Chapter 282 - 282 280 Kneeling Down_1

Chapter 282: Chapter 280: Kneeling Down_1 Chapter 282: Chapter 280: Kneeling Down_1 He sighed. But Lu Tianzhuo was already dead. No matter how much hatred or blame he felt toward Lu Tianzhuo, what use was it now?!

Li Zhijie pressed on the wound on his shoulder and spoke in his hoarse voice, “Go and bring the bird’s nest porridge prepared for the princess. I will personally deliver it to her…”

“Yes!” The maid immediately scrambled to her feet and retreated.

When Li Zhijie entered with the bird’s nest porridge, he saw Li Tianfu glaring at him with reddened eyes, like a cornered young beast.

He had everyone in the room leave, slowly approached the bedside, and his gaze fell on the horrifying marks on Li Tianfu’s neck. He knew she truly wanted to die.

He spoke softly, “I know you’re upset over A Zhuo’s death and want to join him. But have you ever thought that A Zhuo’s great revenge is still unfulfilled; he cannot rest in peace?”

Li Tianfu opened her mouth, but her damaged throat couldn’t make a sound. She angrily kicked over the bird’s nest porridge placed by her bed by Li Zhijie to express her fury.

Li Zhijie was not annoyed. He shook the porridge off his robes, “You might not know A Zhuo’s true identity.”

Li Zhijie watched Li Tianfu’s teary eyes glaring at him and handed her a handkerchief from his sleeve, “A Zhuo was the adopted son of Pang Pingguo, the Great General of Shu Kingdom. He entered Xiliang’s Imperial Palace to avenge his adoptive father, Pang Pingguo. To A Zhuo, nothing was more important than avenging his adoptive father.”

Li Tianfu was stunned, and her tears seemed to freeze in her eyes.

“You were probably the biggest surprise in his life!” Li Zhijie’s eyes were deep and dark, “He used everyone, including me, but never used you! If he wanted to use you, he would have encouraged you to get close to the Emperor of Jin, become the emperor’s favored concubine, and then… influence the emperor to kill Bai Qingyan, wiping out the Bai family! After all, you obeyed his every word, but he didn’t do that!”

Lu Tianzhuo could use Li Zhijie, and Li Zhijie could similarly use Lu Tianzhuo to persuade Li Tianfu.

“He… arranged for Bai Qingyan to come so she could be killed. But, Princess… I am King Yan of Xiliang. I couldn’t watch Bai Qingyan die at the posthouse. We couldn’t afford another fight.”

Seeing Li Tianfu refuse his handkerchief, he raised his hand to wipe away her tears, “If without A Zhuo, you really don’t want to live, why not help fulfill A Zhuo’s wish? Once you become the favored concubine of the Emperor of Jin… or the future Emperor of Jin, killing Bai Qingyan and avenging A Zhuo would be easy.”

Li Tianfu clenched the pendant in her hand tightly and bit her lip, glaring at Li Zhijie.

“Are you thinking that I am only trying to deceive you into working for Xiliang?” Li Zhijie sighed, “I, Li Zhijie, swear to the god of Xiliang, there is no falsehood in my words concerning A Zhuo! If the princess can become the favored concubine of the Emperor of Jin or the future emperor, it indeed benefits Xiliang. But as people of Xiliang, we must work for Xiliang’s benefit. This doesn’t conflict with avenging A Zhuo.”

Li Zhijie’s voice remained gentle and earnest, “The princess can consider my words carefully. If you agree… then change into your dance attire and use your grace to conquer the Jin Imperial Family at the banquet. If you don’t, I won’t stop you.”

After saying this, Li Zhijie stood up, bowed to Li Tianfu, and left her room, ordering someone to clean up the spilled bird’s nest porridge.

Li Tianfu curled up on the bed, gazing at the pair of pendants in her hands. It wasn’t until dawn’s light illuminated her window, followed by the sunset’s rays shining inside, that she seemed to make a decision. She put on the earrings and stood up.

Li Zhijie, standing outside her door and gazing at the setting sun, was lost in thought. If Li Tianfu remained as listless as before and refused to attend the banquet, he would say that Lu Tianzhuo had injured her yesterday.

After being urged by the envoy’s delegation for the third time, Li Zhijie finally turned around and pushed open Li Tianfu’s door.

Dressed in a luxurious red dance dress, Li Tianfu sat by the dressing table, sticking a flower ornament between her brows.

The warm orange sunset light streamed through the half-open window, casting a soft glow on her delicate and beautiful features. Her skin was like jade, her lips were bright red, and her eyes, though clear as a young girl’s, held a captivating charm, pure yet enchanting, like a beautifully blooming mandala flower.

“Princess…” Li Zhijie stood respectfully at the door and bowed.

Li Tianfu flashed a stunning smile at the bronze mirror, then put on a veil, and in her hoarse voice said, “Let’s go…”

·

Because of the great victory in the southern borders of the Jin Kingdom, the Emperor’s birthday banquet this year was more grand and luxurious than ever before.

The wives of various officials dressed in their finest, and young noblewomen adorned themselves with exquisite clothes.

The Emperor and Empress had not yet arrived. Familiar noblewomen gathered in small groups, discussing various matters. Some talked about the Fourth Prince of Daliang, Wei Qiheng, entering the palace the previous night to propose to the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu. Others mentioned Princess of Zhen, Bai Qingyan, storming into the posthouse the day before, forcing King Yan of Xiliang to hand over the second son of the Bai family and killing one of his subordinates.

“Last time the Fourth Prince of Daliang rode into Dadu City, I happened to be drinking tea at Yanque Tower. That Fourth Prince of Daliang is truly handsome! The Princess of Nandu is the most beautiful woman in Jin. They’re a perfect match!”

“Yes, it’s said that the Fourth Prince of Daliang saw the Princess of Nandu somewhere yesterday and rushed into the palace that night to request a marriage from the Emperor. Later, the Emperor summoned the Princess of Nandu’s father, the only remaining nobility with a different surname, King Xian, into the palace. The Fourth Prince of Daliang did not hesitate to kneel and request King Xian’s consent. Only then did the king agree.”

“Really?! Kneeling to request King Xian?” A noblewoman covered her astonished mouth with a fan, eyes full of envy, “If the Princess of Nandu marries the Fourth Prince of Daliang, he will surely cherish her!”

Minister of Judicial Review Lu Jin’s daughter, Lu Baohua, and the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, entered under the guidance of a palace attendant. Clad in luxurious attire, Liu Ruofu instantly became the center of attention.

Liu Ruofu’s beauty was described as having the elegance of autumn water lotuses, with skin as white as snow porcelain, cherry-red lips, and eyes as clear as cool, glassy beads. Her elaborate moon-white embroidered dress swayed gracefully as she walked, never revealing her feet, exuding an air of grace and poise.

After sitting down, Lu Baohua covered her lips with a fan, her eyes filled with joy, and softly spoke to Liu Ruofu, “Look, there’s not a single noblewoman in all of Dadu City who isn’t envious of you! I heard… the Fourth Prince of Daliang fell in love with you at first sight and swore to King Xian that if he could marry you… he would never take a side consort or concubine. Is that true?”