Volume 1: Painting Hall Spring Chapter 22: Mother and Brother Return Home
After the trip to Baoding Mountain, Qingxi lived a life of never leaving or stepping out under Ling Deyan's strict requirements.
After reaching an agreement with Xiao Yizheng at Yuyue Pavilion that day, she explained the situation to her father. Words must be deeded and deeds must be resolute. It was hard for her father to reject the emperor's proposal in the blink of an eye.
Ling Deyan was very surprised and asked her why she changed her mind and if something had happened.
She explained that she met King Heng by chance at Yuyueting that day. The two of them had a good conversation and similar temperament. She began to admire him and felt that this marriage was very good. When she mentioned the word "admiration", she
He lowered his head at the right time, feeling guilty that he had deceived his father, so naturally he did not dare to face his eyes.
But such a performance showed a shy look in Ling Deyan's eyes. He frowned, but still couldn't believe what she said, so he continued to ask: "Really? Is it just like this?"
Qingxi raised his head and said seriously: "Dad, you know, I have always wanted to see the mountains and rivers of the world. The experience of His Highness Prince Heng is very attractive to me. As my father said, he is a man of extraordinary conversation and a man of the world.
, is really excellent. Besides, I have always yearned for freedom, and if it weren’t for my admiration, I would never wrong myself.”
Ling Deyan closed his lips tightly, thinking that what she said was not unreasonable. With the grace and charm of His Highness the Sixth Prince, it is not surprising that Qingxi has such thoughts after having interacted with him. "It's just that you really care about Yuan Yi.
You don’t have that kind of thought?”
"I regard him as my elder brother." Speaking of Zeng Qidao, Qingxi felt confused. In his current situation, even if he does not marry the royal family, he cannot marry into the Zeng family, and he must not bring harm to others.
"Heng'er, this is a life-long event, and it cannot be based on temporary likes and dislikes, or gains and losses based on a single thought." Ling Deyan said solemnly.
Qingxi was slightly stunned, but nodded firmly.
Ling Deyan was speechless for a moment, then nodded lightly: "Let dad think about it, think about it."
On his last night in Baoding Mountain, he had a long secret conversation with Shen Ziru. The other party revealed an important message to him. During the day, King Guang inquired about Qingxi's marriage. This gave him a chill down his spine. He naturally knew that he was
The southwest inspection and punishment of officials offended King Guang, but those officials were of low rank, so they did not want King Guang to care so much.
Why did he care about his daughter's marriage? He told Shen Ziru that he had no intention of letting Qingxi marry into Prince Heng's palace, but Shen Ziru reminded him that Prince Guang also had an unmarried son, which made him shudder. If the emperor would not force it
This marriage, given Prince Guang's character, must be forced. The lesser of the two evils, in this case, it is really the best idea to let Qingxi marry into Prince Heng's palace.
He was very sad just thinking that his daughter's marriage was mixed with so much helplessness. Now Qingxi said that she admired King Heng, which really comforted him. In fact, he hoped so. He hoped that his daughter would be willing to start another life.
.
Qingxi spent her time at home reading, writing and playing the piano, which was quite fulfilling. From time to time, she thought of the conversation in the Jade Moon Pavilion that day. It was not that she was not upset that she had decided on such an important matter so easily, but it was useless to regret it.
That day, she asked Xiao Yizheng three questions. She knew the answers in her mind. At that time, she thought that if he gave a negative answer, then the marriage would indeed struggle. But if he told the truth honestly, she nodded, because
Trust. Now that she has made a decision, she can only move forward. She wants to live a free and easy life.
She didn’t know whether it was the stress and danger brought about by recent events or the night wind blowing too much in Baoding Mountain. She fell ill on the third day after returning home. She had a fever, headache, and severe nasal congestion. Yueying kept complaining that she didn’t pay attention.
He took care of himself and took care of her tirelessly while giving her medicine, tea and water. Ling Deyan would basically stay with her whenever he came back from the government office.
When she was feeling dizzy with fever, she heard her father say: "Today, the Holy Father mentioned to me that your mother will take you into the palace to meet the queen when she comes back. I am afraid that she will mention the matter between you and the Sixth Highness. I always thought that I could delay it for a day.
One day, I said you were sick. Heng'er, dad is really reluctant to let you get married!"
During the period when Qingxi was ill, three minor events occurred in the court: First, there was an internal commotion in the Miao tribe on the southwest border, and the court was requested to send someone to mediate to resolve the matter. The emperor sent Prince Guang to deal with it.
Secondly, General Zeng Ji wrote to the court to let his youngest son Zeng Qidao join the Northern Army and garrison at the northern border. Thirdly, the Minister of Hubu was about to become an official and recommended Ling Deyan to succeed him.
Of course, Qingxi, who was recuperating from illness, didn't know all this. What she knew was that Prince Heng's Mansion sent someone to inquire about her physical condition and bring good medicinal materials; Zeng Qidao's attendant sent her a verbal message saying that his young master had an appointment with the girl.
