Chapter 12 - A Token Left by Mother
Chapter 12 A Token Left by Mother
A broad and gorgeous carriage stopped casually at the side of the road. Yan Huaijing, who was dressed in a light white robe, had already got off the carriage under the protection of his guards. He had the air of a banished immortal that impressed others with an extraordinary bearing even at a far distance.
With a keen sense of Yan Huaijing’s glance at her, Wei Yuewu slowed her pace involuntarily. She picked up her pace again only after she saw Yan Huaijing turn around and walk towards the pavilion on one side.
Yan Huaijing stopped. He stood in the pavilion and looked back at Wei Yuewu who was slowly walking to him. There was a gentle smile on his face. His eyes were deep and gave out a feeling of tenderness and affection. Any girl would secretly feel pleased and became shy under such a gaze.
As much as Wei Yuewu was preoccupied with worries, she could not help but acknowledge that this prince indeed deserved the reputation of the most handsome man on earth.
While she was looking at him, he was looking at her, too!
She was not wearing thick powder on her face and her bangs were combed up to reveal her delicate brows and eyes—a pair of sparkling eyes that were charmingly expressive. Although she still wore a touch of childishness, anyone could see that the girl’s picturesque brows and eyes were extremely beautiful.
The small wound on her forehead left only a faint scar by now. Thanks to the effective medicine the doctor had applied to her, it should not be long before the scar disappeared.
When a breeze raised her slightly thin dress, her slim figure, clad in the fluttering white dress embroidered with small flowers, seemed to form an ink landscape painting. Behind her were a wide road and the broad and gorgeous carriage, all serving as the background and setting off a delicate and tranquil scene.
“Sixth Miss Wei, what can I do for you?”
Yan Huaijing calmly withdrew his eyes, and his clear voice was refreshingly gentle.
Yet his words did not have any sense of courtesy.
Standing in a commanding position, he slightly bowed his head and looked down at Wei Yuewu who had just reached the steps of the pavilion, as if he was an emperor who overlooked all living beings. His look was seemingly gentle, but in fact nobly indifferent.
“Your Highness, did you examine it closely? Do you have any doubt about the ring?”
Wei Yuewu stopped her pace. Without any trace of girlish shyness on her face, she straightforwardly looked into Yan Huaijing’s seemingly gentle and affectionate eyes. She was on alert in her heart. If it wasn’t because she had no other alternative, she would never have dared to make a deal with such a man!
“Sixth Miss Wei, don’t you think it is a pity to do so?”
Yan Huaijing chuckled meaningfully as if he was lamenting for her loss.
“If I don’t use it now, I may not have a chance to use it later.”
Wei Yuewu put on a broad bright smile that in fact hid a touch of coolness.
The seal had originally belonged to the wife of the Duke of Yan, Yan Huaijing’s mother, but later on fell into the hands of Wei Yuewu’s mother. Wei Yuewu did not know exactly what had happened. However, her maternal grandmother took the seal out and put it on her finger when she grew up. Grandmother told her that this ring represented a favor that Yan Huaijing’s mother had promised to do for her mother.
She could use the ring to ask the wife of the Duke of Yan and the Yan State for help when she was in danger.
And now, Wei Yuewu was just using it in exchange for only one favor from Yan Huaijing.
If Mo Huating and his pals wanted to conceal all they had done, the best way was to take advantage of the moment when Yan Huaijing parted with her at the city gate....
“You are indeed very intelligent.”
Yan Huaijing’s lips were slightly curled to form a smile.
“Yuewu dares not accept such compliment in front Your Highness whose fame has filled the world.”
Wei Yuewu smiled gracefully. This was not the first time she heard Yan Huaijing praised her like this.
In fact, it was not only compliment. It also represented the prince’s acknowledgement of her value.
In the case of men like Yan Huaijing, recognition and value meant opportunities....
Yan Huaijing looked at her and suddenly chuckled. His voice was very pleasant, but Wei Yuewu sensed some coldness. “Sixth Miss Wei, I suggest that you think it over. You have only one chance to use the ring. You will not be able to use it again when you encounter this kind of thing again in the future.”
“I know. But I also know that if I fail to enter the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang safely this time, there is no future for me.”
Wei Yuewu raised her head and looked straight at Yan Huaijing’s extremely handsome face. Her eyes did not evince the slightest trace of girlish shyness that most girls would display when they watched the gentle eyes of a handsome man for the first time.
She was not a dreamer full of fancy feelings about the future!
If she died before she reached the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, there certainly would be no future.
No matter how important this private seal was, it was literally nothing if there was no future for her.
“Aren’t you afraid of me breaking the promise?”
Yan Huaijing chuckled as he curled the corner of his mouth and thoughtfully touched his chin, as if he was interested in her composure and indifference.
Wei Yuewu’s long eyebrows blinked slightly before she said. “Surely I’m afraid, but I will still take it out.” Her watery eyes were firm and cold.
“Why?”
Yan Huaijing asked as he lifted his handsome eyebrows. He seemed surprised at Wei Yuewu’s answer.
“I will die if I don’t take it out, but at least I can take a chance if I use the ring. Don’t Your Highness think it may be a good chance for yourself too?”
Wei Yuewu said blandly. Her bright eyes were directed straight at his inquiring eyes.
She understood that extremely powerful men such as Yan Huaijing did not want others to hide anything from them. Therefore, she frankly stated what was in her mind. Yan Huaijing himself could benefit a lot from her returning to the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang, provided he exploited the matter well. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why he had agreed to bring her to the capital.
Over the past few days, she had been speculating in the carriage about why he was going to the capital. For the prince of Yan State, who had never been to the capital before, surely, he could not have come a long way to the capital just on a sightseeing tour. Many people could see the delicate balance of power between Yan State and the capital city. The vassal states were growing too powerful. Did the capital city really have the strength to deter the dukes of the four territories?
If she could make use of her incident to offer something useful to Yan Huaijing, she believed he would not refuse her offer. This was another reason why Wei Yuewu dared to use the ring.
She was betting on the benefits that Yan Huaijing could get from her incident. If she could see the benefits for him, she did not believe Yan Huaijing would fail to see the benefits.
It was all about interests. In the face of absolute interests, Yan Huaijing was bound to be tempted no matter what he was thinking.
“Sixth Miss Wei, you are smart!”
His look at Wei Yuewu was gentle, but his words were sharp and meaningful. His handsome lips curled up, and a smile appeared on his face. His dark eyes gave off a sense of appreciation, which indicated that he agreed with her words. Then he asked meaningfully, “Tell me then, what help do you want from me?”
So he consented to her request!
Wei Yuewu slowly relaxed her fist in the long sleeve. The handkerchief seized in her palm was slightly wet with sweat....
“I want an emblem of the mansion of Marquis Hua Yang first.”
Wei Yuewu replied candidly as she slightly lifted her eyebrows.