Chapter 55 The Loyal Heart Stone Pendant Bent, He Bent!!! ...

After changing into his ducal attire, Xie Qianli tucked the Danxin Stone Pendant into his sleeve pocket.

Because of the rumors of the arranged marriage, he was filled with mixed emotions and rushed to the palace, only to hear that the emperor was in Shanglin Garden and had changed his mind about the summons of the delegation.

"Why change?" Xie Qianli asked.

He spoke urgently, wanting to ascertain immediately whether the imperial marriage was true, but this frightened the young eunuch in charge of delivering the message, who stammered and could not explain himself clearly.

"Because of the Barbarian King, His Majesty must refuse him again."

The character "又" is worth pondering; the barbarian king was obsessed with marrying Hua Chao.

As for Ying Xi's continued refusal, the rumor heard outside Yunyong Tower resounded like thunder in Xie Qianli's ears: His Majesty had already arranged a marriage for the princess—the Xie family was about to produce another imperial consort.

Xie Qianli turned and ran.

The young eunuch cried out urgently from behind, "Your Highness! His Majesty forbids his officials from following him into the Shanglin Garden..."

The eunuch's voice faded away; the speed of sound simply couldn't keep up with the speed of this person.

***

Shanglin Garden.

On a sunny early summer day, the deer called out softly at Yichun Palace, and several white fawns grazed on the edge of the palace garden, while cranes flew about.

The barbarian king suddenly laughed and began to play a rapid, long note on his flute. Instantly, seven or eight peacocks appeared from nowhere in the garden, landing and spreading their enormous tail feathers. Their high-pitched cries frightened the white deer away. The fawns fled in panic. The cranes flapped their wings and scattered.

The peacocks transformed into several round fans, arranged neatly in a semicircle around Yingxi, their emerald tail feathers shimmering with light.

The barbarian king said in a gruff voice, "Your Majesty, look at this magnificent and wondrous scene. If I were to perform it for Princess Huachao, would she like it?"

Ying Xi frowned secretly.

—Hua Chao will only stay further away from you.

The barbarian king brought these green peacocks, which were quite tyrannical. Since there were no birds of prey or beasts in Shanglin Garden, they ran rampant in the garden, far beyond their designated territory, stealing water and food from other animals and biting the gentle and honest blue peacocks.

The barbarian king refused to leave Chang'an and frequently visited the palace to support them, which emboldened the peacocks even more.

When the peacocks were displaying their tail feathers and forming a formation, they saw a deer that was unwilling to give up and continued to graze. So the peacocks all spread their feathers and drove the deer far away.

“Yo-yo…yo…”

The deer's cry was filled with grievance.

The deer is complaining.

But as the emperor, how could he possibly argue with the barbarian king over a fight between animals?

Besides, that barbarian king could only vent his anger on animals.

During this time, the barbarian king was firmly rejected countless times in his attempt to marry Hua Chao, yet he still hasn't given up.

Was the Barbarian King truly deeply in love with Hua Chao?

Ying Xi denied it rationally.

First of all, he did not believe in the barbarian king's claim of love at first sight. He believed that men who harbored such thoughts were simply lustful.

Furthermore, regarding the dowry, the longer he keeps it, the more the barbarian king realizes the importance of the Flower Festival. If he can get it, he will surely have a large sum of money.

Thirdly, marriage should be voluntary, but the barbarian king's persistent entanglement showed a complete lack of decorum.

Finally, he described the barbarian king's appearance. Ying Xi glanced at him again and saw that the man was a full head taller than her, with dark, shiny skin and eyes the size of copper bells.

Ying Xi tried her best not to judge people by their appearance, but looking at his face, she could still clearly sense that the barbarian king was arrogant, greedy, and haughty.

Moreover, there's the tragedy from his previous life...

If it weren't for the fact that she was about to launch a military campaign against the south and didn't want the barbarian king to cause trouble, Ying Xi planned to delay until the barbarian king had to return to his country.

