Upon hearing this, Pei Qingci’s eyes dimmed. She raised her head to look at Xiao Lin, her tone unprecedentedly calm:
“Your Highness, regarding the incident of falling into the water during the boating trip last time, I have already made it clear that Miss Su issued the invitation first, and it was she who lost her footing and fell into the water—it was not my doing. Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you.”
The pride in her bones would not allow for defilement.
Luo Luo immediately chimed in: “Mother has the softest heart; she’s even willing to give hot meals to beggars on the street. How could she push someone into the water?”
The system had told her that the villainess Su Yu was a master of disguise—a “white lotus” who specialized in using the “self-injury ploy” to gain sympathy and frame her mother.
She was the worst!
Empress Dowager Rong also said sternly: “Lin’er, I too do not believe Qingci would commit such an improper act. I have watched Qingci grow up since she was a child and know well that her nature is pure and kind.”
Xiao Lin’s icy gaze swept over Pei Qingci’s exquisitely beautiful face, which he found detestable.
“One may know a person’s face but not their heart. Last time, she ‘kindly’ gave Yao Yao some rouge and powder, and after using it, Yao Yao developed large red rashes on her face. How do you explain that?”
Once, he too had thought she was a dignified and gentle lady from a respectable family. Now, it seemed she was nothing but a venomous snake in disguise.
Ming Xue could no longer stand by and watch. Her eyes reddening with anxiety, she stepped forward to plead:
“Your Highness, please see reason! My lady has never given Miss Su any cosmetics! Last time on the boat, it was also Miss Su who enthusiastically invited my lady, and my lady found it hard to refuse out of courtesy.
When the boat reached the middle of the lake, Miss Su lost her footing and fell into the water herself. How can you baselessly accuse my lady of harming her?”
Xiao Lin snorted coldly, paying no heed.
Pei Qingci’s eyes quickly welled up with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
“If Your Highness has made up your mind and insists on breaking off the engagement, then please make it official before the Empress Dowager today. Tomorrow, I will return the marriage certificate to the Duke’s residence.”
She had once adored him, had once placed him at the pinnacle of her heart, but her dignity would not allow her to be treated so contemptuously.
She would rather die than admit to those baseless accusations!
Luo Luo stood on her tiptoes and clumsily yet carefully used her sleeve to wipe the tears from the corner of her mother’s eyes.
“Mother, don’t cry! Foolish Father is the worst! Luo Luo will teach him a lesson for you!”
Action followed words!
Before the words had fully left her mouth, the little dumpling had transformed into an angry little cannonball, charging toward Xiao Lin’s cloud-patterned black leather boots.
Taking a deep breath, she mustered all her strength and stomped down hard.
“Take that for bullying Mother! Take that for being blind and not knowing who’s good and who’s bad!”
One stomp wasn’t enough to vent her anger, so she followed with several more heavy, rhythmic stomps.
The expensive black leather boots, embroidered with gold thread, were instantly covered with clear, tiny footprints and dust.
Today, she was determined to stomp some sense into this unreasonable foolish father!
“Tsk!”
Though in pain, Xiao Lin also found it absurd.
This little girl actually packed quite a punch.
Luo Luo puffed out her cheeks, clenched her little fists tightly, and glared at him fiercely.
“Foolish Father! You made Mother cry. Hurry up and apologize to her! You have to make Mother happy again. Otherwise… otherwise, Lady Luo Luo will never forgive you!”
Comfort Pei Qingci?
It was simply a fantasy.
Xiao Lin coldly swept his gaze over Pei Qingci’s tear-streaked face, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
He brushed off nonexistent dust from his robe sleeves, then turned to the Empress Dowager and bowed. “Mother, your son takes his leave.”
Empress Dowager Rong watched her son’s retreating figure and could only sigh helplessly.
“Lin’er, if you continue like this, there will come a day when you will deeply regret it.”
“Your son’s mind is made up, and there is no turning back.”
Xiao Lin’s tone was resolute. Without looking back, he swept his robes aside, turned, and strode out of the hall with large steps.
Luo Luo hugged her mother’s leg tightly again, rubbing her little face against the brocade fabric.
