Chapter 28: Yu Qing is too scary. He is now...

The princess' words were like a thorn, and Yu Qing was pricked.

How could she not understand?

It was not easy for the princess to grow up in the deep palace. It was understandable that she could not open her heart to the royal secrets and power struggles.

Only Qingjia would feel guilty about this because she is kind.

In comparison, the secret hidden in oneself is a bigger and more terrifying secret.

The princess was at least braver than her and was able to admit that she had kept certain experiences to herself, while she herself had to keep them secret forever.

"I understand, Your Highness. Who doesn't have secrets in this world? You have secrets, and so do I. If there's something you don't want to talk about, then keep it to yourself. I won't ask. You must have your difficulties."

Not knowing how to comfort the fragile Qingjia, she sighed and said, "Don't feel burdened. I haven't spent anything on you, and there's not much I can do for you."

“…”

Xie Jing had crawled out of the deep palace where people were eaten without leaving any bones. He had long understood that sincerity was the last thing to be expected.

He never thought that he would receive understanding and loyalty from the so-called husband he was forced to marry.

In a trance, he even felt an impulse in his heart, and wanted to tell the truth regardless of the consequences, which even scared himself.

Fortunately, he is not so confused as to say that.

Having said almost everything that needed to be said, Yu Qing prepared to leave.

Xie Jing also stood up. He had been sitting for a long time and was in a state of anxiety. He stood up too quickly and his vision went dark and he swayed.

Seeing that Qingjia was not standing steadily, Yu Qing hurriedly helped her up. The princess's silk coat was very slippery, and Yu Qing accidentally pulled her coat down a few inches. It was hot today, and she was not wearing much underneath, so half of her collarbone and a bit of her shoulder were exposed, which was so white that it made people dizzy. Yu Qing quickly withdrew his hand.

"Um, uh, is your highness okay?"

At the beginning, Xie Jing might have cursed Yu Qing in his heart as a scoundrel, but now he had no bottom line towards Yu Qing.

"It's okay," Xie Jing said expressionlessly, gathering his clothes and sighing, "I'll take you out."

Yu Qingren left, but every word he said was still in Xie Jing's mind.

Xie Jing really wanted to know what Yu Qing liked about him. Could he be so deeply in love with a princess who had only been married for a few days?

If he were to ask himself honestly, he hadn't brought any benefit to Yu Qing. He looked in the mirror and wondered, could it be this appearance?

Does disfigurement work?

He picked up the golden hairpin and gestured to his face... He couldn't bear to do it. To be honest, this face was quite beautiful. Xie Jing always liked things to be perfect. Even when embroidering, he had to hide the thread ends neatly, let alone his own face.

He has recently made contact with someone outside.

When he first arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, he didn't know the details clearly, so he didn't dare to contact the people there rashly for fear of risks. Several secret guards and spies were in the streets and alleys near the Marquis' Mansion, pretending to be ordinary people and peddlers.

Now two months have passed, and he judged that the Marquis' Mansion is basically safe, so he asked Qiu Lian, Dong Li and others to take action.

A few days ago, Qiu Lian hired a cook who claimed to be able to make the princess's favorite snacks. The cook, unassuming in appearance, usually worked in the small kitchen, occasionally going out to buy ingredients. Xie Jing then received a message from Nan Zhao, expressing deep concern for his safety and promising to do his utmost to get him out of trouble. He replied, saying there was no need to worry and that he could take things easy, as he knew everything was settled.

Now he regrets it.

You should write in the letter, rescue him quickly, because you really can't stay in this mansion anymore.

Yu Qing was too scary, Xie Jing couldn't accept it.

He was definitely not gay. But, Yu Qing...but...he actually...

Xie Jing didn't want to admit that at a certain moment, he actually developed a feeling of almost attachment to this man, this major general.

He had been prepared to be questioned and treated coldly by Yu Qing, but tonight, the huge rock was thrown high up and then dropped gently, which made him feel unreal.

Yu Qing tolerated everything.

He was in a dilemma, but at the same time he felt a sense of relief that he could hardly contain.

Why?

Xie Jing paced around sadly for a few times, returned to the bed, fell down weakly, and covered his head with the brocade quilt.

*

When Yu Qing had some free time, she asked Wen Shuo about some good places to visit in the capital. She had not forgotten to take the princess out for some fun.

I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but I always feel that the princess is a little listless recently. It may be because she has been staying in the mansion all the time.

"I heard that South Lake is quite nice, with pleasure boats, fireworks, singing and dancing until the night, and plenty of fun to be had along both banks. Your Highness, would you like to go?"

"..." Qing Jia shook his head. "It's hot now. I don't want to go out too far. Let's wait until summer is over."

That's still several months away.

Yu Qing thought that he could prepare some ice for the princess, or go out for an outing in the evening.

But the princess said that the Longevity Festival was approaching and it would be very crowded outside, which she was not used to.

The princess really doesn't like noise.

Yu Qing thought, she would charter a boat in advance so that no one would disturb her. It would be better to wait until after the holiday since it was impossible to book a boat that close to the holiday.

The emperor was closed for seven days during the Wanshou Festival. A constant stream of carriages and horses loaded with tributes arrived from the provinces to the capital. Officials came to pay their respects, and the people also held various celebrations.

In previous years, Yu Qing was not in the capital for the Wanshou Festival and rarely made it.

This year she also has the identity of a princess consort. In addition to participating in the ceremony of paying homage and celebrating her birthday together with court officials, she also has to attend the palace banquet.

He entered the palace at 3 p.m., and just after noon, Yu Qing packed up and went to Wenhua Garden to pick up the princess in advance.

