Chapter 37: The madman liked the bead, so she gave it to him.

The front hall of the princess's mansion.

Eunuch Xu, sent from the palace, had been waiting here for a long time. Seeing Yun Xi approach, he smiled and bowed, "Your Highness, may you be well."

Yun Xi: "Eunuch, what's going on with the Emperor?"

"It's like this. When His Majesty was discussing the wedding date with the Xie family a few days ago, General Xie mentioned postponing the wedding. The general said that the second son of the Xie family and Your Highness are not a good match, and the choice of the son-in-law needs to be reconsidered." Eunuch Xu said.

"Your Highness, don't worry. The Xie family promised to consider a suitable consort as soon as possible and will not let the princess suffer any grievances."

This news was a pleasant surprise to Yun Xi. She had been worried about getting married and was in a dilemma, so now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"As for the Crown Prince, His Majesty said he would reconsider it."

Yun Xi suppressed the corners of her lips that were unconsciously rising: "No problem. Go back and tell father that I will obey him in everything."

"There's one more thing." Eunuch Xu's smile faded, his expression becoming serious. "The King of Nanzhao returned to Chang'an today and is currently in the palace. I'd like to invite Your Highness into the palace for a chat."

Yun Xi's heart sank, but she couldn't refuse: "Okay, I understand."

After explaining a few things, Eunuch Xu flicked his whisk and left.

Yun Xi was going to the palace to meet Yun Li, so she asked someone to prepare water for her bath. She looked visibly happy.

Seeing the joy on her face, Ji Xun's eyes flickered with a fleeting smile. He followed her and asked casually, "Is your highness feeling better?"

Yun Xi smiled and said, "Thanks to Xie Zhao and his sweetheart eloping, otherwise this marriage would have been inevitable."

Ji Xun pursed his lips and remained silent: "..."

What does it have to do with Xie Zhao?

"If he marries that girl in the future, we will go together to thank him," said Yun Xi.

Ji Xun suppressed his frown, his eyes relaxed: "...Yeah."

They are together.

…

In the palace, Yun Xi arrived at the palace and saw many palace servants passing by carrying large and small boxes to the Qiankun Hall.

"Your son pays homage to Father, Mother, and Uncle..."

In the Qiankun Hall, the Emperor of Wei sat on the dragon throne, with the current queen beside him. Lower down on the high throne was a middle-aged man in a luxurious dragon robe. He had a mature and dignified face, with a cynical smile between his eyebrows, but he still looked handsome and unrestrained.

He had almost no manners at all. He did not sit properly in front of the Emperor of Wei, with his legs crossed. He was holding a pretty maid and touching her, while playing with a wine glass, behaving like a country scoundrel.

However, the Emperor of Wei was very satisfied with the habits he had developed from living in a remote area, as if he felt that this was worthy of the years when he was seemingly a king but was actually exiled.

When Yun Xi looked at Nanzhao King Yun Li, he also looked back with a pair of playful eyes, stopped at Yun Xi, and pondered for a moment.

"Is this... the daughter of the late Empress Yixi and my brother? I haven't seen her for so many years. She has become more and more beautiful. She has some of the late Empress's appearance." Yun Li stared at her intently, even stopping the wine glass in his hand.

Yun Xi noticed this gaze and felt a chill on her back. She pretended nothing had happened and sat down.

The Emperor of Wei glanced at her and said nothing more. Yun Xi, however, saw that he told her not to say anything this time.

Yun Xi sat down in her seat, lowered her head and started drinking tea. After a while, people from Prince Yan's Mansion also arrived.

The person who came was Duan Song again. The King of Yan was unable to move around easily, so he would appear on his behalf at every banquet.

Yun Xi: “…”

Why is it him again?

Because of Ji Xun, every time Duan Song and she met, she would always be wary of him talking to Ji Xun. She always felt that Duan Song was still thinking about this matter. After all, he was the real original owner in the original novel, and he did not follow the plot development. He was a little obsessed.

