The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 454 - 422: Marry You or Never Marry at All (Part 2)
Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao fell silent, and Xue Yinhuan also quieted down.
This was a carriage hastily arranged, not spacious, with no extra seat for Xue Yinhuan, and naturally, no one would give her their seat. She maintained her previous squatting posture, occasionally glancing outside.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly in such a state.
Disliking the overly silent atmosphere, Song Yuanbao took the initiative to speak, "Miss Xue, who have you offended?"
"I don’t know." Someone spoke, and most of the tension in Xue Yinhuan’s heart dissipated, "Earlier, I was fine with my aunt; we had just parted when I ran into those ruffians. I only ended up on your carriage due to having nowhere else to escape."
As if afraid Zhao Xi wouldn’t believe her, she paused and continued explaining, "I honestly didn’t know His Highness would leave the palace beforehand, much less that this very carriage belonged to His Highness."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi gave her a slight glance.
Xue Yinhuan remembered the Eldest Prince asking her for the third time the reason for their "chance encounter," knowing he didn’t believe her. She hadn’t intended to explain further, yet inexplicably, she wanted him to believe her, "If I truly harbored any inappropriate intentions towards His Highness, I could have used every means within the palace before, without needing to wait for an uncertain chance outside. Moreover, I’ll be discussing marriage in a few days."
After speaking, she instinctively checked Zhao Xi’s reaction.
Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t the slightest change in his expression, not even a frown.
Hearing this, Song Yuanbao’s gaze darted between Xue Yinhuan and Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi slightly closed his eyes, choosing not to look at anyone.
When reaching the street corner, before the guards outside could call to stop, Zhao Xi calmly said, "You should get off."
Xue Yinhuan had been paying attention; the guards outside certainly hadn’t spoken, and the Eldest Prince certainly hadn’t opened his eyes to look outside.
So how did he know the carriage had reached the corner? Was it his hearing?
Unable to understand, Xue Yinhuan looked curiously at Song Yuanbao.
Song Yuanbao roughly knew what the beauty before him wanted to ask. He was more patient than Zhao Xi and raised an eyebrow, "Watching all sides and listening in all directions, that’s him."
It’s self-evident who "he" referred to.
Xue Yinhuan felt a small shock within.
She couldn’t even tell if she was shocked by the Eldest Prince’s special ability or by how she had underestimated him all along.
Zhao Xi had always struck Xue Yinhuan as indifferent, aloof, and arrogantly self-important.
The people outside, even her grandfather, the Minister of Rites, often praised the Eldest Prince, but Xue Yinhuan felt that was because there were no other princes for comparison at the moment, and people dared not criticize due to his status.
The talk outside of him being a youthful prodigy was more likely manufactured.
But now, it seemed she didn’t fully understand him.
Shaking her head, Xue Yinhuan was startled by her own thoughts—she, who was about to discuss marriage, why was she curious to understand the Eldest Prince deeply?
The carriage had stopped, and Xue Yinhuan bent down to get off. Just before stepping out, she suddenly turned to Zhao Xi with a gentle smile, "Elder Qi does not fear power or status. He will not show favoritism because of His Highness’s status. His Highness not knowing how to please Elder Qi is just like you not knowing how to show tenderness to a beauty. Such indifference will only backfire."
Hearing this, Zhao Xi slowly opened his eyes, "Are you saying you can change his attitude?"
"Of course." Otherwise, Elder Qi wouldn’t visit the Minister’s Mansion every so often.
"Turn around!" Zhao Xi commanded the carriage driver.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yinhuan knew he wanted her to help persuade Elder Qi.
She hadn’t planned to help him and was holding the doorframe, ready to jump out, but suddenly her wrist was seized by a strong force. She turned back and saw it was Zhao Xi, frowning, "I’ve reached the corner, as agreed, I’m supposed to get off."
"There is a task you need to handle right now," Zhao Xi’s tone brooked no argument.
Xue Yinhuan struggled a couple of times without freeing herself, internally annoyed, "Is this how His Highness asks for help?"
Zhao Xi replied, "It’s a command."
"I have no obligation to help."
Zhao Xi let her go, "If you jump out now, I guarantee by tomorrow everyone in the Capital will know you’ve spent the whole day in my carriage. For a young lady, reputation is more critical."
"No." Xue Yinhuan curved her lips, "Your Highness once told me that one’s mind is more vital than anything else at any time. I don’t believe you’ll spread rumors, and I’m not afraid of you spreading them.
Should I lose my reputation, there are two paths: either marry you or never marry. Your Highness isn’t the same, though. If your reputation is tarnished by some girl, you’ll not only lose the Emperor’s favor but leave a bad impression on officials.
