Chapter 68 So Many Crooked Necks
Yang Qing waved her hand: "I'm really fine. It's just because it's too hot here. It's nothing."
Chu Ying then said, "Alright, but your face is really red. If you think it's too hot here, hurry up and go inside. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll really get heatstroke in a little while."
The second madam realized what had happened, and her face darkened. She had forgotten that Chu Ying and Yang Qing, the two who had slipped through the net, were still here.
Two unmarried young girls are actually watching marital affairs here; they're not ashamed at all.
She said in a stern voice, "Have you two seen enough? Hurry up and go back to your rooms."
If this gets out, won't everyone in the capital say that Jiang Xianyi has failed to raise her daughter properly?
Chu Ying shrank her neck and tried to pull Yang Qing away, but Yang Qing didn't slink away with her as usual. Instead, she raised her voice, "Second sister, although you don't have any brothers, you still have sisters. If... if your husband really bullies you in the future, whether it's me, or my eldest sister and third sister, we will all stand up for you!"
After saying this, she dared not look at the Second Madam's face again and quickly pulled Chu Ying away.
*****
With the matter settled, Yanyun, though sharp-tongued, had a kind heart and finally agreed to go home.
Yang Qing had already anticipated this, but they did not set off immediately; instead, they chose to stay and observe the ceremony.
There's only one month left until Yang Qing and Li Shangxuan's wedding.
She was genuinely unsure what Li Shangxuan meant by this.
It's been so long since the Lantern Festival, and he really hasn't paid any attention to her at all, whether at palace banquets or in private. He seems to really act as if he doesn't know her.
Yang Qing wondered if he had really changed his mind and didn't want to be with her anymore...
But if that's the case, why doesn't he just go and ask the emperor to cancel the engagement directly?
However, he is the crown prince, and it is indeed not good to have been engaged and then broken off within a year.
Even if he doesn't annul the engagement and marries you as a decoration, he can still have multiple wives and concubines. But you, on the other hand, will be left alone in an empty room, living the life of a widow.
After he ascends the throne, he can just appoint any concubine and keep her in the harem.
Yang Qing grew angrier the more she thought about it, twisting her handkerchief in frustration, and even finding fault with the little traitor Xiao Man.
She frowned: "You're practically shoving your face in mine, what are you doing?"
Xiaoman said seriously, "Of course it's to protect you!"
With the wedding date fast approaching, she had a heavy responsibility on her shoulders and absolutely could not allow Yangqing to have any more problems.
Yang Qing, however, was not appreciative and still harbored resentment in her heart. She thought that Li Shangxuan had probably changed his mind or fallen for another woman who was prettier than her.
Whether it was Rongyue Chuying or Doukou Lili, Yangqing always stubbornly insisted, "I wish he would never contact me again, it would be so peaceful."
But only she herself knew the true extent of her anxiety and unease.
A man captivated by beauty will inevitably fall for someone even more beautiful.
There was affection between them, but Li Shangxuan was so lustful. Not to mention their past life, even in this life, before they were married, he was always eager to see her. Even if they couldn't consummate their relationship, he would always touch her hand or put his arm around her waist.
Yang Qing knew she was beautiful, and during their intimate moments, he tirelessly praised her looks.
But……
The closer the wedding date got, the more anxious she became.
Storybooks often depict stories of deliberately marrying someone and humiliating them. Although Yangqing lacks backbone, she truly cannot endure any hardship.
When Ming Luoqi visited again, she no longer cowered and, for the first time ever, went out to see her.
After meeting, Ming Luoqi was also surprised. This was the first time Yang Qing had agreed to come out and see her after she had visited the Chi family so many times.
She has no shortage of perseverance. No matter what strange excuses Yang Qing uses to avoid her, it can't stop her from coming again.
Yang Qing once complained in her heart, "With Luo Qi's perseverance, why can't she do something else? Why does she have to get entangled with her?"
She had originally intended to greet her politely first, but Ming Luoqi didn't play by the rules. They had just met, and before Yang Qing could even say a word, Ming Luoqi pounced on her and hugged her. Just like Xin Wanyou's little white rabbit, she rubbed her chin against Yang Qing's shoulder. "Hehehe, why are you suddenly willing to see me? Have you changed your mind and think my suggestion was really a good idea?"
Yang Qing felt very uncomfortable. Since she could remember, she had never been this close to anyone except Li Shangxuan.
Even with her best friend Xu Pianran and her older sister Rongyue, they would at most hold hands or link arms; no one had ever hugged her like that, and she had never hugged anyone like that.
She hurriedly pushed the person away from her, her face inevitably turning red. "What nonsense are you talking about? I would never agree to your foolish idea."
Ming Luoqi was rejected and snorted in dissatisfaction. "Why are you all like this? Anyway, the East Palace is so big. You'd be so bored if you were all alone. If I were here, I could talk to you and play with you."
The palace was indeed incredibly boring, but Yang Qing wasn't swayed. She didn't think she could get along with Ming Luoqi, and more importantly...
Thinking of this, Yang Qing said seriously, "You're wrong to think like that. You should marry a man you like, instead of just blindly wanting to play with me and marrying into the Eastern Palace."
