"If you want to be a constable, you should at least tell me what your skills are, right?" Kangxi asked meaningfully.
“I can act! I also know some martial arts,” Xi Niu said.
"Acting?" Kangxi looked at the Fourteenth Prince and asked again.
“Yes. I cooperated with the Fourteenth Prince in his act, and we caught two bandits. Chief Constable!” Xi Niu looked at Kangxi, her eyes shining.
"You, you are that?" Only then did the host realize that the tomboy in front of him looked like the young woman dressed in mourning clothes!
"It is I, a commoner. I had no choice but to deceive the abbot in order to help Fourteen catch the bad guys. Please forgive me, Master!" Xiniu knew that she could not lie in front of the Buddha, but she had actually put on such a show in front of the abbot. She had truly deceived the Buddha.
“Since you did it for good, then Buddha will forgive you,” the master said, nodding.
"Fourteenth, you're a good young man. Please thank her for me!" Kangxi said with a smile.
"Chief Constable, please grant my request. I'll do anything, I just want to join the government and become a constable, so I won't have to sell lotus lanterns on the street anymore." Xi Niu seized the opportunity as soon as she saw Kangxi gesturing for the Fourteenth Prince to take her out.
"Young lady, being a constable is no joke. You're just a young girl; you should find a better husband and stop fooling around," Kangxi said.
Seeing that she couldn't win Kangxi's heart, Xi Niu quickly added, "Chief Constable, I'm not only good at acting, but I also like the Fourteenth Prince, so I want to be with him. Please grant my wish, Chief Constable!"
Fourteenth Prince stared in surprise at Xiniu's retreating figure, his heart suddenly pounding even harder. He wanted to stop her from continuing, but it was too late. Kangxi stared blankly at Xiniu; he hadn't expected a woman to be so direct in saying she liked a man.
"I'm just the chief constable; I can't decide his life's most important matters. You like the Fourteenth Prince, but does the Fourteenth Prince like you?" Kangxi asked in surprise.
"This, this humble woman hadn't thought of that. It's just that this humble woman really likes Fourteen, and if she doesn't say it, she'll definitely regret it. Although the Chief Constable isn't Fourteen's father or mother, he is indeed his superior," Xiniu said.
Kangxi smiled. He looked at Xi Niu, who had delicate features and a refreshing air about her. It wouldn't be unreasonable for the Fourteenth Prince to take her as a concubine.
"Fourteenth Prince already has a wife. Are you willing to become his concubine?" Kangxi teased her further.
Xiniu hesitated for a moment, stunned. She had thought that Shisi might have family matters, but when she heard that he really did, she felt really sad.
"Would you be willing to become a concubine for the Fourteenth Prince?" Kangxi noticed Xiniu's hesitation and pressed for an answer.
“As long as he also likes me, then I am willing!” Xiniu finally made up her mind.
At this point, Fourteen could no longer hold back and hurriedly said, "Xiniu, you're a perfectly good girl. Why would you want to be my concubine instead of getting married and becoming a wife? I... I never said I liked you!"
Although Shisi felt it was a bit cruel to say such things to Xiniu at this moment, it was also his true feeling. While Shisi had developed some affection for Xiniu, he didn't know what kind of trouble it would cause if he actually took such a young girl into his household as a concubine. Wanyan was already domineering enough; if the mischievous Xiniu were added to the mix, it would be strange if his harem didn't erupt into chaos!
When Xi Niu heard what the Fourteenth Prince said, her heart shattered into pieces. She glared at him angrily, and finally said to Kangxi, "Since he has no feelings for me, I cannot force him. Thank you, Chief Constable, for listening to me."
Seeing that Xiniu wasn't the type to cling to someone, Kangxi felt sorry for her and said, "Go, Fourteenth Prince, take good care of this young lady and send her home."
Xiniu had no choice but to go out with Fourteen.
As the two of them walked out of the temple gate, Xiniu suddenly ran forward, refusing to stop no matter how much Shisi called after her.
"Hey, you're a young lady, it's almost dark, and we're all in the middle of nowhere. Aren't you afraid?" Fourteen shouted from behind.
"You don't even like me, so why do you care so much about me?" Xiniu suddenly stopped and said.
"I... I don't really know if I like you or not. I just don't want you to be a concubine. Your personality is so bright and lively, being a concubine would suffocate you." Fourteen felt that if he really took Xiniu back, Wanyan would definitely tear down the roof.
"So you like me, right?" Xiniu turned around excitedly, her face full of joy.
"Perhaps there is a little bit of liking. But I'm not sure. If you knew my family situation, you might not be willing to be my concubine," Fourteen sincerely advised.
"You like me, so why give up? Just because of some family situation, can you ignore your feelings?" Xi Niu couldn't help but ask.
“Xiniu, my family is very large, with many brothers and sisters. I am just one of my father’s sons. I also have a wife, and even several concubines. Are you really willing to live such a complicated life with me?” Fourteen asked. He knew he was attracted to this woman, otherwise he wouldn’t be so concerned about her happiness. He had just said that because he was afraid that if Xiniu really became his concubine, she would lose her carefree and unrestrained life.
“I do. From the first moment I saw you, I felt like I wasn’t even myself anymore. Every day I long to see you again. But once I see you, I get so nervous I can’t speak.” Xi Niu’s face was filled with the pain of someone who pursues love but cannot have it.
“But you’ll gradually become like a lifeless puppet, consumed by the scheming and intrigue among the women in the inner quarters. I don’t like seeing you like that; I only want to see you full of life,” Fourteenth said. In his heart, Fourteenth didn’t actually have much interest in his concubines; otherwise, he wouldn’t still only have one man and one woman. It was precisely because he so vehemently disliked this situation that he rarely visited the inner quarters.
"As long as you are sincere to me, what does it matter if I argue with them for a while!" Xi Niu looked at Shi Si with a determined look in her eyes, her eyes full of tenderness and affection, completely different from the way she had been laughing and arguing in front of everyone just now.
"Also, my house is very big, and there are many rules. Sometimes during festivals, when we visit other people's houses, half the time is spent bowing and paying respects," Fourteen added.
"A big family is great, it's lively. I love kids the most. I can help take care of the children then," Xiniu said, quickly cutting off Fourteen's topic, thinking that wasn't a problem.
“Then the master will definitely have concubines in the future, you can’t be jealous,” Fourteen said.
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