Ruge took the steaming black bowl of medicine handed to her by Ji Lingxue, drank it all in one gulp and put the bowl aside. Ruge looked up and stared into Ji Lingxue's eyes, waiting for her answer.
Her eyes were as dark and bright as when he first saw them, filled with sparkling stars, and were irreplaceable.
Ji Lingxue raised her finger and pointed at the white hair that was scattered behind Ruge. "Why don't you tell me first, what's wrong with your white hair?"
Ruge smiled calmly, "I asked first, you should answer me first, why did you come to Jiayu Pass alone to look for me, why did the prince only send one secret guard to protect you, aren't you afraid that something will happen to you?"
Hearing this, Ji Lingxue lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes blocked the surging emotions in her eyes.
Ruge looked at Ji Lingxue and continued, "Could there be an accident in Dongqi Capital?"
Ji Lingxue still didn't answer.
Ruge continued to guess, "Does it have anything to do with me?"
These waves of assassinations made Ruge vaguely understand that someone didn't want him to marry into Dongqi. In addition to the ambitious Yuchi Gongru, there was also... the emperor of Dongqi.
But he had already come out, and there was absolutely no reason for him to give up halfway. Even if the Dongqi Imperial City was a dangerous place, he would still go. Not only because he cared about the people of the world and hoped for peace and less war, but also because every time a war broke out, the people were displaced and the soldiers fought on the battlefield, which made him feel a lot.
Ji Lingxue raised her head and put on an indifferent smile, "Yes, it has something to do with you. I was implicated by you."
Her life experience was used by people with ulterior motives to make a fuss. Xiao Yimo believed the rumors and thought that she was a nuisance to Xiao Yichen, so he looked for reasons to kill her. In order to save her life, Xiao Yichen divorced her as a concubine in front of everyone in the palace, citing the seven grounds for divorce.
But before one problem is solved, another one arises. Xiao Yichen probably didn't expect that someone would use Ji Yuqing's death to frame her. She had no witnesses or evidence, and it was difficult for her to defend herself. Even if Xiao Yichen locked her up in the dungeon in the palace to save her life, she could not escape the hidden arrows of those with ulterior motives.
Now she and Xiao Yichen have a good ending and are both doing well.
Ruge said: "I have already guessed that the Emperor of Dongqi has been sending assassins to assassinate me. I wrote a letter to the King of Chen to ask about your safety, but later I was chased by Yuchi Gongru and fell off a cliff, so I stopped communicating with the King of Chen. I don't know if you are safe. At that time, I was still glad that the King of Chen cared about you so much and would definitely protect you. I didn't expect..."
Ji Lingxue chuckled, "Brother is really smart. You guessed it before I even said anything. Don't blame Xiao Yichen. Leaving the capital was my decision alone. He doesn't know anything yet..."
Ruge acted like a brother, and said angrily, "Why are you so protective of the King?"
Ji Lingxue shrugged, "I'm not defending you, this is the truth."
Ruge sighed, "Now that you're out, just stay with me. I will help you find a better man who is more worthy of entrusting your life to."
Ji Lingxue: “…”
Ruge smiled and said, "Xue'er, are you shy? Are you worried that you've been married once and there won't be a good man? We in Dayan have freedom of marriage, and many people remarry. Do you care about these things?"
Ji Lingxue's eyes wandered over Ruge's snow-white hair. "Ahem, brother, stop teasing me. Or tell me what's wrong with your hair?"
The hair turns white before one gets old. People all care about appearance. How big of a heart does he have to be to not care about these things
Ruge lowered her head and looked at the strands of white hair on her chest. She raised her head and smiled, "I don't know when my hair turned white. Maybe it was in that dark cave."
Ji Lingxue: “…” She had heard about turning hair white overnight, but she thought it was just an exaggeration. She didn’t expect it to be true.
The two chatted back and forth, and before they knew it, it was already noon. An Ge came and knocked on the door, saying, "Master."
Ji Lingxue said, "Come in and talk." Early this morning, she asked An Ge to go out to discuss the situation and see what was going on in Dongqi before deciding how to enter the capital.
An Ge said, "Master, I have heard a piece of news..." He dragged out the last syllable of his words and looked at Ji Lingxue, looking at a loss as to where to start.
Ji Lingxue raised her eyebrows, "What news?"
An Ge organized her words and said, "Prince Chen is forcing the emperor to abdicate..."
Force the emperor to abdicate? !
Ji Lingxue opened her eyes wide and said after a long time: "Did it succeed?" Failure would be a capital crime punishable by beheading. Xiao Yichen is really brave!
Thinking of the gold mines in the Border Mountains and Xiao Yichen's hiring of a master blacksmith to design weapons, he had been planning a rebellion for a long time, right? That's right, every prince would like to grab the throne that represents supreme power.
An Ge nodded: "Yes, it's done. Three days ago, he ascended the throne and named you the queen. Now the people outside are saying that the prince was angry for his beloved and conquered the country to sacrifice his first wife. Everyone praises him for his loyalty and righteousness."
The corner of Ji Lingxue's mouth twitched. Ruge clenched her fist and put it to her lips, then coughed.
An Ge chuckled and was secretly delighted. Master, you should be happy. The Prince of Chen actually only has you in his heart. He avenged you so beautifully.
Ji Lingxue changed the subject and asked, "Is there no other news?"
