These words caused another silence in the court.
Some suggested, "Why not not tell Princess Jingcheng that she has been betrothed to Jiang Su?"
"How should I tell her? Does she believe that I would bring her back for no reason?" Zhao Mingjin was also a little troubled.
The person at the very back of the court stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty still remembers that Princess Jingcheng originally had a fiancé."
"I remember, I remember, that prodigy from the Xie family, huh." Zhao Mingjin snorted coldly when he mentioned this person.
"The Xie family has been neglected since the time of the late emperor and has been living in seclusion in Lingcheng. Why don't Your Majesty grant the Xie family high-ranking positions and generous salaries, and send Xie Qingyu as an envoy to deceive the princess by saying that he is bringing her back to fulfill the marriage agreement made years ago? I think the Xie family will agree."
Xie Qingyu is renowned for his good looks. I have often heard that when he travels in Lingcheng, women flock to watch him, throwing melons, fruits, and flowers at him, making the entire street completely congested. He was also a top scholar in the imperial examinations and has the literary talent to write poetry. His father was a scholar-general, so he is also good at riding and archery.
Compared to such a man, Wei Li is naturally inferior; the princess would surely agree gladly.
Zhao Mingjin's eyes lit up. "I've never seen you so accomplished in both literature and martial arts, but you're certainly full of wicked schemes."
These words didn't sound like a compliment, but Zhao Mingjin was indeed praising someone. "Princess Jingcheng grew up in the deep palace since childhood. She is simple and gentle by nature, as I have always known. It would be a real injustice for her to be matched with a wild and uncouth man like Wei Li. Fortunately, Jiang Su is also from a prestigious family, which is a good match for her."
Now that the decision had been made, Zhao Mingjin sent people to Lingcheng in Yongzhou without delay to invite Xie Qingyu to Pingzhou as an envoy.
Upon hearing this, the Xie family head immediately wanted to refuse, as this was far too insidious.
He and Emperor Huiwu were brothers who fought side by side. Even if the Xie family wanted to protect themselves now, they could not help Zhao Mingjin exchange Zhao Xiheng like a commodity.
Xie Qingyu grabbed the sleeve of the Xie family head, gave him a subtle shake of his head, and then accepted the imperial decree.
“Songjie, now that the world is in chaos, we have no need to fear the emperor. You…” After the eunuch was settled into his lodging, the Xie family head looked at his son’s face, hesitating to speak.
Xie Qingyu's expression darkened slightly. Without even reading the imperial edict, he rolled it up and put it away in a brocade box. He never wanted to give anyone cause for gossip in such matters.
“Father, I know what I’m doing. If it’s not me today, it will be someone else. It’s better for me to go than for someone else to go.”
Xiao Tao has already told the father and son the whole story.
Wei Li is a cruel, ruthless, vulgar, and domineering man, lacking any gentlemanly qualities. Zhao Xiheng's willingness to compromise and stay with him caused Xie Qingyu excruciating pain in her heart.
If Zhao Xiheng had found her ideal husband, even if he was unwilling, he could still offer his congratulations in a generous manner. But it just so happens to be someone like Wei Li.
He rubbed his temples, but this was only Xiao Tao's side of the story. He would only know the truth after he went to Pingzhou to see Wei Li.
When he was eight years old, he first met Emperor Huiwu. The emperor praised him highly and had already shown his intention to take him as his son-in-law. He took him into the palace to meet the empress and the little princess who could barely run.
The little princess held his hand, unaware that her father was already arranging marriages for her at such a young age.
Throughout their engagement, he always acted as if he were the prince consort.
His colleagues invited him to go to brothels and taverns to drink and listen to music, but he refused.
His classmate offered him a beautiful woman, but he refused.
The prince consort is required to remain chaste for the princess.
The Xie family head felt a pang of sadness.
It's not that he favors his own son.
In terms of appearance, character, and talent, it would be hard to find another child like Song Jie in this world.
Perhaps it is because God does not allow a person to have too smooth a life, so He gave him so many hardships.
Zhao Mingjin was in a hurry about this matter, so the day after tomorrow Xie Qingyu set off with those beauties.
Most beauties are delicate, and they haven't done anything wrong; they're all pitiful. Xie Qingyu tried her best to take care of them along the way.
"Let's stop and rest," Xie Qingyu instructed softly as they stopped at the border between Qingzhou and Pingzhou.
The beauties inside the carriage blushed upon hearing Xie Qingyu's voice and secretly peeked through the curtains.
Xie Qingyu met their gazes, her eyes crinkling into a gentle smile, "Are you thirsty and want some water?"
"No...no no..."
"Then you can get off and walk around. We'll be in Pingzhou soon. You must be tired from the journey." Xie Qingyu still had a smile on her face, sitting on her horse with her head slightly lowered, trying to speak to them at eye level.
"Thank... thank you..."
They quickly pulled the curtain down again, and the group looked at each other, clutching their chests to calm their racing hearts.
Throughout the journey, Xie Qingyu did not find them troublesome. On the contrary, he remembered their delicate health and took care of them at all times. When they stopped at the post station, he always gave them the best rooms, but he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor and did not get too close. How could anyone not be moved by such a person?
"The rumors say that everyone flocked to see Xie Lang, and they're absolutely right," one of the women sighed. "What a pity."
Another chimed in, "It's a pity we're all going to be sent to Pingzhou."
The closer Xie Qingyu got to Pingzhou, the more uneasy he felt. He unconsciously gripped the reins tightly as he looked at the distant, continuous mountain range.
