1464 Chu Qi Looked At Her With A Slight Air Of Unfamiliarity
Attempting to distract him, Lu Liangwei said to Chu Qi, who was sitting alone at the side, “Lil Qi, it has been many years since you’ve been home and His Majesty misses you quite a lot. He mentions you a few times to me every day. Come over here and sit at the front.”
Long Yang, “..”
He had mentioned Chu Qi before, but when did it become a few times a day?
Chu Qi glanced at Long Yang and shook his head. “Thank you for the kind gesture, Your Highness, but it is fine for me to sit here.”
Long Yang felt a little wistful at the sight of this young man and the memories that came with it. His expression softened and he said gently, “Why don’t you sit next to Yin’er? You haven’t seen each other for so many years. You must have a lot to say to each other.”
Chu Qi looked at the table where Long Yin and his two siblings were seated together. There was a slight hint of hesitation on his face, but it was difficult for him to continue rejecting the offer when His Majesty had already spoken up. He could only stand up and agree respectfully.
An idea popped into Yaoyao’s head when she saw this. She quickly stood up and snatched the seat next to Long Yin. After that, she said apologetically to Chu Qi, who was already walking toward them, “Big Bro Lil Qi, I have something important to discuss with my Crown Prince Royal Brother. Please use my seat for now.”
Chu Qi hesitated in his footsteps as he glanced at where she was pointing.
She and Ji’er had been sitting at the same table. If he were to take her original seat, he would need to sit with Ji’er.
Thinking of Ji’er’s unfriendly attitude toward him outside the hall, he faltered slightly. He clenched his fingers a little and released them, and in the end, walked toward where Ji’er was.
Ji’er’s body stiffened when she heard Yaoyao’s words. When she saw Chu Qi going over to her, the expression on her little face turned colder. However, her tightly-clenched fists below the table revealed how nervous she felt.
Her senses became heightened when she sensed the man sitting down next to her. His clean scent, reminiscent of the fragrance of a snow lotus, began to waft in the air. The smell filled her nostrils and a sudden dizziness overcame her.
She wondered if it was because of the warm weather or some other reason. Whatever the case, she could feel her face turning extremely hot. She knew her face must be very red without looking at it.
Ji’er lowered her head and did not dare to look anywhere.
The person she had missed tremendously for the past five years was finally back, yet she suddenly felt a little afraid when he was near.
She held back her desire to take a good look at him and sat upright.
The banquet began very soon and the servants served up many delicacies. Following that, music was played and the dancers began performing gracefully in the middle of the banquet, adding to the festivities of the Lunar New Year’s Eve.
“Tong’er, pour me some wine.” Ji’er suddenly instructed.
“Yes, Princess,” Tong’er, her personal maidservant, replied respectfully. She picked up the wine bottle and poured her a cup.
Ji’er was about to pick it up when a large masculine hand, took her cup away.
“Why are you drinking when you’re still a child?” Chu Qi frowned at the young girl next to him with disapproval.
He did not understand why was she drinking at such a young age.
Ji’er was taken aback, but she then glared at him with slight anger. “What has it got to do with you? Why do you think you can interfere with my choices?”
Chu Qi’s frown tightened. “The bottom line is that children shouldn’t be drinking.” With that, he took the bottle of wine, attempting to pour the cup of wine back into it.
At that moment, a fair, little hand quickly flew toward the bottle, covering the top. There was a coquettish stubbornness to her tone when she said, “I want to drink.”
Chu Qi’s handsome brow furrowed when he saw how adamant the young girl was. “Be good, Ji’er. It’s not good for girls to drink.” He lowered his voice to talk her out of it.
Ji’er pouted. She wanted to retort, but when she saw how serious and stern he looked, she had another idea. She suddenly changed her stance. “You should finish the wine if you don’t want me drinking it.”
Chu Qi frowned as he looked at her, clenching the cup in his hand.
Ji’er said with coy stubbornness, “What’s wrong? You don’t dare to drink it? Are you afraid that I’ve poisoned it?”
Her words were mocking.
Chu Qi looked at her with a slight air of unfamiliarity.
When did the obedient, docile little lady from all those years ago become so unreasonable?
He did not drink. The one time he drank, he got so drunk that he nearly fell off the roof.
From then onward, he had never touched a drop of wine no matter how lonely he felt.
He stared at the liquid in the cup with slight hesitation.