You must understand, you’re not the only prince in the palace now. The officials could easily switch their support to another.
So, if you calculate carefully, it seems His Highness stands to lose more!"
Zhao Xi looked at her for a moment, then spoke, "Name your terms."
Xue Yinhuan insisted, "I want to go home."
"How about another day?"
"Another day I have to discuss marriage proposals. Once the engagement is set, it won’t be possible to easily go out and meet with men."
Zhao Xi no longer forced her.
Xue Yinhuan lifted her skirt and walked down.
Because the carriage was inconspicuous, no one paid attention.
After she left, Song Yuanbao was still hanging by the window, staring eagerly at the beauty’s back, and suddenly, in a sharp, mocking tone, repeated Xue Yinhuan’s words, "Either I marry you, or I never marry for life.
Hey, I say, did you rush her out so quickly because you’re afraid she’ll marry you, or worried she won’t be able to marry for life?"
Such a boring topic, Zhao Xi ignored, and asked him, "Do you think she could be lying?"
Song Yuanbao got interested, "Your Highness also thinks she’s saying one thing and meaning another?"
Zhao Xi gave him a cool glance, "I’m referring to the part about Elder Qi. She said she has a way to change Elder Qi’s attitude. Is it true or false?"
Song Yuanbao shrugged, "Your Highness could just coax her back and find out."
...
Zhao Xi did not heed Song Yuanbao’s suggestion to find Xue Yinhuan, instead directly instructed the guards to return to the palace. After changing his robe, he immediately went to see Emperor Guangxi.
Emperor Guangxi was in the Imperial Study Room reviewing memorials, and upon hearing that the Eldest Prince had arrived, he had Mr. Cui invite him in.
"Your son greets Father Emperor." Zhao Xi bowed and saluted.
Emperor Guangxi put down his vermillion pen and looked at his eldest son, "I heard you left the palace today, for what reason?"
"This matter is lengthy," Zhao Xi said, "I will explain it in detail to Father Emperor later. For now, I have a question I wish to ask Father Emperor."
"Speak."
"Has Father Emperor ever seen a mechanical beast?"
"Mechanical beast?" Emperor Guangxi squinted, "What kind of thing is that?"
"Today I saw one. It’s full of mechanisms, can walk on the ground, its arms, legs, even the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose—any part with a mechanism set can attack people."
Emperor Guangxi was incredulous, "In this world, there is such a marvelous mechanism?"
"I dare not deceive Father Emperor. Today, I went out of the city with drawings of a hidden weapon I had pondered for months to see a mechanical master, but was scorned by him. Initially, I thought it was just his arrogance, but after seeing the mechanical beast he personally designed, I understood that his disdain for my designs wasn’t without reason."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Guangxi stood up directly, "Xixi, did you really see a mechanical beast?"
"Yes," Zhao Xi nodded, "The design is extremely exquisite. At least, I have never seen anything so astonishing before."
Emperor Guangxi sighed, "If such a thing truly exists, once magnified and deployed on the battlefield, why would our Great Chu ever fear not winning every battle?"
Zhao Xi appeared confused, "Hasn’t Father Emperor already arranged for people to search for the Jin Dynasty’s Liu Family’s surviving Divine Weapon Atlas?"
"What Divine Weapon Atlas?"
It was only after asking that Emperor Guangxi recalled Old Marquis Lu once entered the palace to tell him that the late Emperor wanted the Liu’s Divine Weapon found, to prepare for future battles.
He didn’t believe it at the time. Not only did he burn the secret edict in front of Old Marquis Lu, but he also ordered Old Marquis Lu to not enter the Imperial City again.
Could it be, the Liu’s Divine Weapon Diagram depicts the mechanical beast described by Xixi?
So, was what Old Marquis Lu said true?
Thinking of this, Emperor Guangxi frowned.
Suppressing his emotions as much as possible, he looked at Zhao Xi, "I wish to meet this mechanical master you mentioned, and see the mechanical beast he designed."
Zhao Xi thought of Elder Qi’s temperament, pursed his lips, but still agreed, "Your son will arrange it as soon as possible."
...
Zhao Xi did not delay, the next day he took Song Yuanbao out of the city again to find Elder Qi, only to find that it had become an empty residence, and Elder Qi was nowhere to be seen.
Looking at the empty house, Song Yuanbao sighed, "Elder Qi’s life and death are uncertain, the mechanical beast’s whereabouts unknown. What shall we do now?"
Zhao Xi hardly hesitated, speaking directly, "Go to the Minister’s Mansion, find Xue Yinhuan."
