Nan Xuzong earnestly added chopsticks and meat to Ji Wushang's plate, saying, "Come on, eat more." Sometimes, diverting her attention can change many of her thoughts.
Ji Wushang nodded, smiled, and then ate a few bites.
She looked at Nan Xuzong, then at the people around her. By this time, Emperor Zhou and Consort Ning had left, and the ministers were becoming more unrestrained and unruly.
"So many beautiful women are trying to get close to you, aren't you tempted?" Ji Wushang leaned against Nan Xuzong, a smile in her eyes. She had just seen several ministers bring their daughters over! Each of those girls was as beautiful as a flower, with soft, delicate skin! Although she herself was beautiful, she was now a married woman, and the beauty of her virginity was gone.
Nan Xuzong thought she was jealous, so he thought about how to explain it. She knew her own attitude, but when he saw the playful look in Ji Wushang's eyes, Nan Xuzong had a different thought.
He pulled Ji Wushang closer, his thin lips near her ear, "Do you really want to know why?"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, her eyes sweeping over others. She saw many young ladies from official families looking at her and Nan Xuzong. Ji Wushang blushed and immediately thought of pushing Nan Xuzong away, but Nan Xuzong had already grasped her slender waist, not letting her leave even an inch.
"Don't hold any grudges against me if I tell you this." Nan Xuzong coughed lightly to himself, feeling embarrassed by his own words.
"I promise I have no prejudice against you." How dare he say such a thing to her again? Ji Wushang looked at him, "Tell me quickly, I want to hear it."
"Are you just going to listen here? If others hear my reasons, I... well, I probably really won't be able to live my life anymore." Nan Xuzong's face showed a hint of embarrassment.
It seems I shouldn't have put myself in this difficult position.
Nan Xuzong only then began to regret his actions.
"Just keep your voice down." Ji Wushang was intrigued and didn't care what he meant!
Huangfu Xuan and Ma Ruyi were drinking with the ministers, paying little attention to what was happening on their side. Nan Xuzong looked around at the people, realizing that not becoming the crown prince was a wise decision! Otherwise, he would have been surrounded by a huge crowd, which would have been incredibly difficult!
Nan Xuzong made sure that not many people were paying attention to him and Ji Wushang before saying in a deep voice, "Do you remember what I said to Father Emperor at noon?"
"You said you only like my control, and you're not interested in those women for the time being." Ji Wushang smiled; these words truly made him ecstatic. He only liked his control…
"Um, well, don't you understand yet?" Nan Xuzong blushed and turned his head away so that others wouldn't see his extra expression.
Ji Wushang narrowed his eyes. What did that mean? He wasn't quite sure himself.
"What do you mean?" Ji Wushang nudged him. "You're talking strangely."
Nan Xuzong composed himself. "Yes, she's only a little over fifteen years old. She doesn't know much about men... Let's not go into that, shall we?"
Ji Wushang looked at his expression and felt it was very strange. "What is it?" Seeing that it was ineffective, she had no choice but to use her coquettish skills.
Any woman can use that kind of coquettish skill. Nan Xuzong, watching the petite woman in front of him act coquettishly, instantly softened. Just as he was about to speak, a voice unexpectedly said, "Fourth Imperial Brother, Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law, may I offer you a toast?"
Ji Wushang was startled and immediately stopped making a fuss. He got off Nan Xuzong and sat down next to him. Nan Xuzong had been playing around with Ji Wushang, but this incident made him very unhappy!
Nan Xuzong glanced at Huangfu Lan in front of him, his phoenix eyes narrowing. "Seventh Princess, you have quite the refined taste, but it's best not to drink too much!"
"Fourth brother's words are wise, Lan'er will remember them." Huangfu Lan bowed, her face becoming even more charming as she spoke.
Ji Wushang raised his wine glass. "Thank you, Seventh Princess."
"Don't drink too much," Nan Xuzong said, taking the wine glass from Ji Wushang's hand. "Your sister-in-law is not feeling well, please understand that she can't drink. I'll drink it for her." Nan Xuzong then drank the wine in his glass.
Huangfu Lan smiled and said, "Then Fourth Brother, please take good care of Fourth Sister-in-law." She said politely and then drank the wine in her mouth.
