Free Web NovelChapter 1397: Chapter 805: Qianyun’s Birthday (Part 3)
After finishing dinner, Xie Qianyun claimed to be physically exhausted and left.
Xiao Luming watched Xie Qianyun’s departing figure.
His expression seemed to show subtle emotional waves.
Xie Qianyun left the tent, thought about it, and went straight to her mother’s tent.
Inside the tent, Xie Ruotong was still discussing military matters with the Think Tank and other generals. After all, troops were soon to be dispatched, and before deployment, proper formation and strategy must be meticulously planned without a shred of negligence.
Everyone saw Xie Qianyun arrive and hurriedly paid their respects, "Greetings, Empress."
"It’s late, aren’t you resting yet?" Xie Qianyun asked.
The Think Tank, always understanding human relationships, quickly said, "Great General, it’s getting late. How about continuing tomorrow?"
Xie Ruotong glanced at Xie Qianyun and nodded in agreement.
So the Think Tank respectfully led the other generals out.
Seeing the others leave, Xie Qianyun, with a slight sulk, said, "Mother, it’s my birthday today."
"Isn’t it celebrated every year?" Xie Ruotong said with indifference.
Xie Qianyun pouted, saying, "Father didn’t come this year."
"Yes. The Emperor has told me your father is assisting the Supreme Emperor in governing the country."
"Don’t you miss Father?"
"The battle is imminent, there’s no time for other thoughts."
"That’s not true." Xie Qianyun exposed, "If you don’t miss him, why did you take out Father’s Jade Pendant?"
A keen eye noticed the half-exposed Jade Pendant placed in her mother’s embrace.
Xie Ruotong pursed her lips and did not refute further.
"Mother, I know the battle is near, but sometimes one should relax when needed. Father didn’t come this year. Shall I accompany you in drinking wine?" Xie Qianyun volunteered.
"We have to train soldiers tomorrow..."
"Just a little bit, I’ll be mindful." Xie Qianyun looked expectantly.
Xie Ruotong hesitated but eventually agreed.
Xie Qianyun smiled brightly.
She knew her mother was the type to be softhearted despite a stubborn appearance.
The two sat on the cushioned seat, with food and wine laid out.
"Promise me, after finishing this, no more drinking." Xie Ruotong spoke seriously.
"Got it." Xie Qianyun took the initiative to pour her mother a glass of wine.
The two first emptied a glass.
Xie Qianyun spoke, "Mother, why is the relationship between you and Father so profound? How did you come to love Father, and how did he love you?"
"Why ask all of a sudden?"
"I’m just very curious. Why can both of you be so in love, and it’s the same with the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager. Why is there not a bit of affection between me and Xiao Luming?" Xie Qianyun asked earnestly.
Xie Ruotong felt a slight stirring in her heart.
She agreed to Xie Qianyun’s entering the palace as Empress partly out of personal motives.
She had fought in wars at the border for many years, not saying she had any regrets, for serving the country and ensuring peace is a glorious thing, yet the years of hardship guarding the border, especially as a woman, the hardships she clearly knew, she did not want her daughter to follow her path, so agreed to Qianyun entering the palace.
If it weren’t for the imperial edict being irresistible, Qianyun would certainly have stayed on the border like her for life.
Yet deep down, she hoped Qianyun could live her life in peace.
She hadn’t really considered that there might be no affection between Qianyun and the Emperor.
The Emperor is certainly exceptional, beyond reproach.
But feelings are difficult to predict who will love whom.
Song Yanqing wasn’t the best.
Yet her feelings for him never changed.
Even though their past was filled with scars.
Moreover, the Emperor’s heart holds space for another, making it hard to say he would truly fall for Qianyun.
Qianyun wasn’t the kind of woman one would instantly fall for; she was too free-spirited.
"Do you resent Mother for sending you into the Imperial Palace?" Xie Ruotong asked.
She was somewhat emotionally touched inside.
"I don’t resent, you and Father had no choice." Xie Qianyun candidly replied, "The Emperor’s command, who dares to defy, risking a total clan extermination?!"
Xie Ruotong’s heart softened.
Xie Qianyun had never doubted them.
In fact.
If they wanted to refuse, it wasn’t impossible.
Considering the ties with An Ning over the years, considering Song Yanqing’s officialdom, Xiao Jinxing and Xiao Luming’s trust in him, refusing the marriage wasn’t hard, but Song Yanqing used tricks to persuade Qianyun.
"Don’t worry, Mother, though a bit unwilling, since it has come to this, I won’t do anything outrageous." Xie Qianyun assured, "I just really want to know if you and Father got feelings over time?"
