Chapter 86 : Another Reward

Zhishu hurriedly brought a chair for He Songning to sit down.

Nong Xia stood timidly at the doorway, glancing at He Songning and then looking out again.

He Songning saw this and said, “It seems you finally have a loyal girl by your side.”

“Yes, she’s young, her heart is still pure.” Xue Qingyin said without lifting her head.

“Do you really not know why the emperor bestowed a reward upon you that day?” He Songning asked suddenly.

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, of course I know.

She paused abruptly.

Huh?

Did He Songning also do something behind the scenes?

He Songning remained calm and composed, slowly explaining, “I asked someone in the Ministry of Rites to say that your destiny is a combination of longevity and prosperity, and that you can help King Xuan to dispel bad luck. Having you is like adding flowers to a brocade. It’s rare, both in heaven and on earth.”

This is different from what King Xuan said.

However, Xue Qingyin quickly realized that King Xuan wouldn’t lie to her. The original owner’s destiny was indeed bad.

She looked at He Songning and thought to herself, thankfully you didn’t tell me I was a phoenix destined to be unmatched in heaven and earth. Otherwise, I would have died the next day.

You know, out of the ten ancient novels Xue Qingyin had read, at least eight had female protagonists who were born with the destiny of a phoenix! It was extremely popular.

He Songning quickly noticed that there was no smile on Xue Qingyin’s face.

He asked, “Don’t you believe me?”

Xue Qingyin nodded, “I believe you, but do you know what was ultimately presented to the emperor?”

He Songning frowned, “What is it?”

Xue Qingyin pointed at herself, “Me, a great disaster.”

He Songning chuckled, “Qingyin, are you fooling me? If it’s a great disaster, how could the emperor reward you?”

Xue Qingyin said softly, “Big brother and King Xuan thought alike, but unfortunately, big brother was one step behind.”

She paused, deliberately aiming at He Songning’s heart, “King Xuan understands the emperor’s personality better.”

He Songning’s expression darkened, he moved his lips but ultimately didn’t say a word.

He had only met his biological father a few times, so naturally, he couldn’t compare to King Xuan and the King of Wei.

But ultimately, neither of them was born to the empress. He, on the other hand, walked a path full of thorns.

He Songning remained silent for a moment, then turned his anger into a smile, “King Xuan wants you to be glorious but not too flamboyant.”

This cleverly utilized the emperor’s twisted paternal mentality.

Emperor Liang De wanted his sons to be good, but he didn’t want them to be too good.

Moreover, forcefully altering the destiny report would have been too obvious. If it was exposed in the future, the blame could easily be shifted to Xue Qingyin, saying that the Xue family had fabricated it for wealth and power.

It would be different if they forcefully claimed that they were a perfect match.

Even if the emperor discovered it, he would only lament that his son, who was as skilled in warfare as a god, was just a man obsessed with love, and that he had done such a ridiculous thing to get his beloved.

It would even make the emperor feel a bit of pity.

“King Xuan is so thoughtful towards you, big brother can rest assured.” He Songning showed a gloomy smile.

Xue Qingyin immediately put on a sweet expression and said, “I’m relieved too.”

She even pretended to be shy and lowered her head, the butterfly on the hairpin in her hair trembled slightly.

Seeing her like this, He Songning didn’t know why, but the restlessness in his heart didn’t diminish, instead, it intensified.

He pursed his lips and pretended to say, “Qingyin, your heart is all for King Xuan now?”

Xue Qingyin nodded, “I wish I could marry into King Xuan’s mansion tomorrow.”

A surge of blood rushed through He Songning’s chest.

This scene was familiar.

In the past, Xue Qingyin was probably like this towards him.

Today, her shyness was entirely because of King Xuan.

“Qingyin, if you love too deeply, you might be hurt all over.” He Songning tried to sound like a good older brother and warn her.

Xue Qingyin blinked lightly, “I love him, that’s enough. Even if he only gives me a tiny bit of his love, I’ll be content.”

He Songning’s face instantly turned ashen, an indescribable emotion surged through his chest.

“You’re crazy! You’re ignoring everything for love?” He Songning asked sharply.

Xue Qingyin looked at him in confusion, “Why am I crazy? Has big brother never been loved wholeheartedly? It seems big brother doesn’t understand.”

Has big brother never been loved wholeheartedly?

Has big brother never been loved?

…

Xue Qingyin’s voice echoed in He Songning’s mind, as if she was repeatedly stabbing him.

This reminded He Songning that Xue Qingyin’s eyes used to only see him.

Whether it was brotherly love or something else.

At that time, Xue Qingyin’s eyes truly only saw him.

He Songning couldn’t recall those details anymore, because he was disgusted by her back then, how could he savor and engrave them in his memory?

