—When he heard Xing’er say “His Highness invites you in”, He Yunxiao didn’t react for a while.
He had the impression that, according to Nanzhu’s nature, she would never forgive him so easily.
He Yunxiao mulled it over in his mind upon hearing this, according to Nanzhu’s character. I’m sure she can’t let himself be out in the cold, but not so much so that she’d forgive him because of this.
The most likely course of action would be to drive him away, and the second most likely course of action would be to bring him to a fireplace, or to invite him into the courtyard instead of into the palace.
Like this, the act of directly inviting him into the palace was not something Nanzhu would do, no matter how he thought about it.
Although He Yunxiao had doubts in his mind, he still believed in what Xing’er said.
So the only possibility was that Xing’er had put in a good word for him. So he said, “Thank you, Miss Xing’er, for speaking up for me in front of Nanzhu.”
Xing’er smiled and said, “Young Master He doesn’t need to thank me, I didn’t say anything good, I told Her Highness the truth as Young Master He had said.”
He Yunxiao said, “If Miss Xing’er is willing to speak truthfully in front of Nanzhu, you have done me a great favour and deserve my thanks.”
Xing’er had already had a good impression of He Yunxiao before, and now that He Yunxiao was so courteous and thoughtful that he didn’t even mind the difference in rank and status to thank him, she thought even more highly of him.
—Young Master. He is a gentleman and worthy of our Highness.
Xing’er held the lantern and led the way, saying, “Young Master He, let’s go.”
The two of them walked past the barren, overgrown courtyard of Linxuan Palace, past Nanzhu’s medicinal garden, and came to the front of the palace.
Although the lights in Linxuan Palace were not bright at night, several palace maids were waiting in front of the palace in a rather dignified manner.
When He Yunxiao arrived, they curtsied and said, “Young Master He.”
The last time He Yunxiao had brought Li Jin and swaggered in, he had never seen such a reception.
“Miss Xing’er, this is ……”
Xing’er smiled, “They are gifts of thanks to you.”
As He Yunxiao understood, he returned the salute and said, “In the future, Your Highness Nanzhu, I would like to ask you all to take more trouble.”
Several palace maids looked at each other for a moment and hid their mouths to giggle.
Together, they said, “Yes.”
After waiting for a little while, when Xing’er led He Yunxiao into the palace, they discussed it enthusiastically.
“We’re supposed to serve Her Highness, and he’s telling us to take more trouble.”
“I think that’s the right thing for him to say, ‘In future, my family’ s Nanzhu, please all of you take more trouble’!”
“At this point, is it considered as a wife?”
“Then who will be in charge of our Linxuan Palace in the future?”
“Hehehe, naturally, whoever is on top is the one who has the say.”
“Good! You want to fight!”
“He is the first son of a marquis! He is no worse than His Highness.”
“He is indeed a good match for His Highness, at least on the face.”
“In the future, if His Highness marries a marquis, will we be accompanied by him?”
“Possibly.”
……
He Yunxiao was led by Xing’er to the reception place of Linxuan Palace.
It wasn’t really a place for guests, because the room was so empty that it didn’t look like it could be used for guests, except for a table and a candlestick.
It was a very ingenious location, just to the side of Nanzhu’s bedchamber.
The Linxuan Palace was not small in size, but there were only a few people living there, so there were many rooms like this.
However, this one room was useless, close to Nanzhu’s bedchamber and clean as if it had just been cleaned, which was quite rare.
When they arrived, Xing’er said, “Young Master wait here for a while, and Xing’er will go and get my Highness to come.”
She then excused herself and hurriedly ran away.
He Yunxiao did not doubt it, and after agreeing to do so, he sat here.
He even ran his internal energy again and seized his free time to start practicing martial arts.
After practicing for a few moments, he heard another rush of footsteps.
The footsteps were familiar, and they were light and fast. They must be the steps of a woman. So it must be Xing’er who had hurried out earlier and returned.
