NFBE Chapter 120: 8 Words
Chapter 120: 8 Words
On the other hand, Bai Xiqiao sent Qi Xiao and Tang Ling to the East Market, and turned back to the guild hall. Before he had gone far, he encountered a small incident and the road ahead was blocked.
Bai Xiqiao looked around and found that the horses in front were frightened and the two carriages collided with each other. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the carriages could not move.
Bai Xiqiao was just about to turn around and take a detour when he saw a person in the crowd, the little Taoist boy from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. One of the carriages that collided belonged to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Bai Xiqiao thought about it, then walked over to greet him and asked, "Young Master, is the Imperial Master in the carriage? How about I give you a ride?"
Wu Jing tilted his head and blinked at Bai Xiqiao, wondering whether he should exchange a few pleasantries with him. Ning Wanxiao's voice came from inside the car first: "Thank you very much. I'll be very grateful for that."
Ning Wanxiao got off his carriage and got directly into Bai Xiqiao's carriage. He was not polite at all, but after getting in, he added to Bai Xiqiao: "Since I have borrowed the carriage, I dare not trouble you to be the driver. Let Wu Jing drive. He is familiar with the road."
"……okay."
So Bai Xiqiao got into the car and couldn't help but look at Ning Wanxiao a few times. He always felt that something was strange. The Ning Wanxiao next to him at this moment had less smile on his face than the one in Linxiantai yesterday. It seemed like he was not very happy?
"what happened?"
"Ah, nothing..." Bai Xiqiao was embarrassed by Ning Wanxiao's question, so he asked casually, "It's already night, are you still sensitive to light? Do you need to cover your eyes?"
Ning Wanxiao reached out and removed the white mask from his eyes, revealing his eyes as he looked at Bai Xiqiao: "Covering it... is better."
Bai Xiqiao stared at Ning Wanxiao's eyes in a daze for a long while, his pupils were as bright as the moon.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Bai Xiqiao shook his head blankly: "It's beautiful."
Ning Wanxiao turned his head slightly and stopped looking at Bai Xiqiao, but he didn't cover his eyes again.
Bai Xiqiao seemed to know what was different about him at this moment. Ning Wanxiao was gentle during the day, but now he was cold and aloof, like two different people.
"Is there something that makes you unhappy?"
Ning Wanxiao shook his head: "Just a little tired."
After being busy all day preparing for the Moon Festival, how could he not be tired? Bai Xiqiao didn't bother him any further and sent Ning Wanxiao to Taihe Temple in silence.
***
"Ning Wanxiao said that His Majesty ordered the Taichang Temple to divine an auspicious date, and the birth invitations sent with matching horoscopes are for Young Master Tang and the Fifteenth Princess."
Qi Xiao was getting dressed when the belt in his hand fell to the ground and the jade buckle broke into several pieces.
Bai Xiqiao picked up the belt and the broken jade buckle and sighed softly, "Change it."
"Why would Ning Wanxiao say this to you?"
"I happened to see him yesterday when I was coming back. The wheel of the Sitianjian's carriage broke, so I sent him to the Taihe Temple. He told me before we parted."
Last night, Bai Xiqiao drove Ning Wanxiao to Taihe Temple. They were practically silent along the way. Ning Wanxiao seemed genuinely exhausted, leaning against the car wall, half asleep and half awake. He was so quiet that he didn't even show any expression, let alone glance at Bai Xiqiao. Feeling awkward, Bai Xiqiao simply closed his eyes and pretended to sleep until they reached Taihe Temple.
Bai Xiqiao got off the carriage, and easily helped Ning Wanxiao out of the carriage. He said goodbye to Ning Wanxiao, but was stopped.
"Baixi Bridge." This time Ning Wanxiao no longer used "Brother Bai" to tease him.
"Hmm?" Bai Xiqiao felt that Ning Wanxiao's temper was somewhat unpredictable. After all, he was the Director of the Imperial Observatory, so according to etiquette, Bai Xiqiao still had to be respectful. "Master Imperial Master, do you have any further instructions?"
