"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 213

 At night, Ji Ling Xue who had just finished bathing was lying on the bed with her long hair draped over her, it was still early, she picked up a piece of pastry to taste.

The palace doors were gently pushed open, a sneaky head peeked in, "Empress sister..."

Ji Ling Xue sat up looking towards where the voice had come from, Ru Yi was bent over at the waist, holding a pillow she barged in through the little space at the door, pushing it close with her hands, she naturally walked to Ji Ling Xue, cautiously asking: "Empress sister, I'm going to get married tomorrow, I can't sleep, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, she wanted to say: You're not a child, you still need someone to sleep with you.

But when she met Ru Yi's pair of pitiful and lovely eyes, she couldn't say the words at the edge of her mouth.

Seeing Ji Ling Xue was about to refuse, Ru Yi quickly added: "Empress sister, are you worried the emperor will come tonight, it won't be convenient with me sleeping here, don't worry, I already found out, the emperor is having a meeting with the delegation in his imperial study tonight, I've spoken to his serving eunuch, even if the emperor wants to come and keep you company, he'll still understand my feelings that I'll be married off tomorrow and lend you to me for tonight." 

She had already said this much, Ji Ling Xue nodded: "Fine." She could only accept it.

The more she got to know Ru Yi, she got to understand why Ru Ge would marry her, such a simple and lovely temper, it was rare to see in the imperial family.

"Thank you empress sister!" Ru Yi happily jumped up, knowing she had forgotten her manners, she stuck out her tongue,  quickly putting down her pillow, she laid beside Ji Ling Xue giving her attention, "Empress sister, I heard pregnant women's legs swell up, aching from head to toe, if there's somewhere uncomfortable I'll give you a massage, I grew up at the border so I've learned how to massage very well." As she spoke Ru Yi waved her hands, looking like she was eager to try, it amused Ji Ling Xue into silent laughter.

Ru Yi offered to massage Ji Ling Xue's lower legs, asking as she did: "Empress sister, Ru Ge told me, you are his sworn sister, is that true? I didn't think you would be so close to him, you must understand him well, you must know what he likes and doesn't like, can you tell me?"

With Ru Yi's questions, Ji Ling Xue was stunned, she didn't actually understand Ru Ge that much, she really didn't pay much attention to his likes, when he was working as a secret guard in prince Chen's residence, he had most contact with Mo Xiang, she had saved his life, later when she was kidnapped by that pervert Yuchi Gong Ru, Ru Ge singlehandedly came to save her and exposed his identity, that's when she knew he was the second prince of Dayan.

Pulling back from her train of thought, Ji Ling Xue turned to ask: "Ru Yi, do you really like Ru Ge?"

Ru Yi embarrassingly nodded, her little face red.

"Ru Ge is very easy to get along with, there's nothing he particularly likes, if there is something, then that would be good food."

Ru Yi covered her mouth chuckling, "Hehe, it seems I need to get Mo Xiang to teach me a few more dishes...sadly there's no time, I'm going to Dayan tomorrow..." As she spoke Ru Yi frowned and sighed, the next moment she grabbed Ji Ling Xue's hand, "Empress sister, can I discuss something with you, can you lend Mo Xiang to me for a few months, when I've learned how to cook, I'll send her back?"

Ru Yi looked down at Ji Ling Xue's swollen belly, "I know, I'm asking for too much, Mo Xiang is empress sister's dowry maid, of course she should serve you, you're also almost about to give birth and shouldn't have one less person serving you...can I just borrow her for a month, after a month I'll send Mo Xiang back, that way it won't hinder your birth, can I?"

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, feeling like Ru Yi had premeditated this, right now she was trying to play the sentiment card, make her compromise.

Seeing Ji Ling Xue hesitate, Ru Yi continued: "Empress sister, there are so many maids in the palace, you can nurture a few more like Mo Xiang, then when Mo Xiang marries, you won't feel alone, isn't that right?"

Ji Ling Xue nodded, she agreed with what Ru Yi said, it would be best if Mo Xiang married someone, she had planned this as well.

Ji Ling Xue nodded, "Fine, I'll lend Mo Xiang to you for a month." She was Ru Ge's wife, just from that, she would agree with her request.

"Thank you empress sister!" Ru Yi happily hugged Ji Ling Xue's thigh, "You're so kind to this slave, you're so magnanimous and kind to Ru Yi, Ru Yi will engrave it into her heart forever."

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched again, what earth-shaking thing did she do to amount to magnanimous and kind, she should be ashamed.

Ji Ling Xue yawned saying: "It's late, get some rest, you're going to get up early tomorrow."

Ru Yi nodded, lying on the bed she clung onto Ji Ling Xue's arm not letting go, she spoke long-windedly about how she was interested in Ru Ge at first sight.

Ru Ge rarely walked around the streets, that day Ji Ling Xue had pulled Ru Ge along in boredom, Ru Ge was holding the flowers Ji Ling Xue had bought, under the sunlight a young man with white hair carrying fresh flowers, the flowers were fragrant, the white hair made Ru Ge's skin look as pale as jade, even though he stood amongst a bustling crowd he could be seen at a glance.

