CHAPTER 593: CHAPTER 190: SLIPPED FETUS (SECOND UPDATE)

Ye Qichi was taken aback.

So it’s not that you are afraid of complications.

You just worry about Bai Mowan and don’t want to do anything else.

However, suffering a defeat in battle.

Indeed has a significant impact on the court.

If foreign enemies really invade the Central Plains, the people will suffer again.

In severe cases, it could even force the Daxuan Kingdom to change rulers.

Considering it concerns the Xiao Family’s reign, it’s understandable why Xiao Jinxing’s mood is bad right now.

"So yesterday you suddenly left because your father summoned you to discuss the border issue," Ye Qichi finally understood why Xiao Jinxing left in such a hurry.

She thought Xiao Jinxing just simply disliked Anqi.

She couldn’t help but sigh.

She had hoped to spend a few more days with Anqi.

Seeing Xiao Jinxing’s current state, she dared not bring it up.

"My father now intends to choose between me and Xiao Jinsen to go to the border," Xiao Jinxing said deliberately.

He didn’t hide anything from Ye Qichi anymore.

Ye Qichi suddenly realized.

No wonder Xiao Jinxing appears to be heavily burdened today.

"So do you want to go or not?" Ye Qichi asked.

It must be very conflicting.

Once you go,

it’s uncertain how many years before you can return.

The border conflicts can last long, maybe ten or eight years.

Even the shortest are measured in years.

That is to say,

once he leaves, many matters in the court will be out of his control.

Perhaps,

upon his return,

Daxuan Kingdom might already have changed hands.

So for a prince who wants to seize power, not going is definitely better.

Staying put would truly secure control of the court.

But what Xiao Jinxing is conflicted about is that if he doesn’t go, he would be abandoning Bai Mowan.

After all, Bai Mowan has stayed at the border all because of him.

Now that the border is engulfed in war, and Bai Mowan is in danger there, abandoning her wouldn’t sit well with him, and if Xiao Jinsen went, it would likely lead to unfavorable outcomes for Bai Mowan, which Xiao Jinxing certainly couldn’t accept.

This dilemma is what makes Xiao Jinxing so hesitant.

"If you’re asking for my opinion, I think..." Ye Qichi said, "It’s better to go to the border."

Xiao Jinxing’s eyes tightened.

"Standing before national interests, naturally, state affairs should be prioritized, protecting the homeland is what a prince should embody," Ye Qichi spoke sincerely.

But to Xiao Jinxing’s ears right now.

It felt like sarcasm.

"That’s one point. The second is, your departure now is the perfect time for Xiao Jinsen to reveal his true colors, you should give Xiao Jinsen a chance to make mistakes, without it, the two of you will just keep at this stalemate, how long... ten or eight years?"

Truth be told,

she thinks Xiao Jinxing can wait.

But she cannot wait.

Ending the battle sooner would also allow her to leave earlier.

"And there’s another reason," Ye Qichi finished, not getting a response from Xiao Jinxing, she continued on her own, "I believe that now, Bai Mowan must be waiting for you at the border. If she ends up meeting Xiao Jinsen instead... just think about how disappointed she would be."

Xiao Jinxing’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The first two reasons only caused Xiao Jinxing to show a cold expression.

Speaking of Bai Mowan.

Seemed to make Xiao Jinxing show a hint of human warmth.

After all.

Xiao Jinxing never expressed his final decision.

Ye Qichi did not inquire further.

Sometimes, perhaps the decision is not entirely in Xiao Jinxing’s hands!

...

Princess Xiao Qinghui passed away.

The nation mourned.

According to Daxuan Kingdom’s rites, the elder princess was given a grand funeral.

Duke Mansion ultimately placed the elder princess’s spiritual tablet in the central position, and everyone knelt on the ground, bowing in worship.

The funeral ended.

Only then did Xie Ruotong leave the Duke Mansion.

Xie Ruilin and Xie Ruiyao had left earlier.

She was the last one to leave.

As she left, she took a deep look at the great gate of the Duke Mansion.

Without her grandmother.

This place would no longer be her home.

She got into the carriage.

In the carriage, Song Yanqing was also present.

As the grandson-in-law, with her grandmother’s passing, he too had observed the mourning throughout.

For several days and nights.

Now, he too leaned wearily against the carriage, drowsy and almost asleep.

Xie Ruotong hadn’t slept these past few days either.

From her grandmother’s death until now, she hadn’t closed her eyes.

The moment she did, her grandmother’s face appeared before her eyes.

She feared she would breakdown.

So, she kept forcing herself to stay up, suppressing her feelings.

"Cough cough." Xie Ruotong coughed twice.

Trying to control it.

But she couldn’t.

Song Yanqing, who had fallen asleep, was awoken by Xie Ruotong’s coughing.

In fact, Xie Ruotong had been coughing not just now but seemed to have been coughing for a long time.

Watching her frail body kneeling every night in the auditorium, everyone else would rest, yet she remained, utterly still.

Several times he wanted to give her a coat to wear.

Yet he forced himself to hold back, pretending indifference.

He should not feel pity for Xie Ruotong.

Xie Ruotong was only in such pain because she had lost a loved one.

Once this was past.

She would not be so pitiable.

The carriage fell silent again.

They reached the Song Residence.

Song Yanqing’s body had truly reached the summit of exhaustion; feeling he could sleep even while standing, he didn’t stop for a moment and let Mu Dong assist him to Xie Ruotong’s room to sleep.

Xie Ruotong slowed her pace.

Leaving the Duke Mansion.

It was as if she were a walking corpse.

Her mind still full of her grandmother.

She suppressed her inner emotions.

Her steps suddenly paused.

She saw Xie Ruilin standing before her.

Her complexion seemed not too well either.

Xie Ruilin, being pregnant, had returned to the Song Residence two days earlier.

Xie Ruotong glanced at Xie Ruilin.

She wanted to walk past her without stopping.

She didn’t want to see Xie Ruilin, not even a glance.

But in that moment of leaving.

Xie Ruilin suddenly grabbed Xie Ruotong.

Xie Ruotong’s eyes tightened.

She felt disgusted by Xie Ruilin’s proactive approach.

Just the thought of her grandmother’s possible death being caused by Xie Ruilin...

Xie Ruotong directly shook off Xie Ruilin’s hand.

Only shaking it off.

Without pushing her away in the slightest.

But in that moment she took action.

Xie Ruilin directly fell to the ground.

Just like that, suddenly collapsing to the ground.