Yi Qing wasn't embarrassed at all even after being exposed by Xiao Jinghan. It wasn't anything shameful anyway.
"What on earth did Brother Bai do to make the noble ladies in the capital react so strongly?" Yi Qing whispered quietly. Her mother had deliberately avoided talking about this today, and it wasn't appropriate for her to ask directly.
Although her mother had a special status, it wasn't special enough to make all the noble ladies in the capital react so strongly.
Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing and knew she must be curious about something.
Bai Chengyi gave an awkward smile.
"I'll have someone prepare some food and wine. Let's talk slowly." Looking at his sworn brother's expression, Xiao Jinghan guessed the story would be a long one.
Yi Qing's guess was right. Bai Chengyi had indeed been in love with her mother for a long time. He originally planned to come back and marry her after achieving success and fame, but Yi Changxing had snatched her away. That was also the reason he had that relationship with the Holy Maiden of the Northern Di tribe.
Previously, he didn't want to come back because he felt ashamed to face Di Shi. When Duke Di went to Li City and he learned about Di Shi's situation, and later when the news that Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing had disappeared at the same time reached the border, he was worried about Di Shi being alone in the capital, so he came back.
At first, things were okay. Bai Chengyi lived in Duke Di's mansion, and Di Shi even arranged to find a wife for him.
But some time ago, Di Shi took Bai Chengyi to a banquet. Somehow, the topic of building a chastity memorial archway came up. This matter had nothing to do with Di Shi in principle, but a woman who had always been on bad terms with Di Shi used this matter to slander her.
She said that the divorce between Di Shi and Yi Changxing must be Di Shi's fault. Otherwise, Yi Changxing wouldn't have kept other women outside. She also said that Di Shi was mean and finally caused Yi Changxing to be exiled.
Di Shi argued with that woman. Bai Chengyi couldn't stand it and protected Di Shi, but was ridiculed. So Bai Chengyi simply said that he wanted to marry Di Shi.
Yi Qing looked at the honest Bai Chengyi. "You really picked a bad time to confess your love. Those ladies in the capital won't let this go easily."
Bai Chengyi had also reflected on it. "I couldn't hold it in."
"Then you shouldn't have held it in from the beginning. You should have chased her earlier. Now things have turned out like this. My mother is ignoring you, right?" Yi Qing shrugged.
"I..." Bai Chengyi suddenly felt something was wrong. "You're not against it?"
"Why should I be against it?" Yi Qing spread her hands. "You're unmarried, and my mother is divorced. You're both free. You're not cheating or deceiving. It's a mutual feeling. There's no law in the Great Jin that says you can't be together, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Bai Chengyi got excited.
When Yi Qing first met Bai Chengyi, he had just come out of the state of being like a glazed person. After going through such things, he was rather cold. This was the first time she had seen him so excited.
Xiao Jinghan gave a self - deprecating smile. Thinking that Yi Qing didn't originally belong to this world, in the place she came from, such things should be quite normal.
"However, you can't act rashly now. You don't understand the pressure my mother is under. First, you two need to be of one mind. Other things are minor." Yi Qing gave him some advice.
"So what should I do?" Bai Chengyi got interested.
"Since you've already made such a big fuss, you might as well make an even bigger one. A small fuss would be like throwing a tantrum, but a big one would show your determination. Let everyone know your determination. I tell you, no woman doesn't like to be favored. If anyone dares to say something bad about my mother, you go to their house and argue with them."
"It's not very appropriate for me to argue with those ladies, is it?"
"Then you can just unilaterally announce it. Of course, you need to find out their weak points before going. Start from their weak points as soon as you go..." Yi Qing became more and more energetic as she spoke.
Xiao Jinghan was originally worried that Yi Qing wouldn't be able to accept this matter. Now he had to stop her from getting involved. According to her method, she was just afraid that the world wouldn't be in chaos.
Bai Chengyi felt like he had found a kindred spirit. He even wanted to become sworn siblings with Yi Qing right away.
Yi Qing didn't dare. That would make the relationship even more complicated.
After Yi Qing hummed a little tune and finished washing up, she saw Xiao Jinghan sitting on the bed seriously looking at her. She thought carefully and felt that she hadn't done anything to make Xiao Jinghan angry. So she casually climbed onto the bed and went to sleep.
Xiao Jinghan was annoyed that Yi Qing was ignoring him. He rolled over and pinned Yi Qing down on the bed.
"It's getting late. Go to sleep quickly." Yi Qing gently flicked Xiao Jinghan's shoulder.
Xiao Jinghan's face became even gloomier. "You were chatting so enthusiastically with Brother Bai. Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"Uh..." Yi Qing thought for a while. "You don't have any problems. You can handle things on your own. You don't need me to ask. What? Do you want me to worry about you?" She wrapped her arms around Xiao Jinghan's neck.
This Xiao Jinghan must have been a vinegar spirit in his previous life. He could get jealous at any time, anywhere, and with anyone.
Just as they were joking, there was a knocking sound on the floor. Xiao Jinghan immediately wrapped Yi Qing tightly in her clothes.
"I'm getting heat rashes." Yi Qing felt she needed some floral water.
After making sure Yi Qing was dressed properly, Xiao Jinghan opened the passage. Gan Chengyou escorted the emperor out from inside.
The emperor came out and looked around. When he saw Yi Qing looking unhappy, he felt happy. "Prepare some food for me."
"You have a whole bunch of imperial chefs in your palace. Are you short of a bite to eat?" Yi Qing said impatiently.
"Can the imperial chefs compare with the ones in your house?" The emperor rarely complimented Yi Qing.
"I'll tell the servants to prepare it." Yi Qing decided to let it go since the emperor's attitude was quite good.
"You're not going to prepare the food for me in person?" The emperor looked like he was giving her a great honor.
Yi Qing took a deep breath. She felt that the emperor was being pushy. She had even thought the emperor's attitude was good today.
"Go." Xiao Jinghan understood the emperor's embarrassment.
The emperor was restricted in his daily diet. If he said he was hungry at night, the imperial kitchen would prepare food for him every night from then on, and he would inevitably be labeled as extravagant.
Yi Qing glanced at the emperor and then turned around to tell the kitchen to prepare the food.
"When will I be able to eat whatever I want like you two?" The emperor sat cross - legged on the cushion. "Is the document you gave me real?"
Xiao Jinghan nodded. "Those were found in Xiang Beizheng's hiding place."
Previously, the things Zi Su gave to Yi Qing, Yi Qing gave to Xiao Jinghan. She wasn't interested in things like the court or rebels. As long as she could take care of Ping Xinian, that was enough.
"I didn't expect the Ping family to be so bold. They not only helped the Northern Di and the Southern Border join hands, but also tried to control the Great Jin with Ruyi cakes. If they had been given a few more years, they might have really succeeded." The emperor's face was gloomy. "Who else knows about this?"
"This was discovered by the Southern Border Empress. Then she gave it to Qing'er. There shouldn't be many people who know about it." Xiao Jinghan knew that Yi Qing wasn't a reckless person. She wouldn't show such important things to others casually.
The emperor nodded. "Although Xiang Beizheng is already dead, this matter is of great importance and mustn't be known to others."
Xiao Jinghan looked at the emperor suspiciously. "What does Your Majesty mean?"
The emperor sighed. "The Ping family has commercial firms all over the Great Jin. There are too many interests involved. If we completely wipe out the Ping family, it will make many vassal states vigilant. There will be more troubles, which is not good for the court."