"Aren’t both the palm and the back of the hand made of flesh?"
HEH!
Hou Tianying couldn’t hide her displeasure, but in front of her mother, she had to endure it.
"Mother, things have already come to this. We should think about what to do next!"
Lady Hou began to wipe her tears again.
"I am but a woman. What else could I do?"
"Your father said he has plans, and I do not know what sort of plans they might be. But one thing is certain: the person who harmed my son must not leave Jinling City alive!"
"Whoever hurt my son, I want them to pay with their life!" Lady Hou said furiously, grinding her teeth.
However, Hou Tianying felt somewhat guilty; her eyes darted around in panic before she lowered her head.
It was unclear what Lady Hou said next, but Hou Tianying vaguely agreed with a few sentences and then left.
She was extremely anxious.
What if Father finds out it was Third Master Huang?
What if, just what if? She had finally found someone she liked; she couldn’t just let it end like this...
No, no, she had to go tell Third Master Huang.
Having made up her mind, she stumbled back to her room.
After dressing up, she took her maid and left the Hou Mansion.
"Miss, it’s about to get dark. Where are you going?" her personal maid, puzzled, advised anxiously.
"If the Master and Madam find out, it will be terrible!"
Hou Tianying curved her lips into a mocking smile.
"HMPH! No one will find out. Just be at ease!"
"But..." the maid wanted to say more.
Hou Tianying frowned impatiently. "If you don’t want to go, you can go back yourself!"
The maid sulkily closed her mouth.
Normally, she often left the mansion, and the servants, seeing that it was the eldest young miss, didn’t stop her.
Thus, Hou Tianying made it to Jingtai Tower without any trouble.
All along the way, she prayed in her heart.
Please don’t move away! Please don’t go!
A woman in love is often like that, like a moth to a flame, reckless and unafraid.
Sometimes, they even forget about their own family.
It was also a coincidence that as soon as she got down from the carriage, she saw the figure she had been dreaming of.
"Young Master Huang?"
She couldn’t quite believe her eyes. Fearing it was an illusion, she inadvertently called out.
Zhao Junyao was out with Xia Ruqing and was just returning.
Hearing someone calling out to him, he looked up and immediately frowned.
"Is it you?"
Hou Tianying approached excitedly.
"Young Master Huang, you still remember me!"
Zhao Junyao snorted inwardly. Hou Yaozu’s daughter, how could I possibly forget?
He didn’t want to engage with her further, so he said with an indifferent expression, "We met once at the jewelry store. If there’s nothing else, Miss Hou, please be on your way!"
After speaking, Zhao Junyao put his arm around Xia Ruqing.
"Qingqing, let’s go!"
Xia Ruqing nodded, obediently following Zhao Junyao as they left.
At that moment, Hou Tianying’s fragile heart shattered into pieces.
What? Qingqing? What does that mean? Could she not be a concubine? Right, is he married?
A series of questions tormented her already shattered heart.
Zhao Junyao had plenty of women in his Harem; with Hou Tianying’s looks, she likely wouldn’t even make it through the first round of selection.
What did she have to compare with Qingqing!
Besides, is she even qualified to call Xia Ruqing ’Qingqing’? Zhao Junyao thought.
At that moment, Zhao Junyao frowned, pulled Xia Ruqing firmly into his arms, and said solemnly, "Miss Hou, I, Huang, am already married, and I have no interest in you whatsoever. Please be on your way!"
After saying this, he continued to walk on.
Hou Tianying still wouldn’t give up and ran up to block him again.
"Young Master, wait! You... Are you referring to the lady beside you? Is she Lady Huang?"
Zhao Junyao found this utterly disgusting; it was blatant, shameless pestering!
What he hated most in the Harem were women who were neither gentle nor obedient. They were simply pointless.
If he liked you, he would be willing to hold you dearly and spoil you; even your temper tantrums would seem adorable.
If he didn’t like you, even your breathing would be considered a fault.
Often, a person’s heart is limited. It can only love one person at a time.
The Emperor was no exception.
Among so many women, it was impossible for him to favor each one equally. Doting on one was more than enough.
Hou Tianying was shocked that she had even asked such a question.
How... how could I have been so irrational as to ask such a thing?
Xia Ruqing was also taken aback.
This outfit of mine... there’s no way it looks like something a principal wife would wear, she thought.
This Miss Hou is so annoying! If the servants heard this and word spread, once it reached the palace, would the Empress spare me?
What trouble! Such bad luck!
I shouldn’t have come out to play today! HMPH!
Just as she was thinking this, Zhao Junyao suddenly embraced her.
"Indeed, she is Lady Huang!"
"Miss Hou, if you don’t leave now, don’t blame me, Huang, for being rude!"
Having said that, he walked off with Xia Ruqing in his arms without looking back.
There stood Hou Tianying, stunned, her heart shattered to pieces.