Chapter Fifty-Four: Encounter with Xuan Yuan Xi Wei

  Since Lady Xu had already been demoted to a noble concubine, whether she accepted it or not, and was happy about it or not, the matter had already been decided by the Emperor's golden words and jade speech. Since Lady Xu was no longer the legitimate wife, she could no longer live in the Jade Screen Pavilion, which was only for the legitimate wife. A month later, a new mistress would arrive there, Little Madam Xu. After experiencing this series of events, Concubine Ye had fallen to such a state that she was filled with regret and hidden resentment. Day after day, she waited for her natal family's father and brothers to support her.

  However, the result was that she became a family outcast. When Xu Ruoyi's news of marrying her second brother's daughter reached her ears, she understood.

  Xu Mingxia was originally hesitant to tell her mother the news, fearing she wouldn't be able to accept it. However, Mrs. Xu eventually found out. Unexpectedly, she didn't go crazy or fly into a rage. Her expression was surprisingly calm. She took the initiative to find Xu Ruoyi and told him that she no longer deserved to live in Yushengyuan, and that she would move out.

  Xu Ruoyi was shocked to see Ye Yiniang, whom she hadn't seen for two or three days.

  In just two short days, Xu Yiniang seemed to have aged ten years. Xu Ruoyi had originally thought she would cry and scold him, but instead Xu Yiniang calmly told him that she was going to move out to another courtyard. At this moment, Xu Ruoyi's anger towards Xu Yiniang's fake pregnancy suddenly dissipated. Looking at Xu Yiniang like this, a thread of sympathy rose in his heart.

  Aunt Xü saw Xu Ruoyi's expression and felt slightly relieved. As long as he still had her in his heart, she would always have a chance to turn things around.

  Xu Ruoyi couldn't help but think of the countless moments he and his wife had shared over the past decade. The many loving scenes they had shared, he felt extremely sad about Xu's mother moving out.

  Although Auntie Xu had recently done some things that almost made her lose her official position, since the situation hadn't become that severe yet, Xuruo Yi easily forgave Auntie Xu.

  "No, you don't have to move out, this house can only be lived in by you!" Xu Ruoyi finally made up his mind.

  "Isn't this bad? Won't the Emperor be unhappy?" Xu Niang was both shocked and delighted, but she still suppressed that joyful feeling, her face only showing a worried expression.

  Xu Yiniang had been married to Xu Ruoyi for many years, and she had always been pampered. Moreover, she was spoiled since childhood, so in her daily life, she never showed such a considerate and cautious expression. Adding to that, Xu Yiniang's plain dress today was vastly different from her usual elegant and noble appearance as the wife of a high-ranking official. Originally beautiful, she now displayed an enchanting demeanor that had never been seen before. Watching this, Xu Ruoyi felt his heart itch with desire, so he took Xu Yiniang in his arms, comforted her for a while, and then carried her to their inner chamber.

  Auntie Xu reluctantly agreed to his request.

  Aunt Xü's move out of Yù Píng Yuàn was thus settled. She too was a capable person, and actually coaxed Xü Ruòyì into taking the management rights back from Xü Míngyīng's hands and giving them to herself.

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and ignored him.

  Xu Mingying was like a chicken with its feathers ruffled, furiously going to find Xu Ruoyi to argue. But he was scolded severely by him and locked up for two days. Two days later, Xu Mingying calmed down and never mentioned the matter of managing the household again. From then on, she behaved herself for a while.

  Everyone in the Xu family reevaluated Madam Xu in their hearts, and those who were ready to kick her when she was down and take pleasure in her misfortune all withdrew their disdainful attitudes.

  Xu Mingjin didn't bother with these things, Mrs. Xu was busy accumulating strength and competing with the younger Madam Xu who would be marrying in a month, she had no time to find fault with her again. Every day she supervised Xu Mingxuan's homework, and every few days she was taken out to play by Xuan Yu Jinglin, her life was extremely comfortable. The people of the Xu household didn't dare look down on her because of Xuan Yu Jinglin's face.

  On this day, Xuan Yuan Jing Lin came to find her again. The two of them agreed to go to the Huguo Temple to burn incense together. The Xu family members had already changed from being flustered and uneasy when they first met the princess to being calm and composed. Xuan Yuan Jing Lin never blamed them for it anyway. As for Old Lady Xu and Xu Ming Xia, they had already realized that the princess only wanted to see Xu Ming Jin and didn't want to see them at all, so they stopped taking the initiative to get close to her. This was exactly what Xuan Yuan Jing Lin had hoped for. She only wanted to see Xu Ming Jin and didn't want to see anyone else who wasn't related to her.

  Xuan Yuan Jing Lin had already noticed the difference in her second brother's attitude towards Xu Ming Jin since that time at Bie Zhuang. With her clever mind, she immediately discovered the cat's paw. In the face of Xuan Yuan Ze's evasiveness, she shifted her target to Xu Ming Jin, wanting to know something from her, but Xu Ming Jin clearly told her that she just regarded her second brother as a friend.

  Xuan Yuan Jing Lin didn't believe it. Her second brother was handsome and elegant, with a charming personality, and in the Sheng Xi dynasty, he was even more outstanding than her eldest brother. It's hard to find a man who could rival him, so Xu Ming Jin had no reason not to like her second brother. However, from Xu Ming Jin's words and actions, she couldn't find any hint of affection for Xuan Yuan Ze. But as Xu Ming Jin followed her and met Xuan Yuan Ze several times, it actually made her see clearly the intentions in her second brother Xuan Yuan Ze's heart. He liked Xu Ming Jin.