Nan Xuzong nodded. Seeing this, Huangfu Lan turned and left.
Ji Wushang watched Huangfu Lan leave, shrugged, and thought, "How dare Huangfu Lan interrupt my intimacy with Nan Xuzong? Really!" But then he thought, "I don't know how to restrain myself either. This is the main hall..." He straightened his clothes again and sat down properly.
Seeing her expression, Nan Xuzong knew what she was thinking. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about we go back to the manor?"
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded immediately upon hearing this.
At this moment, Huangfu Xuan, along with Ma Ruyi and a group of ministers, all came to Nan Xuzong's side.
Nan Xuzong was slightly taken aback, but Huangfu Xuan, who had a wine cup in his hand, stepped forward with a smile and said, "Fourth Imperial Brother and Fourth Imperial Consort have made great contributions today, I would like to toast you!" He raised the wine cup in his hand.
The ministers immediately followed Huangfu Xuan's example and toasted Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang had just picked up her wine glass when Nan Xuzong placed one hand on her waist and took her wine glass with the other, placing it on the table. He then picked up a glass of fruit wine and placed it in Ji Wushang's hand, saying, "Wushang, you're not feeling well, so you shouldn't drink alcohol. Drinking this fruit wine is good for your health." He then picked up a glass of wine from the table.
Ji Wushang looked at him and said, "You shouldn't drink too much either."
"Fourth brother's wife, don't worry, the fourth prince will definitely not get drunk." Huangfu Xuan smiled.
Ji Wushang pursed his lips.
Nan Xuzong smiled. These ministers couldn't refuse, so he simply drank a cup of wine and that was it.
"The Fourth Imperial Consort is unwell. I wonder if she is pregnant with a prince?" Just then, someone suddenly blurted out this question in the quiet.
Immediately, everyone around looked at Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang's face showed surprise and embarrassment, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer. The little prince... she had thought about it too, but Nan Xuzong should know better than her that her body hadn't shown the slightest movement yet.
Nan Xuzong smiled brightly and pulled Ji Wushang directly to his side. "It'll be soon." His tone was somewhat cold, and those two words were enough to express his current mood.
The surrounding ministers dared not utter another word, but Huangfu Xuan smiled and said, "Fourth Prince, you're really not in a hurry at all. Why should we outsiders be so anxious? Come, let's drink!"
“Yes! Yes!” The surrounding ministers immediately echoed.
Nan Xuzong coldly glanced at the people around him, while Ji Wushang tugged at his clothes and lowered his head without saying a word.
His expression changed slightly as he looked at the wine, then he poured it directly into his mouth.
Everyone looked on in surprise. Had they really offended Nan Xuzong this time?
Huangfu Xuan smiled and naturally finished his drink.
People around them saw this and followed suit.
Nan Xuzong glanced at Huangfu Xuan. Now that Huangfu Xuan had gotten what he wanted, there was no need for Nan Xuzong to stay. If Huangfu Xuan dared to break the agreement, then someone would naturally deal with him!
"I'm a little tired, so I'll head back to the manor first! You all continue!" Nan Xuzong snorted lightly, took Ji Wushang's hand, and immediately walked outside.
Those around them looked at each other in bewilderment, while Huangfu Xuan waved his hand and said, "Alright!"
Ignoring everyone else, Nan Xuzong led Ji Wushang out of the palace.
"You're unhappy," Ji Wushang said after they got into the carriage.
“They bullied you,” Nan Xuzong sneered.
"That's not true." Ji Wushang smiled and tugged at his arm. "Don't be angry, it's okay!"
"Hmm." Nan Xuzong gave a light hum. "This is outrageous. I will definitely talk to my third brother about it."
Even if you become the crown prince, you can't make fun of yourself!
You absolutely must not make any jokes about Ji Wushang, you must not say anything that is detrimental to her, and you must not say anything that might make her overthink!
I know she feels the same way I do! If anyone brings up the child again, I will definitely not let them get away with it!
Ji Wushang leaned over to examine his face, his eyes wide open. "Now that your third brother is the crown prince, you'd better avoid provoking him!"
Nan Xuzong remained silent.
Seeing his silence again, Ji Wushang could only change her position and snuggle into his arms. She already knew enough about his attitude.