For a moment, He Yunxiao thought it was Nanzhu, but he quickly dismissed the idea himself. Nanzhu was angry with him anyway, and not a small one at that. Although she agreed to come over, how could she have rushed over to meet him like this.
Since Xing’er was here, she was in a hurry again. He Yunxiao simply gave up practicing martial arts and got up to help Xing’er open the door.
“Xing Xing ……”
Before He Yunxiao could say the words, the figure that made him feel guilty, and that he had been thinking about day and night, and couldn’t abandon it, suddenly appeared in view.
Nanzhu!
Meng Qingrou carried the hot soup and medicine and walked quickly, not even noticing what was within the room.
He Yunxiao opened the door and looked at the back of Nanzhu walking quickly away, subconsciously calling out, “Nanzhu ……”
Meng Qingrou’s figure that was walking fast slowed down after hearing He Yunxiao’s voice. Padding two small steps forward, she paused in place.
Just like that, her back was turned and she paused in place.
He Yunxiao’s mind, which had been fairly calm, could not help but be confused after seeing Nanzhu again.
He repeatedly and meaninglessly pondered over some very small questions.
What expression should I use, how should I talk to her, will she still be angry, what should I do if she kicks me out again ……
“Nanzhu …… it’s been a long time …… er, not that long, I just saw you yesterday …… yesterday I made you angry… …promise from now on, I promise I’ll never lie to you again ……”
Meng Qingrou’s back was turned to He Yunxiao, and there was some slight redness on her face that she didn’t know whether it was from walking fast or from nervousness.
She carried the hot soup, her chest rising, and falling as she took a big breath of cold air.
The heaving gradually slowed down and the deep breaths were no longer needed. By this time, the slight redness on her face had quietly faded.
Meng Qingruo turned around with the soup and faced the stuttering He Yunxiao with an expressionless face.
She said coldly, “Why are you here, who told you to come.”
He Yunxiao himself, knew that even if he was apologizing, it was best to be steady. Don’t even fail to understand the words, like Li Jin did.
But now, when facing Nanzhu, even though he knew how to be steady, he subconsciously began to panic and was at a loss for words.
He Yunxiao hurriedly explained, “It was Miss Xing’er who told me to come, and Xing’er said that it was you, Your Highness, who told me to come in.”
Xing’er the traitor! I told him to leave!
Meng Qingrou resented Xing’er in her heart, but on her lips she still said coldly, “I didn’t ask you to come in. You are not allowed to enter Linxuan Palace. If there is nothing to do, leave now.”
Looking at Nanzhu’s angry appearance, He Yunxiao’s heart hurt.
The feeling of guilt in his heart could not help but increase a few more points.
After settling his mind, He Yunxiao said, “I have something to do, will you listen to me for a moment?”
Meng Qingrou’s face was expressionless, “Go ahead, say it and leave when you’re done.”
“Nanzhu, no matter what, no matter how hard I have to work, no matter how difficult it is, I want to marry you! Definitely will marry!”
[Meng Qingruo’s favorability level changed from 20 to 25]
In the Qi Kingdom, in ancient times, few people would say “love you” openly. To use a euphemism, “I want to marry you” was the same as “I love you”.
Meng Qingrou originally thought that He Yunxiao was going to stutter and apologize again, but to her surprise, he came right out and confessed his love!
What a foul! It was only yesterday that she told him to get lost!
Her cold tone was a little unsteady, mixed with panic, “Finish your sentence, and then leave! Don’t come back!”
He Yunxiao said seriously and firmly, “I’ll be outside the courtyard every day from now on. I’ll watch you from afar.”
“Who cares where you are!”
He Yunxiao took one last look at his precious Nanzhu and said, “Nanzhu, I’m leaving.”
Meng Qingrou looked at He Yunxiao’s leaving and then looked at the hot antidote in her hand. Finally, she couldn’t help but speak, “Wait, first …… drink the potion.”
He Yunxiao turned to face Nanzhu again and said awkwardly, “Isn’t this antidote something you can’t drink on an empty stomach, I haven’t had dinner yet……”