That night, Ji Lingxue, who had just finished bathing, was leaning on the soft couch with her long hair draped over her shoulders. It was a little early, so she picked up a piece of cake to taste.
The palace door was gently pushed open, and a furtive head poked in, "Sister Queen..."
Ji Lingxue sat up and looked towards the source of the sound. Ruyi crouched down, holding a pillow and squeezed in through the small door. She closed the door casually. She walked to Ji Lingxue in a familiar manner and asked carefully: "Sister Queen, I'm getting married tomorrow and I can't sleep. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Ji Lingxue twitched her lips and was about to say: You are not a child anymore, you still need someone to accompany you. But when she met Ruyi's pitiful almond eyes, the words of rejection on her lips could not come out.
Seeing that Ji Lingxue was about to refuse, Ru hurriedly added, "Sister Queen, you are worried that the emperor will come over tonight. It is not convenient for me to sleep with you. Don't worry, I have already inquired. Today, the emperor is having a small meeting with the envoys in the imperial study. I have informed the eunuchs. Even if the emperor wants to come over to accompany you, sister Queen, he will understand my mood of getting married tomorrow and let me sleep with you for one night."
Having said that, Ji Lingxue nodded and said, "Okay." She had no choice but to compromise.
The more she got along with Ruyi, she began to understand why Ruge chose her. Such a simple and lovely personality was rare in the royal family.
"Thank you, Queen sister!" Ruyi jumped happily on the spot, then realized she had lost her composure and stuck out her tongue. She quickly put the pillow away and came to Ji Lingxue to show her courtesy, "Queen sister, I heard that pregnant women's legs and feet will be swollen, and their bodies will be sore. I can massage you wherever you feel uncomfortable. I grew up in the border area and have mastered massage techniques." As she spoke, Ruyi waved her five claws with an eager expression, which made Ji Lingxue laugh silently.
Ruyi volunteered to massage Ji Lingxue's calf, and asked, "Sister Queen, Ruge told me that you are his sworn sister, is that true? I didn't expect you to be so close to him now, so you must know him very well and what he likes and dislikes. Can you tell me about it?"
Ji Lingxue was stunned by Ruyi's question. She didn't know much about Ruge and she had never paid attention to his preferences. When he was a secret guard in Prince Chen's Mansion, the person he spent the most time with was Mo Xiang. She was grateful to him for saving her life. Later, she was kidnapped by the pervert Yuchi Gongru. Ruge came to rescue her alone and exposed his identity. She then knew that he was the second prince of Dayan.
Pulling her thoughts back, Ji Lingxue turned around and asked, "Ruyi, do you like Ruge very much?"
Ruyi nodded embarrassedly, her little face flushed.
"Ruge is very easy to get along with, and he doesn't have any particular preferences. If he has to say one thing he likes, it would be that it's delicious food."
Ruyi covered her mouth and giggled, "Haha, it seems that I have to ask Mo Xiang to teach me how to cook a few more dishes... It's a pity that I don't have time, I have to go to Dayan tomorrow..." Ruyi frowned and sighed, and the next moment she grabbed Ji Lingxue's hand and said, "Sister Queen, I want to discuss something with you. Can you lend me Mo Xiang for a few months, and send her back when I learn how to cook?"
Ruyi lowered her eyes and looked at Ji Lingxue's bulging belly. "I know that my request is a bit excessive. Mo Xiang is the aunt who came with the Queen, so she naturally has to serve you. Besides, you are about to give birth and you can't be without someone to serve you... Can I borrow Mo Xiang for a month? I will send her back after a month. This way, it won't delay your delivery, Queen. Is that okay with you?"
Ji Lingxue twitched her lips, feeling that Ruyi had planned this all along and was just playing the emotional card to make her compromise.
Seeing Ji Lingxue hesitate, Ruyi continued, "Sister Queen, there are many young maids in the palace. You can train a few more like Mo Xiang. When Mo Xiang gets married in the future, you won't feel lonely. Don't you agree?"
Ji Lingxue nodded. She agreed with Ruyi's words. No matter how good Mo Xiang was, she had to get married. This was also her plan.
Ji Lingxue nodded, "Okay, I'll lend you Mo Xiang for a month." She is Ruge's wife, and based on this relationship, she would agree to her request.
"Thank you, Queen Sister!" Ruyi happily hugged Ji Lingxue's thigh, "You are so kind to your slaves. I will remember your great kindness to Ruyi for the rest of my life."
The corner of Ji Lingxue's mouth twitched again. She had done such earth-shattering things and was still being treated so kindly. She felt really ashamed.
Ji Lingxue yawned and said, "It's getting late. Go to bed early. You have to get up early tomorrow."
Ruyi nodded, still holding Ji Lingxue's arm while lying on the bed, and kept on talking about how she was attracted to Ruge the first time she saw her.
Ruge seldom walks on the street. That day, Ji Lingxue had nothing to do, so she dragged Ruge shopping. Ruge held the flowers that Ji Lingxue bought for her in her hand. In the sunshine, the white-haired boy held the flowers, and the flowers bloomed and smelled fragrant. Ruge's skin was as white as jade against her white hair, and she could be recognized at a glance even if she stood in a bustling crowd.
