Xiao Yichen hooked up a strand of Ji Lingxue's long hair and twirled it between his fingers. The next moment it slipped off. He held Ji Lingxue's hand and said, "Let's go to Ji's house and take a look."
Ji Lingxue nodded, and saw a golden token in front of her. She looked up at Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen said: "You keep this token to leave the palace. You can do whatever you want. I will not restrict your freedom."
Ji Lingxue smiled slightly, touched the pattern of the token with her fingers, and asked half-jokingly: "Aren't you afraid that I will suddenly leave without saying goodbye?"
Xiao Yichen shook his head. "If you feel unhappy staying with me, you can leave at any time. Since you faked your death and left Beijing, I have figured out a lot. Maybe I wasn't good enough to you, so you left without saying goodbye. You have your reasons for leaving..."
"Now please promise me that you will tell me whether you are happy or unhappy. I want to understand you."
Ji Lingxue was moved. She threw herself into Xiao Yichen's arms, closed her eyes, and a tear ran down her cheek. "I promise you, I won't leave quietly again." Even if you betray me or get tired of me one day, I will leave a letter for you when I leave.
Xiao Yichen hugged Ji Lingxue and bent down to kiss her on the forehead. The tenderness at this moment was unprecedented, and he only showed it in front of Ji Lingxue.
Ji Lingxue took Mo Xiang out of the palace and had a smooth journey because they had the token in hand.
In the imperial study, Chi Feng said, "Your Majesty, you are so sincere. You just let her leave the palace without even sending any bodyguards to follow her." What if Ji Lingxue and Yuchi Ruge elope? Who will you cry to
Xiao Yichen said: "I have great confidence in myself and Xue'er."
Chi Feng was speechless and rolled his eyes secretly. You are the emperor, so just do as you like.
Seeing Chi Feng's leisurely look, Xiao Yichen asked, "Is there any news about Yuchi Gongru?"
He was in the capital but didn't make any noise. It was not like his style at all. From what Ji Lingxue said last night, he suffered a loss at the hands of Ji Lingxue again. He was not a good person and would definitely not let it go.
Chi Feng touched his nose. The man suddenly lost contact and was out of their control. This responsibility could not be entirely blamed on him. What he wanted in the first place was not to get Ji Lingxue back, but it was impossible for him to be let off easily.
Chi Feng bowed and said, "I have sent people to search for it."
Xiao Yichen asked: "Do you think it is possible that he is lurking around us?"
Chi Feng suddenly felt a chill on his back, as if a pair of eyes were staring at him strangely. He turned his head, and the window was blown open by the wind, and a cool breeze blew towards him. The corners of Chi Feng's mouth twitched, "Your Majesty, it's broad daylight, don't joke."
Xiao Yichen said seriously, "Do you think I'm joking? You have nothing to do. My palace is recruiting a group of new people. Go and take a look."
Xiao Yichen's screening is not simple. Although the chief eunuch will investigate every newcomer's ancestors, some will still cheat and get away with it. Therefore, how can the screening of newcomers be done without a confidant
Chi Feng nodded, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave as ordered."
Xiao Yichen waved his hands, looking like he didn't want to see Chi Feng getting in his way anymore.
As soon as Chi Feng left, Xiao Yichen called the eunuch and said, "Today I have to review the memorials. You must stand guard outside the door and do not allow anyone to disturb me."
The eunuchs responded and retreated without even raising their eyelids. In the past, the emperor had never issued such an order when he was reviewing memorials in his study. It seemed that the emperor would no longer stay in the study in the future, and he would be responsible for everything.
The eunuch was right. Xiao Yichen had already changed into casual clothes and climbed out of the palace through the window, heading for Ji Mansion.
Ji Lingxue stood at the door for a long time at the Ji Mansion. The stone lions at the door were hung with white cloth, which looked particularly desolate. She vaguely remembered the lively scene when she got married, with gongs and drums blaring, red silk fluttering, and Ji Yuqing's eyes shining. She looked at her with envy in the phoenix wearing peony wedding dress, and reached out to touch it. "Sister, your wedding dress is so beautiful. I heard that it was given by the Queen Mother in the palace? I wonder what my wedding dress will look like in the future?"
"Master?" Mo Xiang called out, bringing Ji Lingxue back to her wandering thoughts.
Ji Lingxue nodded, and Mo Xiang was about to knock on the door when it opened.
The old butler opened the door. He looked at Ji Lingxue several times with his dim eyes and said in surprise, "Miss... Princess... No, I was so happy that I forgot to address you. You are the Queen now."
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "Housekeeper, don't call me Queen, this is not the Imperial Palace."
Housekeeper: "Yes, yes, Miss, please come in."
In the flower hall, Ji Baichuan was playing chess with a man with their backs to the door. The sound of the chess pieces falling sounded very harmonious.
"Master, master, the eldest lady is here to see you!" The housekeeper's excited voice rang out, and the two people who were playing chess in the flower hall turned their heads to look at Ji Lingxue.
Ji Lingxue said: "Dad..." And the man with his back to her turned out to be Xiao Yichen.
Ji Lingxue's mouth twitched. Why did he leave the palace? Was he worried that she would run around and came to supervise her
Facing Ji Lingxue's inquiring eyes, Xiao Yichen smiled and said, "I have nothing to do recently, so I play chess with my father-in-law."
Ji Lingxue twitched the corners of her mouth. Wasn't it the plague in Jingzhou that came in? Why did Xiao Yichen not look worried at all
Ji Lingxue bowed to Ji Baichuan as a junior.
