Chapter 34 What to do next? "In that case, I will allow...
"If that's the case, then I agree. Li Qing was the fiancé chosen by your father. If he stays in the palace, it will be a great opportunity for you two to spend more time together. That would be great!"
Song Luoshu glanced at Song Youning and saw that she didn't dare to look up the whole time, but just lowered her head dejectedly and played with the corner of her clothes.
His daughter had a habit of lying and playing with the corners of clothes, which had never changed since she was a child, so he was too lazy to expose the young couple.
Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and what's more, it was his own daughter who took advantage of others and did not take responsibility. If this matter is taken seriously, he will be the one who is embarrassed. What's more, he cannot afford to embarrass himself.
"Ahem!" Song Luoshu cleared his throat and deliberately changed the subject.
"I just heard from Funing that you came up with a strategy for dealing with the flood in Changzhou last night. Why don't you tell me about it?"
Song Youning: ...standing there in a daze.
......
"This...this..." Song Youning stood there in a daze, at a loss for what to do, like a child who had done something wrong. She had just said it so casually, but how could her father actually believe it? How would this end?
"Your Majesty, Prince Xiao has come to see you. He says the King of Zhenbei has sent him to discuss the repeated incursions from the northern border. I wonder if you would invite Prince Xiao in?"
Eunuch Guo's face suddenly came in from outside the hall. He walked in front of Song Luoshu, lowered his head and whispered.
After listening to this, Song Luoshu thought for a moment and said: "It's okay. The princess is grown up now, and it's time for her to help me share more of my worries! Speak louder!"
Eunuch Guo had grown up with Song Luoshu, so he naturally understood what he meant. He thought again and again, then composed his words: "Your Majesty, the King of Zhenbei sent Prince Xiao to discuss the repeated incursions from the Northern Territory. Judging from the Prince's attitude, he must have reached a conclusion on the Northern Territory issue. I am a dull servant, and I wonder if I should invite the Prince in."
Song Youning looked at the three people in front of her. His father was sipping tea leisurely as if nothing had happened, while Li Funing sat beside him, staring at her...
Only Eunuch Guo stood beside his father, his brows furrowed, as if he was the one who was worried about the country.
This is really the case, the emperor is not anxious, but the eunuch is...
Eunuch Guo turned his gaze towards her, and the look of help in his eyes made her feel uneasy.
No, why ask her? She is a princess, she has no right to speak...
But considering that Eunuch Guo had watched her grow up, she still spoke to smooth things over: "It's okay, it's a coincidence that Prince Xiao came. I've been back to the palace for a few days and haven't seen him for a few days. It's a good opportunity for Prince Xiao to have breakfast with me. Eunuch Guo, please let him in!"
Eunuch Guo relaxed his brows and smiled happily: "Stop, I will go and invite Master Xiao right away."
"The princess is indeed concerned about Prince Xiao. During the years that she and His Highness traveled around, I didn't see her keeping me in mind. Now, after not seeing the prince for just a few days, it feels like a long time has passed. I guess the princess has found a new love and has forgotten her old one..."
The moment Eunuch Guo stepped out of the hall, Li Funing's sarcastic voice came over.
He paused and shook his head. He feared the Hall of Mental Cultivation would be in chaos again, just like it had been ten years ago. He looked up at the plaque on the Hall of Mental Cultivation, hoping the old man could hold on!
Li Funing's words were like decades-old vinegar, sour and flavorful, while he himself sat upright on a stool, playing with the teacup in his hand nonchalantly.
He took a sip of tea, still pretending to be cool and fearless.
Song Luoshu listened to his speech without refuting him. He just sat there drinking tea as if nothing had happened.
He knew his daughter's character very well. Now, her two words were considered light. If it were him, she would never be able to leave this door today.
Song Youning looked embarrassed. It was indeed irrefutable that she had run away from her marriage, but it was still a bit embarrassing to point it out to her in person.
With a smile on her face, she picked up the teapot and filled it for him, hoping to calm Li Funing down. After all, it's best not to hit someone who smiles. Now that she had humbled herself enough to pour tea for him, it was time to let it go, at least not in front of her father...
They usually talked about her secretly about the fact that she had cheated on him, but it didn't matter.
But saying it in front of her now... and in front of her parents, it is indeed a bit too much. She is a princess, and even though she behaves eccentrically, she still has to maintain her dignity!
She quickly interrupted him, "Lord Li, please have some tea. This tea is the Rain-Predawn Longjing tea specially gifted by my father. It is not available anywhere else. If Lord Li likes it, I will give it to you, no matter how much..."
Li Funing didn't even raise his eyelids and just played with the teacup.
Seeing this, Song Youning became even more attentive. "If Lord Li doesn't like this pre-rain Longjing tea, I have several cakes of premium Tieguanyin in my collection. They are roasted from carefully selected young buds. They are slightly bitter at first, but after a careful sip, the sweetness lingers, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste."
"I think this is quite similar to Lord Li's character, who studied hard in his youth and is now a learned scholar. Perhaps it's because I still have the Thousand Mountain Cedar Tree that my father gave me in my palace..."
"Does Lord Li like it?"
Song Youning listed all the fine teas in his palace as if he was presenting treasures, and his mouth was about to spark, but Li Funing didn't even raise his eyelids.
As expected, when people are embarrassed, they talk a lot of nonsense.
Li Funing's eyes darkened slightly, and he looked at her with a forced smile, "Princess, do you think this humble servant's life was meant to be filled with suffering before happiness? And your escape from marriage... is it to make this humble servant suffer even more, only to receive some sweetness in the future?"
