"Where were you last night?" Xie Qianmo's face was dark.
Last night he met Qin Yun, but he couldn't admit it!
His Imperial Uncle seemed very opposed to him meeting Qin Yun!
"Imperial nephew went nowhere last night, I was in the palace the whole time!"
Xie Qianmo said nothing, just staring coldly at Xie Jingan!
Xie Jingan felt uncomfortable under his gaze!
Early this morning, the dog hole in the backyard had been filled in!
That meant his Imperial Uncle definitely knew he had snuck out last night!
His lie to his Imperial Uncle just now was completely unnecessary! His Imperial Uncle knew everything!
Xie Jingan knelt down, lowered his head, and let his gaze fall. "Imperial Uncle, I was wrong, Imperial nephew did leave the palace last night!"
"Where did you go?"
Xie Jingan froze in place! Unsure how to answer.
"Do you need me to answer for you?" If looks could kill, Xie Jingan would have died countless times by now!
Kneeling on the ground, Xie Jingan felt the air around him was bitingly cold!
But he wouldn't mention Qin Yun at all!
He was afraid that if his Imperial Uncle was unhappy, he might take it out on Qin Yun! After all, his Imperial Uncle's temper was always unpredictable!
Xie Qianmo's brows were knitted together in a frown!
What exactly was this boy hiding?
After returning to the palace from the hunt yesterday, he had been distracted.
During the hunt, Qin Yun was injured because of him. Out of guilt, he had snuck out in the middle of the night to check on her. Although it went against his wishes, he shouldn't have hidden it.
But this boy wouldn't mention anything about last night!
Xie Qianmo asked tentatively, "What did you do to Qin Yun last night?"
Upon hearing Xie Qianmo mention Qin Yun, Xie Jingan's head shot up. "Imperial Uncle, you know everything?"
"Tell me, why did you sneak out to see her last night?"
Xie Jingan was confused!
If his Imperial Uncle knew he had snuck out of the palace, why didn't he send people to catch him then?
Instead, this morning he increased the guards watching him and had someone fill in the dog hole.
And now he was questioning him?
Why was his Imperial Uncle's efficiency delayed?
"Qin Yun was injured, and it was my fault. Out of guilt, Imperial nephew was worried and went to see her!"
Worried?
Xie Qianmo keenly seized upon the sensitive words in Xie Jingan's statement!
He knew very well what kind of person this boy was!
Not to mention going out in the middle of the night to care for someone!
After some thought, Xie Qianmo didn't ask any more questions!
"You are not to go anywhere for the time being, stay in the palace!" After speaking, Xie Qianmo left!
Xie Jingan slumped to the ground!
Just now, as his Imperial Uncle left, he clearly felt that his Imperial Uncle was angry again!
Which sentence did he say wrong? He really couldn't remember!
His Imperial Uncle hadn't said how many days he was confined, so was he going to stay here forever? He would die of boredom!
Thinking that he couldn't see Qin Yun, Xie Jingan's lips pouted!
After leaving Xie Jingan's sleeping quarters, Xie Qianmo did not return to his Jingxin Hall or the imperial study!
He went directly to the Empress Dowager's Ci'an Hall!
In Ci'an Hall!
The Empress Dowager looked at Xie Qianmo with a benevolent smile. "Your Majesty, what wind brings you here today?"
Xie Qianmo sat beside the Empress Dowager, and the sensible maids quickly served various pastries and tea!
Xie Qianmo picked up his teacup and said casually, "Nothing, just taking a stroll!"
The Empress Dowager smiled. "Your Majesty is usually a busy man. I am happy that you can come to see this old woman today!"
Xie Qianmo took a light sip of tea and then placed it back on the table. "Why don't I see Miss Miao? I heard she has been in the capital for some time, and I came specifically to see her!"
The Empress Dowager was surprised and asked softly, "Your Majesty, are you here to see Yan'er?"
"I heard that Miss Miao has grown up to be graceful and beautiful, and I am very curious. I also wish to get a glimpse of her beauty!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked!
