webnovelfull Chapter 279 Keep your word
Chapter 279 Keep your word
Chapter 279, Keeping Your Word
Ling Jun looked at the servants of the Prince An's mansion, "You will be Xie Kang's slave for life, never to rise again!!!"
The man looked up in disbelief.
He lived a carefree life as a servant in the Prince An's mansion.
But what if I became Xie Kang's servant...?
Xie Kang is no longer a general; he is now just a commoner.
Then he's just a commoner's servant!
Moreover, he was a servant personally bestowed by the Emperor, and could never leave Xie Kang for the rest of his life!
Then he... has no way out at all.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
He crawled toward Ling Jun, but was stopped by the palace servants beside Ling Jun.
"Fufeng, you can all get up now." Ling Jun's voice softened as he spoke to Tian Tian.
The future daughter-in-law has been kneeling for more than half an hour now.
The Empress kept giving him meaningful glances; if he didn't let his daughter-in-law get up soon, he was afraid the Empress would nag him again.
"Let's depart! Return to the palace!!"
Tian Tian helped Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou up, and then turned around and helped Lu Tao and Liu San Niang up as well.
The family held hands tightly together.
Ling Jun took a few steps toward the palace gate, then suddenly stopped.
Everyone fell silent and looked at him.
"If anyone ever again makes unwarranted speculations about a woman's innocence, she can file a lawsuit against the authorities!! Regardless of the reason, she will be given twenty strokes of the cane!!"
The people, especially the women present, all knelt down, shouting, "Your Majesty is wise!! Long live the Emperor!!"
*
Return to the Princess's Mansion.
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang sat in the main seats, while Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, and Qin Youyou sat on either side.
Qin Qingyun stood in the middle.
"Qin Qingyun, what brings you to the capital?" Tian Tian asked. "Didn't you say you were going back to your sect?"
Qin Qingyun, holding his sword, said, "The matter is settled."
“But our contract has expired.” Tian Tian raised an eyebrow.
He wanted to repay a debt of gratitude, but she disagreed.
Later, she made a promise with him that she would repay his kindness by serving him for three years.
If you do the math, it's been three years since the Lunar New Year.
“Since the time is up, you don’t need to follow us anymore,” Tian Tian said.
Qin Qingyun looked up in surprise, then reluctantly glanced at Tian Xiang.
Tian Xiang was a little annoyed and turned her face away.
Tian Tian glanced at Tian Xiang, then at Qin Qingyun...
I felt there was something strange about the relationship between the two of them.
"Big sister, am I right?" Tian Tian asked Tian Xiang.
Tian Xiang said, "Tian Tian is right!!"
"Young Master Qin stayed to repay a debt of gratitude, and the agreed three-year period has now come to an end."
"In that case, Young Master Qin, there's no need for you to stay any longer. Go and attend to your own business."
She was furious!
They've already arrived in the capital, but they won't come out.
He saved her, but she discovered him and he's still hiding.
Since you don't want to meet, then... just don't stay.
Qin Qingyun: "Young lady..."
Tian Tian immediately stopped her, "Young Master Qin, since we are no longer cooperating, you can no longer call me 'Big Sister'."
"It's better to call her Princess Qingping."
Qin Qingyun was obedient and immediately changed her address to "County Princess".
"We agreed on a three-year period, but strictly speaking, there's still one month left."
Tian Tian frowned. "Is that so?"
She recalled carefully...
They rescued Qin Qingyun shortly after the New Year, and he didn't reappear until a few months later.
If you calculate it that way, it might not actually be time yet...
"There's no need to calculate so strictly..." Tian Tian muttered.
Qin Qingyun insisted, "A man of the martial arts world keeps his word!!"
"Heh..." Tian Tian chuckled, "Whatever you want."
Qin Qingyun, carrying his sword, slowly approached Tian Xiang and, just as he had done in Baishi County, stood protectively behind her.
Tian Xiang turned her head away, unwilling to look at him.
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang smiled awkwardly.
Tian Xiang's matter has been resolved...
Lu Tao thought that since Tian Tian had finally been able to get out, she should quickly tell her about another matter as well.
"Sweetie, there's something else."
"The third master of the Cui family, a few days ago, brought the young master of the Cui family, Cui Mingyi... to propose marriage to Youyou."
"Look at...this matter..."
Tian Tian looked at Qin Youyou, who had been suddenly mentioned, and her face showed embarrassment and annoyance.
"Let's talk about this after I've finished dealing with Oden's matter."
As she said this, Tian Tian kept an eye on Qin Youyou's expression.
It was obvious that the girl was momentarily disappointed.
However, since Cui Mingyi has already proposed marriage, the marriage is practically a done deal, if not a done deal.
