The Ageless Dream

16.1 The Sudden Change (62)

Ying Zheng's lip tilted into an uneven smile. He thought she is really trying to threaten him but it was only a stick. Nevertheless, he decided to be patient with her. He leaned on the tree and his dark hair moved with the summer breeze as he looked upwards. "Ying Chengjiao is more carefree than me." Ying Zheng remembered the days King Zhuangxiang kept comparing him to his older brother in order to scold Ying Chengjiao's laziness in studying. "He is an unruly prince who worries nothing but losing his charm for seducing women."

"Sounds like you two were almost the same..." Dong Li Hua whispered when Ying Zheng raised a brow at her. "I said nothing! Now continue."

"Ying Chengjiao is a smart person too. Its just he spends more night with his first wife and concubines. This behaviour made him lose favor from our Father. Fortunately, he can be serious in some days. I idolize him for his cleverness but one thing I hate is that he is easy to enchant." he further explained and looked nowhere when he saw Ying Ziying. The young boy is like Ying Chengjiao's carbon copy. "He too is good brother. Accepting me one I returned to Qin unlike most of our Father's wives and relatives. Ying Chengjiao treats me more fairly."

"Strange. Why did he rebel?" she muttered in confusion. Did Ying Chengjiao go against his younger brother because of the throne?

"... I cant tell." his eyes flickered upon recalling the day he gave Ying Chengjiao the chance to kill him. Strangely, even if Ying Chengjiao desired the throne, he only tossed the imperial sword and said that Ying Zheng is a princess for crying too much. After that, he left the palace and sided with the rebels. "I guess he only rebelled because he needs to cover up his true reason for leaving Qin, for leaving me behind. My older brother is too selfish. Because of Song Aoyun, he gave up his family, his title as the Lord of Chang'an and everything else." he lightly smiled in mockery before sighing.

The young girl next to him can feel how disappointed he is. "Not so smart. He instantly fell for Song Aoyun the day he first saw her. I mean, she is just a worthless princess disgraced by her own kin. Song Aoyun was thrown to Qin and brought into the military camp as a slave. Why should Ying Chengjiao love her? She is nothing without her beauty. It's simply ridiculous." Ying Zheng continued with his knuckles showing up.

Dong Li Hua can sense that Ying Zheng is holding back his frustration. He hates his older brother but he hates Song Aoyun more. Days ago,  Song Aoyun was sent back to Zhao. Ying Zheng gave her a chance to select her death without his intervention and let fate do the rest.

"Too unreasonable, impossible and foolish. For a single woman, he abandoned everything. Then he pushed the blame to me after his family's death. He should know Lü Buwei was the person who is in control of Qin that time. I can't save his family because I am far too powerless." Ying Zheng looked calm outside but in his heart, he knew how unbearable it was. After a long silence, he noticed he turned more open to Dong Li Hua. Only she will know how he truly feels.

"Your brother's betrayal hurts, right? And because he left you alone and without anyone to help you out of that treacherous court, you're angry at him while blaming Song Aoyun, yes?" she asked gently to break their silence. "Ying Zheng, you're a king. You should knew better and be reserved when it comes to your emotions. What you are doing to Ying Ziying is too unfair. He is not related to what your brother did. Do you think making it difficult for Ying Ziying can please you?"

"Yes." Ying Zheng shrugged. His answer made Dong Li Hua harrumph.

"You are a joke, a ridiculous, unreasonable, impossible and as foolish are your brother!" she raised the stick and aimed it to Ying Zheng's arm but she thought he can dodge it. However, Ying Zheng remained frozen in place upon realizing his shortcomings.

"You!" he doesn't know what to sat. Is she even that kind and understanding Li Hua that served him in his childhood? She is too brave to beat a king with a stick!

"Serves you right. Who said you grew up like this? It would have been better if you were cute." Dong Li Hua complained about his appearance. He is the male version if a seductress. If he is cute then she can consider not hurting him. Hurting someone cute is a sin, their cute charm often made someone feel guilty. "But, I can't persuade you to be kind to your nephew. After all, only Queen Dowager Zhao Ji matters to you."

Ying Zheng was taken aback. He wanted to rebuke but all she said were true.

"Hi." Dong Li Hua greeted the resting Ying Ziying. "Prince Ziying, His Majesty said you can take a rest."

"Really?" his eyes brightened. Ying Zheng glanced behind to see Ying Zheng nod. "At last, Uncle is too difficult to please. Fortunately, I can learn more from him."

"Oh. Why so?" she finds his reaction unexpected. Cant he see Ying Zheng is cold to him?

"My father rarely teaches me. He is always in Handan with Mother and Im always left Rao Territory. Its quite lonely. Moreover, he's the closest kin of my Father." Ying Ziying cheerfully said. Its not a secret to him thar Ying Zheng is purposely making it difficult. But in truth, his relatives in Zhao State are far indifferent than Ying Zheng.

"You impressed me." Ying Zheng said once his nephew arrived in front of him. "That's enough for today. Is it tiring?"

"Not at all." he lied. He only cares about Ying Zheng's thoughts. "I can continue after lunch! Father is a good warrior and I want to be like him."

"You'll exhaust yourself. Continue tomorrow." he is satisfied with Ying Ziying's attitude. Its similar to Ying Chengjiao's cheerfulness in the past.

"Speaking of lunch, Im hungry. Who else?" Dong Li Hua asked. The young boy raised his hand and both of them tittered. The soldiers and maid almost thought they look like a family.