Xiao Yimo has fallen from the throne, but does the hunt for Ruge end here
An Ge nodded. Since no one else was looking for Ru Ge at the moment, it should be safe.
Ji Lingxue turned to look at Ruge and asked, "Where is your delegation?"
Ruge said, "The envoys had already entered Dongqi before me. I lost contact with them after being ambushed by Yuchi Gongru at the bottom of the cliff. As for Yuchi Gongru's matter, I have already sent a letter back to Dayan. I believe I will receive news soon."
Since Yuchi Gongru had come to ruin the peace plan in this way, let him reflect on this at the bottom of the miasma-filled cliff.
Two days later, the envoys from Dayan found Ruge. After some flattering greetings, they surrounded Ruge and began to discuss whether to continue marching towards the Dongqi Palace or return to Dayan.
Ji Lingxue stayed behind as Ruge's adopted sister, and listened as the envoys split into two groups and began a heated discussion.
"Second Prince, you must have felt that this trip to Dongqi is full of dangers. I have already arrived at the border of Dongqi, but there are still constant assassinations. It seems that the Dongqi royal family does not want to negotiate peace. Why don't we go back home and leave?"
"Second Prince, we must not return to Dayan. We have gone through so many hardships just to protect the people from the suffering of war. If you give up, what will happen to the people of Dayan?"
Ruge lowered her head, playing with the bloody bandage in her hand, without saying a word. The two sides began to quarrel over several issues.
"Negotiation is good for the people of the world. Dayan can exchange the cloth and food it needs with Dongqi. What's your meaning in obstructing it in every possible way?"
"The Second Prince's life concerns the future of Dayan. Why don't you consider it first?"
Ji Lingxue turned to look at Ruge. He was really patient. He let the envoys quarrel into a mess. Both sides were getting angry. If he didn't try to persuade them, they would soon start fighting.
Ruge smiled and shook her head, saying that these civil officials were only good at talking and were full of nonsense. If they were to take action, they would probably run away faster than anyone else.
After a quarter of an hour, the two parties still couldn't come to a conclusion after the argument, so they all turned to look at Xiang Ruge and asked him to make the decision.
Ruge looked at Ji Lingxue and said, "Come back to Dayan with me."
Ji Lingxue was stunned. After coming out of Prince Chen's Mansion, all she wanted was to save Ruge. She hadn't thought about where to go next. Now that Xiao Yichen has become the lord of Dongqi and the people who wanted to kill her have been killed, what is the point of staying in Dongqi
At this moment, An Ge said at the door, "Second Prince, Master, someone is coming from the Imperial City!"
Ji Lingxue turned her head to look at the door, and saw a man dressed as a eunuch walking in holding a bright imperial edict, "The Third Prince of Dayan, accept the edict!"
Ruge looked meaningfully at the bright yellow imperial edict in the eunuch's hand. It was exactly as planned and so punctual.
The general meaning of the imperial edict is that I am very pleased that the Second Prince of Dayan cares about the world. I was very happy to hear that you came to Dongqi, and I sent my cavalry to escort the Second Prince to the capital.
After thanking for the grace, the eunuch bowed to Ruge and made a gesture of invitation. Ruge turned to look at Ji Lingxue beside her.
Ji Lingxue smiled, and the two of them went out side by side and got on the royal carriage. The carriage was spacious. Ji Lingxue's finger touched a bulge, and when she clicked it, she saw that it was a tea can.
Ji Lingxue took out the tea leaves, poured them into the red clay teapot on the coffee table, and then added hot water. The lingering tea aroma filled the carriage.
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "The carriage bestowed by the emperor is so comfortable. It has everything you want."
Ruge smiled, took a jade cup and placed it in front of Ji Lingxue. Ji Lingxue filled the cup for him, and she took a sip and said, "The tea is rich and fragrant. It's a good tea." Then she put down the cup and looked at Ji Lingxue and asked, "Come to Beijing with me. Have you thought about how to face her?"
Ji Lingxue raised her hand and touched her cheek, then smiled and said, "I am now Zhixue, your adopted sister. Have I ever met the Emperor of Dongqi?"
Ruge smiled brightly, "Zhixue, this is a really good name."
Ji Lingxue stuck out her tongue, ignored Ruge, lifted the curtain and went out of the car to look at the scenery.
The emperor was escorted by cavalry and had a smooth journey. In less than three days, they arrived outside the capital. They stayed the last night in an inn outside the city. After dinner, Ji Lingxue said she was sleepy and went back to her room.
After exchanging a few words with the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, Ruge returned to her room. Passing by the door of Ji Lingxue's guest room, Ruge knocked with her fingers, but there was no response from Ji Lingxue.
"Zhixue, are you asleep?" Ruge asked.
The room was still quiet. Ruge pushed the door open and walked in. The room was empty, with bedding neatly folded, but Ji Lingxue was nowhere to be seen.
This girl disappeared as soon as she returned to the capital. Where did she go? They are now at the West City Gate. Did she go to Qingfeng Yashe
Ruge coughed, and a secret guard fell from the beam and knelt down respectfully to salute.
Ruge asked, "Did you see which direction Zhixue's secret guard took Zhixue?"
The secret guard said: "East."
It was indeed Qingfeng Yashe. It was actually the restaurant that Ji Lingxue had run. There were many memories in it.
Ruge turned and flew towards the window, and in an instant her figure disappeared into the dark night.
(End of this chapter)