Chapter 990 Xinyang VS Xiao Ji (End of this episode)
The fact that Xiao Ji and Qin Fengwan were parading through the streets with their concubines and male lovers caused a sensation throughout the capital. Those who recognized Xiao Ji said it was Xiao Ji with his concubines, and those who recognized Qin Fengwan said it was Qin Fengwan with her male lovers. Even if they recognized both, no one believed it!
In short, nobody in the entire capital believed that the two of them were truly in love; at best, it was just a royal show.
"These nobles are all concerned with appearances. They're all just putting on a show for us ordinary people. Who knows what they're really like in private!"
This was a message relayed verbatim by a purchasing eunuch to the two of them.
Qin Fengwan's face turned green.
Xiao Ji's expression wasn't much better. Undeterred, he said with an air of domineering arrogance, "This Marquis has had another daughter with the princess in the past two years. What will they say then?"
The young eunuch forced a smile and said, "Everyone says the princess drugged you, used... and then you ran away and threw you away!"
Xiao Ji: "..."
Qin Fengwan: "..."
Xiao Heng had just left the cabinet when he heard about the commotion on the street. To cause such a commotion on the first day back in the capital, no wonder he was born to his parents!
He simply didn't know what to say.
He returned to his residence and asked the servants if his parents had returned. The servants said no, it seemed they had gone to the palace.
How the servants found out has to start with Long Yi.
The first thing Long Yi did upon returning to the capital was to find the twins. Naturally, he also mentioned Xiao Ji and Qin Fengwan's whereabouts to Yu Ya'er.
Xiao Zhen'er did not return with them because the incident before her departure made Xiao Ming change his mind. He wanted his daughter to return to the capital with the two brothers, Xiao En and Xiao Ze, at the end of the year to avoid Long Yi, the bad guy who had taken advantage of his daughter!
Gu Jiao had finished getting ready and was waiting for Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng kissed his wife, went to the inner room to change his clothes, and then rode with her in a carriage into the palace.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Heng waited for a while, but Yu Ya'er didn't come over with the two children: "Yan'er and Cong'er..."
Gu Jiao said, "They were taken away by Long Yi. It's alright, they'll be going to the palace soon."
Whether or not to use the main gate depends on Long Yi's decision; if he wants to scale walls and rooftops, the palace guards won't be able to stop him.
Xiao Heng breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank God, my parents are finally back."
The twins can be sent away, Yiyi can be sent away, and he can have some alone time with Jiaojiao again. He's happy.
"Brother! Sister-in-law!"
A tiny head with a small bun peeked through the carriage curtain, looking at the two of them with adorable eyes.
Xiao Heng was in a good mood because he would soon be able to return the little guy to his rightful owner, and also receive twins as a bonus.
The three of them entered the palace.
Xiao Ji and Qin Fengwan were still depressed about the rumors. The two sat in the pavilion, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden dared not bloom.
Xiao Heng held Xiao Yiyi's hand, looked at the pavilion in front of them, and said, "Do you see your parents? Go and say hello to them."
Little Yiyi turned her head and her eyes lit up: "Brother Chang Jing!"
She decisively waved her little hand and went to find Chang Jing.
The two men, oblivious to the fact that their little girl had been abducted by Chang Jing, sat in the pavilion sighing repeatedly.
Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao walked over and greeted the two of them.
Xiao Ji glanced at his son and daughter-in-law and asked, "You've probably heard the rumors outside. What do you think?"
"What rumor?" Gu Jiao asked.
It was really hard to say such things in front of the children. Even Xiao Ji hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and saying seriously, "I brought a woman back from the border. Your mother... has been keeping a male concubine."
Xiao Heng stammered, "Uh... is it just a rumor?"
Xiao Ji: "..."
"My lord! Princess! You're back!"
Steward Liu hurried over, carrying a large pile of top-quality tonics, which Xiao Heng had prepared for Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Xiao Ji beckoned to him: "Come here."
"Yes, Lord Marquis." Steward Liu, as Xiao Ji's confidant, has always been loyal to Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji looked at Qin Fengwan beside him, took her hand in front of everyone, and solemnly said, "The princess and I have reconciled. From now on, we will live in harmony and be a loving couple."
Qin Fengwan blushed.
The pavilion was silent for a full three seconds.
Xiao Ji said calmly, "What? You don't believe me?"
"I believe it! I believe it!" Steward Liu exclaimed with unbridled joy. "Congratulations, Marquis! Congratulations, Marquis! Congratulations, Princess! Congratulations, Princess! I always said you two were a match made in heaven! There is no more loving couple in the world than you two!"
Xiao Ji was very satisfied: "That's more like human speech."
The next second, Steward Liu leaned closer to him under the pretense of adjusting his clothes and whispered, "My lord, blink if you're being threatened."
Xiao Ji: "..."
