Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Imperial Decree in the Palace Seemed Rather Suspicious

But Su Jingluo suddenly changed course. She lifted her head, tilted it slightly, and smiled at Xiao Jingxuan. “But I only recently realized that perhaps you are not a good husband, and maybe not even a good person. Still, you are a good father. For Yunbai’s sake, you can endure and hide your edge; for Yunbai’s sake, you can accept me. You have always been protecting Yunbai. That is wonderful. Keep it up.”

Su Jingluo was not foolish. She could see the change in Xiao Jingxuan since the moment he had met Yunbai. This journey of hers truly held no certainty, so she decided to soften him in advance with a little sweet talk, hoping that once the crown was placed on his head, he would care for nothing else and spend his whole life protecting Yunbai.

Xiao Jingxuan had not expected her to say such things. His heart, suddenly full, ached with bitterness. He had not imagined that Su Jingluo would understand him.

“Don’t go.” He wanted to express more, but in the end only those two words escaped him. He even loathed himself for being so inarticulate. Why was he always as if his tongue had been locked whenever he faced Su Jingluo?

“I don’t want anything to happen to you. Compared with me, you are better able to look after Yunbai. This time, let me protect you both.” Su Jingluo thought her speech was absolutely heroic, full of gallantry and righteous loyalty. She had done splendidly. Xiao Jingxuan, how could you still have the nerve not to take good care of Yunbai?

Her words moved not only herself, but truly moved Xiao Jingxuan as well. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever said to him, I will protect you. He had never dared to hope for such words. So he was like a hedgehog, bristling with spikes, wrapping himself tightly whenever danger came. Yet when he met that foolish girl, knowing full well how sharp his thorns were, she still opened her arms and embraced him.

A ripple stirred in Xiao Jingxuan’s abyss-deep gaze. His eyes reddened slightly as he looked at Su Jingluo without blinking.

Su Jingluo thought her little speech was over, and now Xiao Jingxuan ought to be moved to tears and then declare that he would certainly take good care of his son. But somehow she seemed to have left him dumbstruck. He only stared at her fixedly and said nothing, made no promise. What was that supposed to mean? I’m standing here as if entrusting you with my child on my deathbed—could you at least show a little filial devotion or something?

“Then I’ll go too.” Xiao Jingxuan stepped forward. He did not want Su Jingluo to go alone. What if there was danger? What if others made things difficult for her? What if she suffered some grievance?

“My lord, no imperial summons has been issued for you to enter the palace, so this...” The eunuch beside him did not dare spell out the truth. Just before leaving, the emperor had specifically ordered that the Prince of Peace was not to enter the palace.

After hearing this, Xiao Jingxuan gave the eunuch a fierce glare that made the man tremble. His eyes looked ready to devour someone.

“So what if I insist on going with her? Either my wife and I enter the palace together, or my wife does not go at all.” Xiao Jingxuan did not care about any imperial command. The more such an order had been given, the more uneasy he felt leaving her to it.

“It’s all right. I’ll be fine. Don’t be nervous. Wait for me.” Su Jingluo knew exactly what Xiao Jingxuan was worried about. She did not want him to truly be punished by the emperor. Though she had only been in this world for a few days, and had witnessed Xiao Jingxuan’s strength, she also knew he was constrained by the emperor.

The two of them traded words back and forth, and even the eunuch at the side could no longer bear to listen. He was suddenly in the mood to fall in love, and watching the pair of them felt like witnessing a grand drama of life and death, leaving him stuffed full of affection. He admired the princess for her sharp tongue, and he also worried about the prince’s own clumsy tongue.

In the end, Su Jingluo never got to hear Xiao Jingxuan’s show of filial devotion before the people from the palace returned.

The leading eunuch immediately plastered on a broad smile and said, “This servant has reported to His Majesty that the princess is alarmed and feels unworthy of attending to the Emperor. However, she does know a little medicine and may go to assist with diagnosis and treatment. Her medical skill is meager, and she prays that His Majesty will not blame her. Since the child is unruly and fears disturbing the Empress Dowager’s rest and health, she is willing to go alone.”