Everyone in Chaozhong knew prince Jing was fond of orchids. As a matter of fact, as soon as they found out he was back in the capital, various officials eagerly sent some over to gain his favor.
His wrist was bandaged, after the imperial physician had examined the wound. He had said that the bite was deep, and even after it healed, a row of teeth marks would be left behind.
Zhe Geng bowed and started his report on the earlier events. When he reached the part where Wei Luo had stabbed Wuzhou, his tone revealed some admiration: “That little girl is really powerful, the man’s face was covered in blood…” He paused. Recalling that his prince had suffered a similar treatment, he immediately shut his mouth.
Zhao Jie, however, was rather composed. He asked: “Did you take her back?”
Zhu Geng nodded, “Your subordinate made sure she went inside.” Thinking about it, he really couldn’t understand: “Your Highness, why did you let her go so easily?”
Zhao Jie stroked the table with a slender finger, smiling playfully, “Didn’t you say she was crying?”
It was difficult to imagine that menacing little girl’s crying expression. Zhao Jie found it a little regrettable to have missed seeing it.
Zhu Geng’s face displayed some embarrassment, “Yes… A moment ago, she was still fine. Who’d have guessed she would start weeping after a bit of scolding.”
Zhao Jie raised his lips. Zhu Geng was unaware of what had happened, but he could probably guess most of it. Maybe she had put on an act of crying so pitifully, so Zhu Geng would be forced to release her. If that was really the case, then that little girl was simply too crafty.
Zhao Jie turned his gaze back to the golden-thread orchid, looking pensive.
He didn’t let Zhu Geng release Wei Luo because of a tender heart, but because he was informed that she was the Duke residence’s little Miss. Duke Ying Wei Zhangchun had left some impression on him. The old man handled work matters in a rigid manner, so that each time he was summoned in the palace, the emperor would always be breaking things in anger. Probably because he was extremely serious and didn’t know how to be accommodating, he frequently left the emperor at a loss for words. However, regardless of how angry the emperor got, he was unable to remove that official, whose prestige was so prominent. Therefore, if Zhao Jie was able to forge a relationship with Duke Ying and win him over to his side, the bite on his wrist wouldn’t have been in vain.
Zhao Jie, thinking about Zhu Geng’s recount of Wei Luo’s actions, lifted his lips full of interest: “Which Miss did you say she was?”
Zhu Geng said: “The fourth Miss, your subordinate heard the gatekeeper call her like that with my own ears.”
Duke residence’s fourth Miss, Wei Luo.
The only one he couldn’t easily figure out was her.
A six year old girl took a hairpin to scratch a man’s face without even batting an eye. Not just anyone could display this kind of courage and brutality.
He traced the no longer painful wound. That little girl had given him such a gift upon their first meeting, it really let him sit up and take notice.
*
Duke Ying’s residence.