Xuanyuan Ye raised an eyebrow slightly: "If it's suitable, I can grant you a marriage."

Qin Shaoqing's eyes unconsciously filled with a smile when he thought of that quirky girl.

"Don't worry, if I really find her, I will of course ask you to grant me marriage."

"Alright, then I'll be waiting to drink your wedding wine."

After the two finished talking, Xuan Yuan Ye asked casually, "I remember that the princess from the Southern Kingdom in my palace was once your fiancée."

Qin Shaoqing's eyes showed a hint of doubt: "What's wrong, Your Majesty? Is there something amiss? As you know, that identity was just a disguise. I only met that princess once, and I know nothing else about her."

"That marriage was merely a stopgap measure."

"I was afraid you would overthink things, after all, she has already entered my palace."

Qin Shaoqing smiled and said, "I've always aspired to marry a woman I love. That princess... we are destined to be apart."

"That's good."

Qin Shaoqing suddenly thought of something and looked at Xuan Yuan Ye: "Could it be... Your Majesty?"

"Yes, she is my woman."

Xuanyuan Ye made no attempt to conceal it.

Qin Shaoqing's expression was somewhat complicated.

That princess was not young. When the emperor of the Southern Kingdom betrothed her to him, she was seven or eight years older than him. Xuan Yuan Ye was about the same age as him, which meant that she was also seven or eight years older than him...

He couldn't guess what the emperor liked about her.

However, as subjects, they had no right to comment on the emperor's preferences.

He was very sensible and said nothing.

After the emperor and his minister had discussed both official and private matters, Qin Shaoqing was sent back.

Upon learning that Qin Shaoqing had no other feelings for Jiang Tian, ​​he felt a sense of relief.

One is a woman he's gradually falling for, and the other is a childhood friend; he doesn't want to have to choose.

With nothing else to do, he went to see Jiang Tian that very night.

The medicine Jiang Tian has been taking these days has been quite effective, and her three meals a day are prepared and delivered by a special person, so her health has improved a lot.

Seeing that she was different from usual, with color returning to her face, Xuan Yuan Ye felt a slight sense of satisfaction.

At least this period of time wasn't wasted.

"How are you taking the medicine?"

Xuanyuan Ye did not ask her to bow, and went straight to the question.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I feel much better."

Seeing Jiang Tian standing neither too close nor too far from him, Xuan Yuan Ye suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

He had seen concubines flattering the emperor before.

Whenever his father summoned a concubine, that concubine would practically cling to him.

Even the princes themselves couldn't bear to move an inch when they arrived.

But Jiang Tian was too reserved.

She stood there as long as he didn't say anything.

The displeasure in my heart grew deeper and deeper.

"What have you been doing these days?"

To avoid overthinking, Xuanyuan Ye casually started a conversation.

"I didn't do anything special, just played chess, played the zither, and tended to the plants I planted. Every day was the same."

"Um."

Xuanyuan Ye looked around the palace. Actually, it was much better than before; at least there were more things to be had.

But seeing that she didn't know he was coming, and was still dressed in plain clothes without even a hairpin in her hair, Xuan Yuan Ye felt increasingly annoyed.

We still need to move her to a different palace. This place is too remote; it's inconvenient for her to live here alone.

As he thought about this, Xuanyuan Ye pulled Jiang Tian into his arms and sat down.

As he twirled her hair, he tentatively asked, "Last time I said I wanted to give you a title, do you want it?"

He felt the person in his arms stiffen slightly.

"Didn't His Majesty say that as long as he protects me and keeps me safe throughout my life, I don't care about rank or anything like that?"

"I care."

Xuanyuan Ye pressed her chin down, making her look at him.

Jiang Tian didn't speak, but her eyes showed resistance.

The expectation in Xuanyuan Ye's eyes faded.

He spoke again: "I want to hear what you think."

"Does Your Majesty still want to hear the truth this time?"

"That's the truth, of course."

“I am a princess of the Southern Kingdom, a target of public criticism, a sinner. If you were to grant me a title, what would others think of me? I have lived a difficult life, and I do not wish to be labeled a wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country. If you truly pity me, then there is no need. In this cold palace, at least I will be undisturbed, peaceful and quiet. Even if I were to spend the rest of my life here, I would not have many regrets.”

She saw things more clearly than he did.

Xuanyuan Ye was not angry because of her words.

Because what she said was indeed a problem facing her.

She almost didn't survive before, not because of her identity.

"I plan to let you fake your death and enter the palace with a new identity. When you enter the palace with those young ladies, no one will notice anything unusual."

Jiang Tian kept her eyes downcast, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"You're not satisfied."

Xuanyuan Ye said with certainty.

Jiang Tian forced a smile: "I have no complaints. I'm overjoyed that His Majesty cares so much about me."

That's what she said, but her eyes didn't tell the whole story.

He thought he was giving a favor, but the other person didn't care at all.

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head.

“You are a princess of the Southern Kingdom. The Southern Kingdom did not want you and sent you here. You know very well why. I am willing to take you in, to give you a peaceful life, and to give you a position so that you will not be without servants in the deep palace, and will not have to suffer there when you are sick. You are still not satisfied.”

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