AMLFS Chapter 21

Chapter 21: New Year’s Gifts

Song Huaixi shuddered in fright and hurriedly hid behind Zhao Fangye.

Before he could even move, Zhao Jingshuo went flying past him.

Instantly, Song Huaixi’s eyes widened as he looked at Zhao Fangye, who had stood up and calmly smoothed out the creases in his clothes.

“Wow, you’re amazing! Zhao Fangye! Like a hero!”

Running to his side, the sticky, covetous feeling from just now had been kicked away by Zhao Fangye in one swift motion. His dark eyes were filled with Zhao Fangye’s tall figure.

Song Huaixi’s eyes shone with adoration and trust.

Zhao Fangye stepped forward and pulled him behind himself, his voice gentle: “Close your eyes.”

Although he didn’t understand, Song Huaixi obediently closed his eyes.

The person on the ground clutched their stomach, curled up like a frightened centipede. Zhao Jingshuo’s body had long been hollowed out by indulging in pleasure.

Zhao Fangye’s kick had been delivered with full force, and he wouldn’t be getting out of bed for at least half a month.

He walked forward, looking down at the mud-like figure on the ground. Scenes of past humiliation resurfaced in his mind.

However, his anger wasn’t for the past humiliation.

His boot landed on the hand that had just tried to reach for Song Huaixi.

“What are you doing? This Prince is the Crown Prince! You bastard! How dare you treat this Prince like this?”

Zhao Jingshuo, sensing his intent, became furious.

Unfortunately, he had just been kicked, and he had no strength left from drinking.

He could only let Zhao Fangye do as he pleased.

Despite this, his face was still vicious, and his mouth spewed a constant stream of foul language.

Zhao Fangye was unmoved by his insults. He applied force to his foot, ruthlessly grinding down on his finger bones and wrist.

Dark ink gathered in his pale eyes, determined to cripple his hand.

“Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Zhao Jingshuo’s screams attracted the attention of the Qi Meng Lou girls, but the night was dark, and they didn’t realize that the person on the ground was the current Crown Prince.

They all leaned over the railings, just watching the show.

“You bastard! How dare you! … Ah!!!!!”

Zhao Jingshuo groveled on the ground, one hand tightly gripping Zhao Fangye’s shoe, trying to free his hand. No matter how he struggled, Zhao Fangye didn’t budge.

His already weak face was as pale as death, and he was covered in sweat from the pain.

Listening to the screams, Zhao Fangye’s face didn’t show any emotion. His thin lips were tightly pressed together, and he was surrounded by coldness.

Deputy General Sun, who had driven over in the carriage, saw this scene. When he saw that the person under his feet was actually the Crown Prince,

he was shocked and hurriedly ran over to advise, “Your Highness, Your Highness, please be careful! Think of the bigger picture!”

They had just returned to the capital, and their forces hadn’t yet gained a firm foothold. Now they were on the street, with many people watching, and it was during his confinement period. If this blew up, it would definitely be detrimental to Zhao Fangye’s situation.

He retracted his foot from the Crown Prince’s hand and kicked the unconscious Zhao Jingshuo away.

Zhao Fangye’s tense face relaxed slightly. He looked at Deputy General Sun and instructed, “Take care of it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Song Huaixi covered his eyes, only hearing the piercing screams. He felt a little scared, but he still didn’t remove his hands from his eyes.

Seeing that he was being so obedient, Zhao Fangye stepped forward and scooped him up into his arms, carrying him towards the carriage. On the way, Song Huaixi wanted to let go of his hands.

He was stopped by Zhao Fangye: “Don’t look, it’s dirty.”

Back at the Ning Wang Mansion, Song Huaixi, tired from wandering around, quickly forgot about the farce that had just happened. He had one very good quality.

That was that he never held onto unhappy things in his heart for long.

Curled up in bed, Song Huaixi waited for Zhao Fangye to get into bed and lie down, then skillfully pulled his hand away and tucked himself into his arms.

He contentedly hugged Zhao Fangye and fell asleep.

