Bai Mo's eyes swept casually and met Ji Lingxue's. The two of them communicated silently.
Ji Lingxue: Hey, Bai Mo, why are you with my prince
Bai Mo: Your prince was chased all over the street like a rat last night, so he came to the palace to hide. He is such a big man, and the only place he can hide is here with me.
Ji Lingxue: Then how did he impersonate you? Wasn’t it you who treated the old emperor
Bai Mo: This is because your prince has a strange idea and wants to take advantage of my identity to do things. Now I have been reduced to being his medicine boy.
Ji Lingxue: There is always a mountain higher than the other. I have learned a lot!
The two of them exchanged glances, which was seen by Yuchi Gongru. A wicked sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. It was really funny.
Yuchi Gongru bowed to the old emperor and said, "Father, it's rare for my brother to bring a maid into the palace. Could it be that she wants to dance for the genius doctor? My brother is really thoughtful."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's focus fell on Ji Lingxue. Ruge looked at Yuchi Gongru with murderous eyes, but Yuchi Gongru was smiling and was not affected by Ruge's eyes.
Xiao Yichen and Bai Mo frowned at the same time. They didn't want Ji Lingxue to be in the spotlight, but someone didn't do what they wanted.
The old emperor turned his head to look at Ji Lingxue behind Ruge. At this time, Ji Lingxue lowered her head. He couldn't see the other person's facial expression from his position and thought she was nervous and shy.
The old emperor smiled and said, "Ruge is really thoughtful. What dance does the dancer plan to perform?"
Ji Lingxue bowed her head and greeted all of Yuchi Gongru's ancestors. When she was about to go out to answer, her hand was pulled by Ruge. Ruge stood up and saluted the old emperor, saying: "Father, the third prince is joking. I, a maid, don't know how to dance."
A drop of cold sweat slid down Ruge's forehead. Ji Lingxue was not his maid, she was the Princess Chen of Dongqi. If he really asked her to dance in the Dayan Palace, it would be a complete humiliation. He would not allow anyone to hurt his savior.
Yuchi Gongru raised his eyebrows, looking like he was enjoying a good show.
The old emperor also looked at Ji Lingxue twice more, his sight was affected by some of his own developments, the peach blossom silver hairpin. His gaze paused, staring at the silver hairpin shining under the light for a long time, and his heart, which had not been excited, suddenly started beating wildly.
The old emperor stood up excitedly, and his wide sleeves swept the dishes and chopsticks on the table to the ground, making a crisp clinking sound.
Inside, everyone's gaze suddenly shifted from Ji Lingxue to the old emperor, not understanding what was going on, and they were shocked and angry.
Ji Lingxue slowly raised her head and looked towards the old emperor. Just now when the old emperor brought Xiao Yichen into the palace, her attention was all on Xiao Yichen, so she didn't carefully look at the demeanor of the Emperor of Dayan.
The old emperor pointed at Ji Lingxue, his expression so excited that his hands began to tremble, "You...you..."
Ji Lingxue looked puzzled. Did she look like a wanted criminal of Dayan? Was that why the old emperor of Dayan was so excited
Ruge and Yuchi Gongru also looked confused. They looked at their emperor father and then at Ji Lingxue, not knowing what was going on.
Xiao Yichen grabbed the old emperor's trembling hand and said, "Your Majesty, you have just recovered. You should not be too excited." His voice was a little low, but the old emperor heard it, took a deep breath and sat down, but his eyes never left the silver hairpin on Ji Lingxue's bun.
Xiao Yichen also noticed this, and a trace of deep thought flashed across his eyes, half happy and half worried. Could Ji Lingxue be the illegitimate daughter of the Emperor of Dayan
Everything fits together. The man who mysteriously hasn't gone to the silver shop to get the finished product... What about his marriage with Ji Lingxue...
While Xiao Yichen was daydreaming, the old emperor said, "Girl, the silver hairpin on your head is so unique. The candlelight in the whole hall is not as bright as the silver hairpin on your bun.
Ji Lingxue rolled her eyes secretly. The Emperor of Dayan's way of praising people was really clumsy.
Ji Lingxue said: "In reply to the emperor, this hairpin is a relic of my mother. Perhaps it was made by a skilled craftsman, so it is so unique."
The old emperor nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Get up, don't kneel down, and continue to eat."
The matter of performing the dance was exposed. Yuchi Gongru, who failed to get what he wanted, looked disappointed and glanced fiercely at Ji Lingxue's back.
Ruge breathed a sigh of relief and asked Ji Lingxue to retreat to a dark place. He picked up some snacks, put them on a plate and handed it to Ji Lingxue to fill her stomach.
Xiao Yichen was depressed. It turned out that he was overthinking, but the old emperor's jealousy just now was also real.
Halfway through the meal, the old emperor sighed and said, "I have reached the age of forty, and what worries me most is the lifelong affairs of these two princes..."
He is old and doesn't want to go to war every year. If Dayan and Dongqi make peace, which one of them should he let marry the princess
Dongqi was rich, and marrying a princess was equivalent to owning half of the country.
Yuchi Gongru looked at Yuchi Ruge with amusement and said, "Royal brother, you are already twenty-six years old. I heard that you don't even have a concubine in your house. No wonder father is worried about you."
Ruge smiled calmly, "Don't worry, my brother. I already have someone I like."
