Hostage?

"Yes! Yes! What Young Lady said was correct! We must deal with it without errors.. May I ask Young Lady if Young Lady agrees to marry His Highness five years later?"

XuanRong almost spilled the tea she was dinking. She gingerly wiped her narrow lips and placed the tea cup on the table.

"Seems like Imperial Guard Mu is thinking differently? Why would This Lady marry His Highness five years later?"

Mu Qing thought that XuanRong was asking because XuanRong could not wait to marry Xu Fei Yi immediately. Reputation was very important to every female and Mu Qing thought that XuanRong was not an exemption. She had already been 'touched' by His Highness and if others find out that she was no longer as pure as before, she would be condemned by the society. The safest solution was to betroth both of them immediately.

Mu Qing coughed and cleared his throat, preparing to speak until his voice turns hoarse. The person in front of him was only a child, he should only select words that were easy to understand.

"Young Lady, no need to fret. Although you cannot wed immediately but rest assured, once you reach the marriageable age, His Highness will definitely send someone to carry you in an eight-bearer sedan[1]."

Mu Qing tried his best to give XuanRong his assurance.

XuanRong sighed and shook her head.

"Imperial Guard Mu must be mistaken. Why would there be a need for us to marry each other? His Highness mistakenly entered my courtyard in the middle of the night but he did not visit my inner room nor had seen my skin under the dress[2]. What happened few moments ago was purely a mistake and does not need to escalate further. We could pretend that everything was normal and act like nothing happened. I believe Imperial Guard Mu knows how to deal with the situation on your side. This Lady will focus on not letting a single fly leave the manor since my reputation and the Imperial Family's face are at stake. What happened in the courtyard will remain in the courtyard, not a single news regarding this matter should be known outside."

Mu Qing froze and stared dumbly at XuanRong. He suddenly felt that the person speaking in front of him was not an innocent child who knew nothing but a woman who was not only intelligent but also full of wisdom.

'So, everything was just my assumption? Young Lady Xuan is not pregnant?'

Mu Qing scolded himself inwardly for thinking dirty. He had long forgotten that if not for Xu Fei Yi's ambiguous words, lead him astray, his mind would not veer off on a different direction, making him think of shameful ideas.

"Imperial Guard Mu?"

"Ehh?.... Ah! Y-Yes! Yes!"

"Good. This Lady thanks Imperial Guard Mu for your help."

XuanRong once again stood up and bobbed her head to convey her gratitude.

The two people, one child and one man spoke seriously with each other for half a tea time[3] without paying attention to the man who was playing far away from them.

XuanRong subconsciously glanced at Xu Fei Yi and saw that he was playing with his hands, creating shadows on the wall. She could not help but smile as she turned her head back to listen at Mu Qing's plan.

Little did she know, after removing her gaze, Xu Fei Yi's eyes moved away from the wall and turned his head to stare at her, sharply observing her every action.

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The only ones who knew the incident were very few, it was only An Wei, Zou mama, her first rank maids and a couple of her courtyard's inner servants. Controlling the news was not hard for XuanRong and she only needed to implement strict order and a fair warning to those who were involve. Luckily, there was only a little commotion within her courtyard, if not, she would worry for her master's health. Yue Xiao Xiao's strength had slowly been starting to weaken. She was afraid to disturb her master's rest and affect her health, thus, XuanRong decided not to inform Yue Xiao Xiao about Xu Fei Yi's sudden visit.

When XuanRong asked An Wei how Xu Fei Yi was able to enter her courtyard, An Wei was also puzzled as to why he was not able to notice that someone was able to sneak inside XuanRong's courtyard, as if the man mysteriously arrived under his detection. If not for the fact that XuanRong assured An Wei that Xu Fei Yi had a mentality of a child and did not know any qinggong, he would have thought that the man was a master himself, even having a higher level of qinggong than him.

Mu Qing and Xu Fei Yi left secretly without alerting anyone. Although Xu Fei Yi did not want to go back to the Imperial Residence, he was fooled by Mu Qing, saying that if he will not leave, XuanRong would get angry and would no longer allow him to visit. The simpleton was scared to death and hurriedly bid goodbye to XuanRong, tear-faced and full of grievance.

After the sensational encounter of 'Wife JieJie' and His Highness, Xu Fei Yi, half a month later, an imperial edict reached Lu Shan, ordering Xu Fei Yi, to leave Qian Zou and enter Jing Country as the representative of the Imperial family and the diplomat of the country. He was ordered to stay a couple of years for the purpose of diplomacy and to further the relationship between the two counties.

When the commoners heard the news of Xu Fei Yi leaving the country, they had mixed reactions. Although they knew that Xu Fei Yi was the disgrace of the Imperial family, someone who had a mentality of a child, some were still happy that the two countries were becoming friendly with each other. Having good relationships with other countries mean that they could avoid war and could use diplomacy in order to solve conflicts.

The commoners hated war. Whenever there was war going on, the first who would be affected where them, the poor people of the country, thus, upon hearing the diplomacy exchange between Jing and Qian Zou, many people celebrated.

While some people were happy, the rest of the commoners did not care. Whether a prince was sent to a neighboring country as a diplomat or as a hostage, it wouldn't really affect their daily lives. Poor people would remain poor and nothing would change. Why think of unnecessary things that could not help them survive poverty? Thus, the lives of the common people were not affected by the news from the capital.

Only few people were angered because they believed that the Jing Country were only using Xu Fei Yi as a hostage and their Emperor had become muddled for agreeing to Jing country's invitation. Why would they send a prince who had a mentality of a child instead of a veteran minister or an official from the palace as the diplomat? The minority of the population was thinking that there was a hidden agenda going on but what could they do? They were only a normal citizen of the country.

Those officials who knew that there was an underlying reason why the Emperor chose to send Xu Fei Yi instead of a court's high ranking minister, decided to close their ears and avert their gaze[4], acting like the situation was a joyous thing and was worthy to celebrate.

After XuanRong received the news, Xu Fei Yi already left Lu Shan and started his journey to the country of Jing. In her previous lifetime, Xu Fei Yi also left the country and stayed at Jing country for five long years before coming back for the Emperor's birthday celebration. The birthday banquet was different from the usual celebration of the Emperor's birthday. The banquet would be served as the selection for the Crown Prince's future Imperial Wife, the Crown Princess. Since it was a big celebration concerning the future of Qian Zou, Xu Fei Yi had to return.

Looking at the small forest at the back of her courtyard, XuanRong could not help but smile when she remembered the adorable but dumb face of that man who kept on calling her 'Wife JieJie'.

"Xu QinWang[5], seems like in this lifetime, we are destined to meet again."

XuanRong whispered.

[PLEASE ADOPT ME \(T^T)/ and DONATE @ paypal.me/sayurihyuuga]

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[1]. The highest form of respect and indulgence in marrying a Wife

[2]. Seen naked

[3]. Approximately fifteen minutes-Modern Time

[4]. Act deaf and blind

[5] Prince Xu of First Rank