The imperial concubine is charming and charming, and only seeks power and wealth

Xie Anning pursed her lips, not knowing how to respond.

It should be said that she has not yet figured out what identity she should use to get along with Mr. Ishihara.

Ever since she was old enough to understand, Wang Shaofu has been the only one by her side.

When she was at home, whether she was out riding and hunting, attending banquets and socializing with friends, or reading and practicing calligraphy at home, her social circle was strictly controlled by him.

After getting married, the couple loved each other lovingly for fifteen years, as sweet as honey and inseparable.

Now that she thought about it, apart from Wang Shaofu, she had never been close to other young men of the same age from aristocratic families.

Ishihara Qing doesn't count. He was indeed young at that time, and they all treated him as their younger brother. The Shi and Xie families are close friends...

In short, without her realizing it, Wang Shaofu had taken over all her memories.

It's more than just a young girl's first love.

But all.

He is both a teacher and a friend, a calm and reliable brother, and a gentle and tolerant partner.

Without making a sound, she expelled anyone else who might approach her.

He is the one around her, the one in her heart, and the one in her past memories.

If these changes had not happened, the only man she would see every day in the future would be him.

Xie Anning had never looked at any man other than Wang Shaofu, let alone talked about love.

Now that he has made his feelings clear, every word and sentence can be taken out as love words.

Xie Anning had no idea what to do. She stood there stiffly, like an unmarried girl who was at a loss as to what to do when dealing with a man from another family.

Seeing her in such a state, Ishihara Qing was not annoyed, but instead breathed a sigh of relief.

——Finally, she’s not acting like an elder sister who’s like a mother to me anymore.

He didn't provoke her nervousness and embarrassment, but pulled her to sit down.

"Don't talk about etiquette. Today is New Year's Eve and the situation is special. It's not against the rules for us to drink together."

Ishihara Qing picked up the wine jug and asked, "Would you like to drink?"

"..." Xie Anning raised her eyes to look at him and shook her head: "No."

The look was so complicated that Ishihara Qing couldn't help laughing out loud.

"What are you thinking about?" He poured her a glass of wine. "Just drink. I'm not a gentleman, and I wouldn't do anything so vulgar."

In the prosperous times, ordinary people would have a few drinks from time to time, and wealthy families were even more fond of banquets, and every family had a few secret recipes for making wine that were not passed on to others.

As a daughter of a general, how could she not love drinking?

But Xie An Ning still had no intention of picking up the wine cup, not because she doubted his character or suspected that he would do something wrong after drinking.

But it is already inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in a room in the dead of night.

A few more drinks, and it's really...

Seeing that she didn't want to drink, Ishihara Qing didn't force her. He poured himself a glass and put down the wine jug without touching it again.

The two sat opposite each other and had a very quiet dinner.

There were occasional sounds of firecrackers outside, and the palace must be bustling with activity at this moment. The emperor was hosting a banquet, what a great opportunity.

Those who can enter the palace today are all trusted ministers and high-ranking officials.

And this guy is wasting time with her here...

She thought for a moment and asked, "Today is New Year's Eve, and you haven't returned home all day?"

Ishihara Qing said: "They know I am investigating the case. The three-day deadline is not a secret."

He has been so busy these days that he often rests in the yamen instead of going home.

This is to relieve Your Majesty's worries, and your family will understand.

They won't even ask about the details of the case.

Xie Anning nodded and said nothing more.

Ishihara Qing looked up at her, with a smile in his eyes.

"Also," he reached out and picked up a piece of lotus root with his chopsticks for her, and said calmly, "My parents know what I'm thinking. If I could go home peacefully after you've been imprisoned, it would be strange in their eyes."

!!!

Xie Anning almost lost his grip on the chopsticks and looked over in surprise.

What caught my eye was his smiling eyes.

When their eyes met, the smile in Ishihara Qing's eyes deepened. "At my age, if I refuse to get married, I must give my parents a reason."

As for the reason...

"You know, I've never been good at lying since I was a kid, so naturally I told the truth."

He spoke very frankly, with a sense of reckless ruffianness.

Xie Anning was stunned for a moment, "...you said that?"

"Then your parents will let you do as you please...so...so..."

She really found it difficult to say the words "thinking about someone else's wife".

Ishihara Qing nodded happily, "They can't control me."

He had good ideas since he was young and insisted on learning martial arts and joining the army, so the old man couldn't do anything about it.

Later, he made the decision to give up military service and pursue literature.

Even at my age now, my temper can’t be changed.

Xie Anning's face was full of complexity.

His most beloved youngest son did not marry for many years because of a woman who was five years older than him and was already married to someone else.

What would the two elders of the Shi family think?

"peaceful?"

She was silent for a long time. Shi Yuanqing guessed what she was thinking and couldn't help but say, "My decision not to get married is my own. It has nothing to do with you. Don't take the responsibility on yourself, and don't feel sorry for me or my parents. The Shi family doesn't rely on me to continue the family line. I have two older brothers, so they don't lack grandchildren."

"In the past two years, the old couple kept urging me to get married, but they've let it go these past two years. They said that if I still refuse to get married after I'm over 30, they'll adopt my brother's offspring for me, so that after I die..."

"Shut up!" Xie Anning frowned. "On a day like today, what unlucky words are you saying?"

Ishihara Qing was stunned by her scolding, then smiled again: "Let me tell you something."

"……what?"

"My mother told me the news of your divorce," Ishihara Qing said with a smile, "As soon as you returned to the Xie family, my mother got the news and called me over that night. Guess what she told me?"

"..." Xie Anning's expression gradually became dull.

Ishihara Qing continued, "As a result, the next day, the imperial concubine gave you six male favorites, and my mother..."

"Alright," Xie Anning stuffed a chopstick of shredded duck into his mouth. "I'm done talking now. Let's eat."

Ishihara Qing paused after being interrupted.

He stared at the woman opposite him who was 'concentrating' on her meal without blinking.

After a long pause, he smiled faintly and said, "An Ning, I'm saying this to tell you that my parents, brothers, family, and future will not be obstacles between you and me."

"You don't want to get married, and it just so happens that I've been missing the Xie residence for a long time. I can move in. You can decide what status to give me. As long as you agree to have me, I can be your male concubine or marry into your family."

"Anyway, as long as you nod, no one can stop us."