Chapter 60

"Zhuiyu, you're back."

Miss Qi reserved a seat for her and she sat next to Sun Suzhao.

Sun Suzhao was filled with indignation, as if she had experienced it herself. "I've heard everything from Miss Qi. She was so unreasonable that day. She even made a scene at the Qionghua Banquet after all these days. It was really excessive."

Jian Xinyi took the glass cup in her hand and stroked it gently.

"I was definitely wrong that day, but I didn't expect her to make such a fuss at the Qionghua Banquet today."

Sun Suzhao looked at Jian Xinyi's angry expression and hunched his back. "I shouldn't have listened to Grandpa and come to this Qionghua Banquet."

Miss Qi seemed to have known her temper and had already begun to comfort her.

"Okay Su Zhao, if you want me to accompany you to the countryside for an outing, then Zhui Yu and I will go with you when we get back."

After hearing this, Sun Suzhao's previous dejection was swept away, and his voice couldn't help but jump up with joy.

"That's fine."

Miss Qi quickly grabbed her hand and made a gesture to silence her: "Okay, keep your voice down."

At this time, the sunlight was fading, and the ladies sat in groups of three or four by the lake, drinking tea and admiring the flowers. Occasionally, a breeze blew, and the lake surface was shimmering with golden light, which was a rare and elegant scene.

Soon, Rong Gu bowed to everyone and said, "It's getting late. The Queen has instructed that if you are far away, you can return home early and don't need to pay your respects."

The noble ladies thanked her, and Rong Gu spoke again.

"Ms. Peng, I hope you can reflect on your mistakes when you return and avoid causing trouble for others."

"If Yun knows her mistakes, she will definitely reflect on them."

Peng Ruoyun looked very unhappy and almost ran away from the banquet.

When everyone saw that the banquet was over, they all left.

Jian Xinyi wanted to follow Miss Qi, but just as she was about to stand up, she saw Aunt Rong walking towards her.

"Miss Lin, the Queen still has some questions to answer. Please wait a moment."

Jian Xinyi nodded, asked them to go back first, and followed Rong Gu to Yuhua Palace.

The Yuhua Palace was entirely decorated with red walls and green tiles, occasionally dotted with gold threads. Entering the main hall, Jian Xinyi didn't dare to look around. The sight of the floor, so shiny that you could see your reflection in it, made her feel that it was something special.

"This humble girl pays homage to Her Majesty the Queen."

She lowered her head, knelt on her knees, and saluted respectfully.

"You have good manners. Who taught you that?"

The Queen's voice came from the upper seat, but she didn't let her stand up, so Jian Xinyi had to answer on her knees.

"I dare not deceive the Empress. This was taught by the daughter of the Supervisor Qi Yao."

She sneered, her tone slightly disdainful.

"Do you know why I asked you to come in?"

"I don't know."

Jian Xinyi couldn't see the queen's expression, nor could she figure out her intentions.

"Bring the things up here."

The Queen ordered Rong Gu to put the thing she mentioned under Jian Xinyi.

"Miss Lin, this is the red coral that was newly imported from Java. Your Majesty has added gold powder to it and made it into a bracelet."

Jian Xinyi looked at it carefully. The coral bracelet was facing the candlelight in the hall. The gold powder particles were fine and full. It was really a wonderful thing.

"I thank the Queen Mother."

She accepted the bracelet with great joy, ready to treasure it well, but she saw the Queen slowly stand up from her high seat, walk towards her step by step, and put the coral bracelet on her wrist.

"It suits you very well."

She smiled slightly and let her leave the hall.

After Jian Xinyi walked out of the palace, she followed the palace maid's directions and came to the gate of Yuhua Palace, where she happened to see Qian Yuan.

Seeing that she came out safely, Qian Yuan didn't say much and just said he would send her back.

Jian Xinyi hesitated for a moment, but she was not familiar with the environment in the palace, so she let Qian Yuan go.

As he walked, he seemed to be paying attention to the bracelet on his wrist. He asked, "Did your mother give it to you?"

Jian Xinyi nodded and lifted the bracelet.

"Well, they say it's made of South China Sea coral."

Qian Yuan lowered his head and said nothing more.

She noticed that something was wrong with him, but she didn't dare to ask.

How to ask?

Should I ask him whether the bracelet given by the Queen was intended to harm him?

Just like in those palace fighting dramas, this bracelet is coated with poison?

Or is there any reaction to heavy metals?

Even if it was, the queen could just say she didn't know and get away with it.

If not, Jian Xinyi would be charged with slandering the current queen, and even gods would be unable to save her.

The two of them walked along tacitly.

At this time, thick clouds gathered in the sky, blocking the already weak sunlight. Although it was clearly afternoon, it seemed like evening.

As soon as we entered the corridor, the heavy palace gate blocked out the sky, like a dark cloud pressing down on the city.

At this moment, Qian Yuan suddenly turned around and took the bracelet from Jian Xinyi's hand.

The Queen's maidservant nearby watched this unexpected turn of events and exclaimed, "Your Highness Prince Xing."

