Drunk Bamboo

In Fu'an Palace, only the emperor, imperial concubine, Xiao Zhong and Xiao Bingxin were left.

The Queen knew that the Emperor would stay in Anfu Palace tonight to appease the Imperial Concubine, and there was no need for her to accompany the Emperor any longer, so she retreated as it was getting late.

At this moment, Xiao Bingxin was still half-kneeling beside Hua Qinming's bed, sticking close to the Imperial Concubine, unwilling to leave.

Xiao Zhong had a cold face and reminded in a deep voice: "Bing Xin, it's time to go."

Xiao Bingxin's face was filled with melancholy and sadness, and her heart was flustered and uneasy.

Everyone who saw her thought she was worried about King Wen.

But she didn't know that what she really cared about was something else.

Everyone has left, is this the end of it?

She had carefully planned what would happen tonight, but was it true that nothing could be changed? Would she still have to return to Xilin tomorrow morning?

No, she won't accept it!

Xiao Bingxin raised her head softly, tears in her eyes: "Dad, I want to stay and take care of Prince Wen."

A trace of kindness appeared in Xiao Zhong's eyes, and his voice became softer, and he said kindly: "We will return to Xilin tomorrow. King Wen is in the palace, and he is being taken care of by the imperial doctors and palace servants. You can't help here."

"Dad..." Xiao Bingxin looked at Xiao Zhong, but held the Imperial Concubine's hand tightly.

The Imperial Concubine naturally understood.

Their original plan was to keep Xiao Bingxin and make her Hua Qinming's woman.

And now the plan is developing in the direction they expected, that is, Xiao Bingxin has fallen completely in love with Hua Qinming and will remain loyal to him until death.

Of course, the mother and son were aware of the little actions Xiao Bingxin made tonight. They were just cooperating to achieve her goal, but in fact they were fulfilling the purpose of mother and son.

The Imperial Concubine gently patted Xiao Bingxin's cold hand, smiled gently, and said to Xiao Zhong: "General Xiao, Bingxin saved Ming'er's life. She is Ming'er's savior. It's getting late today. Why don't you rest in Fu'an Palace?"

Xiao Bingxin's face was filled with emotion, and she finally felt relieved. What she did tonight was not in vain. The Imperial Concubine regarded her as the savior of King Wen and was very grateful to her.

Xiao Zhong glanced at the emperor, whose face was calm and showed no emotion.

He glanced at Xiao Bingxin again and said steadily, "Prince Wen once saved Bingxin's life. Saving Prince Wen today is God's way of repaying Bingxin's kindness."

The imperial concubine looked at the emperor with a gentle face and said softly, "Your Majesty, Bingxin also fell into the water while trying to save Ming'er. Should she rest for a few days before returning to Xilin? What should we do if her body is injured?"

Xiao Zhong immediately refused: "Your Majesty, Bing Xin has been in good health since she was a child. This is nothing. She can go back to the post station, take a bath, and have a good sleep. She will be full of energy tomorrow. Thank you, Imperial Concubine, for your concern."

The Imperial Concubine was very considerate of Xiao Bingxin: "General Xiao, a girl is not a soldier under your command. She needs to be carefully cared for. Bingxin even sacrificed her own reputation to save Ming'er. This is more important than her life. If others knew about this, and if Bingxin's future husband's family knew about it, I wonder if Bingxin would be wronged?"

With a straight face, he said, "It's an emergency to save someone, so it's understandable. Bingxin's future husband's family will definitely not care."

The Imperial Concubine was helpless: "General Xiao..."

The emperor remained silent.

Seeing this, Xiao Bingxin took two steps back and knelt in front of the emperor: "Your Majesty, I love King Wen. I don't want to go back to Xilin. I beg Your Majesty to help me and King Wen!"

Daddy knew what she was thinking, but he was unwilling to fulfill her wish.

Then, she is the only one who can fulfill herself!

Xiao Zhong said angrily: "Bing Xin, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Xiao Bingxin raised her eyes and said firmly: "Dad, I want to stay in Zhongdu, I want to stay with King Wen, I don't want to go back to Xilin, and I don't like the marriage that Dad has arranged for me!"