Song Youning: ...How does this relate to her running away from marriage...Is this matter going to get out of hand?
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" When Xiao Lin stepped into the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, he was struck by an eerie silence in the room. Li Funing lowered his eyes and played with the celadon teacup, his emotions unrecognizable.
Song Youning had an overly attentive smile on his face, like a cat trying to please its owner, while His Majesty... was actually leaning back in a manner like a commoner listening to a story, with half a piece of uneaten cake still pinched between his fingers.
"Master Xiao has arrived at the right time!" Song Youning's eyes moved, and he deliberately glanced at Li Funing who was standing aside with an indifferent expression, and affectionately took Xiao Lin's sleeve and pulled him up.
"Sit here." She led the person to the sandalwood chair opposite Li Funing, her skirt fluttering with a hint of anger.
Someone had to put on such a cold face. Did she, a princess of a country, need anyone? She had already tried to please him carefully, but she still had to put on such an act.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Xiao Lin felt awkward when she pulled him to the chair. He was thankful that Song Youning didn't beat or scold him on normal days. How could she be so enthusiastic like today?
He glanced around the table, and the atmosphere only made him feel more eerie.
The three of them were silent for a moment.
Song Luoshu spoke first. He tapped the table lightly, his casual expression instantly disappearing as his brows shone with the majesty of an emperor. "Does the King of Zhenbei still insist on fighting?"
Although his voice was still kind, his tone seemed to have been chilled by ice, and the others in the hall unconsciously held their breath.
She had never seen her father so stern and murderous. Song Luoshu had always doted on her. He would never punish court officials if he could be lenient with them, and he treated his servants the same way.
Last year I heard that a new maid entered the palace and forgot to prepare teacups when she accompanied her father to visit the imperial garden.
He did not show any sign of anger along the way. He just said that he suddenly missed the green-calyx plum blossoms planted by his mother, and then went to Kunning Palace.
After drinking three cups in a row, the young palace maid finally realized how big a mistake she had made.
Xiao Lin knelt on the ground, folding his hands: "My father and I have been planning for several days, and we believe that the barbarians in the north have repeatedly invaded the border!"
When he raised his eyes, they were ablaze with the youthful spirit. "Now, under Your Majesty's rule, the Great Gan has a strong army and abundant food. If you grant my permission, I am willing to accompany my father, the king, holding the tiger talisman and donning armor, and I will wipe out all the villains in the northern border for Your Majesty."
"Incorporate all the vast mountains and rivers of the northern border into the Dagan territory!"
Song Youning stared at the fiery red figure in the hall with mixed feelings. If possible, she would not want to take advantage of his passion...
But, she can't do it!
Memories are like beads with a broken string. Once the string is broken, the beads will flow out one by one.
She remembered that Xiao Lin rarely wore red clothes before. Ever since she followed him to the northern border to guard the border, Xiao Lin never wore light-colored clothes again.
On a snowy night at the border that year, she was captured by the enemy. He nearly lost his life trying to save her. His green robe was almost stained with blood. She cried and covered his bleeding chest, but the blood seemed to be unstoppable and kept flowing.
Finally, he managed to snatch his life back from the King of Hell, and from then on, the red mark never faded from his body. When asked about it, he just smiled and said that red clothes were the most eye-catching on the battlefield. In this way, even if she was separated from thousands of troops, the first thing she saw was his heroic appearance. He said such nonsense so ostentatiously.
She knew he was afraid that she would worry.
The young general kneeling on the ground at this moment seemed to be the same devil who had caused chaos in the imperial city with her.
Xiao Lin and Li Funing grew up with her. Xiao Lin has always been a phobic person. He is slow to learn anything and others laugh at him for being stupid.
Only he himself happily said that fools have good fortune, and he would rather be a fool since he learns so many things every day.
Fortunately, he inherited his father's martial arts and had some skills. She still remembered Xiao Lin lying on the martial arts field with his spear as a pillow.
He said to her with a smile: "This prince is such a blockhead that I can only beat that nerd Li Funing in boxing and kicking. I must show off in front of you..."
"From now on, Ningning will rule the country, and that idiot Li Funing will protect it for you. As for me, I will help you conquer the country. This way, you can stay in the capital and live a comfortable life..."
She looked at the red figure and finally made a decision, unconsciously taking half a step forward.
She looked at Xiao Lin's straight back and said, "Father," her voice sounded clear and resounding.
"Your son has something important to discuss with you!" When he spoke again, he had an unquestionable dignity, and he was completely different from the cheeky attitude he had when he was bickering with Li Funing.
Li Funing's eyes flickered slightly, a knowing smile crossed his lips, and he bowed and said, "I will take my leave."
The meaningful glance he gave her before he turned and left must have seen through her thoughts.
This person who has been able to guess 70% of her thoughts since childhood must have seen through her by now.
"I will also take my leave first!"
Xiao Lin blinked his eyes, which were as clear as a fawn's, full of confusion.
He gave me a confused glance as he stood up. This fool probably didn't understand why he was so hastily sent away just after entering the hall.
Looking at Xiao Lin's departing back, he couldn't help but sigh. With such a pure heart, even if he had the courage of ten thousand men, he was not the material for strategizing. If he left the King of Zhenbei, what would this fool do in the future...
When the palace door solemnly closed, the innocence on Song Youning's body suddenly disappeared, and his usual pure appearance was swept away. The aura around him suddenly became sharp, as if a layer of hazy veil was removed, revealing the sharpness within.
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