The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

94. I Won’t Tell You

Translator: Iris Guo

“Can you rest for a while and stop turning around?” Zhong Mingwei got rid of A’Chou’s hands impatiently. Then, he took a handkerchief out of his pocket, wiped the sticky sweat off her hand carefully, and whispered: “I’m neither dizzy nor have a fever.”

“Okay.” A’Chou felt completely relieved, but she suddenly blushed looking at her hands in Zhong Mingwei’s. She pulled them out awkwardly, clasped them behind her back, and whispered: “Zhong Mingwei, are you happy that you finally get to enjoy the sunshine?”

“Yes.” Zhong Mingwei nodded genuinely and squinted at the sun that was all hidden in the cloud. After a while, he sighed with a thousand regrets: “For eight months, I haven’t seen the sun.”

“Eight months?” A’Chou was stunned. Then, she leaned over and whispered: “How did they treat you at the Court of the Imperial Clan? They just kept you locked up and never…let you out?”

Zhong Mingwei looked at A’Chou’s nervous face and suddenly chuckled. He rubbed her messy bangs and answered with a smile: “I won’t tell you.”

A’Chou looked at the wrinkles around Zhong Mingwei’s eyes, which suddenly reminded her of the previous sparkles in his charming eyes. A lump came into her throat and she hastened to lower her head: “Don’t tell me then. Ever.”

Yes. She didn’t want to know how much he had suffered at all.

Because she would feel as painful.

…

When Zhong Mingwei was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine, A’Chou took the sewing kit out and planned to work. Then, she took a small low table, a small round stool, as well as a large bowl of jasmine tea and water out of the kitchen. The table was too small, and there was no room for the sewing kit, but she didn’t want to put it on the ground. When she was wondering whether she should take another stool out, he took it and put it on his legs.

“Thank you!” chuckled A’Chou. Then, she sat on the stool and began to embroider.

She had finished three pieces of patterns for the bride, and now she was working on the pattern of two Mandarin ducks playing in the water. It was the most difficult, so she decided to work on it last.

Zhong Mingwei’s eyes were following A’Chou’s hands. Although she didn’t look up, she could feel his gaze. Therefore, she felt ill at ease, and there was sweat all over her hands. She was so afraid of dirtying the silk thread that she wiped her hands with a handkerchief. Then, she pouted and murmured: “Why you keep staring at me?”

“You’re good at it.” said Zhong Mingwei with a smile.

Zhong Mingwei was telling the truth. A’Chou was expert at embroidering. It was totally unexpected that a careless and rash person could be able to embroider patiently.

“Haha, I told you that I’ve got the skills and could get into the Imperial Textile Mill. I’m just a clever person.” A’Chou was proud of herself. She instantly picked up the needle, continued to embroider deftly, and continued: “After I finish this, I’ll buy some fabric and make clothes for you.”

“For me?” Zhong Mingwei frowned, “I have enough to wear. Haven’t you washed all my clothes? Just find them.”

“But some of them were moldy, and I couldn’t wash them clean.” whispered A’Chou while glancing at Zhong Mingwei’s pale blue cloth. The fabric was nice, but the mildew near the neckband really annoyed her. “I’ll make new clothes for you. It’s getting cold, and you should keep warm.”

“I don’t need that. Make some clothes for yourself.” Zhong Mingwei looked at A’Chou’s faded cloth and felt gloomy. As soon as he looked way, he saw holes in her shoes and became angrier: “And buy some shoes.”