Chapter 420
**Chapter 418: Beauty Anxiety**
Shen Wei wrapped herself in a cloak. “I’m just accompanying Mo Xun for a stroll by the lake.”
Wang Wu stood frozen in place.
Even Li Yuanjing noticed something was off. His hawk-like gaze fell upon Wang Wu.
Wang Wu’s knees felt weak. The imposing middle-aged man before him, with deep-set features and a commanding presence, was none other than the former Emperor of the Qing Kingdom, who had once suffocated Donglin with his authority!
Just being near him made Wang Wu feel faint and tremble with fear. He stammered, “Donglin Wang Wu, pays respects to Your Majesty…”
Li Yuanjing asked, “What is it?”
Those two simple words carried an immense weight. Wang Wu felt like he had stumbled into a terrifying wolf’s den, being scrutinized by a powerful wolf king.
One misstep could lead to his demise.
Wang Wu stuttered, “N-nothing… just…”
Suddenly, from a distance, he heard the call of the guard, Zhang Wuge: “Your Highness! Oh, finally found you!”
Zhang Wuge had thought Wang Wu had fallen into the water and had searched everywhere, finally locating him by the lakeside.
Panting, Zhang Wuge rushed over, his eyes solely on Wang Wu, oblivious to the complex situation around them. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Shen Wei on the painted boat.
Indeed, she was a stunning beauty! Exuding an air of nobility, it was clear she hailed from a prestigious background!
Zhang Wuge felt a pang of anxiety. He politely bowed to Shen Wei, speaking earnestly, “Miss, my lord has fallen for you at first sight. His sudden request to meet you is truly an offense. I’ll take him back right away; please don’t hold it against him.”
Shen Wei: ...
Wang Wu was so stunned that he forgot to cover Zhang Wuge’s mouth.
Zhang Wuge’s gaze shifted, and he caught sight of Li Yuanjing beside Shen Wei. Noticing Li Yuanjing’s extraordinary demeanor and the luxurious fabric of his attire, Zhang Wuge’s heart skipped a beat.
Recalling the princess’s instructions, he remembered that she had warned him about Wang Wu’s penchant for trouble and had urged him to keep a close eye on him. She had even given him a substantial amount of silver, just in case Wang Wu caused any trouble that would require compensation.
However, seeing Li Yuanjing’s opulent clothing, Zhang Wuge thought to himself that he must be a wealthy man, not in need of money, so compensation wouldn’t be necessary.
Thus, Zhang Wuge respectfully addressed Li Yuanjing, “Esteemed sir, you must be this young lady’s father. Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. Your daughter is indeed a flower among women. My lord, in a moment of foolishness, has acted rashly. Please, don’t hold it against him.”
Zhang Wuge’s attitude was quite humble, and his tone sincere.
Li Yuanjing’s handsome face twisted in disbelief.
Shen Wei couldn’t help but laugh.
Wang Wu’s vision darkened, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground, fainting.
...
...
At the Yan residence.
When Wang Wu groggily awoke, the sky outside was pitch black, and the room was filled with the scent of medicine.
Seeing him awake, Princess Donglin looked worried. “Little brother, do you feel any better? Is there anywhere that hurts?”
Wang Wu was dazed. He rubbed his eyes vigorously and cautiously touched his neck.
Thank goodness, his head was still attached.
Princess Donglin asked, puzzled, “Why are you touching your neck?”
Wang Wu lay on the bed, tears streaming down his face. “It’s over, the Donglin Kingdom is finished… I’m a sinner, sob sob, I’m a sinner for all eternity.”
Seeing her brother’s distraught state, Princess Donglin quickly sent for the royal physician. The physician arrived with a medicine box and carefully examined Wang Wu’s pulse.
In the end, he could only conclude with the words “anxiety and fear.”
The physician prescribed some medicine and left.
Wang Wu leaned against the bed, sipping the bitter concoction his sister had prepared, feeling even more bitter than the medicine itself. He never imagined that the beauty he had pursued so fervently was actually the Empress Dowager of the Qing Kingdom.
And he had offended the formidable Taishang Huang.
As Princess Donglin fed him the medicine, she chattered on, “You scared me to death today. The Empress Dowager sent someone to bring you back to the Yan residence, saying you fainted from shock by the lake. Little brother, tell me, why did you faint?”
Wang Wu fell silent, afraid to speak.
Noticing his reluctance, Princess Donglin sensed something was amiss. After repeated questioning, Wang Wu finally couldn’t hold back any longer, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at his sister.
He said, “Sister… when you went to the Qing Kingdom for the marriage alliance, I was heartbroken and ran to the beach alone. There, I met the treacherous national teacher of Yue Kingdom, who told me my fate: that I would encounter an extraordinary woman after coming of age.”
Princess Donglin nodded; she had heard her brother mention this before.
Wang Wu lowered his gaze, choking back sobs. “All these years, I’ve been searching for that extraordinary beauty. Yanjing is bustling with life, and there are many beautiful women. A few days ago, I met a girl and fell for her at first sight. But alas, our statuses are worlds apart…”
Princess Donglin, misunderstanding, thought her brother had fallen for a girl from a poor family, which was why he felt the gap in status. She comforted him gently, “Little brother, no matter her background, if she’s the one you like, I’ll find a way to help you.”
Wang Wu looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Princess Donglin asked, “Which girl has caught your eye?”
Wang Wu hung his head low. “The Empress Dowager.”
Princess Donglin: “The maid beside the Empress Dowager? I’m on good terms with her; I can speak to her on your behalf.”
Wang Wu buried his head even lower, choking out the details of the incident to Princess Donglin.
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She jumped up, ordered someone to fetch a feather duster, and gave Wang Wu a thorough beating, exclaiming in exasperation, “You come to Yanjing and do nothing all day, and I didn’t interfere too much! But you dare to offend the Empress Dowager!”
As the feather duster landed on him, Wang Wu covered his head and scurried away. “Sister, I know I was wrong! Please, don’t hit me, I know I was wrong!”
Princess Donglin, furious, declared, “You’re grounded for the next few days! Next month, I’ll send you back to Donglin! The Empress Dowager sent you back, which means she’s not pursuing the matter. You should be grateful!”
After the beating, Wang Wu curled up alone in bed that night.
The night was deep, and the insects in the courtyard were noisy enough to give him a headache. Holding the soft silk quilt, Wang Wu felt a heavy heart.
He knew he had caused a tremendous disaster.
But…
Wang Wu thought of that beautiful figure, and his heart raced uncontrollably.
Living alone in Donglin, with a timid mother and a sister far away, he clung to the national teacher’s prophecy, struggling to survive, all for the chance to see that extraordinary girl.
Now that he had seen her, she truly was an “extraordinary” woman. But she was like the moon in the sky, completely out of reach.
The more he thought about it, the sadder he became, experiencing the pain of love for the first time.
His eyes reddened as he hid under the covers, biting the quilt and sobbing quietly.
...
...
At Luoyue Lake Imperial Villa.
Li Yuanjing had been wearing a long face all day, his mood so foul that he barely touched the venison roasted by Le You himself.
After dark, Li Yuanjing tossed and turned in bed. Ten years older than Shen Wei, he had been mistaken for her “father” by mere mortals! It felt like a knife stabbing him in the heart!
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He leaned closer to Shen Wei, a hint of grievance in his voice. “Wei Wei, do I really look that old?”
The Taishang Huang was experiencing a crisis of beauty anxiety.
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