Ruyi had just returned to the capital that day, and her heart was moved when she saw this scene. She was a man of action, so she went up to him and said, "Hey, how much do you sell these flowers for?"
Hearing this, Ji Lingxue smiled and asked, "What did Ruge say?"
Ruyi pouted and imitated Ruge's tone: "Girl, I bought these flowers myself, I'm not selling them!"
Ji Lingxue asked: "So... you just took one and ran away?"
Ruyi nodded, "Sister Queen, how did you know?"
Ji Lingxue smiled awkwardly: "I guessed. Ruge once mentioned this to me."
There was an "embarrassment" written all over Ruyi's face. "Ruge is so annoying. I asked him for flowers more than a dozen times, but he never remembered me and never came after me. Don't you think this guy is stupid?" Thinking of this, Ruyi's cheeks flushed and she seemed very angry.
Ji Lingxue smiled. If she and Ruyi had not bumped into each other by accident in the post station, she and Ruge would probably not have had the fate that they had later. It was at that time that she disguised herself as Zhixue. Few people knew about this, and it was not appropriate to mention it in front of Ruyi.
Ruyi said, "Sister Queen, am I lucky? The person I like just happened to be unmarried. I became bold and asked the emperor for permission to marry me. Unexpectedly, he agreed. I know that if he didn't marry me because he liked me, my marriage with him would be just an exchange of interests for the peace of our two countries. But I don't regret it at all because I like him."
Ji Lingxue looked at Ruyi. Ruyi was lying on the bed with her long black hair falling on the pillow. She looked towards the top of the bed curtain, and a faint mist covered her almond-shaped eyes.
"He doesn't like you?" Ji Lingxue asked. Why did she think Ruge was nice to Ruyi, but Ruyi said that Ruge didn't like her? She and Ruge knew each other well. Ruge was seriously injured and unconscious in the Imperial Hospital, and Ruyi stayed with him all the time. This was how love grows over time.
Ruyi nodded, "I know Ruge has someone she likes, Queen sister, do you know who it is?"
Ji Lingxue was stunned, then shook her head. She had known Ruge for such a long time, but she had never seen him get close to any woman.
Ruyi lowered her eyes and said sullenly, "What does it matter if I know? As long as she doesn't marry Ruge, I still have a chance to make Ruge fall in love with me."
Ji Lingxue: “…”
The dawn dispelled the darkness. Ruyi looked at the light projected on the window and sighed, "Sister Queen, it's dawn..."
Ji Lingxue yawned and patted Ruyi's shoulder, "How is it, how do you feel?" Thanks to Ruyi, she hadn't slept the whole night, so she would have to make up for it later.
Ruyi put her hand on her chest, took a deep breath and said, "I feel okay. Maybe it's because today is not Ruge and I's wedding night, so I'm not nervous."
Ji Lingxue nodded, turned over and sat up, called Rong Mama, and handed her a square wooden box sealed with red wedding brocade, "Ruyi, I wish you and Ruge eternal love and a happy marriage! Love is a matter of a while, passionate and crazy, and staying together is a matter of a lifetime, happy and warm. Everyone's other half is a perfect match, with the seal of love on it. May you join hands and continue to write a new chapter of romance."
Ruyi took the wooden box curiously, "What is this?"
Ji Lingxue smiled mysteriously, "Wedding gifts can only be opened and viewed on the wedding night."
Ruyi nodded, "Thank you, Queen." She opened her arms and gave Ji Lingxue a warm hug. She lowered her head and said to Ji Lingxue's round belly, "The little prince or princess inside, you must grow up happily and be born safely. Don't tire Queen. When you grow up, come to Dayan to play if you have the chance. I will treat you to delicious food."
Ruyi's words made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Mo Xiang brought hot water to help Ji Lingxue wash up, and Ruyi was invited back to the side hall to wash and put on makeup.
Mo Xiang used a comb to help Ji Lingxue comb her long hair, and she did not forget to complain: "Master, why did you agree to the princess's request? How can Madam take care of her alone when I'm not here?"
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "My dear Mo Xiang, stop complaining. You are only going out with Ruyi for a month. You will come back when she marries into Dayan. It would be pitiful for a little girl like her to marry so far away alone without anyone to take care of her on the road. You should take good care of her for me."
Mo Xiang lowered his head and muttered: "She is pitiful, and you, my master, are pitiful too..."
Madam Rong set the breakfast and turned around and said, "Mo Xiang, you can go. No one in this world can't live without anyone else. Besides, the queen still has me, Madam, by her side. Although I'm a little old, my mind is still clear and I'm good at doing things. I'm not worse than you, a little girl."
Mo Xiang turned around and glared at the talkative Rong Mama, "Mama..."
Madam Rong waved her hand and said, "Moxiang, don't worry and go to send your bride off. Who knows, maybe some royal grandson or prince will take a fancy to you and marry you in Dayan." She laughed as she said that.
Mo Xiang, who was teased, blushed, stomped her feet and ran out.
Aunt Rong laughed and said, "This girl is still shy!"
Ji Lingxue touched her belly and said, "Mammy, please bring a few new palace maids here later." It's good that Mo Xiang is not here, she needs to cultivate a few confidants.
(End of this chapter)