Dinner was served at Renshou Palace, and the old chief priest also came over.
The reason is that Qin Wuyou started his formal education at the age of two, and his tutor entered the palace every day to teach him.
However, as the eldest grandson of the emperor, Qin Wuyou could not attend classes alone. He also selected many children of similar age from aristocratic families to accompany him in his studies, including three-and-a-half-year-old Gu Xiaobao.
Gu Xiaobao lives in Renshou Palace.
After each class, the old chief priest would personally escort Gu Xiaobao over.
As usual, he escorted Gu Xiaobao to the entrance of Renshou Palace, where they happened to run into the emperor, who was dining there.
As Qin Wuyou's study companion and a resident of Bishui Hutong and Renshou Palace, Gu Xiaobao had met the emperor many times.
He bowed respectfully, like a little adult, and said, "Your Majesty."
"Oh, it's Xiao Bao." The emperor looked at him kindly and said, "Have you finished your lessons today?"
Gu Xiaobao thought for a moment and replied, "No."
They all knew it, but Qin Wuyou didn't.
Then he can't do it either.
She's been a clever little devil since she was a child.
The emperor was delighted. It wasn't that his grandson was stupid; it was just that the old chief priest's teachings were too difficult.
"Go in," the emperor said to Gu Xiaobao.
Gu Xiaobao went to find his great-aunt.
The emperor turned to go inside, but the old chief priest suddenly asked, feigning ignorance, "Your Majesty, Renshou Palace is quite lively. Has something happened?"
The emperor said indifferently, "The Marquis of Xuanping and Xinyang have returned and are inside paying their respects to the Empress Dowager."
The old chief priest stroked his beard: "Ah, so the princess has returned. This humble subject should go and pay his respects to Princess Xinyang."
You're not even familiar with her, why are you greeting her?
The Emperor said, "Isn't it getting too late? You can go to her residence to pay your respects tomorrow."
The old chief priest: "It's not too late, it's not too late!"
Emperor: Didn't you see my order to expel you?
The old chief minister: Alas, this old minister's eyesight is failing, I can't see anymore.
Xiao Ji and his son were both present, along with Chang Jing and Long Yi. It was inappropriate to refuse the old chief priest entry under the pretext of him being an outsider, so the emperor, with a dark face, led the old chief priest into Renshou Palace.
The old chief priest paid his respects to Princess Xinyang, and then he stayed.
The emperor was so angry that he sat to the side shaking his leg: "My dear minister, do you intend to dine in Renshou Palace?"
The old chief priest bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty says so, I have no choice but to accept the decree."
Dinner was served in the courtyard, where people enjoyed the flowers, the moon, and the late spring scenery.
The children had finished eating long ago and were playing and frolicking in the garden, accompanied by several young palace maids, seemingly with inexhaustible energy.
Qin Fengwan rubbed her sore arms. She had only hugged Yiyi and the twins a couple of times, and her back and waist were already aching.
"It's so good to be young," she remarked.
The adults finished eating, and the servants cleared away the dining table and replaced it with a tea table.
Xiao Ji was peeling an orange for Qin Fengwan: "What's good about being young?"
Qin Fengwan, recalling the rumors about him taking a concubine, said sourly, "You men just like young girls."
Just as Xiao Ji was about to speak, the old chief priest on the other side interrupted indifferently, "Who said that?"
He looked at the old priest, but the old priest didn't look at them and didn't seem to be talking to them.
He continued peeling the orange: "Qin Fengwan, don't you have any idea how many times I look at you every day? I haven't even glanced at those young girls."
Qin Wan touched her face: "When I get a little older, you won't like looking at me anymore."
Xiao Ji carefully removed the pith from the peeled oranges, which she didn't like, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "You're old, but am I not? Besides, even in ten, twenty, or thirty years, you'll still be the most beautiful little old lady in Zhaodu."
The old chief priest: "That's right!"
Xiao Ji turned his head and gave the old chief priest a strange look.
Qin Fengwan was far away and his hearing was not as good as Xiao Ji's, so he did not hear the old chief priest speak.
She lowered her eyes and said softly, "When I'm very, very old, will you still like to look at me?"
The old chief priest: "Of course."
Xiao Ji frowned. "What's wrong with you today, Huo?"
Under the moonlight, Empress Dowager Zhuang watched several playful children, while the old Grand Master of Ceremonies watched her quietly.
That concludes the extra chapters about Xinyang and Little Chicken Monkey.
Tomorrow, Xiao Jingkong will be all grown up, and this should be the last extra chapter of this story.
Not everyone needs to be explained in every detail, and not every character needs to be paired up with a romantic partner.
Some readers want me to write about even the most insignificant characters, but that's impossible.
An article has its own logic and its own appeal; too much of anything is as bad as too little.
(End of this chapter)
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