Chapter 31. Madam, what can I do for you?
Ji Yujing: "..."
A moment later, a smile appeared in his eyes. "When did you find out?"
"Your brother and the Fourth Prince said that?"
Lin Qingdai: "Your words are an insult to my intelligence."
When Ji Yujing heard her say that, he couldn't help but think of the bag of candy she had handed him, and his gaze suddenly froze.
That bag of candy was for Ji Yujing, for her fiancé.
So, she was already concerned about him back then?
Thinking of these things, Ji Yujing's heart felt as if it had been filled with molasses, and a sweet feeling wafted out.
Lin Qingdai then spoke again, “General Ji, how do you plan to resolve the fact that you’ve been hiding this from me?”
Ji Yujing snapped out of his daze. "How does Miss Lin intend to resolve this?"
Lin Qingdai: "Take me to the military camp for a look?"
Ji Yujing: "Why do you want to go to the military?"
Lin Qingdai: "In the Legend of the Heroes of Xun Kingdom, Ji Yujing's Ningdong Army is known as the most ferocious army in Xun Kingdom. I want to go and see for myself."
Ji Yujing: "I'll take you there. Does that mean we can just let this go and never mention it again?"
Lin Qingdai: "No, I'll still bring it up when I think about it."
"A temporary reconciliation."
His unreasonable and argumentative behavior made Ji Yujing laugh in exasperation.
But she was unusually spoiled, yet inexplicably adorable, making it impossible for anyone to bear arguing with her.
"Okay, I'll take you there tomorrow."
Lin Qingdai was satisfied and finally gave him what she had in her hand.
"Reach out your hand."
Ji Yujing reached out her hand without any hesitation.
A new bag of candy landed in his palm, feeling almost exactly the same as the last one.
"sugar?"
Lin Qingdai: "Hmm, did you give the one to the kids in Lingdong last time?"
Ji Yujing: "..."
A moment's hesitation allowed Lin Qingdai to see right through him.
She gave a slight smile. "Don't want to eat? I'll make sure you get some."
It's quite amusing to make the Ningdong Army commander unhappy.
Ji Yujing held the bag of candy in his palm, his gaze seemingly glued to Lin Qingdai, unable to look away for even a moment.
"You're so happy to go against me?"
Lin Qingdai didn't answer, but simply looked at him quietly. But through her various expressions, Ji Yujing already knew the answer.
She was genuinely happy to go against him.
Oh well, let her be. It won't hurt her anyway.
"May we go now, Miss Lin?"
What he really wanted to say was, "Ancestor, can we leave now?"
Lin Qingdai nodded, but before Ji Yujing could take a step, she said, "Wait."
Ji Yujing looked at her intently: "What's wrong?"
As he finished speaking, a slender white figure came into his view as Lin Qingdai extended her left hand in front of him.
That hand was as smooth as white jade, with long, slender fingers, possessing a captivating beauty.
But Ji Yujing's focus wasn't on that; he only glanced at her before his gaze returned to Lin Qingdai's face.
"What's wrong?"
"You hugged me, and I want you to return the favor."
Ji Yujing was truly convinced: "How does Miss Lin want me to repay her?"
Lin Qingdai raised her left hand a little higher, and the veil on her wrist trembled, exuding a languid and charming aura.
Ji and Jing finally understood what it meant to hold hands.
Although he didn't understand Lin Qingdai's thoughts, he couldn't have asked for anything more than to hold her hand.
Besides, she was his betrothed, and the wedding was in three days.
Holding hands, even if that old bastard Emperor Taining comes over, it's none of his business.
As his heart fluttered slightly, Ji Yujing reached out and seized that slender white dress, holding it firmly in his palm.
Not far away, Lin Qingyu watched this scene, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Dai Dai felt no distance from Ji Yujing at all, and naturally laid out her true self in front of him.
Just like at home, if she wanted something, she would tell her parents and him.
Dependence is acceptable, but so is the fear of dependence.
A little over fifteen minutes later, Lin Qingyu and her group arrived at Huiling Restaurant.
Lin Qingyu has booked the entire restaurant today.
The restaurant has three floors, with more than a dozen tables on each floor. When the group arrived, the first floor was almost full.
Lin Qingyu went from table to table to greet people, and he did the same when he got to the second floor.
He was approachable, polite, and generous, and the soldiers who participated in the rescue had a very good impression of him.
During this time, Ji Yujing and Lin Qingdai stood not far away waiting for him, like two exquisite but speechless dolls.
Suddenly, Lin Qingdai seemed to realize this and chuckled softly.
Ji Yujing looked down at her, "What are you laughing at?"
Lin Qingdai looked at him in the direction of the voice, "We seem like two emotionless mascots."
Ji Yujing: "..."
The ideas of a genius girl are always unconventional.
"I have feelings."
