"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 163

 Bai Mo glanced around, meeting Ji Ling Xue's gaze head on, the two communicated wordlessly.

Ji Ling Xue: Hey, Bai Mo, why are you with my prince?

Bai Mo: Your prince was chased around last night like a rat running all over the streets, he came to hide in the palace, such a huge person as him, he could only hide with me

Ji Ling Xue: Then why is he pretending to be you, didn't you treat the old emperor?

Bai Mo: Isn't it because of your prince's sudden idea, he wants to use my identity to easily move about, I've been downgraded to his medicine boy.

Ji Ling Xue: There are truly mountains beyond mountains, my eyes have been opened!

The two's exchanges was seen by Yuchi Gong Ru, a trace of an evil smile appeared on his lips, this was really fascinating.

Yuchi Gong Ru cupped his hands towards the old emperor: "Emperor father, it's rare for imperial brother to bring a maid into the palace today, why not liven things up by dedicating a dance to the miracle doctor? Imperial brother really is thoughtful."

With these words, everyone's focus landed on Ji Ling Xue, Ru Ge looked at Yuchi Gong Ru with a deadly glance, Yuchi Gong Ru chuckled, not letting his mood be effected by Ru Ge.

Xiao Yi Chen and Bai Mo frowned at the same time together, they didn't want Ji Ling Xue to be put in the limelight, but there just had to be someone who went against their wishes.

The old emperor turned to look at Ji Ling Xue behind Ru Ge, at this moment Ji Ling Xue had her head lowered, from his position he couldn't see her face, he thought she was nervous and shy.

The old emperor smiled: "Ru Ge is very thoughtful, then what does that dancer intend to perform?"

Ji Ling Xue cursed Yuchi Gong Ru's eighteen ancestors with her head lowered, she was just about to step forward to reply when her hand was held by Ru Ge, Ru Ge stood up greeting the old emperor: "Emperor father, third brother is joking, my maid doesn't know how to dance."

A cold sweat dripped down Ru Ge's forehead, Ji Ling Xue wasn't his maid, she's princess Chen of Dongqi, if she really danced in the Dayan palace, this would be a great dishonour, he won't allow anyone to harm his benefactor.

Yuchi Gong Ru raised an eyebrow, looking like he was watching a great play.

The old emperor also glanced at Ji Ling Xue a few more times, his gaze seem to be more intense, his eyes stopped on the peach flower hairpin, he stared at the silver flickering hairpin under the light, his calm heart began to suddenly beat wildly.

The old emperor stood up in excitement, his wide sleeves knocked the tableware from the table onto the floor, crisp clanking sounds.

In the hall, everyone's gaze moved from Ji Ling Xue to the old emperor, not understanding what happened to startle the heavenly dragon.

Ji Ling Xue slowly raised her head to look at the old emperor, just now when the old emperor brought Xiao Yi Chen into the palace, her attention was on Xiao Yi Chen so she didn't pay much attention on the elegant Dayan emperor.

The old emperor pointed his finger at Ji Ling Xue, he looked very emotional, his hand wouldn't stop shaking, "You...you..."

Ji Ling Xue was baffled, did she look like a wanted criminal in Dayan? That's why the emperor of Dayan was so stirred up?

Ru Ge and Yuchi Gong Ru was at a loss, looking at their old emperor father and at Ji Ling Xue without understanding what was happening.

Xiao Yi Chen grabbed the old emperor's slightly trembling hand, "Your majesty, you've just recovered, you shouldn't be too emotional." 

His voice was rather low, the old emperor heard it, taking a deep breath he sat back down, his gaze however didn't move from that silver hairpin in Ji Ling Xue's hair.

Xiao Yi Chen naturally also noticed this, thoughts flashing through his eyes, half pleased, half worried. Ji Ling Xue can't be the emperor's illegitimate daughter right...everything matched up, the mysterious man who never returned to the silversmith store...then his and Ji Ling Xue's marriage...

While Xiao Yi Chen was letting his imagination run wild, the old emperor opened his mouth: "Young woman, the silver hairpin in your hair is very unique, the hall full of candlelight can't match up to the bright silver hairpin in your hair."

Ji Ling Xue secretly rolled her eyes, Dayan emperor's way of praising someone really wasn't as clumsy as others.

Ji Ling Xue said: "In response to your majesty, this hairpin is a remnant from this servant's mother, maybe the craftsman she hired was skilled and diligent, that's why its unusual."

The old emperor nodded, waving his hand, "Rise, don't just kneel there, continue to dine."

The matter of dancing was taken care of like this, Yuchi Gong Ru was disappointed that his wish wasn't fulfilled, his gaze fell on Ji Ling Xue's back with ferocity.

Ru Ge let out a breath, allowing Ji Ling Xue to retreat to a corner, he picked up some refreshments and placed them onto a plate for Ji Ling Xue to cushion her stomach.

Xiao Yi Chen was annoyed, he had actually thought too much, but the emotions from the old emperor just now was genuine.

Half way through the banquet, the old emperor sighed: "We are already forty years old, the thing I'm most worried about is these two princes' major life points..."

He was old, and didn't want to fight every year, if Dongqi and Dayan were joined in marriage, who should he have marry a princess for peace?

Dongqi was populous and affluent, marrying a princess of peace would mean gaining half of a country.

Yuchi Gong Ru cheerfully looked at Yuchi Ru Ge: "Imperial brother, you're twenty six years old, I heard you don't even have a concubine in your residence, no wonder emperor father is worried about you."

Ru Ge calmly smiled: "No need for imperial brother to worry, this prince has someone he likes."

