The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 104
Chapter 104 Perseverance Is Devil
When Chu Xizhi brought in the snacks, Xiao Xiwei was the only one in the room.
“What? Your cousin is gone.”
Xiao Xiwei sat in front of the couch, holding a white jade chess piece in his hand. He sized up the chess game that Chu Xizhi and Chen Mubai had just played. Hearing Chu Xizhi’s voice, she looked up at him from the chessboard and then lowered her head to look at the chessboard.
“Are you angry?” Chu Xizhi smiled and walked to sit opposite Xiao Xiwei. He leaned over and said with a smile.
Xiao Xiwei threw the white jade chess piece on the chessboard. “Why didn’t you agree?”
“Promise what?” Chu Xizhi casually pinched a snack and took a bite.
Xiao Xi raised her eyes slightly to look at Chu Xizhi. “Do you feel that it’s too much?”
“Xiwei, I didn’t marry you for that.” Chu Xizhi paused, “I’m different from him.”
Even though Chen Mubai had told him the reason, Xiao Xiwei still felt as if her heart was filled with honey when she heard it from Chu Xizhi.
“Besides, I don’t want you to owe the Chen Clan a favor.” Chu Xizhi said.
Xiao Xiwei’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “That’s my uncle. Besides, this is also an opportunity for them.”
Chu Xizhi curled his lips and stopped talking.
“Chu Xizhi, this doesn’t look like you.” Xiao Xiwei frowned suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you don’t know what it means to have the Chen Clan’s help?”
As the saying goes, money makes the ghost grind.
A million taels of silver, how many things could he do? Even an idiot would not push out the silver that was delivered to his door, let alone the shrewd Chu Xizhi. What was the reason?
Chu Xizhi pursed the corners of his lips and casually swept the chess pieces on the chessboard. He raised his eyes and stared at Xiao Xiwei. He raised his eyebrows and said, “I heard that your uncle intended to hire you for your cousin.”
Xiao Xiwei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly thought of something, “You can’t have refused because of this, right?”
“No way!” Chu Xizhi raised his eyebrows and asked.
Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but laugh, “I don’t know where you heard these words. However, his eldest cousin took a wife two years ago, and now he has a son and a daughter under his knee.”
“What!” Chu Xizhi’s eyebrows furrowed, and his expression suddenly became extremely ugly. “Damn Chu Muzhi.”
“However, you’re right. Uncle is a nice couple. It’s better not to involve him in this.” Xiao Xiwei suppressed his laughter and said, “It’s getting late. It’s time for me to go back.” With that, she stood up.
“Xiwei …”
“Your Highness, please return to the palace as soon as possible.” Xiao Xi smiled and interrupted Chu Xizhi. Then, he raised his voice and called out to Zi Yan. He opened the door with a smile and walked out.
The streets were still bustling with activity.
“Miss, let’s go take a look. I heard that the Lantern Festival will be held this year.”
“You haven’t caused enough trouble.” Xiao Xiwei gave Bi Yun a faint glance, then instructed a woman beside him, “Go inform the coachman and drive the carriage to East Street to wait. I’ll be there in a moment.”
“Yes.” After the woman answered, she turned around and notified the coachman.
“Young miss, we’re leaving now. What about Fourth Young Miss? Don’t you want to wait for her anymore?” Bi Yun said somewhat unwillingly.
Xiao Xiwei raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Bi Yun. He smiled and said, “Fourth Miss will naturally be escorted back. However, if you are willing to wait for her, you can.”
Bi Yun held her handkerchief and shivered. She shook her head hurriedly and said, “Then I’d better go back to the manor with Miss.”
The streets were filled with all kinds of colorful lights.
“Sister, buy a lamp.” A sweet voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Xiao Xiwei turned around and saw a little girl around twelve or thirteen years old looking at her with a small rabbit lamp in her hand full of expectation. She was wearing a thin dress, her face was blown red by the wind, her body was trembling in the cold wind, looking at her clear and clear eyes with a faint hint of fear, perhaps she was afraid of being refused to be driven away. She smiled and pulled her hand out of her sleeve. She reached for the rabbit lamp in her hand and said, “It’s really beautiful. Did you make it yourself?”
“Yes, I did. Sister, you either.” The girl said happily.
Xiao Xi smiled and handed the rabbit lamp to Zi Yan while saying to Bi Yun, “Give her a silver ingot.”
“Alright.” Bi Yun smiled and took out a silver ingot and handed it to the little girl.
The little girl hesitantly pinched the remaining lamps in her hand. “Sister, do you, do you have any copper coins? I … I can’t find them …”
Xiao Xi glanced at the lamp in her hand and smiled, “I don’t have my copper coins. Why don’t you give me all your lamps?”
The little girl was delighted at first, but then she hesitated, “Sister, did you use so many lamps by yourself?”
“Aiya, you little girl. My young miss can’t use so many lights, don’t you still have us!” Bi Yun said as she stuffed the silver into the little girl’s hand. Then, she shouted at the ladies behind her, “What are you still waiting for? Let’s split the money one by one!”
The girl behind him immediately smiled happily.
Seeing that all the lights in her hands were sold out, the girl smiled as if relieved. “Big sister, thank you. My name is Min’er.”
“My surname is Xiao.”
“Big sister Xiao, thank you. With money, I can buy paper and pens for big brother.” The little girl waved the silver in her hand, then smiled as she turned around and jumped away.
