At first, no one was optimistic about the marriage between the Second Princess and Chu Changhe. However, when they returned to the palace three days later for the traditional visit after marriage, the Second Princess had a rosy complexion. When she exchanged glances with Chu Changhe, there was a hint of shyness and an indistinct dependence, clearly showing the look of newlyweds deeply in love.
The old emperor, propping up his sickly body, took a look at them and felt somewhat relieved. "Lingqiao has a rather willful temper. Changhe, you should bear with her more on a daily basis."
Chu Changhe raised his hand to salute and replied with a soft smile, neither overbearing nor humble. "I just like the Second Princess's willfulness, Your Majesty. Please rest assured. I will surely treat the Second Princess well."
The emperor rarely burst into hearty laughter.
The Eldest Princess, who was accompanying them, also wore a faint smile on her face.
After the old emperor, exhausted, went back to rest, the Eldest Princess finally had the opportunity to talk to them. She observed their way of getting along and her eyes showed a bit of satisfaction. "It seems that you've gotten along well these days. I can rest easy then."
Chu Changhe smiled, looking as dashing as ever. As he was familiar with the Eldest Princess, there was no estrangement in their conversation. He joked, "In the past, I only watched you and Brother - in - law being sweet. Now it's your turn to see how well I get along with Lingqiao."
Xie Lingqiao blushed and gave him a reproachful look.
Xie Lingyun covered her face and laughed. "I'll be looking forward to it then."
The three of them walked to the garden. Xie Lingyun said, "I won't go with you to see Mother. I'll wait here for the Duke to pick me up and go back to the mansion."
The smile on Xie Lingqiao's face faded a bit. She wasn't quite sure what she meant and couldn't help but glance at Chu Changhe.
Chu Changhe held her hand. "That's fine. Then we'll take our leave first."
Xie Lingqiao seemed to have something to say but held back. During these days of marriage, she and Chu Changhe had been as sweet as honey. Feeling at ease, she had let her guard down and told Chu Changhe all about her conflicts with the Queen.
The only thing she didn't tell him was that the Queen wasn't her biological mother.
Chu Changhe just comforted her. "There's no overnight feud between mother and daughter. Anyway, you should go back and have a look on the day of returning to the palace."
Xie Lingqiao fell silent.
She and the Queen had disliked each other since the incident and only maintained a superficial peace.
Sometimes she was also glad that she was now the daughter of the Queen, the legitimate Second Princess. Although Chu Changhe treated her well, she couldn't fully relax.
What if Chu Changhe found out about her background and then despised her?
She tightened her grip on Chu Changhe's hand unconsciously. Chu Changhe thought she was nervous. He turned to look at her and comforted her. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Xie Lingqiao forced a smile at him.
If possible, she wished she could stay as far away from the Queen as possible.
She finally understood why Xie Lingyun hadn't chosen a powerful family in the capital but instead married to the remote place in the south of the Yangtze River.
For them, getting away from this cannibalistic imperial palace was the best choice.
The Queen was in better health than the emperor after all. Even though she had almost damaged her heart meridians before, she could now get out of bed. However, her face was still as pale as ever.
Xie Guang was accompanying her, carefully supporting her. The Queen turned her head and gave him a gentle smile, looking like a mother and son with deep affection.
When Xie Lingqiao and Chu Changhe arrived, they saw this scene.
She pursed her lips and lowered her head.
No matter how many times she saw this scene, she still found it extremely jarring.
Chu Changhe bowed with a smile. "Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen and the Eldest Prince."
The Queen nodded at him with a smile. "Be excused. The third young master of the Chu family is indeed as elegant as the rumors say. Standing together with Lingqiao, you two are truly a perfect match."
Chu Changhe showed an embarrassed smile. He turned his head and looked tenderly at Xie Lingqiao, who was keeping silent with her head down. His voice was as gentle as the spring breeze. "It's my fortune to marry Lingqiao."
The Queen nodded with satisfaction. The smile on her face was exactly the same as the one on the emperor's face just now, and even the words she said were similar.
They were truly worthy of being a couple.
Xie Guang stood aside silently, carefully sizing up the two of them. Seeing the harmonious atmosphere between them, he couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
Chu Changhe actually married Xie Lingqiao willingly.
Was he blind?
While Chu Changhe was talking to the Queen, he pretended not to notice Xie Guang's gaze. However, Xie Lingqiao looked up at him indifferently.
Xie Guang withdrew his gaze and sneered in his heart.
Xie Lingqiao was such a fool.
After he recovered from his injury in the incident of the young prince, he had investigated the whole matter. On that day, Concubine Li had gone to the plum - blossom grove to meet him, but he had ignored the letter. Who would have known that the emperor would also go to the plum - blossom grove on a whim that day and happened to run into Concubine Li and her son.
Everything that day seemed like a coincidence. The emperor had gone there on a sudden impulse, and Concubine Li had just sent him a letter that day. But somehow, the emperor had immediately suspected the young prince's background!
After much thought, Xie Guang finally set his sights on Xie Lingqiao.
He had never taken Xie Lingqiao seriously before. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't understand that such a scheme could be the work of this fool, Xie Lingqiao!
He immediately gritted his teeth in hatred. But with the emperor extremely angry and Xie Lingqiao about to get married, and the Eldest Princess helping Xie Lingqiao, no matter how much he hated, he could only hold back.
At this critical moment, if anything happened to Xie Lingqiao, he would be the most suspected!
The current situation was already unfavorable to him. He must not make any more mistakes.
He took a deep breath and held back the pent - up anger in his chest.
If he was told that this was just Xie Lingqiao's idea, he would never believe it.
Thinking of Xie Yan's unexpectedly kind gesture of adding dowry for her, he sneered in his heart and wished he could devour Xie Yan alive!
After chatting with Chu Changhe for a while, the Queen showed signs of fatigue on her face.
Chu Changhe, very observant, proposed to take his leave. The Queen didn't try to persuade him to stay. She just gave a bitter smile and said, "My health is getting worse. According to etiquette, I should have invited you to have lunch with us..."
Chu Changhe showed a concerned and guilty expression. "Your Majesty, please don't say that. No matter how important the etiquette is, it can't compare to your well - being."
Xie Guang understood the Queen's intention and stepped forward with a smile. "Brother - in - law's concern, Mother and I both understand. It's getting late. I won't say any polite words. I won't keep you any longer."
Hearing this, Chu Changhe showed a lot more concern before leaving with Xie Lingqiao.
The expression on the Queen's face faded. "The third young master of the Chu family is really good at talking."
Xie Guang nodded. "He's really smart."
Xie Lingyun had really found a good marriage for Xie Lingqiao.
"Mother, I'm afraid we can't count on Xie Lingyun." He frowned and said.
The Queen sighed. "I've expected it."
Xie Lingyun was as slippery as an eel. Since she came to the capital, besides accompanying the emperor, she had stayed in the mansion with the Duke. Her every move was extremely proper. Even when she met the Queen, it was in the imperial garden, under everyone's noses.
How could the Queen not understand that Xie Lingyun was trying to draw a clear line from them?