Chapter 364 – Light Rain

“Wei’er,” Luo Zhiqiu walked up to Luo Wei.

Luo Zhiqiu had aged. Luo Wei looked at the person who had raised him, avoiding his gaze in the end. There was too much pain in those eyes. “I’m leaving,” Luo Wei said to Luo Zhiqiu. “Father, take care of yourself, and take care of Lan more.”

“Where are you going?” Luo Zhiqiu asked. “Just stay in the mansion. You are a Prince. Before you build your own palace outside the palace, you can live here in the mansion. Can the Emperor still force you in such matters?”

“No need,” Luo Wei said. “This is between him and me. We’ll handle it ourselves. Father, don’t worry about me.”

“Wei’er, he is still the ruler of the country.”

“Yes, and I am still a Prince,” Luo Wei said. “It’s not wrong to go into the palace to see my brothers. Father, don’t bother about me anymore.”

“What are you going to do?” Xie Yu asked.

“I’ll take it step by step,” Luo Wei said. “Rest assured, I’m not crazy enough to commit regicide.”

“Wei’er!”

Luo Wei walked to the door, and outside, fine rain began to fall.

“It’s raining,” Xie Yu rushed to Luo Wei’s side. “Let’s wait until the rain stops before you leave.”

“This rain is so light, it won’t get me wet,” Luo Wei said, stepping into the rain.

“Take this umbrella,” Luo Zhiqiu opened a white paper umbrella and handed it to Luo Wei.

“Father is right, I can’t run away with Wei Lan anymore,” Luo Wei took the umbrella from Luo Zhiqiu’s hand and said to him, “We have nowhere to escape.”

“Wei’er, I’m sorry for you,” Luo Zhiqiu said.

“Father has done his best. It’s my fault for making you worry. It won’t happen again.”

Xie Yu held an umbrella behind Luo Zhiqiu. Luo Wei’s words frightened him. Luo Wei was not one to accept his fate. When he returned to the palace, how would he deal with Long Xuan?

“I’m leaving,” Luo Wei said. Holding the umbrella, he bowed to Luo Zhiqiu.

Luo Zhiqiu and Xie Yu looked back at Luo Wei, wanting to say something.

Luo Wei turned around and saw Wei Lan standing at the courtyard gate, and he was stunned in place.

Wei Lan walked over and stood a short distance away from the three of them, addressing Luo Zhiqiu, “Adoptive father.”

Luo Zhiqiu hurried to Luo Wei’s side and asked Wei Lan, “Why did you come here?”

Wei Lan smiled, “I heard that Prince Jin had come, so I came to see him.”

“Wei Lan,” Luo Wei also smiled now, “It seems you really don’t remember me. I’m standing right in front of you, and you’re asking the Senior Chancellor about Prince Jin?”

Only then did Wei Lan look at Luo Wei and size him up.

“He is Xiao Wei,” Luo Zhiqiu said. “You should greet each other properly.”

“Your Highness,” Wei Lan hurriedly bowed to Luo Wei.

Luo Wei took a few steps towards Wei Lan. The festive attire on him appeared even more vibrant due to the rain, looking like blood in Luo Wei’s eyes. “No need for formalities,” Luo Wei said to Wei Lan, reaching out his hand but eventually retracting it.

The smile on Wei Lan’s face faded as he saw Luo Wei’s expression. This Prince Jin was just as beautiful and exquisite as the rumors say. But why did this prince’s gaze at him carry such sadness?

“Congratulations,” Luo Wei managed to say, “It’s a joyous occasion for Lan today. I must congratulate you.”

“Thank you very much, Your Highness,” Wei Lan hurriedly responded.

“Good.” When the sorrow in his heart and the sadness in his eyes became unbearable, about to burst forth, Luo Wei walked past Wei Lan.

Wei Lan caught a whiff of the medicinal scent from Luo Wei’s body, a strange fragrance that felt familiar to him. “Your Highness,” he felt grateful in his heart, so he called out to Luo Wei.

“What is it?” Luo Wei turned back with some expectation.

“You…” Wei Lan looked at Luo Wei, halted his steps, but then didn’t know what to say. “Won’t you stay and have a glass of wedding wine?”

Luo Wei smiled disappointedly. “Seeing you marry makes me very… happy.”

“He is not well,” Luo Zhiqiu interjected. “He can’t drink.”

Wei Lan smiled apologetically at Luo Wei. “I didn’t know, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Luo Wei could only turn away again.

Wei Lan stood staring as Luo Wei walked into the light rain under the umbrella. A breeze passed by, his clothes fluttering. His slender figure seemed lonely, and his eyes were slightly moist. Wei Lan furrowed his brows, looking up at the sky. Was it raindrops falling into his eyes?

Just forget it, Luo Wei said in his heart as he continued walking forward step by step, wanting to look back but not daring. You can’t turn back anymore, Luo Wei told himself. Lan has already suffered too much. Since he’s with you now, he can only flee to the end of the world. Who knows when his life might end? It’s better to let him start afresh like this. It is enough for him to remember some things alone. Alright, let him bear the bad memories alone. Let Wei Lan cherish both his children. Isn’t that good?

The steward hurried over and, upon seeing Luo Wei, was first startled, then shouted, “Third Young Master?”

“What’s the matter?” Luo Wei stopped and forced a smile. “Are you so surprised at seeing me? Don’t recognize me anymore?”

The steward shook his head in a panic, and upon seeing Wei Lan standing not far away, shook it even more vigorously.

“What’s going on?” Luo Zhiqiu asked from behind.

“Master, His Majesty is here, right at the gate,” the steward remembered the matter only upon hearing Luo Zhiqiu’s question and reported.

Luo Zhiqiu held his breath and said, “Let’s go greet His Majesty.”

Long Xuan had come to attend wedding as a show of favor towards Wei Lan.

Luo Wei had intended to leave, but now he couldn’t. He sat down in the main hall of the wedding, just below Long Xuan.

Long Xuan congratulated Wei Lan, but because Luo Wei was sitting below him, Long Xuan was somewhat distracted and kept looking at Luo Wei.

Luo Wei just gazed at the wedding hall. Because Wei Lan was marrying a Princess, the decorations in the hall were more grand and magnificent than those at the weddings of his elder and second brothers. Unknowingly, Luo Wei became fascinated by it.

The guests who came to the wedding were quite surprised to see Luo Wei. They all knew that Prince Jin was about to return to the capital, but they hadn’t expected him to appear at Wei Lan’s wedding banquet.

A glass of wine appeared in front of Luo Wei. Following the hand holding the wine glass, he saw that Wei Lan was offering it to him.

Wei Lan suddenly felt remorseful. “I have been rude. I actually forgot that Your Highness cannot drink.”

Luo Wei took the cyan wine glass from Wei Lan’s hand. “How can I refuse your wedding wine?”

“Your Highness’s health is not good. Let me get a cup of tea for you instead,” Wei Lan quickly stopped Luo Wei. “Please wait a moment.”