"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 197

 Ji Ling Xue waved her hand, "I understand, still send a message to Ru Ge, so he shouldn't worry about me." She had accidentally entered the secret prison today and let Xiao Yi Mo go, even though Xiao Yi Chen didn't blame her, maybe it was to test her, right now she had to act obediently no matter what.

She had only wanted to leave the palace as soon as possible without thinking if Xiao Yi Mo had other thoughts and used her as hostage.

An Ge left, Ji Ling Xue stared at the moon through the window lost in thought.

Yi Yun stood at the doors of Chenhua palace with Ling Lan, seeing there wasn't a light inside the palace she wasn't sure if Ji Ling Xue was inside, holding the food box Ling Lan reminded her: "Mistress..."

Yi Yun waved her hand: "Let's go back." Having spoken she turned around.

Ji Ling Xue's ears perked up hearing the noise outside, she sighed lightly.

That night, Xiao Yi Chen didn't return to Chenhua palace, Ji Ling Xue watched the sun cast the east window red as she sprawled over the table, she slowly moved her rather stiff arm, at this moment there was a knock at the door, an eunuch's voice came: "Empress, are you awake?"

Empress? Why did she feel the title was mocking her? 

Ji Ling Xue replied: "Come in!"

The eunuch pushed the door open and entered, after greeting Ji Ling Xue he said: "The emperor asks the empress to come to the study." He paused then continued, "This old servant has brought some maids along, your majesty don't have to worry about being not representable."

Only now did Ji Ling Xue realise she was still in the dirty maid outfit, after a night it had started to stink.

"Many thanks!" Ji Ling Xue smiled and turned to walk behind the screen, after a quarter of an hour, Ji Ling Xue stepped out from the screen, she was wearing a luxurious palace robe, even though it wasn't the empress's court dress, it didn't lack in dignity.

The eunuch was surprised by Ji Ling Xue's transformation, clothes really did make a person, he didn't expect the empress with basic makeup to look even more beautiful than imperial concubine Yi Yun.

Under the guidance of the eunuch, Ji Ling Xue walked to the study, Xiao Yi Chen had been called away last night by a guard during their conversation, it seems like it was a very tricky problem.

Xiao Yi Chen leaned against the chair, fingers rubbing his temple, looking very tired, hearing footsteps he opened his eyes: "Bird's nest congee is on the table."

Ji Ling Xue tilted her head, a jade cup was placed on the side of the table, Ji Ling Xue sat down and began eating, not forgetting to ask: "Have you eaten?"

After not hearing a response for a while, Ji Ling Xue turned to look at Xiao Yi Chen, he sat behind the desk staring at her.

Ever since Ji Ling Xue faked her death and ran away, there was a gap between them, even a simple gesture was questioned, it wasn't clear whether or not it was because Xiao Yi Chen was now the emperor.

Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, "I didn't expect you would still be concerned about me?" The tone seemed to hold amazement.

Ji Ling Xue curled her lips, "You seem to misunderstand me."

Xiao Yi Chen raised an eyebrow, looking like he was all ears.

Ji Ling Xue said: "I faked my death and ran away because of the circumstances, and because I still had my own things to deal with, if I didn't decide to fake my death then and remained by your side, I guess you would still be Prince Chen with several beauties at home, all would have been conferred to you by your brother or by officials who want to please you, for your own position, having a political marriage is the most reliable way, I would however be faced with public opinions of being jealous and overanxious, killing my own sister, forever fighting for favour with the concubines in the residence."

Xiao Yi Chen was startled, half of his achievements to date was for Ji Ling Xue, the other half was out of selfishness, Ji Ling Xue wasn't wrong, he had already been scheming for the throne, from when Xiao Yi Mo was acting vigilantly against him, and since he discovered the gold mine at the border.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Xiao Yi Chen, I said before our views on love is different, it's not out of the blue, sooner or later I'll get tired of the struggle for favour and leave you, you love me, but you can't give me all your love, even a the respected position of empress, I wouldn't cherish it."

Xiao Yi Chen fell silent, "This is the real reason why you left me to go to Yuchi Ru Ge's side?"

Ji Ling Xue nodded.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Do you like Yuchi Ru Ge?" More than once he had seen the glow in Ru Ge's eyes when he looked at Ji Ling Xue, he knew it was love, they had spent each day close to each other, it wasn't strange for familiarity to breed fondness. This could explain the truth behind why Ji Ling Xue faked her death and went to rescue Yuchi Ru Ge.

Ji Ling Xue rolled her eyes at Xiao Yi Chen, a certain emperor had a huge hole in his brain, she was unexpectedly left speechless. Why were they currently talking about who she loved or not, shouldn't Xiao Yi Chen be cursing his head off  because of Xiao Yi Mo's escape?

Xiao Yi Chen said: "We suddenly want to eat flaky pastry."

Ji Ling Xue: Your majesty, why are you telling me this, if you're hungry the kitchen will naturally prepare it for you?

Drinking the last of the congee, Ji Ling Xue stood up: "Your majesty wait a moment, I'll go make it for you."

Wanting to pull up her sleeves, Ji Ling Xue was surprised to find she was wearing a silk palace outfit, it was rather inconvenient to cook in.

"We have already asked the kitchen to prepare, Gao eunuch will bring them over." Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand.

Ji Ling Xue gave an oh, "Then there's nothing, I'll leave first." As she raised her long skirt she frowned, looking annoyed, she really wanted to change right this moment, it was so tiring.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "We have already sent someone to invite Ru Ge and Zhi Xue princess to enter the palace, did you not want to stay?"

