Chapter 43 Do you really think he's good?
The reason Yang Qing was able to connect with Xu Yanran was because of her grandfather.
Their family never had much of a foundation. When their grandfather was alive, their family was prosperous and flourishing, but after he passed away, their status plummeted.
By the time it came to my father's generation, they couldn't be considered spoiled brats. They were somewhat successful, but only somewhat; they were far from being considered brilliant or ambitious.
Yang Qing's generation, the eldest son of her third uncle's family is very good at studying. Now they are waiting for the imperial examination next spring. The whole family's hopes are pinned on him, hoping that he can get into the top three and bring glory to the family.
But Yang Qing felt it was unlikely. Fifty-year-olds are still young and strong, and her fifth brother, Chi Xiao, is only in his early twenties. It would be normal for them not to pass the exam, let alone be among the top three, who are the best of the best.
But it's always good to have hope.
Just like Xu Yanran, it's as if the road ahead is shrouded in thick fog, and you can't see a ray of sunshine at all.
Hesitantly taking his leave, he boarded his carriage after leaving the Duke of Xu's residence. He was startled to see Li Shangxuan still inside. "Why are you still here?"
She stayed at the Duke of Xu's residence for more than half an hour, but she didn't expect him to still be waiting.
Li Shangxuan said, "We haven't finished talking yet."
What did she just say? Yang Qing thought for a moment, and it seemed like she mentioned Si Jiamu?
She shut her mouth.
Li Shangxuan wouldn't let it go, pressing him relentlessly, "Are you very concerned about Si Jiamu?"
Yang Qing only vaguely said, "I don't care about him at all. I just overheard it and mentioned it casually."
Li Shangxuan said, "Then why don't you ask others, but only him?"
Yang Qing said, "What else could it be? Don't you know? Every young woman in the capital is paying attention to him!"
Yang Qing wasn't lying about this. To put it bluntly, every unmarried girl in the capital wanted to marry him.
Of course, some people wanted to marry Li Shangxuan, but the royal palace was a place of deep walls and danger, where serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice, and one had to be mindful of others' opinions in everything. It was much more comfortable to be the wife of a powerful family matriarch. Therefore, most people preferred to marry Si Jiamu.
If we're talking about the unfairness of fate, it truly is unfair. How could someone like Si Jiamu have such a good family background and such good looks? What's even more infuriating is that he passed the imperial examinations in three rounds before he was even eighteen or nineteen.
It's not just women who want to marry him; every man who sees him is filled with envy and jealousy.
Take Li Shangxuan for example. He's very jealous right now. "I don't care about others, I'm just asking you, do you also think he's good?"
Yang Qing didn't actually have any feelings for Si Jiamu, since she had no interaction with him at all. However, because of Rong Yue, she felt a sense of shared hatred towards him.
But since it concerned Rongyue, she couldn't easily discuss it with Li Shangxuan.
Her silence was seen by Li Shangxuan as tantamount to acquiescence.
So Yang Qing's face was pinched again. This time, he didn't even pretend anymore, his gritted teeth clearly indicating, "You really think he's good?"
Yang Qing said angrily, "Stop pinching my cheeks!"
Li Shangxuan refused to let go: "Answer my question first."
"You're so unreasonable! I didn't say anything when you went out with other people, but you went crazy just because I mentioned them once. I hate you so much!"
Li Shangxuan said, "You can be jealous too."
He couldn't be happier if she were a little jealous.
Yang Qing sneered, "You said it yourself. Get out now. I don't want to see you again for the next few days, no, for the next few months!"
Li Shangxuan was utterly shameless. "This won't do."
Yang Qing said, "You don't keep your word. You really are shameless."
"What I said doesn't count? I've already explained to you that my trip to the lake wasn't my own wish. The osmanthus flowers by the lake are in bloom, and the maple leaves are turning red. I would be honored if Your Highness would grant me the opportunity to invite you to join me, would you?"
Yang Qing said, "I don't want to go."
"Then explain to me again what exactly you mean by your feelings for Si Jiamu."
Yang Qing said, "Why should I explain to you? It's none of your business."
The journey was filled with bickering and noise, and before they knew it, they were almost at the Chi residence. Xiaoman asked, "We're almost at the Chi family. Is Your Highness going back with us?"
Xiaoman can swear that she was absolutely asking seriously, without any other intentions.
Unfortunately, Yang Qing had to use that sarcastic remark, "Is Your Highness also going back with us?"
Li Shangxuan glanced at her helplessly and said in a low voice, "Don't be so smug. I'll settle accounts with you later."
He returned with Yang Qing in the Chi family's carriage. Although the two were now engaged, it was still inappropriate.
He could also sense that the second wife's attitude towards him was subtle and quite different from before. Under these circumstances, it was best not to do anything out of line.
He stopped the carriage and asked again, "Really not going?"
When he spoke, half of his face was hidden in the shadows. Although he had no expression, Yang Qing was inexplicably reminded of his past life when he was emperor. He was just like that, dignified and imposing without anger.
She was almost about to give in, but just as she was on the verge of it, she realized that Li Shangxuan was just a hothead with fragmented memories of his past life, and he was not an emperor. Why should she be afraid of him?
So what came out of her mouth turned into disdain: "I don't want to go. There are plenty of people willing to go boating on the lake with you, so why would I be a problem?"
Li Shangxuan was about to say something more, but Xiaoman outside started urging him on again, completely oblivious to the situation. He could only get out of the car and give Yang Qing a deep look.
