Chapter 46 : So, Do You Want to Marry King Xuan?

He Songning was introduced into the room. Upon seeing King Xuan, a strange look flashed briefly across his face.

“Greetings, Your Highness, King Xuan.”

After greeting, He Songning lifted his head. Their eyes met for a very brief moment.

Immediately after, He Songning turned his gaze toward Xue Qingyin.

“Is your body better?” He Songning asked.

Xue Qingyin turned her face away. “Mm.”

“I was worried when you didn’t come back for a long time, so I searched several places and only found out you were at a farm on the outskirts of the city,” He Songning said, his tone neutral but with a hint of reproach.

Xue Qingyin responded, “I informed Mother.”

Whether Xue Madam told you or not is not my concern.

And, why are you watching me? You never cared like this before.

Xue Qingyin asked, “How is Xue Qinghe?”

He Songning pursed his lips, and even King Xuan noticed the fleeting displeasure in his eyes. “She still cannot walk.”

Xue Qingyin softly responded with a simple “Oh.”

King Xuan lifted his eyelids and observed the estrangement between them. It must be due to someone named “Xue Qinghe.”

From the name, is she Xue Qingyin’s sister or something?

Xue Qingyin quickly spoke again, “If you’re really worried, why don’t you ask King Wei to send his imperial doctor to check on her at our house?”

She was sincere when she said this.

However, He Songning frowned imperceptibly.

Xue Qingyin never spoke like this, and coupled with her sudden arrival at the outskirts and not returning home… was she avoiding him?

Had that incident truly hurt her so much? This thought crossed He Songning’s mind and lingered there.

The deputy general, not understanding the underlying tension, asked, “Is it serious? If it’s a severe condition, why doesn’t Miss Xue ask His Highness, King Xuan? It wouldn’t be necessary to go so far.”

He Songning’s face instantly grew more unusual.

Go far? Which is closer, and which is farther?

Xue Qingyin sighed. “It wouldn’t be good to trouble His Highness King Xuan with everything. I have little face left, and if I use it all, there will be nothing left.”

He Songning’s tone darkened, and he suddenly said, “You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll go find King Wei myself.”

King Xuan spoke calmly, “Go find Jin Que.”

“Huh?” Xue Qingyin turned to look at him.

King Xuan glanced at Xue Qingyin, entirely dismissing He Songning. His tone was indifferent, “You go find Jin Que. She will agree.”

Xue Qingyin thought, wouldn’t it be a waste of effort to seek out Princess Jin Que for Xue Qinghe?

King Xuan seemed to read her mind. “Jin Que will be very pleased.”

Xue Qingyin obediently responded, “Oh, alright!”

He Songning said nothing further. A maid brought tea, and he took it, sitting down next to Xue Qingyin.

The atmosphere seemed to grow more awkward.

Only the deputy general remained unfazed.

King Xuan, cold and taciturn, usually brought an air of tension and quiet wherever he was present.

Finally, Xue Qingyin broke the silence, asking, “Aren’t you going back, Big Brother?”

He Songning replied calmly, “Hmm, I’ll stay here with you.”

Are you alright?

Xue Qingyin was confused.

She could only purse her lips and ask, “Where will you stay tonight, Big Brother?”

He Songning looked puzzled. “Naturally, I will stay at my usual place.”

“But His Highness King Xuan is staying there.”

It was obvious He Songning could not stay there.

He Songning wasn’t particularly concerned about it and said, “I’ll stay with you.”

Xue Qingyin: ?

Aren’t you worried that I might get attached to you and cause trouble?

Later, Zhao Xufeng and the steward were also settled in King Xuan’s courtyard.

The thought of having to see He Songning again when she returned to sleep made Xue Qingyin feel irritable.

She decided to go up the mountain alone.

Ah, maybe I should go see the horses.

“Qingyin,” He Songning’s voice came from behind.

