Chapter 55 Only the Empress's imperial carriage is worthy of this...
Bai Xuerou's heartbeat slowed down, and once she spoke, she felt more at ease.
Ling Xun didn't rush to speak, but instead opened the box, took out a phoenix bracelet, and played with it in his hand.
The expected response did not materialize, and Bai Xuerou became somewhat uneasy again, thinking to herself that Ling Xun was cunning and unpredictable.
She wanted to say something, but held back, her gaze unexpectedly falling on his hands.
Ling Xun's hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and a striking, cool white skin. There were some small scars and calluses on them, but they did not detract from the overall beauty. If a beautiful jade has a minor flaw, then that flaw is also a kind of beauty.
Ling Xun finally spoke, recounting the various details of making the bracelet. His ideas led the craftsmen to make adjustments again and again until it was finally made to his satisfaction.
Bai Xuerou listened intently.
“At that time, I thought that my sister-in-law would look very beautiful wearing it.” Ling Xun said, looking into Bai Xuerou’s eyes.
Bai Xuerou instinctively went to meet him, but then quickly looked away as if she had been burned.
"But it's not suitable," she whispered.
“I think it’s appropriate.” Ling Xun insisted, even firmly, without the slightest wavering or hesitation.
"The only person in the world worthy of wearing this bracelet is my sister-in-law," Ling Xun said. "And I will only give it to my sister-in-law."
"Ling Xun!" Bai Xuerou interrupted in a panic.
Ling Xun stopped and looked at her quietly, with utmost tenderness.
"Do you know what you're saying? I'm your sister-in-law! I was married to your brother through proper channels!"
"So what!" Ling Xun stared intently at her, almost threateningly, and said, "Ling Zheng is dead!"
"What's wrong with a man not being married and a woman not being married? It's not uncommon in society!" He had seen and observed, and Bai Xuerou's situation did not convince him.
“But you and I aren’t commoners, Ling Xun, Liu Lang, you’re going to be emperor.” Bai Xue Rou earnestly advised, “If that’s the case, do you know what outsiders will say about you if they find out? What will the historians say about you in the future? Will future generations know that you married your own sister-in-law? Do you know what they will speculate about?” Bai Xue Rou took a deep breath, looked at him and asked, “Even if you don’t care about any of this, I do!”
“I care for you and want you to be well, not for you to suffer because of me! Liu Lang, I want you to be a wise ruler praised for all time!” Bai Xuerou said.
This was indeed her truest thought. After discovering Ling Xun's talent, she had such ambitions, and Ling Xun never disappointed her, excelling in both literary and martial arts.
If he succeeds, he will surely be a good monarch.
But now, this future good monarch is going to be stigmatized because of her, how could Bai Xuerou be willing to do that?
"I will be a wise ruler. As long as you like it, sister-in-law, I will definitely be able to do it." This was the first time Ling Xun had directly faced Bai Xuerou's expectations of him. Her high regard for him filled him with immense satisfaction and joy, yet also with an overwhelming longing—
"But I want to be with my sister-in-law. I want to share all of this with her."
“I don’t care what others say. Throughout history, no matter how well a monarch has done, there have always been shortcomings in the eyes of the public. There’s nothing to care about.”
Ling Xun, eager and pleading, said, "I will be virtuous, I will love the people, I will govern this country well, and I will be a good ruler. I will not indulge in extravagance and pleasure, nor will I disregard the people. I only want my sister-in-law. If people will talk about this, then so be it!"
"I only want my sister-in-law!" Ling Xun repeated.
He was so sincere, his eyes and face brimming with affection that it was impossible to fake, almost burning Bai Xuerou's eyes, making her blink repeatedly.
It wasn't that she wasn't moved or unmoved.
But the various obstacles between them cannot be erased simply by being moved.
Bai Xuerou was tormented and asked him blankly, "Did I do something wrong? Otherwise, why would you have such thoughts?"
She repeatedly confirmed that she hadn't done it, but a lingering doubt remained, and she couldn't help but feel guilty.
Ling Xun then realized Bai Xue Rou's self-blame, and his heart ached with bitterness and pain.
He was flustered and even more upset. He hurriedly said, "My sister-in-law is very good and did nothing wrong. It's my fault, it's my fault. I had thoughts I shouldn't have had."
