C74

"What are you trying to say?" Xiao Qingyan knitted her brows as her heart was still calm from last night. Her tone was also not very good: "You've been tormenting yourself for an entire night and Duke Han can't even speak?"

Su Qianhan had originally forgotten what happened last night, but now that he was ridiculed by her in such a tone, his expression changed. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time; this was probably the most embarrassing moment since King Han was born. After all, even when he slept half naked in the countryside, he didn't have such a huge reaction.

"Did This King do something..." Su Qian Han didn't know how to describe it, but his eyebrows were already knit together. When his gaze swept across the torn part of her clothes, he finally gave up. He sighed heavily and clenched his fists, "Don't worry, I won't let you suffer a loss."

Xiao Qingxi snorted twice and swept a glance at him: "At least your highness has some conscience."

His quality of sleep was bad, and he had even disturbed his sleep for an entire night. How could he not take out something as a reward?

Seeing that she agreed so readily, Su Qianhan felt relieved for some reason. He returned to his usual solemn demeanor and said gently, "This king will take responsibility."

Xiao Qing was stunned, "Responsible?"

This man didn't learn the language well, right? Was this considered using bad words?

Su Qian Han did not reply, but looked at her with a resolute and calm gaze before he got up from the bed.

"Hey, you …"

"In the future, no matter what matter you need This King to do, as long as you can find me at the manor, This King will help you with anything." Su Qianhan quickly tidied up his clothes and said seriously, "You can tell me anything you want. In a while, I will come over myself …"

He paused for a moment. The words that followed seemed to be difficult to say. However, even though he skipped over the topic, he still said in a very sincere tone, "Wait for This King."

Xiao Qing listened to the man's declaration in a daze as she watched him leave. She lay back down on the bed and thought about what the man had said before finally sitting up and pounding the bed with her fist. "Su Qianhan, when did I say I was going to let you take responsibility?"

Xiao Qingyi knew that the man might have misunderstood something, but she had no way of explaining it. Could it be that she had to run to the prince's mansion and say 'Hey, we didn't sleep last night, much less do anything' in front of that man?

She really couldn't do such a shameful thing.

Thus, in light of what she had said, Xiao Qing Qing could only decide to ignore that person and allow him to tacitly understand what she meant. Perhaps, there would be a more suitable opportunity for her to leak this matter to him.

It was already noon when Rio'er came in again. That foolish child was so scared that he lost his intelligence when he saw the scene in the morning. It was only Xiao Qing who opened her mouth and entered the room a second time, her eyes darting around as though she was looking for something.

Thus, Xiao Qingran very kindly told her that 'Su Qianhan left early in the morning' 'That man suddenly ran here due to poison last night' 'I helped him suppress the poison in his body'.

Rio'er was very simple. Although it was a misunderstanding in the beginning, she believed deeply in whatever her young mistress said.

"Then Duke Han must have really misunderstood. What does little miss plan to do?" After knowing what had happened, Li'er couldn't help but worry for her master.

"What else can we do? He can't just run to the palace like Su Qianxing and ask the Emperor to marry me, right?"

Su Qian Han was not someone who would do that kind of thing.

"Then what if he makes things difficult for Miss?"

"What is there to make things difficult for me? It was me who suffered last night, alright? What's more, am I afraid of him? " Xiao Qingran took a bite out of her bun and frowned: "That's not a big deal. Just say it in the future. Although Su Qianhan is arrogant and despotic, he's not unreasonable and won't do anything. He's the one from the palace though."

Rio'er stood by the side and was worried as well. "The person below has sent word that the empress is already suspicious of Miss over the formalities and is paying more attention to all aspects. Miss should be careful."

"The actor Su Qian is a leopard that can bite people to death even though he looks gentle and easy to talk to. We've already explained it clearly at the palace banquet. That man wants to make a move soon. We need to speed up before that." Xiao Qingran twirled her fingers, and said with a cold look in her eyes: "I have a premonition that there must have been an inside story behind mother's death back then. Perhaps there's some important clue that we don't know about."

This was because not a single member of the Su Clan had survived, and his mother was born with an indifferent disposition, so it was not good for them to make friends.

However, Xiao Qing thought that if Lan Ying was really wary of her because of the grudges from her previous life, she would be the best place for her to do so.

As the daughter of a minister, he had no reason to see her. However, sometimes things happened to happen so coincidentally that when Xiao Qing was racking her brains, an imperial decree arrived from the palace saying that the empress had thought of the third lady of the General's Estate and felt that she was destined to be with her. Today, the imperial edict specifically asked her to enter the palace to accompany them and have tea with them.

