The young boy lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "My mother will be good to me."
Jiang Gonggong, who was observing the boy's actions, became anxious. He had come on purpose to sow discord between the Tenth Prince and Consort Yu. If the Tenth Prince didn't care and trusted Consort Yu, that wouldn't do.
Eunuch Jiang's brows furrowed, and he said earnestly, "But Your Highness, I'm truly worried about you. This Consort Yu is not an easy person to get along with. She's not your biological mother, and when she has her own child, she'll definitely take care of herself. Wouldn't that put you in trouble, Your Highness?"
Faced with the persistent and persuasive Eunuch Jiang, Xie Xi only had one sentence: "I believe in my mother."
Five words made Eunuch Jiang so angry that his head was throbbing, and he wished he could whisper in his ear a few stories about adoptive mothers abusing their adopted children.
Unfortunately, it was getting dark. Taking advantage of Xie Xi's journey back to Lingxi Palace while he was studying in the Imperial Study, Eunuch Jiang had someone delay Xie Xi's maid and take the opportunity to talk to Xie Xi. However, after observing the time, he dared not delay any longer and was afraid of being discovered. So he quickly took his leave with Xie Xi and slipped away.
As the old eunuch walked away, Xie Xi waited until his figure disappeared before revealing a chilling look in his eyes.
"Jiang Xi".
He wouldn't let any of those who wanted to harm his mother go unpunished.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!" The palace maid who ran to the pavilion breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the familiar little prince. Fortunately, His Highness was alright. He had just been splashed with water by that little eunuch, but luckily there was a place to change clothes nearby.
Otherwise, I'll get sick when I go back.
Xia Yuan jogged back to the young prince's side in the pavilion.
Looking at the familiar palace maid, Xie Xi's face returned to its previous shy and bashful expression.
She smiled sweetly at her and said, "Sister Xia Yuan, I was a little tired just now, so I sat down in this pavilion."
Looking at the obedient little prince smiling at her, Xia Yuan felt guilty. It was all her fault for not paying attention and letting the little eunuch spill water on her, delaying the little prince's return. She had no reason to blame Xie Xi.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being careless. Your Highness is tired, would you like me to carry you?"
Xie Xi's face stiffened. Looking at Xia Yuan, who was rather slender, he hesitated, but ultimately didn't say the sarcastic remark.
"It's okay, let's go back."
...
Back to Lingxi Palace.
Qingyin raised an eyebrow as she looked at the young boy walking ahead with an unchanged expression, and the apologetic palace maid behind Xie Xi.
What unexpected event had occurred? Qingyin wondered.
Xie Xi could tell what Qingyin was thinking just by looking at her face. He calmly recounted the events that had happened on the way, omitting his encounter with Eunuch Jiang, leaving nothing out.
Qingyin nodded as she listened to Xie Xi's words. She was listening, but why did Xia Yuan have that expression?
However, after noticing that Xia Yuan had been splashed with a basin of water, and then noticing the several unfamiliar eunuchs and palace maids who had appeared at the entrance of Lingxi Palace in the past few days, Qingyin had a better understanding of the situation.
It's likely that someone rushed over.
Dealing with Xie Xi is indeed easier than dealing with her.
Looking at the innocent (?) obedient boy gazing at her, Qingyin felt a surge of maternal love. "Well, get some rest after you finish reading. Don't be afraid. If anything happens, just tell your mother."
Xie Xi's eyes flickered slightly: "Okay."
His beautiful mother was even kinder and more fragile than he had imagined. No wonder his father sent him out to protect her; he would definitely protect her.
In order to find out who was plotting against his mother behind Eunuch Jiang's back, Xie Xi endured a lot of Eunuch Jiang's antics in front of him.
Secretly, Xie Yi watched all of this unfold, deliberately allowing the forces behind Eunuch Jiang to run rampant.
If Xie Xi can't even handle the people behind Eunuch Jiang, then he doesn't need to put this little brat by Yin'er's side so that he can protect Yin'er when he ascends the throne.
With Xie Yi's secret support, Qingyin was unaware that someone had deliberately arranged to deal with Xie Xi before Xie Xi discovered the culprit, revealed it to his father, the Emperor, and had the person dealt with.
After this incident, Xie Yi truly took Xie Xi seriously.
On ordinary days, Qingyin also noticed that Xie Yi was treating Xie Xi even better.
Qingyin quietly asked him the reason behind it, but Xie Yi smiled without saying a word, which made Qingyin annoyed and she turned her back to him, remaining angry for several days.
With Xie Yi's secret training and Xie Xi's hard work and intelligence, Xie Xi's progress was incredibly rapid.
From being constantly lamented by his teacher for his poor progress at the beginning to being praised by him now, Xie Xihe seems to be worlds apart from what he used to be.
Ten years later.
Compared to the young man with rosy lips, white teeth, and a healthy complexion, Qingyin even doubted that the skinny boy she had seen before only existed in her imagination.
Over the years, Xie Xi has grown up, and Xie Yi has aged. Only Qingyin's face remains unchanged, as if time has forgotten this beautiful woman, leaving youth to her alone.
She still looked as beautiful and radiant as Xie Xi had first seen her, remaining pure and kind.
"Mother, my uncle is getting married tomorrow. What should I be careful about when giving him a gift?" The handsome young man, now grown into an adult, lowered his head and waited respectfully for the woman's reply.
Hearing that it was the young man from the Marquis of Weining's mansion who got married, Qingyin was somewhat happy, but since she couldn't go to the palace, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Looking at the young man who was still waiting for her advice, Qingyin said softly, "You also have your own prejudices. Just choose the gift you want. Your uncle will be happy no matter what you give him."
"Remember to give me your congratulations when you go to the wedding."
"Okay." Xie Xi nodded seriously. He never refused his mother's words.
Thinking about how her silly little brother who used to follow her around had also gotten married, Qingyin thought of the handsome young man below who had reached marriageable age.
"Ah Xi is getting on in years, isn't he? It's time for him to get married. Ah Xi, do you have someone you like? I'll be your matchmaker."
"Qingyin said with great interest."
"No." The young man's face stiffened, but he realized that his refusal was too quick and unreasonable, so he explained it to him.
"Your subject is not very old, and I am busy with official duties at court. Your subject would like to get married later."
Qingyin nodded.
Indeed, Xie Yi is now focused on grooming Xie Xi to become the next emperor, assigning him a batch of official duties every day. Qing Yin gets a headache just looking at those piles of memorials, not to mention worrying about whether their contents will affect Daqing.
"If Axi meets someone she likes, she should tell her mother as soon as possible."
"Okay." Xie Xi was silent for a while, and his words sounded bitter, as if he was deliberately ignoring the captivating face that appeared in his mind after those words.
At night, after finishing his official duties, Xie Yi held the fragrant Qingyin in his arms, his eyes filled with tenderness, "Yin'er, Yin'er, Yin'er..."
These past few days he felt much more exhausted. Xie Yi had a fear of death, but what he feared even more was that the delicate girl beside him had no one to rely on.
Still half-asleep and half-awake from the noise, Qingyin mumbled, "Why are you yelling at me? Stop bothering me and go back to sleep."
Xie Yi's eyes softened, and he gently kissed Qing Yinguangjie's forehead, saying, "Mm, go to sleep."
He would personally clear away those obstacles for her.
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