“Mother, don’t cry. Just wait—Luo Luo will definitely make Foolish Father come and kowtow to apologize. Don’t be sad, Mother; it’s not worth crying over Foolish Father!”
Pei Qingci felt a warmth in her heart. She bent down and gently touched Luo Luo’s little face.
“Don’t worry, Luo Luo. Mother isn’t sad.”
Luo Luo, like a little adult, imitated the grown-ups and patted the back of her mother’s hand.
“Alright, Mother, Luo Luo has important business to attend to now. I’ll visit you at the Duke’s residence another day.”
She suddenly remembered what had happened during the day and complained pitifully.
“Today when Luo Luo went to find you, those people actually wouldn’t let me in and even chased me away!”
(ˇ﹏ˇ)
As she spoke, her eyes genuinely reddened, and her little nose sniffled.
Pei Qingci instantly understood—the child the servants at the residence gate had been gossiping about, the one who tried to barge in and got chased away, was actually Luo Luo!
“My dear Luo Luo, from now on, whenever you want to come, just walk right in through the main gate. Mother will definitely be waiting at the entrance to welcome my precious baby.”
“Really? That’s great! Thank you, Mother!”
Xiao Luoning’s mood instantly turned from overcast to clear. She bounced up and down on the spot a few times, then turned and waved her little hand at Empress Dowager Rong on the Phoenix Bed.
“Grandmother! Luo Luo is leaving now, going to teach Foolish Father a lesson!”
Empress Dowager Rong couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright, go on then. In this world today, I’m afraid only you, little devil, can tame your stubborn father.”
Luo Luo nodded vigorously, placed her chubby little hands on her hips, and puffed out her chest with determination.
“Foolish Father needs to be disciplined! He must be taught a hard lesson!”
After declaring her “bold statement,” she set off with her short little legs, rushing energetically after that dark figure.
Seeing her scoundrel father’s tall back just ahead, Luo Luo trotted to catch up, huffing angrily:
“Foolish Father! You made Mother shed golden tears again today. Luo Luo is very, very angry! I’m not talking to you today!”
Xiao Lin’s steps didn’t pause. He glanced down at the little dumpling beside him, who was puffed up like a small teapot.
“Do you like her that much?”
Luo Luo nodded emphatically. “I like Mother the most! Even more than the stars in the sky—a hundred times more!”
She paused, remembering reality, and her little head drooped dejectedly.
“Future Father also likes Mother the most. It’s just this current Foolish Father… Hmph!”
Xiao Lin’s steps faltered slightly.
His future self… would actually love Pei Qingci?
It was simply preposterous!!
The sun’s shadow slanted.
On the white jade steps, the Chief Eunuch stood bowing, holding a horsetail whisk, just managing to block the leisurely strolling Regent Xiao Lin.
“Your Highness, blessings upon you.”
The Chief Eunuch’s voice was shrill yet extremely respectful. “His Majesty requests your presence.”
Xiao Lin’s eyebrows rose slightly. “His Majesty?”
The Chief Eunuch bent even lower, the hair at his temples nearly touching the gold-threaded cloud-patterned tips of his shoes.
“Yes, His Majesty mentioned that it has been a long time since he last played chess with Your Highness. Hearing that you were in the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, he specifically ordered this humble servant to wait here and invite Your Highness to come.”
Xiao Lin was the Great Qian’s unparalleled War God, the legitimate son of the late Emperor Rong and Empress—the heaven-ordained, indisputable candidate for the throne.
However, on his deathbed, the late Emperor, doting on the Fourth Prince Xiao Chong, had with one edict turned the world upside down, forcibly placing the Dragon Throne into the hands of a concubine’s son.
Yet, everyone in the court knew that the rise and fall of the empire ultimately could not bypass the tiger tally and vermilion brush in Regent Xiao Lin’s hands.
Throughout the palace, all who saw him held their breath and remained silent.
His robe sleeve tightened. Xiao Lin looked down to see an adorable, jade-like little pink dumpling clinging to the intricate gold-threaded python pattern on his sleeve, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling.
“Daddy, let’s go, let’s go!
ε==(づ′▽)づ
Her little head tilted, revealing two small bunny teeth.