If the world were at peace now, Ying Xi thought, I would just tie you up right here and then establish a new king for the southwest.

Even emperors have their own dilemmas.

As Ying Xi walked, he casually remarked, "I've heard that you, my dear minister, can not only tame peacocks, but also have war elephant soldiers and lion and tiger soldiers. Is that true?"

The barbarian king proudly declared, "Of course it's true! Once my Lion and Tiger soldiers are unleashed, even the strongest troops will be terrified and flee in all directions!"

"My war elephants are shaped like mountains, move like thunder, and when they charge, they crush one elephant with each step, leaving behind a trail of blood and mud."

"I also have the Bulls..."

The barbarian king was still gloating, boasting about his immense power. He was completely unaware that Ying Xi was thinking, "If your beasts really clashed with the Dragon Warrior Army, defeating you would be as easy as starting a wildfire."

Ying Xi praised, "The Southwest is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, and you are truly awe-inspiring, my dear minister."

The barbarian king laughed loudly: "Of course! Of course! Your Majesty flatters me!"

The barbarian king was completely unaware of the contradiction in his wording. He had met the emperor of Chang'an several times, and the emperor was extremely noble. This was the first time he had received such praise.

Just as the barbarian king was thinking he could boast about it when he got back, Ying Xi asked, "I wonder if anyone has been taking care of these elephant and lion-tiger armies since you left the border for so long?"

The barbarian king was taken aback.

As the sun shone brightly, the barbarian king gasped for breath, his face remaining calm but a chill running down his spine.

While others in Chang'an are plotting something, are others in the southwest also plotting for their own throne?

The elephants are arrogant and need to be well-fed and exercised before they'll fight. The lions and tigers, on the other hand, are fed meat at every meal. Will the men skimp on their rations? What if someone bribes the animal trainers to rebel? ...

I can't think about it. The more I think about it, the more restless I become.

The barbarian king's eyebrows twitched slightly, revealing a hint of annoyance on his face.

As a fellow ruler, it would be easy for Ying Xi to provoke him.

Therefore, Ying Xi continued to sigh, "I envy you, my dear minister, for being able to put aside domestic affairs and go out for a stroll as you please."

"You can't see into someone's heart, and I can't let it go."

"My empire is too vast, and I cannot relinquish it."

The emperor, who claimed he couldn't let go of his empire, had actually just returned from a long trip among the common people.

In reality, the ambitious Southern Barbarian King pretended to be indifferent, but had already decided to leave Chang'an immediately.

The barbarian king finally pleaded, "Your Majesty, I have come to see you today for the same reason: I wish to marry Princess Huachao."

"The journey is long and arduous, but I will protect her."

"When the princess enters the palace, she will surely become the principal wife, and our child will inherit the throne of the Southern Kingdom. We hope Your Majesty will grant our request!"

Ying Xi said, "On this matter, I respect Hua Chao's wishes. If she does not agree, I will not allow her to get married."

"But she is your sister. In the Central Plains, it is said that the eldest brother is like a father! Can't Your Majesty make decisions for a woman?"

At this point, the Southern Barbarian King's eyes widened in surprise.

His fierce muscles almost burst out of his clothes. He had always been a man of his word in the Southwest, but when he came to Ying Xi in the Central Plains, he was constantly thwarted. Now, his true nature as a barbarian king was exposed, and he was breathing heavily.

Lang Xun stepped forward and shouted, "Insolence! How dare you disrespect His Majesty!" The guards drew their swords halfway, each ready to fight.

Ying Xi was certain that the Barbarian King wouldn't dare to do anything, otherwise he wouldn't be able to leave Shanglin Garden alive. She raised her eyes to meet the Barbarian King's gaze.

"It is precisely because I can make decisions for my sister that I hope she can marry a man who will never force her to marry, so that she can spend the rest of her life in this way."

The implication is that the more you force it, the less likely it is to happen.

If conflict is unavoidable, the emperor is even less threatened.

The green peacocks all perked up around Ying Xi, their tail feathers raised, bolstering the barbarian king's prestige.

