The young girl angrily turned her rage towards her sweetheart. "You already have such an outstanding wife, but still dote on concubines and suppress the wife. You men are really annoying!"
The young girl's sweetheart quickly professed his loyalty.
"I would never do that. I won't take concubines. You'll be the only one I marry."
The young girl gave a huff. "That's more like it."
As the three of them chatted back and forth, Xu Yanchi felt his face burning.
These people were really idle. Why did they keep focusing on the affairs in his inner courtyard every day?
Jiang Chan also noticed that direction. Her fingers clutching the armrests of the chair turned white.
Wasn't Shen Qing supposed to say she wasn't interested in playing? Why did she turn around and start having fun with the princess?
Why did she always get all the good things?
Under the tree, Ji Junye's gaze couldn't help but follow Shen Qing's movements. His eyes were firmly fixed on her slender waist. Only he knew how good it felt to touch.
Ji Junye's fingers twitched unconsciously, and he even felt a bit parched.
"Water."
A cup of tea was served. Without even looking at who it was from, he was about to take it when suddenly the teacup tipped over. A cup of cold tea splashed straight onto his robe and flowed down along it.
Only then did Ji Junye see clearly that the person serving the tea was not Li Quan at all, but some audacious woman!
"Presumptuous!"
"Your subject's daughter slipped up accidentally. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I'll help Your Majesty wipe it clean right away!"
The woman knelt down tremblingly, slightly raising her chin to reveal a small, pitiful face the size of a palm. Her red eyes were like those of a frightened little rabbit.
She thought that such an act would arouse a man's pity the most.
If such an expression were on Shen Qing's face, Ji Junye would feel the desire to bully her. But on another woman's face, he only felt disgusted.
Just as he was about to order someone to send her away, his eyes caught sight of Shen Qing, who was completely focused and not looking at him at all. He immediately felt annoyed. He turned his head and looked down at the woman below. "What's your name?"
The woman's face lit up. "I'm Yin Zhi, Your Majesty. My father is Yin Zhengping, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel."
Ji Junye didn't say a word. Instead, he stepped over her and walked forward. "Hurry up and follow."
Yin Zhi's face showed delight. Her mother was right after all. Men were all the same. They just liked the pitiful type.
Once she became an imperial concubine, she'd see how the first lady would still bully her mother!
Yin Zhi quickly followed, only to find that His Majesty was heading in the direction of the martial arts training ground. When she saw Ji Qingshu, a look of understanding flashed across her eyes.
So His Majesty was here to find the princess.
Ji Qingshu saw Ji Junye coming from afar. Naturally, Shen Qing also saw him. Seeing the woman following behind him, Shen Qing frowned imperceptibly.
"My elder brother actually has a woman following him?" Ji Qingshu opened her mouth wide.
There was no expression on Shen Qing's face. She said to Ji Qingshu, "Your Majesty must be here to find the princess. I've taught the princess everything I wanted to. The princess has learned very well today. I'm a bit tired, so I'll go change my clothes first."
"Ah?" Ji Qingshu still wanted to continue, but since Shen Qing had proposed it, she didn't dare to refuse. "Okay then."
Suddenly, she reacted. "Are you also afraid of my elder brother?"
Shen Qing tugged at the corner of her lips. "I guess no one isn't afraid."
"You're right." Ji Qingshu nodded. She felt that she and Shen Qing were already very familiar, so she told her everything.
"Let me tell you, my elder brother hates women very much. I've never seen any woman other than the noble concubine beside him. This one..." Ji Qingshu pursed her lips and whispered, "This one isn't that good. Is my elder brother that starved?"
Shen Qing was just putting away her things. Hearing Ji Qingshu's self - talking complaints, she couldn't help but tug at the corner of her lips again. She thought to herself that he wasn't just starved. Every time they were together, he was just like a hungry wolf.
Shen Qing didn't want to say more and bid farewell to Ji Qingshu.
Actually, Ji Qingshu wanted Shen Qing to stay and face her elder brother with her, but she decided against it. She already regarded Shen Qing as a friend. As a friend, she should stand up for her friend. As a friend, she should face her elder brother alone!
"Elder brother, are you here to find me?"
No matter how many heroic words she had, when Ji Junye stood in front of her with a frown, Ji Qingshu still cowered.
Ji Junye asked, "What are you doing?"
"Learning how to use a staff from someone."
"Where is that person?"
"… Ah?" Ji Qingshu was stunned for a moment. Then she realized he was talking about Shen Qing. "Oh, Sister Shen said she was tired and has already left."
"Sister Shen?" Ji Junye repeated. For some reason, Ji Qingshu heard a hint of chewing in his tone.
But she didn't think much about it. "Yes. Sister Shen is the wife of the Marquis of Guangping. She's the one who once knelt at the palace gate with the imperial amnesty deed to plead with you, elder brother."
"I see."
Ji Junye narrowed his eyes slightly, showing a hint of danger. It was okay not to mention it, but once it was mentioned, he got even angrier. How could Xu Yanchi be worthy of her kneeling at the palace gate with the imperial amnesty deed to plead for him?
Moreover, he felt that Shen Qing was obviously avoiding him today. Ji Junye was very annoyed and lifted his foot to leave.
Yin Zhi glanced at Ji Qingshu and quickly continued to follow.
Ji Qingshu was a bit confused. Why did her elder brother come out of nowhere, say some irrelevant things to her, and then leave?
Since both Shen Qing and Ji Junye had left, it was meaningless for her to stay here alone, so she also went back to change her clothes.
Although no one was currying favor with Ji Junye, as an emperor, he was never short of attention. Immediately, someone started to guess Yin Zhi's identity.
"Hey, Yin He. Isn't that your half - sister? Why..."
The girl called Yin He was the chubby - faced young girl who had just scolded Xu Yanchi.
Hearing this, she quickly looked in the direction her little sister was pointing. When she saw, she was almost furious.
Wasn't that the half - sister who had pestered her and her mother to bring her here today?
She had thought Yin Zhi had some target in mind, but she didn't expect her to be so bold as to set her sights on His Majesty!
"No. I have to tell my mother about this right away!"
Yin Zhi and her mother, who came from a brothel, usually used their pitiful looks to gain her father's favor. If she entered the palace, wouldn't there be chaos?
Yin He was an impatient person. Immediately, she left her sweetheart and little sisters and went to find her mother.
On the other side, perhaps because she had been active for too long, Shen Qing felt a bit dizzy. She chose a less - traveled path and was going to the room where she could change clothes to take a rest.
Unexpectedly, just after passing the rockery, she saw a familiar figure head - on.
Shen Qing turned around and was about to run.
"Where do you think you're going?"
With a flash, Ji Junye blocked Shen Qing's way. Shen Qing took step after step back, but Ji Junye pressed on.
When there was really nowhere else to retreat, Shen Qing took a deep breath. "Your Majesty..."
Before she could even finish the words of greeting, Shen Qing was grabbed. The words that came out of his thin lips made Shen Qing's heart skip a beat.
"Shen Qing, you've been avoiding me all day. How much longer do you plan to avoid me?"
Shen Qing looked at Yin Zhi behind him with a stunned expression. A hint of bitterness quickly flashed across her eyes. She wanted to take a step back, but there was a rockery behind her.
"I, your subject's wife, don't know what Your Majesty is talking about."