Chapter 518: Love
Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Jinghua knew that the couple would definitely have a lot to talk about, so she hid in her room and did not come out until Spring came to invite her. Then, she brought Little Treasure over.
Qi Haoran changed into that tattered set of clothes again. Otherwise, it would be too inappropriate for him to see his sister-in-law in his undergarments. Although that set of clothes wasn’t much better, it was after all, outer clothes.
Qi Haoran’s clothes were too dirty. Recalling his son’s reaction, he did not dare to go forward and ask to carry Little Treasure. He only stood at the side and teased the kid for a while before looking up to say a few simple words to Li Jinghua.
Li Jinghua mainly wanted to know about how Qi Xiuyuan was doing. They lived in the palace, and the news they received was what the Emperor or others wanted them to know. However, they didn’t know the real situation.
As Qi Haoran was called into the palace as soon as he returned, he did not know any news about his big brother. However, the fact that he did not receive any news meant that Qi Xiuyuan should be fine. Hence, he told Li Jinghua confidently that his big brother was doing well.
Li Jinghua felt relieved and deliberated for a moment. Seeing that there was only their family in the room, she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Fourth Brother, I wonder when we can leave the palace and go home. It’s not convenient to stay in the palace all the time.”
Qi Haoran said with a serious expression, “I was just about to tell you that it’s safer for the two of you to stay in the palace during this period of time…” He told her about West Xia’s assassination plan.
Qi Haoran said in a low voice, “Although the Emperor summoned you to the palace with the intention of taking you hostage, I still have to thank him. That team of West Xia soldiers who undertook the assassination mission were elites. When I rushed back, I was trembling in fear, afraid that I had returned too late. Although there are many inconveniences in the palace, as long as Big Brother and I are still loyal to the Great Zhou, the Emperor will do his best to protect you.”
Li Jinghua did not expect it to be so dangerous outside the palace and was stunned for a moment.
Qi Haoran couldn’t stay in the palace for too long, and this time was an exception. Seeing that the emissary had already come and gone several times, he stood up and said, “Sister-in-law, as it’s getting late today, I’ll leave the palace first. If you need anything, just get the palace servants to send a message to me and I’ll get it for you.”
Li Jinghua nodded slightly and looked at Mu Yangling. “Ah Ling, send Fourth Brother out. I’ll help you look after the child.”
Mu Yangling sent Qi Haoran all the way to the second entrance. When Qi Haoran saw the emissary and palace maids following from afar, he gently hugged Mu Yangling and whispered into her ear, “Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll definitely get you guys out before then.”
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Mu Yangling nodded slightly and smiled formally. “I’m very assured.”
Qi Haoran smiled. Yes, Ah Ling had always trusted him wholeheartedly.
“Take care of Sister-in-law and Little Treasure.”
Mu Yangling nodded.
Only then did Qi Haoran turn around and leave.
Mu Yangling stood at the door until his back had completely disappeared. Only then did she turn around and walk back slowly.
While the couple was still feeling sad about parting again, the palace witnessed how lovey-dovey the two of them were, once again. Many women were envious and jealous of Mu Yangling. “She’s darned lucky.”
Not only did these women include palace maids, but they also included the concubines and generals’ families detained in the harem. Even the Empress felt jealous.
The next day, she specially got someone to call Mu Yangling over to talk to her. Mu Yangling was still sitting quietly like before, only answering when asked a question. The Empress had clearly already expressed her goodwill, but Mu Yangling still did not know how to curry favor with her, clearly far inferior to her smooth-talking sister-in-law. How could such a woman receive so much love from her husband?
Could it be because they were newlyweds?
However, they had been married for more than two years and were long past the honeymoon stage. Back then, when the Empress had just married the Emperor, they were loving for a while too. Still, it was nowhere near the level of affection displayed by these two.
Qi Haoran could reject the Emperor’s marriage arrangement for him and behave affectionately with her in public…
It seemed that the issue lay with the man. Perhaps it was because of the man’s roots.
The other women were also observing Mu Yangling. In the end, they came to the conclusion that other than being relatively beautiful, Mu Yangling did not have any other good points. And what the world did not lack the most were beautiful women. It seemed that the issue indeed laid with the man, and not that the women were not outstanding enough.
This made everyone look at the men of the Qi family. Only then did they realize that there seemed to be a genetic factor. Didn’t Qi Feng also adore his first love, a cousin, and insist on taking her as a concubine at the risk of offending the Yue family? Didn’t he promote that concubine to a legitimate wife less than half a year after his first wife died?
This should be considered deep love, right?
Qi Xiuyuan also seemed to value his wife very much, and no one had ever heard that he had a beloved concubine or a bastard son in Jingzhao Prefecture. It could be seen that the men of the Qi family were indeed more affectionate. Hence, everyone became envious of Mu Yangling’s luck.
When the well-informed Li Jinghua returned from outside, she laughed so hard that she bent over. She told Mu Yangling about this matter as if it was a joke and teased her, “I was wondering why the Empress called you over two days ago. The women of the other three families kept glancing at you and asking me about you from time to time. Even the other concubines in the harem would come to the Empress to see us. It turns out that the root cause is you.”
Mu Yangling said unhappily, “They’re too nosy. Moreover, Haoran’s relationship with me isn’t related to the Qi family at all, alright? I’m devoted to him, so he naturally has to repay me with his devotion. What does it have to do with Father-in-law? It’s too ridiculous to link me and Haoran’s marital matters to Father-in-law’s doting on his concubine over his wife.”
“I’m devoted to him, so he naturally has to repay me with his devotion.” Li Jinghua lowered her head and muttered the sentence twice. Finally, she looked up and smiled faintly. “Only you would say that. There are many heartless men in the world, and this world is so unfair to women. There are very few people who can be like Fourth Brother. Ah Ling, you’re lucky to meet him.”
Mu Yangling opened her mouth and could only mutter, “My father is also such a person.”
Li Jinghua smiled. “So you and your mother are very lucky.”
Mu Yangling didn’t dare to say that Qi Xiuyuan was capable of that, too. Although Qi Xiuyuan didn’t have a concubine, he did have handmaids. Li Jinghua had also arranged a handmaid for him before coming to Lin’an City.
Knowing what Mu Yangling was thinking, Li Jinghua patted her hand and smiled. “Actually, I’m much luckier than most women. Although I can’t compare to you, I’m already very satisfied.”
Because Qi Xiuyuan valued her and had yet to take in a concubine and give birth to a concubine’s son, this was enough for her.
The women were generally envious of Mu Yangling, while the men generally looked down on Qi Haoran. They felt that this person was too sentimental.
The Emperor thought so too. Qi Haoran’s words and actions in the harem would naturally be reported to him. Hence, when Qi Haoran left, the Emperor officially labeled him as too sentimental.
However, as a subject, there was nothing bad about being sentimental. The Emperor hoped that Qi Haoran’s big brother would share this same characteristic. This way, he would be even more at ease.