei Jinyi, failed to notice his discomfort. She wondered why Chu Lan was looking at her that way. Regardless, she decided it’s best to stay by Jinyi’s side and continue performing her role as Queen Rui in public without revealing any weaknesses.

“Second brother,” Wei Ruo gently reminded him.

If he won’t open his mouth to eat, her hand holding the chopsticks would become sore.

Her voice brought Wei Jinyi out of his thoughts, and he opened his mouth, taking in the piece of fish.

As he chewed on the fish, Wei Jinyi realized that the chopsticks were Wei Ruo’s and that she had already used them earlier.

Upon realizing this, he felt his chest grow even hotter.

He could clearly hear his heart beating faster than usual, his cheeks warming unusually. But he remained motionless.

Initially, Wei Ruo had been focusing on picking up food for Wei Jinyi, but a casual glance upwards revealed the blush on Wei Jinyi’s ears and neck.

“Second brother, are you feeling warm?” Wei Ruo asked softly.

“Yes, a bit,” Wei Jinyi replied.

“I’m sorry, King Jing is watching us. Every time I see him, I can’t help but worry, although I’m not sure what he has noticed. I think it’s best to be careful, so I came closer to you, and fed you, which suits your frail health. It also makes us appear more loving. But being this close is a bit warm. Can you bear with it?” Wei Ruo explained to Wei Jinyi.

“Hmm…”

His warmth wasn’t entirely because someone was leaning against him…

To outsiders, the interactions between Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi resembled the affectionate behavior of a newlywed couple.

The Emperor, seated on the throne, caught sight of their intimate movements and couldn’t help but reveal a pleased smile.

The Imperial Concubine Qi noticed the Emperor’s gaze. Following his gaze, she saw the newlywed Queen and King Rui, then cheerfully said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty has chosen an excellent wife for Prince Rui. It seems that His Highness is very fond of her.”

The Emperor replied, “Yiyi’s health has improved somewhat these days. It seems Daoist Qianyuan was right. This woman indeed brings prosperity to Yiyi.”

“Your Majesty is wise. Prince Rui is a blessed man. With Queen Rui, whose destiny complements his beside him, he will surely live a long life,” Imperial Concubine Qi concurred with the Emperor.

“Let’s hope so,” said the Emperor.

Chu Lan looked at Wei Ruo, who was huddled close to King Rui, his gaze shifted subtly. He picked up his wine glass and leisurely took a sip.

Although his expression was inscrutable, he did not reveal any emotions.

After savoring his wine, Chu Lan put down his glass and called over an attendant, murmuring a few words to him.

Afterwards, the attendant carefully avoided the dancing courtesans in the center of the square and made a wide circle to reach Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi.

“Prince Rui, this is a gift from my lord. I hope you would like it and accept it,” he said.

At his words, Wei Ruo’s grip on Wei Jinyi’s arm tightened.

Wei Jinyi gently patted Wei Ruo’s arm with his left hand and replied nonchalantly to Chu Lan’s attendant, “Put it down.”

Chu Lan’s attendant placed the brocade box on the table in front of Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi.

Even though the gift was purportedly for Prince Rui, both Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo could guess that it was likely meant for Wei Ruo. However, it was inappropriate to say it was for Queen Rui in such a public setting.

Wei Jinyi then extended his left hand, and his slender, distinct knuckles slowly opened the brocade box, revealing a human skin mask inside.

Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo glanced at each other, they more or less guessed what Chu Lan was trying to convey.

It seemed that Chu Lan had found someone in the martial arts world who could make human skin masks, and he had specially had one made. This was his way of telling Wei Ruo that he knew that she had been wearing a human skin mask all along, that the Divine Doctor Xu Heyou was Queen Rui!

Wei Ruo lifted her head to look at Chu Lan on the other side of the square, and he was also looking at her at this moment.

His gaze bore into her, carrying a strong sense of aggression and penetration, as if he wanted to see right through her.

Wei Ruo didn’t know what Chu Lan ultimately wanted to do. Even if he now believed that Queen Rui Wei Qingruo and Divine Doctor Xu Heyou were the same person, so what?

Did he want to threaten her with this, or did he want to gain something from her?

Even though she had concealed her true identity, she believed that neither Xu Heyou nor Wei Qingruo had ever wronged him, Chu Lan.

She actually wanted to do something that would wrong him, yet she never had such an opportunity!

Wei Ruo turned her head to the waiting attendant of Chu Lan, “Neither the prince nor I can utilize this. Please take it back for your lord. Also, could you convey a message to your lord on my behalf? I am guiltless, and I’m not sure what he is seeking from me.”

The attendant agreed and then took the brocade box along the same path back to Chu Lan. He relayed Wei Ruo’s message to Chu Lan.

After hearing the attendant’s report, Chu Lan’s eyes slightly dimmed.

She was without guilt.

Indeed, she had no guilt.

Chu Lan again lifted his cup of wine to his lips. The strong liquor slid down his throat, its burning heat spreading from his mouth to his chest.

As for what he was seeking … all he sought was an answer. As to what he would do after getting that answer, even he didn’t know.

Since Chu Lan sent no one else over, Wei Ruo dropped the matter.

Seated to the left of Wei Ruo and her party were King Jing and his queen.

Wei Qingwan also attended, sitting behind King Jing and Qi Shijing. Though she couldn’t sit with King Jing, she at least was able to attend the royal banquet with him.

Wei Qingwan cherished this opportunity, despite the fact that up until now, King Jing had not spoken to her.

Neveretheless, she was still grateful to Qi Shijing for granting her this opportunity. King Jing originally had no plans to bring her, but thanks to Qi Shijing’s insistence, she was able to attend.

Being nearby, Qi Shijing took a few steps with her wine goblet, approaching Wei Ruo and voluntarily initiated a conversation, “Ninth Sister, I’ll toast to you. Now that I and your dear sister Wei Qingwan have become sisters, you and I are family.”

Seeing the two of them getting along, Wei Qingwan became nervous and hurriedly followed suit.

Wei Ruo glanced at Wei Qingwan, then raised her cup of tea to reciprocate Qi Shijing’s toast, “I’ll use tea instead of wine, I hope you won’t mind, Queen Jing.”