Qingjia usually likes plain and elegant colors, but this time because it is the Wanshou Festival, she wears a gorgeous palace dress and a colorful skirt with gold threads, which is extremely eye-catching.

She had not yet finished dressing up and was standing in front of the mirror with her eyes half closed, allowing the maid to put on her jewelry.

Yu Qing was watching from the side, putting on pearl hairpins, step-shaking ornaments, gilded butterfly hairpins... Finally, she put a red coral necklace on Qingjia's slender neck.

At this time, Qingjia opened his eyes and looked at Yu Qing through the mirror.

Qingjia paused and said, "What time is it?"

Without waiting for the maid to answer, Yu Qing said, "No hurry, it's just past noon."

Qing Jia said: "Yes, it will be ready soon, I will be quick."

In fact, Yu Qing didn't think it was too long. Instead, she wanted to come earlier so that she could watch the whole process of the princess dressing up from the beginning. It was so pleasing to the eye.

The princess took the lip balm directly from the maid and applied it on her lips. Then, she dipped the makeup brush in gold powder and drew an exquisite pattern on her forehead with a few strokes.

"Let's go." Qingjia said.

She stood up, and the beads under her hairpin trembled a few times.

As he walked out, Yu Qing couldn't help but glance sideways.

Halfway through, that gaze kept sweeping over from time to time, and Xie Jing finally said helplessly: "What are you looking at?"

"Your Highness's flower ornaments sparkle when the light shines on them," said Yu Qing.

Xie Jing: “…”

He said, "If you like it so much, I'll ask Qiu Lian to draw one for you next time."

Yu Qing realized that the other party was joking, which was rare, and couldn't help but smile: "I painted my own face and you can't see it. I like to see Your Highness."

Yu Qing just said it casually, but Xie Jing's mind suddenly popped up the image of this person with red or gold patterns painted between his eyebrows. The other person looked handsome, so it didn't seem too strange.

Then he realized what he was actually thinking about, and his heart was in a state of confusion again.

After entering the palace gate, she was led into the palace by the eunuchs. All the royal relatives were present. There were so many people that Yu Qing couldn't recognize them all. There were several princes whom she could usually see in the court, but she was unfamiliar with the other female relatives or young princes and princesses.

Fortunately, Qingjia recognized her, and Yu Qing obediently followed her to greet her.

"Hello, Princess Kang."

Prince Kang was the eleventh among the princes of the previous generation. He was a leisurely prince and his princess was also very easy-going.

"Seventh Princess? I really can't recognize you," Princess Kang said with a smile, "When I looked at you just now, I was reminded of the past..."

She realized she had lost her temper and stopped herself in time, changing the subject: "You've been married for a while now. How are you doing now? Are you feeling better now than before?"

Xie Jing knew what she wanted to say at first. He looked like his mother, and Princess Kang and Princess Rong were old friends.

"Well, thank you for your concern, Princess. I'm much better now."

In the past, he was often absent from palace banquets due to illness, or he sat at the edge and was not very noticeable. Many people had a vague impression of Princess Qingjia.

Many people were probably like Princess Kang, and were a little surprised when they saw Xie Jing.

Daodao cast vague glances over, not knowing whether he was shocked by the unfamiliar appearance of the Seventh Princess, or was thinking of Concubine Rong who had always been by the emperor's side.

This year, Xie Jing's seat was moved a little forward, sitting side by side with the prince consort in a slightly forward position.

He thought to himself that this was all thanks to Yu Qing, the son of the Xuanbei Marquis.

Singing and dancing, with the sounds of stringed instruments.

Led by the Crown Prince, everyone began to congratulate the Emperor and present him with birthday gifts. Xie Jing and Yu Qing toasted with several other pairs of princesses and their husbands. Xie Jing deliberately stood back.

The emperor was nearly sixty years old, with gray hair on his temples. He looked at the two outstanding figures standing side by side from afar, as if thinking about something, feeling both strange and familiar.

The Queen keenly sensed something and said, "Your Majesty, look at this white jade birthday peach given by the Third Princess. How unique it is."

This interruption caused the emperor to turn his attention to the gifts and he forgot to call his daughter who was standing at the end to come forward.

Everyone presented birthday gifts in order of seniority, and the crown prince took the lead in bowing, wishing the emperor a long life and good health. The emperor was naturally very pleased.

Several young concubines began to perform songs and dances, which were carefully choreographed and magnificent.

The people below also toasted one after another, and the palace maids and eunuchs shuttled around the table, constantly presenting delicacies and fine wines.

At this age, the emperor also enjoyed the festive atmosphere. The prince suggested that the two words "happiness" and "longevity" be used as flying flowers, and the flowers would be passed around by beating drums. Whoever the flower landed on would recite a poem and be awarded a glass of wine.

The emperor was in high spirits and agreed, and the prince ordered a guard to beat the drum.

Somehow, after playing several games, the drum sound always stopped near Yu Qing, and several times it fell into her hands.

It's not that she didn't have room to pass the wine on, but the person closest to her was Qingjia, and it wouldn't be convenient to let Qingjia drink, so she passed the wine around the princess and to the side and back.

Whenever Hua stopped, the eunuch would serve her a new glass of wine. It was said to be the royal wine treasured from the imperial collection. When she drank it, it did taste different from the wine at the banquet, with a rich taste.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask for a mercy. You see, it is rare for the emperor's sons to gather together today, and I haven't taken a good look at these children for a long time. Can you let them stay in the palace? Let me and the concubines talk more." said the queen.