Chapter 4: Encounter

As Wei Jing Mo walked out of Wenyuan Pavilion, Dong Qing and Dong Gua, who were guarding the side hall, quickly ran out.

Looking at him anxiously, they asked, “Young Master, are you alright?”

Seeing the two’s worried expressions, Wei Jing Mo paused his steps and turned his gaze upon them.

He said in a calm voice, “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

Hearing this, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Dong Gua patted his chest, saying with relief, “When we heard the Seventh Princess’s voice earlier, we were scared to death! Fortunately, you’re alright, Young Master!”

Dong Qing also nodded beside him, “It’s well known that the Seventh Princess is flirtatious and has seduced many men!”

He looked around and continued in a lowered voice, “I heard that the Seventh Princess has taken many people into her rear palace. She especially likes handsome and beautiful men!”

As he finished speaking, he glanced over his master’s exquisitely jade-like and otherworldly face. He felt a wave of fear.

Earlier, when they saw the Seventh Princess walk into Wenyuan Pavilion, both of them were terrified.

It’s said that this Seventh Princess is not only flirtatious but also has a reckless personality. If she took a liking to their young master, how could their delicate young master be her match?

Concern breeds confusion. Clearly, the two had forgotten about the old tutor in Wenyuan Pavilion!

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo didn’t say anything.

He slowly walked forward, his long and thick eyelashes lightly lowered, hiding the thoughts in his eyes.

Thinking of the eyes that had glanced at him earlier, although there was amazement, there was no lustful intent.

Those seemingly affectionate and rippling peach blossom eyes, apart from the initial amazement, quickly became calm and undisturbed.

After casually glancing at him, they quickly withdrew.

Seemingly affectionate yet extremely cold and indifferent!

Wei Jing Mo didn’t know if all members of the royal family had two faces, or if this person was hiding too deeply.

*

The Second Prince’s palace was behind a bamboo grove.

He was born of the Male Empress and was the full-blooded brother of the Fifth Princess, Feng Bai Wei.

Ever since he had seen Wei Jing Mo once when he was young, he particularly liked this uniquely charming older brother, and often liked to summon him into the palace to play.

Wei Jing Mo, accompanied by Dong Qing and Dong Gua, greeted the guards at the gate before stepping in.

As soon as they entered, they heard laughter coming from inside.

“Imperial Sister, you’re so amazing! Ming’er is no match for you!”

Then, a steady voice laughed softly: “You little one, you certainly know how to flatter.”

Wei Jing Mo’s footsteps faltered, and his beautiful brows couldn’t help but furrow slightly.

Before he could turn to leave, he was spotted by the sharp-eyed palace servants waiting outside.

They quickly ran over, bowed, and said, “Young Master Wei, you’re here. The master has been waiting impatiently!”

As soon as the words fell, a bright figure ran out from inside. It was the current Second Prince, Feng Jue Ming!

He was only nine years old this year, with a round face and almond eyes, and a lively and cheerful personality, usually very much favored by the Male Empress and the Emperor.

Seeing Wei Jing Mo standing outside, his almond eyes brightened, and he immediately ran to his side and clung to his arm. He said in a coquettish voice, “Brother Jing Mo, why are you so late? Ming’er has been waiting for you for a long time!”

As he spoke, he tried to pull him towards the room.

However, Wei Jing Mo discreetly withdrew his arm from his grasp, standing in place with a slight smile as he looked at him: “How could I deserve to be called brother by Your Highness? Jing Mo truly doesn’t dare to accept. Moreover, I just heard that there are others inside, so it might not be convenient for Jing Mo to enter now.”

Seeing his refusal, Feng Jue Ming immediately pouted in displeasure, becoming somewhat unhappy.

The person inside seemed to have heard Wei Jing Mo’s words, and after he finished speaking, they walked out from inside.

It was the Fifth Princess, Feng Bai Wei.

At this moment, her face looked somewhat unpleasant, her sharp ink-black eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Originally, she had just woken up yesterday, her mind still a bit confused. After seeing a few sisters, it took her a whole night to sort out her thoughts.

