"The emperor doesn't deserve to eat mangoes."
Xiao Tian: "..."
Yi Qing met his feigned fierce gaze, indicating that she was really not lying.
Some people are just allergic to mangoes. Isn't that being unworthy to enjoy them?
After hearing her explanation, Xiao Tian still looked skeptical and confused.
"According to what you said, many people should feel uncomfortable after eating these mangoes. How could the emperor not know?"
"Maybe he's just pretending to be ignorant!"
Looking at Yi Qing's half - smiling face, Xiao Tian felt a pang of annoyance.
Fortunately, Baozi spoke up for the emperor: "Mom, Uncle Emperor isn't such a person."
"Silly boy," Yi Qing pinched his little ear, "it's hard to fathom people's hearts. Besides, some people will scheme against others if they aren't being schemed against. Do you understand the idea of life - and - death struggle?"
Zisu chimed in: "Prince Zhen should be innocent. He's not an ambitious man. He's kind of... stupid."
(Prince Zhen: Thanks a lot for speaking up for me. Thanks to your whole family.)
Yi Qing was amused by her words and propped her chin up, saying, "Tell me. How stupid is he?"
"Back then, when I was being chased and had nowhere to go, I jumped into his prince's mansion. He thought I was one of his concubines..." Seeing the curious glint in Yi Qing's eyes, Zisu suddenly didn't want to continue, "Anyway, he's a fool. He has no ill intentions, no courage, and no brains."
"It's rare for you to evaluate someone so 'highly'," Yi Qing said with a click of her tongue, "I'm even more interested in him. Tell me more. Did you and him, well, have anything..."
Xiao Tian: "..."
"Get lost!" Zisu scolded.
Yi Qing burst out laughing.
"Are you done laughing? Help me save him," Zisu said irritably.
"Sure, I must save him this time. Since everyone knows you two have a close relationship, how can I not?" Yi Qing said with a big laugh, which made Zisu's face turn black with anger.
Xiao Tian said to Baozi, "Only women and petty men are difficult to deal with. The ancients were really right."
Baozi stared at Xiao Tian with his obsidian - like eyes and shook his head, saying, "Uncle Xiao, you should take back that statement."
Xiao Tian was speechless.
"My mom said she hates it most when people say that. Another one is 'a good man doesn't fight with a woman'. These are just self - comforting words for men who can't win in an argument or a fight and then run away in a hurry."
Xiao Tian was at a loss for words.
After having their fun and finishing their meal, the group strolled around the street for a while and then went home.
"Come to my room after Baozi falls asleep tonight," Yi Qing winked at Xiao Tian and was satisfied to see the latter's face turn dark.
Xiao Tian was helpless. Clearly, she wasn't that kind of person, but she always acted in an improper way.
On a moonless and windy night, a dark figure sneaked out like a thief. After crouching and taking a few steps, perhaps feeling it was inappropriate, he straightened up, cleared his throat in the yard.
"Just come. Why make so much noise?" Yi Qing opened the door with a lamp in her hand.
Xiao Tian: "..." "What do you want from me?"
"Come in and then we'll talk."
Xiao Tian considered himself to have a clear conscience, but for some reason, whenever he was with Yi Qing, especially when they were alone, he couldn't help blushing.
"I want to ask you what kind of person Prince Zhen is," Yi Qing was really asking about something serious, "As you heard from Baozi, he's going to plead for Prince Zhen at the public trial tomorrow. I'm thinking that if this person is worth saving, I'll go; if not, I'll find a way to stop him."
"I've said that I'm not familiar with him."
"Then I can only trust Zisu's words and save him."
"Up to you. As long as he's really innocent, it's okay to save him."
"Then I'll give it a try tomorrow."
Xiao Tian was still a bit worried: "You're of little status. Even if what you say is true, how can you prove it?"
"What do I need to prove? I just need to say what I know," Yi Qing said, "Since the emperor wants a public trial, he wants to make it an air - tight case. As long as there are doubts and it's hard to convince the public, the case won't be finalized. I'll be that doubt. Then, while delaying the time, you can go into the palace and talk to the emperor."
"I didn't agree to that," Xiao Tian said immediately.
"You didn't agree, but your conscience won't let you off," Yi Qing said knowingly, "These days, people with a conscience always have to suffer a bit, right?"
Xiao Tian snorted, "You always have so many fallacies."
Yi Qing yawned and said, "You've known this about me for a long time. Well, I'm sleepy. How about we go to bed early?"
"You!" Xiao Tian's face flushed again, "You're shameless!"
"I said I'll sleep in my bed and you sleep in yours. We'll both go to bed early. Where did you get your dirty thoughts?" Yi Qing's eyes were full of charm, "Look at you. You always have such bad thoughts about me."
Xiao Tian fled in a hurry.
Yi Qing burst out laughing.
Before her laughter died down, Xiao Tian returned. But he didn't dare to look at her. He slapped something on the table and then ran away like a thief.
Yi Qing picked up the thing and brought it in front of her. She squinted and looked at it, then suddenly let out a chuckle.
It was a wooden figurine carved from rosewood. The carving was rough. One could barely distinguish the facial features. There was no trace of lines or beauty.
Presumably, afraid that she wouldn't know what it meant, the words "Yi Qing" were scrawled on the bottom of the figurine. The calligraphy was really good.
"It's so ugly," Yi Qing threw the figurine on the bed. Then she couldn't help but lie down relaxed, tilted her head to look at the ugly "herself", and pressed it with her slender index finger, "Still ugly."
This was the birthday gift Xiao Tian gave her.
The meaning this thing represented far exceeded its own value.
What kind of relationship would make someone give a self - carved statue?
Deep down in his heart, Xiao Tian had developed a crush on her and was starting to face up to this feeling.
Yi Qing really wanted to laugh out loud: Kneel down and call me Queen!
All her secret admiration for him had not been in vain.
Sooner or later, she would lead a happy life with money, leisure, a son, and a young hunk.
Now, this kind of happiness was already waving at her.
Sometimes she also asked herself what was so good about Xiao Tian.
At first, she was just bewitched by his looks and didn't take this crush seriously in her heart. But when did she start to really look forward to it?
She didn't know. Maybe this was just the way love starts without knowing when.
It might be a bit too early to say that she was deeply in love, but just thinking about having Xiao Tian in the future made her full of anticipation.
Perhaps good fortune turns into misfortune. Yi Qing was so excited that she didn't fall asleep until dawn.
But she didn't sleep for long when Baozi came to wake her up: "Mom, Mom, get up quickly. Didn't you promise Aunt Zisu to take me to help Prince Zhen?"
Yi Qing was sleeping soundly. She turned over and showed her back to him: "Let Uncle Xiao and Aunt Zisu take you. I've told them everything I know."
"Okay then," Baozi said and then ran out.
When Yi Qing woke up, it was already late morning. While she was grooming herself, the other three people in the family came back.
Just by looking at Baozi's expression, Yi Qing knew that he had completed his "mission".
"Come here and tell Mom about it," Yi Qing waved to him.