In the palace, Dongfang Li looked listless. As the Commander of the Imperial Army, he was responsible for patrolling at night.
Just a few steps into his walk, he encountered Dongfang Mosheng, who had just returned from the Empress Dowager.
Dongfang Mosheng, recognizing the sound of Dongfang Li’s footsteps, greeted him with a smile.
"Brother, I heard that the Queen Mother is looking for a First Princess Consort for you. Do you fancy any particular lady?"
"Old Ninth, stop teasing me. I don’t like any of the women the Queen Mother mentioned."
Dongfang Li was visibly displeased.
He thought that by taking a concubine, the Queen Mother would settle down for a while, but unexpectedly, she disapproved of Feng Ruoyan’s humble background and wanted to choose a First Princess Consort for him.
Besides Feng Bailing, he wanted to marry no one else.
"Brother, is there someone in your heart?"
Dongfang Mosheng teased.
"Forget it. You’re only a year younger than me. Initially, I delayed marrying to focus on gathering the Wuji Seal. Surely, you’re not after the Gathering Seal too?"
Dongfang Li glanced at Dongfang Mosheng.
Under the palace lamps, even a man like Dongfang Li could not help but feel his heart stir at the sight of Dongfang Mosheng’s face.
Such a troublemaker of a son, how stunning must Dongfang Mosheng’s mother have been?
Dongfang Li admitted that he was absolutely a face-hound; otherwise, he wouldn’t have fancied Feng Xiangxue and disregarded the ugly Feng Bailing.
He is truly blinder than Old Ninth.
Dongfang Mosheng merely smiled and did not speak.
"You are picky too. I start to suspect that no woman in the world could make your heart flutter. After all, you are not impressed by someone like Nalan Yan’er."
Dongfang Li shook his head, thinking about having another woman to bother him made him even more depressed, so he went on to patrol.
After Dongfang Li had left.
"I have already encountered her."
Dongfang Mosheng stood in the night and let out a sentence.
The evening breeze was refreshing, and the scent of flowers was overwhelming.
Feng Bailing, along with the Empress Dowager and Dugu Wu, walked through the flower clusters. After half an hour, the Empress Dowager stopped.
"I’ve had some wine and am a bit tired; I’ll head back first. The moonlight is lovely tonight; you two would enjoy a walk around the palace."
After instructing them, the Empress Dowager left with a cheerful smile.
Seeing the Empress Dowager walking briskly, where did she seem tired at all?
Feng Bailing wondered.
The Empress Dowager strode quickly for a few steps before turning back for a glance.
Under the shadows of the moon and clusters of flowers, Feng Bailing and Dugu Wu, one in front and one behind, seemed very matched; Dugu Wu with a stern face by Feng Bailing’s side.
The Empress Dowager smiled, squinting her eyes.
"Empress Dowager, was this intentional?"
The nanny beside her asked curiously.
"Ah Wu does care a lot for Ah Ling; just he’s like a closed bottle. If I do not help him, he might never figure it out by himself."
The Empress Dowager had long noticed that Dugu Wu’s attitude towards Feng Bailing was quite different.
Ah Wu is not good at expressing himself, but he talks more when facing Feng Bailing, albeit mostly unpleasant words, yet that also shows that Feng Bailing is special to him.
The Empress Dowager has put a lot of effort into creating opportunities for these two children to be together.
Feng Bailing and Dugu Wu being alone together felt a little uncertain on how to act.
Tonight’s moonlight was beautiful, and she could clearly see the surroundings.
Today, Feng Bailing entered the palace, one purpose was to visit the Empress Dowager, and another was to look for the Dual-Colored Orchid that Mr. Zhao had bought.
During the day, she had looked around the Lotus Pond but did not see the Dual-Colored Orchid.
But the Imperial Palace was vast, who knows where Mr. Zhao might have planted those flowers; Feng Bailing could only try her luck.
"From now on, stay away from Dongfang Mosheng."
Feng Bailing, while glancing around, stumbled forward unexpectedly.
Just as Dugu Wu turned around, Feng Bailing fell right into his embrace.
Due to having drunk some beer, there was a faint scent of alcohol on Dugu Wu.
They were very close, and Feng Bailing could even feel the temperature of his skin through his thin clothing.
A rush of the Emperor’s aura came over her, and Feng Bailing, unmoving, snuggled in Dugu Wu’s embrace, enjoying the rare nourishment of the Emperor’s aura.
Dugu Wu’s Adam’s apple moved, and the woman in his arms gazed up with wide eyes, with the moonlight casting on her face, the veil-hidden face hinted at a silhouette of delicate beauty.
"Why? The Ninth Prince is quite nice."
Feng Bailing lifted her head.
Dugu Wu’s throat tightened.
The woman in his arms, with her bright and enticing eyes, was especially alluring.
Her lips, rosy as ripe cherries.
Dugu Wu couldn’t help himself and wanted to take them in his mouth, and just as he thought it, he did it.
He lowered his head and lifted Feng Bailing’s chin.
"In the Royal Family, there are no good people."