The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 828 - 412: Gu Xingchuan’s Persuasion, Song Yanqing’s Dilemma (Second Update)
Xie Ruotong frowned.
She still felt somewhat displeased in her heart.
Gu Xingchuan continued, "Did you see that little girl in the Emperor’s arms, An Youyou? She is the daughter of that woman."
"Is it so easy to replace someone?" Xie Ruotong asked Gu Xingchuan, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Before I met that woman, I also thought people couldn’t be replaced, but after seeing her, I kind of understand the Emperor," Gu Xingchuan said. "Except for the face, everything else feels almost identical. I almost mistook her too."
"So that makes it replaceable?" Xie Ruotong still couldn’t understand.
"I also advised the Emperor not to bring the woman back. That woman is actually resistant to the Emperor, but the Emperor seems unable to let go," Gu Xingchuan sighed. "Forget it, let’s not talk about his matters. It’s disheartening."
Xie Ruotong smiled slightly, clearly noticing the contradiction within Gu Xingchuan.
Having been by the Emperor’s side for many years, perhaps he had gained some understanding of the Emperor, which allowed him more tolerance for the Emperor’s actions. But at the thought of Ye Qichi, that tolerance became uncomfortable, so he simply decided not to dwell on it.
"Do you really not plan to get married?" Gu Xingchuan shifted the topic.
"Do you plan to get married?" Xie Ruotong countered.
"Why, have you taken a liking to me?" Gu Xingchuan joked.
Xie Ruotong suddenly fell silent.
Slowly, she said, "If it were you, I think I could accept it."
"..." Gu Xingchuan widened his eyes.
Xie Ruotong smiled, "Scared?"
"A little," Gu Xingchuan didn’t hide it and said frankly, "If you insist on marrying me, I don’t think I could refuse. For the sake of..."
"For the sake of Ye Qichi," Xie Ruotong filled in.
Gu Xingchuan nodded.
"Don’t worry, I have no inappropriate thoughts toward you, no need to worry," Xie Ruotong said bluntly. "I just think that you should also consider your own personal issues. I don’t believe your parents haven’t been urging you."
"I always feel I am destined to grow old alone in this life," Gu Xingchuan said faintly. "I’m too clear that apart from Ye Qichi, I can’t love anyone else."
"Too high standards," Xie Ruotong commented.
"Perhaps," Gu Xingchuan smiled and brought the topic back, "Weren’t we talking about your marriage? The Emperor personally arranged a match for you."
"Just going through the motions."
"Song Yanqing is actually good, he’s waited for you for many years," Gu Xingchuan finally got to the point.
Today at the palace banquet, the Emperor summoned him in advance, wanting him to matchmake Xie Ruotong and Song Yanqing.
The Emperor still held some personal bias towards Song Yanqing.
And knew that Song Yanqing had stayed in the Imperial Palace for so many years, largely because of Xie Ruotong.
In fact, he had no negative impression of Song Yanqing.
In the five years assisting the Emperor in managing state affairs, many times when discussing national matters, the Emperor would privately summon him and Song Yanqing to the palace. Even though Song Yanqing clearly stated he wouldn’t participate in court affairs, if the Emperor did summon him, he would express his opinions and insights. Deep down, he actually admired Song Yanqing’s talent. Being the top scorer was not an empty title.
Moreover, Song Yanqing is indifferent to fame and fortune.
Such a person generally has no ill intentions.
So when the Emperor asked him to persuade Xie Ruotong, he didn’t refuse.
Even now, though Song Yanqing’s disfigurement is severe, and his health is more frail than most, you can always hear his restrained coughs, but ultimately, compared to one’s appearance, character is naturally more important.
"I and he will never be possible," Xie Ruotong said candidly, speaking very firmly, leaving herself no room for retreat.
"Is it because you no longer love, or you hate too much?" Gu Xingchuan asked.
Xie Ruotong frowned.
Clearly, she didn’t want to discuss matters regarding Song Yanqing.
"I’ve actually chatted privately with Song Yanqing," Gu Xingchuan said. "In the Imperial Palace, after all, we meet occasionally."
"So you plan to speak well of him?"
"Between you and Song Yanqing, of course, I choose you. I just inadvertently learned about some past things between you and Song Yanqing that you might not be aware of," Gu Xingchuan said frankly.
"I’m not interested in knowing."
"If you truly had no feelings for this person, you wouldn’t be so averse."
"..." Xie Ruotong looked at Gu Xingchuan.
"Anyway, since we’re drinking, let’s just chat casually," Gu Xingchuan’s tone was gentle, yet his attitude was firm.
Xie Ruotong chose to remain silent.
Gu Xingchuan knew that Xie Ruotong usually wouldn’t refuse him.
So the Emperor is always smart to know who to use for what task.
Gu Xingchuan took a sip of wine and opened his mouth, "When Song Yanqing initially married you, he was insistent on also marrying your sister Xie Ruilin, simply because he mistakenly believed Xie Ruilin was the lifesaver from his past. He gave all the promises to his lifesaver, which is why he was so repulsive to you and so protective of Xie Ruilin."
Xie Ruotong laughed.
Gu Xingchuan looked at her smile, knowing that Xie Ruotong was indeed hard to persuade.
"That’s a pretty good excuse," Xie Ruotong said sarcastically. "Is that what Song Yanqing told you?"
"He wouldn’t lie. I trust his character," Gu Xingchuan rarely affirmed a person like this.
Even the Emperor, he had never made such a determination.
Naturally, this was because he harbored some deeply-rooted aversions towards the Emperor.
But ultimately.
The people Gu Xingchuan affirmed usually weren’t too bad.
Xie Ruotong lightly pressed her lips and didn’t refute.
"And he didn’t tell me on purpose. Once, when he and I both came out of the Emperor’s chamber palace, it was right at dinner time, so we ate together, sitting here in this spot. He only spoke after getting drunk, probably having held it in for many years, many years, never telling anyone before," Gu Xingchuan explained. "That night, he was truly unable to hold it in anymore, because he said that day was the anniversary of when the child in your belly miscarried. That appearance of his, was the loneliest and most desolate I’ve ever seen!"
Xie Ruotong remained indifferent.
She almost forgot she once carried a child for Song Yanqing.
Many things she didn’t want to remember, she would make herself forget.
"As for the matter of your grandmother’s death, he truly knew nothing," Gu Xingchuan said. "He said if he had known in advance, even if it meant falling out with the Prince of Chu in the end, he wouldn’t have let the Prince of Chu harm your grandmother."
Xie Ruotong’s eyes reddened slightly. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Not because of all those things about Song Yanqing, but because she remembered her grandmother.
"Regarding the matter of you forcing the Prince of Chu’s whereabouts, he didn’t tell you only because of his loyalty to the Prince of Chu. If you were adamant about knowing, he could betray all his beliefs, dignity, and conscience to become a traitor. But he clenched his teeth and didn’t say, only because he feared you would go to Beimu Country at all costs for revenge. Once you crossed the borders of Beimu Country, he knew too well the Prince of Chu’s cruelty. You would certainly never return!"
