Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan were both stunned. After all that talk, was the emperor lovesick?
The emperor could tell what they were thinking just by looking at their expressions. "I really don't have such thoughts. It's just..."
Yi Qing, unusually serious, didn't smile. "You didn't see what she looked like clearly?"
The emperor shook his head.
"This is strange." Yi Qing recalled the momentary daze when she saw Princess Dina drinking. "At that distance, Your Majesty couldn't have failed to see clearly."
"I simply didn't want to look." The emperor took the opportunity to prove his innocence.
"This isn't a matter of wanting to look or not. Don't you think it's very strange?" Yi Qing looked at the emperor's childish look.
"I..." The emperor thought for a while. "It is strange. Clearly the person was right in front of me, but I just couldn't see clearly, and I couldn't help but keep thinking about her."
Yi Qing gave a sly smile. "Why don't you take her in? Then you can look at her as much as you want."
The emperor knew Yi Qing wouldn't say anything nice. "If it were really that simple, would I be so troubled? First, find a way to help me fall asleep."
"That's easy." Before the emperor could react, Yi Qing gave him a needle.
The emperor was about to ask, but before he could speak, a breath caught in his throat and he fell into a deep sleep.
"Is he okay?" Xiao Jinghan was startled.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine after sleeping for a few hours." Yi Qing said as she felt the emperor's pulse.
The emperor's body had completely recovered. It was estimated that there would be an heir in the palace before long.
Xiao Jinghan sent the emperor back and handed him over to Gan Chengyou. By the time he returned, the roosters were crowing.
Yi Qing didn't sleep well at night and was catching up on sleep during the day. Just as she lay down after breakfast, she heard that the envoys from the Northern Di tribe had come to pay a visit.
"Just let the general go and meet them." Yi Qing was too lazy to get up.
"Princess Dina is here." Ruo Hong whispered.
Yi Qing quickly sat up. "Do my makeup."
Ruo Hong wanted to laugh when she saw her mistress like this, but she had to hold it in and go to do her makeup.
Normally, these things were done by Sang Sang. Now that Sang Sang was gone, Ruo Hong was a bit rusty. Yi Qing thought about finding two more maids to serve by her side. It would be more convenient when taking care of the children.
Today, not only Princess Dina but also Prince Nian came.
Xiao Jinghan greeted them to sit down and served them tea. Then Yi Qing was supported by Ruo Hong and came over.
"My lady." Xiao Jinghan, who had a cold look on his face, showed a doting smile when he saw Yi Qing coming.
"I heard Princess Dina is here." Yi Qing sat down beside Xiao Jinghan and looked directly at Princess Dina in a purple dress. "Aren't you cold dressed like this?"
It was very cold in the Great Jin Dynasty now, but Princess Dina was wearing a light gauze dress, looking like a purple cloud, dreamy and illusory.
Princess Dina bowed. "It's very cold in our Northern Di tribe. The Great Jin Dynasty is already very warm for us."
Yi Qing looked at Prince Nian, who was dressed in thick furs. "I think Princess Dina has a strong constitution."
Prince Nian had contacted Yi Qing before and knew that she didn't mince her words. "Dina is naturally not afraid of the cold. Thank you, Lady Xiao, for your concern."
"Tell me, what brings you to our house today?" Yi Qing asked directly.
Prince Nian forced a smile. "Dina has come for the marriage alliance between the two countries. She has always admired General Xiao, so she came to pay a visit especially."
Princess Dina bowed.
"Oh." Yi Qing was not polite at all. "Is the princess sent by your Northern Di tribe for the marriage alliance too ugly to show her face? Why does she always cover her face?"
Dina looked a bit embarrassed.
"Dina came for the marriage alliance. Since she hasn't gotten married yet, she naturally has to avoid suspicion." Prince Nian explained.
"Since you want to avoid suspicion, just stay obediently in the embassy. Don't go out with your face covered and still talk about avoiding suspicion. Aren't you ashamed?" Yi Qing mocked.
Prince Nian forced a smile. "Lady Xiao is still as straightforward as ever."
"I'm just not good at speaking nicely." Yi Qing didn't give Prince Nian any face at all. "There's no need for you to admire our general. There are many people who admire our general. It's not your turn from the Northern Di tribe. As for the marriage alliance, that's the emperor's business. If you have any ideas, you can go to the emperor." As she said this, she looked like she was about to kick them out.
"General Xiao?" Prince Nian looked at Xiao Jinghan.
"My lady is right. Moreover, Prince Nian is after all a prince of the Northern Di tribe. If he gets too close to me, it will be hard to explain. Please go back." Xiao Jinghan said directly.
Prince Nian looked embarrassed. He was used to winning people's hearts through persuasion, but he didn't expect that his tricks were useless in front of Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing.
"Then I won't bother General Xiao anymore." Prince Nian stood up and said goodbye.
"Don't bother seeing you off." Xiao Jinghan didn't stand up.
Prince Nian lost face and left with Dina.
Yi Qing smelled a very strange odor. She didn't smell it when they came in. She only smelled it after Prince Nian and Princess Dina left.
Xiao Jinghan rubbed his forehead. He felt dizzy for a moment, and his mind was filled with the image of Princess Dina turning around and leaving.
"What's wrong with you?" Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan.
"I..." Xiao Jinghan tried hard to think. "I have a bit of a headache."
Yi Qing sat on Xiao Jinghan's lap and massaged his temples. "It must be that stupid emperor causing trouble, making people unable to sleep well."
Xiao Jinghan laughed. "The emperor didn't attend the morning court this morning. Did you give him too strong a needle?"
Yi Qing pressed harder with her hands. Xiao Jinghan pretended to be in pain and grabbed her hand.
"I'm just joking. The emperor has been too tired on weekdays. It's good for him to have a good rest." Xiao Jinghan held Yi Qing's hand. "Why did you come here all of a sudden, my lady?"
Lord Ghost rushed into the hall. When he saw the two of them like this, he turned to the side. These two really didn't care about avoiding suspicion at all.
"Why did you come out?" Yi Qing looked at Lord Ghost angrily.
She hadn't settled the score with Lord Ghost about the assassin incident last time. He said he could handle it, but she didn't know how it was going.
"Prince Nian is here?" Lord Ghost sat down casually on a chair.
"Yes." Xiao Jinghan didn't know what Lord Ghost wanted.
"Who is the woman beside him?" Lord Ghost asked directly.
"Princess Dina of the Northern Di tribe." Yi Qing wondered why Lord Ghost suddenly cared about a woman.
"Princess Dina?" Lord Ghost rolled his eyes. "Didn't she die a long time ago?"
"Dead?" Yi Qing was surprised.
"Yes. Princess Dina was born with white skin and hair. She couldn't be exposed to strong light and was very weak. I heard she was raised in the temple and died before she was fourteen." Lord Ghost thought it was like a zombie coming back to life.
Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing looked at each other. It was really a trick of the Northern Di tribe.
"Are you sure Princess Dina is already dead?" Yi Qing asked again.
"Of course I'm sure. After all, Princess Dina's mother was from our Ghost Floating Mountain." Lord Ghost immediately evaded after saying this and pretended to be very casual.
Yi Qing felt that the relationship must be extraordinary, but if it had nothing to do with them, they wouldn't ask.
"That woman does seem a bit different." Lord Ghost said as he stared intently.
"Do you know if there is a woman with purple eyes in the Northern Di tribe?" Yi Qing was a bit excited.