Chapter 133

When the servant said that Zhao Jie was in the study, Wei Luo didn’t find it strange. She thought he was reading a book or handling official business. She didn’t expect that when she walking into the study, she would see Zhao Jie sitting on an eight immortal style Chinese cedar chair with his left leg casually crossed over his right leg. One of his sleeves that were embroidered with a pattern of auspicious clouds was rolled up and his strong, powerful arm was exposed. He was holding a small box of graphite eyebrow powder and drawing something on his exposed arm.

Wei Luo walked closer and saw that there were varying lines of thickness and length. When she carefully looked at these small lines, she noticed that they were slightly curved and looked slightly similar to the eyebrow lines that he had drawn for her in the morning.

“Big brother, what are you doing?” Wei Luo asked.

Zhao Jie looked up and placed the graphite eyebrow powder on a nearby vermillion-lacquered Chinese cedar table. Seeing that she had returned, he faintly smiled, opened his arms, and said, “Back? Come here and let husband hug you.”

Wei Luo walked forward and obediently went into his arms to let him hug her until his heart was content. She didn’t forget about his previous actions. She pointed at the crooked lines on his arm and asked, “Why did you draw this?”

Zhao Jie picked her up, placed her on his leg, wrapped his arm around her soft, slender waist, and said with a smile, “Weren’t you looking down on me because I couldn’t draw eyebrows well? I thought I should start practicing now, so that I can draw eyebrows for you in the future.”

Glib-tongued. Wei Luo wrinkled her little nose and looked at the lines left and right. She felt that he had improved a lot from this morning, so she curiously asked, “Were you practicing this the entire afternoon? How do you know which type of eyebrow shape suits me?”

Zhao Jie grasped her tiny, pointy chin to face him and gently traced her eyebrows with his other hand. “How could I not know that Ah Luo has liu ye eyebrows? I only practiced for an hour. It wasn’t long.”

After he had finished handling his official work, he didn’t have anything to do. He thought of Wei Luo’s disdainful look this morning and got carried away by a whim. He ordered Zhu Geng to bring him graphite eyebrow powder. At first, he practiced on fine writing paper. Later, he decided that the paper wasn’t close enough to skin, so he started drawing on his arm. Just after he tried a few attempts of drawing on his arm, Wei Luo returned. Zhao Jie didn’t overlook the trace of unhappiness in Wei Luo’s eyes. He lowered his head, kissed her little mouth, and said, “What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy. Who bullied our Ah Luo?”

Wei Luo didn’t expect that his perception would be so keen. She thought she was hiding her mood very well without exposing any of her feelings. She wrapped her arms around Zhao Jie’s neck, leaned against his chest, and said, “I met Noble Consort Ning and Princess Consort Qi when I went to Qian Temple today.”

(Note: Just like how Zhao Jie has a title of Prince Jing, Zhao Zhang’s title is Prince Qi.)

Because fifth prince Zhao Zhang had handled the drought in the northwest well, he had been promoted to a first-rank prince by Emperor Zhong Chen in the previous year. After Duke Ding’s family’s Gao Wan married him, she naturally became Princess Consort Qi. In addition, an imperial doctor had recently determined that she was pregnant. There had been so many people going over to Prince Qi’s residence to send their congratulations and gifts to the couple that his front doors were almost trampled down.

Now that she thought about it, Noble Consort Ning had brought Gao Wan to Qian Temple to burn incenses and worship Buddha for her own health and Gao Wan’s unborn baby.

Zhao Jie didn’t have much of a reaction. He calmly said, “Oh. What did you talk about?”

Wei Luo thought for a moment before truthfully saying, “Not much. We just exchanged conventional greetings. Noble Consort asked me if my injury had recovered, so I thanked her for giving me that bottle of su ji san. She wasn’t feeling well. We didn’t say much before they left. Princess Consort Qi’s temperament seemed very good when we talked for a bit.”

As Wei Luo talked with Zhao Jie, she also ordered Jin Lu to bring a bowl of warm water. After the warm water was brought over, she wet a towel and gently wiped away the eyebrow marks on Zhao Jie’s arm. She continued to say, “Noble Consort Ning also said a few concerned words about your situation.”

