The Red Bride - Chapter 42

She felt as though her body was floating in water, slowly sinking and slowly raising. It was pitch black, an endless night without stars. She had no idea how many days had passed, but her body steadily flowed to shore. She felt a gentle touch, and her eyes leisurely opened. Her surrounding was blurry and her ears felt clogged. Was someone calling her? She doesn’t even know who she was. All she knew was that she was exhausted, so she closed her eyes again.

He watched her as she fell asleep. He had forgotten how fragile this strange woman was. Normally, she was loud, childish, and pretentiously “indifferent” when she threw a temper. Seeing her so quiet, triggered something deep inside of him. Anger, sadness, or maybe confusion, however all of these emotions didn’t burn ferociously inside him nor did they made him feel a great need for vengeance. He was calm as a lake, each emotion was just a simple ripple in a large body of water. All he wanted was to see her eyes shined when she ate, how her lips parted when she smiled, and even how she looked when she yelled at him.

He didn’t love her, this he knew for sure. However, he also cannot deny that he enjoyed the time he spent with her. In the day, he would exchange letters with her. Their content were always amusing, and he was a lot better at responding to her through writing than in person. Yet, the time he enjoyed with her the most was when she stuffed her face unceremoniously. At first, he did it out of ceremony, however as time went by, he genuinely anticipated for their nightly dinners. While he barely spoke, she would continuously babbled about her day, her favorite meal at the moment, her favorite book, and anything else she wanted to share.

For what’s it worth, he felt that this marriage was not so horrible. He is well aware that he is not the most romantic person on Earth, and that she could have found someone who genuinely loved her. However, he was a man of many ambitions, first, and an Emperor, second. She just came as bonus, and that was that. Although that may be, he does not plan on treating her like some common shrewd. He will give her every ounce of respect she deserves as the mother of his nation. Their fates were are now intertwined, and there was nothing that she could do to stop it.

“Hu Feng, you need to rest. She’ll be alright with all these maids looking after her,” a man in green said to his friend worryingly.

“Report,” the Emperor ignored his words.

Tang Feng looked at his brother in arms and sighed on the inside. Everyday for a week, Hu Feng came over to Mu Qing’s bedchamber and watched over her until deep into the night. Hu Feng was clearly already head over heels over her, but he still denies it. Ah, love sure does changes a person.

The Imperial Tutor fanned himself a little before replying, “All leads point to the Empress Dowager and the Yu family.”

Hu Feng closed his eyes for a moment, and then glanced at the fragile figure laying on the bed. He did not immediately replied.

Tang Feng walked a little closer to the bedside, and saw Mu Qing white as snow, chapped lips, and sunken cheeks. He sat down on the chair opposite of the Emperor, and glanced at him, who was deep in thought. He, himself, found that the whole series of events were too well planned.

The Empress Dowager has the motive, however she lacks the strength. Ever since the incident with the former Minister Yan, the two of them had been slowly picking off her subordinates one by one, like sitting ducks.

“No,” he finally said.

Tang Feng eyes narrowed, “Then, who?”

“Doesn’t matter. Use this as an opportunity to bring the rebellion down.”

“Alright, but what about your burning vengeance for your wife? How can you go on when the culprit who has hurt your precious woman is still living?”

Hu Feng looked at the sly and dramatic Tang Feng with icy indifference. It’s not like they don’t know who is behind this. It’s just wasn’t time to deal with them. He promptly returned to reading the report in his hand, completely ignoring the man opposite to him.

After a while, he said, “This debt must be paid a thousand folds.”