‘That makes sense!’ The empress thought for a moment and nodded: ‘I never expected my imperial son to be someone who can’t handle comparison. He has truly disappointed his mother! Alas…’
…”
He would only cause trouble for his mother.
While we were singing in harmony, the guy didn’t even furrow his brow, directly speaking coldly: “This child has specially come to ask for leave from mother. Please trouble mother to tell father emperor. If there’s nothing else, this child will return to the mansion!”
Seeing him finish speaking and walk away without looking back, the empress hurriedly called after him: “Hey, explain things clearly to me before leaving! How am I supposed to tell your father emperor? Hey…”
But Qi Chenxuan seemed not to hear, quickly disappearing outside the long corridor of the Yian Palace, leaving the empress stomping her foot angrily: “This dead child, he will only cause trouble for his mother!”
I was stunned!
Seeing me standing there with wide eyes, the empress couldn’t help but come and hold my hand: “Never mind him! If he won’t go, we’ll go. We can’t let other countries laugh at us!”
Entering the imperial garden, we saw a group of people from afar.
The leader was the emperor of Cheng Yun Kingdom, with an imposing man standing beside him. This was clearly the king of Jing Yue Kingdom – Lan Qiye.
A palace servant at the garden entrance announced, “The empress has arrived!”
Everyone turned around. The empress quickly walked to the emperor, saying: “This concubine greets the emperor and the master of Jing Yue Kingdom. Sorry for being late after chatting with Mo’er. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
I also followed with a bow: “Daughter-in-law greets father emperor!”
The emperor glanced at me and then frowned, asking: “Where is the imperial son? Wasn’t he summoned to the palace?”
“The Crown Prince…”
I was struggling to answer when the empress interjected: “Hasn’t the imperial son already come to the palace?”
“Huh?” The emperor was stunned, unable to help but ask: “How come I didn’t see him?”
“That little brat actually dared to…” The empress immediately put her hands on her waist, looking furious. Just as she was about to say “mother,” she heard the emperor’s cough, quickly changing her words: “…make me angry, so I sent him back!”
More important is that I am quite certain I have never seen her before, yet I distinctly feel a sense of familiarity…
“Mo’er, Mo’er?”
Only when the queen’s voice came did I realize I had been staring in a daze, and I hurriedly turned around and asked, “Mother, did you call me?”
The queen looked at me with confusion, “What are you thinking about, girl? Can’t you see everyone has already walked far away?”
I awkwardly pulled at the corner of my mouth, “It’s nothing, Mother. Let’s go!”
The queen nodded lightly and smiled, pulling my hand…
And so, a group of people accompanied me on a walk through the imperial garden. Not until just before the banquet was about to begin did I finally catch my breath and found an excuse to leave for a moment, sitting down in a nearby pavilion.
In the distance, red lanterns gradually hung up, and palace maids shuttled back and forth, preparing for the banquet. I was about to bend down and massage my legs when a man’s teasing voice suddenly rang in my ear, “The banquet is about to start. Why is the crown princess sitting alone here?”
I looked up in surprise, unexpectedly seeing Lan Qiye standing before me. I was stunned for a moment but quickly regained my composure, saying, “I just came out to get some air. But why is the national lord here?”
He lightly raised the corner of his mouth, pulling out a playful smile that didn’t match his temperament, “Same as you!”
“Same as me?” I couldn’t help but pause, “Do you mean you’re not interested in this kind of social gathering?”
Lan Qiye’s smile carried a hint of wickedness as he shook his head, “No, I’m just more interested in you!”
“What did you say?” I blinked in disbelief, wondering if I had misheard. If true, this guy was far too bold. Moreover, we shouldn’t be familiar with each other, right?
He merely raised an eyebrow and said, “You heard me, didn’t you?”
I couldn’t help but curl my lips, “You’re quite arrogant! Too bad, I’m already married. If you had appeared earlier…”
Lan Qiye immediately interjected, “Then what? Are you saying you would have fallen for me?”
I shook my head very uncooperatively, “Wrong. Even if you had appeared earlier, I would not have fallen for you!”
“Why?” Lan Qiye’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, “Do you think I’m not as good as the crown prince of your country and don’t deserve you?”
“Of course not!” I honestly shook my head, “I just feel that no man in this world is worth trusting. I would never be naive enough to believe that the national lord of Jing Yue, having only met me once, would truly be interested in me!”
Updating one chapter per hour is the most normal speed for me.
He did not, wanting to seduce me.
Before I could speak, I heard someone behind me reject first: “No need! I believe if she wants to play, our Cheng Yun is not necessarily worse than Jing Yue Kingdom!”
I couldn’t help but turn around in surprise, looking joyfully at the newcomer: “Wei Chi, why are you here too?”
That guy had a sullen face, looking somewhat unpleasant: “If I weren’t here, I’m afraid some idiot would be sold without even knowing!”
I immediately retorted indignantly: “How could that be? I’m not that stupid!”
That guy rudely glared at me: “If you’re not stupid, then why do you look so eager after hearing his proposal?”
Especially thinking about his wording, I couldn’t help but quietly remind him: “What ‘that guy’, you’re being very impolite! He’s at least the ruler of Jing Yue Kingdom, and should be shown proper respect. Be careful the Emperor doesn’t find out, or he won’t let you off!”
“Hmph!” That guy disdainfully sneered, glancing sideways at Lan Qi Ye: “If the Emperor knew that this person intended to seduce his son’s wife, I believe he would be even more furious than me!”
I couldn’t help but explain anxiously: “He just invited me to visit Jing Yue Kingdom, he’s not trying to seduce me, don’t talk nonsense!”
That guy still had a stern face: “I clearly heard him say he’s interested in you and wants you to go to Jing Yue Kingdom with him. If this isn’t seduction, what is?”
I couldn’t help but furrow my brow, looking at him suspiciously: “Hey, you’re acting really strange! Why are you so nervous? Could it be you’re worried I won’t pay back those hundred taels of silver?”
“You?” That guy couldn’t help but glare at me fiercely, tightening his fists. After a while, he gritted his teeth: “I already said you don’t need to pay back those hundred taels of silver!”
“Then why do you care if I’m going to Jing Yue?” I looked skeptical, then leaned close to his ear and whispered: “To be honest, life in the Crown Prince’s residence is really boring. I actually want to go out…”
Wei Chi’s face was cold, and his expression was ugly: “Aren’t you afraid of people gossiping when you’re alone with Lan Qiye, a man and a woman?”
I didn’t understand what he was angry about and couldn’t help but frown: “Strange, who I’m with should be my own business. Why do you look so angry?”
“I…”
Wei Chi was momentarily speechless, and after a while, his face turned red: “In any case, I’m doing this for your own good! From now on, you’d better stay away from that guy. He’s not someone you can provoke!”
I dismissively curled my lips: “Please, what do you mean?
He was the one who provoked me first. I didn’t go looking for trouble with him!”
That guy’s face was cold: “That’s best! In any case, stay away from him!”
“Got it!” I impatiently glared at him, irritably saying: “Fortunately, you’re not my husband, otherwise I’d think you were jealous!”