Ming Luoqi was stunned for a moment before asking, "Why would you think that? It's true that I like you very much, but I also quite like my cousin, the Crown Prince. After all, he's very handsome, and I'd like to marry him. It's just that my family wanted me to be the Crown Princess, but the Crown Princess already has you, so I can only reluctantly become a concubine. But he is the Crown Prince, so it's not too unfair of me. A concubine is fine."
She spoke with such conviction that Yang Qing's heart sank. "Did he promise you that he would make you a concubine?"
Yang Qing didn't say who "he" was, but Ming Luoqi immediately knew. "Not yet... Sometimes I really don't know what my cousin, the Crown Prince, is thinking. I'm not bad-looking, I have a likable personality, and I come from a good family. I'm willing to be his concubine, but he keeps making excuses. Anyway, whether I marry him or someone else, it doesn't seem to make a difference. If he doesn't have me as his concubine, he'll have someone else. I really don't understand what he's thinking."
Yang Qing breathed a sigh of relief: "I won't agree, and he won't agree either. He likes me, so he can only have me."
Ming Luoqi stared wide-eyed as if she had heard a fairy tale. "How could that be? You must never say that in front of anyone, especially my aunt. If they find out, they'll definitely say you're jealous and don't have the virtues expected of a Crown Princess."
Yang Qing got carried away and wasn't too scared. She continued, "That's what liking someone is like. There can never be two people in a person's heart."
Ming Luoqi retorted without hesitation, "My father and mother were a harmonious couple, but he also had other concubines. Isn't that normal? Don't you have a half-sister?"
With examples right before their eyes, Yang Qing said, "My parents never really loved each other; they were just living together out of convenience. Your father certainly didn't really love your mother either. True love should be like that of my second sister and brother-in-law, where there's no room for a third person."
Ming Luoqi said, "You always say I'm talking nonsense, but you're the one talking nonsense now. My mother secretly told me that childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell for a woman. If she doesn't have a concubine, wouldn't the mistress have to give birth one child after another? My God, that's too terrible."
Thinking back to her past life, she felt downcast because she had never had any children all these years.
If things continue like this in this life, then such situations will definitely occur again.
She herself had little interest in children, but Li Shangxuan wanted to become emperor, and how could an emperor not have offspring?
She didn't want to talk anymore.
Ming Luoqi thought she had convinced her and was about to say a few more words in triumph when she saw her frowning and looking extremely pitiful.
She softened her heart and comforted him, "Don't be so petty. Your cousin, the Crown Prince, and you are childhood sweethearts. Even if he has many concubines, you are still the first one. No one can surpass you."
Yang Qing didn't want to be the first; she only wanted to be the only one.
Ming Luoqi continued, "Think about it carefully. Once you become the Crown Princess, you can become the Empress. That's the mother of the nation, second only to the Emperor, above all others—how prestigious! At that time, no matter how many women your cousin, the Crown Prince, wants to have, they'll all have to consider your feelings."
Yang Qing was not comforted. She pursed her lips, sighed, and thought of her original intention in meeting Ming Luoqi. "Sigh, forget it. You can't convince me, and I can't convince you either. I'm just telling you in advance that if you really become his concubine, I won't play with you anymore, and I won't pay any more attention to Li Shangxuan. You two can go together."
Ming Luoqi was stunned.
Yang Qing asked again, "I originally wanted to ask you if there was anyone still thinking about him, but now that things have come to this point, there seems to be no need to continue. I'm tired too, so I can't keep you any longer."
Without asking Ming Luoqi, he turned to Xiaoman and said, "Show the guest out."
Ming Luoqi wanted to say something more, but Xiaoman, though she might not be good at other things, was incredibly strong.
As soon as Yang Qing spoke, she asked the person to leave without saying another word.
As summer draws to a close, the heat has not yet dissipated, and looking out the window, everything is lush and green.
Yang Qing felt that the green wasn't just outside the window, but also on her head; she could feel that her head was covered in green.
She suddenly regretted it; if she had known it would turn out like this, she would have preferred to marry someone else.
If she marries someone else, she won't care how many wives or concubines he takes; in fact, she might even hope he has several so he won't bother her anymore.
How could I be so stupid? I finally had a chance to start over, but I was still fooled by him and fell into his trap.
Yang Qing rested her chin on her hand, leaned against the window, and looked at the lush greenery. She reflected in her mind that in the end, it was all Li Heyun's fault. If it weren't for her meddling, she and Li Shangxuan would have parted ways long ago, and she wouldn't be in such distress!
No, she had to get revenge.
Li Heyun will not be let off the hook, nor will Li Shangxuan; neither of these two surnamed Li are good people.
So what if I'm just ignoring her? Fine, I'll keep ignoring her then. It's like she can't live without me.
He'd better never talk to her again.
No, it's best to break off the engagement as soon as possible. Yang Qing has heard that Madam Mu's son has a fiancée, but her nephew doesn't have one yet.
There's also Yun Xiao's younger brother, who was her third sister's husband in her previous life. Although he didn't send her a lantern in this life, he probably still has feelings for her.
There are so many crooked trees; you can't just hang yourself on one.
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