Yuchi Gongru's eyes became gossipy. He looked at Ruge and then at Ji Lingxue. He heard that Ruge was the bodyguard of Princess Chen in Dongqi. Could it be that they fell in love over time
The old emperor looked at Ruge and said, "Ruge, who is your crush? Let me take a look."
Yuchi Gongru added fuel to the fire and said, "The emperor's favorite must be a special woman."
Xiao Yichen looked at Ruge with a smile, waiting for his answer.
Ruge was upset. He just said it casually, why were people staring at him? How many people would be anxious if he didn't get married
Ruge lowered her eyes and said, "She...is not in Dayan."
The old emperor nodded, as if he had experienced it all. "Ruge, what have you seen in Dongqi in the past six months?"
Ruge stood up and said, "The capital of Dongqi is prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment."
Yuchi Gongru twitched his lips and turned to look at Xiao Yichen who was sitting next to the old emperor. Originally, Dongqi wanted to declare war on Dayan. Did Prince Chen come to negotiate peace
The old emperor nodded and said, "During my serious illness, Dongqi sent a letter of war to my Great Yan. After careful consideration, I feel that peace talks will be very beneficial to Great Yan, and the people will suffer less."
Ruge nodded, and Yuchi Gongru volunteered, "Father, I am willing to go to Dongqi to negotiate peace."
The old emperor turned his head to look at Yuchi Gongru, who had been trying hard to pretend to be filial in the past few months. He raised his hand and was about to say something when his personal eunuch trotted in from the door, whispered something in his ear, and quietly slipped the paper in his sleeve to him.
The old emperor's face darkened, he lowered his head and opened the paper in his hand, his face darkened instantly, when everyone was puzzled, he raised his finger and pointed at Yuchi Gongru and said: "Come here, tie up this rebellious son for me."
It was the old emperor who spoke, and Yuchi Gongru had no choice but to let the imperial guards come in and tie him up, with a look of grievance on his face.
The old emperor stood up and said, "Take him away first. I'm tired as well. Let's end the banquet." After saying that, he turned and walked out.
Ji Lingxue winked at Xiao Yichen, wanting to ask him what happened, but Xiao Yichen just gave him a meaningful smile.
As the emperor and Yuchi Gongru left, the atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed. Ruge turned to look at Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen bowed and smiled, "The emperor's illness is no longer serious. I wonder if the second prince can escort me out of the palace?"
Ruge nodded and led the three of them out. As they walked out of the hall, a young eunuch stood at the entrance and saluted, saying, "The emperor has ordered that the second prince and this girl come to the imperial study for a chat."
Ruge nodded, turned around and smiled apologetically at Xiao Yichen and Bai Mo, "The emperor has something to announce, the genius doctor can leave the palace on your own. There is my carriage at the palace gate that can take you away." Then she took off her badge and handed it to Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen took it, gave Ji Lingxue a cautious look as if he was done, turned around and left with Bai Mo.
When they were almost at the palace gate, Bai Mo saw that there were no people around, so he asked Xiao Yichen in a low voice, "Why was Yuchi Gongru arrested? Did you get that paper?"
Xiao Yichen nodded. He knew he had to pay the price for chasing him like a rat last night. He had copied the paper on the spot, and it was absolutely authentic. Yuchi Gongru's image in the old emperor's mind had been greatly damaged.
Bai Mo approached Xiao Yichen and whispered, "Tell me, what was written on that paper that made the old emperor so angry..."
Curious, extremely curious.
Xiao Yichen glanced at Bai Mo, and his eyes seemed to say: Don't be too curious about some things. It concerns the reputation of the royal family. Knowing too much can be fatal.
Bai Mo touched his nose, feeling embarrassed. He changed the subject again, "Hey, aren't you worried about your princess?"
But she was left in the palace with Ruge, that pretty boy.
Xiao Yichen said confidently: "It's okay, Ruge will protect her if there is any danger." He is still the same as when Ruge was in Dongqi.
So relieved! Bai Mo raised his eyebrows, but said nothing more. He got on Ruge's carriage and left the palace.
In the imperial study, Ji Lingxue followed Ruge into the room, knowing full well that the reason why she was left behind was related to the silver hairpin.
At this moment, she was feeling excited and expectant. She felt like she was standing right in front of the truth. She could know the answer by touching it, but she was also afraid to know the truth.
The old emperor sat behind the desk in the imperial study. His pale hair made him look weak. At this moment, he was not as high and mighty as he was at the dinner party. He was just an old man.
After Ruge and Ji Lingxue saluted, the old emperor said, "Ruge, is this girl a maid in your palace?"
Ruge looked up at the old emperor's eyes that had experienced many vicissitudes of life and shook his head. He would not tell lies in front of his father.
The old emperor nodded, "I don't think she looks like a maid."
Ji Lingxue lowered her head, pondering the meaning of the emperor's words. At this time, the emperor said, "Miss, can I borrow your silver hairpin to take a look?"
Ji Lingxue took off the silver hairpin, and the eunuch who was close to the emperor presented it to the old emperor for review. The old emperor held the hairpin and looked at it carefully, his brows sometimes relaxed and sometimes frowned, as if recalling a lot of memories...
Ji Lingxue turned her head and looked at Ruge in surprise. Ruge shook her head, motioning her to be patient.
(End of this chapter)