"Third Young Miss sure has a mouth full of blessings. The Empress loves to drink tea the most. Now that Third Young Miss has obtained the favor of our esteemed empress, she can even enter the palace for a drink or two. Truly enviable." From the time Eunuch came over to announce the decree to bringing Xiao Qingyi to the imperial courtyard, he had been constantly saying good words along the way.

Xiao Qing Qing did not know if it was a good tea, but she knew that the tea should be very hot today. There was a Hongmen Banquet in ancient times, but today, she had arranged for a 'Tea Gate Banquet'.

After entering the palace, they passed through layers of guards and arrived at the palace. Lan Ying had long since sent someone to receive them. The tea and pastries were ready, and they were all waiting for Xiao Qing to come knocking.

Entering the room, Xiao Qing looked around only to find that the empress and two mama were in the large hall. One of them, Xiao Qing, recognized the one she had called upon as a form of etiquette, Aunt Lin. Unlike the other mama, she was now standing at the door, guiding the way.

Xiao Qing walked to the front of the hall and bowed. Although her movements were stiff, they were very standard. "Empress Jin An."

She said some silly auspicious words, then was ordered by the queen to 'get up' and sat down.

I've seen Qingyi for a long time now. Before this, I felt that you were different from the other young ladies of the officials, and that you had a temperament that no one else had. It's no wonder that Xing'er likes you so much. Lan Ying pursed her lips and spoke amiably in a gentle tone, "If I were you, I would naturally also like a woman like you who knows how to act."

Xiao Qing was really impressed by their 'face-to-face play'. If these two were born in the modern world, they would be actors.

Looking at how gently and lovingly she spoke, it was as if the assassination attempt from a few days ago had nothing to do with her.

Xiao Qingran pursed her lips in reply. Naturally, this woman did not plan to go straight to the point, so she followed suit and hit Tai Chi. "Empress, you're exaggerating. How could I be worthy of the crown prince's love? I'm even more afraid to compare with the empress.

"Qingyi, you can't belittle yourself. On the other hand, I feel that it's good that you do that." As usual, Lan Ying threw in another sentence or two before saying, "You've been with Xing'er for quite a while. I'm sure you know about his father's visit a few days ago to talk about your marriage. What do you think?"

Was he finally going to get to the point?

"The Crown Prince should be more concerned with the affairs of the country now. Besides, this servant feels that her virtue and talent are not worthy of the Crown Prince, so she doesn't dare to climb higher." This was the tactful rejection.

Lan Ying's expression turned ugly. "I've heard from Xing'er that your relationship is deep and not temporary. Naturally, outsiders do not know what you're feeling. If you weren't on good terms with each other, how could you have spent so many years together?"

Xiao Qingran laughed, neither servile nor overbearing. "Although I have a good relationship with the crown prince in private, it's only an exchange within the rules. Why do the Empress' words sound like I'm luring His Highness over?" This subject's daughter is too terrified to accept this crime. "

"You …" "You don't have to go in circles with me, and I know a lot about you. Before, you had a good relationship with Xing'er, but now, you're together with Han Wang. Could it be that you're trying to climb another branch because you despise the position of the concubine that Xing'er gave you?"

Xiao Qing Ran pursed her lips, still maintaining her composure, "How could that be? Regardless of whether it's the crown prince or the Duke of Han, this subject doesn't dare to think too highly of myself. Since the empress said that I understand this subject, then I should know that with my talent, I definitely can't be a daughter-in-law of the imperial family."

Lan Ying stared at her. She no longer had the patience to talk official with her. "So you're not willing to change your mind no matter what?"

Although Xing'er said that she wouldn't let him interfere in this matter, how could he be at ease? If it was as the prophecy said, once this woman took action, then her fate would be …

No, she definitely wouldn't let that happen!

"Heh, since that's the case, then I won't say anything more. Although in the future, you can't become a person of your profession, don't worry, even if I think about the relationship between you two, I will still love you. No matter where you marry in the future, I will still take care of you." Lan Ying waved her hand. "Since you're here to drink tea today, you can't leave empty-handed. It's getting late. Drink this tea and leave."

As soon as Lan Ying finished speaking, the mama behind her immediately poured tea for Xiao Qing.

As for Lin mama, she was at the door, unable to speak. She wanted to speak several times, but because of her status, she had no choice but to shut up.

It wasn't until that mama had already started pouring tea for Xiao Qing Ran that Lin Zhi Yi couldn't help but take a few steps back to avoid Lan Ying's eyes and report to a little girl standing outside.