Chapter 425: Arranging Marriage for My Beloved Official

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Master!” Princess Xiangyang stared at Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao smiled.

“I really don’t know what to do.

“Besides, feelings are two-way. You like Young Master Liu, but do you know how he feels about you?”

Princess Xiangyang was astounded.

“If I were you, I would first confirm whether Young Master Liu has the same thoughts.”

Now that things had come to this, only Liu Ling’s rejection could perhaps put an end to this girl’s thoughts.

Princess Xiangyang was silent.

After thinking for a moment, she nodded.

“That’s true. Perhaps Young Master Liu doesn’t know what I’m thinking,” she said.

At this point, she could not help but feel a little worried.

For some reason, she felt that perhaps Young Master Liu did not have the same feelings for her as she did for him.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoyao felt relieved.

When she saw that Princess Xiangyang was deep in thought again, she did not bother her anymore.

The horse carriage quickly entered the palace.

Before long, Qin Xiaoyao and Princess Xiangyang arrived at Empress Jia’s sleeping chamber.

“Empress Mother!” When she saw Empress Jia, Princess Xiangyang instantly became lively and ran towards Empress Jia.

Empress Jia also smiled and allowed her daughter to hug her.

“Greetings, Your Royal Highness!” Qin Xiaoyao also came forward and bowed.

“Marquis Xiaoyao, no need to stand on ceremony,” Empress Jia replied with a smile.

“Bestow a seat!” she then instructed the people beside her.

A palace maid immediately brought a stool over.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness!” Qin Xiaoyao once again cupped her hands before sitting down.

Empress Jia chatted with Princess Xiangyang for a while before telling her to sit at the side.

Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

“Marquis Xiaoyao, things have been going very smoothly for you recently,” she said with a smile.

Qin Xiaoyao was surprised.

“What does Your Royal Highness mean?” she asked somewhat quizzically.

Ever since she went to the Prime Minister’s residence, she had indeed been in contact with the officials in the court more often.

In addition, the business of her century egg workshop was getting better and better. The number of times she dealt with the nobles and officials in the court also increased.

Not surprisingly, she knew that Empress Jia was not that happy to see this development.

“I heard that Marquis Xiaoyao saved Lord Song and the Prime Minister’s adopted daughter a few days ago?” Empress Jia continued to ask with a smile.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” Qin Xiaoyao replied, acting as if she had no ulterior motives.

Empress Jia’s eyes flickered, and she finally stopped smiling.

Qin Xiaoyao’s expression became much more nervous.

“Your Royal Highness, do you… do you not like your humble servant to interact with Lord Song?” Qin Xiaoyao asked cautiously.

When she heard this, Empress Jia’s worries lessened a little.

After some thought, Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

“My beloved official, you are an important weapon of the state. With you around in the Great Jin State, the Emperor and 1 can feel at ease.

“An important weapon like you only need to deal with enemy states. Domestically, the Emperor and I do not wish to see you have any inclination towards any party.”

This was a very clear hint.

Empress Jia hoped that Qin Xiaoyao could remain neutral and only be loyal to the Imperial Court and not get involved in any factional strife.

Qin Xiaoyao’s expression changed momentarily.

“1 was negligent! However, Lord Song and 1 are honorable friends and our friendship does not involve military or political matters. Please don’t listen to the slanderous words of those with ulterior motives!” she said as she bowed to Empress Jia.

Empress Jia raised her eyes to look at Qin Xiaoyao.

She thought to herself that this Marquis Xiaoyao was truly a forthright person.

She had already made things so clear, yet Qin Xiaoyao still insisted she did not do anything wrong.

However, this was also what made people like Marquis Xiaoyao, wasn’t it?

When she thought of this, Empress Jia’s gaze softened somewhat.

“Lord Song has an extraordinary relationship with Minister Shen. Even if you are just honorable friends with him, in the eyes of outsiders, they may not think so.

“Others will only think that you, Marquis Xiaoyao, have gotten close to Minister Shen.”

