I traveled through time just for the jade hairpin, I never wanted to be the queen

"Yes." Shi Hui readily agreed, walked up to Ling Junqi and gestured with his hand.

"Mr. Ling, please."

Ling Junqi was flattered when he heard this, and waved his hands hastily, "Your Highness, I cannot bear it."

"Go ahead. In the future, as long as you work hard for me, you will be rewarded." He Tingxi smiled faintly.

"But..." Ling Junqi still felt something was wrong.

"Master Ling, don't hesitate. You have done a great thing today, and His Highness should reward you. Let's go and get the reward." Shi Hui advised.

Ling Junqi finally agreed, "Yes, I thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave."

He Tingxi nodded slightly.

Before Ling Junqi was about to leave, he deliberately glanced at Ling Xiyue and happened to meet her eyes.

He didn't say anything, just smiled slightly, and then followed Shi Hui out of the study.

Ling Xiyue watched Ling Junqi leave, her eyes full of envy.

I couldn't help but think in my mind: for accomplishing a task, I get rewarded with a BMW, which is equivalent to a modern luxury car. Oh my God, when will I get such treatment?

At this time, He Tingxi's gaze stayed on Ling Xiyue. He noticed the envy hidden in Ling Xiyue's eyes. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, but he didn't say anything and just watched quietly.

When she could no longer see Ling Junqi, Ling Xiyue withdrew her gaze and looked at He Tingxi, but when she turned around, she saw He Tingxi also looking at her. Their eyes met, Ling Xiyue was startled and quickly lowered her head slightly.

She felt uneasy, not knowing whether He Tingxi would punish her or let her go next.

Seeing this, He Tingxi just smiled slightly and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Do you feel bad for missing out on first place?”

Ling Xiyue frowned slightly when she heard this, totally not understanding what He Tingxi meant.

"Uh, how should I put it?" Ling Xiyue hesitated.

"Why do you want to participate in the competition? It's just an ordinary embroidery competition." He Tingxi continued to ask.

Ling Xiyue was puzzled. She had too many doubts in her mind and felt uneasy if she didn't ask for clarification.

"Your Highness, I went out to participate in the competition without permission, which embarrassed you. I deserve to be punished. Your Highness, you should punish me directly. This way, I will feel better."

He Tingxi saw Ling Xiyue's uneasy look and smiled slightly.

"I was going to punish you, but since you've admitted your mistake and your attitude is sincere, I won't bother with it."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiyue looked up suddenly, but when she looked up, she saw He Tingxi looking at her with a smile on his face, so she quickly lowered her head again.

But at this time, she felt much better.

"Your Highness, are you really not going to punish me?" Ling Xiyue confirmed again.

"Yeah." He Tingxi nodded.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Your Highness is very broad-minded." Ling Xiyue began to flatter him.

He Tingxi just smiled, but he was still obsessed with the previous question.

"You haven't answered my question yet. Why do you want to participate in the competition? There must be a reason, right?"

Ling Xiyue hesitated, and for a moment, didn't know how to answer.

Seeing Ling Xiyue was hesitant and didn't speak, He Tingxi asked kindly, "Is there something you can't tell me?"

"Well, it can't be said to be a secret." Ling Xiyue looked embarrassed.

"What is that? Just tell me, I won't blame you." He Tingxi said gently.

Ling Xiyue raised her head slightly and glanced at He Tingxi. Seeing that he was always very friendly, she had no choice but to give it a try.

"Actually, it's because I want to get the bonus."

"Got a prize? Not much. The first place winner only gets 100 taels of silver." He Tingxi asked calmly.

"But, for me, it's a huge sum of money, because I have no money on me." Ling Xiyue looked serious.

"No money?" He Tingxi was surprised.

"Yes." Ling Xiyue nodded.

"When you were in the Ling Mansion, didn't the mansion give you monthly allowance?" He Tingxi asked.

Seeing that He Tingxi kept asking questions, Ling Xiyue remembered what Ling Junqi said and felt that He Tingxi was trying to get her to talk.

At this moment, she didn't want to hide it anymore.

"Your Highness, to be honest, I donated all the 500 taels of silver I saved to the soldiers defending our country at the front last year. So I don't have much money on me. When I heard that the prize money for the embroidery competition was 100 taels, I was tempted."

"So you are the Bai Mei who donated money." He Tingxi looked very surprised.

Ling Xiyue looked at He Tingxi and couldn't help thinking: Your Highness's acting is so poor. In fact, when Ling Junqi told you that I was Bai Mei, you already knew who I was. Well, you act, and I act too.

"Yes, I am."

"Thank you very much for giving us timely help when we were short of food and silver, and helping us through the difficult times. Now that the war is over and the world has stabilized, it's time to repay you. What do you want? As long as I can do it, I will satisfy you." He Tingxi asked with a smile.

Ling Xiyue was stunned. She didn't expect the style of painting to change so quickly, which caught her off guard.

She asked cautiously, "Really anything?"

"What do you think."

Ling Xiyue hesitated for a moment, and suddenly, a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

"Then, can I get back the one hundred taels of silver that I deserve?" Ling Xiyue asked tentatively, lowering her head slightly.

He Tingxi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when he heard this.

"You only want 100 taels of silver? Actually, you can ask for more silver, or you can ask for rare treasures, silks, and other valuable items."

Ling Xiyue was very tempted when she heard this, but then she thought: Why would she need so much? She couldn't take it with her, and most importantly, taking so much would go against the original owner's original intention, as the original owner was a kind-hearted person.

"No need. When I donated the silver, I never thought of asking for anything in return. But, Your Highness, if you really want to repay me, I will accept the 100 taels of silver."

He Tingxi stared at Ling Xiyue in a daze, remembering that when Ling Xiyue saved him, she only took five taels of silver from him. Just like now, she could obviously ask for more, but in the end she only took 100 taels of silver. He couldn't help laughing out loud.

"hehe--"

Ling Xiyue frowned and looked at He Tingxi.

When He Tingxi saw this, he quickly regained his composure, covered his eyes with his hands, and coughed lightly to ease the embarrassment.

Ling Xiyue stared at He Tingxi, thinking: Your Highness, what is he laughing at? Is it so funny to ask for 100 taels of silver?

"Are you sure you only want 100 taels of silver?" He Tingxi confirmed again.

"Yes." Ling Xiyue nodded seriously.

"Okay, I promise you. Tomorrow, I will ask Butler Xiao to send it to you." He Tingxi said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ling Xiyue was overjoyed and a smile appeared on her face.

"I should be the one thanking you." He Tingxi said softly.

"Your Highness, you are too polite. I am also a member of the Nanyou Kingdom. It is my duty to contribute to the country." Ling Xiyue responded politely.

After that, she didn't want to continue chatting.

"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave first."