“Sister-in-law, it was I who was despicable,” he said.
"Stop talking!" Bai Xuerou's fingers, which were resting on the edge of the table, tightened unconsciously until they turned white. She hurriedly interrupted, unwilling to hear Ling Xun speak of her like that.
The Ling Xun in her heart had always been considerate and sensible. Even if he had such inappropriate thoughts, they were far from being sordid.
It was just a mistake.
An unnecessary mistake.
It's fine as long as it's corrected.
“Don’t talk about yourself like that. Abao, your sister-in-law knows you’re a good boy. You just made a mistake for a moment. There are many good girls in the world. You should try to meet them more often,” Bai Xuerou said gently.
“I’ve tried it,” Ling Xun said.
Bai Xuerou looked at him in a daze.
Ling Xun looked at her, his eyes swirling with emotion, revealing his past struggles, pain, and longing.
“I’ve tried, sister-in-law. I only want you, I only want you.”
A thunderclap seemed to resound in Bai Xuerou's mind, causing a violent tremor. She stared blankly at Ling Xun.
Ling Xun stood up and squatted down in front of Bai Xue Rou. He looked up at her, within reach, yet restrained himself from getting closer.
"Sister-in-law, I'm not acting impulsively or recklessly. I've thought it through long ago," he whispered.
“Sister-in-law, I grew up under your guidance. If you don’t care about those things, why should I care? Life is short, only a few decades. We can barely hold onto the people we care about. Why worry about what future generations will say?”
Ling Xun tried everything he could to persuade Bai Xuerou to try accepting him.
He knew that his sister-in-law liked him, though it wasn't romantic love, but it wasn't the kind of affection that strangers have for each other either.
If you try, you can definitely do it.
Bai Xuerou's mind was not just a jumbled mess, it was a complete tangled mess—
She actually thought Ling Xun was right.
Wait, that's not it!
Bai Xuerou tried to calm herself down.
“Sister-in-law, I love you,” Ling Xun continued.
“But not me,” Bai Xuerou said, finally regaining some focus, and looked at Ling Xun, “I only see you as a younger brother.”
She did care about what others thought, but since Ling Xun didn't care, she let it go. That left only the most important point: her feelings for him were purely familial.
Ling Xun looked at her, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes. Bai Xue Rou felt a pang of pity and instinctively looked away.
A flash of joy appeared in Ling Xun's eyes.
"Sister-in-law, are you unable to bear it?" he asked. Bai Xuerou's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Ling Xun continued, his joy evident in his voice, "Does this mean that you are not indifferent to me, sister-in-law?"
"Of course not!" Bai Xuerou immediately retorted, "I said I only see you as a younger brother, so naturally I can't bear to see you sad."
“It’s different,” Ling Xun said.
Of course they are different.
Even if she couldn't bear it, Bai Xuerou would stand firm now that things had come to this point. Although she was soft-hearted, she was not indecisive.
They both knew this, but Bai Xuerou wouldn't admit it, so Ling Xun didn't say anything more.
"Sister-in-law, would you like to try it?" he said.
"Try what?" Bai Xuerou asked.
Ling Xun gently pulled Bai Xuerou's hand, always giving her room to dodge. Bai Xuerou hesitated, but with the thought of seeing what he would do, she did not dodge.
Ling Xun grasped Bai Xue Rou's hand, lowered his head, and placed a kiss on her fingertips.
Bai Xuerou reacted as if she had been burned, and hurriedly pulled her hand away.
"Ling Xun!" she scolded in a low voice.
"Sister-in-law, do you find it disgusting?" Ling Xun asked.
Bai Xuerou paused, subconsciously recalling the events.
Do I hate it? No.
Her expression shifted slightly.
"It seems not." She didn't answer immediately, but Ling Xun had already gotten the answer he wanted.
Ling Xun stood up and leaned closer to Bai Xue Rou.
Bai Xuerou instinctively stepped back, hissing, "Ling Xun! What are you doing? Get out of the way!"
Ling Xun always listens to Bai Xue Rou, but not this time.
How could he let go of such a rare and precious opportunity that might never come again?
"Sister-in-law, let's try again," he said, almost as if sighing.
He placed a kiss on Bai Xuerou's brow, then on the tip of her nose, and then on her lips.
The peck was as light as a feather, and like a feather, it tickled Snow White.