By the light of the bedside candle, Zhao Fangye carefully examined Song Huaixi’s sleeping face. He reached out and pinched his still slightly chubby cheeks.

The way Song Huaixi had protected him today appeared in his mind. Zhao Fangye’s heart, dormant for many years, had come alive again today.

The little boy in despair had finally waited for his salvation after many years.

Carefully tracing Song Huaixi’s eyebrows and eyes, a hint of panic welled up in Zhao Fangye’s heart. Would the little fool really be able to see his heart clearly?

He didn’t think the little fool understood what kind of relationship they had now.

In Song Huaixi’s heart, maybe he just saw him as his family.

Nothing more.

But Zhao Fangye was no longer satisfied with this kind of relationship. He wanted to demand more from him.

His fingertips lingered on his red lips, his pale eyes dark and unclear.

He had promised him, so he couldn’t go back on his word.

Early the next morning, Song Huaixi took out the things he had bought yesterday.

They were piled high on the table.

Rummaging through the table, he took out a package and handed it to Zhang Wenwen: “Zhang Wenwen, this is the New Year’s gift I bought for you. It’s a thick cloak, you’re getting older, so pay attention to keeping warm.”

Zhang Wenwen felt a warmth in her heart and took it with both hands, saying, “You are too kind, Wangfei.”

Then he found two more brocade boxes and handed them to Chun Hua and Zhao Lu respectively: “Chun Hua, Zhao Lu, this is for you.”

Chun Hua was lively, so Song Huaixi had chosen a flower hairpin made of jade and gold thread, with an inlaid butterfly fluttering its wings.

Zhao Lu was quiet and didn’t like to dress up, so Song Huaixi chose a gold-backed comb for her.

Both of them were a little flattered, never expecting that Wangfei would prepare a gift for them as well.

Their hearts were filled with gratitude, and they immediately knelt down to thank him: “Thank you for the reward, Wangfei!”

“Don’t kneel! Don’t kneel!” Song Huaixi anxiously stepped forward to help them up.

Song Huaixi couldn’t bear to see people kneeling to him, he felt very uncomfortable.

Then he picked out a jeweled dagger for both Qing Shan and Qing Yang.

Qing Shan and Qing Yang usually didn’t serve indoors.

They were both responsible for matters in the outer courtyard, and they didn’t expect that Wangfei would still think of them. Both of them were very touched, it was the first time they had received a New Year’s gift.

Not only the servants in the main courtyard’s bedroom, but also Butler Wang, Deputy General Sun, and the cook all had gifts.

Butler Wang smiled so wide he couldn’t close his mouth while holding the purple clay teapot that Song Huaixi had given him. Wangfei was truly the lucky star of the Ning Wang Mansion.

In the study, Deputy General Sun came to report: “Your Highness, the matter has been taken care of, but we still couldn’t hide it from the Chancellor’s side.”

Noble Consort Xiao would definitely not let the matter go last night. At that time, Your Highness would have a lot of trouble again. Deputy General Sun’s heart was really worried.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Zhao Fangye didn’t care when he heard it. Relying only on Noble Consort Xiao and the others, what they did to him was just some harmless little tricks.

He raised his eyes and glanced at him, Zhao Fangye’s face didn’t show much expression.

His gaze swept over his waist, the same familiar object was hanging on his waist.

That was the sword scabbard that Song Huaixi had bought with him yesterday.

“Where did you get that?” Zhao Fangye’s tone turned cold.

“Ah?”

Deputy General Sun was blank for a moment, then realized that his gaze was on his waist. Only then did he react and hold the scabbard, saying.

“This is a New Year’s gift from Wangfei, Butler Wang and the others have one too.”

When he received the sword scabbard, Deputy General Sun felt that the tiredness of last night wasn’t so tiring anymore.

Learning that it was a gift from Song Huaixi, the look in Zhao Fangye’s eyes softened. He lowered his eyelashes, a little curious about what gift the little fool would give him.

A hint of anticipation arose in his heart, and he put down the documents in his hand. He said to Deputy General Sun, “You may leave.”

Afterwards, he got up and went to Song Huaixi’s courtyard.