He frowned, thinking that Shangguan Yanran had upset her. He also disliked Shangguan Yanran's constant clinging to him, and was about to tell her to stay away from Qingqing in the future when he heard Shangguan Yanran say urgently, "Don't be sad. I don't think what Huayin said might be true..."
She deliberately lowered her voice, so others couldn't hear her from a distance, but Xie Jingrun could hear her clearly.
His heart sank, and his expression turned somewhat grim. What had Hua Yin said to Qing Qing?
“…Although she didn’t bow to you and even provoked you with her words, it doesn’t mean that she actually slept with the Emperor.” Shangguan Yanran continued to persuade her, her tone full of worry and anxiety.
Xie Jingrun's complexion grew increasingly grim.
"...You don't need to comfort me. Hua Yin's story is so convincing. If it didn't happen, how could she say it? Besides, didn't she also say that it happened while I was away, and in my bedchamber?" Rong Qingqing finally spoke, but her voice was choked with emotion. "Just thinking about them being in my bed...makes me feel so disgusted!"
Shangguan Yanran broke out in a sweat, thinking to herself that if it hadn't been agreed upon beforehand, she would have almost believed her current distress.
"Don't listen to her side of the story. You should ask the Emperor about the truth first. You must not do anything impulsive."
Rong Qingqing said dejectedly, "I trusted him so much, but he... Now, just seeing his face makes me angry. I don't want to see him or ask him anything."
Xie Jingrun: "..."
Suddenly, I realized that he should have told her about it, instead of hiding it from her.
Now that's settled, she'll probably believe everything she hears from Hua Yin.
The most despicable one is Huayin.
He spared her life, yet she still dared to gossip in front of Qingqing. Did he really think he could tolerate her forever just because of his maternal grandfather?
Just as Shangguan Yanran was about to say something more, suddenly, a shadow loomed over her.
Without even looking, she knew the person in question had arrived, so she quickly shut her mouth and took two steps back.
When Rong Qingqing turned around, she met Xie Jingrun's complicated gaze.
"Let's go back first." With that, he reached out and took her hand.
Rong Qingqing struggled twice, but couldn't break free; instead, he held her even tighter.
Shangguan Yanran winked at her secretly, then ran away in a flash.
Xie Jingrun looked at the awkward woman beside him and said gently, "Don't listen to other people's nonsense. Let's go back to the palace first, and I'll explain to you later."
Rong Qingqing remained silent, but she did not struggle any further, and he led her onto the imperial carriage.
When the court officials and their wives saw this, they were all filled with envy.
I had long heard that the Emperor doted on the Empress and was unwilling to take any more concubines for her sake. Seeing it today, I can confirm it is true.
Once inside the carriage, Rong Qingqing brushed Xie Jingrun's hand away and sat down to the side.
Xie Jingrun's hand was shaken off, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant. However, thinking that she must still be upset about what Hua Yin had said, he softened his expression and said, "Sit a little closer."
"No." Rong Qingqing glanced at him and said with great disdain, "I'm afraid of getting dirty." As she spoke, as if to prove her point, she took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the hand that he had just held.
Xie Jingrun's face turned completely black, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Where am I dirty?"
"You're filthy all over!" Rong Qingqing said bluntly. Other women were coming to her bedchamber to seduce him, but he just let them have their way.
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