Honesty
No one spoke in the silent room for a long time.
A group of maids and servants stood in the corridor and guarded in front of the house. They did not go near, so they did not know what their masters said.
Qi Qinghe suspected that he was hallucinating, and his eyes widened in disbelief, and he did not respond for a while.
She clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, and when she raised her hand, she knocked over the teacup. The warm tea spilled all over the table and soaked her dress.
She never thought that the arrogant Third Princess could say such a thing. To overthrow the Crown Prince, isn't that treason?
If she failed, her life would be in danger and her entire family would be killed. If she succeeded... She knew nothing about government affairs. She only heard her younger sister talk about things in storybooks. She especially remembered that once the prince left this identity, he would not live long.
Qi Qinghe really wanted freedom, but he didn't want to let others risk their lives. Even his uncle Qi Lin only served two years in prison and his life was not in danger.
She pursed her lips and chuckled, then took a handkerchief and wiped her clothes casually. "Look at me, I'm so clumsy, but you have to be careful."
Ning Yu's delicate brows knitted together, and upon hearing this, she simply said, "It's just a small matter, don't worry about it, my sister-in-law. There's still a long way to go, I'll come back another day."
The implication is self-evident. Qi Qinghe is not in a hurry to make a decision. She has enough time to consider it.
Qi Qinghe forced a smile and stood up to see him off.
…
The prince discussed the matter until night fell.
Qi Qinghe stayed in the room and did not go out. Her father's letter was placed beside her. A cup of hot tea on the table was gradually getting cold. She still sat there without moving.
At noon, her mother and younger sister came to have lunch with her. Qi Xu told her frankly that as long as she wanted, they could continue to be mother and daughter.
Qi Xu had just kept this matter in her heart for too long, and had been frightened repeatedly, which had damaged her mind, so she just told her.
The younger sister Qi Qingyu is still heartless. She tells her elder sister interesting stories from the storybooks to make her happy.
Qi Qinghe felt much calmer after the meal. Before leaving, her younger sister asked her if she had ever thought about finding her biological parents.
Qi Qinghe pondered for a moment before saying, "I've actually thought about this before. If I could go back eighteen years, the capital was in turmoil, with countless casualties and rivers of blood. Even if I were to look for him now, I'd be hard pressed to find him. Since I was picked up by my father and mother, I should simply remember their kindness in raising me."
This matter should be considered settled.
Now, the only thing Qi Qinghe cares about is what the Third Princess said today.
She really didn't want to go back to the palace. The emperor and the empress were not easy people to get along with. The palace rules were strict and she was oppressive all the time. If she went back, she would really have no freedom.
But if she joins the Third Princess and the Third Prince in overthrowing the Crown Prince, honestly speaking, she does have selfish motives and does not want the Crown Prince to get into trouble or anyone to die as a result.
Neither of the two paths seemed to be a way out. Qi Qinghe was so engrossed in his thoughts that he only came back to his senses when Cheng Xi knocked on the door. The cup of warm tea beside him had already gone cold.
Cheng Xi was waiting outside the house, unconsciously changing her address back to the old one. "Your Majesty, the three princes and the prefect are hosting a banquet in the front yard. The Crown Prince asked you not to wait. Would you like the food to be served?"
Qi Qinghe took a sip of tea. The ice-cold tea was particularly biting in these gradually warming days. She shuddered all over, tidied her sleeves, and sat up straight to answer.
What was tucked into her sleeve was a small square medicine bag that the Third Princess had given her under the pretext of covering herself before leaving the house. When she unfolded it, it contained some light yellow medicine powder. It had no odor when she smelled it carefully, and it was impossible to tell what it was.
Exquisite dishes were placed on the table. Cheng Xi was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. She paused, bowed slightly, and said gently, "Your Majesty, let me speak from my heart. Your Highness's behavior is indeed inappropriate, but after all, you are in love with Your Majesty. Your Majesty and Your Highness are together, eating and drinking delicious food, wearing fine clothes and eating delicious food, and getting whatever you want. What's wrong with that? Why do you insist on being stubborn and seeking that unwarranted freedom?"
Cheng Xi was acting as a lobbyist for the prince, and he also truly loved the queen, a gentle and kind master like her. Of course, he was happy to see the two of them reconcile.
These words undoubtedly tilted the scales. Qi Qinghe looked calm, nodded slightly, and pondered secretly in his heart.
Chengxi is right. All the clothes, food and utensils are of high quality. There are people to serve you when you go in and out. You don’t have to care about other people’s faces. What is good is naturally good.
Qi Qinghe sighed and decided not to think about it anymore. Thinking about it made her headache worse. After dinner, she sat alone in front of the window, staring out in a daze.
In the courtyard in front of the hall, several potted plants were in full bloom. She couldn't even name some of them, but she felt they were extremely beautiful. A cool breeze mixed with a hint of heat passed through the hall, leaving behind bursts of fragrance.
Qi Qinghe looked up and watched the petals flying and falling in the wind. In the gray-blue night sky, the bright moon was hidden behind the dark clouds, and there was not a single star to be seen.
It must be raining, she thought calmly. When she looked up again, she saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. There seemed to be a hint of confusion in his eyes, but his body was still steady, striding towards her.