  Xuan Yuan Jinglin didn't object to this. Anyway, she and Xu Mingjin were friends, and she also admired Xu Mingjin's character. It wasn't bad for Xu Mingjin to be her sister-in-law either.

  Xu Mingjin didn't know about Xuan Yuan Jinglin's little thoughts, she was in a good mood and followed Xuan Yuan Jinglin to rush to the Temple of Protection early in the morning.

  Today is different from the past. Mrs. Xu heard that Xu Mingjin was going to accompany Xuan Yuan Jinglin to Huguo Temple to burn incense, so she called her over and ordered her to donate some incense money to the temple on her behalf. Xu Mingjin had no choice but to agree, otherwise it would be unfilial. It's not time to break up with Mrs. Xu yet. Xu Mingjin still needs to carefully hold onto Mrs. Xu's thigh for now. Otherwise, in the Xu household, she doesn't have anyone to rely on.

  In fact, Mrs. Xu has been extremely affectionate towards her recently, all because of Xuan Yuan Jing Lin's face. Otherwise, she would never have looked at Xu Ming Jin with a straight eye. This point, Xu Ming Jin himself was also well aware of.

  Before leaving, Mrs. Xu specially sent her trusted maid to whisper a few words in Xu Mingjin's ear, telling her to take the opportunity to speak well of Xu Ruoyi in front of Xuan Yuan Jinglin. Xu Mingjin had long forgotten about this, but when the maid mentioned it, she suddenly remembered. She hastily nodded in agreement. The maid, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction and returned to report back to Mrs. Xu.

  She secretly sneered in her heart, even if she would mention Xu Ruoyi in front of Xuan Yuan Jinglin, it would definitely not be anything good. However, for now, she still didn't have the intention to let Xu Ruoyi lose his official position, so in front of Xuan Yuan Jinglin, regarding this matter, she didn't say a word. The two of them were getting along quite harmoniously.

  They arrived at the temple, Xu Mingjin accompanied Xuan Yuan Jinglin to burn incense, and then donated 200 taels of silver in the name of Old Lady Xu, which was given to her by a trusted nurse before she left. The two people finally finished their proper business.

  It's still early, and the sun is scorching at noon. Xuming Jin and Xuan Yuan Jinglin each took a nap in their respective rooms, planning to visit the temple in the afternoon when the weather cools down. As for the Temple of Protection, Xuan Yuan Jinglin was all too familiar with it as a princess, having visited it so many times that she had grown tired of it. However, Xuming Jin had never been there before, so Xuan Yuan Jinglin suppressed her boredom and accompanied him on a visit.

  Xu Mingjin lay down on the kang in the wing room to take a nap, but he didn't feel sleepy for half a day.

  Today, when she came out, she had already told Xuan Yuan Jinglin that today when she returned, she wanted to see Fan Yicheng. When Xuan Yuan Jinglin learned that the person was Xu Mingjin's uncle, he didn't say anything and agreed. For this, Xu Mingjin was truly grateful in her heart.

  At this moment, Xu Mingjin, who was wide awake, naturally thought of Fan Yicheng. After returning to Beijing, she had not seen him again and did not know how he was doing now?

  Xu Mingjin was lost in thought, but felt a bit sleepy. Dazed and confused, she suddenly heard a loud noise, her sleepiness immediately disappeared, only to be replaced by extreme fatigue, she wanted to get up, but felt weak all over, unable to exert any strength. Xu Mingjin was shocked, knowing that she had been ambushed. Just as she was getting anxious, a smiling face appeared before her eyes. But it wasn't Xuan Yuan Xi Di, so who was it?

  Xu Mingjin saw Xuan Yuan Qiyue and immediately understood that he was the one who had been secretly plotting against him. However, Xu Mingjin couldn't understand why Xuan Yuan Qiyue would do such a thing since they didn't have any grudges or conflicts between them. As Xu Mingjin was confused, Xuan Yuan Qiyue bent down and gently picked Xu Mingjin up from the bed with his hands.

  Xu Mingjin was both embarrassed and frustrated, but she was extremely sleepy. After reluctantly glaring at Xuan Yuan Qiyue with a resentful gaze, she unwillingly fainted.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue lowered his head and looked at her for a moment, the corners of his mouth rising as he spoke in a low voice: "There hasn't been a woman who dares to refuse me three times. You are the first, but from today on, you will belong to me." After speaking, he gently kissed Xu Mingjin's forehead and picked her up, carrying her back through the tunnel they had come from. He stretched out his left hand and covered the stone slab on the ground, then quietly slipped away. The room returned to its original state.

  In the room, Chun Xiang, Yu Zhu and others all fainted on the ground.

  Xu Mingjin woke up to find himself lying in a pavilion.

  She got up and looked around, only to find that the entire pavilion was surrounded by thick bamboo shoots as wide as a bowl, all green in sight. It seemed like a bamboo forest.

  "Little girl, aren't you awake yet?" a lazy and low voice said slowly.

  Xu Mingjin heard this voice and his whole body trembled.

  She slowly turned her head and saw that not far away, Xuan Yuan Qi was sitting on a smooth green boulder with his legs apart, wearing a moon-white Confucian robe that was completely different from what he had worn before. It made his face even more radiant and handsome than ever.

  Xu Mingjin's little heart jumped uncontrollably a few times.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue saw the situation and hooked up the evil mouth. He stretched out his hand from the side of the body to take the wine pot in the Biyu disk, poured himself a cup of wine, and drank slowly. The whole action was like a cloud flowing water, beautiful to the extreme. After half a sound, he saw Xu Mingjin still dazed on the spot, and couldn't help but say: "I won't eat you, come over."

  Xu Mingjin thought that with Xuan Yuan Jinglin in the temple, he didn't dare to do anything to himself, so he slowly walked over.