Duan Song smiled and bowed, then sat down beside her. The distance, which was so close that it was a little scary, reminded Yun Xi of some bad memories.

Could it be that the limited plot that was previously cut off will be repeated in this way?

Duan Song naturally saw her as well, and he smiled and extended his hand towards her. Yun Xi was startled, and before she could react, a black boot had stepped on his hand.

Ji Xun, who was standing in the middle, raised his foot, crushed Duan Song's hand under his foot, and glanced down at him condescendingly.

Yun Xi and Duan Song's eyelids twitched at the same time.

Yun Xi: “…”

So direct? What if I offend the prince...

Duan Song: "..."

He just wanted to pick something up.

Ji Xun slowly retracted his foot, Duan Song withdrew his hand with a stiff smile, not daring to move forward, and Yun Xi also moved to the side.

The three of them made very little noise and did not attract the attention of others.

"Ji Xun, I want to eat the pastries over there." Yun Xi tugged at the corner of his clothes and asked him to do something to ease the embarrassment.

Ji Xun responded lightly and bent down to get the dishes in the distance.

At an angle that neither of them could see, Duan Song couldn't help but roll his eyes: "..."

Normally, he is disciplined like an emperor, but now he is just like a dog.

At the banquet, several princes and the emperor talked about the issue of fiefdoms. Yun Li took the lead and waved his hand, asking people to bring in many sandalwood boxes.

"I have found many treasures in Nanzhao over the years. Now that I have finally returned to Chang'an, I naturally want to share some with you, my royal brother."

The sandalwood box was opened, revealing many rare treasures and expensive medicinal herbs, which were comparable to the collections in the imperial palace treasury.

"My royal brother used to like hunting, so I specially found a piece of dragon blood wood and made a superb archery bow to present to my royal brother." Yun Li said with a smile.

When the Emperor of Wei saw the bow, his face lit up with smiles: "I am old now, and not as I used to be. But I am very happy that my fourth brother has such a heart."

"I heard that the Empress has been fond of using pearls to enhance her beauty in recent years. I have also received a bucket of the finest jade snow pearls from a South China Sea merchant. Each pearl is worth a thousand gold coins. I present them to the Empress."

The Empress also smiled when she received this generous gift. Both the Emperor and Empress were delighted and praised Yun Li repeatedly.

Of course, Yun Xi’s share is also indispensable.

Yun Li turned his gaze away and waved his hand to have a treasure box presented to him. When he opened it, he saw a red gem that was so bright and colorful that it was juicy.

Yun Xi paused for a moment. Even though she had seen countless treasures since she was a child, she couldn't help but take a few more glances.

What a beautiful gem.

"This item is called the Phoenix Blood Pearl. The moment I saw Your Highness, I knew you were its owner. The red pearl complements the beauty, and this is a birthday gift from the king to Your Highness."

"Thank you, uncle."

However, the moment the treasure box was opened, no one noticed that the expressions of the two people beside Yun Xi changed slightly.

Duan Song tightened his grip on his folding fan and turned his head away, trying to conceal his emotions. Ji Xun, on the other hand, stared at the Phoenix Blood Pearl, pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes.

Yun Xi took the Phoenix Blood Pearl, placed it in front of her and looked at it. She really liked it: "..."

I have to say that her imperial uncle knows how to please her very well. She likes red the most.

Yun Li continued to sit back and drink with the Emperor of Wei. Yun Xi looked at the Phoenix Blood Pearl and turned to let Ji Xun come over: "Ji Xun, do you think this looks good?"

She turned around and saw Ji Xun's face was cold, his eyes staring at the treasure box in her hand, as if hiding thousands of emotions, deep and gloomy.

Yun Xi had never seen such a look before, as if what she held in her hand was a piece of fat meat being stared at by a sinister and vicious wolf.

Her hand trembled and she almost knocked the box to the ground. Fortunately, Ji Xun stepped in and steady it in time: "Since Your Highness likes it, you must keep it carefully."

When she looked up again, his expression had returned to normal, as if it was just her illusion.

Yun Xi blinked and pinched her sleeves involuntarily: "...Do you like this?"

