The Ageless Dream

19.1 Race to Wei (73)

"Spy? There is a spy in Qin?" Dong Li Hua frowned. She turned nervous all of a sudden, worrying about someone else's wellbeing.

"Hmph! That Chu Ren is unreliable! He even failed to use Du Mingluan to kill that bastard Ying Zheng!" the emperor furiously threw the jade teacup on the tiled floor in anger. "Why is it he wont make a move? Its been four years!"

"Sire, please calm down. Chu Ren said he has three more assassinations to come. However, if they all fail, he promised to personally kill him. Moreover, Chu Ren set his eyes on Ying Zheng's favored concubines such as Zi Qian and Yan Ah Xian." Xiang Liang calmly explained.

"Assassination? Treasured concubines? Zi Qian is his concubine? There is Yan Ah Xian too? Does that mean that book..." Dong Li Hua's eyelashes trembled. Thousand Plums of Fragrance, is that huaben of ancient times true? Furthermore, the Chu Ren name sounds familiar. Where have she heard it before?

"Why will he focus on those women instead of Ying Zheng? Simply unreasonable!" the emperor is still not convinced. With the spy's slow progress in assassinating Ying Zheng, he is obviously impatient about it.

"Your Majesty, Yan Ah Xian is pregnant. Chu Ren said it was a boy and should be eliminated before Ying Zheng will ever have a heir. As for Zi Qian, she is starting to gain Ying Zheng's favor. Their love story is well-known too and we can use her as a bargaining chip incase our attempts failed."

"This..." the young girl held her breath. Ying Zheng has a child with Yan Ah Xian? He is favoring Zi Qian? They have a love story? Why does this pained her? Dong Li Hua suppressed her feelings but all she is thinking is about Ying Zheng's safety. A man named Chu Ren is Chu State's spy, lurking undetected and he is the one behind Du Mingluan's escapes.

It was not long when the eunuch came back without the nonexistent bill. Dong Li Hua made up an excuse and told him Xiang Ji had paid for it already. Though she received a glare, she endured since all that buzzed in her head regards Ying Zheng's safety.

"Feifei, you're dazing off." Xiang Ji lamented. He dropped the book on the table and waited for her to serve him.

"Eh? Sorry." Dong Li Hua scooped a spoonful of the congee and gently blew on it before feeding Xiang Ji. Her expression remained unreadable but a trace of worry is on her face. Xiang Ji found it strange since whenever he asked for her to feed him, she would find many excuses but this time, she is actually quiet.

"You seemed off today." he cant help but place remarks. Xiang Ji though of something and shifted his position on the bed. He sat beside Dong Li Hua then inclined his head on her shoulder. "Tell me what's bothering my Feifei."

"Xiang Gongzhi, please sit upright." she poked his head but Xiang Ji refused to move. He looked up to her with a childish smile.

"Feifei, I like you." Xiang Ji quickly took the bowl in her hand and placed it by the desk. He wrapped his arms around her slim waist but Dong Li Hua struggled to move away.

"This... Lord Xiang will get angry. Xiang Gongzhi, please behave!" she gloomily warned. Dong Li Hua tried to remove his hold but Xiang Ji is unmoved. She recalled in history that Xiang Ji is a man with extraordinary strength. Her efforts were all in vain so instead of wasting her energy, she remained silent in his arms. "Xiang Gongzhi, the lotus congee will get cold."

"Feifei, I told you I like you." he burrowed his face on her back. Xiang Ji greedily sniffed her flowery scent in secret.

"Xiang Gongzhi, stop spouting nonsense!" Dong Li Hua looked back and glared on Xiang Ji ominously. He is the one odd today. Mostly, he wont try holding her like this. Xiang Ji would just hold her hand or sit close beside her and start a conversation. He will never speak like this or hold her in such intimate way.

"Whatever happens, don't speak." he gently caressed her cheek with a hand until her bare neck and shoulder. Xiang Ji lightly furrowed his brows and bit his lower lip. It was like he is struggling with his decisions.

"Something is not right." she thought and quickly glanced on the closed door when she heard footsteps nearing them. What is happening here?

"Miss Fei Yu, Im sorry." Xiang Ji whispered. Without a warning, he pinned Dong Li Hua down and held both her hands on the pillow. She tried to break free and thought of screaming for help but Xiang Ji sealed her lips with a forceful kiss. He slowly undone her belt and from her struggling, Dong Li Hua's upper clothes turned loose which showed a large amount of creamy white skin.

"Brother Ji, Miss Hai Sheng came to-" the door opened in a sudden. Ze Shuai stood there with a shocked expression. Next to him is a delicate looking girl while there is another middle-aged man who stepped forward.

Xiang Ji's expression was hidden because of his scattered untied hair that covered his face. However, Dong Li Hua can see the different side of Xiang Ji. He looked cold and indifferent, no smiles nor gazes of emotions. Slowly, the corner of his lips slightly raised upward into a malicious smile.

Without a word, he sat up and removed his outer robe. Xiang Ji draped it over Dong Li Hua to cover her face and exposed shoulder.

"Ah Ji." a forceful tone came from the middle-aged man.

"Uncle Chiao, this must be a misunderstanding." Ze Shuai is about to help Xiang Ji out but the young man interrupted him.

"Father, I want to cancel the engagement!" Xiang Ji dropped on his knees and cupped his hand to show his seriousness.

"Impudent child!" Xiang Chiao raised his hand when someone held his wrist.

"Brother Chiao, that's still your son whom you never saw for thirteen years." Xiang Liang showed up to defend his nephew.