That evening, the Second Madam learned about Yangqing's outing that day. She assumed that Yangqing had met with the Crown Prince and summoned her to lecture her on the importance of "a woman's modesty."
Yang Qing was quite helpless. Wasn't she reserved enough? But it was no use being reserved; someone's skin was thicker than a city wall.
She could only listen with her head hanging down. Who knew that the second madam would see her expression and become dissatisfied again. Although she was told to go back, she still left her with the comment, "A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl."
After returning home, Yang Qing cursed Li Shangxuan in her heart many times over, determined that even if he came to see her again tonight, she would never see him.
At worst, we can make a scene and let our mother see who is the one who is not reserved.
Perhaps Li Shangxuan knew what she was thinking, because he really didn't come today.
She had no interest in reading leisurely books, and ordered Liu Ye'er to turn off the lights early. Lying in bed, she couldn't fall asleep. One moment it was about Xu Yanran, and the next it was about Li Shangxuan and the Ming family girl's boat trip on the lake.
One was forced into it, and the other was unwilling; I don't know why there are so many unsatisfactory things in this world.
She couldn't help but recall his unreasonable and tender behavior in the carriage last night and today. Yang Qing couldn't help but smile, but she quickly suppressed it.
She asked herself, did she like Li Shangxuan?
If you like him, why don't you want to marry him?
But if you don't like him, why get angry when you hear that he's going out with other people?
In the end, Yang Qing attributed it to habit.
From childhood to adulthood, it has always been like this. She has become accustomed to Li Shangxuan liking her the most. This liking is not necessarily the liking between a man and a woman, but it may also be the liking between two children.
Li Shangxuan must feel the same way; he can't stand it as soon as her gaze shifts to someone else.
He used to be jealous of Xu Pianran.
Xu Yanran was so determined that if she were forced to marry Zhou Minghao, she would rather die.
But Yang Qing probably didn't have that kind of resolve, no matter who she was going to marry. This was also why she doubted whether she liked Li Shangxuan; after all, shouldn't romantic love between a man and a woman be unique?
The next day, instead of the expected invitation to go boating on the lake, Yang Qing received an imperial decree from Empress Ming summoning her to the palace.
As soon as the eunuch delivering the imperial decree finished speaking, Yang Qing gasped in shock.
Her fear of Empress Ming even surpassed that of the Emperor. The Emperor had little interaction with her, but Empress Ming always maintained a respectable demeanor, strictly adhered to rules, and enjoyed punishing people.
After she was dressed, the second madam gave her a special instruction before she left, "Behave yourself in the palace, okay?"
Here we go again. The Second Madam always says the same thing: "Being open and generous" is a fate that Yangqing can never escape in her entire life.
After she agreed, she followed the palace staff into the carriage and touched the tassel on the hairpin in her hair, something she had never experienced in her previous life.
In her previous life, Li Shangxuan was already the emperor when he married her, and she became the empress after entering the palace.
Now, Empress Ming intended to make her niece the Crown Princess, but Yang Qing, who appeared out of nowhere, beat her to it. No matter how she thought about it, she was furious.
Yang Qing believed that she could not withstand the wrath of Empress Ming.
After passing through the imperial city gate, they went all the way to the Empress's residence, Jiaofang Palace. Yang Qing was very familiar with this place, after all, she had spent seven years here.
The young eunuch had to go and announce her arrival, while Yang Qing waited outside. She was feeling uneasy when suddenly a hand patted her back, startling her so much that she almost jumped up.
Looking back, he saw Xin Wanyou, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He breathed a sigh of relief and complained, "People scare people, they're terrifying."
Xin Wanyou chuckled and put her arm around hers. "You have the nerve to say that? I didn't know until I asked that you'd been back in the capital for over ten days. You didn't even tell me. That's so disloyal!"
Yang Qing said, "You're in the palace, so there's nothing I can do to inform you."
Xin Wanyou thought about it for a moment and agreed. She generously said, "Alright, I'll forgive you this time. But don't forget what you promised me before, that you would take me to have a good time in the capital."
Yang Qing was extremely nervous, but her mood eased considerably after being interrupted like this. She smiled slightly, and the dimples on her cheeks became more obvious. "If you can leave the palace, I can naturally take you out to play."
Xin Wanyou said, "What's the big deal? I'll just say something to Her Majesty the Empress, and she'll definitely let me out."
She boasted, "You have no idea how amazing my medical skills are; I can cure anything with a needle. The Empress's headache has eased quite a bit now. After I leave, how about I stay at your house?"
Yang Qing said, "You are most welcome."
This time, the eunuch who came to let Yangqing in was a different person. He was a bit older, and his fair face was full of smiles. "Miss Xin is here too. Perfect, please come in with me."
Xin Wanyou let go of Yang Qing's hand, and the two went inside together.
The incense burning inside was very strong. The Empress sat high at the head of the table, still with that serious, almost rigid expression.
With Xin Wanyou by her side, Yang Qing was no longer so afraid. She bowed respectfully and sat down before noticing the Ming sisters standing to the side.
Needless to say, Ming Miao and Ziran were quiet, and even Ming Luoqi, who was usually as noisy as a sparrow, was quiet and reserved, putting on the airs of a noble lady.
Yang Qing felt that this was a bit like a trap, so she quickly straightened her posture and tried her best to appear dignified, so as not to give the Empress any reason to make a mistake.
Author's Note: The Only Two Couples
Female lead x Male lead
Rongyue×Si
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