Ning Wanxiao looked at Bai Xiqiao and hesitated for a moment before saying, "His Majesty sent a birthday invitation to the Taichang Temple today to have his horoscopes matched. Not many people know about this, and I think it would be better for His Majesty the Ninth Prince to know sooner rather than be the last to know."
"Your Majesty wishes to choose a princess for Xiao...Ninth Prince?"
Ning Wanxiao shook his head: "The birthday invitation is for the Fifteenth Princess and Mr. Tang Ling."
Bai Xiqiao's expression at that time was almost the same as Qi Xiao's at this moment, but in addition to shock, Qi Xiao was also angry.
His Majesty has always known that he and Tang Ling are close, even intimate, but he said nothing, never mentioned it, and even Chi Yue didn't give any hint. Qi Xiao knew that this was definitely not tacit consent or permission, but it was just that the time had not come to deal with the two of them. However, he never thought that the way to deal with them was not to reprimand, ignore him, strip him of his royal title, or drive him out of Yuanjing, but to tie Tang Ling down through marriage.
The most direct and effective method has always been to strangle the opponent's vital point.
If Qi Xiao puts pressure on him, he will not compromise. Qi Xiao is a man who has never owned or obtained anything. He will never care about any benefits or punishments given by His Majesty. The only thing he owns and obtains now is Tang Ling, so coercion and inducement will not be effective.
Tang Ling was different. He came as a hostage to negotiate peace between Chen and Zhou. He had the entire Zhou Kingdom behind him and the righteousness of his country at heart. Since they were negotiating peace, wasn't marriage the best way to do it?
Qi Xiao shouldn't be surprised or shocked, but he couldn't help but feel furious. He was being played like a fool by His Majesty, but he didn't even have the qualifications or the right to be angry!
Ultimately, Tang Ling's marriage to the Fifteenth Princess had nothing to do with Qi Xiao. What right did he have to object? If he were a princess, His Majesty might have happily granted the marriage, but he was a prince. If he tried to sabotage the marriage by letting His Majesty know that he and Tang Ling were in love, he would be forcing Marquis Xun An to raise an army against Dachen, which would be unjust for his country and family, and would also force him into a position of injustice, disloyalty, and disloyalty to Tang Ling.
Qi Xiao sat on the edge of the bed, clasped his hands together, and clenched his fingers with all his strength, as if he wanted to crush his hands.
Bai Xiqiao sighed, unsure how to comfort him. He should have foreseen this day coming when Qi Xiao decided to be with Tang Ling. He had counseled him, scolded him, but Qi Xiao hadn't listened to a single word, forging ahead recklessly and fearlessly.
Last night was the same. Qi Xiao and Tang Ling spent the whole night together and did not come back until dawn. Only then did Bai Xiqiao have the opportunity to say these words to him.
Bai Xiqiao patted Qi Xiao on the shoulder: "Ning Wanxiao also said something even stranger."
Qi Xiao was in a mess and angry, and didn't want to listen to Bai Xiqiao's nagging, but he was very concerned about what Ning Wanxiao said to him, so he frowned and looked up at Bai Xiqiao.
"He said that the Taichang Temple had recently received more than just this birthday invitation. There was also one from Lu Fangjin, and also from several daughters of aristocratic families. He also said that the Taichang Temple had received Lu Fangjin's birthday invitation twice, both from the harem. He thought it must be from the Empress and Consort Zhao."
"Why did he tell you this?" Ning Wanxiao might have had the ability to discern the relationship between Qi Xiao and Tang Ling from the stars, so it made sense that he'd told Bai Xiqiao about Tang Ling. But how did Ning Wanxiao know that Qi Xiao and Lu Fangjin were so familiar with each other?
Even if Ning Wanxiao knew, why would he tell Bai Xiqiao and Qi Xiao about this? Help him?
"That's what's weird about me too."
When Ning Wanxiao said this, his eyes were indifferent, as if he was talking about something insignificant. Bai Xiqiao also asked why he told him. Ning Wanxiao thought for a moment and said, "Regarding the matter of Young Master Tang, I am doing a favor for His Majesty the Ninth Prince. Regarding the matter of General Lu, I am returning a favor to you."