"Leave the bracelet to me for safekeeping."

Qian Yuan took the bracelet, and worry was easily revealed in his eyes.

He held Jian Xinyi's hand tightly, as if he was making a solemn vow: "Such a precious item should be worn on our wedding day to highlight its value."

The maid next to him obviously wanted to say something, but was interrupted by his words, "You go back."

The maid had no choice but to obey the order and return to the palace.

There were only two of them left in front of the corridor.

"You are doing this because you doubt..."

Jian Xinyi didn't dare to continue talking, as it would be of no benefit to anyone if this matter was exposed.

"no."

He subconsciously denied it, his expression restrained. "She would never do such a thing. All she wants is for you to suspect her and alienate us."

alienation......

Jian Xinyi had never thought of this.

Unconsciously, her eyes betrayed her.

"Don't be afraid."

Qian Yuan once again tightened his grip on her hand. "They are not testing you, but honing Prince Xing, who in their eyes is only one step away from the throne."

"But I'm not King Xing."

His eyes were so sincere and clear that Jian Xinyi understood what he wanted to express almost instantly.

He didn't want to become King Xing, but he had no choice.

Choosing Jian Xinyi was the most extraordinary decision in his life, but also the one that best suited Qian Yuan.

"As you can see, my life has been smooth sailing. Born as the legitimate son of the empress, I've never lacked for food, clothing, or daily necessities. My teachers have all been great scholars and powerful generals. I'm like a floating cloud, floating in the world."

Qian Yuan ignored Jian Xinyi's surprised look and continued, "Yesterday, my father punished me by making me kneel in the snow all night. Heavy snow fell from the sky and melted into a puddle on my shoulders."

"I now understand what you said to me. You said it was very cold when the snow melted, there was no charcoal fire in the house, and the mud from the snow would soak my shoes and clothes."

She looked a little dazed, not thinking that he still remembered what she said so long ago.

"No matter what my status or position is now, I have experienced what you have experienced. So I hope that you can truly let go of your worries and trust me."

"I will protect you even if the cost is immeasurable."

On one side of the dark corridor, Qian Yuan hugged Jian Xinyi tightly into his arms, as if she were a treasure.

"Wait until I come back from Luoshan."

Jian Xinyi nodded heavily, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

The sunlight quietly broke through the clouds, leaving only two stubborn figures in the corridor, walking towards the palace gate.

Colorful clouds are fragile, but the sunlight is immortal.

The original sedan was still waiting for her, but she had a more important question that she hadn't asked.

Book business.

No matter how Jian Xinyi brainwashed herself, she still felt that she could not attract the attention of the bookstore by herself.

Then he would be the only one who could help.

Jian Xinyi made up her mind and quietly tugged at Qian Yuan's sleeve.

"Do you know about the bookstore?"

He looked puzzled, as if he had no idea: "What's the matter with the book?"

Jian Xinyi's heart sank, and a bad premonition appeared in her mind.

"fine."

She shook her head, her eyes becoming more resolute. "When you go to Luoshan this time, take care of yourself."

Qian Yuan smiled with relief, but didn't notice Jian Xinyi's strange behavior at this time.

"Hurry up and get in the car, it will be dark soon."

She forced herself to reject him, "I'll only feel at ease after I see you leave."

Qian Yuan seemed a little elated, and the joy in his eyes could not be hidden: "You, if I had known earlier, I would not have told you."

Mu Xin then stepped out of the palace carriage, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, everything is packed, it's time to set off."

"Then I'll go first, you wait for me."

Qian Yuan looked at Jian Xinyi reluctantly. Seeing that she looked unhappy at the moment, he felt that it was just the sadness of separation. He pinched her cheek gently and said, "I will be back soon."

"Um."

Jian Xinyi watched him get on the carriage, which drove out of the city in a cloud of dust.

From time to time, two lines of tears fell quietly.

"Girl, we should go back."

Seeing her dazed look, the coachman thought she must be worried about her lover leaving. He was about to persuade her when he heard Jian Xinyi say, "Hurry, go home immediately, hurry."

"Oh, okay."

The carriage was galloping through the city, getting faster and faster.

"Faster."

Jian Xinyi's heart was beating like a drum.

"He's deeply in love with you, even kneeling in the snow for four hours. I wonder how far such a love-struck man would go for you."

If all this was done by King Geng, he would definitely choose to attack her during the time when Qian Yuan was away.

All she could do was to let Qian Yuan go to Luoshan safely.

The coachman was also very anxious, "Girl, there's a traffic jam ahead, we can't get through."

Jian Xinyi jumped out of the car, but saw a crowd of people on North Street and didn't know what had happened.

She followed the crowd and the scenery in front of her became more and more familiar until she reached the entrance of Kuanzhai Alley.

People around were talking about it, and Jian Xinyi heard it all.

"Someone's dead. I heard the owner died in there. He was stabbed multiple times. He's covered in blood."

"Didn't this family have a conflict with the master's nephew before, and now they just killed him?"

Impossible, impossible.

She ran straight into the shop, but saw people from the Dali Temple carrying Lao Lin out.