The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

73. The Killing Intent

Translator: Iris Guo

A’Chou was stunned, and came to understand suddenly after a pause. She knew why Zhong Mingwei was so mad just now. He thought it was Lao Jiang that delivered the deck chair. Lao Jiang used to treat Zhong Mingwei horribly, so she felt too sorry to eat.

“I’ve asked Officer Kong. He told me that Officer Jiang was ordered to return to the capital and would never come back to NingGuTa.” said A’Chou slowly. She put the bowl on the table and asked: “Do you want jasmine tea today?”

“No.” said Zhong Mingwei in a low voice. He continued to eat in difficulty for a while, and then whispered: “I want red bean porridge.”

“No problem. I’ll make some tomorrow morning.” A’Chou said hurriedly with a smile. She finally let out a sigh of relief, took several mouthfuls of noodles, and continued in embarrassment: “Did I make terrible tea?”

“No.” Zhong Mingwei looked up at A’Chou and smiled slightly: “You just put too much jasmine in it, so the fragrance was overly strong.”

“All right. I’ll make it light next time.” A’Chou laughed and nodded repeatedly.

After dinner, as usual, A’Chou started to massage Zhong Mingwei’s body. When she was rubbing his shoulder, he suddenly asked: “You said Lao Jang was ordered to return to the capital?”

“Yes. Officer Kong said that Lao Jiang left in a hurry and would never come back here. He and his brother would stay here.” answered A’Chou hurriedly. Then, she paused for a while, and whispered: “Don’t worry. Lao Jiang won’t come back here.”

Zhong Mingwei ignored A’Chou’s last sentence, and suddenly continued after a while of silence: “Probably the Empress Dowager interceded for me.”

A’Chou didn’t understand him: “What?”

“Obviously, Lao Jiang isn’t one of the Imperial Guards, but I could tell from his words that he knew all about what happened in the capital, so he is close to people there, maybe a high-ranking official, or people working for a member of the harem or a prince.” Zhong Mingwei recalled how Lao Jiang treated him when he first arrived at NingGuTa. He frowned, paused, and continued slowly: “NingGuTa is a place specifically for the exile of a large number of sinners. Although it’s just a small town in the border area, a single exiled official in here could be closely linked with many lives in the capital. Therefore, various powers have always been intricately intertwined here. However, His Majesty deliberately sent me here and left me alone, so it’s likely that he planned to harm me by another’s hand because there’s no way he could kill me himself and damage his reputation. But now, as soon as the two Imperial Guards arrived at NingGuTa, Lao Jiang was ordered to returned to the capital. It’s thus clear that His Majesty has changed his mind. In the world, only the Empress Dowager could make this heartless man change his mind.”

“He… wanted to kill you?” A’Chou’s hands suddenly paused, and then her whole body froze for a long time, “He’s your father, for god’s sake! What on earth was he thinking about?”

“I have no idea.” said Zhong Mingwei faintly when his dark eyes were fixed on the flickering candlelight. “I have been afraid of him since I was a child, not because he is the master of this world. I can just feel his hate towards me. He hates my guts.”

“How come? No way!” A’Chou couldn’t stand the hateful tone of Zhong Mingwei and hastened to comfort him, “Anyway, you’re his and the late Empress’ only son! I heard that they were deeply in love. He must love you most. How could he hate you?”

“What if my mother died because of me?” asked Zhong Mingwei slowly, “Do you think he would hate me for it?”

A’Chou gasped, remained silent for a while, and whispered: “I thought you mother… died of a sudden illness.”

“That’s true.” said Zhong Mingwei faintly. “But precisely, it was postpartum collapse， and she didn’t make it when the doctor came to her delivery room.”