He hoped that Wei Li was not as vulgar and despicable as Xiao Tao described, but he also didn't wish for him to be any better.
He shook his head, feeling that his idea was too selfish.
"Thank you, Lord Xie." The emperor's deputy, who was supervising Xie Qingyu, handed him water.
Xie Qingyu snapped out of her daze, quickly dismounted, and took the water with both hands, saying, "Thank you."
He performed a simple movement with fluid grace, possessing an indescribable elegance.
Even if the emperor deliberately sent him, the deputy envoy could not help but feel favorable feelings towards Xie Qingyu.
The upheavals in Jinyang had little to do with Pingzhou.
Wei Li first killed the emperor's envoy, then killed the Qingzhou soldiers who had broken into Pingzhou. In addition, he repeatedly retaliated against Goguryeo. Everyone knew that Wei Li was not willing to suffer a loss, so no one had the time to provoke him.
Pingzhou is unusually peaceful and tranquil.
"My third nephew's nephew's uncle runs a rice shop in Qingzhou. These days, Qingzhou and Youzhou are fighting, and his shop has been closing down again and again. This month, his whole family is almost starving." The teahouse was still bustling with activity as the middle-aged man cracked sunflower seeds and said.
"A bowl of milk tea, more tea than milk, with raisins..." another person ordered the waiter, then turned around and said, "We've only been settled for a few days, and now they're fighting. Let's hope they don't get involved in this mess."
"Probably not." Another person lowered their voice. "Wei Li may be a bit of a beast, but there are advantages to being a beast."
Zhao Xiheng no longer cared about anything. Even when Wei Li told her that Zhao Mingjin had sent another group of envoys, she ignored him completely.
It snowed a little last night, and all the ginseng seedlings she had painstakingly cultivated died.
She was so angry she wanted to hit someone, and Wei Li was still nagging beside her. She wished she could grab Wei Li by the neck and shake him to shut him up.
"How could it die? It died!" She poked the seedling, both angry and sad.
"Oh, it's dead." Wei Li made a curious sound as he saw Zhao Xiheng poking the wilted seedling.
Zhao Xiheng glared at him secretly.
Wei Li seemed very happy. Zhao Xiheng had been so focused on the seedlings the other day that she might not listen to a single word he said. It would be good if she died.
"Why don't we just not keep it?" Wei Li said casually, crossing his legs and squinting his eyes as he cracked sunflower seeds. "A cat is enough."
The louder he cracked the melon seeds, the more annoyed Zhao Xiheng became.
Dog Egg wagged its tail and ran onto the table, craning its neck to sniff the melon seeds in Wei Li's hand. Wei Li flicked it away with a flick on the forehead, then peeled a few melon seeds and placed them in its palm, spreading them out for Zhao Xiheng.
"Want some? It'll be spiced in five seasonings."
Zhao Xiheng picked up a few and ate them, glancing resentfully at the dead ginseng seedlings as she ate. The melon seeds were quite fragrant. She asked Wei Li, "Are there any more?"
"Yes, I'll have someone get you some more seeds to plant."
"I'm talking about sunflower seeds."
Zhao Xiheng puffed out her cheeks, squatted on the ground, and stretched out her hand towards Wei Li.
"Oh." Wei Li placed all the handfuls of food he was holding into Zhao Xiheng's palm.
Zhao Xiheng didn't move, so Wei Li asked her, "Why aren't you eating?"
"I don't want to eat anymore." Zhao Xiheng pouted and stuffed the sunflower seeds back into his hand. "Fine, you eat them."
"How pretentious you are," Wei Li scolded.
Zhao Xiheng's heart was still bleeding, thinking that she would definitely learn from this lesson next time and bring the seedlings inside the house that night.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Wei Li, who had been sitting on the small couch, now bent over with his elbows resting on his thighs, gesturing for her to extend her hand.
"What?" Zhao Xiheng subconsciously reached out her hand.
Wei Li placed a small handful of peeled spiced melon seeds in her palm. "Eat them."
Then he clapped his hands, grabbed another handful from the plate on the table, and continued peeling.
As he bent over, his ponytail swayed in front of his eyes. He raised his hand, flicked the ponytail back, and then began to carefully peel sunflower seeds.
Zhao Xiheng looked at the small handful of melon seed kernels in her hand and Wei Li peeling melon seeds, and felt a pang of sadness.
She stuffed all the peeled sunflower seeds into her mouth in one gulp, making her cheeks bulge.
Wei Li scolded her, "You spendthrift! Can't you eat a little slower?"
As he spoke, he stuffed the freshly peeled fruit into her hand.
“Zhao Xiheng, let me tell you, you’re just spoiled. You don’t want to eat anything else, you just want to eat the peeled ones.”
Zhao Xiheng sprang up from the ground, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and said sweetly, "My lord is so kind."
Wei Li quickly covered her mouth, "Don't talk while you're eating. A whole handful of sunflower seeds can't shut you up?"
"My legs, my legs, my legs!" Zhao Xiheng grabbed his arm and cried out, "My legs are numb from squatting."
Wei Li pressed her down on the couch, sat her down beside him, and then kicked her calf. "Can you try to feel the pain? If you can't, just cut it off. You're lazy and don't move at all, so having long legs is useless."
Zhao Xiheng's earlier emotion vanished completely. She pursed her lips and shoved a handful of unpeeled melon seeds onto the table for him. "I want more." Don't stop.
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