Huang Xi wiped the tears from his eyes using the back of his palm and picked up the porcelain cup which was filled with wine. He was seated in a private room of the famous wine shop of the capital.
It was the fourth jar that he had finished. Ai Fen's words kept ringing in his ears like the sound of a bell. He gulped the wine and plonked the cup on the table.
He heard the door slide and lifted his head. In front of him, Feng Lao and Lóng Wei were standing. They looked at the four wine jars on the table and then at Huang Xi.
Feng Lao closed the door behind him while Lóng Wei went toward Huang Xi. He got on his knees and checked the jars.
"You beca good at drinking," Lóng Wei remarked as he found the three of those big jars were empty. The fourth one was half empty, which Huang Xi could have finished soon if they hadn't co there.
"Huang Xi, are you alright?" Feng Lao asked.
Huang Xi gave no reply. He silently stared at the cup before him. Lóng Wei sat down and so did Feng Lao.
"Prince Lóng Wei should return to the palace. Feng Lao should go ho," Huang Xi asserted.
"I was in the palace and have to co especially for you. We had to search a lot of places to find you," Lóng Wei asserted.
Huang Xi glanced at Lóng Wei and apologized to him for creating inconvenience for him. He again lowered his head.
Feng Lao opened his mouth to speak when Lóng Wei gestured to him not to speak.
After ten minutes, Huang Xi finally spoke. "Why did Princess Ai Fen not see my good side? I said the truth only that ti. I told myself I did not like her. But today, when I saw them I felt jealous and hurt. I should not feel this way. Chang Shi is my friend, but I feel angry too."
Huang Xi delivered his feelings to them. He was hurt that Chang Shi was the man whom Ai Fen chose.
"Perhaps she was not the one for you, Huang Xi," Feng Lao said. "You need to understand that love should happen both ways. We all know how good you are at heart. Princess Ai Fen perceived you wrongly and it was never your fault," he tried to console Huang Xi.
"Chang Shi wasn't ready to express his feelings for Ai Fen because he thought you would be hurt and it might impact his friendship with you," Lóng Wei told Huang Xi another truth.
"Then, why he did do that?" Huang Xi questioned.
"He always lived an aloof life. You know this too. Chang Shi didn't know he would beco so comfortable around Ai Fen. He usually gets a bit uncomfortable around won. I told him he should admit his feelings for Ai Fen." Lóng Wei revealed to him.
"I wish I had never fallen in love," Huang Xi stated. "Chang Shi had led a tough life. I am happy for him, but these negative emotions in making feel–" he was unable to say them, so paused and pursed his lips together.
"I was also angry, jealous, and hurt when Li Hua married Prince Lóng Wei," Feng Lao said.
Lóng Wei gazed at him and chuckled while Huang Xi knitted his brows together.
"I can use our example, can I, Prince Lóng Wei?" Feng Lao inquired.
"Hmm."
"Li Hua was in love with and I was in love with her. However, it didn't go that way. I was envious to see Li Hua with Prince Lóng Wei. I had all sorts of negative thoughts too. But the woman I loved was no longer in love with . My love wasn't ant for her. With ti, I had this realization. You cannot hold the ti and the person. Princess Ai Fen was never yours. So, move on from her. That way you'll also be happy," Feng Lao explained to him.
"He is right. It is about the ti and the person. You cannot dwell on one-sided feelings. Look at yourself. You are not the Huang Xi whom I know," Lóng Wei asserted.
Huang Xi nodded at him. "I know," he murmured. "Chang Shi is a nice man. Princess Ai Fen and he were looking good together," he added and smiled at them.
"Do you want to talk to Chang Shi?" Lóng Wei asked him.
"Now?" Huang Xi wasn't ready. "I think I will talk to him tomorrow," he proclaid.
"Great! Then, should we leave?" Lóng Wei asked him.
"Yes," Huang Xi said and stood up. He faltered a little when Feng Lao held his arm.
"Be careful," Feng Lao said.
"We don't you to be a heavy drinker," Lóng Wei remarked and they went out of the room. Soon, they were out of the main gates of the shop.
They got into the carriage and dropped Huang Xi at his ho.
Feng Lao told Lóng Wei he would go to his ho, which was within a walking distance from there.
"Okay."
Feng Lao closed the door and the carriage went to the palace.
The streets were empty since the curfew hours were going to start soon. Feng Lao turned his right to follow the short passage to his house when he bumped into soone.
Feng Lao balanced himself from falling and looked at the woman who had fallen on the ground. Her bag full of clothes fell to the other side.
He rushed to her and apologized to her. The young woman rushed to the other side to pick up her bag and heard the voices coming from behind.
He noticed the bruises at the left temple of her forehead and also found she was bare feet. She looked behind in fear and thought to run away since Feng Lao didn't respond to her. Her eyes fell on the shadows and she ran to the front.
"Miss!" Feng Lao shouted and turned around, but she was already vanished from his sight.
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