Who didn't know that the current Emperor was not close to women? He had so many beautiful women in his harem, yet he hadn't taken a fancy to any of them!
Could it be that the Emperor liked women who were slightly plump?
"Your Majesty, do you really want to see Yan'er?" The Empress Dowager was a bit confused!
She wondered: Did the Emperor fancy Yan'er? But she had planned to keep Yan'er for that boy Jingan!
If the Emperor truly fancied her!
This would be difficult!
Xie Qianmo lowered his face, displeased. "Is it so difficult for me to see someone?"
Seeing that Xie Qianmo was angry, the Empress Dowager quickly smiled. "It's not difficult, not difficult!"
She looked at Jin Momo beside her and said, "Go and call Yan'er!"
"Yes!"
A moment later!
Miao Yan'er, led by Jin Momo, slowly arrived at Ci'an Hall!
"This humble daughter greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years, and may the Empress Dowager live for a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand times a thousand years!"
"Rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Miao Yan'er slowly stood up, feeling a little scared!
"Lift your head!"
Miao Yan'er stood awkwardly and lifted her chin!
Miao Yan'er's figure was not slender, but not fat either!
All in all, she was very full-figured!
Xie Qianmo looked at Miao Yan'er meaningfully, a smile on his lips. "Not bad, you have a unique charm, I like it very much! Unlike other women, who only have bones and no flesh!"
As soon as he said this, not only was the Empress Dowager stunned, but Miao Yan'er was also shocked!
Did the Emperor... take a fancy to her?
The Empress Dowager beside her also began to panic!
The Emperor really fancied Yan'er! What should she do?
The maids and servants attending in the hall were also extremely shocked: So the Emperor liked this kind of taste!
No wonder those women with curvaceous figures, slender waists, and long legs were not to his liking!
It was because he liked plump women!
Miao Yan'er looked at the Empress Dowager for help!
She liked her cousin. Although the Emperor was handsome and of noble status, and she would be the most honored woman in Da Zhou if she became his Empress, she was afraid!
She still felt that her cousin was the best! Her heart had been set on her cousin since childhood!
Receiving Miao Yan'er's plea for help, the Empress Dowager also found it difficult!
She didn't know how to bring up this matter!
Xie Qianmo saw their subtle movements the entire time!
The corners of his mouth curved up!
Before the Empress Dowager could speak, he preemptively asked, "Is Miss Miao betrothed?"
The Empress Dowager and Miao Yan'er exchanged glances, and the latter quickly said, "Yes!" Her tone was clearly a little anxious!
"Oh? But I haven't heard of it. I wonder which young master has such good fortune!"
The Empress Dowager smiled awkwardly. "It's that boy Jingan! Yan'er and Jingan are cousins. They often played together when they were young, and they can be considered childhood sweethearts!"
"This time, I let Yan'er come to the capital from afar precisely for the marriage between Jingan and Yan'er!"
Xie Qianmo felt a surge of joy, but his expression was one of dejection, as if he had lost a great treasure!
"Why haven't I heard about this matter?"
"I thought Your Majesty was busy with state affairs, so I didn't want to bother Your Majesty with such a small matter!"
Xie Qianmo looked directly at Miao Yan'er and asked, "Miss Miao, what are your thoughts on Jingan?"
"Or tell me directly, do you have feelings for Jingan?"
Miao Yan'er clasped her sleeves tightly, as if she had made some decision. "This humble daughter has feelings for the Second Prince. I beg Your Majesty to grant the marriage!"
Miao Yan'er knelt down, her head bowed low!
Xie Qianmo was very satisfied with Miao Yan'er's reaction. "Is that so? If that's the case, I will grant you the marriage! But...?"
"Your Majesty, please speak freely!" the Empress Dowager said softly.
"Jingan is, after all, the Second Prince of our Da Zhou. Although Miss Miao is a distant relative of the Empress Dowager, her status is still a bit lacking!"
"Does Your Majesty mean Yan'er cannot be the main wife?" The Empress Dowager frowned. "This is not acceptable, Yan'er must be the main wife!"
Xie Qianmo smiled. "To be the main wife, one needs a respectable status!"