Ji Ling Xue turned, she looked at Xiao Yi Chen, waiting for Xiao Yi Chen's next words.

Xiao Yi Chen: "Yesterday princess Ling Long came to see us, she said she liked a man, wanting us to confer the marriage..."

Ji Ling Xue crooked her head in thought then asked: "Who is princess Ling Long?" When a marriage of peace of discussed with Dayan, there were no of age princesses of the imperial family, only a well-bred young lady from an official's family could be picked, she didn't think there would suddenly be a princess Ling Long.

Remembering when the founding emperor of Dongqi had fought with two great generals who were conferred the titles of marquis were based at the borders of Donqi.

Xiao Yi Chen explained: "Marquis Min Yun's daughter princess Ling Long."

Ji Ling Xue nodded, asking the question she had been wanting to ask, "Have you found Xiao Yi Mo?"

Even though the palace gates had been sealed, for a martial arts expert, it was an easy thing to leave the palace, 

Seeing Ji Ling Xue was anxious to have an answer, Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "Guess where we found Xiao Yi Mo?"

Ji Ling Xue: "At the palace gates?" There were only a few routes from the palace, if it wasn't on the palace walls it would be the palace gates.

Xiao Yi Chen shook his head.

Ji Ling Xue guessed again: "Cold palace?"

There weren't people at the cold palace usually, and it was the most neglected place, it was the easiest place for someone to hide, what's more the former imperial consort was still in the cold palace, even though her mental state wasn't great, Xiao Yi Mo still couldn't forget her, it was reasonable for him to take a look.

Xiao Yi Chen shook his head again.

Ji Ling Xue continued to guess: "It can't be in the secret tunnel right?"

A desperate Xiao Yi Mo could only return to the secret tunnel that only the former emperor's knew about to hide temporarily, there wasn't anything wrong in her deduction.

Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, "Can you not change your way of thinking?"

"Ah?" Ji Ling Xue opened her mouth, her line of thinking was the problem, so all her guesses just now, none of them were right?

Xiao Yi Chen revealed the answer: "In the imperial kitchen."

Ji Ling Xue gave an ah, "Xiao Yi Mo must have been so hungry, how come he ran to the kitchen?"

Xiao Yi Chen gave a light chuckle, "We also don't know how hungry he was."

Ji Ling Xue: "..."

Not long after, an eunuch reported: "Your majesty, the second prince of Dayan, princess Zhi Xue has come to ask for an audience."

Ji Ling Xue stood up looking at the door in anticipation, when Xiao Yi Chen saw her excitement his heart felt a stifled pain.

After Ru Ge gave his greetings with the fake princess Zhi Xue, he then raised his head to look at Ji Ling Xue, the moment the their eyes met they looked away, as long as he made sure Ji Ling Xue was well, he could relax.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Ru Ge, princess Ling Long came to pay her greetings yesterday, she said she is rather taken by you, we believe you and princess Ling Long are well matched, she is the perfect person for a marriage of peace, what do you think?"

Ru Ge was distracted for a moment, when he heard Xiao Yi Chen's words, it wasn't sure if he had heard them, he nodded saying: "This prince has no comments, your majesty do what you think is best."

For him, a marriage of peace wasn't out of his own choosing, it was the same no matter who he married.

Ji Ling Xue also didn't expect Ru Ge to not even ask how princess Ling Long looked like, he just agreed to their marriage.

This made her think about her arranged marriage with Xiao Yi Chen, can a marriage of convenience really last?

Nightfall, Ji Ling Xue sat on the threshold of Chenhua palace looking at the stars, Xiao Yi Chen walked towards her in the night, his white clothes like snow, even in the darkness he was striking.

He wore white dragon robes because of Ji Ling Xue's death, but now he became fond of it.

Xiao Yi Chen stopped beside Ji Ling Xue, untying the cloak around him he placed it over Ji Ling Xue, "It's getting darker, don't sit in the threshold in the wind."

Ji Ling Xue suddenly pulled on Xiao Yi Chen's hand, looking at him in confusion, "Do you think...princess Ling Long marrying far to Dayan, will she be happy?"

Xiao Yi Chen lowered his eyes to look at Ji Ling Xue, "Then it'll depend on her abilities, what, is your heart broken?" Because Ru Ge is marrying another woman?

Ji Ling Xue sighed, "I previously thought of introducing a partner to Ru Ge, he has a silent temper but his conditions aren't bad, I didn't expect him to marry a princess Ling Long in the end..."

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Ru Yi isn't a bad person either, she is straightforward, she should match him well."

Ji Ling Xue blinked, confirming: "Who is Ru Yi?"

Xiao Yi Chen smiled: "Princess Ling Long's nickname is Ru Yi."

Ru Yi, why did the name sound familiar as pieces of memories flashed in Ji Ling Xue's mind, "So it's you!" The happy girl in blue gradually focused in Ji Ling Xue's mind.

"So it's her!" Ji Ling Xue understood in a flash.

Xiao Yi Chen raised an eyebrow, "You know Ru Yi?"

Ji Ling Xue nodded: "That day Ru Ge and I had bought flowers while shopping, I let Ru Ge carry them for me, I didn't think on turning around all the flowers in Ru Ge's hands had disappeared, it was taken away by a girl in blue called Ru Yi." Thinking about this incident, she gritted her teeth a little, that day she nearly got into a fight with her, if it wasn't for Ru Ge, that Ru Yi girl would have turned into a shrew.

Xiao Yi Chen said calmly: "It sounds very interesting."