Zhao Jie curved his lips into a fake smile and said, “How did you respond?”

Wei Luo lowered her long and thick eyelashes. They fluttered like two little fans. “I naturally answered truthfully that you’re very healthy.”

After a while, Wei Luo finished wiping cleaning his arm, put down his rolled up sleeve, and raised her head to look at him as she said, “Princess Consort Qi said that Princess Consort Yong An recently gave birth to her first son. In a few days, it’ll be his first month birthday. She invited me to go with her to his birthday celebration.”

As Zhao Jie enjoyed the feeling of Wei Luo taking care of him, he held a smile in his mouth and said, “What would you like to do? If you don’t want to go, I can directly send over a present and you can stay home instead.”

Wei Luo thought for a moment, then she said, “It’s better if I go. After all, your relationships with other people are so lacking. I should at least strive to improve it a little bit. If I don’t go, there won’t be anyone left in the capital that wants to have any dealings with you.”

These words weren’t false. Zhao Jie’s relationship with the other people really wasn’t very good. He had a naturally indifferent and unreasonable disposition and was very taciturn in front of other people. If he smiled at a person, it was already bestowing him or her a great gift. In addition, his reputation wasn’t good either. He was shrewd and unwaveringly ruthless when handling official business. The people in the capital had given him the title of “King of Hell” a long time ago. Other than the court ministers that were his supporters, none of the aristocratic families were willing to have any extraneous dealings with him. They were afraid that a moment of carelessness would provoke him. If he had a grudge against you, it would be difficult to preserve the lives of your family members from the oldest person to the youngest.

Since Wei Luo had already married Zhao Jie, she wasn’t willing for him to have too many enemies. If she drew the court ministers’ wives to her side, she would be able to slightly improve his reputation. This way, his reputation wouldn’t become worse and worse.

Even though Wei Luo didn’t like attending these events where there were shams of politeness, she would still go.

On the day of Prince Yong An’s heir’s one month birthday, Wei Luo and Zhao Jie went to sixth prince’s residence.

Princess Consort Yong An had previously given birth to two daughters. Now that she had finally given birth to a son, Prince Yong An Xue Rong placed a huge importance on this son. He had organized a banquet and invited all of the important high-ranking court officials and aristocratic families. The occasion was very lively. As soon as a person entered the residences, they could feel a strong sense of joy.

Zhao Jie and Wei Luo’s carriage stopped at the residence’s inner gate. Wei Luo held Jin Lu’s hand for support as she came down from the carriage. As soon as she lifted her head, she saw Princess Consort Qi Gao Wan in front of her. Gao Wan was wearing a moonlight-colored outer robe embroidered with a pattern of golden lotus flowers. Gao Qing Yang was next to her. She was wearing an autumn-colored jacket and skirt. Gao Qing Yang and Gao Wan were cousins on their paternal side of the family.

They had bumped into each other by coincidence and it wasn’t unreasonable for them to walk together. But, as Wei Luo looked Gao Qing Yang’s expression, she could see that Gao Qing Yang wasn’t very close to her paternal cousin.

As Gao Wan was talking with Gao Qing Yang, she saw Wei Luo and hastily revealed a smile. She waited until Wei Luo had walked closer before saying, “Imperial sister-in-law, I was just speaking about you to Qing Yang. I didn’t expect that you would be behind us. It seems that I really can’t talk about people behind their backs.”

Gao Wan had a naturally smiling expression on her oval-shaped face and almond-shaped eyes. She naturally looked very lovable. If they weren’t on different sides, Wei Luo could have probably been her friend.

Wei Luo politely conversed with her, “What were you saying about me?”

Gao Wan deliberately looked behind Wei Luo. Seeing that Zhao JIe hadn’t come, she finally said with a smile, “My words can be a bit too frank. Imperial sister-in-law, don’t think too much about them.”