The next day, she wanted to rest properly, but who knew that as soon as she lay down, the Male Empress came to her palace. He insisted on her coming to Feng Jue Ming’s place.

She was annoyed by the disturbance and had no choice but to come. It was only after some probing that she learned that the eldest son of the Northern Marquis’s family was coming to visit Feng Jue Ming.

When Feng Bai Wei first woke up, she had obtained a lot of information from the people serving her.

Naturally, there was also information about the Northern Marquis’s family.

The Northern Marquis Wei Yun was the only non-imperial surname marquis in the Feng Ling country. She herself was brave and good at warfare, and moreover, had thirty thousand troops under her command!

In recent years, although she had been summoned back to Feng Ling City by the Emperor, her two daughters had been guarding the frontier.

The eldest daughter was in the Northern Rong, appointed as the Ever-Victorious General, guarding the northern gate of Feng Ling country. The second daughter was in the Southern Yi, appointed as the Mighty General, guarding the southern gate of Feng Ling country.

Therefore, even though the Emperor had become increasingly wary of the Northern Marquis’s power in recent years, she still had to rely on it.

The Northern Marquis’s family had also become the most powerful and prestigious noble family in Feng Ling country, second only to the royal family.

And in order to establish a relationship with the Northern Marquis’s family, marriage naturally became a shortcut.

Wei Jing Mo and the two generals guarding the frontier were full-blooded siblings, all born to the primary husband Shen. With the two generals stationed at the frontier year-round, marriage prospects naturally fell on Wei Jing Mo.

Therefore, from the time Wei Jing Mo became eligible for marriage, the doors of the Northern Marquis’s mansion were almost trampled flat by people.

Even disregarding the power and status of the Northern Marquis’s family, Wei Jing Mo himself was an exceptionally outstanding young man, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, and excelling in poetry, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

The Male Empress naturally also had designs on him. And he knew more than ordinary people.

Given the Northern Marquis’s family’s transcendent status and power in Feng Ling country, the Emperor would never allow Wei Jing Mo to marry into an ordinary family. After all, with the military power in the Northern Marquis’s hands, and the existence of his two sisters, marrying him to anyone would be detrimental to the royal family!

So, from his birth, he was destined to be a son-in-law of the royal family. Only by marrying into the royal family could the Emperor feel at ease.

The Male Empress hadn’t thought about this before. But since Feng Bai Wei woke up this time, seeing that her personality had become more steady, he finally had the idea.

After Feng Bai Wei walked out of the room, she saw the snow-white-robed youth standing in the sunlight, looking like an immortal in exile. Her irritated mood gradually calmed, and her sharp eyes couldn’t help but stare in a daze.

She thought she would see a man with rouge and powder, after all, this was a female-dominated country, and most men were dressed like this.

But the youth before her was different, his skin was as smooth and delicate as jade, his features exquisite and cold, his face showing no trace of those vulgar cosmetics.

Feng Bai Wei suddenly seeing such an exquisite jade-like youth, couldn’t help but stare at his face in a daze.

Wei Jing Mo lowered his eyes, feeling a strong, invasive gaze on him, he lightly raised his eyes and glanced.

Seeing the infatuation in Feng Bai Wei’s eyes, and thinking of the earlier person’s mere light glance, he somehow felt disgusted.

His long, thick, and curled eyelashes trembled slightly, lowering to cover the emotions in his eyes.

As the female protagonist, Feng Bai Wei’s appearance was naturally very striking, but unlike Feng Bai Su’s allure, her appearance was very heroic, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, her lips lightly pressed when not smiling, her whole body exuding a kind of cold aura.

She quickly stepped forward, stopping three feet away from Wei Jing Mo, and spoke in a gentle voice, “I didn’t know Young Master Wei was visiting, please forgive my rudeness.”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo bowed to her and replied in a calm voice, “Your Highness is too kind.”

After speaking, he lowered his eyes and stood there.

Seeing this, Feng Bai Wei also knew it wasn’t appropriate to stay any longer. After all, in this world, the separation between men and women was very strict.

