Emperor Qingming had already left the inner hall, and Xu Yun subconsciously looked at the queen who was still sitting upright.
Sensing his confusion, the queen shook her head slightly.
How did she know what kind of thoughts this ignorant emperor had?
Seeing her shaking her head, Xu Yun came to his senses slightly.
...Why was he looking at her subconsciously just now?
Sure enough, he didn't get enough sleep and his brain wasn't functioning properly. It seemed like he needed to wake up.
Xu Yun raised his feet and left the side hall.
He did not stop in the outer hall, but went to stand under the corridor outside the hall.
The cold wind was biting to the bone, making him shiver involuntarily, and his neck couldn't help but shrink up.
In just a moment, Xu Yun turned around and returned to the outer hall - okay, that's enough, he was awake. In other words, he suddenly felt that he didn't really need to wake up in this way.
Xu Yun sat down in the outer hall and took the tea from the palace servants to warm his hands.
In the side hall on the side, the queen still looked dignified, sitting there quietly.
After waiting like this for half an hour, Emperor Qingming came back.
"Mr. Xu has been kept waiting for a long time."
Emperor Qingming brought Xu Yun back to the inner hall with a smile on his face. He seemed to be in a better mood than when he went there.
The queen smiled.
It seems that the child has been coaxed and stopped crying.
Moreover, Yongfu Palace even coaxed two of them.
"Bring the people in." After Emperor Qingming sat down, he and Li Ji ordered.
Li Ji agreed and soon brought someone in.
That's a woman.
She looks about 23 or 24 years old. She wears a green skirt and a large smoke-colored robe. She has a simple bun and jewelry, but her appearance is good-looking and her features are pretty and pleasant.
She knelt down and bowed her head in salute.
"Slave, please see Your Majesty, the Queen."
Servant?
Xu Yun took a look.
This person's dress is not that of an ordinary palace maid, and her demeanor and tone of voice are not cautious at all. Instead, she looks like a girl from a scholarly family.
"Get up."
Emperor Qingming spoke in a gentle tone and said to Xu Yun: "This is the granddaughter of Mr. Cai Fengyun, who was sentenced to Yongxiang ten years ago -"
Cai Fengyun?
Xu Yun understood.
"It turns out he is a descendant of Mr. Cai."
Mr. Cai was a great scholar of the previous dynasty. He was found to have secretly communicated with the remnants of the previous dynasty's rebellion. He was taken to the capital to be punished. He later hanged himself in prison. The female family members were all sent to the palace as slaves.
"Although the case back then was handled in accordance with the law, Mr. Cai is a great scholar after all, and I still admire his talent in my heart."
Emperor Qingming said: "Some time ago, I accidentally heard that Mr. Cai's granddaughter is very good at painting lotuses, and she is very similar to Mr. Cai. It just so happened that Wanfu Tower also had a gentleman who painted lotuses, so I chose her.
Miss Cai painted for Wanfu Tower - does Mr. Xu think this is appropriate?"
"Xu thinks there is nothing wrong with it."
Xu Yun said: "It can also show that the imperial court and His Majesty are virtuous and generous, regardless of past grudges, especially among the world's literati -"
At this time, there is nothing else to say except flattery.
Emperor Qingming smiled.
"I just feel that since it is the Queen Mother's birthday, I should accumulate more merits for her. After the Wanfu Tower is completed and Miss Cai has merit in painting, I will pardon the Cai family's female family members and restore their freedom."
Xu Yun raised his hand to salute and sighed: "Your Majesty is kind!"
"It's a pity that Miss Cai has been in the palace for many years and has missed the right age for marriage." When Emperor Qingming said this, he looked at Cai Jin and replied with a smile: "When Miss Cai was painting a few days ago, she mentioned to me that she admired her very much.
Mr. Xu’s talent and learning——”
Xu Yun thought slightly.
The next moment, I heard Emperor Qingming say as expected: "It just so happens that Mr. Xu has not married yet, and Miss Cai deserves to be both talented and beautiful. I thought that if we can achieve a marriage, it will be a good story if it is spread out."
Xu Yun's heart sank.
It turns out that this is the "reward" to be given to him.
"I wonder what Mr. Xu thinks?" Emperor Qingming asked with a smile.
Xu Yun raised his sleeves and said: "Your Majesty's kind offer should not be rejected. However, Xu is lazy by nature. He is not a good man and cannot be a husband. I really don't dare to delay Miss Cai's good marriage."
Hearing this, the woman hurriedly said: "Mr. Xu has misunderstood... Your Majesty has also misunderstood. This slave only admires Mr. Xu's talent and knowledge, and has never dreamed of marrying Mr. Xu..."
As he spoke, his cheeks turned slightly red, his voice became a little lower, and he added: "I just want to be able to follow you, sir. Even if I am a slave and a maid, I can only do menial work, and I will be satisfied."
Xu Yun only found it incredible.
Can she say this?
If Mr. Cai knew about it, I'm afraid the coffin board would be unable to hold it down.
"Mr. Xu, please listen." Emperor Qingming sighed with a smile and advised in a joking tone: "How can you bear to put such sincerity here?"
Xu Yun smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid that Xu really doesn't have this blessing."
The smile on Emperor Qingming's face did not diminish: "I have no intention of forcing myself on you, but if I don't give it a try, how can I be sure that we won't get along? In my opinion, you two must have the same temperament. Why not let Miss Cai first?"
Let you go back. When the Wanfu Building is completed next year and Miss Cai is free again, if you two are in love by then, I will decree a marriage——
If Mr. Xu still doesn't have this intention at that time, then I will let Miss Cai leave the capital, and I will only say that Mr. Xu and Miss Cai have a teacher-student relationship."
After saying this, he looked at the queen beside him and asked with a smile: "What does the queen think of this idea?"
The Queen smiled, this idea - of course it was disgusting.
"Your Majesty has thought carefully, and since you have shown Miss Cai's sincerity, you may be able to find a good match for Mr. Xu."
Emperor Qingming looked at him: "What does Mr. Xu think?"
Xu Yun lowered his eyes slightly.
"In that case, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
The words had reached this point, and he had no room to refuse at all.
If he was really just Xu Yun, and there was no Zhenguo Palace behind him, he could have ignored it and refused to the end.
Of course, if he were not the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo, how could he have the honor to allow His Majesty to act like a street matchmaker and not give up until this "marriage" was facilitated.
When it was getting dark, Xu Yun took Cai Jin out of the palace.
In the carriage, Cai Jin wanted to say something, but the man in front of her began to fall asleep as soon as she entered the carriage, giving her no chance to speak.
But she soon discovered that it wasn't just a fake sleep -
The man in the car began to snore, even over the sound of the carriage wheels.
Cai Jin's mouth twitched slightly.
Is this Mr. Xu who is famous all over the world?
...I'm afraid it's not just his talent that can move the world, right? His snoring alone can shake the world.
The carriage stopped outside the gate of the Zhenguo Palace.
Cai Jin followed Xu Yun back to his residence.
Entering the hall, Cai Jin was about to speak when he heard Xu Yun ask from the front: "What do you know?"
Cai Jin said modestly: "I have some knowledge of calligraphy and painting, and have read some poems. I have written some poems in the past few years, but it is inevitable that I am a bit colder, but -"
Xu Yun shook his head and interrupted her: "That's not what I said."
Cai Jin looked at him puzzled.
"Can you mop the floor, chop wood, and light a fire?"
Xu Yun asked, with something clearly written in his eyes - Didn't you say you want to be a slave?
