"You say you don't know me?" Xiao Wei tightened his grip on Qiu Zhu's arm. "How can you say you don't know me? Ah Xiu, look carefully. Who am I?"
Qiu Zhu remained unmoved. Although she felt a faint pain in her arm, her face remained as calm as ever. "I don't know the Ah Xiu that Lord Xiao is talking about. I am Qiu Zhu."
After saying that, he took advantage of Xiao Wei's daze, broke free from his hand and walked forward.
But Xiao Wei had finally seen her, so how could he be willing to let her go like that?
So, he simply grabbed her wrist again and took her behind the rockery.
The calmness on Qiu Zhu's face was broken, and she frowned, "Master Xiao, why are you doing this? Please let me go."
Xiao Wei stubbornly didn't let go, but instead pulled the person closer, "At the beginning, you said you were going to seek refuge with your relatives in the capital, and there was no need for us to meet again in the future. I didn't believe you would be so cruel to me, so I went to look for you. I finally found you at the ferry, but you left without looking back.
Now, this is what you call a relative's home. Is it better to sell yourself into slavery than to be with me?" Xiao Wei asked, gritting his teeth.
Qiu Zhu felt a trace of sadness in her heart, and then she suddenly smiled. "Since you know how determined I was when I left you, you should now understand why I didn't recognize you. Truly, I would rather be a slave in this palace than be by your side."
"You, why are you always so cruel to me, why? Why?" Xiao Wei roared like a trapped beast.
Qiu Zhu blinked her slightly damp eyelashes, and after her eyes cleared, she said, "I've been out for a long time, it's time to go back."
After saying that, he turned around and left resolutely again.
This time, Xiao Wei lost the courage to hold Qiu Zhu, and just watched her figure slowly disappear from his sight.
It was unknown how long it took before he walked out of the palace with stiff steps.
…
A few more days passed.
The weather was getting colder, but Qingyin still asked people to open half of the window to let in some air.
Qiu Zhu watched her fall asleep on the recliner with a book in her hand, and couldn't help feeling a little distressed. She tiptoed to the inner room, took a blanket and covered Qingyin with it, then quietly left.
Since returning to the palace, the emperor has only visited a few times.
If that Princess Xiling really entered the harem.
The Emperor's visit to the Empress Dowager is even more...
Thinking of this, Qiu Zhu looked up at the sky, which was as dark as her mood at the moment.
And on the other side.
In the imperial study.
Nangong Yuan listened to the people below talking to each other with an empty mind. If it were normal times, he would have ordered them to leave with such a commotion.
Today, he seemed to have heard it, but also seemed not to have heard it.
When the crowd could not come to a conclusion, the Minister of Rites cleared his throat and raised his voice to remind them, "Your Majesty, Xiling is sincere in its intention to negotiate peace this time. I believe we can accept the offer."
Nangong Yuan withdrew his thoughts and looked at Prime Minister Ye, "What do you think, Prime Minister Ye?"
Ye Heng cupped his hands and said, "I believe that Xiling was defeated, so no matter how much tribute was paid, it is what they should pay. But to think that a mere princess can offset hundreds of thousands of taels of silver is not worth it."
"I have objections. Xiling sent the princess here, which naturally means he is submitting to the emperor. If the emperor accepts Princess Xiling, it will just show the magnanimity of our Northern Dynasty."
Jingchuan snorted coldly, "Generous? Using silver to exchange for a woman, that's more like being stupid than being generous."
"Hmph!" The Minister of Rites shook his sleeves, obviously very angry.
Nangong Yuan looked at Jingchuan, "General Jing, if Xi Ling counterattacks, do you have a chance of winning?"
Jingchuan bowed and said, "I have it!"
Ye Heng subconsciously glanced at Yanchuan, then lowered his head.
But the look in his eyes was obscure.
Seeing Jingchuan so arrogant, the Minister of Rites could not help but snort coldly, "Jingchuan, don't think that you can be arrogant just because you won a battle. If you agree to the marriage, we and Xiling can live in peace, which will also be a blessing for the people. Don't ignore the people of the world for your own selfish desires."
"I don't know what selfish desires you're talking about. I only know that if Xiling refuses to submit, then we'll defeat it. So many of us died just to marry a princess. Ask the Minister of Revenue if this account can be settled."
The Minister of Revenue wiped the sweat from his forehead, not knowing how this matter had come to him.
Nangong Yuan waved his hand and said, "Since General Jing has a chance of winning, then place Princess Xiling in the inn. When the compensation arrives, we can release her."
The Minister of Rites wanted to say something more, but the person had already been taken away by Jingchuan.
As soon as he got out of the door, he pulled back his sleeves with all his strength, "You big rough guy, I don't know you well, why are you pulling me?"
Jingchuan shrugged, "I don't know you well either, I just don't want to listen to you anymore."
After saying this, he glanced at the other ministers, bowed to Ye Heng, and then turned and left.
Seeing him like this, the Minister of Rites was confused for a moment.
After everyone dispersed, Ye Heng and the Minister of Rites happened to walk slower.
But they were standing one in front and one behind, and it didn't seem like they were talking.
After leaving the palace, the two got on the carriage and said the same place name.
The two carriages quickly left the palace and headed in opposite directions.
After a cup of tea, two carriages entered a yard one after another.
When the Minister of Revenue saw Ye Heng, he couldn't wait to ask, "What did Jingchuan mean before he left? Could he be one of ours?"
Ye Heng sat down and shook his head, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" The Minister of Revenue calmed down and thought for a moment, "Should we go ask that person? If it's one of our own people, they can know in advance. This Xiling marriage is a crucial step and we can't afford to make any mistakes."
The original plan was that he and Ye Heng would each hold their own opinions first, and then Ye Heng would pretend to be persuaded and agree to his proposal.
Unexpectedly, Jingchuan suddenly appeared.
Ye Heng nodded.
The two chatted for a few more sentences before leaving one after the other.
Imperial Palace.
Seeing the sky darken, Nangong Yuan waved his hand and said, "Go to Cining Palace."
When Nangong Yuan arrived at the Cining Palace, Qingyin was still sleeping soundly in the recliner.
Nangong Yuan's brows rarely relaxed, and he leaned over and hugged her.
Qingyin was awakened by a kiss, and when she opened her hazy eyes, she met a pair of smiling black eyes.
In the dim room, Nangong Yuan trapped the person in the recliner, "Queen Mother, you are sleeping so soundly."
Qingyin glanced at him sideways and was stunned for a moment.
Why does it feel like the voice is full of resentment?
Qingyin pushed him, still feeling a little tired, and yawned slightly.
This made Nangong Yuan laugh out of anger.
In the past few days, because of the Xiling envoy's visit to the capital, he has been trying to make arrangements in order to avoid marrying the so-called princess.
She is fine.
Nangong Yuan threw the blanket on Qingyin's body to the ground without saying a word.
…
…
Hearing that the noise in the house had died down, Qiu Zhu's almost red face slowly cooled down.
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