She held Wei Luo’s hand and drew her closer. As they walked towards the inner courtyard, she said, “I just feel that you’re too different from Prince Jing. Prince Jing is so cold-hearted and you seem so amicable and approvable. You look so delicate and soft as if you could break with a snap. I’m worried that Prince Jing mistreats you in private.”

Amiable and approachable. This was the first time that someone described Wei Luo with these words. Wei Luo smiled and her voice was calm as she said, “Older brother Prince Jing treats me very well.”

Gao Wan naturally didn’t believe her and thought that Wei Luo was only saying these words to preserve Zhao Jie’s reputation. Besides, who would say her husband wasn’t good in public? Wouldn’t that be the same as slapping your own face?”

Gao Wan didn’t take Wei Luo’s words to heart.

The three of them walked into the reception pavilion.

Princess Consort Yong An led the group of madams in saluting Wei Luo and Gao Wan and invited them to sit in the seats of honor. Her attitude was very modest. After all, Prince Yong An was only an outer prince. Back then, he had been bestowed the title of prince because he had supported the founder of the dynasty during the establishment of this dynasty. Now that many years had past, he didn’t have much power and was only an empty shell. This was why Princess Consort Yong An had to be at her best when she was facing the princess consorts of first ranked princes.

Princess Consort Yong An said, “Your Highnesses, it’s my dear son’s honor that you graced us with your esteemed presences by attending this gathering at my shabby residence.”

Then, she turned her head and ordered the wet nurse to bring the little heir forward. She pursed her lips into a smile and said, “This delicate child became ill right after he was born. Your Highnesses, please don’t be annoyed by the sound of his crying.”

Gao Wan was calm and quiet in front of the crowd, without any of her earlier strange behavior, “How could that be? I like little children the best.”

The wet nurse brought the little heir forward. Wei Luo looked at him. The little fellow was exquisitely cute with big, round eyes, pouting pink lips, and a fine little nose. No wonder Princess Consort Yong An smiled as she soon as she saw him. He was very much a child than easily garnered love and affection.

Gao Wan liked the child enough that she almost didn’t want to part with him. She held him in her arms and coaxed him. “This little fellow is really good-looking. I wonder if my future child will be as beautiful as him.”

Gao Wan had only married one month before Wei Luo and was already diagnosed with pregnancy.

Princess Consort Yong An flatteringly complimented her, “Your Highness, your child with Prince Qi will naturally be outstanding with a dragon’s talent and a phoenix’s appearance.”

Gao Wan smiled and didn’t express an opinion.

“Imperial sister-in-law, you should look at him too. He’s so lovable when he smiles.” Gao Wan walked to Wei Luo’s front while carrying the baby.

Wei Luo put down a colorful teacup lid and didn’t brush away Gao Wan’s attempt. She stretched her hand out and touched that child’s cheek. This little fellow unexpectedly wrapped his hand around her finger and moved her finger into his mouth.

Wei Luo froze for a moment before instinctively pulling her hand back.

Princess Consort Yong An hurriedly took the child into her arms and moved him away. She tried to lighten the mood by joking, “Dearest child seems to really like Princess Consort Jing.”

Wei Luo’s finger was stained with the child’s saliva. She didn’t say much. “It’s fine. He’s still young.” Jin Lu used a silk handkerchief to wipe Wei Luo’s hand.

Wei Luo couldn’t help thinking. What would her future children with Zhao Jie be like? She hadn’t thought about this issue before. After all, she had only recently married Zhao Jie. But, now after seeing someone’s recently born child and Gao Wan was also pregnant, it was hard to avoid thinking about this topic.

Afterwards, Princess Consort Yong An ordered someone to bring the little heir back inside and led Wei Luo, Gao Wan, and the other other people to view the plum blossoms in the rear courtyard.

Prince Yong An’s residence had a garden with plum trees that blossomed earlier than other places. It had only recently turned to winter, but the plum flowers had blossomed one after another on the plum trees. The branches were all full of flowers.

Not long after, it started to become windy. Princess Consort was worried that the guests would feel cold, so she suggested that they go inside a nearby building to sit.