“How about I select a few women for you to be your concubines, Cong? Even if you’re really not interested in them, at least it will be a good opportunity for Father and the others to see them,” Ji Wushang suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Nan Xuzong suddenly started coughing, "Cough, cough, cough... cough!"
"What's wrong?" Ji Wushang asked in surprise, immediately turning around to pat his chest. "Cong?"
"Cough cough!" Nan Xuzong choked, his face turning bright red. He looked at Ji Wushang and said, "You, you're trying to choke me to death!"
"What?" Ji Wushang exclaimed in surprise, his face turning deathly pale.
Did you want to choke him to death?
"No, I misspoke." Nan Xuzong shook his head. "What I meant was, what you just said really choked me. From now on, for the sake of your husband's life, please don't say those things again, understand?"
Ji Wushang looked at him, puzzled, and shook her head. Had she really offended him with what she just said?
Nan Xuzong took a deep breath and then exhaled, "What you just said, wouldn't that be a waste of several women's youth? I don't favor them, so wouldn't that just add a few more resentful women to my household?"
Nan Xuzong shook his head, then reached out and gently pinched Ji Wushang's nose. "You don't know how many resentful women there are in the palace now. Some entered the palace at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Some were lucky enough to be favored by the Emperor and become concubines, but what about many others? They didn't receive the Emperor's favor and lived a lonely life in the palace until their hair turned white. What a waste! I don't want to be like that! Having you is enough for me!"
"But you know what I'm worried about." Ji Wushang thought about raising his voice, but in the end he softened. He had already clearly told himself not to mention such things.
Nan Xuzong shook his head. "Things are different now." He smiled and pulled her into his arms. "I can feel your health improving."
"Really?" Ji Wushang asked tentatively. He had taken some kind of calming pill, but only when he remembered. He'd already forgotten whether it even worked. Sigh!
“Yes.” Nan Xuzong nodded firmly. “Besides, I’m not the Crown Prince, and no one will be able to shoulder any important responsibilities in the future. Do you understand what I mean?” He smiled and looked at Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang nodded.
"Um, and also, I just remembered, you didn't mention that reason or what." Ji Wushang looked at him, knowing that he was no longer angry. Now, it was just the two of them in this space, and the coachman was Gong Shu. Gong Shu always knew the inside story perfectly well, and when he was a coachman, he would automatically press his listening acupoints, which meant that he couldn't hear Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang's intimate conversation at all!
If anything happens, Nan Xuzong will release Gong Shu's acupoints remotely and then make him do his job.
Nan Xuzong glanced outside to make sure no one was around, then turned to Ji Wushang with a slight smile, but mostly... a blush? Ji Wushang was extremely curious. Was he blushing?
"Speak quickly!" Ji Wushang was completely uninhibited in his arms, rushing forward to hug him.
Nan Xuzong coughed lightly, then leaned close to her ear, "Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Hurry up." Ji Wushang glared at him. Why was he keeping her in suspense like that?
"Ahem, listen carefully. I'll only say it once, um, just once." Nan Xuzong seemed to be going all out, so he figured he might as well try to appease her. He genuinely didn't know if it was true or not; in any case, if he hadn't tried it, it was true!
That's enough, it's enough to stop her from overthinking!
"I'm listening carefully," Ji Wushang said seriously.
"I only have those feelings for you, understand?" Nan Xuzong whispered ambiguously in her ear.
Ji Wushang's eyes darkened, and his face flushed. What was that? He must be lying to himself!
Seeing the change in her expression, Nan Xuzong had no choice but to continue in a deep voice, "You don't believe me?"
"How would I know?" Ji Wushang's face flushed red. How could he have brought up such a private topic? But then he realized he was the one who brought it up first...
Ji Wushang turned her face away, not wanting him to see her face.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?" Nan Xuzong smiled and pulled her into his arms. "It's true." He whispered in her ear, "So, let's not waste other women's youth."
"Mmm." Ji Wushang buried her head in his chest and stopped looking up.
This man said he only has feelings for me, how embarrassing.
Nan Xuzong's lips curled into a smile. Was he completely under Ji Wushang's thumb?
That's enough, that's enough for now.
Hopefully, she can forget about killing Empress Yao.
I will never forget her terrified face! I haven't thought things through enough; there are always so many unexpected events impacting both of us!