She Rebuilt Her Fallen Country With Storage Space-Chapter 218: Xiang Ying, We Can Be Friends

Jie Chen didn’t hesitate, turning his head to Xiang Ying, "Take the kids and go back to the inn first."

Xiang Ying frowned slightly, "I’m not afraid of them."

But Jie Chen urged sternly, "Go now!"

Xiang Ying lowered her head, glanced at the three little ones blinking beside her, and decided to take the kids out of the way first.

Tao Xue, Qi Fengyi, and Aren all followed her upstairs.

Xiang Ying returned to the room they had just vacated. Tao Xue peeked downstairs through a small crack in the window.

She saw the entire street being cleared by the approaching Xuanjia Army, their manner was as if they were ready to see their heads roll right there and then!

Jie Chen was talking with the leader of the Xuanjia Army; too far away, Tao Xue couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Suddenly, Tao Xue said nervously, "We’re doomed, I see a brown-robed official getting down from the sedan, it couldn’t be another imperial envoy, could it?"

Qi Fengyi gripped the sword in hand, "If they dare to disrespect the elder princess, we will fight, no matter the cost!"

Xiang Ying was very calm.

She was braiding Xiang Xiuxiu’s hair while lazily saying, "Don’t worry, the dog Emperor of Nanyue is still hoping to get the Jade Seal from me; he wouldn’t want our lives."

Tao Xue puzzled, "Then what’s all this for... could it be they’re looking to settle scores with Vice General Jie?"

Aren shook his head, "Impossible, Vice General Jie has merits in suppressing bandits; even though it was a mistake to let us go, now his merits offset his faults, it must be something else."

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

The people inside instantly became alert, and the three little ones quickly gathered around Xiang Ying, ready to protect her.

Qi Fengyi unsheathed her sword to open the door, expecting to see Jie Chen or the imperial envoy.

However, standing outside was Princess Xining.

Princess Xining looked inside with a smile, "I was resting next door, and I heard you’d returned. Xiang Ying, I would like to have a few words with you, if you don’t mind?"

Xiang Ying nodded quietly, "That’s fine."

Princess Xining was originally to return to the capital under the escort of Pei Qinglin, but an urgent message came in the morning from the capital, stating that another group would be arranged to receive her.

So Pei Qinglin left first.

After Princess Xining entered, she took the initiative, "I had my servants buy some fresh and interesting things, you can let the kids take a look." freewebnøvel.com

Xiang Ying could tell she wanted to talk alone and nodded at Tao Xue.

Aren refused to go far, saying, "I’ll stay just outside."

After speaking, they all left, leaving only Xiang Ying and Princess Xining.

"If the Princess has something to say, please speak frankly."

Princess Xining smiled, "Nothing much, it’s just that you have quick reflexes and remain calm in danger, which is at odds with what I had heard of the elder Princess of Xizhou."

"Honestly, before you went into the bandits’ lair to rescue me, I had a poor impression of Xizhou, but having met you, I now feel that Xizhou isn’t without its merits."

"Xiang Ying, your personality is straightforward and refreshing, and General Pei also told me about your conduct along the way. Your temperament suits my taste, and I believe we can become friends."

Xiang Ying raised her Phoenix Eyes and looked at her meaningfully, "Is the Princess here solely to be friends with me?"

Princess Xining pursed her lips, stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the crowd below.

"They have arrived in a threatening manner, and they are probably up to no good. If I intervene and protect you by force, there might be a chance to get you into the city safely."

Light and shadow crisscrossed the room; Princess Xining stood by the window, while Xiang Ying sat not far away.

"Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but I believe Vice General Jie will keep me alive, at least until I enter the Nanyue Palace, there will be no threat."

Princess Xining smiled, "That’s because you don’t know my Father’s methods. He has many ways to torture people, making life worse than death."

"But..." She changed her tone, "If you give the Jade Seal to me, then your fate shall not be in others’ hands, and I will let you control your own life and death."

Again, it was all for the Jade Seal.

Xiang Ying watched her with great interest, her jet-black eyes shimmering with reflected light.

