Chapter 345 – Disturbance At The Lantern Festival
“How is it? Are you ready?” Yan Huaijing, who was dressed in a snow-white fur coat, curled his thin lips into a gentle smile.
“Alright,” Wei Yuewu nodded and sighed helplessly, pretending not to hear his gentle and refined question. Judging from his overbearing personality, she knew that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Wei Yuewu speculated that she had to be prepared immediately, regardless.
Yan Huaijing supported the windowsill with his hand, and he jumped into the room lightly. His robe under the snow coat was wide and light. On the plain-colored robe were purple embroidery patterns, exhuming a sense of luxury and leisure. His tall and handsome figure made the window look narrow.
He stretched his hand out of the window, and a guard instantly appeared at the window. He respectfully brought in another snow coat.
Yan Huaijing took it, unfolded it, draped it over Wei Yuewu’s shoulders, and tied the strap for her.
His slender fingers deftly crossed Wei Yuewu’s neck, and Wei Yuewu subconsciously stretched her neck. When she raised her head, she saw his handsome eyes focused on her neck.
From Wei Yuewu’s angle, she could see his long eyelashes fluttering twice, and there was a trace of a cunning smile in his narrow eyes.
“I heard that the lanterns this year are particularly beautiful. If you see any that you like, you can take them directly.” Yan Huaijing had tied the strap for Wei Yuewu and then helped her put on the hat behind her. Immediately, Wei Yuewu was wrapped in the snow coat. Looking from the outside, she was so petite that her face was completely hidden in the coat.
Although she could see the light outside through the gap of the hat, it was too dark and too inconvenient for her to see her way clearly.
Yan Huaijing took two steps back and sized up Wei Yuewu who was wrapped tightly in the coat. She looked rather silly and naive. He could not help but smile.
He reached out and pulled off the hat on Wei Yuewu’s head.
Under the hat, Wei Yuewu looked blankly at him with her pair of watery eyes and befuddled expression as if she couldn’t understand what was going on. Her current silly and adorable look was completely different from her usual cold and distant image. However, Yan Huaijing couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Yuewu, do you have a veil?”
“Yes!” Wei Yuewu blinked her eyes before answering.
“Bring me a veil,” Yan Huaijing said to Jin Ling.
With a nod, Jin Ling took out a veil and helped Wei Yuewu put it on.
“Yes, use the veil!” Yan Huaijing looked up and down at Wei Yuewu, his thin lips slightly raised, making him look elegant and charming. In terms of temperament and appearance, Wei Yuewu could not help but agree that the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State was really unparalleled in the world.
“Won’t I be discovered if I use the veil?” Wei Yuewu asked in puzzlement as her sparkly eyes blinked under the veil. Compared to the hat just now, the veil made her feel vulnerable and risky.
“No one will see you! I’ll always be by your side. There’s nothing to be afraid of!” Yan Huaijing smiled and raised his eyebrows in an evil way. He immediately turned from an elegant immortal into an enchanting monster.
“Exactly. People will notice me because of you!” Wei Yuewu cursed in her heart.
No one would pay attention to her if she was alone, but Yan Huaijing was a center of attention himself. Wei Yuewu could imagine that when they went out, they would attract attention no matter where they went. Everyone in the Palace knew that he would marry one of the two princesses, so obviously people would be curious about the female companion by his side.
However, Wei Yuewu rolled her eyes and did not say anything. She couldn’t predict what this devilish and cunning heir-apparent would do. At least, she could use the veil. Everyone could see that she was a woman, but no one could tell who she was.
Moreover, Wei Yuewu had also made ample preparations. She had styled her hair in a different way and changed into a new dress with the design of large patches of butterflies on it. It was somewhat different from her usual style.
Even the people who were familiar with her would not be able to recognize her if they saw her current self.
“Alright, let’s go!” Seeing that Jin Ling had tidied up Wei Yuewu, Yan Huaijing nodded with satisfaction after seeing Jin Ling tidy up Wei Yuewu. He reached out, hugged Wei Yuewu’s slender waist, and led her out of the window.
Jin Ling jumped out and closed the window from the outside.
Yan Huaijing jumped a few times with Wei Yuewu and left from the roof. Then, they landed in a courtyard. Several of Yan Huaijing’s guards and eunuchs stood in the courtyard. When they saw Yan Huaijing carrying Wei Yuewu down, they bowed respectfully together.
Wei Yuewu saw that there was also a woman among them, who looked similar to her height and physical appearance. She knew that this was the woman Yan Huaijing brought into the Palace.
“Your Heir-apparent, it’s almost time. The lanterns outside have already been picked up. The Third Princess has already invited you to join the festival!” Little Dezi, Yan Huaijing’s personal eunuch, reported.
Calculating the time, he assumed that the other heirs-apparent should have already set off.
Yan Huaijing held Wei Yuewu’s slender waist and slowly walked out. He nodded. “Let’s go!”
“Your Heir-apparent, am I pretending to be the daughter of an aristocratic family, who is also your childhood sweetheart?” Wei Yuewu asked Yan Huaijing with a blushing face. She didn’t think that the daughter of a rich family would walk so intimately with him if they had not been engaged yet.
“So what?” Yan Huaijing lowered his head and laughed carelessly, but he didn’t slow down. Instead, he took Wei Yuewu forward.
Only Little Dezi was following them.
“Do you think it’s appropriate for you to do so?” Wei Yuewu felt that it was necessary to remind him again.