The peacock didn't recognize swords, but it could clearly judge their size; the barbarian king was far stronger than Ying Xi.

But the barbarian king was not a peacock in the head. He realized the situation was not good and immediately restrained his ferocity, becoming humble and polite again.

The barbarian king bowed his head: "Your Majesty, please forgive my mistake..."

The word "etiquette" hasn't been uttered yet!

Seven or eight green peacocks, who had previously served the Southwest Barbarian King, had long since developed a habit of willfully scratching and injuring people.

Seeing the barbarian king's movements, the birds mistakenly thought he intended to attack Ying Xi, and the flock took flight and flew towards the emperor!

The scene was like a sudden burst of chaotic, bluish-green clouds rising from Yichun Palace.

Peacocks have sharp claws; if you get scratched, your flesh will be torn apart.

At that moment, a black shadow pierced through the green clouds, its speed instantly reaching its limit. Black Falcon, before the guards could react, kicked the peacock that had injured the person away.

The peacock stumbled a few times.

The black falcon circled rapidly!

Fear of eagles is an instinct for all birds.

The flock of birds scattered in a panic, and the eagle completely cleared the area, calmly drawing an arc in the sky before landing on Xie Qianli's left shoulder.

Only then did it slowly spread its wings, raise its head, and let out a cry that resounded throughout the entire Shanglin Garden: "Screech—"

The pitch was so high it was almost piercing!

All the beasts in Shanglin Garden trembled in fear.

Even the barbarian king couldn't control his swaying, and a sharp, long cry echoed in his ears.

Falcons are difficult to tame; this eagle is the finest of its kind.

Eagles only obey the strong, and the barbarian king shifted his gaze from the eagle to the man.

The newcomer was dressed in brocade robes, the sunlight reflecting off his gold-painted attire. He wore wide robes and sleeves and carried no weapons, yet his steps were steady, revealing the profound foundation of a martial arts practitioner, and he also had a pair of resolute black eyes.

The newcomer bowed before the emperor's boots, his profile showing a drooping nose.

The black falcon leaped and stood solemnly in front of Ying Xi.

Xie Qianli clearly stated: "I have just returned from a long journey with the mission to offer amnesty. On the way back, we destroyed five bandit strongholds, eliminated more than a hundred bandits, and discovered two instances of collusion between officials and bandits. The officials involved have been executed on the spot. I heard that Your Majesty is receiving guests at the Shanglin Garden, so I have come to pay my respects. May Your Majesty be well."

Ying Xi said calmly, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xie Qianli rose, standing beside the emperor with his eagle, like a towering mountain beside Ying Xi. The eagle stared intently at the barbarian king.

The barbarian king was even more terrified.

Recalling what he had just heard, should the corrupt official be executed on the spot?

Unbeknownst to him, Ying Xi had instructed the envoy to act expediently, and the barbarian king felt increasingly that the man opposite him was incredibly ruthless!

Yu Jing smiled and said, "You've had a hard day, Duke of Ying. His Majesty arranged for me to meet you alone tomorrow after you returned to the capital. He wanted to prepare a welcome banquet for you, but you are so loyal that you came to see His Majesty on your own."

They tacitly avoided mentioning Xie Qianli's unspoken mistake, and Yu Jing did her best to beautify the relationship between the emperor and his subject.

The British Duke Xie Mansion is a prestigious name in Da Qin.

Seeing that Ying Xi and Xie Qianli were of one mind, the barbarian king lost all courage to cause trouble and bid farewell to Ying Xi with trepidation.

Ying Xi then went along with it, rewarding the barbarian king with gold, silver, and valuables that were even more valuable than the tribute he had brought.

After lingering in Chang'an for several days, the barbarian king decided to call it a day and left Shanglin Garden.

As soon as that towering figure left, Xie Qianli felt a little relieved standing in front of Ying Xi.

Unaware that the welcoming banquet would include an audience, it was merely to confirm the next course of action with Xie Qianli, as the emperor intended to expand southward.