Xiao Xi smiled and turned around to leave. He didn’t want to, but he actually bumped into a pair of cold eyes.
Amidst the endless stream of people, the man was wrapped in a black cloak. The fox fur on his collar completely covered his chin, revealing only an unclear sneer at the corner of his mouth.
Chu Yanzhi.
The hand that was wrapped in the sleeve did not feel like it was tightly clenched.
Zi Yan couldn’t help but feel that she was a few steps closer to Xiao Xiwei. The smile on her face disappeared without a trace, and she stared vigilantly at Chu Yanzhi.
After a long time, no one moved.
Suddenly, a fine snowflake floated down from the sky, followed by two, three, and countless snowflakes.
Chu Yanzhi finally moved.
He walked in front of Xiao Xiwei, stood still, and then stretched out his hand. Xiao Xiwei subconsciously took two steps back. However, Chu Yanzhi opened his palm and quietly watched as several snowflakes fell on his palm. “It’s snowing again. Don’t you know where the Water Moon Temple is cold?”
Water Moon Temple.
Xiao Xiwei raised his eyebrows, “Your Highness, if you want to know, you can go to the Water Moon Temple to take a look.”
The corner of Chu Yanzhi’s lips curled into a cold smile. He looked up at Xiao Xiwei and said, “Others saw that Second Miss Xiao was able to lend a helping hand to a girl they didn’t know. They probably wouldn’t believe how much Second Miss Xiao hated and ruthless Second Miss Xiao was towards her own younger sister.”
“Wasn’t His Highness Prince Shenwang the one who made it happen?” Xiao Xi fearlessly raised his eyebrows and said coldly to Chu Yanzhi’s gaze.
Chu Yanzhi’s eyes sank and his lips curled into a straight line. He stared coldly at Xiao Xiwei and said, “Do you think he is winning?”
Xiao Xiwei looked at Chu Yanzhi and did not answer.
Chu Yanzhi suddenly smiled and took a step closer to Xiao Xiwei. He raised his hand and carefully put on her hood. Then, his deep voice rang out, “Xiwei, you still have one more chance.”
Xiao Xiwei looked at Chu Yanzhi. A moment later, she smiled. “This official does not understand what His Highness is saying.”
“You know.” Chu Yanzhi stared stubbornly at Xiao Xiwei.
“It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb Your Highness.” Xiao Xiwei retreated slightly and walked towards Chu Yanzhi’s blessing. Then, he turned around and prepared to leave.
“Xiao Xiwei, I will only give you this chance. Next time …”
Chu Yanzhi hadn’t finished his last words, but anyone could hear the threat in his words.
The person in front stopped as he wished.
Xiao Xiwei turned around and revealed a snow-white and exquisite face in his hood. “How about the next time? Who is His Highness going to prepare another cup of wine for this official?”
Chu Yanzhi tightly pinched his lips and did not speak.
Xiao Xi smiled and lowered his eyes. His slender eyelashes moved, “I really have to trouble Your Highness. However, I don’t think Your Highness needs this opportunity, Your Highness.” After saying that, he ignored the icy coldness in Chu Yanzhi’s eyes and turned around to lead the girl away.
The snow is getting heavier and heavier.
The peddlers on both sides of the street put away their stalls and prepared to return home. There were people constantly shuttling through the streets.
Chu Yanzhi stood in the snow, his cold gaze fixed on the direction where Xiao Xiwei had left.
He was rejected by her again.
Somewhere in his chest, someone seemed to have stabbed a needle. It was sour and painful.
“There are so many women in the world, why is His Highness so obsessed with this one in front of him?” In the snowstorm, a figure quietly walked to Chu Yanzhi’s side and stood still.
Persistence?
Chu Yanzhi withdrew his gaze and said, “Did you just say that this king is persistent?”
Lu Haiyang looked into Chu Xizhi’s eyes and did not answer.
The corner of Chu Yanzhi’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, “Perhaps.”
Even Lu Haiyang said that he was obsessed with Xiao Xiwei. Perhaps, he was really obsessed with her …
“Your Highness.” Lu Haiyang frowned.
He was somewhat unable to understand Chu Yanzhi’s actions at this moment.
“Hai Yang, do you believe me? From the moment I saw her, I felt that she should belong to me. Unfortunately …”
Unfortunately, she chose Chu Xizhi.
Lu Haiyang frowned and lowered his voice, “Your Highness, it’s just a woman. Right now, the most important thing is the northwest …”
Chu Yanzhi’s eyes finally moved, “Hai Yang, do you think she would regret what she said to this king if she knew that she chose the wrong one in the future?”
“Your Highness.” Lu Haiyang shouted with a cold face.
Chu Yanzhi smiled and finally stopped the topic, “Let’s go.” With that, he crossed Lu Haiyang and walked into the snow.
He did not tell Lu Haiyang, nor did he tell anyone. He had more than once dreamed that in the bridal chamber lit with red candles, he picked up his staff and lifted the bride’s handkerchief that was sitting on the bed. Under the handkerchief was Xiao Xiwei’s shy and timid snow-white face.
If dreams represented his heart, then he would definitely snatch her back at all costs! He would let her know that only she herself was her final choice.
Behind Chu Yanzhi, Lu Haiyang’s gaze gradually became serious.
If she could rope in the Marquis of Zhongyong Manor, it would be great, but now it seemed that it was no good. In addition to Prince Shenwang’s current thoughts towards Xiao Xiwei, if that was the case, then she could no longer stay!