Ji Yujing didn't know why she said that; it seemed to have no meaning.
But he still spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingdai scrutinized him closely, as if to confirm whether what he said was true.
She quickly came to a conclusion: "Really? Forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't see it."
Ji Yujing couldn't allow himself to remain passive. Without warning, he moved, his palm against the girl's lower back. With little effort, he pulled the delicate woman into his arms.
Caught completely off guard, Mingyue and Mingqian didn't even have time to protect their master.
The two exchanged a glance, "..."
The future son-in-law is none other than a stranger, so let's just pretend we didn't see him.
"Ji and Jing".
Lin Qingdai snapped out of her daze, annoyed, and with a cold expression, called Ji Yujing by his full name. However, her voice was very soft, barely audible up close. To Ji Yujing, it sounded like a cat whining.
Ji Yujing: "Madam, what can I do for you?"
Lin Qingdai: "..."
By this point, she knew perfectly well that Ji Yujing was "fighting back."
If she had just a little thicker skin, this "counterattack" would have been nothing.
Unfortunately, in front of everyone, she couldn't be as open as he was.
"Let go of me, I promise I won't bother you anymore."
What guarantees do you have?
Lin Qingdai: "..."
He couldn't help but think to himself: As expected, Xun Guo is known for its "vengeful spirit."
She smiled at him, her lips red and teeth white, her smile so sweet it could ooze syrup, "If you bother me again, I'll make you a few sets of clothes."
Ji Yujing: "You can also make clothes?"
Lin Qingdai: "No, but I can learn."
When the word "learning" was mentioned, Ji Yujing couldn't help but think of what Lin Qingyu had said in the capital: Dai Dai is a genius girl, certified by the old tutor.
If she wants to learn, it's really not difficult for her.
"make a deal."
Ji Yujing immediately released his control over Lin Qingdai, still retaining some of the demeanor of a peerless genius.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the heat on her face gradually subsided.
And Ji and Jing...
He hadn't noticed when his palm was on her waist, but now that he had withdrawn it, he realized how soft it had been.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind, and his fingers twitched slightly.
As the sun set, the Prince of Yuzhou and Minister Chen arrived together, and the third floor gradually became lively.
Exquisite dishes were served, and everyone enjoyed drinks and conversation. At first, there was a bit of awkwardness, but there were quite a few people on the third floor who knew how to create a lively atmosphere, and the mood quickly improved.
During the meal, Vice Minister Chen and Lin Qingdai discussed the newly built mansion.
Lin Qingdai smiled and said, "Uncle Chen, you've had a hard time these past few days."
Chen Jian and Lin Yansen were old friends.
Lin Qingdai was essentially the little girl Chen Jian watched grow up, which is why the emperor sent Chen Jian to Lingdong to deliver an imperial edict and oversee the construction of the residence.
Chen Jian: "It's not hard work. Being able to see Dai Dai get married and also come to Lingdong to meet Lord Yu and General Ji is the greatest joy in life."
With just one sentence, he made everyone at the main table happy, and they all burst into laughter.
After laughing, Lin Qingdai suggested to Chen Jian, "Uncle Chen, I have a suggestion, but I don't know if it's feasible?"
Chen Jian: "Of course you can make suggestions about your residence. Tell me about it."
Lin Qingdai replied with a smile, "My brother has already bought me a house in Lingdong. It's so big that it's enough for 100 Lin Qingdais to live in."
Everyone was amused by her words.
Lin Qingyu: "So I made a mistake again?"
Lin Qingdai: "Brother is good, and the house is good too."
He offered a perfunctory compliment, then steered the conversation back on track.
"A house is enough to live in; the newly built one can be used elsewhere."
However, its purpose differs from simply constructing a mansion.
Furthermore, this time the funds are coming from His Majesty's private treasury, so there will inevitably be a lot of discussion.
Chen Jian: "How do you want to use it?"
Lin Qingdai: "I want to turn them into schools, with classrooms inside. I'll also recruit some teachers, and I can teach myself, so that the children of Jingning City can read some books and learn some skills."
"It would be best if the school had a front and back yard, so that I could teach those who are interested to make soy sauce and sun-dry flowers."
She spoke softly and gently, yet her expression was remarkably fluent.
Clearly, she had thought it over carefully.
Ji Yujing simply looked at her quietly, her expression indifferent, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
The other high-ranking officers in Ningdong Army were far less composed than him.
As Lin Qingdai shared her thoughts, vivid and clear images flashed before their eyes.
It's hard not to look forward to it.
Chen Jian: "It's not impossible, but Dai Dai's matter must be reported to His Majesty for the final decision."
"Of course, I feel very bad for causing Uncle Chen trouble."
"But those children are also His Majesty's subjects; shouldn't they be cherished?"
"His Majesty is very kind and will surely agree."
Chen Jian laughed, "You silly girl, just wait for the news."
