Chapter 419
**Chapter 417: The Encounter**
"Miss, please don't worry. I have no intention of offending you; I merely wish to befriend you. In this vast sea of people, meeting is a sign of fate."
The attitude of Wang Wu was quite amiable, and his heart was blooming with joy. Ever since that fleeting glimpse by the shores of Luoyue Lake, the beautiful silhouette of the girl had been deeply etched in his mind, becoming a frequent visitor in his dreams. Whenever he had a moment to spare, he would come to the lake, waiting for her.
Perhaps the heavens had heard his prayers, for today, as he strolled along the shores of Luoyue Lake, he miraculously spotted the girl he had been longing for.
Without hesitation, Wang Wu rented a small boat and swiftly made his way toward a painted pleasure boat. Coincidentally, he noticed someone falling from the boat, and the kind-hearted Wang Wu immediately jumped into the water to save them, seizing the chance to meet the beauty.
Behind the beaded curtain, Shen Wei was busy tending to the drowning Mo Xun, leaving no time to acknowledge the approaching Wang Wu. Mo Xun, intoxicated and having swallowed a fair amount of lake water, was in poor condition.
"This young master, my lady is unavailable at the moment. Here are some dry clothes; please change and leave," Cai Ping said, holding out a set of new guard's attire to Wang Wu.
Wang Wu waved his hand dismissively, his tone firm. "Auntie, wealth and new clothes are but external possessions; I have no interest in them. I only wish to meet your lady. If fate allows, perhaps we can forge a deeper bond in the future."
Cai Ping's expression changed instantly.
"How dare you! You speak so recklessly, are you seeking death?" she scolded angrily.
Wang Wu shivered in fear. He never expected that this maid-like girl would possess such authority. His heart raced as he speculated that the beautiful figure he had seen must be the daughter of a top noble in Yanjing City—perhaps a princess or the daughter of a high-ranking official.
However, Wang Wu firmly believed that as long as he showed his utmost sincerity, the girl would surely take a liking to him. He accepted the clothes from Cai Ping, awkwardly saying, "I will change right away, but I’m afraid my boat has gone missing. May I trouble you to let me board your lady's boat to the shore?"
Cai Ping returned to report to Shen Wei, who agreed.
Wang Wu was in high spirits, humming a lovely tune as he changed clothes in the cabin of the pleasure boat. He marveled at the dry guard's attire, impressed by the exquisite craftsmanship—truly, it was a testament to the wealth of a prominent family in Yanjing.
The pleasure boat slowly docked, and Wang Wu was politely invited to disembark. Instead of leaving immediately, he stood by the shore, waiting for the owner of the boat. The gentle lake breeze wafted through, and servants began to carry the drunken Mo Xun off the boat.
With a soft thud, the beaded curtain stirred.
Wang Wu caught a glimpse of a flowing azure skirt, shimmering softly in the sunlight. His gaze traveled upward, revealing a slender waist and wide sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
He was entranced.
The lake, filled with lotus flowers and leaves, paled in comparison to the girl in the azure dress. As he studied her delicate features, he couldn't discern her age, but he guessed she was likely older than him.
No matter, as the saying goes, "A woman three years older is worth her weight in gold." Age was not an issue.
Wang Wu's heart raced; in that moment, he was certain that this girl was the "extraordinary woman" foretold by the national master! She was the princess he had yearned for all these years.
Suppressing his excitement, he stepped forward and politely clasped his hands in greeting. "This young lady, I am Zhao Ziqi. May I ask for your name?"
Shen Wei raised an eyebrow.
Cai Lian whispered, "My lady, should we drag this scoundrel away and give him a good beating?"
Shen Wei shook her head.
She recognized Wang Wu immediately. When she had disguised herself as the fisher girl Yuan Xi'er, it was thanks to Wang Wu's help that she had managed to leave Donglin Kingdom.
At just twenty years old, Wang Wu was spirited and carefree, and he was the younger brother of the Donglin princess. Out of respect for the princess, Shen Wei had no intention of punishing him.
"You saved Mo Xun, so you have done a good deed. It’s getting late; you should head home before your sister worries," Shen Wei said.
Wang Wu was entranced by her voice.
What a beautiful sound! How could such a melodious voice exist in this world? No wonder she was the beauty he had longed for since childhood—she was flawless in every way.
Moreover, from her words, could it be that this girl knew his sister?
Ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, Wang Wu pressed on. "Miss, since we’ve met, could you please tell me your name?"
At that moment, the sound of wheels rolling on the ground caught their attention. Princess Leyou's carriage arrived at the lakeside, and she flung open the curtain, rushing to the painted pleasure boat.
"Mother! Today, Liang Huaichuan caught a deer; shall we have roasted venison for lunch?" Leyou exclaimed joyfully.
Like a dancing butterfly, she flitted to Shen Wei's side, affectionately wrapping her arm around Shen Wei's.
Shen Wei smiled. "Sounds good, venison it is."
Leyou added, "I just learned how to roast meat; I’ll show you when we get to the estate."
With her eyes sparkling, Leyou's gaze inadvertently fell on Wang Wu, and she recalled him vaguely—the man who had recklessly blocked her carriage before.
"How strange, what are you doing here?" Leyou asked curiously.
Wang Wu: ...
He turned to stone, unable to respond to Leyou.
Leyou's mother—wasn't she the legendary Empress Dowager of Da Qing? The very same Shen Taihou, who was his sister's patron?
Wang Wu was dumbfounded. Even if he combined the intelligence of his ancestors, he could never have guessed that this stunningly beautiful woman was the Empress Dowager of Da Qing!
Which empress dowager was this young?
Wang Wu's legs felt as heavy as lead, and his mind went blank. He had no idea how to act or how to handle the situation before him.
He racked his brain—what was the punishment for offending the empress dowager? Execution? Annihilation of his clan? National extermination?
Wang Wu wished he could find a crack in the ground to hide in and never show his face again.
Just as he was caught in this awkward predicament, he heard the sound of wheels rolling nearby again.
A luxurious royal carriage approached, flanked by imposing guards with drawn swords.
The heavy curtain was lifted.
Surrounding guards and palace attendants bowed in unison, and even Leyou paid her respects, joyfully calling out, "Father, I thought you would stay in the palace for a couple of days. I didn’t expect you to return so early today!"
Li Yuanjing had dealt with a few troublesome matters for his son and hurried back to Luoyue Lake to accompany Shen Wei.
Leyou chattered, "Father, you should stay with Mother; I’ll go check if lunch is ready at the royal estate."
With that, Leyou dashed away.
Li Yuanjing approached Shen Wei, noticing she was dressed lightly and her hair was slightly disheveled from the lake breeze. He draped a cloak over her shoulders. "The wind by the lake is strong; why are you still lingering here?"
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