Chapter 35: Sensing Feelings

Qingwu's voice was firm and his tone was steady. The intimate word "Liu Lang" made Xiao Ji dazed for a moment, not to mention the other princes.

Seeing that even though Xiao Ji had fallen into such a state, he still had a beautiful woman who was steadfastly by his side and followed him sincerely, the princes suddenly felt mixed emotions. Some secretly admired him, while others were burning with jealousy.

Prince An was extremely jealous. Seeing Xiao Ji completely shielded and protected by the beauty, he gritted his teeth secretly and tried to seduce her again: "Haha, sister-in-law, you have to think clearly. The palace outside the capital is not the East Palace. Can you bear the pampered life you have been living in since childhood?"

Facing this group of princes and nobles who were only good for show, Qing Wu looked calm, with a faint smile on his lips. He leaned forward slightly and saluted, his every move still elegant and calm.

The princes thought she was ready to give in, and Xiao Ji couldn't help but clench his hands on his legs slightly, but who would have thought that the girl in front of him would say something shocking again.

"Whether I can bear it or not, you princes need not worry about it. I will write a letter to inform my father and ask him to take care of me."

Qingwu folded her hands on her abdomen, showing the etiquette of a noble lady, but her words were not gentle at all, and every word contained a threat.

"You are all noble princes, and you may have even greater opportunities in the future. Your reputation is of vital importance..." She paused, her eyes slowly sweeping over the crowd before continuing, "I imagine... you wouldn't want the scandal of molesting your brother's wives and concubines to reach His Majesty's ears, would you?"

He mentioned the revision of the book and his father, and touched upon the crucial issue of reputation. These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the arrogance of the princes.

Xi Jianan, the governor of Jingzhou, was a thousand miles away, but he was the emperor's confidant. Thinking of this, the princes couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive, their eyes wandering back and forth over Qingwu, pondering secretly.

Although the crown prince has been deposed, he is still connected by blood, and has close ministers to the emperor such as Madam Xi and Xi Jianan. Perhaps the emperor just wants Xiao Ji to go to the temporary palace to avoid the limelight temporarily, and will restore his status as a prince in the future.

Although they came with the intention of watching a joke, verbal ridicule was fine. However, if they let Xi Jianan write this matter into a memorial and submit it to the emperor, that would be a big taboo. The emperor might get furious, and they couldn't afford it.

Now that the position of crown prince is vacant, it is the time for them to show their talents. At this time, they must be careful in what they say and do and protect their reputation.

Thinking of their father's increasingly moody behavior recently, the smiles on the faces of the princes froze instantly, and they all looked at Prince An at the same time, their eyes full of blame.

Prince An was stared at like this, his face turning pale and red. After exchanging glances with everyone for a moment, he finally gave in and said in a stiff tone, "I just spoke without thinking, madam, please don't be offended."

Having said that, he didn't even look at Qingwu, and there was no sincerity in his apology.

Qingwu became even angrier, but the situation was not good now, so she could only nod and accept the insincere apology.

Originally, her face was hidden under the curtain, and people outside could not see her expression clearly, but at this moment, a breeze blew by, and the veil fluttered up. In just these two moments, the King of England saw Qingwu's beautiful face and her bored and indifferent eyes.

The wind died down, and the translucent veil again blocked their view. The King was momentarily stunned. He hadn't meant to mock them, but now it seemed as if he had been lumped into the same category...

Qingwu's words completely extinguished the other princes' interest in watching the joke. Prince An was even more annoyed. He had intended to humiliate Xiao Ji, but instead was forced to apologize, completely humiliating. Unwilling to accept this, he flicked his sleeves and was about to leave when Qingwu's crisp voice echoed from behind him.

"Wait a minute, Your Majesty."

This single sentence stopped everyone, and Prince An hesitated and turned back. Xiao Ji's heart suddenly tightened. Although he wasn't afraid of these brothers' troubles, he didn't want to humiliate her. After a moment's hesitation, he reached out again, wanting to gently pull at the corner of Qing Wu's clothes, trying to stop her.

However, the girl took another small step forward, and just as they were about to pass each other, she said, "Does His Highness Prince An's words count?"

Seeing the blank expression on Prince An's face, Qingwu kindly reminded him, "Does what the Third Prince said just now, that he felt sorry for Liu Lang and planned to give him some compensation, still count?" Qingwu was not the kind of person who liked to suffer losses because he could not be insulted by him without any compensation.

After hearing what she said, Xiao Ji stretched out his hand to stop Zhao Tong who was about to step forward. The depressing atmosphere suddenly disappeared. There was a rare hint of playfulness in his eyes as he looked at the kings in the distance.

Prince An's face suddenly changed. What he said just now was clearly a mockery. He never thought that the lady from the Xi family was so "shameless" and made it clear in front of everyone, which was tantamount to roasting him on the fire.

