"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 83

 Ji Ling Xue smiled: "How can that be? Your majesty is mocking me."

The empress dowager waved at Ji Ling Xue: "Xue Er, come over to me."

Ji Ling Xue obediently walked to empress dowager's side, the empress dowager held her hand, asking in concern, "You girl, where did you go just now, elderly maid Zhao came back saying you had disappeared, my heart has been worrying all this time, there are many walls and parks in this palace, I'm afraid you would get lost for three days and still not find your way."

The empress dowager spoke the truth, the palace was vast, thick walls and tall roofs, the layout was complicated, there were many rules, if one was not careful you may come across some high ranking concubine, a little mistake and you could be punished.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Thank you for your concern, I just went to the toilet that's all." Going to the toilet was the excuse for anything that didn't want to be explained, if her lie was seen through, she would just say she lost her way.

The empress dowager gave a relieved smile, pushing the cup of tea next to her to Ji Ling Xue, "Look at you, you must be thirsty from being so busy, quickly have a drink."

Ji Ling Xue raised the cup to her lips, with just a sniff, she knew there was something fishy in the water.

Ji Ling Xue lowered her head drinking the entire cup of tea in one, the next moment she raised her hand to her head, weakly saying: "My head...it hurts a lot..."

A flash of light appeared in empress dowager's eyes, asking out of deep concern: "Xue Er, are you alright?"

"I..." Ji Ling Xue wanted to continue speaking, but her body swayed with no energy, falling limply to the floor.

Xiao Yi Mo who sat to the side caught Ji Ling Xue, her body rested against his shoulder, her breathing long and steady.

Xiao Yi Mo raised his head at the empress dowager, using his eyes to ask what the other intended.

The empress dowager avoided his gaze, giving elderly maid Zhao a look: "Please take princess Chen to the side palace hall to rest."

Elderly maid Zhao nodded, turning around to carry Ji Ling Xue away.

Xiao Yi Mo rubbed his nose saying: "Mother, this son has just remembered there are still memorials in the imperial study which haven't been checked, I will take my leave first."

On the other side, Xiao Yi Chen was looking at the robust man in the long gown, coldly snorting: "Why would general Ding be wondering around the palace, are you now the general of the palace guards?"

Ding Si Fang smiled, Xiao Yi Chen had a higher status than him, in the palace where there were so many spies, he didn't dare to get into a dispute with him.

"Prince Chen is joking, the imperial palace guards have always belonged to the emperor, I came into the palace today to visit an old friend."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "Oh, how could this prince forget, general Ding's younger sister is now zhao yi."

Ding Si Fang cupped his hands together not wanting to chat for too long, "If there's nothing important prince Chen, this general will leave first." In his mind he was still puzzling over that fool just now, if she was a fool why did she run away when she saw Xiao Yi Chen?

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, when Ding Si Fang walked past him he continued saying: "General Ding will be commanding the army in the north soon, I hope the twenty thousand men this prince left in the northwest will treat you well."

He had already become united with those men in the years he had spent in the northeast, he knew on return to the capital city he wouldn't be able to keep control over those twenty thousand men, he only hoped the next person to lead them would treat them well.

Ding Si Fang slowed his steps, when he turned around, Xiao Yi Chen had already walked away, his back looking rather lonely.

When Xiao Yi Chen returned to the empress dowager's palace it had already been a quarter of an hour, the empress dowager was reclining on the short couch resting, elderly maid Zhao was carefully massaging her arms, seeing Xiao Yi Chen enter, elderly maid Zhao lowered her head to speak a few words in the empress dowager's ear, the empress dowager opened her acute eyes, slowly sitting up.

The empress dowager: "Chen Er, you've come!"

Xiao Yi Chen said: "I heard my princess has already been found, she's here?"

The empress dowager nodded, "Xue Er just wanted to have fun, I've let her rest in the side palace hall, it's already late now, the palace gates have already closed, it would be better for Xue Er to rest here tonight."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, indicating he had no objection, the empress dowager then said: "Chen Er, I heard you recently took a maid as a concubine?"

Towards his mother who lived in the palace knowing his own family affairs, Xiao Yi Chen appeared very helpless, who his bed partner was, was never his decision.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "It's only a concubine, I just felt the urge, mother doesn't have to worry, I will manage my inner residence matters well."

The empress dowager sighed: "Ai, you've been married to Xue Er for more than a year, before I saw you were always unpleased, indeed I blame myself for arranging the marriage."

Xiao Yi Chen lowered his head, a year ago he definitely resented his mother for making him marry that fool Ji Ling Xue, it was simply humiliating for him, he knew Xiao Yi Mo also wanted to restrain him out of fear, so his and Ji Ling Xue's marriage happened, his only way of rebelling was by marrying Ji Yu Qing, he had always been using Ji Yu Qing's jealousy and desire to remove Ji Ling Xue,  if his foolish princess died, his humiliation would also disappear.

Only he was now rather hesitant about such a plan, what's more he didn't want something to happen to Ji Ling Xue, he also didn't know what was happening to him, always worrying about her safety.

Xiao Yi Chen raised his head saying: "No, JI Ling Xue she...is very good."

The empress dowager nodded in satisfaction, waving her hand: "I'm tired, you should go rest too." I hope you enjoy my "surprise" for you. The empress dowager did not say the rest of the sentence aloud, she only gave Xiao Yi Chen a profound look before closing her eyes.

Xiao Yi Chen took his leave with his head hanging down, he did not see the empress dowager's gaze.