CH 40

Qi Ci looked around, but he couldn’t see Bian Zhonghua. Even though Qi Ci’s heart was thumping hard, Empress Dowager Xianyi had asked him a question, so he had to reply to her first: “Empress Dowager, I came to beg for your forgiveness.”

Empress Dowager Xianyi looked at Qi Ci and gently asked: “For what crime?”

Qi Ci said: “The marriage with the County Princess. I’m afraid that I’ll have to disappoint Empress Dowager’s generosity.”

Empress Dowager Xianyi let out a light breath. She didn’t seem to be angry as she asked kindly: “Why? The Princess is really beautiful and educated. Besides, you’re not married, so why can’t you take her as your wife?”

Qi Ci took a deep breath and said: “Because, even though I’m not married, I already have someone I love.”

Empress Dowager Xianyi was stunned, but then she nodded her head and said: “I see. I wonder, is this girl from the Capital, or from the Northern Border?”

Qi Ci said: “I don’t know much about his1 family yet, so I guess he’s from the Capital.”

Empress Dowager Xianyi said: “In that case, then you can stop worrying and just propose marriage to that girl. Now that you’re a Prince, who would dare to refuse marrying such a young and energetic Prince?”

Qi Ci imagined himself proposing marriage to Bian Zhonghua and suddenly felt that Bian Zhonghua would surely chop him to pieces: “I thank Empress Dowager for her kind words. But a melon that’s forcibly twisted is not sweet2. I’d like to wait to know about his feelings before making any plans.”

Empress Dowager Xianyi glanced at Qi Ci, and after remaining silent for a while, she finally nodded her head: “Fine, alright. Youngsters like you have their own way of thinking. By the way, are Rulan’s bones buried in the Northern Border?”

After hearing Qi Ci say ‘yes’, Empress Dowager Xianyi was silent again. Ever since meeting her, Qi Ci realized that she had remained silent several times. Of course, it was clear that she was the most indescribably beautiful and striking person in the country, but Qi Ci couldn’t help but think that she reminded him of the silent mountains and stones.

“Then, in a few days, go to the Northern Border to bring her back.” Finally, Empress Dowager Xianyi said slowly, “Consider it as her soul returning home.”

Qi Ci was stunned.

Transporting a coffin back to the Capital from the Northern Border is painstakingly hard. If it weren’t because he was now part of the Royal family, Qi Ci would never be treated like this. He didn’t expect that Empress Dowager Xianyi would attach so much attention to his mother.

Suddenly, Qi Ci remembered the strange things Bian Zhonghua said to him not long ago. Even though Qi Ci replied that he would do it, there were even more doubts accumulating inside his mind.

After instructing Qi Ci to bring Qi Rulan’s corpse back to the Capital, Empress Dowager Xianyi and Qi Ci walked around the garden. After Empress Dowager Xianyi rewarded Qi Ci with silk, satin, as well as gold and jade treasures, she allowed him to go back to his Residence.

By the time Qi Ci finally walked out of the Imperial garden, he couldn’t see the guards that followed him here. Let alone Bian Zhonghua. At this, Qi Ci hurriedly asked the palace maid who escorted him out in a panic.

The palace maid had served Empress Dowager Xianyi for many years and even had some status in the Palace. She could see that Qi Ci was a careless Prince who didn’t pay too much attention to the rules, so she wanted to tease him a bit: “How would Prince Chongfeng not be interested in a relationship with the County Princess? But be so attentive to his bodyguards? Empress Dowager has always been fond of tranquility, so of course the guards were already sent back to the Prince’s Residence. His Majesty doesn’t need to worry, there are plenty of guards here that can send the Prince back home.”

Qi Ci nodded as he walked all the way from the Imperial garden to the outside of the Palace. Qi Ci had been walking the whole way with a lowered head, trying to come up with a funny way to explain to Bian Zhonghua that he didn’t intend to get married the moment he arrived at his Residence.

When they reached the Vermillion gates of the Palace, the Palace guards, as well as a palanquin, were already waiting for him. The palace maid took a few steps forward to lift the curtain of the palanquin, bent over, and said to Qi Ci: “Your Majesty, be careful on your way back.”

Qi Ci replied affirmatively, but when he was about to lean into the palanquin, he heard the sound of a crisp bell ringing in his ears all of a sudden.

Before the sound of the bell could end, a woman’s shout was suddenly heard: “Prince Chongfeng! Wait!”

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