The Ageless Dream

11.2 Jie Ming's Gift (44)

That night, Huang Zhao is drinking wine with Meng Tian. Outside Meng Tian's tent, the two were sitting underneath a withering peach blossom tree. Huang Zhao leaned on the tree and he silently consumed the wine from a bottle.

"Honestly, Im the one feeling guilty from how you keep fooling her." Meng Tian lightly chuckled. He looked up to the crescent moon.

"She won't know anyway." Huang Zhao answered confidently. He bent his knee to place his arm on top of it then took a light sip on the wine. "I have not forgotten why Im here."

"Ah, that night, she entered the flower house just for you. I even told her you have a low tolerance in alcohol as you said. If she were to unravel all your lies, that girl will leave." glancing behind him, Meng Tian can only see Huang Zhao's back.

"General Meng, I won't let her leave. Furthermore, she made Qin a lot ahead than Chu or any other states. Miss Lizi is too important to lose." Huang Zhao solemnly said. He did not expect he have to exert more effort just to make that girl trust him. "Do you know, elite imperial guards are not only merciless nor secretive, we are also a master in deception. A mere seventeen-year-old girl is easier to fool than old foxes."

"Deception, heh. Let me guess, you tried to make her think you like her?" Meng Tian is not surprised. He met a lot of elite imperial guards; they are truly great in masking their true personalities and thoughts. In truth, Meng Tian was fooled by an elite imperial guard called Xie Er.

"I did. I even told her I 'like' her yet she kept finding excuses. Its quite interesting thought. She is the first woman that I met who can resist seduction." he faintly smiles, directing his gaze to a certain large tent. That is his tent where Dong Li Hua is currently resting.

"Huang Zhao, since the first day you came here, you hadn't removed that mask. Jie Ming fell for you after unmasking you. Why won't you try it to Miss Lizi?" Meng Tian raised a brow. He is also using an excuse to see through Huang Zhao's mask, for why is he hiding his face?

"I can't. Every elite imperial guards are given with masks to hide our true identity. We must not remove it unless there are no people around."

"You're right. I rarely knew your origin. Where were you born?"

"Zhao State in Handan Capital City." Huang Zhao's answer shocked Meng Tian.

"You-you're not an elite imperial guard! Huang Zhao is not your real name either. Why- how?" Meng Tian was rendered speechless. He stood up to have a good luck at Huang Zhao. From the unmasked lower part of his face, Meng Tian can see the similarity of someone.

"As expected of General Meng Ao's descendant. You are smart." Huang Zhao held his mask and slowly removed it. Shock and disbelief were written across Meng Tian's face. He has not felt that sort of emotion for years, its just that he never thought Huang Zhao is...

Dong Li Hua yawned after waking up. She glanced around the tent to see Huang Zhao sleeping on the divan again. It's the third night he settled there since she us occupying his bed. Though it's by the late spring, the night is still cold. Out of pity, she gathered her courage and went to his side.

"Sir General." Dong Li Hua lightly whispered, shaking his arm. Huang Zhao hummed and opened his eyes, he frowned seeing her standing closely to him.

"What is it?"

"The night is cold. I wont mind sharing the bed with Sir. Its my gratitude for you saving me all the time." she lightly smiled but her eyelids started to droop.

"Are you sure?" Huang Zhao sat upright. He can sense she is about to sleep.

"Mn. Its not like we're going to do something." Dong Li Hua rubbed her eyes to stay awake when Huang Zhao slowly tugged her downwards.

"Sleep." he picked her up and brought her to the bed. Fortunate or not, the bed is quite large for the three men. Dong Li Hua purposely placed pillows in the middle to act as a barricade. Huang Zhao sighed, she is like a riddle, easy to read but difficult to understand. "Trying to get away again." he wryly smiled and removed the pillows. After knowing she is asleep, Huang Zhao extracted his prank.

"Hmm... Heavy..." Dong Li Hua frowned. The sunlight grazing over her cheeks as she woke up but she noticed something is heavy on her. Looking down, its like a horde of horse trotted in her head. Huang Zhao is behind her and his arm is resting above her petite arm while he is holding her hand. She can feel his warmth and his even breathing scalding her neck.

"Awake?" Huang Zhao felt her movements. She immediately removed his hold then sat upright with rounded eyes. Taking a swift glance behind, its like her soul drifted away. Huang Zhao is not wearing his upper robes and she doesn't have her blouse anymore!

"Huang Zhao!" she angrily bellowed, throwing a punch towards his face but he inclined to the side. Her fist landed on the headboard instead.

"What?" Huang Zhao innocently asked. He is still smiling that Dong Li Hua wished she can wipe his smirk off him.

"Where's my blouse? What did you do?" Dong Li Hua glared to Huang Zhao. She knew he is trying to prank her in return of what she dud yesterday.

"You removed it. Why ask me?" he pinched his chin and swept his gaze over the view. The wrap around skirt covered most of her chest but a deep ravine was exposed. Her skin tone accentuated her curved shoulder, showing a light pinkish tint which proved its tenderness. He is unable to see this scene yesterday night, ah.

"I removed it? Do you think Im that foolish?" her anger spiked up after hearing his excuse. Dong Li Hua cupped her fist that her bones started clicking in crisp.