Tian Tian is now more interested in Qin Qingyun and Tian Xiang's relationship.
Tian Xiang's reaction today... is strange.
Moreover, Qin Qingyun... had already returned to his sect, yet he still made a special trip to the capital.
She wouldn't believe it if you said it was nothing.
"Everyone must be tired today, Mother, Aunt Liu, you should go back and rest too." Tian Tian stood up and took Tian Xiang's arm before she could leave.
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang were not only tired, but also in pain, especially their knees.
The two helped each other leave...
Tian Tian then added to Qin Youyou's message, "Third sister, there's no rush for your marriage to the Cui family. Once your second sister returns from Yutian, she will definitely make the decision for you."
"Go back and rest."
Qin Youyou curtsied, "Yes, eldest sister, second sister, then Youyou will go back to the courtyard first."
She also looked at Tian Xiang with considerable sympathy.
Tian Tian and Tian Xiang returned to the courtyard, with Qin Qingyun following them the whole way.
Just as he was about to follow them into the courtyard...
Tian Tian suddenly turned around, "Young Master Qin!!"
“The capital is not like Baishi County; men from outside the family are not allowed in the backyard.”
"Let alone getting into the county magistrate's courtyard."
"You...you should go back to the front yard. I'll have someone arrange a place for you to stay."
Qin Qingyun looked at Tian Xiang, but Tian Xiang turned her face away.
Having no other option, he turned and left.
Once inside the courtyard, Tian Tian sat down and poured herself a cup of tea, and also poured one for Tian Xiang.
She tilted her head back and drank a cup, but Tian Xiang didn't move. Instead, she held the teacup thoughtfully.
"Big sister?" Tian Tian stared at Tian Xiang and called out softly.
Tian Xiang looked up, "Sweetie."
Tian Tian rested her chin on her hand, looking her over. "Big sister, what are you thinking about?"
Tian Xiang felt inexplicably guilty. "I... I wasn't thinking anything..."
"Didn't you think about it?" Tian Tian didn't believe her. "Then why are you blushing?"
Tian Xiang subconsciously looked up, but when she saw Tian Tian's teasing gaze, she didn't know whether to continue touching her cheek or put it down.
"Sweetie, you..." In the end, she put her hand down and continued to hold the teacup.
Tian Tian grabbed her hand, forcing her to put down her teacup and look at Tian Tian.
"Big sister, I've noticed you've been ignoring Qin Qingyun. Are you angry with him?" Tian Tian asked directly.
There were no secrets between her and Tian Xiang.
As early as the day she left the palace for Tian Xiang, Tian Xiang told her about Qin Qingyun's help to her.
Tian Tian knew that Qin Qingyun would keep an eye on Xie Kang after learning about the rumors he had spread, to prevent him from doing anything detrimental to Tian Xiang.
Today's events have made that a reality.
Qin Qingyun did not disappoint her.
However, because he didn't come out to see his older sister right away, she's angry now.
If Tian Xiang only sees Qin Qingyun as a bodyguard, why is she angry?
Tian Tian now suspects that Tian Xiang has developed subtle feelings for Qin Qingyun... through subtle influence.
However, it hasn't been revealed yet.
Tian Tian wanted to... push him a little.
Tian Xiang spoke softly, "I'm not angry."
Tian Tian felt that her expression didn't seem like it; she was clearly annoyed.
"Big sister, he insisted on repaying a debt of gratitude, and I only kept him with great difficulty."
“We are all women after all... It was wrong of us to keep a man of unknown origin by our side.”
“Back when we were in Baishi County, the people didn’t care that much.”
"But now that we're in the capital, things are different from Baishi County."
“Especially...you are still a county princess now.”
"Qin Qingyun absolutely cannot stay by your side."
Tian Xiang looked up and gently bit her lip.
"But he insists on staying... Sister, why don't you go and talk to him and ask him to leave?"
Taking advantage of Tian Xiang's hesitation, Tian Tian continued to persuade her...
"Big sister, although there's still a month until the agreed-upon time..."
"Let him leave when his time comes."
"But the Cui family has proposed marriage to Youyou. What if they find out that we have a male relative living outside our household..."
Tian Xiang's expression hardened. Yes, she wasn't the only one in the Princess's mansion.
If Qin Qingyun staying behind affects Youyou, or even Tiantian...
Tian Xiang then began to seriously consider it.
Whether it's Youyou or Tiantian, she absolutely cannot let her two younger sisters be influenced by her.
Besides, Sweetie is destined to be the future Crown Princess.
"I'll go talk to him and tell him to leave!!" Tian Xiang suddenly stood up and walked quickly outside.
Tian Tian stood up and slowly followed her out.
The two people, one after the other, arrived at the front yard.
