Chapter 573- Do You Like Him?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Ying was speechless.
Is it really okay for you guys to be so studious?
Xiao Jin nodded in satisfaction and happily led his wife to the back of the mountain.
As the night deepened, it was colder in the mountains than in the city.
At night, Xiao Jin carried Su Ying on his back to the main courtyard to rest. After Bai Shuang extinguished the lights in the room, she excused herself.
“Bai Shuang, where are you going? It’s very cold outside at night, so you should rest early.” Zhou Qing was about to return to her room to rest when she saw Bai Shuang walking out of the courtyard.
Bai Shuang’s footsteps paused for a moment. After thinking for a while, she said, “I’ll go and see if the courtyard gate is closed.”
Zhou Qing frowned slightly. There were Imperial Guards standing guard outside the courtyard gate, so there was no need for them to check. She thought for a while but did not say anything. However, she still tailed Bai Shuang.
As she tailed her, she saw that after Bai Shuang said something to the Imperial Guards outside the gate, the Imperial Guards let her out of the courtyard.
Zhou Qing frowned. Why was she sneaking out so late at night?
Zhou Qing tailed Bai Shuang all the way to a standalone small courtyard house behind the villa. She knew this courtyard house was reserved for the Imperial Guards on night patrol.
Zhou Qing waited outside the courtyard house for about 30 minutes before she
saw Bai Shuang walking out.
After making sure that Bai Shuang had left, Zhou Qing entered the courtyard house. After checking with the Imperial Guards, she saw Si Chen lying unconscious on the bed.
When Zhou Qing returned to the main courtyard, Bai Shuang was already sitting on the bed. She did not react when she saw Zhou Qing enter.
Zhou Qing closed the door behind her and observed Bai Shuang’s expression without any emotion.
“Bai Shuang, I noticed that you seemed to be distracted all the time after returning to the palace. Although I have not been with you for too long, I also treat you as a sister from the bottom of my heart. We are all people who serve by the Empress’s side and have obtained the Empress’s trust. As servants, we must watch our actions at all times.”
Bai Shuang looked at Zhou Qing. “I know. I also consider you a good friend. The Empress will always be my master. Zhou Qing, why are you suddenly telling me this?”
Zhou Qing asked frankly, “Do you know the man who was brought back to the rear courtyard house?”
Bai Shuang was slightly surprised. She did not want to hide this matter, but she was still a little surprised that Zhou Qing knew about it. “How did you know?”
When Bai Shuang admitted to it, Zhou Qing felt a little relieved. “I saw you sneaking there just now.”
Bai Shuang said anxiously, “I was just going over to check if he’s really going to
die…”
“Do you like him?”
Zhou Qing’s question stunned Bai Shuang. What did she mean by “like him?”
She had only met him twice.
“Zhou Qing, don’t spout nonsense. No such thing. How can I like him? I don t even know where he came from. I… I don’t…
Zhou Qing had some guesses when she saw her flustered expression.
“Bai Shuang, don’t be anxious. I still remember that the Empress once told us that if we wanted to get married in the future, she would definitely not object. It’s not a shameful thing to have someone we like. However, according to what you said, this person’s background is unknown, so that won’t do. Have you ever considered that he may have evil designs on Her Imperial Highness and her family?”
Bai Shuang’s face turned pale. Of course, she had thought of this possibility. Thus, she was very nervous after bringing Si Chen to the villa. She went to see Si Chen just now not only to check if he was awake but also because she was worried that if he…
“Zhou Qing, I know. I will never do anything to hurt the Empress and her
family.”
When Zhou Qing saw that Bai Shuang wasn’t so completely immersed in her thoughts that she couldn’t rouse herself out of it, she heaved a sigh of relief. “Just in case, well let the Imperial Guards interrogate him after he wakes up.”
Bai Shuang nodded. “Alright.”
Zhou Qing patted her shoulder. “Enough. Don’t think too much about it. Hurry up and sleep first. It’s not good if you don’t get enough sleep during the winter.”
Bai Shuang’s heart was in a mess, so how could she sleep? However, she still
lay down with Zhou Qing.
There was only one day of rest, so Xiao Jin had to get up before dawn and return to the city for the morning court session the next day.
Su Ying opened her eyes in a sleepy stupor and saw that Xiao Jin had already changed into his dragon robe.
Xiao Jin came up to her and kissed her forehead as he held her face. “I’ll go back to the city first. You can go back with Ji and Ling when you wake up later.” Su Ying gave a grunt, turned over, and went back to sleep. “Be careful on the road.”
“Mm-hmm.”
When Su Ying opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside.
She could vaguely hear the sound of the two little ones reading in the compartment. They were really two hardworking little bees.
After Su Ying made some noises, Zhou Qing heard her and pushed the door open.
“Your Imperial Highness, you are awake.”
Su Ying moved her two somewhat sore legs and asked, “What time is it now?
“Your Imperial Highness, it’s already past seven.”
Su Ying raised an eyebrow. Had she actually slept for so long?
“Have Ji and Ling eaten?”
“Yes, the First Prince and the Young Princess have already taken their
breakfast.”
“Mother, you lazy worm. It’s time to get up.” Ling could not help dashing over when she heard the commotion.
Su Ying pinched her soft little face. “Do you want to eat some more with Mother later?”
Ling shook her head. “I can’t eat too much. If I do that, I won’t be able to leap when I practice my celerity skill.”
The corner of Su Ying’s eyes twitched. “How good your celerity skill is has nothing to do with your body weight.
“Hmph! I don’t want to become a chubby little meatball. I’m going to study, Mother. Be good and eat your breakfast.”
Su Ying looked at Ling, who was scampering away on her short legs, and felt as if she was the real baby…
In the morning, Hea Shouyi made sweet wine and egg soup, chicken noodle soup, and fried eggs. These were all Su Ying’s favorite dishes.
After eating her fill, Su Ying felt her entire body relax.
“Your Imperial Highness, someone from the Capital Governor’s Office has come to the villa. They say that there is a criminal they want to arrest in the villa and implore Your Imperial Highness to hand the criminal over to them.” The palace maid’s voice rang out outside the door.
Puzzled, Su Ying asked, “Criminal? When did a criminal hide in the villa? How come I am not aware? Let them in. I want to ask what kind of criminal dares to hide in my villa.”
Zhou Qing glanced at Bai Shuang and saw a hint of panic on her face.
“Your Imperial Highness, your servant has something to report to you.” Bai Shuang walked up to Su Ying and knelt down. Her eyes had become red-rimmed.
Su Ying raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“I… I saved a man while plucking plum blossoms on the back mountain yesterday. I was worried that he would freeze to death in the snow, so I summoned the Imperial Guards and temporarily placed him in the place where the Imperial Guards stayed at night.”
Su Ying seemed to have vaguely heard about this matter from Zhang Shuming and Xiao Jin’s conversation last night, but since the matter had been reported to Xiao Jin, it should not be a big problem, so she did not ask in detail. However, she did not realize that this person was actually saved by Bai Shuang.
“Saving people isn’t a big problem.”
“Yes, but I do not know where he came from. Before I returned to the palace, I saved him once.”
Su Ying’s eyes darkened slightly. “What happened?”
Bai Shuang could only tell Su Ying about how she had saved Si Chen in the city.
After listening, Su Ying’s eyes gradually darkened..
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