amaotonovel Chapter 883 Jealousy
Chapter 883 Jealousy
But Xu Zize got the news from somewhere and was unhappy.
Although he didn't say it to Jing Chunxi and wouldn't really stop the maid from attending these banquets, he always did some things that made people laugh and cry - either he would suddenly appear at a banquet by "chance", or he would send people to deliver some fresh fruits and exquisite toys to Jing Chunxi, deliberately disrupting the situation.
Given his personality, he really wanted to swat to death all those "flies and mosquitoes" surrounding the girl. However, some things had not yet been made clear, and even though he was jealous and angry, he could not openly stop it. He could only suppress his anger and watch from the sidelines.
Yunshu, Wangshu and Xuecheng, who sometimes chose to attend one or two flower-viewing banquets, noticed something was wrong. Most of the families who had hosted Princess Anping would help their brother to appear.
The two little princes and the princess would come uninvited from time to time, making the nobles flattered but also secretly complaining.
Xu Zize would come sometimes too.
Although he wasn't comfortable speaking directly, he knew how to assert his authority. He often laughed and joked in front of others, his voice neither too loud nor too low, just enough for everyone around him to hear: "Sister Xi has been playing with us since she was a child, and now someone else has spoken first, right?"
In public, he never addressed Jing Chunxi by her given title, only calling her "Sister Xi," which emphasized their closeness without being overly explicit. But as soon as he approached, the others fell silent, their gazes toward Jing Chunxi subtly shifting.
Yunshu and Wangshu were still young, but they understood some of their brothers' twists and turns. They joined in the fun, sticking to those young masters with ulterior motives on both sides, asking them to teach them how to play pots and fly kites with them, and never left their side.
The most amazing thing was Princess Anyang. She was already good friends with Jing Chunxi, and now she had become Xu Zize's "flower protector", following Jing Chunxi almost every step of the way, even waiting outside to use the toilet, for fear that someone would take advantage of her if she missed her.
If any young master wanted to come closer and talk, Anyang would raise his chin and interrupt with a smile: "Young Master Li, do you like to guess lantern riddles? It's a pity that you won't be able to guess the one that Anping County Master asked me last time."
Or perhaps she deliberately sighed, "Although Prince Wang's poem is well written, it's not as spiritual as the one my brother wrote last time, isn't that right, Sister Xi?"
With just a few words, she neither lost her status as a princess nor lost her dignity, yet each sentence was full of thorns, which made the other person blush and speechless, and had to retreat in anger.
Everyone also knew that she was of noble status and young, so they couldn't afford to offend her and had to swallow their anger.
This time, Xu Zize watched from afar. Although his expression remained calm, a frost had formed in his eyes. He raised and lowered the teacup in his hand, but finally, unable to resist, he stood up and walked towards the smiling face.
Soon, the people around the two of them left.
"Xi'er, don't forget," he forced a smile, but there was a subtle tension in his voice, "I'm engaged to Brother Xiaokang."
Jing Chunxi secretly laughed at himself, actually enjoying his rare jealousy, but he still wanted to tease him: "I don't know when I got engaged to Brother Xiaokang. Don't let anyone hear such words, it will only make people laugh."
"Then I will go back to the palace immediately to ask my father to grant us the marriage." Xu Zize was a little annoyed. He grabbed her shoulders and a cold light flashed on his face. But when he met Jing Chunxi's clear and smiling eyes, the coldness immediately disappeared. He couldn't bear to let her see him lose his composure, so he could only turn his head and put his head close to her ear. His breath was warm, and he almost wanted to rub her hair intimately right away.
"Alright," Jing Chunxi quickly pushed him away, her face flushed. "Which eye of Brother Xiaokang saw Xi'er flirting with someone, or was she flirting with him?"
Then he pointed at Nanny Zhou, who was watching them with a smile on her face, not far away, under the veranda. "I've brought Nanny Zhou here, just to reassure you, brother! Are you going to keep me away from the socializing of the noble ladies of the capital from now on? How will I learn to be your princess in the future? Or do you just want Xi'er to stay in the attic every day, like a puppet in the boudoir?"
Jing Chunxi pretended to be angry and didn't even look at him, but he knew it clearly in his heart - it must be Nanny Zhou who had complained to the palace.
Seeing through Jing Chunxi's words, Xu Zize touched his nose in embarrassment and softened his tone: "It was Brother Xiaokang who was anxious. But..."
"It's just that Brother Xiaokang doesn't believe Xi'er." Jing Chunxi stamped his feet and said before leaving, "There's still a long time to go. I don't want to see my brother like this."
In fact, she was not angry at all because of his care for her, but rather felt sweet. However, she did not want him to become so childish and impulsive and lose his sense of proportion.
This kind of thing is not something that he, a prince and future crown prince, should indulge in.
What he should do now is not to be jealous or sentimental, but to find ways to enrich himself, to care about his country and the people. Although she disliked the many constraints of the palace, she also did not want to be a princess who brought disaster to the country and the people.
Her voice was not loud, but firm: "Xi'er, don't be angry. Brother Xiaokang knows his responsibilities."
In late October, under a clear sky and amidst the roar of gongs and drums, Prince Hong finally returned to the capital. Returning with him, weary and exhausted, was General Jing Chang'an.
This battle was brutal, and many of the 160,000 soldiers and horses brought by Prince Hong were killed, with less than 100,000 remaining.
On the grounds that the border was becoming increasingly stable and there was no need for too many troops stationed, Jing Changjiang personally selected 20,000 elite soldiers and integrated the Jing family army that was originally scattered in the western and northern borders, totaling more than 60,000 troops, to guard the border and stabilize the country.
The court rewarded the Jing brothers based on their merits. Considering their unparalleled bravery and outstanding military achievements in this battle, both brothers were promoted to a half-rank rank.
The Emperor has granted Jing Chang'an special grace, allowing him to return to the capital and serve in a vacant position for three years, exempt from court duties unless ordered to do so. After these three years, the Jing brothers will rotate annually, with one remaining in the capital and the other guarding the border, continuing to safeguard peace in the western and northern border regions.
Prince Hong was ordered to lead the troops to fight in this crisis. Although he received great support from the two Generals Jing, he can be said to have made great military achievements.
After his triumphant return, although his title was not promoted, he was promoted to the first rank. After returning to Beijing, he moved to the newly renovated house next door to the Ministry of Works. A moon gate was still left in the middle to connect them, which can be said to be a separate residence but not a separate family.
The three courtyards are interconnected, with seamless traffic, giving the impression of a prosperous family.
The happiest person was Ling'er.
The mansion, which was originally quiet and deserted with few people, is now very lively. Suddenly, a younger brother was added, and several cousins were brought to accompany him.
With her father's return and a new head of household, she secretly thought that her mother might be able to get pregnant again in the future. Now that the three courtyards were connected, she could live in any of them and no longer be alone like before.
She silently felt that all these changes seemed to have started after Jing Chunxi came to this family. In her heart, she admired this sister to the extreme and believed that she was the biggest lucky star in the family.
After drinking and chatting together at Qingshan Villa, Prince Jing and General Jing became more and more compatible, and they often got together to drink, play chess, and chat.
There is a deeper reason - Prince Jing also believes that the General's Mansion is destined to be connected to their family.
Not only did they become relatives, but if the two Generals Jing had not volunteered and provided all possible assistance in this campaign, it would have been just as they had initially worried: Prince Hong and the 160,000-strong army would have most likely been killed in battle.
Whenever Prince Jing thought of this, he felt more grateful and fortunate, and the friendship between the two families became even deeper.