Xie Qianli secretly pinched the Danxin Stone Pendant in his sleeve, and the corners of his mouth turned up.

He wanted to hand the stone over, but hadn't quite figured out how to say it. He held the stone in his palm and took a deep breath.

Ying Xi, however, had been giving him the cold shoulder lately: "Did I inform the envoy of the amnesty that he would be meeting me tomorrow? Why are you here to show off your power?"

Xie Qianli was stunned.

She was eager to see him because rumors were circulating that he was going to bestow a marriage upon her and Princess Huachao.

I did not break the rules and trespass at the entrance of Yichun Palace, because I heard that the barbarian king was harassing me and I was afraid that the barbarian king would hurt me.

Xie Qianli felt he wasn't entirely in the wrong.

But he didn't know that Ying Xi mistakenly believed that Xie Qianli's hostility towards the barbarian king was because he had feelings for Princess Huachao.

Ying Xi was completely unaware that this was a sign of resentment. What she showed was that she was dissatisfied with Xie Qianli in every way and felt very unhappy whenever she saw him.

Xie Qianli kowtowed: "Your subject knows his crime. But on my way back, I heard rumors about the arranged marriage..."

He raised his eyebrows, and Ying Xi's deep gray eyes dimmed. Not knowing what taboo the emperor had offended, she immediately fell silent.

Ying Xi said in a hoarse voice, "If Hua Chao is interested in you, she will be given to you on an auspicious day next month."

Xie Qianli panicked and raised his voice: "This is not appropriate!"

Panic can also be interpreted as urgency.

Several years ago, Yingxi learned that Xie Qianli liked beautiful women, and her heart felt as if it had been crushed by a boulder, both painful and heavy.

The emperor smiled and said, "You are indeed of marriageable age. The Xie family is currently short of people, so it is time to expand the family line. If you really can't wait, the earliest you can do it is at the end of this month. I will personally officiate the wedding. This is my favor to you."

Yu Jing secretly shook her head and cautiously retreated a great distance.

Outside the Yichun Palace, the emperor and his ministers faced each other.

One standing, one kneeling.

Xie Qianli held the Danxin Stone tightly in his hand, so hard that it almost broke his palm bone!

He looked up at Ying Xi from below. The other party was aloof and noble, untouched by worldly affairs, and always seemed both distant and close to him.

He lowered his head, clenched his teeth, his cheek muscles twitched, and his chest felt like it was about to explode.

Did Ying Xi have any sense?

But what kind of heart does Ying Xi have—was Ying Xi wrong to let him get married?!

Any emperor who cares for his subjects will concern himself with arranging marriages for his eligible subjects.

Ying Xi was right, and she was not wrong either. Marrying a princess was a great honor, and the emperor presiding over the marriage was the greatest favor.

Ying Xi, on the contrary, was favoring herself.

The bright moon was shining on him again, and intense pain flowed through every vein in his body.

A clearer thought began to form in his heart and lungs, and Xie Qianli wanted to shout it out.

—I don't need that kind of favor.

--I like……

Xie Qianli forcefully suppressed that thought, which was completely contrary to morality and utterly rebellious. He gradually admitted that he had gone astray.

That's not right!!!

His throat trembled slightly, and he was covered in cold sweat.

Since his thoughts couldn't reach Ying Xi, silence became his tacit agreement.

The early summer afternoon sun was strong, and coupled with the fact that she had just walked around with the Barbarian King for a long time, Ying Xi felt dizzy from the sun.

The emperor staggered, his body tilting to one side, blinded by the sunlight.

Xie Qianli stood up and quickly helped the emperor to his feet, and the Danxin Stone Pendant clattered out of his sleeve.

Rolling around—

The emperor had barely settled down when he noticed a stone. It couldn't be Xie Qianli's, as he never wore jewelry.

But he always carried with him a heart-shaped stone adorned with bright yellow tassels, something only royalty could possess.

Ying Xi's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Something from the Flower Festival?"