Chapter 165:I Will Request The Emperor To Grant Our Marriage
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Looking at Lin Mengyao, who was standing by his side, Xiao Junhao spoke softly.
“Your Highness, this is what I should do. You don’t need to thank me.”
Hearing Xiao Junhao’s words, Lin Mengyao quickly spoke up.
Xiao Junhao said nothing more but began to look around subconsciously, his eyes finally falling on his coat. Sensing his focus, Lin Mengyao inquired in a gentle voice, “Your Highness, are you looking for something?”
“I’m a bit thirsty, Yao Er, could you pour me a glass of water?”
“Sure, please wait a moment,” she said.
Moving from the bedside to the table. Watching her back, Xiao Junhao picked up his coat and felt inside, pulling out a ruby ring.
He stared at the ring, his hand clenched tightly around it.
“Your Highness, please drink some water,” Lin Mengyao called, returning to his side.
Hastily hiding the ring under the blanket, Xiao Junhao allowed her to help him drink. After a few sips, he gestured that he was done.
Setting down the teacup, Lin Mengyao softly asked, “Your Highness, were your injuries caused by Eldest Miss Jiang of the Jiang family?”
“Not entirely because of her, but it has something to do with her,” he replied.
When he thought of the man who had stabbed him, Xiao Junhao subconsciously felt that the man was Xiao Nanye even though he had covered his face. At the thought of this, his expression turned gloomy again.
“Yao Er, there’s something I need your help with,” he said, leaning over to whisper in her ear.
“Alright, I will ask the Princess for help,” she nodded, her eyes filled with tenderness.
“It’s no trouble, Your Highness. It’s my honor to be able to help you.”
Looking at Lin Mengyao, Xiao Junhao was reminded of Jiang Peihuan, though she was never as gentle as Lin Mengyao, forever appearing cold and sharp.
“Your Highness?” Lin Mengyao’s voice broke his reverie.
“Hmm?”
“Your Highness, your injuries are severe. I’ll stay here to take care of you for the next few days.”
“Alright, have Pei Wu arrange a room for you,” he agreed without hesitation, adding, “Your Highness, please rest well. I’ll go change my clothes and come back to see you later.”
“Okay,” Lin Mengyao acknowledged, standing up. As she turned to leave, the tenderness in her eyes vanished, only to reappear when Xiao Junhao called after her.
“Yao Er?”
“Your Highness?”
“As soon as my injuries heal, 1 will request the Emperor to grant our marriage.”
“Your Highness?” Lin Mengyao’s eyes widened in surprise, then filled with unbridled joy. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
With Lin Mengyao’s departure, Xiao Junhao was left to study the ruby ring, his eyes clouded with conflicting emotions.
Meanwhile, at Qing’s Mansion, Jiang Peihuan remained oblivious to these unfolding events.
When the morning light filtered into the room, Jiang Ruyun knocked gently on Jiang Peihuan’s door. “Elder sister?” she called.
Jiang Peihuan, who had just risen from bed, answered calmly, “Come in.”
“Elder sister, you didn’t encounter any danger yesterday, did you?” Jiang Ruyun’s eyes were filled with concern as she entered the room.
Recalling Xiao Nanye’s visit the day before, she had been frightened, fearing something had happened to her sister. Only late at night, when she heard from Lan Er that Jiang Peihuan had returned safely, had she been able to breathe a sigh of relief. If it hadn’t been so late, she would have come over last night, but this morning, she could wait no longer.
Seeing her sister’s worry, Jiang Peihuan smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. There was a little issue yesterday, so I was late.” She kept to herself the details of what Xiao Junhao had done, especially since she hadn’t been the one at a loss.
“That’s good,” Jiang Ruyun said.
“Do you plan to tell Second Uncle and Second Aunt about the Cao family?” Jiang Peihuan posed the question as they sat down in the small flower hall.
Jiang Peihuan regarded her for a moment before speaking. Jiang Ruyun’s silence was a thoughtful one, and after a pause, she looked up to say, “Elder sister, I don’t want to tell Father and Mother about this for now. And I believe that after this incident, if I ever have a conflict with Old Madam Cao, Brother Cao will protect me.”
Jiang Ruyun’s reflections on the previous day’s events had brought her understanding. She couldn’t have everything, but she considered herself fortunate compared to her future mother-in-law, Madam Cao. At least Cao Jun would stand by her, something Madam Cao hadn’t had in facing Old Madam Cao all those years.
Jiang Peihuan simply nodded, respecting her sister’s wishes regarding her own marriage. But she couldn’t help adding, “After you marry into the Cao family, if anything really happens, you must tell us at home.”
“I know,” Jiang Ruyun affirmed, aware that her marriage was postponed due to not wanting to offend Xiao Nanye, which had led to the postponement of both hers and Jiang Peihuan’s weddings.
“Eldest Miss, Miss Liu has arrived,” Yue Er announced, interrupting their conversation as she entered the small hall.
Jiang Peihuan set down her teacup and spoke softly, “Let her in.”
Moments later, Liu Xin, accompanied by a maid, entered the room, bowing to the sisters and smiling. “I didn’t know the Second Young Miss was here with Sister Jiang. I’m sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s no problem. Come sit,” Jiang Peihuan replied graciously.
Liu Xin nodded, smiling, but her eyes flitted to Jiang Ruyun involuntarily. The glance did not escape Jiang Peihuan, who remained silent.
Jiang Ruyun, however, addressed Liu Xin directly, her voice soft. “Miss Liu, i was rude before. I especially want to apologize to you here.”
Liu Xin’s eyes widened, filled with surprise. “Second Miss, please don’t say that.” Her confusion was evident, hinting at an underlying tension and the unspoken matters that lay between them..