Tian Xiang happened to run into the butler in the front yard. "Butler, where is Young Master Qin's residence?"
The steward pointed to a spot, "Princess, Young Master Qin's accommodations have been arranged over there..."
Tian Xiang ran in that direction...
Just as the housekeeper was about to leave, he ran into Tian Tian again.
"The county lord."
Tian Tian waved her hand, "Housekeeper, you can go about your business."
Although the butler was puzzled, he still walked away.
Tian Tian followed Tian Xiang.
Qin Qingyun's residence was a room in the corner next to the left wing of the front yard.
He had just put down his bag and was about to tidy up...
"Young Master Qin." Tian Xiang has arrived.
"Young lady!" Qin Qingyun looked up in surprise, "County Princess..."
Tian Xiang calmed herself down and walked up to him, "Young Master Qin..."
"Princess," Qin Qingyun replied, "Is there something you need?"
Tian Xiang took a deep breath. "Young Master Qin, it is really inappropriate for you to stay in the Princess's residence. In my opinion, you should leave."
Qin Qingyun's face instantly fell.
He hadn't expected that Tian Xiang's special visit was actually to ask him to leave.
“Princess…you…” He hesitated for a moment, “Not even for one month…?”
Tian Xiang shook her head, "Tian Tian is about to marry into the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Prince's consort, and the Cui family has just proposed marriage to Youyou..."
"And then Xie Kang's incident just happened..."
"Our family's reputation is already..."
"If you stay in the princess's residence, I'm afraid it will affect their marriage."
"So..." Tian Xiang was also in a dilemma, but no matter how difficult it was, she didn't want to affect her two younger sisters. "You should leave."
After saying that, Tian Xiang turned to leave.
Qin Qingyun realized that if she went to the inner courtyard, he wouldn't be able to get in, so he grabbed her in a panic.
"Young lady," he still habitually called her.
Tian Xiang stopped. "Let's go. You are a person of the martial world."
Qin Qingyun hesitated, not letting go of her hand, "I..."
"I have already bid farewell to my master upon my return..."
Tian Xiang suddenly turned around, "What?"
She frowned in surprise, "Saying goodbye to your master? What do you mean?"
Qin Qingyun slowly lowered his hand. "The young lady has come to the capital... I should go with her..."
"But your promise to Tian Tian is not long, so why do you have to go back to say goodbye to your master?" Tian Xiang asked, frowning.
Her gaze finally landed on Qin Qingyun's face.
She remembered that when Qin Qingyun came to them to repay their kindness, he must have been two years older than her.
So now... he should be twenty-three.
He's matured a lot since three years ago...
But in other people's eyes, he can still be called a boy.
She, however, was already a divorced woman who had given birth to two children.
Thinking about her delusions, well, they were really delusions.
"I..." While Tian Xiang was sizing up Qin Qingyun, he was also sizing her up...
When he was seriously injured and on the verge of death, he glanced at her in his hazy state and has kept her in his heart ever since.
After searching for so long, he finally found her in Baishi County and stayed by her side in the name of repaying her kindness.
Because he had a three-year agreement with the second young lady, he waited silently, thinking that when the three-year agreement was up, he would express his feelings to her.
He would stay if she responded.
If not, he will leave.
But before the three-year agreement was fulfilled, they arrived in the capital.
He thought again, "She went to the capital, and her status has changed."
His wishful thinking may never come true.
But he can still protect her...
But now, she's telling him to leave.
This is the last chance.
"I bid farewell to my master because I wanted to... protect you forever..." Qin Qingyun mustered his courage and revealed all his thoughts.
Tian Xiang was stunned.
"Young lady, I... have been protecting you all this time, and I've long since... developed feelings for you." After saying this, Qin Qingyun was no longer so nervous.
But I felt extremely uneasy.
This feeling is different from the feeling of tension, yet... it's hard to tell the difference.
"I want to always protect you..." He hurriedly finished saying everything in his heart.
"Young lady, what... are you thinking?"
Tian Xiang didn't dare look him in the eye...
His head was getting lower and lower...
Her heartbeat was so erratic that even she couldn't stand it.
"I..." Her eyes darted back and forth across the ground, unable to find a fixed spot.
"I..."
“I have two children,” she said.
"I..."
Qin Qingyun replied, "Of course I know."
Having been by her side for so many years, he knows everything about her.
"I...I will treat them well," Qin Qingyun added.
Tian Tian stood not far away, a smile playing on her lips...
This Qin Qingyun, I really can't tell.
She was still wondering when the unspoken understanding between the two of them would finally be revealed, but then...
Qin Qingyun immediately saw through it!
Not only did they expose it, they also stood there waiting for Tian Xiang to make a statement.
Tian Xiang leaned against the wall with great interest, waiting for Tian Xiang's answer...