The couch was spacious enough for someone to sit or even lie down on. Bai Xuerou tried to back away, but before she knew it, she had nowhere left to retreat. Leaning back and supporting herself with her arms, she was swaying precariously.
Ling Xun braced himself against the armrest of the couch, stepped back slightly, and asked with his head down, "Do you find it disgusting?"
Bai Xue Rou's swaying consciousness returned instantly. She waved for Ling Xun to step back, but Ling Xun did not retreat. Instead, he stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace.
“Sister-in-law, you don’t dislike me.” He said almost gleefully in Bai Xuerou’s ear.
Bai Xuerou was pulled close to his chest and could hear his rapid heartbeat.
She heard Ling Xun's voice in her ear and was slightly taken aback, realizing that he was not as composed as he appeared.
"So, sister-in-law, give it a try, try to accept me." Ling Xun said gently, but with a hint of pleading.
"Ling Xun, let me go!" Bai Xuerou hissed.
She hadn't been this close to a man in a long time, and a strange tingling sensation spread through her entire body, making her feel very awkward and wanting to get away immediately.
Ling Xun tightened his grip slightly, and just as Bai Xue Rou was about to struggle, he released his hand but then grasped her wrist.
He pushed aside the box with one hand, took out the bracelet inside, and put it on Bai Xuerou.
"Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful wearing it." He exclaimed with admiration, then put the other one on her as well.
"Ling Xun, let me go," Bai Xuerou said again, but Ling Xun didn't move. He insisted on putting a pair of bracelets on her wrists before letting go.
Bai Xuerou, now free, went to take off the bracelet, but Ling Xun reached out and grabbed it.
"Sister-in-law, you can get it after I leave," he said.
"Ling Xun!" Bai Xuerou was almost furious.
“Sister-in-law, you’ve never called my name like this before,” Ling Xun said, then laughed.
Bai Xuerou took a breath.
"Sister-in-law, please allow me to be despicable just this once. The only wife I want is you, and I will wait for you forever. If you are unwilling, I will never marry in this life. So, for this reason, have pity on me and say yes."
"Sister-in-law, you can't bear to see me all alone, right?" Ling Xun said, holding her hand and placing another kiss on her fingertips.
"I was reckless today, and I'm leaving, sister-in-law. Please, think it over carefully, okay?"
"After all, you don't hate me, do you?"
After saying that, Ling Xun really left.
Bai Xuerou finally breathed a sigh of relief after watching him leave. She unconsciously patted her chest, lost in thought for a long time, and remained silent.
Ling Xun is right. She doesn't dislike that kind of intimacy, she's just not used to it.
And so on and so forth.
Don't let that kid trap you. Bai Xuerou took a breath. Just look at that kid's face, very few people would feel disgusted by him.
After all, everyone has a love for beauty.
People only feel disgust when they encounter a toad, but who would hate a swan?
Even with these thoughts, Bai Xuerou remained lost in thought for a long time.
The premise of not considering what others say is one's own freedom, but it does not mean that one should be dissolute.
If Bai Xuerou truly loved Ling Xun, she would remain unmoved even if the world criticized her, but her feelings for him had not reached that point.
Ke Lingxun is not.
After this experience, Bai Xuerou realized with absolute certainty that this kid was serious and it wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment impulse.
It was a decision he made after careful consideration.
Bai Xuerou felt her headache starting again.
Even if you have a headache, just take a nap, and life goes on the next day.
Bai Xuerou had already arranged with Ling Xun to go on a spring outing together on the Shangsi Festival (March 3rd). Bai Xuerou wanted to stay away from Ling Xun, but she had also accepted Princess Yucheng's invitation to hold a "Flowing Water" event at her villa outside the city.
Besides, she couldn't possibly never see Ling Xun again.
After much deliberation and inner turmoil, Bai Xuerou still went.
Ling Xun waited and, seeing that Zhiwei Courtyard hadn't sent a letter, felt relieved. It seemed that Bai Xuerou wasn't planning to avoid him.
He arrived at the carriage early and waited, his hands behind his back as he examined it. Bai Xuerou's carriage was made by his own people; it was exquisitely carved, magnificent and luxurious, no less than the princess's carriage.
But he still felt it was lacking.
Only the Empress's phoenix carriage is worthy of it.
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