CHAPTER 437: CHAPTER 405: URGE YOUR FATHER TO ARRANGE A MARRIAGE FOR YOU SOON (23RD UPDATE)

The two walked into the main hall one after the other.

Eunuch Sanbao promptly served them tea.

Winter had already set in, and the residences of the concubines in the palace were all equipped with braziers. In Yutang Palace, not only was there not a brazier, but even a spark was nowhere to be seen. Zhao Xi’s sleeping quarters were decorated in cold tones, and as soon as Song Yuanbao entered, he shrank his hands and feet from the cold, clutching the hot tea handed to him by Eunuch Sanbao and refusing to let go.

Zhao Xi gave him a sideways glance, "With your physique, how did you manage before?"

Last winter, he was the same, demanding a brazier as soon as winter started.

At that time, because he had just arrived, Zhao Xi indulged him. This year, there would be no such concessions.

Song Yuanbao argued, "Our family never had so many rules. Besides, my parents and grandparents all doted on me. Back at home, they wouldn’t let me suffer, naturally doing whatever was comfortable."

Zhao Xi suddenly understood, "No wonder, even after a year in the palace, I can’t straighten you out."

Song Yuanbao realized Zhao Xi was referring to how he would act wantonly as soon as he returned home, devoid of the self-discipline he maintained daily.

Licking his lips, Song Yuanbao said, "Does it have to be so strict? Can’t I properly rest during breaks?"

Zhao Xi didn’t wish to argue with him and shifted the topic to next year’s spring examinations, asking him, "Confident about the examinations?"

Song Yuanbao shook his head, "Not confident."

"After following me for a year, this is your only outcome?"

"Call me timid if you want, but I’m not attending next year," Song Yuanbao said, "Even if I’m just fifteen at the start of the year and don’t take the exams, no one will laugh at me."

Zhao Xi said, "Am I considered one of those who would laugh at you?"

"In the past year or so, haven’t you laughed at me enough, Your Highness? Laugh if you want, but I’m giving up on the exams, not going!"

Having lived under the same roof for such a long time, how could Zhao Xi not understand Song Yuanbao? After a brief pause, he gently lifted his eyelids, "Be honest."

Song Yuanbao didn’t expect Zhao Xi to be so observant. For once, his face reddened a bit, "I want to get married when I graduate."

Zhao Xi roughly understood, "So you want to wait three more years without taking the exams, and when you pass, you’ll immediately marry the girl?"

"Doesn’t Your Highness think it’s quite grand? That’s what one would call truly riding high on the horse of spring success." Song Yuanbao had long yearned for such a scene.

Zhao Xi had never had such thoughts, so he couldn’t comprehend Song Yuanbao’s desire, only thinking this child was greatly influenced by fiction books.

Seeing no reaction from Zhao Xi, Song Yuanbao leaned close to him, "If Your Highness can’t understand, then imagine being named Crown Prince and on that day marrying a beautiful bride, wouldn’t that be exhilarating?"

Zhao Xi held a tea cup in one hand and pushed his head away with the other, his expression turning somber, "You dare speak flippantly of the Crown Prince? You’re tired of living, aren’t you?"

Song Yuanbao didn’t believe Zhao Xi would actually arrest him, "Just joking, and you took it seriously."

——

After Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao left one after the other, Xue Yinhuan didn’t linger under the old locust tree but quickly returned to the Rose Pavilion in Xianfu Palace with the palace maids.

Seeing the three of them sneaking around like thieves, Consort Qing asked suspiciously, "Where have you been?"

The palace maid, still flustered, patted her chest, "Madam, you wouldn’t believe it, we nearly..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she caught Xue Yinhuan’s glance and immediately shut her mouth.

Xue Yinhuan dismissed them and helped Consort Qing to sit aside, "Yinhuan went to pray for Aunt’s blessings."

"Pray for blessings?" Consort Qing was full of confusion.

"Yes, right under that ancient locust tree in the Imperial Garden."

Although that place was just a small path and usually deserted, you could never guarantee that no distinguished person would pass by.

Consort Qing, having witnessed many schemes in her early years, now dreaded encountering anything unforeseen. Clutching Xue Yinhuan’s arm in fear, she asked nervously, "Huanhuan, you didn’t run into anyone, did you?"

Xue Yinhuan intended to keep it a secret but feared that if something arose after she left the palace, it would implicate her aunt. So, she decided to confess it all, "His Highness just happened to pass by."

Upon hearing this, Consort Qing visibly paled with fright.

