Chapter 144 (1/2)
Chapter 144
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Li Ce would rarely talk about serious matters like that. Following the flow of the conversation, Chu Qiao inquired, ”What kind of important things?”
Counting his finger, Li Ce listed, ”For example, window shopping, buying some clothes, trying out some makeup, and maybe listening to some music, wearing some pretty clothes. Maybe you can find some entertainment for these long nights, and maybe spanw some offspring to enrich your current life… Wait, what are you doing? I am very serious about what I am saying!”
”Why did I expect you to actually say something sensible!” Chu Qiao retorted.
Li Ce chuckled. ”Isn't it still your fault? We had already bit farewell over a dozen times, yet you insist on staying here to listen to me blabber on. Why? You can't bear to bid me adieu?”
”Bullsh*t! I…I just want to stand here a while more, to take a better look at the mountains of the Tang Empire. What's wrong with that?”
”Fine, nothing is wrong with that. You can stay here and slowly look all you want. Go ahead.” Li Ce grinned happily, as though trying to taunt Chu Qiao. With that, he actually stopped talking.
Chu Qiao bit her lower lips, and her frown furrowed deeper instead of going away.
”The air in the Tang Empire is so clean.”
”Is it? I heard that in Yan Bei, with the snow around for all seasons, the air is even cleaner than here.”
”Have you decided to marry the Xia Princess?”
”Anything goes for me. The two countries are still discussing. I delegated this matter to my servants. Considering how there have been repeated incidents stemming from this marriage, I hired two famous Feng Shui experts to examine the geomancy, and predict the future of the two countries. Beginning from the ancestors of the Xia Princess, all the way to all the living relatives between the two royal families, we will end the decision with a vote from all the officials in the Tang Empire. I estimate that we will need a good three to five years for all that to be completed. By the time all that is over, the princess will likely be past the prime age of marriage.”
”Your plot is too evil. You are delaying her marriage.”
”How can you say it that way? I am considering the prosperity of the two nations.”
”Where did Zhao Chun'er go?”
”I don't know. The Xia envoy fetched her away, but she was not sent back to Zhen Huang. She might have been sent to watch over some other province.”
”What about your wounds? Have you recovered?”
”It was no big deal. If you had not given me a good beating just now, I would have recovered even faster.”
”Sure. Your hairstyle looks pretty good today.”
”Is it? It's been messed up by the wind. I would not say there is any hairstyle left.”
”Your clothes also look pretty good. What material are they made of?”
”Shennan Silk. You should have worn it before.”
”Actually, your belt looks pretty good too. Is that jade a type of Heluo Jade?”
”No, you're wrong. It's not even jade, I merely picked it up from the riverside. I had lost a bet to Tie You, and had no money to pay up. He took the jade from me as compensation.”
”What about your perfume? Is it a special aromatic oil?”
”No, actually, before I came here, I was drinking with the others. Sun Di drank too much and vomited on me, and I did not have time to change before coming.”
”Oh, I see. Are you planning to go back to Tang Jing later?”
”I have no intentions of following you back to Yan Bei.”
”What happened to him?”
”He is fine. I believe he went back.”
The wind suddenly became stronger, as Chu Qiao's expression dulled. Silently sitting on the back of her horse, she stopped talking. Li Ce stared on at her, and maintained his gentle smile, as though from the beginning they had always been talking about clothes, accessories, and various unimportant matters.
”Li Ce, do you think I am very shameless?” Chu Qiao suddenly broke the silence.
Li Ce lightly smiled. ”I have over 3,000 beauties in my harem, and have slept with countless women. If you are shameless, then wouldn't I be even worse?”
Chu Qiao shook her head, ”This is not the same.”
”Qiaoqiao, do not think too much.” Li Ce stretched out his hand, and lightly patted her shoulder, ”You need not feel guilty. He is a smart person, he will be fine.”
”I hope so too.” Chu Qiao bitterly smiled. ”When did he leave?”
”Last night, he left with his men shortly after you left. He did not even inform me.”
”Are you two very familiar with each other?”
”We are not exactly familiar. We have known each other since a long time ago, but we only truly interacted with each other during this period of time.”
Chu Qiao lowered her head, and stopped the conversation there. Li Ce, however, started to ask, ”Qiaoqiao, were you touched by his actions?”
Chu Qiao lifted her head, with a slight smile on her face, she said, ”If I said I was not, would you believe me?”