usatvline Chapter 430 I Don’t Blame You
Chapter 430 I Don’t Blame You
A cry of surprise attracted the ministers who were nearby to look in the direction of the sound. Even Gu Jianchu, Xie Ci'an, Xie Qingzhi and others looked in the direction of King Dongli.
The maidservant following King Dongli accidentally spilled the wine in the cup onto King Dongli's clothes when serving him wine.
The maid quickly put down the wine glass in her hand and knelt down to apologize, "Your Majesty, this servant did not mean to do this. Please be magnanimous and spare my life."
King Dongli frowned when he saw the wet clothes, but he did not blame the maid for her mistake. He just said with a hint of coldness in his voice, "Get up. I am not blaming you."
Xie Qingrou was sitting opposite King Dongli. King Dongli and the little maid made such a big noise that Xie Qingrou couldn't pretend not to see it. She slowly raised her eyes, and her eyes met King Dongli's. It was just a brief moment, and Xie Qingrou immediately withdrew her gaze, picked up the wine glass in front of her and drank again.
She never looked at King Dongli again and deliberately avoided his sight.
Seeing the Jin family always reminded her of her poor child.
Moreover, Prince Dongli is now her brother-in-law, so as a widow, she should avoid suspicion.
After drinking a few glasses of wine in a row, Xie Qingrou felt depressed and dizzy. She put down the wine glass in her hand and looked at Gu Jianchu with cloudy eyes, "Sister-in-law, I am a little tired after drinking too much. Please help me find a place to rest."
"I have prepared several guest rooms for rest in the side hall of Qingliang Palace. Qiutou, take Princess Rou there. I will also arrange for a few palace maids to serve Princess Rou closely." Gu Jianchu instructed Qiutou who was serving beside him.
Although the ministers would not allow themselves to get drunk at the palace banquet, Gu Jianchu still had someone prepare a lounge in the side hall. This was not so that everyone could rest, but mainly so that everyone could change clothes in case of any accidents.
Qiutou personally took Xie Qingrou to the side hall to rest.
On the other side, King Dongli watched Xie Qingrou leave the hall with a burning gaze before he looked away disappointedly.
The little maidservant kneeling before King Dongli, seeing that he hadn't lost his temper, cautiously raised her head, her eyes filled with grievance and apology as she looked at the man before her. She then drew her handkerchief from her waist and tentatively stepped forward, saying in a low voice, "Your Highness's clothes are wet. Let me help you wipe them."
The little maid lowered her eyes to watch King Dongli's reaction. Seeing that King Dongli's eyes were looking straight at a certain place and he did not show any rejection reaction, she cautiously moved forward and wiped King Dongli's chest where the wine was spilled. Her movements were light, more like stroking than wiping the wine. Especially when King Dongli looked over, the little maid's eyes were filled with affection.
Prince Dongli was not a dull person, but his mind was completely focused on Xie Qingrou. When he looked away, he accidentally noticed the look in the maid's eyes. Prince Dongli instinctively backed away, and his calloused fingers pinched the maid's wrist as she continued to wipe his clothes. His whole body was filled with resistance, "No need."
The little maid's eyes fell unnaturally on the wrist held by Prince Dongli. Prince Dongli noticed this and immediately withdrew his fingers, his face flushed unnaturally. Fortunately, Xie Qingrou was not in the hall, otherwise it would be embarrassing.
Prince Dongli cleared his throat and emphasized, "It's just a little wine. It's nothing serious. I don't blame you, and you don't have to help me wipe it."
King Dongli glanced down at the place where the wine was spilled and felt a little annoyed. He was afraid of coming into contact with the little maid, so he forced himself to endure it.
Upon hearing this, the maidservant did not retreat. She simply took a step back, increasing the distance between them, and whispered, "This servant deserves to die. These wet clothes are uncomfortable to wear, and I might even catch a cold from the wind. I wonder if the prince has brought any spare clothes. You can come with me to the side hall to change."
Prince Dongli originally wanted to refuse, but when he thought about Xie Qingrou being taken to the side hall by the Queen's maid to rest, he could take this opportunity to go to the side hall to see Xie Qingrou, just in case there was a chance to talk to her.
At this banquet, he only dared to look at Xie Qingrou from a distance and had no chance to talk to her at all.
He had been in the capital for a few days, but they had never met in private. When he finally saw her, he couldn't even say a word.
He didn't dare to express Prince Dongli's little thoughts directly. He was afraid that Xie Qingrou would look at him strangely, afraid that Xie Qingrou would find him disgusting. He was even more afraid that Xie Qingrou would stay away from him and never contact him again because she found his little thoughts disgusting. Then he would have no chance to be with her.
Now he just wanted to ask if she was doing well.
If she wanted to comfort him, she didn't know where to start. Even if she wanted to shirk responsibility, it was his wife who killed Xie Qingrou's child. At that time, he was constantly being dispatched by his brother to investigate outside, and he had no idea that they had such thoughts. If he had known, he would definitely have stopped them.
After realizing that he had been thinking too far ahead, he immediately pulled his thoughts back.
The piano music was soft, the cups were clinking, and the wine was fragrant, but he felt a little lonely.
Prince Dongli lowered his eyes, gathered his frustration, and looked at the maidservant standing before him. "Thank you for your help."
He then arranged for the guards to go to the carriage and fetch another set of clothes he had prepared.
Most of those who entered the palace to attend the banquet would prepare one or two extra sets of clothes to avoid any accidents in the palace and not being able to change them in time, which would be disrespectful in front of the emperor.
After hearing what King Dongli said, the little maid smiled, but it soon disappeared. According to the rules, she had to lead the way in front. "This way, Your Highness, please be careful of the steps."
After seeing King Dongli leave with the little maid, Gu Jianchu couldn't help but frown. She loved to watch the fun and eat melons, and she didn't miss the contact between the little maid and King Dongli. She could see clearly the little maid's reluctant gesture.
Although Xie Ci'an had no experience of interacting with other women, she was very clear about the little maid's actions and her little thoughts.
I'm afraid he knows that Xie Ci'an can't accomplish anything, so he wants to rely on King Dongli to accomplish things. Although it is a small country, he is the ruler of a country after all.
If Xie Qingrou wasn't in the middle, she wouldn't want to get involved in such trivial matters.
But this time Xie Qingrou was caught in the middle.
If this little maid got there first, Xie Qingrou and King Dongli would probably have no other chance.
However, this is also a test for King Dongli. If King Dongli is easily seduced by someone, it means that King Dongli is an unreliable person. Even if there is no little maid today, there will be others in the future. After all, he is King Dongli, and there are countless women in Dongli Kingdom who want to rely on him to get to the top.