Ji Xun stood up straight, unmoved: "I am not worthy of such a good thing now."

Yun Xi asked persistently: "Do you like it? If you want, I can give it to you."

The second half of her sentence was so soft that only the two of them could hear it.

Ji Xun's eyes moved slightly: "You..."

Yun Xi closed the box and stuffed it into Ji Xun's arms: "You take it."

She could tell that Ji Xun was very interested in the bead. She hadn't originally intended to take Yun Li's things, but simply admired them and would find an excuse to return them after a while.

After all, Yun Li is not someone to be trifled with, and she doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

But Ji Xun wanted it.

Yun Xi always felt that she owed him a lot, so she tried her best not to treat him unfairly. If Ji Xun really wanted the bead, she would accept it and give it to him.

"...Thank you, Your Highness."

Ji Xun lowered his eyes, and the expression in his eyes could not be seen clearly.

…

Towards the end of the banquet, Yun Li suggested a fireworks display and asked everyone to move outside.

Yun Xi hadn't eaten her fill, so she secretly took a few cakes with her. She walked at the back, slowing down her pace as she watched the people in front of her chatting and laughing. Just as she was about to secretly pull Ji Xun away, she turned around and saw him staring at Duan Song.

Yun Xi: “?”

She wanted to pull the corner of Ji Xun's clothes, but fireworks suddenly started in front of her. The sudden noise scared Yun Xi and the handkerchief in her hand was blown away by the wind.

Yun Xi subconsciously wanted to pick it up, so she followed the direction the handkerchief flew away. She saw her handkerchief hanging on a small tree, and raised her head to test the height.

Suddenly a pale hand reached out from behind and took off the handkerchief for her.

"Is this yours?"

Yun Xi was startled. Turning back, she saw a sickly, pale face with sunken cheeks and a listless look in his eyes. He was wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, the kind only worn by royalty and nobles, but Yun Xi had never seen him before.

"Thank you." Yun Xi didn't know him and took two steps back cautiously.

The young man raised his eyes listlessly and stopped at her: "Are you the daughter of the Emperor of Wei?"

Yun Xi nodded: "You are...?"

"Yun Ye, son of King Yun Li of Nanzhao, greets Princess Roujia." He spoke in a very soft voice, as if he would be blown away by the wind in the next moment.

Yun Xi suddenly widened her eyes: "..."

She didn't expect that Yun Li actually had a son who looked only a few years younger than her.

Since he is Yun Li’s son, why didn’t I see him at the banquet just now?

He looked as if he was starving to death.

In any case, at least he helped her. After thinking for a while, Yun Xi took out the cakes she had taken from the small cloth bag: "Are you very hungry? Do you want to eat?"

The skinny young man stared at her lifelessly, his eyes suddenly showing a hint of madness. He sneered, "My father said that when a woman gives a man a favor, it's a sign of courtship. Cousin, did you fall in love with me at first sight?"

Yun Xi was startled by his sudden change in expression and accidentally dropped the cake in her hand, which rolled directly to the ground: "......?"

"Princess." Eunuch Xu's voice suddenly appeared. He walked over quickly and stood between the two of them. "His Majesty is looking for you over there."

Yun Xi didn't care about that and immediately followed Eunuch Xu. After they were away from that person, Eunuch Xu breathed a sigh of relief and said to her:

"Your Highness has frightened this old servant. The man just now was the son of the King of Nanzhao. He has suffered from epilepsy since birth and is moody. Your Highness must stay away from him."

Yun Xi clutched her handkerchief and looked back, only to see a skinny young man kneeling on the ground under the small tree. He was desperately trying to pick up the snacks she had dropped on the ground, and stuffed them straight into his mouth, regardless of the dirt.

He felt her gaze and raised his head, his mouth full, grinning at her like a devil.

Yun Xi was really frightened. She quickly looked away and walked away with her skirt lifted: "..."

However, she did not remember that Yun Li in the original novel had a son.

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The author has something to say: It’s almost time for the copywriting phase [shy]