Yuchi Gong Ru looked interested, he looked at Ru Ge then at Ji Ling Xue, he heard Ru Ge was princess Chen's bodyguard while in Dongqi, did a fondness breed from familiarity?

The old emperor looked at Ru Ge: "Ru Ge, who is the girl you like, let us see her."

Yuchi Gong Ru added oil to the fire: "The person imperial brother likes must be someone special."

Xiao Yi Chen smiled yet it wasn't a smile at Ru Ge, waiting for his response.

Ru Ge's forehead was covered in black lines, he only said it in passing, why did they stare at him unblinkingly, how many people were worried about him not marrying?

Ru Ge looked down saying: "She...isn't in Dayan."

The old emperor took on an understanding and experienced person attitude, nodding: "Ru Ge, what did you see in the six months you were in Dongqi?"

Ru Ge stood up: "Dongqi's capital is flourishing, the people live in peace and work happily."

Yuchi Gong Ru's lips twitched, turning to look at Xiao Yi Chen sitting beside the old emperor, Dongqi were the ones who wanted to start a war with Dayan, did prince Chen come to talk peace?

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The old emperor nodded, "We were seriously ill for some time, Dongqi issued a war notice to our Dayan, we thought about it over and over, we think it's best for Dayan to negotiate peace, the people can also suffer less."

Ru Ge nodded, Yuchi Gong Ru offered himself up: "Emperor father, this son is willing to go to Dongqi to negotiate."

The old emperor turned to look at Yuchi Gong Ru who had been working hard pretending to be filial these last few months, raising his hand he was about to say something when his personal eunuch came jogging through the door and to his side whispering something in his ear, quietly passing a slip of paper to him from his sleeve.

The old emperor's expression sank, he lowered his head and opened the paper, his face turned black, while everyone was questioning what was happening, he pointed his finger at Yuchi Gong Ru: "Someone come, take this unfilial son and tie him up for us."

It was the old emperor who spoke, Yuchi Gong Ru could only allow the imperial general Lin enter and tie his arms behind his back with the rope looped around his neck, grievance on his face.

The old emperor stood up: "Detain him first, we're also tired, this banquet is over." He finished speaking and walked out.

Ji Ling Xue gave Xiao Yi Chen a look, wanting to ask him what happened, Xiao Yi Chen however gave her an easygoing smile.

The emperor and Yuchi Gong Ru left, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed a lot, Ru Ge turned to look at Xiao Yi Chen.

Xiao Yi Chen cupped his hands smiling: "The emperor's illness is no longer serious, can the second prince escort me out of the palace?"

Ru Ge nodded, taking the three of them out, they had just stepped outside of the hall when a young eunuch greeted them at the door, "Your majesty has decreed, please can the second prince and this young lady come to the study for a chat."

Ru Ge nodded, turning to give Xiao Yi Chen and Bai Mo an apologetic smile, "Emperor father has something to say, can the miracle doctor make his own way out of the palace, this prince's carriage is at the gates which can take you anywhere." As he spoke he took of the token at his waist and handed it to Xiao Yi Chen.

Xiao Yi Chen took it, giving Ji Ling Xue a look to say be careful, he turned and left with Bai Mo first.

Almost at the palace gates, Bai Mo looked around to see there was no one, he then softly asked Xiao Yi Chen, "Why was that Yuchi Gong Ru detained, was that paper yours?"

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, chasing him like a rat last night he had to pay the price, that paper was what he had copied from the scene, Yuchi Gong Ru's image had greatly decreased in the old emperor's heart.

Bai Mo leaned close to Xiao Yi Chen in gossip, "Tell me, what was written on that paper, angering that old emperor so much his face turned black..." He was curious, so curious to death.

Xiao Yi Chen glanced at Bai Mo, that look said: You can't be too curious about some things, regarding imperial honour, knowing too much can lead to death.

Bai Mo rubbed his nose, being snubbed, he changed topics, "Ai, aren't you worried about your princess?"

She was being kept in the palace with that attractive young man.

Xiao Yi Chen confidently said: "No, Ru Ge will protect her if something happens."

Also in Dongqi, he treated Ru Ge the same.

He is so relaxed! Bai Mo raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything more.

Sitting in Ru Ge's carriage, the two of them left the palace.

On the other side in the imperial study, Ji Ling Xue entered behind Ru Ge, she understood very well that she had been held back over the hairpin.

Right now she was rather excited and hopeful, feeling like she was standing in front of the truth, she could reach out to touch the answer, but she was also afraid of knowing the truth.

The old emperor sat behind the desk in the imperial study, white hairs made him look very dispirited, he didn't look as set up on high like in the banquet, he was only an old man.

After Ru Ge and Ji Ling Xue gave their greetings, the old emperor opened his mouth: "Ru Ge, this young lady is a maid in your residence?"

Ru Ge turned to look at the undulating eyes of the old emperor, shaking his head, in front of his emperor father, he didn't lie.

The old emperor nodded, "We didn't think she looks like a maid."

Ji Ling Xue lowered her head, she was mulling over what the emperor meant, then, the emperor opened his mouth: "Young lady, can I borrow your hairpin to take a look?"

Ji Ling Xue took out the hairpin, the emperor's trusted personal eunuch gave the hairpin over for the emperor to look over, the old emperor held the hairpin closely looking at it, his eyebrows smoothed out and bunched together from time to time, like he was remembering a lot of things...

Ji Ling Xue tilted her head to look at Ru Ge, Ru Ge shook his head, indicating for her to keep calm.