“There is nothing inappropriate. Since my childhood sweetheart followed me all the way to the capital and appeared with me like this, it naturally means that we were engaged. Even if we were not engaged, our family had given us their blessings. Whichever princess who wants to marry me now will be a latecomer.”
Yan Huaijing looked at Wei Yuewu with an ambiguous smile.
“So…” Wei Yuewu was taken aback. She blinked her eyes and did not know what to say.
“So, it is the royal family who owes us, not us who are shameful. We can completely appear in front of everyone confidently. The royal family has robbed your marriage. Yuewu, you can’t suffer such a loss. When necessary, remember to be tough. So what if we are going up against the royal family’s princesses!”
Yan Huaijing advised Wei Yuewu patiently.
“Do you expect me to go up against the Third Princess and Fourth Princess?” Wei Yuewu’s eyes darted around, and the blush on her face slowly faded away. It seemed that it was not as simple as admiring the lanterns tonight. She should have predicted this since she was with the devilish heir-apparent.
“We will definitely bump into the two princesses!” Yan Huaijing affirmed with satisfaction as he looked at Wei Yuewu who was now on alert, and he hugged her slender waist even more tightly.
Yan Huaijing had always been quick with regards to his prey. He was quick, ruthless, and accurate. He never gave his opponent any chance. Since he had targeted this little fox, she could only be his.
Of course, he had to bring her to show everyone that she was his. He had heard that the Crown Prince had dispatched his most trusted eunuch to give the little fox jewelry.
Although he also sent jewelry to the other young ladies, it was done by the ordinary palace servants. On the contrary, Wen Tianyao dispatched his most trusted eunuch to deliver the jewelry to Wei Yuewu. The implication was not as simple as a plain act of gift-giving.
He had to brand his little fox, of course.
As for the ignorant little fox, he would teach her to rely on him little by little!
“I can’t talk!” Wei Yuewu whispered anxiously, not noticing that she was now in Yan Huaijing’s arms. She could change her clothes and hair accessories, but she couldn’t change her voice. Once she spoke, others would discover her.
“You don’t have to. Sometimes, you can express yourself with your body language!” Yan Huaijing smiled and wrapped his arm around Wei Yuewu’s slender waist tightly.
Only then did Wei Yuewu realize that she seemed to be in Yan Huaijing’s embrace entirely. Her face instantly turned red again.
“Heir-apparent of Yan!” A voice suddenly came from the intersection upfront. Wei Yuewu calmed herself down and raised her watery eyes. She suddenly saw the Crown Prince Wen Tianyao standing in front of her and couldn’t help but be stunned. What a coincidence! She had just stepped out of the door and met him.
“Your Highness!” Yan Huaijing smiled slightly and calmly stepped forward to salute. Wei Yuewu couldn’t bow deeply as Yan Huaijing was holding her, so she just slightly curtsied.
Then, her eyes fell on Wei Qiufu, who was next to Wen Tianyao.
Wei Qiufu, who was dressed up beautifully, had a shy look on her face. She looked so timid and lovable as she stood next to Wen Tianyao.
The simple wooden hairpin on her head made her look more elegant and dignified.
It was no wonder that Wei Qiufu wanted this hairpin so badly. In fact, this hairpin was really suitable for Wei Qiufu, who liked to pretend to be dignified and generous in front of others.
Wei Qiufu bowed at Yan Huaijing and stood beside Wen Tianyao, curiously sizing up the woman next to Yan Huaijing.
The Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State actually brought a woman with him, and it seemed that they were quite intimate. Wei Qiufu was very bewildered by this. Wasn’t the Heir-apparent of the Duke of Yan State coming to the capital to be married to the princess? Why did he bring a female companion with him?
Was the woman from the brothel? Thinking of this, Wei Qiufu looked at Wei Yuewu with disdain.
Wen Tianyao’s gaze also fell on Wei Yuewu. Through the veil, he could only faintly see that it was a woman, but he could not see her real appearance clearly. Yan Huaijing protected her very well. No matter how his subordinates investigated, they only found out that there was indeed a woman in Yan Huaijing’s mansion.
However, she was heavily protected by Yan Huaijing’s guards, and it was impossible for his subordinates to explore her identity further.
His gaze fell on the snow coat on Wei Yuewu. He could tell that such a gorgeous snow coat was expensive. The most important thing was that although it was slightly different from the coat on Yan Huaijing in terms of length and size, both the coats were almost the same. Therefore, he deduced that they were wearing matching coats.
From the looks of it, Wen Tianyao was certain that the relationship between this lady of a noble family and Yan Huaijing was indeed not simple.
Had both their families talked about their engagement? Judging from the circumstances, Wen Tianyao speculated that even if Yan Huaijing married the princess, the status of this woman would not be lowly. In fact, she and the princess might be at the same level.
However, this was something that Wen Tianyao could not tolerate. No matter which sister of his would marry Yan Huaijing, Wen Tianyao would not allow them to suffer such humiliations. How could a dignified princess be on equal footing with other women?
“Fourth Miss Wei, please entertain this fine lady. I would like to have a word with the Heir-apparent of Yan!” Wen Tianyao raised his displeased eyes and looked at Wei Yuewu.
Wei Qiufu was startled for a moment, feeling that it was unnecessary for her, the noble daughter of an aristocratic family, to entertain a lowly woman from the brothel.
“Your Highness, there’s no need to do so. She knows everything about me. Let’s just talk here,” Yan Huaijing smiled and said lazily.
“Even if it’s about the marriage?” This version of Yan Huaijing made Wen Tianyao’s eyes flash with a trace of fierceness.
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