"Forgive my bluntness, Princess, do you desire the Jade Seal to present to the Emperor of Nanyue, as a gesture of appeasement?"

Unexpectedly, mockery flickered through Princess Xining’s eyes.

"Appease? There is no one in this world worthy of my appeasement."

She turned her head to face Xiang Ying: "Of course, I want it for my own use. To tell you the truth, I have long been tired of living in inequality."

"I have excelled in both literary and martial arts since childhood and have never been outdone by my imperial brothers. I was always ambitious and strove to be the best."

"Yet, simply because I am a woman, the credit for my flood control efforts went to Sixth Brother, the accolades for quelling a rebellion went to Second Brother, and even my own strict self-discipline is attributed to the good fortune of my Father, the Emperor, being blessed with children who are paragons among men and women. Isn’t it laughable?"

"Everyone praises me as the most outstanding Princess, but what good does that do? In the eyes of my father and brothers, the worth of the most outstanding Princess is to become a more valuable bargaining chip in matrimonial alliances."

With that, she clenched her fists tightly, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

The light and shadow streaming in from the window interlaced upon her face, like the wrathful expression of a deity in a temple.

"Why is it that I must be married off in a political union? Why must all my achievements become the glory of my father and brothers?"

"So, when I encountered those bandits, I was very pleased, allowing them to take me captive and prepared to seize the opportunity to capture them all. I believed that once my Father, the Emperor, saw my capabilities, he would abandon the idea of sending me off in marriage."

Princess Xining turned her head, staring at Xiang Ying.

"Xiang Ying, I need the Imperial Jade Seal. With it, I can shed this female identity and make them think not of the Fourteenth Princess of Nanyue but of someone who wields power and decides their fate."

"As a woman yourself, you must have also experienced such indignities. Xizhou has fallen, and holding onto the Jade Seal will only be a hot potato for you, but I promise you, if I obtain the Jade Seal, I won’t make you a prisoner at my feet."

"If one day I can forge an era of peace and prosperity, I will return fairness to you! How about that?"

Her last sentence was said with a forceful conviction.

Xiang Ying could even see the blazing ambition burning in her pitch-black eyes.

It turns out that Princess Xining had already harbored the idea of becoming a ruler herself.

Xiang Ying felt it was praiseworthy, but unfortunately...

She shook her head: "I don’t have the Jade Seal."

Princess Xining’s gaze suddenly deepened, then she let out a bitter laugh: "You refuse to give it to me."

Xiang Ying looked at her calmly: "I really don’t have the Jade Seal. When our nation was overthrown, my Father, the Emperor, claimed it was with me to divert the attention of an overwhelming army and attract the enemy to humiliate me."

"He took advantage of their siege and looting to escape with his concubines and treasures, even hastily smashing the city gates in his escape, leaving us completely exposed to the enemy’s direct invasion into the Inner Palace."

Princess Xining’s eyes widened slightly.

She realized, "Is there really such a despicable father in the world?! I truly wish I could shatter his bones with my own hands!"

Xiang Ying followed with a smile: "As you said, Xizhou to me is but yesterday’s smoke. If I had the Jade Seal, I would give it to you, it’s just too bad."

Princess Xining was silent for a moment, then her confident demeanor returned.

"Never mind, if I don’t have the Jade Seal, I’ll fight for it myself."

She walked over, her gaze intense and bright, and said to Xiang Ying: "I will remember the favor of you saving me, Xiang Ying, you must hold on until the day I take power. By then, I will surely let you and your child leave."

The two exchanged glances, revealing a mutual sense of respect and admiration.

Xiang Ying smiled: "Good, I will remember."

Footsteps were heard ascending the stairs, and soon, voices sounded outside the door.

"Xiang Ying, the Vice General is calling for you downstairs." It was Acid Scholar.

Xiang Ying lowered her head: "Princess, I shall take my leave first."

Princess Xining stepped forward, embracing Xiang Ying.

"Take care, see you again in the capital."

Xiang Ying nodded, turned around, and left the room.