See. She always felt that it was inappropriate to see Zeng Qidao at this time, so she replied that she was not feeling well right now and it was not very convenient, so we would talk about it in a few days. Her illness lasted for a long time, until her mother Chen Ruofu and Ling Qingsong came back from their family visit.
excellent.
Mrs. Ling, Chen Ruofu, was graceful and calm, and Ling Qingsong was a handsome gentleman. The two of them returned home after a long journey. Qingxi stood at the door and ran up to wrap their arms around them. "Mom, brother, you are finally back!"
Chen Ruofu stepped forward and hugged her, caressing her face: "Look here, you said you are sick, why are you still standing here blowing the wind? Come in, come in."
Ling Qingsong stood aside and smiled, looking her up and down: "You look good to me, you don't look sick at all."
"Brother, you don't want to deal with me as soon as you come home!" Qingxi said coquettishly: "I ignore you. Mom, how are you doing with your grandfather and grandmother?"
"Okay, everything is fine." Chen Ruofu hugged her and walked into the house.
When Ling Deyan came back from the government office, the whole family gathered together to have a meal and chat. It was so warm.
Chen Ruofu talked about the things in Sujiang in detail, and Ling Qingsong added in time, joking with Qingxi from time to time.
Ling Deyan asked: "Dad, do you have anything to tell me?"
Chen Ruofu said softly: "It's not like you don't know dad's temperament. He just tells you to go back to Sujiang if you're not happy, saying that Shang has nothing to miss!"
Ling Deyan laughed heartily: "I'm afraid I won't be able to learn from my dad's open-mindedness and ease."
Ling Qingsong moved his body and asked seriously: "Dad, what happened to Shang Du?"
Ling Deyan glanced at Qingxi, thought for a while, and then related the matter with King Heng one by one. He just saved the need to think about it in a secret way. He didn't want his wife and children to worry unnecessarily.
"What?" Chen Ruofu looked at Qingxi in surprise: "You and King Heng?"
Ling Qingsong also frowned slightly: "Are you getting married?"
Being asked so bluntly by her mother and brother, she blushed, stared at Qingsong, and rolled her eyes: "Is it weird for me to get married?"
"That's not the case!" Qingsong's hand gently clasped the table, and said with a smile on his lips: "I just thought that if you get married, I won't be used to it."
Qingxi originally wanted to continue arguing with him, but she heard that there was a bit of loneliness and reluctance in his words that were different from the past, so she said softly: "Is it possible that my brother will take care of me all my life?"
"Why not?" Qingsong said calmly: "If you don't want to get married, I will take care of you for the rest of your life."
Qingxi smiled and really wanted to lie on her brother's shoulders like she did when she was a child.
"Okay, what you said is not stingy!" Chen Ruofu shouted. "Heng'er, let me ask you, do you really mean what your father said?"
Qingxi nodded, looked at her mother's face, and said softly: "Do you blame me for being indulgent and disrespectful?"
Chen Ruofu pursed her lips tightly and did not speak. Ling Deyan immediately defended Heng'er: "It's not the fault of Heng'er. The emperor fell in love with her, and it was not her wish. His Highness the Sixth Prince is very outstanding, and he is a good match for Heng'er, so it's not a bad thing.
.”
"Do you really miss His Highness Prince Heng?" Qingsong looked sideways at her, looked into her eyes, and asked seriously.
Qingxi blinked her eyes, paused for a while, and said in a low voice: "Brother, I know that if I can't marry the person I love, my heart will hurt. I won't let myself feel heartache." She knew that these words would hurt her brother.
The wound, but at this moment, it was the only way to prevent him from doubting his sincerity.
Sure enough, Ling Qingsong's eyes dimmed, he lowered his head slightly, and said hoarsely: "Since you like it, don't have any worries. It doesn't matter whether you are a royal nobleman or a humble beggar. As long as you like Heng'er, my brother will support you."
Qingxi raised her eyebrows and smiled, with light in her eyes.
After nightfall, Ling Deyan listened to the sighs of the people around him, and could only console him: "Heng'er didn't go to the dragon's pond and the tiger's den, so this wouldn't be the case."
Chen Ruofu turned around: "The inner courtyard of the royal family is not a dragon's pond or a tiger's den?"
Ling Deyan shook his head helplessly, why does this family dislike the royal family so much?
"We worked hard and thought that she could have a simple and comfortable marriage. She just likes someone from the royal family."
"Your Highness, the Sixth Highness, is deeply loved by His Majesty. Three years ago, he opened his palace and was named King Heng. In the past three years, his days in the palace have been few and far between. He likes to travel around the world and has a kind and open-minded temperament. If
To say that he is a member of the royal family is just that. When it comes to marriage, it is necessary to find a fate, and sometimes human power cannot do it."
Chen Ruofu sighed: "Why do you feel sorry for the Zeng family?"
Ling Deyan was already troubled enough by thinking about his wife, so many thoughts came to his lips but he still swallowed them.