This means being willing to give it a try.
Lin Qingdai was overjoyed. "Thank you, Uncle Chen."
Chen Jian accepted the thanks with a smile, then looked at Lin Qingyu and said, "It's all because you spoil her. She dares to make any request."
Lin Qingyu: "Yes, yes, it's all my fault."
After saying that, he burst out laughing, "Is there no justice in this world?"
Ji Yujing replied, "Yes, it just didn't happen to you."
Lin Qingyu looked at him in the direction of the voice, then retorted fiercely, "Don't be so smug, you'll be the one to take the blame later."
Ji Yujing remained silent, but in his heart he thought, "If I'm willing to carry it, I can handle it."
...
Four months later, Prince Jingxian returned to the capital. He came for the marriage of Princess Zhaohua and the Second Prince.
In the flower hall of Chang Le Palace, he sat in the main seat, with Princess Zhaohe standing in front of him, her eyes lowered and her spirits not good.
In short: with the wedding just around the corner, she couldn't find a trace of the joy of a bride-to-be.
The concern in Jingxian Wang's voice was undisguised: "Showa, if you don't want to marry, just say so, and your father will handle the rest for you."
It was this concern that brought tears to Princess Showa's eyes.
She immediately knelt before Prince Jingxian, "Father, it's too late."
"It's too late, it's too late..."
Facing the only person in the world who loved her, Princess Showa's grievances began to overflow, and she burst into tears.
Prince Jingxian: "How can it be too late?"
"Could it be..."
Could it be that you and Song Yunlan have already...
The rest is a story that Prince Jingxian couldn't tell, partly because he was too shocked, and partly to save face for his daughter.
Silence fell as his words faded, until Princess Showa calmed down and spoke again.
“Father, this is also Showa’s fault.”
"If I hadn't harbored unrealistic fantasies, I wouldn't be in this predicament now."
"Father, Showa disappointed you."
Prince Jingxian sensed something amiss. "He's not good to you?"
Upon hearing this, Showa's frail body trembled, unable to contain himself.
"No."
But her reaction already told Prince Jingxian that she was lying.
"explain."
Prince Jingxian's face turned cold, a rare occurrence.
"If you don't tell me, I'll go directly to Song Yunlan."
"don't want."
"No, Father, I'll talk, I'll talk."
"Second Prince, he always hits me when he gets angry."
Sometimes they even take off her clothes.
He said that she was at her most beautiful at that moment.
The Showa era omitted these details.
But hitting her was enough to provoke Prince Jingxian's anger.
He swung the teacup beside him, but even in his rage, the cup landed far from Princess Showa and shattered into pieces.
“Song Yunlan, how dare he?”
"Father."
Princess Showa truly hated herself at that moment.
I hate myself for being so useless, and I hate myself for hurting my father's feelings.
Tears streamed down her face, and she didn't know how to stop them.
"Someone come here."
"Your Highness."
"Guard Chang Le Palace well. Princess Zhaohua is not allowed to leave without the permission of this palace, and no one from outside is allowed to enter."
"promise."
After saying that, he got up and left Chang Le Palace, his destination being the Imperial Study.
Upon seeing the emperor, he knelt down.
"I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."
Emperor Taining: "Qinghuai, it's too late to say anything now."
Prince Jingxian: "The Second Prince is not kind to Zhaohe; he even physically assaulted her. If I didn't know, I wouldn't care, but now that I do, how can I not do something for her?"
Emperor Taining looked at him indifferently, "Song Yunlan was her own choice."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Prince Jingxian raised his voice: "Can't one regret a choice once made? She knows she was wrong now."
Emperor Taining was successfully provoked by his ignorant words and swung a memorial at his head.
Prince Jingxian did not dodge, letting the emperor's anger strike him.
"Is my imperial decree something to be trifled with?"
"You are largely to blame for how things have turned out today. You adopted a daughter but failed to raise her properly. Would Song Yunlan have dared to stay by her side the whole time?"
At that moment, regret almost killed Prince Jingxian.
He kept kowtowing to Emperor Taining, repeatedly saying, "I beg my brother to retract his decree."
Emperor Taining was getting annoyed with him. "Someone, take Prince Jingxian back to Changle Palace."
At the Emperor's command, the Imperial Guards began to move.
Prince Jingxian was agitated and uncooperative.
The guards could only use brute force to subdue him and take him away, showing him absolutely no mercy.
"Brother, brother..."
Prince Jingxian still did not give up. He shouted loudly, but his voice gradually became hoarse and trembling, yet the emperor did not look at him again.
As he sat bewildered outside the imperial study, Song Qinghuai realized for the first time that being a "leisurely" prince meant living a stifled life.
People say that Song Qinghuai is the emperor's younger brother, a unique honor in the world.
In the end, he couldn't even protect his own daughter.
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