But precisely because he couldn’t recall them, He Songning suddenly felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.

He Songning reached out and stroked Xue Qingyin’s hair, “If King Xuan treats you badly in the future, come back and tell me. Big brother will help you. You’ll know what’s truly reliable.”

Xue Qingyin: ?

This reaction is very wrong.

He Songning asked her, “Is there anything you like? Mother will prepare your dowry, and big brother will also prepare some for you.”

At this moment, He Songning was gentle as if he had changed.

Xue Qingyin raised her face, “Ten thousand taels of gold?”

He Songning: “…”

Xue Qingyin immediately lost interest, “Okay, then big brother can prepare whatever you want.”

He Songning really wanted to pick her up and give her a good beating.

How come every word out of her mouth is so unpleasant?

“I’ll prepare some things you like.” He Songning said before leaving.

Xue Qingyin quickly waved her hand and called for Nong Xia to get her a cup of water.

Well, she did a good job acting today.

She almost made herself nauseous.

It would have been better if King Xuan was here. It’s a pity that her “true confession” was only heard by He Songning.

The next day.

Madam Xue came to see Xue Qingyin early in the morning.

Madam Xue was in high spirits, “Seven house thieves were caught, one of them was from your courtyard, and he has been dealt with. The others really stole things and sold them. They all confessed after interrogation, it’s a lucky catch.”

Xue Qingyin didn’t bother to care about this, so she followed Madam Xue and praised her, “Mother is truly wise and valiant, your methods are extraordinary. I will rely on Mother more in the future.”

Madam Xue was praised and beamed with joy. After talking to Xue Qingyin for a while, she got up to leave.

She suddenly remembered something and turned around, “The auspicious day is approaching, Qingyin, should I send an embroiderer to teach you? You should also make some pouches, shoes, and socks for King Xuan. Give them to him on the day you enter the mansion, it will show closeness.”

Xue Qingyin shook her head, “No.”

Madam Xue glared at her, “How can you refuse? Don’t forget, you’re not facing an ordinary family’s son, he’s a prince, the emperor’s son.”

Xue Qingyin was brazen and confident, “Isn’t having a beauty like me enough? What else do you need pouches and shoes and socks for, I won’t do it, I won’t do it.”

Madam Xue was amused by her, “You little rascal.”

However, she couldn’t persuade her.

Madam Xue had also thought about having the embroiderer do it instead? But she thought better of it. If she forcefully claimed that it was made by Xue Qingyin, it would only invite gossip.

The maids outside couldn’t help but sigh.

They had never seen a girl about to get married who was so idle, every day she was either fishing, playing cards, or taking dozens of people to intimidate the managers of various businesses.

She was even more of a scoundrel than a proper playboy.

What will happen when she marries into King Xuan’s mansion?

In the palace.

Lady Xue’s previous words were indeed true, someone impeached King Xuan.

“…The Marquis of Dongxing’s wife was actually driven away by several soldiers from King Xuan’s mansion that day. King Xuan meets with that Xue girl every day, how improper is that? The Ministry of Rites clearly sent a betrothal gift, but King Xuan insists on doing things differently, how does this leave the King of Wei to act? It’s truly disrupting the etiquette! And the emperor even bestowed a reward on that Xue family girl a few days ago. Isn’t this encouraging all the noble girls in the capital to imitate her?”

Emperor Liang De was already impatient when he heard this.

He looked at He Ji in front of him and frowned.

He still liked this minister, there weren’t many people like He Ji who dared to point out the emperor’s mistakes. So last time, he only penalized his monthly salary.

“When King Xuan was twelve years old, he followed me on a military expedition. He spent many years in the army after that. Now he’s at the age when his blood is hot, it’s not easy to find someone he likes. I’ve already been the bad guy, I won’t let him make her his official wife. As a father, can’t I even let him give his property to his beloved? You all still want to accuse King Xuan of disrupting etiquette! I rewarded the Xue family girl that day, do I also have a fault?”

He Ji quickly said he didn’t dare.

After He Ji’s performance today, Emperor Liang De was already dissatisfied.

The next day at the court meeting, another minister brought up the matter.

Emperor Liang De’s anger reached its peak, he overturned the table.

“Can’t King Xuan always be the one to compromise and suffer losses?” Emperor Liang De said with a dark face, “What if I allow him to act recklessly?”

Who cares what kind of person that Xue family girl is.

She can make King Xuan happy, that’s her greatest virtue.

Emperor Liang De was determined to use these ministers to let King Xuan see how he, as a father, protected him in front of everyone.

“The Xue family girl is graceful and elegant, with a kind heart and a noble spirit, another reward!”

Every word here seemed to be deliberately contradicting the ministers who impeached him.