Xiao Junbai looked at her from afar and saw her sticking her head out from the window that was swaying in the wind and rain. Her face, which had been washed off, was plain and pretty, and her clear eyes were like shining stars. Her dazed and confused look was very cute. The corners of his mouth curled up for a moment, then calmed down. He pushed the door open with force and walked straight towards the person.
"Your Highness, I..." Qi Qinghe was about to open her mouth when the prince grabbed her by the waist. She cried out in surprise and asked the prince what he was going to do.
Xiao Junbai turned a deaf ear to him, threw the man onto the bed, then leaned over and pressed down on him, holding his wrists tightly and lifting them above his head, making him unable to move.
Qi Qinghe struggled to break free, but still couldn't move. When she got closer, she smelled the strong smell of alcohol from the prince's mouth and nose. She was stunned for a moment. Xiao Junbai's hot lips pressed against her earlobe, bit it hard, and slid along her neck. His free hand crossed her waist, gently stroking her back and pulling open her clothes.
She was still wearing the same set of clothes she had changed into in the morning. The clothes were layered and very complicated. Xiao Junbai was patient at first, but then his patience gradually faded. He exerted force with his hands, tore the clothes into pieces, and threw them away.
During the struggle, Qi Qinghe's hands loosened, and she hurriedly pulled the quilt to cover her body. She raised her hand and slapped the prince hard in the face. His cheeks turned red with anxiety, his eyes were misty, and there were red marks on his neck. He looked very embarrassed.
Xiao Junbai's head was tilted by the blow, and the five finger marks on his face were particularly obvious. His confused mind became clearer, and he turned over and fell beside Qi Qinghe, gasping for breath.
Outside the open window, the sound of raindrops hit the eaves and window frames, and made a rustling sound among the trees. The people in the house were speechless for a moment.
The maids and servants serving beside them seemed to be taking advantage of the rain to hide away.
Qi Qinghe sobbed quietly, clutching the quilt tightly to cover her body, her eyes numb and lifeless.
At this moment, the person beside her suddenly moved, slightly turned sideways, hugged her from behind, put his hot forehead on her shoulder, and whispered softly.
She didn't want to listen much and closed her eyes to rest.
Xiao Junbai hugged the person, tightened his arms and pressed them tightly against himself. After a long time, he patted the person in his arms and asked quietly, "Are you asleep?"
Qi Qinghe said nothing, pretending not to hear.
"I'm sorry for losing my composure today." Xiao Junbai turned her over, gently lifted her cheek, rubbed his nose against her soft cheek, stroked her messy long hair with his fingers, and sighed.
Qi Qinghe was startled and opened her eyes suddenly. What she saw were Xiao Junbai's dark and deep eyes. She stared at the prince and blinked in disbelief.
Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince apologizing to her? They've known each other for months, but this has never happened before.
Qi Qinghe suppressed his surprise and just looked at Xiao Junbai quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Xiao Junbai raised his head slightly, and a feather-light kiss landed on her eyelashes. "I know you don't believe me."
"I do like you, but I've never really known how to like someone. Everything I've done recently was my fault. I wanted you to be careful with your words and actions, to be self-disciplined and polite. I was afraid someone would find fault with you and use that to make things difficult for you. I was also afraid you'd act recklessly based on your status, not anything else. I've never cared about family background."
"I didn't expect you to be so embarrassed. I mentioned the importance of etiquette again because I thought you would come to me if you needed help. I didn't expect it would make things even more difficult for you. It's really my fault for not explaining it clearly."
"When you fell into the water, you fell seriously ill. I was thousands of miles away and wasn't by your side. I couldn't take good care of you. It was truly my fault."
"The incident at Wanguo Temple caused you to be assassinated. When you returned to the palace and were harassed, I thought you could escape with your cleverness. That's why I didn't help you explain, causing you resentment and anger. I deserve it."
"Everything that happened in the past was caused by me. I really shouldn't have made excuses." Xiao Junbai spoke gently, as if coaxing a child. He stroked the person's back and recounted the past. "But I do like you. We've been apart for several months, and every night I couldn't sleep was very hard."
"I don't know how to like someone, and I haven't paid much attention to you. Would you be willing to stay with me, teach me, and give me a chance to make amends?"
Xiao Junbai's every word was sincere, and his lowered gaze was not clear in the dim light, only a hint of pleading flashed across his face.
The prince's words were like sudden thunder outside the window, smashing into Qi Qinghe's ears and pressing on his chest, causing his steady breathing to become rapid, as if he was being pressed underwater, unable to breathe or struggle.
She seemed to have returned to the palace, paying her respects to several princes, the emperor and the empress, and was stared at by the empress. That sinister look was entangled and clung to her.
The surroundings in her eyes gradually became hazy, and the unclear outline of the prince became more and more blurred in the dim light. She raised her hand and touched her face, which was covered with tears.
His palm, which had slightly calloused texture, slid roughly across her face, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Qi Qinghe didn't want to say more and was about to turn sideways to avoid the prince's gaze, but Xiao Junbai's hand across her waist suddenly turned over, forcing her to face it.
Occasionally, a bright white light flashed through the open windows of the main room. Heavy rain poured down, and rumbling thunder rolled in from the sky. The breaths rose and fell, and for a while, no one spoke again.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Junbai could no longer bear the silence. He turned his head and looked away, clenching his hands at his sides into fists. He spoke slowly in a hoarse voice, "If you really don't want to, I can send you away to a wealthy place. I'll ensure you a smooth life and we'll never see each other again."
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