"Better to die than to die myself; I can't let the entire Prime Minister's family be implicated by him."
...
Xie Changling was completely unaware of his father's thoughts and intentions; if he had known, he would have acted even more recklessly.
He stood in front of Xiao Jin, blocking Xiao Jin's gaze from falling on Song Lingxi. His eyes were filled with mockery and provocation, as if to say, "Look, Xi'er is mine, and you are nothing."
A hint of murderous intent flashed in Xiao Jin's eyes, but for some reason, he swallowed it back.
"If you want to see your son die with me, then continue to live in seclusion here. I will not disturb you."
Xiao Jin was not telling the truth. He would only stand by and watch Song Lingxi elope with someone else if he were dead.
He said this only to get Xie Changling to continue working for him. There weren't many capable generals in the court right now, and he had to admit that Xie Changling was indeed quite capable.
"Heh, nothing is more important than me being with Xi'er."
Xie Changling curled his lip in disdain, but in reality, his heart was not as calm as it appeared.
If he had never met Xiao Beizhan, he would have abandoned him without hesitation. But he had met him, and not only had he met him, he had even held him in his arms.
Such a tiny little thing, with such a soft body, especially those eyes that looked just like Song Lingxi's. The moment he saw them, he was overjoyed.
Xie Changling said this simply to get Xiao Jin to make concessions again, at the very least, not to discard him after using him.
What do you want?
Xiao Jin understood his meaning. He clenched his fists slightly, his whole body tensed up, and he had already entered a defensive state.
"I want a card that allows me to enter and leave the palace at any time."
"You scoundrel, the palace isn't a place you can just walk into."
Before the Emperor could reply, the Prime Minister became anxious.
The prime minister was genuinely afraid. After all, he was a scholar who feared the wrath of the emperor most and was most bound to uphold ancestral laws and traditions.
He had never seen such an arrogant minister before. If he were the emperor, he would not tolerate Xie Changling either, as he was constantly challenging the emperor's authority.
However, this request was within Xiao Jin's expectations. He pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
"Yes, but you must keep a low profile and not let others find out. Moreover, you must not expose yourself to them until they come of age."
The "they" here clearly refers to Xiao Junlin and Xiao Beizhan, a point Xie Changling had no doubt about. He also knew that the truth might not be a good thing for them.
Xie Changling readily agreed, but at the same time added a pointed remark: "I hope His Majesty will not go back on his word."
From this moment on, the entire landscape of the Xiao Kingdom, and even the entire world, began to change.
...
Xie Changling didn't hesitate for long. He personally carried Song Lingxi onto the carriage, being very careful, afraid that she would be woken up.
He kissed Song Lingxi's lips gently in front of Xiao Jin, successfully making Xiao Jin's face darken, and then raised an eyebrow triumphantly.
Then, Xie Changling spurred his horse and headed to the military camp with the tiger tally. There was no time to waste; the border war was of utmost importance.
After he left, Xiao Jin ignored Prime Minister Xie, his mind filled with thoughts of Song Lingxi, whom he had regained. He had the carriage driven away from the place.
Even after everyone had left, Prime Minister Xie was still in a daze, wondering if he had just had a dream.
The emperor allowed his son to provoke him so much and still let him leave safely. The sun must have risen in the west!
Moreover, Xie Changling's conditions have been agreed upon. Will he really be allowed free entry and exit from the palace to meet with the Empress in secret in the future?
This is complete chaos! Where have we put our ancestral laws and the rules of the court?
Even after returning to his residence, Prime Minister Xie was still somewhat distraught, but he couldn't tell everyone about it. When his wife asked about it, he felt extremely aggrieved.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jin brought Song Lingxi back to Fengyi Palace. In the carriage, he saw the red marks on Song Lingxi's snow-white neck, and a strange anger still simmered in his heart.
So, as soon as he arrived at the palace, he had hot springs prepared. They had been built but never used before, and now they came in handy.
When Song Lingxi woke up, she found herself in a sea of flowers. Red petals floated on the steaming hot spring, and the clear spring water was mixed with the fragrance of flowers, which was refreshing.
She turned around and saw the message staring intently at her. She involuntarily shrank back, her leg cramped, and she almost fell into the water.
"Tsk, Xi'er is so easily frightened, yet she dares to do such an outrageous thing?"
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