Chapter 1598: Chapter 1591: Xie Qingyi’s Beloved

"If you dare lead the Crown Prince astray, I will have Daddy break your legs when we get back!"

Xie Qingyi slapped Xie Qingyou firmly and admonished him to be more careful with his words.

Xie Qingyou shrank his neck, acting like a scolded obedient child, "Understood, sister."

At home, he is afraid of neither Father nor Mother, only his straightforward sister.

Seizing the opportunity of this palace visit, Xie Qingyi brought a piece of news to Qin Muyan.

Upon seeing her memorial, Qin Muyan’s imposing eyebrows fiercely knitted together, "Marquis Li’s Mansion, they even dare to meddle in the affairs between Beiling City and Great Wei?"

"Your servant does not understand the intention of Marquis Li’s Mansion, but logically speaking, any messages from Beiling should reach the emperor first. Even if they are to be conveyed to the harem, this is not the proper protocol," Xie Qingyi mentioned the incident of Rong Yun’s childbirth.

Rong Yun was startled by a maidservant from Beiling into labor. At that time, just when Nurse Yan and the others were not around, fortunately, there was Wei Mingze, who promptly rushed to find the court physician and the midwife, saving the lives of mother and child.

Although the Beiling maidservant took her own life, the incident was not without a trace.

Qin Muyan furrowed his brow, "This childbirth incident with Rong Yun, was it Li Yunshu who played a part?"

Xie Qingyi pursed her lips, speaking very tactfully, "Your servant merely feels that this matter requires further detailed investigation. However, the standing of Marquis Li’s Mansion is now even higher, and after Your Majesty’s defeat of Prince Zhao, his military power is still in old Marquis Li’s hands."

This was probably the reason for Li Yunshu’s arrogance.

Marquis Li’s Mansion was her powerful supporter.

Qin Muyan’s hand, holding these letters, clenched into a fist, "Old Marquis Li has worked himself to the bone for Great Wei, suffering injuries in battle. Now he is still recuperating at home, and it would be inappropriate for me to take action at this time."

Should he handle Li Yunshu now, it would cause distress if something happened to old Marquis Li, possibly alienating a group of elderly officials.

"Your servant is simply reporting to the emperor. How to handle the situation is for the emperor’s sage judgment," Xie Qingyi knelt down without any sign of dissatisfaction with Qin Muyan’s words.

"There is one thing I would like to ask for your assistance with, are you willing to help?" Qin Muyan gazed intently at Xie Qingyi.

Xie Qingyi’s long lashes trembled slightly, without speaking.

Qin Muyan sighed, "It’s somewhat unfair to you, but at this moment, I cannot think of a better solution."

Xie Qingyi remained silent, and Qin Muyan had no choice but to continue, "Jingjing is simple-minded, and I fear she may not be able to firmly hold the position of the master of the harem on her own. Shunshun is being raised in the palace, and although Nurse Yan and Wei Mingze look after her, I fear they may not be strong enough. After the empress’ coronation ceremony, I will follow the advice of the courtiers and expand the harem.

When the time comes, would you be willing to enter the palace as a concubine, to support me and Jingjing?"

Xie Qingyi took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Her heart felt desolate; Qin Muyan had finally spoken these words.

Seeing that she had not responded, Qin Muyan pursed his lips, "I know it’s tough on you, to help Jingjing and to offend Li Yunshu. Perhaps you will endure much hardship, but I know you are clever..."

"So the emperor wishes to use my cleverness to protect the empress, to balance the harem, asking me to sacrifice myself for the peace of the harem, is that it?"

Xie Qingyi raised her eyes.

In that instant, Qin Muyan was taken aback.

In Xie Qingyi’s eyes, he saw a woman’s transparency and wisdom, as well as her anger and struggle.

Even though there is not a trace of anger on her face at this moment, she makes it very clear to him that she is angry, unwilling, and resistant.

Qin Muyan silently lowered his head, "If you are unwilling, let it be. I will not force you."

He knew full well that this was to let Xie Qingyi spend her life in obscurity within his harem.

"But the Xie Family and Marquis Xie’s Mansion cannot afford that the nobleman’s daughter is unwilling." Xie Qingyi smiled, her lips tilting downwards, a desolate smile appearing on her beautiful and extraordinary face.

"Now that Father has been stripped of his military power and has lost his influence, Qing You, as the legitimate son, lacks the capability. If the nobleman’s daughter does not enter the palace, the glory of the Xie Family cannot continue. Even if there are other branches of the Xie Family holding office in court, what can they do to support the Xie Family? How can they compare to having a prince or princess of Xie bloodline to solidify the family’s status?"

Xie Qingyi’s thoughts were even more thorough than Qin Muyan’s anticipations.

The honor and disgrace of the family were deeply ingrained in her bones.

Xie Qingyi’s eyes were cool, "This nobleman’s daughter should thank the emperor for giving me this opportunity, so in the future I can still uphold the glory of the Xie Family. I am willing to enter the palace, to protect the empress for the emperor and to smooth the path in the harem."

With her words finished, she deeply bowed before Qin Muyan.

Qin Muyan felt a pang of pity, recalling the friendship they shared since childhood, he asked her, "Do you have someone you hold dear? If you want to marry him, I can promote his rank and give him important duties."

This way, the Xie Family could also rise to prominence again.

"A person I hold dear..." A soft, tender look appeared in Xie Qingyi’s eyes as if remembering something, "Yes, there is."

"Who is this young master?" Qin Muyan thought that whoever Xie Qingyi favored and pledged her heart to must surely be someone highly capable.

"He is General Xue Haoling, the vanguard under Father’s command. Before setting off on a campaign, he promised me that he would do his utmost in battle to protect Great Wei’s Realm and, after achieving merits on the battlefield, he would come back to marry me. Later... he died."

"Died?" The hands resting on Qin Muyan’s knee unconsciously clenched into fists, his heart suddenly weighed down.

Tears welled up from the corners of Xie Qingyi’s eyes, "Yes, he died. Father said that when he led the troops to recapture the capital, Haoling was the first to climb the city walls, he killed the guards, seized the military flag, and opened the city gates to let Father’s forces in, he was the bravest man. But I know he was worried about me...

He was concerned that I would be harmed by the enemy troops in the capital, so he fought desperately to rush back. I should have been able to see him one last time, but he was too anxious. Father said that Haoling couldn’t hold on until he got to the ancestral temple; he passed away at the foot of the mountain. At that time, I was only three miles away from him."

She closed her eyes, as if she could still smell the stench of blood on Xue Haoling.

Pierced by numerous arrows, covered in wounds, flesh separated from bone.

That was the last time she saw Xue Haoling.

He achieved his battle honors, but sadly, he could no longer marry her.

It was the first time that Qin Muyan saw Xie Qingyi cry, and her manner of crying was unique; she did not look like Rong Yun, who would have tear stains all over her face, looking pitiful.

The thin lines of tears on Xie Qingyi’s face lightly traced down, the weight of the tears falling made one’s heart heavy.

Qin Muyan handed her a golden-yellow handkerchief, "If you wish, after the empress’ coronation ceremony, I will have the Ministry of Rites include you in the selection list. From then on, Jingjing will have to rely on you for guidance."

Xie Qingyi took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, "Yes, this nobleman’s daughter thanks the emperor for his graciousness, and I will fully commit myself to fulfill the tasks entrusted by the emperor."

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