She looked at Feng Jue Ming, who had been standing by the side, and said, “Ming’er, you take Young Master Wei inside to play, Imperial Sister will go back first. I’ll come to see you again when I have time.”

Hearing this, Feng Jue Ming looked at her with reluctance.

After all, this was the first time his Imperial Sister had played with him, she had never paid attention to him before.

Seeing the disappointment on his face, Feng Bai Wei’s eyes carried a hint of smile, she reached out and rubbed his little head.

“Alright, Imperial Sister promises to come play with you in the future, okay?”

Seeing her looking at him with eyes full of tenderness, Feng Jue Ming finally nodded, “Okay, but Imperial Sister must remember!”

After comforting Feng Jue Ming, Feng Bai Wei then stepped towards the outside.

As she passed by Wei Jing Mo, she politely said, “Young Master Wei, farewell.”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo stepped slightly to the side, widening the distance between them, then bowed and watched her leave.

Only when Feng Bai Wei’s figure had completely disappeared did he slowly straighten up.

Feng Jue Ming was downcast for a few seconds, but quickly recovered. He pulled Wei Jing Mo towards the room.

He pulled him to sit on the soft couch, his almond eyes bright as he stared at him, suddenly opening his mouth, “Brother Jing Mo, what do you think of my Imperial Sister?”

Wei Jing Mo sat upright on the soft couch, hearing this, he replied in a flat voice, “The Fifth Princess is naturally extraordinary and heroic.”

Hearing his words, Feng Jue Ming smiled happily, looked at him and asked in a low voice, “Then how about you marry my Imperial Sister? After you become my brother-in-law, we can play together every day!”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo’s face immediately darkened, his voice cold: “Your Highness, please be careful with your words! Since ancient times, it has been the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words. Naturally, marriage is arranged by my father, how can it be casually discussed? Moreover, the Fifth Princess has a noble status, how dare I, unworthy as I am, presume to reach above my station.”

Hearing this speech, Feng Jue Ming became somewhat displeased and lightly snorted, looking at him and mumbling, “What reaching above your station, you clearly just don’t want to, really lacking in taste!”

Wei Jing Mo heard his low mumbling but lowered his eyes without speaking. The thoughts in his ink-black eyes were indiscernible.

*

After leaving the palace, Wei Jing Mo sat in the carriage leaning against the compartment, his ink-black eyes lightly closed.

Dong Qing and Dong Gua sat on either side, carefully glancing at his jade-like face.

Dong Gua had a lively personality and could never keep words in his heart. Looking at Wei Jing Mo, he spoke in a low voice, “Young Master, the Fifth Princess we saw today seems quite different from the rumors. She doesn’t seem wild and lustful at all as the rumors say. She looks very heroic and extraordinary, and speaks politely and courteously. She’s much more outstanding than the other princesses!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Jing Mo opened his eyes, his indifferent gaze falling on him, his voice slightly cool: “Your courage seems to have grown lately. You even dare to discuss the royal family. How can we discuss what kind of person the Fifth Princess is? It’s not for us to comment on.”

His face darkened as he reprimanded, “If there’s a next time, you won’t stay by my side anymore!”

Dong Gua didn’t expect to anger him and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy, “Young Master, please spare me! Dong Gua won’t dare to do it again! Please forgive Dong Gua!”

Wei Jing Mo usually had a cold temperament, but he was easy to serve and was tolerant and kind to those around him. This had made Dong Gua increasingly bold, speaking without restraint and daring to say anything.

Beside him, Dong Qing also hurriedly pleaded, “Young Master, please calm your anger and spare Dong Gua this time! When we return, this servant will certainly teach him a good lesson and not let him speak nonsense again!”

Wei Jing Mo lowered his head to look at the trembling Dong Gua at his feet, and then glanced at Dong Qing who was also kneeling on the ground.

After a long while, he finally spoke in a calm voice, “Alright, get up! This time I won’t send you away. Remember this lesson and don’t repeat it, understand?”

Hearing this, Dong Gua’s eyes filled with tears, breaking into a smile through his tears. He kowtowed heavily, “Yes, Young Master! This servant understands!”