Ru Yi had just returned to the capital that day, seeing this scene she felt a rush of excitement, she was an emotional person, she immediately walked to him and struck up a conversation, "Hey, how much for the flowers?"

Hearing this, Ji Ling Xue smiled: "Then how did Ru Ge respond?"

Ru Yi pouted, copying Ru Ge's tone: "Young lady, I bought these flowers myself, they're not for sale!"

Ji Ling Xue said: "So...you just stole a stalk, then turned and ran?"

Ru Yi nodded, "Empress sister, how did you know?"

Ji Ling Xue awkwardly smiled: "I guessed, Ru Ge mentioned this to me before."

Ru Yi looked extremely embarrassed, "Really Ru Ge, I asked him back and forth over ten times for the flowers, he however didn't remember me and didn't come after me, isn't he just too simple?" Thinking about this, Ru Yi's face turned red, seeming to be quite angry.

Ji Ling Xue smiled, if she and Ru Yi didn't have the incident at the relay station, she wouldn't have had the fortune to be with Ru Ge, only at that time she was disguised as Zhi Xue, not a lot of people knew this, she couldn't mention this to Ru Yi.

Ru Yi said: "Empress sister, aren't I fortunate, the person I like still isn't married, I boldly asked the emperor to bestow the marriage, I didn't think he would accept, I know he isn't marrying me because he likes me, our marriage is one for benefit, for the peace of both countries, but I don't mind at all, because I like him."

Ji Ling Xue looked at Ru Yi, Ru Yi was lying on the bed, her fine black hair spread over the pillow, her gaze at the top of the curtains, a little mist covering her almond eyes.

"He doesn't like you?" Ji Ling Xue asked, she thought Ru Ge treated Ru Yi quite well, why would Ru Yi say Ru Ge doesn't like her, she knew Ru Ge, when Ru Ge was unconscious in the imperial hospital, Ru Yi stayed by him, familiarity breeds fondness.

Ru Yi nodded, "I know there's someone Ru Ge likes, empress sister, do you know who?"

Ji Ling Xue was shocked, she immediately shook her head, she had known Ru Ge For so long but hadn't seen him get close to any women.

Ru Yi lowered her eyes, saying sadly: "Even if you do, as long as she doesn't marry her, I can still have a chance of Ru Ge loving me."

Ji Ling Xue: "..."

Dawn dispersed the darkness, Ru Yi looked at the rays of sunshine coming through the window, sighing: "Empress sister, it's dawn..."

Ji Ling Xue yawned, patting Ru Yi's shoulder, "How do you feel?"

For Ru Yi's happiness, she didn't sleep a night, she needed to nap later.

Ru Yi placed her hand over her chest, taking in a deep breath: "I feel alright, tonight isn't mine and Ru Ge's wedding night, there's nothing to be nervous about."

Ji Ling Xue nodded, sitting up, she called for nanny Rong, giving her a little square box sealed with the word happiness, "Ru Yi, I wish you and Ru Ge will be united forever, may you live a long and happy life together! Passion is a momentary thing, so is enthusiasm and franticness, watching over each other is for life, happiness and comfort. Each person's another half, is the combination of two good things, a love seal is left over them, I wish you will walk hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, continue to write your romantic story."

Ru Yi took the box in curiosity, "What is this?"

Ji Ling Xue gave a mysterious smile, "A wedding gift, you can only open it on your wedding night"

Ru Yi nodded, "Thank you empress sister." She spread open her arms and enthusiastically gave Ji Ling Xue a hug, lowering her head she said to Ji Ling Xue's round belly: "The little prince or princess inside her belly you need to grow up happily, be born safely, you can't tire out empress sister, when you've grown up, come play in Dayan if you get the chance, I'll give you good food to eat."

Ru Yi's words got the whole room roaring with laughter.

When Mo Xiang carried hot water in to help Ji Ling Xue wash up, Ru Yi had been taken to the side palace to make herself presentable.

Mo Xiang combed Ji Ling Xue's long hair, not forgetting to complain: "Mistress, how could you promise the princess, without me how can nanny take care of you alone?"

Ji Ling Xue said: "My good Mo Xiang, don't complain, you're only going with Ru Yi for a month, when she's married you'll come back, such a young girl is marrying so far, it's pitiful for her to have no one look after her, take care of her in my place."

Mo Xiang mumbled to herself: "She's pitiful, mistress is also pitiful..."

Nanny Rong put down the breakfast and turned her head: "Mo Xiang go, there's no such thing as not being able to live without someone, what's more, the empress still has me, of course I'm a little old, but my mind is still clear, I'm also good at my job, I'm not any worse than you young girl."

Mo Xiang turned to stare at the noisy nanny Rong, "Nanny..."

Nanny Rong waved her hand, "Mo Xiang relax and accompany her, maybe when you get to Dayan some official's son will take a liking to you and you marry in Dayan." As she spoke she began to laugh.

Mo Xiang's face was red from being ridiculed, she stomped her foot, running out.

Nanny Rong smiled: "She's still bashful!"

Ji Ling Xue rubbed her belly, "Nanny, later, bring a few maids who have just entered the palace over."

It was good Mo Xiang wasn't here, she can foster a few trusted aides.