CHAPTER 696: CHAPTER 282: BAI MOWAN’S JEALOUSY (SECOND UPDATE)

"I won’t pressure you," Ye Qichi said. "Tell me your answer when you’ve thought it through."

"Hmm."

"Don’t worry, even if you don’t submit to Prince Chen, I will do my best to ensure your safety," Ye Qichi stated bluntly.

In Song Yanqing’s eyes, a clear surprise was evident.

For some reason, Ye Qichi treated him this way.

He should have been dead by now.

People related to the Chu King would be sentenced to death for treason.

"Do you know how many top scorers Daxuan Kingdom has had so far?" Ye Qichi asked.

Song Yanqing, of course, knew.

Including him, merely five.

"So, it would be a pity to die like this," Ye Qichi remarked.

Song Yanqing pursed his lips.

"Heaven has granted you remarkable talents for a reason; they should not be wasted carelessly," Ye Qichi said with a light smile, "Rest well and talk once your wounds have healed."

Having said that.

Ye Qichi then left.

Someone like Song Yanqing, she was well aware, was not easily persuaded.

He believed that in his life, he could only remain loyal to one person.

Even if the Chu King has fallen, he wouldn’t immediately pledge allegiance to the Chu King’s archenemy.

He couldn’t accept it mentally.

But many things can be resolved over time.

With time, many things become clear.

There’s no need to rush.

Besides, the talents Xiao Jinxing wants are for a lifetime, not just for the moment.

Ye Qichi, accompanied by Little Wu, left Prince Chen’s Mansion and went to the Imperial Palace.

She went straight to Xiao Jinxing’s sleeping quarters.

As she entered, she saw Xiao Jinxing asleep on a couch, with Bai Mowan sitting next to him.

Bai Mowan’s shoulder was lent to Xiao Jinxing, who leaned on it and slept peacefully.

Ye Qichi glanced at them.

She felt that entering now would be a disturbance to them.

Though it was just a glance, she could see the unhappy look in Bai Mowan’s eyes.

She turned and left.

"Ye Qichi." Suddenly, Xiao Jinxing’s voice came from behind her.

Ye Qichi paused in her steps.

She didn’t think she had made any noise, so how did he wake up?

They say a dog’s nose is keen, don’t they?! How come his ears are so sharp too?!

She turned back, "If you’re tired, you should continue resting. I’ll come to find you later."

"Just closed my eyes for a bit, feeling much better now," Xiao Jinxing replied, his body already sitting up straight.

Bai Mowan, seeing Xiao Jinxing shift away from her shoulder and speaking to Ye Qichi so, felt somewhat unhappy.

"What did Song Yanqing say?" Xiao Jinxing asked directly.

Seeing that Xiao Jinxing was in good spirits, Ye Qichi did not make any excuses.

She approached Xiao Jinxing and said, "Song Yanqing has reservations; he won’t pledge his loyalty to you so soon."

Xiao Jinxing nodded.

He had anticipated as much.

If Song Yanqing were to compromise so quickly, he wouldn’t be someone Xiao Jinxing valued so highly.

"Why must we keep Song Yanqing?" Bai Mowan said, "I know of Song Yanqing’s overflowing talent, and I understand that big brother Xiao is currently desperate for talent. But after all, he is a man of King Chu, I’m afraid using him could lead to dissatisfaction among other court officials."

"I’ve considered these concerns as well, but Song Yanqing truly is a talent worth keeping," he replied.

"I believe that in Daxuan Kingdom, there are many others talented like Song Yanqing. Once the situation stabilizes next year, big brother Xiao could hold another imperial examination..."

"Xiao Jinxing’s desire to keep Song Yanqing is not just because he is talented—naturally talent is important and wasting it is a pity. The most crucial reason is to show his magnanimity before the court officials. If he can even retain the most trusted person of Xiao Jinsen, then naturally it demonstrates his broad-mindedness. Comparatively, officials and the populace would prefer to see a kind-hearted emperor rather than a tyrant who ruthlessly purges out of vengeance," Ye Qichi said plainly, "Under the current circumstances, Xiao Jinxing should be more intent on winning over the people’s hearts!"

Bai Mowan stole a glance at Ye Qichi.

Her heart felt even more uncomfortable.

The considerations that Ye Qichi could think of, she hadn’t thought of at all.

Of course, the more important reason was that she now instinctively, uncontrollably resisted Ye Qichi.

Many things Ye Qichi said, she habitually wanted to argue against.

"What Ye Qichi said is true," Xiao Jinxing explained to Bai Mowan.

It was just an explanation.

There was no hint of mockery toward her.

Yet, at this moment, Bai Mowan felt unbearably embarrassed.

She bit her lip.

She comforted herself by thinking that Ye Qichi could only have considered all these because Xiao Jinxing had already discussed it with her beforehand.

Otherwise, Ye Qichi couldn’t possibly have thought of these things.

"As for Song Yanqing, just keep him for now," Ye Qichi said, "Even if he doesn’t submit to you for the time being, he certainly won’t go to Xiao Jinsen, he poses no harm while being of potential use."

"Hmm," Xiao Jinxing acknowledged.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now," Ye Qichi concluded and prepared to leave.

"Wait," Xiao Jinxing called out to her, asking, "Did you see Hezhen in the mansion?"

"So, you also know that your sister frequents the mansion?"

"I’m quite busy too," implying that he had no time to manage these affairs.

"I did see her," Ye Qichi said, "She was taking care of Yuan Wenkang, looking very intimate."

Xiao Jinxing’s expression visibly darkened, and he commanded, "Xiaowu, go call Hezhen to me."

"No need to call for her, I’ve told her everything that needs to be said. Hezhen is not one to act on impulse. Once she understands the consequences, she won’t be so willful," Ye Qichi looked at Xiao Jinxing, "Don’t pressure her with your authority, nor should you interfere too much in Hezhen’s affairs. External meddling in matters of affection is very likely to backfire, leave it to them to handle. Anyway, I think Hezhen is now just fixated, once she truly moves on, she’ll realize who she really likes."

Xiao Jinxing pursed his lips, signifying agreement.

"Anything else?" Ye Qichi really didn’t want to intrude any further.

It certainly wasn’t jealousy.

It was just that she found the situation irksome.

"News from the border has arrived that Beimu Country is restless," Xiao Jinxing shared the military matters with Ye Qichi.

Bai Mowan pursed her lips, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

Talking to Ye Qichi about court affairs, she could endure.

After all, Ye Qichi had married Xiao Jinxing and been by his side for so long, naturally knowing many things. Xiao Jinxing consulting her, she could understand.

But when it came to matters of war, Ye Qichi was just a military doctor who had participated in one battle, yet Xiao Jinxing seemed to share everything with her.

"What then?" Ye Qichi wasn’t in the mood to care about what Bai Mowan was thinking.

She just wanted to know what Xiao Jinxing was really thinking.

"I must personally go to the border to fight," Xiao Jinxing stated plainly.

"To keep external threats at bay, we must first secure internal stability," Ye Qichi reminded.

"Beimu Country is eyeing Daxuan’s current instability as an opportunity to strike. If Beimu succeeds, Daxuan will also be in peril," he continued.

Ye Qichi nodded.

Xiao Jinxing’s reasoning was indeed sound.

Now, with the border conflict, Beimu Country having suffered a defeat last time will certainly have learned its lesson. Moreover, Beimu starting a war now clearly aims to catch Xiao Jinxing off guard while he is preoccupied.