The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 463: Your Brother Is Quite the Flirt!

Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Your Brother Is Quite the Flirt!

After much consideration, Jun Ning wrote a letter to Qi Xiao, asking him to return as soon as possible. She had an important matter to discuss with him that could not be delayed.

In the letter, Jun Ning also made it clear that if Qi Xiao delayed in returning or continued to be perfunctory, she would send Ye Ying to capture him.

Over the years, with the expansion of the Eastern Chu Empire’s territory, the influence of Qianji Pavilion had also increased several times. If Ye Ying went to capture Qi Xiao with her men, it was not guaranteed that they wouldn’t bring him back.

After receiving this letter, Qi Xiao didn’t know if he was moved by Jun Ning’s repeated invitations or if he simply didn’t want to see Ye Ying, let alone be captured by Ye Ying and lose face in front of Jun Ning. He immediately replied to Jun Ning, promising to return with the army as soon as possible.

This reply was sent out with an urgent dispatch traveling eight hundred li.

However, by the time Jun Ning received the letter, seven days had passed, and in about ten more days, Qi Xiao truly returned with his troops.

Not having seen each other for three years, it would be false to say she didn’t miss him.

The closer the reunion with Qi Xiao approached, the faster Jun Ning’s heart beat.

Her heart, which had been dormant and indifferent for years, finally came alive.

She was particularly curious to know, after three years, had Qi Xiao grown taller? Had his appearance changed? Had he become more mature than before?

...

On this day, Qi Xiangsi and Jing Shu entered the palace together, both for the sake of Qi Xiao’s return three days later.

Jun Ning was reviewing memorials, and before Qi Xiangsi and Jing Shu even approached the Imperial Study Room, their voices already reached Jun Ning’s ears.

Qi Xiangsi said to Jing Shu, "Commandery Princess, believe me, my brother has only ever loved the Empress since he was little, and that has never changed."

Whatever Jing Shu’s reaction was, when Jun Ning heard these words, her hand holding the pen froze in midair and remained still for a while.

Did Xiang Si know something?

She perked up her ears and tried to listen more intently.

Jing Shu pulled Qi Xiangsi into the study room, saluted Jun Ning, and then continued talking to Qi Xiangsi: "Stop talking nonsense. How could General Qi truly have feelings for my aunt when he’s been away for so long and hasn’t even written a single family letter?"

Indeed, Jun Ning hadn’t received any family letters from Qi Xiao in the past three years. But the correspondence between them was frequent, though strictly on official matters, never touching on personal issues.

Sometimes, when it did concern a bit of personal matters, it was only when Qi Xiao was injured. After addressing the official business, Jun Ning would simply inquire at the end of the letter about Qi Xiao’s injuries, whether they were serious, and if he needed an Imperial Physician to be dispatched.

Her inquiries were very measured, not intimate at all, not like a wife!

The same was true for Qi Xiao.

Every year when winter approached, he would remind Jun Ning to dress warmly and take care of her health.

Also in a very measured way, adhering to the etiquette of ruler and subject, not like a husband.

Jing Shu had seen Jun Ning distressed because of this a few times and showed concern, but the answers she received left her feeling disheartened.

What kind of marriage was this?

"Why didn’t he write family letters?" Qi Xiangsi felt indignant for Qi Xiao. "My brother often wrote family letters to me, but the most frequent inquiries were always about the Empress, rarely about me."

Qi Xiangsi often felt jealous because of this!

Her brother was her only relative in the world, but sadly, from a young age, his eyes were only for his sister-in-law. After marriage, he completely ignored her.

She felt so saddened.

"What?" Jun Ning, who hadn’t spoken until now, brightened up at Qi Xiangsi’s words and stood up from the Taishi Chair.

She was excited at heart but hid it well, keeping her emotions concealed.

The most extreme thing she said was, "The letters? If it’s convenient, can I have a look?"

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty, little sister will have someone fetch them right away!" Qi Xiangsi glanced at Nanny Zhang behind her, who understood and immediately went with some people to retrieve the letters.

Nanny Zhang, being quite old, could barely walk. Yet, she still upheld Jun Ning’s teachings, diligently protecting Qi Xiangsi, correcting her promptly when she went astray.

Luckily, after following Jun Yang away from the wrong path once, Qi Xiangsi had become much more obedient, and over the years, she increasingly followed Nanny Zhang’s advice, becoming a better person.

The relationship between Qi Xiangsi and Nanny Zhang wasn’t like mother and daughter, but it was deeper than that.

At this moment, Qi Xiangsi watched as Nanny Zhang slowly went to retrieve the letters.

Nanny Zhang moved slowly, but Qi Xiangsi wasn’t impatient at all, quietly watching Nanny Zhang’s figure disappear from her sight before turning her attention back.

She continued speaking to Jun Ning: "Your Majesty, you don’t know how outrageous and peculiar my brother’s letters are."

"Oh?" Jun Ning was puzzled.

Qi Xiao, peculiar?

Could it be?

"Really." Qi Xiangsi said seriously, "He wrote asking how well Your Majesty was doing, if you were tired, if the court officials gave you a hard time when deliberating on political affairs, or if there were any particular events troubling you. These questions were normal, but he even asked me...asked me..."

Qi Xiangsi seemed reluctant to continue, pausing with a somewhat awkward expression.

Beside her, Jing Shu looked amused, "Go on? Why did you suddenly stop? I’m all ears."

"Alright!" Qi Xiangsi continued, "He even asked how many bowls you eat at mealtime, if there were any men other than servants by your side at meals, especially if Fei Yuque was by your side..."

"Moreover, he asked if Your Majesty favored Fei Yuque?"

"Has Fei Yuque gained favor?"

These questions touched on privacy and were indeed inappropriate to discuss openly, likely to offend Jun Ning.

But one could also see from these questions that Qi Xiao was very concerned about the presence of Fei Yuque, especially since he was particularly sensitive about it from the moment Fei Yuque was appointed as an envoy for diplomatic marriage.

However, being far away from Jun Ning, uninformed, he could only inquire through his sister.

His sister wouldn’t deceive or trick him!

Jun Ning didn’t dwell too much on this and was quite surprised to hear it. If she hadn’t heard it from Qi Xiangsi, she might have doubted the truth.

To her, Qi Xiao seemed to have grown much quieter and more reserved over the years. How could he write such chaotic yet ironically heart-stirring questions?

She still had uncertainties and doubts in her heart...

Jing Shu laughed and said, "Xiangsi, your brother really is that..."

"That?" Qi Xiangsi didn’t understand.

Jing Shu gave a knowing smile, "You know, that flamboyant."

He wouldn’t even write a single letter to my aunt, making it seem like they shared nothing but the same bed, as if they couldn’t live together, yet he turned around and wrote to his sister asking about her affairs?

My aunt must have been troubled by this.

The timing for them coming over was not ideal.

Jing Shu decided that once Nanny Zhang brought back the letters, she would pull Qi Xiangsi away, leaving her aunt to read the letters and have some quiet time to think carefully about her future with Qi Xiao.

If it turned out to be true that Qi Xiao wrote to his sister asking about his aunt’s matters, she would have to reconsider her relationship with Qi Xiao, and stop thinking about separating from him.