At this moment, Prince An completely forgot about the beauty he had coveted earlier. He glared at Qingwu fiercely and then replied reluctantly, "...Of course it counts."

After saying that, Prince An turned around and asked the servant behind him for the purse. At this point, the two maids who were shocked by Qingwu's series of actions finally came to their senses and hurried forward to take the purse.

Prince An didn't want to suffer alone, so he turned his gaze to his brothers and said, "I've already made my promise. As brothers, you shouldn't be stingy, right?"

After being reminded by him, the other kings felt embarrassed to refuse and took out some of their belongings. Soon, the two little maids' hands were full.

Seeing the two little maids smiling happily, the princes felt a little aggrieved. However, when they thought of what Qingwu had said before, they could only endure it and dared not mock them again.

"Sixth brother, see you later." King Wu had a meaningful smile on his face. After saying this, he turned around and left.

Although the bleeding was a bit painful, the fact that the crown prince was no longer in power was the biggest benefit to him. Yao Chongchun had already been convicted, and Xiao Ji had lost a leg. Even if he had the chance to return in the future, he would never be able to rise again.

When the King of England left, he looked at Qingwu deeply, but Qingwu was bowing to see him off, so he naturally didn't notice the King of England's expression.

After all the kings had left, the East Palace returned to its cold silence. The two maids dared to place the things in front of Qingwu. Qingwu then stepped aside and looked at Xiao Ji, who had remained silent until then.

Xiao Ji didn't say anything. His peach blossom eyes, which had just revealed a decadent air, now stared at Qing Wu with burning passion. Facing such a sharp gaze, Qing Wu didn't dodge at all. He nodded slightly and said softly:

"Liu Lang, I'll take these belongings away?"

Hearing this name again, Xiao Ji's eyebrows moved slightly, and he finally couldn't help but said: "You are very brave."

Not only did she dare to call him Liu Lang directly, she also dared to face his group of ferocious brothers. But this kind of boldness didn't seem to belong to her?

Xiao Ji was puzzled again. Could it be that the twin sisters were so similar that even their personalities were the same?

Qing Wu didn't know what Xiao Ji was thinking. Hearing the approval in Xiao Ji's words, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she lifted the white gauze on the curtain, and a beautiful face with an apologetic look appeared in everyone's eyes.

"How can I be a coward if my lover is humiliated because of me?"

Looking at Yuanshan's slightly furrowed brows, Xiao Ji paused for a moment before remembering what she meant - the thing on the carriage, the copper basin.

His heart slowly moved. Was this the reason why she chose to stand in front of him and protect him?

But the pair of phoenix eyes in front of him were crystal clear with a hint of apology, and Xiao Ji could hardly find any trace of pretense in them. There was no need for her to please him at this time. He was no longer the crown prince, and he was of no use to her.

If we really talk about the situation, now it is he who should please and flatter her... In this situation, she is so sincere that Xiao Ji can't help but change his impression of the concubine.

Thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind. Looking at the face that became more rosy in the faint sunlight, Xiao Ji suddenly remembered the second lady of the Xi family who had urgently rescued him at the horse farm.

Meeting the pair of sincere and pure eyes in front of him again, he subconsciously lowered his gaze, feeling a little annoyed. Why did he keep thinking of that other person...

Xiao Ji tried his best to suppress the strange feeling in his heart. He looked at Qing Wu and thanked him sincerely, "This matter has nothing to do with you. I asked Zhao Tong to take it with him, and besides... he should have taken it with him. As for these valuables, you can keep them. You earned them with your own ability, so they belong to you."

"good."

Qingwu grew up in the countryside and met too many people when she followed her grandmother as a traveling doctor. Just because Xiao Ji did not defend herself and only spoke for her teacher, she knew that he was a man who valued love and friendship.

Having experienced persecution from her closest relatives and betrayal from her husband, Qingwu now favors those who value loyalty and righteousness. Looking at the young man in the wheelchair before her, she felt no resentment, but instead a glimmer of hope.

As long as he is kind-hearted and does not let her down, even if he is disabled, she will do her utmost to nurse him back to health and treat him. With two people of one mind, what difficulties can't they overcome?

Thinking of this, Qing Wu couldn't help but smile, but she didn't know that her curved eyebrows and eyes once again caught the eyes of a certain young man.

After thinking of the second lady of the Xi family again, even though Xiao Ji was young and didn't know what it felt like, he secretly felt something was wrong. His wife was right in front of him, so why did he always think of someone else because of her?

Thinking of the possible reason, the boy's face changed. That person was his wife's twin sister. How could he... How could he have such an improper idea?

Looking at the lady in front of him who protected and loved him, Xiao Ji's pale face turned slightly red again, this time not out of shyness, but shame and humiliation.

This is really... really not what a gentleman does!