The Ageless Dream

19.4 Race to Wei (76)

Xiang Ji went to a halt once they reached the back garden. He heaved a deep sigh before facing her. "I told you not to serve anyone other than me. See what happened? Because of your appearance, rumors reached the city of Shouchun in a month. Cai or Cen, maybe even those men from Ying will come here to annoy you. That's why I asked you to serve me only as to not get you in trouble!"

"It's the seventh private room! That's where you always go, right? I thought it was you but...but..." she lowered her gaze and a touch her eyelashes trembled with slight dampness. Dong Li Hua looked pitiful enough to tug Xiang Ji's heartstrings.

"I came late. Sorry." he softly said. Xiang Ji wanted to hold her in his arms but seeing the silver lace bracelet, he recalled she is already engaged. This made him reluctant and lowered his hand down.

"Xiang Gongzhi, there is nothing to be sorry about. If not for you, who knows what would have happened." Dong Li Hua gave an assuring smile. Though she looked fine outside, in her mind, Du Feng's touches were deeply rooted and the scene kept playing. It made her barely suppress her fear that her hands trembled.

"I can't take it anymore! Let me end that bastard's lineage!" Xiang Ji cursed and he turned to leave but Dong Li Hua held her back.

"Xiang Gongzhi, don't!" she tried to make him stay however, Xiang Ji is determined to step on some precious jewels...

"Feifei, let me avenge you. That pig, I'll turn him into a eunuch!" he shouted, alarming the staffs and the fat man who is being treated by a physician.

"Someone! Help me hold back the Young Master! He's going to ruin that guest!" Dong Li Hua desperately held Xiang Ji's arm. The staffs knew that their master is about to offend a nobleman and they all gathered around Xiang Ji. He have a bad temper in truth, those who ruined his mood always ended up in hell.

"Get me back to Shouchun! Get me back to Shouchuuunnnn!" the fat man ran, not caring if he stumbled many times as he went to look for carriages.

In the end, Xiang Ji was pressed down the floor to keep him calm. After regaining his cool, Xiang Ji received light bruises from struggling to break free, his hair turned messy and so were his robes.

"So reckless." Dong Li Hua reprimanded, wiping his face to remove dusts he accumulated. She recalled when Ying Zheng was just thirteen. Ever since she cleared his doubts between her and Li Si, he tried all means to keep her distracted. Like the time when he cant have a piece of her attention and then return to her with light bruises and dusts on his expensive robes. She never had the heart to scold a cute boy like him so she can only keep a close eye on him since he's asking for it.

"You shouldn't have held me back. He deserves to pay!" Xiang Ji's eyes were like in flame from being furious but Dong Li Hua's consideration made him calm. "Feifei, I really like you." he started to tease her again however, this time, Xiang Ji unexpectedly saw a faint blush from her cheeks.

"Xiang Gongzhi, I finished calculating the income and losses Xiangmi Winehouse had over the month. The winter solstice is affecting this business." she handed the account book to Xiang Ji and purposely evaded the previous topic.

"Uncle is the one responsible for this, not me. But I can have a look." he took the book and started flipping through pages. After a while, he placed it down before leaning back. "The winter solstice is a problem. Im afraid this business have to close until the late winter."

"Its quite common to close during the storm. However, I read the previous accounts during the years and the three other seasons made enough profit to make up the losses of every winter solstice. These years, it has made more progress. Young master, rest assured. Xiangmi Winehouse is not in trouble at all."

"Feifei, with the business closing, where will you go?" he suddenly asked and his gaze meeting Dong Li Hua's green eyes.

"Rent a residence. I earned enough to survive until the opening of the winehouse." she faintly smiled when Xiang Ji held her hand.

"Not right." Xiang Ji shook his head.

"Young Master, Lord Chiao is coming!" someone warned. Everyone in the winehouse knew Xiang Ji is keeping his 'Fei Yu' a secret to his family. With his father coming here, they are aware the secret is to be exposed.

"Ah Ji." as expected, Xiang Chiao arrived only to see his son protecting a girl behind him. He was furious that Xiang Ji is prioritizing a woman instead of his ambitions. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Young master, let go. Lord Chiao is angry." Dong Li Hua secretly tugged her hand but he refused to set her free. She meekly hid behind Xiang Ji from the general's suppression.

"Father-"

"You wanted to offend an aristocrat because of that girl? Did I raise you to become fond of women?! Xiang Ji, let that girl come here!" Xiang Chiao pointed at Dong Li Hua but the instant his son heard his proclamation, Xiang Ji turned more stubborn.

"Feifei did nothing wrong! That man tried to harass her, can I not defend a staff?" Xiang Ji bravely met his father's dangerous gaze. He knew well how Xiang Chiao thinks. To let 'Fei Yu' go with him is equal to sending her in her early grave. Xiang Chiao is more ruthless than Xiang Liang. He will surely order someone to kill 'Fei Yu' if Xiang Ji let her go.

"A staff? You think Im unaware of what is happening? Setting aside four days of your studies just to see her, was it what a man from our family do? Xiang Ji, don't disobey your father." furious at his son's disagreement, Xiang Chiao stepped forward.

"You're not even a father to me!" Xiang Ji suddenly shouted. His words made Xiang Chiao stop.

"Xiang Ji, do you know what you're saying?" Xiang Yan grimly asked. He squinted his eyes to Xiang Ji whom he had similarities with.