Xiao Yi Chen picked up a long strand of Ji Ling Xue's hair and twirled it around his finger, it slipped through the next moment, he gripped Ji Ling Xue's hand: "Go take a look at Ji's residence."
Ji Ling Xue nodded, before her was a golden token, she looked at Xiao Yi Chen.
Xiao Yi Chen said: "Take this palace token, do whatever you want, we won't restrict your freedom."
Ji Ling Xue's lips raised into a light smile, her fingers running across the ingrains on the token, half jokingly she asked: "Aren't you afraid I'll leave without saying goodbye?"
Xiao Yi Chen shook his head, "If you feel unhappy staying by our side, you can leave at any time, since that time you faked your death and left the capital, we have also seen things clearly, maybe we didn't treat you well, that's why you left without saying anything, you had your reasons for leaving..."
"Now please promise us, whether your happy or not you must tell us, we want to understand you."
Ji Ling Xue felt touched, she threw herself into Xiao Yi Chen's arms, closing her eyes, a drop of tear streaked across her cheek, "I promise you, I won't sneak away anymore."
Even if it was a day that you neglect me, fed up of me, when I go I'll definitely leave a letter.
Xiao Yi Chen hugged Ji Ling Xue, lowering his head to kiss her forehead, the tenderness in that moment never existed before, he only showed it in front of Ji Ling Xue.
Ji Ling Xue took Mo Xiang out of the palace, because they had a token in their hand they went their way without problems.
In the imperial study, Chi Feng said: "Your majesty, you really are magnanimous, letting her leave the palace without people to guard her." What if Ji Ling Xue eloped with Yuchi Ru Ge, who would you cry to?
Xiao Yi Chen said: "We trust us and Xue Er very much."
Chi Feng was wordless, secretly rolling her eyes, you're the emperor so do what you think is best.
Xiao Yi Chen watched Chi Feng calmly, opening his mouth he asked: "There's no news of Yuchi Gong Ru?"
He was at the capital yet there wasn't any sign of movement, it wasn't like him at all, yesterday listening to Ji Ling Xue, he was again caused trouble for Ji Ling Xue, that kind of person wasn't a good person, he would definitely not take things lying down.
Chi Feng rubbed his nose, that person suddenly went missing, jumping out of their range of control, this couldn't entirely be blamed on him, if he hadn't wanted to have Ji Ling Xue back, they wouldn't have let him go so easily.
Chi Feng cupped his hands: "This humble official has always had people looking."
Xiao Yi Chen said: "Do you think he could be hidden near us?"
Chi Feng suddenly felt his back turn cold, as if there was a pair of strange eyes staring at him, he turned his head, the window was blown open by a cold wind which hit him in the face, Chi Feng's lips twitched, "Your majesty, in broad daylight, you shouldn't say such things."
Xiao Yi Chen resolutely said, "Do you think we're joking? Are you bored with nothing to do, we are welcoming a new group of servants into the palace, go take a look."
Xiao Yi Chen's look wasn't that simple, even though the head eunuch would investigate new recruit's eighteen ancestors, some would try to cheat and get away from it, thus how can the filter of new recruits not have a trusted aide there.
Chi Feng nodded, cupping his hand: "Your majesty, this humble servant accepts the order."
Xiao Yi Chen waved his hand, like he didn't want Chi Feng to be an eyesore.
Chi Feng left, Xiao Yi Chen called an eunuch over, "Today we need to reply officially to memorials, stand outside and don't let anyone disturb us."
The eunuch didn't lift his eyes at all and responded before leaving, before when the emperor read memorials in the study he had never issued such an order, it seems the emperor wasn't going to be in the study soon, if there was anything he would have to take the brunt.
The eunuch thought correctly, at this moment Xiao Yi Chen had already changed clothes and jumped out of the window leaving the palace, destination Ji residence.
Ji residence, Ji Ling Xue had been standing at the gates for a while, white cloth hung on the guardian lion at the gate, it seemed very bleak, in her mind she could still dimly remember the bustling scene when she had married, the gongs and drums clamoured to the sky, red silks fluttered in the wind, Ji Yu Qing's pair of shiny eyes, she looked at her wearing a peony wedding gown with envy, reaching out she touched it, "Older sister, you're wedding gown looks so good, I heard it was bestowed by the empress dowager? I wonder how my wedding gown will look like ?"
"Mistress?" Mo Xiang called out, pulling Ji Ling Xue back from her wandering thoughts.
Ji Ling Xue nodded, Mo Xiang wanted to knock on the door when the door opened.
The old housekeeper who opened the door, his pair of blurry eyes looked Ji Ling Xue up and down several times, saying in pleasant surprise: "Eldest young lady...princess...no, I forgot how to address you in my excitement, you're current the empress."
Ji Ling Xue laughed: "Housekeeper, don't call me empress this and empress that, this isn't the palace."
Housekeeper: "Yes, eldest young lady please quickly enter."
In the reception pavilion, Ji Bai Chuan was playing chess with a man who had his back to the door, the sound of chess pieces being placed, it sounded very harmonious.
"My lord, the eldest young lady has come to see you!" The housekeeper joyfully said, the two people playing chess in the reception pavilion turned their heads to look at Ji Ling Xue.
Ji Ling Xue said: "Father..." The person with their back towards her turned out to be Xiao Yi Chen.
Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, why did he also leave the palace, was he worried she would run off and came to supervise her?