Xue Qingyin, panting from the climb, was furious. How did he catch up so quickly?

She turned around and replied with a half-dead tone, “What is it?”

“I just found out that on the day of the lake trip, the servants I sent to you, you gave two of them to Qinghe,” He Songning said softly.

“Oh,” Xue Qingyin seemed indifferent.

“You didn’t intentionally neglect her.”

“Ah,” Xue Qingyin responded carelessly.

Seeing her indifference, He Songning felt a twinge of irritation and unconsciously took a step forward. “Qingyin.”

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help but ask, “Big Brother, if you have something to say, just say it quickly.”

He Songning, even if blind, could feel her impatience.

“That day… I was wrong,” He Songning admitted.

As he spoke, he raised his hand, attempting to pull open Xue Qingyin’s collar to see the marks on her shoulder.

Xue Qingyin quickly stepped back. “What are you doing?”

He Songning’s irritation grew even more.

He darkened his face and said, “I want to see your injury.”

Xue Qingyin unhappily replied, “No.”

Well, this incident provides a perfect excuse! I don’t need to act like the original character anymore.

He Songning was taken aback, unsure of how to convince her.

Should he be harsher?

Xue Qingyin was obviously upset, and if he was any harsher, she would avoid him even more.

He Songning reluctantly said, “Why is King Xuan here?”

“The Xuanwu Army is stationed nearby.”

“Did King Xuan take over the farm?”

“Yes,” Xue Qingyin replied, noticing the subtle hostility in He Songning’s eyes.

He Songning’s tone grew colder. “What about today…”

What about today?

Xue Qingyin perked up her ears.

But He Songning didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he suddenly asked, “Do you really want to marry King Xuan?”

Xue Qingyin was about to speak when someone coughed lightly.

He Songning’s expression changed slightly, but he didn’t turn around.

Xue Qingyin looked up at the newcomer. “Deputy General Fang.”

It was indeed King Xuan’s deputy, Fang Chengzhong.

He scratched his nose and said, “I saw that Miss Xue didn’t even bring a maid and thought back to when she said she came to the farm to relax. I was worried Miss Xue might be upset, so I hurried to follow. Were you talking about His Highness King Xuan? Or about the imperial doctor?”

This indicated he hadn’t heard much of their conversation.

But He Songning’s eyes were still cold.

His suspicious nature wouldn’t let him easily dismiss his doubts.

He Songning slowly turned around. “Thank you for your concern, Deputy General Fang. I’ll stay with Qingyin.”

Fang Chengzhong thought to himself, it was precisely because you followed that His Highness felt something was wrong.

Your sibling relationship doesn’t seem too good…

However, Fang Chengzhong smiled and said, “Alright, you two go ahead. But it’s getting late, so be careful of the slippery roads.”

He Songning responded, “It’s fine, there’s lodging in the back mountain. It’s simple, but it’s enough.”

Xue Qingyin: ?

I’m not going with you!

“Actually, I’m a bit tired. I’ll go back and rest,” Xue Qingyin said lazily, yawning as she turned to leave.

He Songning: …

So much temper now?

You don’t even want to be alone with me?

He Songning didn’t know where his irritation came from, but he pressed his lips together and followed her.

Once they left, Fang Chengzhong stood still for a while before walking into a nearby grove.

There stood King Xuan.

Fang Chengzhong whispered, “Your Highness.”

How much did they hear?

A lot.

They overheard much of the argument between the siblings.

Including when He Songning reached out to pull Xue Qingyin’s shoulder.

And then the final question: “Do you really want to marry King Xuan?”

Fang Chengzhong glanced at King Xuan’s expression, but couldn’t discern anything.

In his heart, he still had a good impression of the Xue family’s young lady, and quietly said, “Miss Xue must truly have feelings for His Highness, rather than any ulterior motives. Otherwise, she could have married King Wei, right?”

King Xuan merely responded coldly, “Investigate what happened with Xue Qinghe.”