C744
C744
"Yes ~"
What did it mean to be apprehensive? The two people of the Xiao family, who were normally high and mighty, finally understood. They gently sat on the wooden bench, yet they only dared to sit on half of it …
Even if Dongfang Ning didn't have a cold expression on her face, her king-like aura still gave them endless pressure. This was something that Dongfang Ning herself didn't know.
"You're that runaway Xiao Shaoqi?"
Xiao Shaoqi knew that he would be called, but he didn't expect the empress to be so direct. He quickly stood up and replied, "Reporting to the empress, I … "I don't want to marry …"
When the old man heard this, he was done for. He dared to say he wouldn't marry in front of the empress? What was that worth? He grabbed Xiao Shaoqi and said, "Shaoqi, what nonsense are you spouting, esteemed empress …"
"Alright, let him say it himself!"
"Empress, I'm not willing to marry a daughter of the Huangfu Family!"
"Why?"
"The empress once said that marriage can be free …"
Dongfang Ning smiled faintly. This guy was really impressive. He wanted to use her words to defeat her.
"When the emperor bestowed the marriage, this law of freedom of marriage wasn't enforced, so your reasons for disobeying the decree weren't good enough ~"
These words made Xiao Shaoqi's face turn red. He lowered his head uneasily and didn't dare to speak again.
"Alright, sit down, I said that I'm not here to interrogate you today. Furthermore, you saved my sister and even secretly helped Yan Wuhui take down the rest of the Madam Lu, so this contribution should be able to offset your crime of deceiving the monarch and the crime of disobeying the decree."
"Thank you, Empress! Shaoqi, quickly kneel down and thank you ~"
Old Man Xiao, who had been listening, couldn't sit still any longer. He knelt down and kowtowed again and again. How could this empress be so understanding? Also, how did she know what they had done?
"Many thanks, Empress!"
Xiao Shaoqi was also shocked by this change. Not only did she not blame him, she even said what she had done. This understanding was worth more than anything else.
"Get up. I don't like to kneel. The entire country knows about this, so why are you all kneeling so easily?"
"Yes, this official knows his wrongs!" The old man finally stopped crying. He pulled Xiao Shaoqi with a smile and sat down again.
"Men, hurry and serve tea!"
"Let me ask you guys something. Do you recognize someone called Lu Sheng in the West Ridge?"
"Lord Lu?"
"I do. He is currently the Grand Guard of the West Ridge City. He is highly regarded by the West Ridge King, and his official rank is not bad either. He is well praised by the people."
The two of them did not know why Dongfang Ning suddenly asked about this. Lu Sheng came to Shancheng many years ago, could it be that they knew each other?
"Then does he have a wife?"
"Yes, he married the emperor in the same year. A month after his wedding, he married a woman from the same family. At the time, everyone thought it was strange, but with his current identity, ordinary girls aren't worthy of him …"
Married?
Wasn't Mei Er hopeless? Dongfang Ning still remembered Wu Yi's words about liking Mei Er, but what Mei Er liked was a person called Lu Sheng in the West Ridge. How did they get to know each other … This, she believed, was part of her own amnesia.
"En, it's fine now. Get someone to prepare something to eat. If Xue'er wants to eat later, prepare some water for her to bathe in."
Hearing this, Xiao Shaoqi jumped up and asked in disbelief:
"Wha … What?"
"Empress, Miss Xue'er is seriously injured. We can't possibly take a bath. If we move her now, we won't dare …" "I'm afraid that my injuries will worsen, so I'll have to ask the empress to retract the order ~"
Old Man Xiao kneeled down again. He was more clear than anyone on how diligent this grandson of his was towards that girl. Although Xue Er's origin was unknown, it was rare for him to fall for a girl.
"Please retract your order ~" Xiao Shaoqi also came to his senses, he couldn't even move Xue'er's situation, he even wanted her to eat and take a bath … This was completely accelerating the time of her death.
"Why are you all so nervous? With me here, how can she die? Get up, and do as I say. She'll wake up soon."
"This …"
The first to react was Old Man Xiao:
"Hurry up, isn't the world's number one genius doctor our esteemed empress? Thank god, Miss Xue'er can be saved, saved!"
"Really?"
Xiao Shaoqi looked at Dongfang Ning muddle-headedly. He wanted to get confirmation from her that this matter was too important to him.
"That's right, I have already treated her and she will wake up soon. How did you know her?"
"That's great. Shaoqi thanks the empress for saving his life. The empress is like an immortal from the heavens …"
A bunch of good words came out from the man's mouth. He didn't hear Dongfang Ning's question at all. His whole heart was filled with the news of Xue'er's recovery.
Dongfang Ning waved her hand helplessly. "You can go now. I'll ask when Xue'er is better."
"Thank you, Empress …" I... "I …"
"Go see her. I know you've troubled yourself!"
Xiao Shaoqi immediately walked away after hearing that. He wanted to personally confirm if Xue'er had come back to life. This woman … The reason he hadn't left three years ago was because of her.
He still remembered when the wedding procession had left the Western Ridge Territory and had disguised themselves as a caravan, heading towards the capital.
After passing through the West City and arriving at the mountain city, he originally wanted to listen to the persuasion and obediently go to the mountain city to marry Huangfu Yunrou, who knew that he would actually meet Xue'er in the mountain city.
From then on, he secretly followed her, paying attention to her every move. He still remembered the day they first met.
It was one night. Xue Er, who was wearing black and carrying a heavy bag on her back, was seen by Xiao Shaoqi, who was standing on the balcony, as if she was flying on the roof.
"Who was the one doing such a bad thing in the middle of the night? Could it be that there is some shady business going on in the country?" Curious, he secretly followed them.
Xue'er's martial arts were not bad. He was discovered after following her for a while. "Who is it?"
When Xiao Shaoqi heard this short question, and it was a female voice, he became even more curious. He took out his fan and threw it towards Xue'er, who was standing in the woods, "I would like to ask you who you are. What are you doing in the middle of the night that you're doing this shamefully?"
"For the sake of you being an outsider, I'll spare your life. Scram immediately!" Xue'er's temper had always been similar to Dongfang Ning's, and her words were still as cold as ice. After she finished speaking, she carried on what she had to do and prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute, this young master has encountered an injustice today. Naturally, I want to be in charge of it."
Xiao Shaoqi was blocking her way to not let her go. With his identity, he wasn't afraid of causing trouble. If he really got into trouble, then he could have an excuse to not marry some princess.
Xue'er glanced at him coldly. "Move aside!"
Xiao Shaoqi raised his eyebrows and waved his fan more diligently. "Move aside, is that possible? Unless you tell him everything he wants to know."
Who knew that Xue'er didn't care about his trick at all. With a wave of her hand, she pierced through his acupoints, causing him to lose his defenses. By the time he had broken through his acupoints to chase after her, she was already gone.