Qin Xiaoyao’s expression changed at once.

Empress Jia continued, “When this happens, perhaps many people will follow in your footsteps and get close to Minister Shen. Such a development will be disadvantageous to the Imperial Court.”

“Moreover…” Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

“Moreover, you are a woman after all. If you get too close to Lord Song, it will affect your reputation.”

Qin Xiaoyao finally looked at Empress Jia.

“Your Royal Highness is right.

“I have not considered the consequences of my actions thoroughly in the past. In the future…”

“In the future, I will definitely keep my distance from Lord Song,” she quickly added.

The corners of Empress Jia’s mouth curled up as she nodded in satisfaction.

“There’s no need to deliberately keep a distance. Just don’t go so close to him,” she said.

She actually didn’t mind Marquis Xiaoyao and Song Rui getting intimate.

However, she did mind if Marquis Xiaoyao got too close to Minister Shen.

Or worse, if she simply joined Minister Shen’s camp.

After all, on the surface, Song Rui was still Prime Minister Shen’s man.

That was right. Empress Jia had already agreed to Jia Kun’s suggestion.

She decided to support Song Rui and find a suitable opportunity to let him replace Minister Shen.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness!” Qin Xiaoyao answered as she bowed.

Empress Jia was satisfied and nodded again.

“I’ve summoned you into the palace this time because I want to ask you something.”

Qin Xiaoyao raised her head and looked at Empress Jia with a puzzled expression.

“Your Royal Highness, please ask.”

The corners of Empress Jia’s mouth curled up. “When you first arrived in the capital, you told me and His Majesty that you had been looking for your husband.

“Is there any result now?”

Qin Xiaoyao was astounded momentarily.

She then immediately replied, “No.”

Empress Jia was not surprised. She obviously knew the situation.

“So many people have been searching for him, but there haven’t been any results after so long. My beloved official, have you ever thought that perhaps he has already…” Empress Jia did not continue.

Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered, and her expression suddenly became sorrowful.

“Your Royal Highness is right. My husband might not be around anymore.

“But if he’s alive, I want to see his person. If he’s dead, I want to see his corpse. I will continue to send people to search,” Qin Xiaoyao said.

Empress Jia looked at Qin Xiaoyao with some admiration in her eyes.

“Have you ever thought that if he’s really gone…”

Qin Xiaoyao was stunned for a while.

She did not answer for a long time.

Empress Jia glanced at Qin Xiaoyao and continued, “My beloved official, you are in the prime of your life and are currently holding a high position. Even if you want to remarry, I’m sure your in-laws will have no objections.”

She knew that Marquis Xiaoyao had brought her in-laws to the capital.

She also learned from Xiangyang that Marquis Xiaoyao treated her in-laws and her husband’s family very well.

Unfortunately, her mother-in-law was not used to the life of a wealthy family in the capital and suggested returning to Mountain Spring Town.

Marquis Xiaoyao had no choice but to arrange for them to leave.

Qin Xiaoyao got a shock.

“Your Royal Highness… what do Your Royal Highness mean by this?” A bad premonition rose in her heart.

Empress Jia smiled.

“I want to arrange a good marriage for you, my beloved official,” she said.

Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes widened at once.

“I wouldn’t dare to accept,” she hurriedly bowed to Empress Jia.

What the fuck! Her husband was still alive and well, and she loved him very much. What fucking good marriage was she talking about?

Her husband was a man. She could let it go if they kept shoving women into his arms.

However, she was a woman. Why were they also shoving men into her arms?

When she heard Qin Xiaoyao’s refusal, Empress Jia did not get angry. Instead, her smile grew wider.

“Don’t be in a hurry to reject, my beloved official. Why don’t you listen and find out who 1 have arranged for you?”

Qin Xiaoyao lowered her head and her face clouded over somewhat.

No matter who the hell she arranged, he could never be comparable o her husband.

Just as she was about to raise her head to refuse, Empress Jia spoke first..