Under Ji Ling Xue's inquisitive eyes, Xiao Yi Chen smiled: "Recently there's not much to do so came to play chess with father."
Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, wasn't there a pandemic in Jingzhou, why did Xiao Yi Chen not look worried at all?
Ji Bai Chuan helped Ji Ling Xue up, after looking her over he nodded saying: "It's good you've come."
Ji Ling Xue said: "Father you have white hair."
Ji Bai Chuan laughed, "I've aged, can I not have white hair, seeing you're safe and sound, I feel very relieved, a lot of things happened these days, you and Yu Qing married one after the other, I thought you sisters would be able to help each other out being wives of the same man, I didn't imagine you both would meet accidents one after the other, while you were not in the capital, his majesty often came to play chess with me, our days passed like this, now that you are safe and sound, this is the best thing that can happen."
Ji Ling Xue lowered her eyes, asking sadly: "The gossip outside is that I killed Ji Yu Qing out of extreme jealousy, does father also think that?"
Ji Bai Chuan patted Ji Ling Xue's shoulder: "My Ling Xue isn't that sort of person, no matter what they say outside don't listen to it, don't they say you're not my daughter? Just because I don't explain it or clarify it doesn't mean I'm not your father, foolish child don't listen to those rumours, look at the world carefully, live in earnest happiness, that's enough for me."
Ji Ling Xue: "Thank you father."
Ji Bai Chuan turned to look at Xiao Yi Chen behind him, their father and daughter dialogue had ignored him.
Xiao Yi Chen waved is hand at Ji Ling Xue: "Come here, let's play a round."
Recalling when Ji Ling Xue had impersonated as Dayan princess and had happily played chess with Yuchi Ru Ge, now thinking about it he felt very unhappy, how can Ji Ling Xue play chess with another man?
Ji Ling Xue opened her mouth, Xiao Yi Chen and Ji Bai Chuan had already been playing chess, if she was to continue with this match, if she lost, would Ji Bai Chuan lose face?
Ji Ling Xue turned to look at Ji Bai Chuan, Ji Bai Chuan made a you're welcome to it gesture.
Ji Ling Xue sat down, anxiously glancing at Xiao Yi Chen, picking up the white pieces she began to study the board.
The clattering sound of horse hooves stopped outside the Ji residence, Ji Ming Yang leapt off his horse, tossing the whip in his hand to a servant, hurrying inside, "Older sister! Older sister!"
Ji Ling Xue's hand trembled, the piece in her hand fell on the board, she was just about to pick it up, Xiao Yi Chen held her two fingers, smiling: "You can't regret your move, we don't have to explain the reason right?"
Ji Ling Xue decided to explain, "This piece accidentally fell, it was a mistake!"
Xiao Yi Chen smiled, "That also can't be an excuse!"
Ji Ling Xue pouted, "I can't even make a mistake, you're really petty."
"Older sister, it really is you!" Ji Ming Yang rushed to Ji Ling Xue and pulled her up, Ji Ling Xue looked around, when she stood up her skirt had hit the board, with a crash, the board became a mess, Xiao Yi Chen's hand which was holding a chess piece froze in mid-air.
Ji Ling Xue appeared to have just noticed, alarmed she turned around, "How can it be this way, I didn't do it on purpose, sorry, sorry."
Ji Bai Chuan trembled in fear looking at this, it turns out his own daughter usually interacted with his majesty in such a way...it really was terrifying, the empeoror really spoiled her.
Ji Ming Yang turned to call out: "Brother-in-law, you're also here."
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, he was very comfortable with being addressed this way, nodding, "Ming Yang, you and your older sister have met again after a long separation, you ought to have a long talk."
Ji Ming Yang nodded, pulling on Ji Ling Xue's hand he asked: "Older sister how did you come back from the dead? They said you committed suicide to escape punishment, I even went to prince Chen's residence to see you, I touched your hand, it was freezing with no warmth at all."
Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, Xiao Yi Chen had done this deliberately, he was curious about how she feigned death?
"That...is the past, there's nothing to say, Ming Yang, how have you been, tell me quick." Ji Ling Xue hurriedly changed topics.
Ji Ming Yang was in high spirits saying: "I'm now the left vice deputy of the embroidered uniform guards." He was in any case an official.
Ji Ling Xue nodded, embroidered uniform guards were in charge of guarding the palace, almost the same rank as an imperial guard, it was also a lot more effortless, very suitable for Ji Ming Yang to control his temper.
After having dinner at the Ji residence, Xiao Yi Chen pulled Ji Ling Xue by the hand out into the streets, there wasn't a carriage, it was like before, a half moon hung in the sky, it was a quite time of the year.
Ji Ling Xue looked left and right, "Did you bring secret guards?"
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "What's wrong?"
Ji Ling Xue shyly smiled, "I'm just worried you'll attract assassins like last time?"
Xiao Yi Chen smiled, his mood was rather good, "Don't worry, I left the palace suddenly, no one will know."
Not worried about assassins, Ji Ling Xue gave an oh, tilting her head she looked at Xiao Yi Chen with a smile: "Did you come out to see if I would run off?"
Xiao Yi Chen shook his head, "I knew visiting Ji residence wouldn't be your last stop, even though there's a secret guard with you, I'm still worried."
JI Ling Xue nodded, "I want to return to the prince's residence to take a look."
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "It's now dark, it'll be perfect, no one will notice." It was hard for them to leave the palace with their current status to take a look, it was better to go where they wanted to go this time.