Ji Baichuan helped Ji Lingxue up, looked her up and down, and nodded, "Glad you're back."
Ji Lingxue said: "Father, you have white hair."
Ji Baichuan smiled, "I am old, how can I not have white hair? I feel relieved to see that you are safe and sound. So many things have happened these days. You and Yuqing got married one after another. I thought you two sisters could support each other as sisters-in-law, but I didn't expect that you would have accidents one after another. During the time you were away from the capital, the emperor often came to play chess with me, and the days passed like this. Now I hear that you are safe, this is the best thing."
Ji Lingxue lowered her eyes and asked sullenly, "The rumors outside are that I killed Ji Yuqing out of jealousy. Does father think so too?"
Ji Baichuan patted Ji Lingxue on the shoulder and said, "My Lingxue is not that kind of person. No matter what the rumors are, don't listen to them. Aren't there rumors that you are not my daughter? Just because I don't explain or clarify doesn't mean I'm not your father. Silly child, don't listen to those rumors. Look at the world with your heart and live happily and seriously. That's enough."
Ji Lingxue: "Thank you, father."
Ji Baichuan turned his head and looked at Xiao Yichen behind him. They were talking to each other as father and daughter, but they ignored him.
Xiao Yichen waved to Ji Lingxue and said, "Come here, let's play a game of chess." He remembered that Ji Lingxue pretended to be the Princess of Dayan and played chess with Yuchi Ruge happily. Now he felt depressed when he thought about it. How could Ji Lingxue play chess with another man
Ji Lingxue opened her mouth. Xiao Yichen and Ji Baichuan had just played chess for a while, so she should continue the game. If she lost, would Ji Baichuan feel embarrassed
Ji Lingxue turned to look at Ji Baichuan, and Ji Baichuan made a gesture of invitation.
Ji Lingxue took a seat, looked at Xiao Yichen anxiously, picked up the white chess piece and began to study the chess game.
The clattering sound of horse hooves stopped at the gate of Ji's house. Ji Mingyang jumped off the horse, threw the whip in his hand to the servant, and ran inside quickly, "Sister! Sister!"
Ji Lingxue's hand trembled, and the chess piece in her hand fell onto the chessboard. Just as she was reaching out to pick it up, Xiao Yichen held two of her fingers and said with a smile, "Don't regret your move. I don't need to explain this principle, right?"
Ji Lingxue decided to reason with him, "This chess piece just fell down by accident, it was a mistake!"
Xiao Yichen smiled, "That's not possible either!"
Ji Lingxue pouted, "You can't even make a mistake. You're really petty."
"Sister, it's really you!" Ji Mingyang rushed to Ji Lingxue and pulled her up. Ji Lingxue rolled her eyes and when she stood up, the corner of her skirt swept across the chessboard, making a rustling sound. The chess game was instantly messed up, and Xiao Yichen's hand holding the chess piece in the air froze.
Ji Lingxue seemed to have just realized something and turned around in horror, "How could this happen? I didn't mean to do it. It was just a mistake."
Ji Baichuan was watching with fear and trepidation, it turned out that this was how his daughter and the emperor interacted on a daily basis... It was so surprising, the emperor doted on her too much.
Ji Mingyang turned around and called out, "Brother-in-law, you're here too."
Xiao Yichen nodded, feeling very happy to be called brother-in-law. He nodded, "Mingyang, you and your sister have met again after a long time. You should catch up on the past."
Ji Mingyang nodded, took Ji Lingxue's hand and asked, "Sister, how did you come back from the dead? They all said that you committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and I even ran to Prince Chen's Mansion to see you. I touched your hand, and it was cold without any temperature."
Ji Lingxue twitched the corner of her mouth. Xiao Yichen was doing this on purpose, right? Was he curious about her fake-death drug
"Well... it's all in the past. There's nothing much to say. Mingyang, how have you been recently? Tell me about it." Ji Lingxue hurriedly changed the subject.
Ji Mingyang said excitedly: "I am now the deputy left envoy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard." After all, he is an official.
Ji Lingxue nodded. The Jinyiwei were responsible for guarding the imperial palace, which was of similar level to the Imperial Guards. It was also a relatively easy job and quite suitable for Ji Mingyang. It was just the right time to temper his temper.
After having dinner at Ji's house, Xiao Yichen held Ji Lingxue's hand and walked on the street. There was no carriage following them. Everything was the same as before. A half moon hung in the sky, and the years were peaceful.
Ji Lingxue looked around and asked, "You brought secret guards?"
Xiao Yichen nodded, "What's wrong?"
Ji Lingxue smiled awkwardly, "I'm just worried that your identity will attract assassins like last time?"
Xiao Yichen curled the corners of his mouth slightly, in a good mood, "Don't worry, this time leaving the palace was a spur of the moment decision, no one will know." There was no assassination.
Ji Lingxue said, tilted her head to look at Xiao Yichen's eyebrows and smiled, "Did you come out today to see if I can run?"
Xiao Yichen shook his head: "I know that going back to the Ji Mansion is not your ultimate goal. Although you have Shadow protecting you, I still worry about you."
Ji Lingxue nodded, "I want to go back to the palace to take a look."
Xiao Yichen nodded, "It's dark now, it's a good time to go back without attracting attention." It's rare for them to go out of the palace now with their status, so why not go to all the places they want to go at once.
(End of this chapter)