His face was full of disbelief. Is this his daughter?

Even though she was willful in the past, she never disobeyed his wishes. But today, she dared to say such words in front of the emperor. Was she going to completely fall out with him? !

"Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler, and your words are as good as gold. You said that I saved King Wen's life, so I deserve a reward. I don't ask for any reward, I just ask Your Majesty to let me stay with King Wen, even as a personal maid, as long as I stay with him for the rest of my life. This is my only wish, please fulfill it!"

When Xiao Bingxin said this, Xiao Zhong was shocked.

Her eyes revealed grief and sadness: "You would rather stay in Zhongdu and be a maid than go back to Xilin with your father. Do you really not want your father and your three brothers?"

Xiao Bingxin's eyes were cold, completely different from her usual gentle and well-behaved appearance in front of others. Instead, she questioned her father Xiao Zhong:

"Except for my third brother, my second brother and my father, how many times a year can we come back to the mansion? Where were you when I missed you? Where were you when I was laughed at and unwanted? I am always alone in the mansion, even during the Chinese New Year. When we finally come back, we are either discussing border guard affairs or practicing in the martial arts field. Have you ever really cared about me? Do you know what I really like?"

"Dad, I like the bustling streets of Zhongdu, and I also like the prosperous high-rise buildings of Zhongdu. Dad, I said I didn't like that man and didn't want to marry him, but you still forced me to do it, and even came to Zhongdu just to take me back. Dad, you were the first one to stop loving me, and you were the first one to give up on me."

Xiao Zhong's body trembled and he retreated repeatedly.

"You...you don't understand Dad's good intentions..."

The sound was so soft that it seemed only he could hear it.

Both the emperor and the imperial concubine were shocked.

At this moment, Hua Qinming, who was lying on the bed, finally sat up slowly and asked in a low voice:

"You saved me at all costs?"

"Your Highness..." Xiao Bingxin held his hand tightly.

When the imperial concubine saw the two men staring at each other, she couldn't bear it and pleaded with the emperor:

"Your Majesty, Bingxin loves Ming'er, why do you have to separate them? I like Bingxin very much, and she saved Ming'er, and now they have physical contact, Ming'er can't be irresponsible. Why not help them be together?"

The emperor glanced at the dejected Xiao Zhong, the coldness in his eyes gradually dissipated, revealing a glimmer of light, and his expression was embarrassed: "I have already chosen a princess for Ming'er. If Bing Xin enters the palace again, she can only be a concubine. I am afraid that it will be unfair to the Xiao family."

The Xiao family army was famous in the western frontier, and the emperor was also full of fear. At first, he was unwilling to let the Xiao family's daughter marry into Zhongdu, because the Xiao family was powerful, and he was afraid that whoever gained this power would be a threat to him.

And now, Xiao Bingxin is so devoted to King Wen that she is willing to sever ties with the Xiao family and sacrifice her status and reputation.

What can Xiao Zhong do for his daughter?

It is not known whether he would surrender his military power for this.

Xiao Bingxin nodded suddenly: "Bingxin is willing, Your Majesty, Bingxin is willing to be the prince's concubine!"

Hua Qinming looked sad: "Bingxin, why are you doing this? Why do you have to wrong yourself?"

Xiao Bingxin was unwavering: "For the prince, Bingxin is willing to do anything."

The two hands are tightly clasped, full of affection.

The emperor sighed and lamented: "Alas... since you two love each other, why didn't you let me know earlier? The imperial decree has been issued, the Luo family's marriage is set, and it cannot be changed. General Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao Zhong has fought on the battlefield for half his life and has seen all kinds of scenes. Even though he was heartbroken, he quickly regained his composure.

"Your Majesty, I have failed to educate my daughter well. A girl cannot be kept in the family when she grows up. Since I cannot keep her, I just wish her the best of luck. The Xiao family has a family motto that men cannot marry concubines and women cannot be concubines. If she insists on staying in Zhongdu as a concubine, the Xiao family will no longer have this daughter."

Xiao Bingxin was stunned for a moment, then knelt down to say goodbye: "I am an unfilial daughter. I can no longer stay with Daddy. I hope Daddy is in good health and everything goes well."