She furrowed her brows and looked at her niece, "Last time, you accidentally kicked the shuttlecock onto him, you said it was a coincidence, and Aunt believed you because at that time, you didn’t even know who he was. But today... how could such a coincidence happen again today? Huanhuan, be honest with Aunt, do you have feelings for His Highness?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Yinhuan felt a blockage in her heart, "Anyone could doubt me, but how could Aunt think this of me? Didn’t we agree back then that I would rather be a wife of a poor family than a concubine of the Imperial Family? How could I possibly... Aunt, are you deliberately trying to drive me away?"

Seeing her reaction wasn’t feigned, Consort Qing’s worried mind was pacified, quickly comforting, "Huanhuan, it’s Aunt’s fault, Aunt shouldn’t have said that. I apologize, don’t take Aunt’s words to heart, alright?"

Xue Yinhuan wasn’t truly angry, "I heard from the palace maids that the ancient locust tree in the Imperial Garden can grant wishes. I just wanted to make a wish for Aunt, hoping you’d regain the Emperor’s favor soon. I really didn’t know His Highness would pass by there. If I had known, I’d have avoided him from afar."

As Xue Yinhuan mentioned the Eldest Prince, the image of those serene, emotionless eyes unavoidably surfaced in her mind.

She had never seen a fourteen-year-old boy with such profound eyes, unforgettable at first sight.

"Huanhuan?"

Seeing her niece lost in thought, Consort Qing waved her hand in front of her eyes.

Xue Yinhuan snapped back to reality, "Ah? What is it, Aunt?"

"What were you thinking so deeply about? I called you several times, and you didn’t hear." Consort Qing eyed her suspiciously.

"Nothing, really nothing."

Consort Qing said, "Originally, I wanted you to enter the palace to keep me company. I didn’t expect rumors to spread saying I schemed to seduce the Eldest Prince with my niece just because I couldn’t gain the Emperor’s favor. If this continues, it won’t be good for your reputation, Huanhuan. I have already decided, I’ll have someone send you out of the palace early tomorrow morning."

Xue Yinhuan suddenly realized, "I’m leaving the palace tomorrow?"

"Yes." Consort Qing nodded, "This deep palace is a place that eats people without spitting out the bones; you can’t stay here any longer, or it’ll ruin your whole life."

She added, "I’ve written a letter and placed it in your bundle. Give it to your father once you’re out."

Xue Yinhuan was curious, "What did Aunt write to my father?"

Thinking her niece was already fourteen and there was nothing to hide, Consort Qing decided to tell her truthfully, "I’ve asked your father to arrange a marriage for you soon, find a good family and settle the match. When you turn fifteen and come of age, choose an auspicious day, and you can probably get married."

Hearing this, Xue Yinhuan’s face flushed, "Even while in the deep palace, Aunt still considers my future, I’m extremely grateful."

As she spoke, she took two steps back and knelt with a thud, knocking three times on the floor for Consort Qing.

Consort Qing, having no children of her own, always treated this niece as her own daughter. Seeing her act this way, she was moved, her eyes reddening. She bent down to help her up, "Your mother passed early, even when I hadn’t entered the palace, you were close to me. We, aunt and niece, are like true mother and daughter. If there were any good days in this palace, Aunt would try every possible way to bring you here, even at the cost of my life.

But from what you’ve witnessed recently, the strife among women is terrifying, and if you’re careless, you won’t even know how you died. Apart from Princess Consort Qi, the one without children in Qianqing Palace, and Princess Consort Duan who gave birth to the Second Prince in Yonghe Palace, none are easy to deal with, each more troublesome than the last. Aunt herself is already struggling, I don’t want to drag you into this."

In the end, Aunt was doubtful, believing she had intended to get close to the Eldest Prince.

After all, the "encounters" had been too coincidental.

Xue Yinhuan knew extra explanations were useless at such a time. She calmed down, "Since Aunt has planned everything, Yinhuan will leave the palace early tomorrow and keep in touch with Aunt through letters."

Consort Qing nodded with relief.

...

Early the next morning, Xue Yinhuan packed her belongings and left the palace with Consort Qing’s Chief Palace Maid Zilan. As she passed through the Imperial Garden, a little white dog suddenly darted out from nowhere, biting Xue Yinhuan’s calf and refusing to let go.

The sharp teeth pierced her skin, causing Xue Yinhuan to almost cry out in pain.

In a moment of panic, she instinctively kicked the animal away, only to see the little white dog fall to the ground, frothing at the mouth. In less than a quarter-hour, it perished.

"Oh no!" Zilan exclaimed, her face pale, "That seems to be Deng Zhaoyi’s beloved pet."

Xue Yinhuan was about to ask which palace Deng Zhaoyi belonged to when a sharp voice echoed from the pebble path, "Which blind servant dared to kill the Emperor’s beloved pet? Someone, capture these two lowly maids and send them to the Ministry of Punishment for thorough questioning!"