Chapter 64: Li Zhi'an's Bragging

King Jing looked at the Empress Dowager, his expression tightening, and asked quite uncomfortably, "Mother, is it not possible?"

The Empress Dowager frowned, "Since when did you take a liking to Cheng Xi?"

Cheng Xi is older than King Jing.

King Jing said in a low voice, "That day they were playing Polo Ball, I saw the way she saved someone."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was silent for a moment.

King Jing had previously been cared for by Imperial Physician Feng and had followed him to study medicine since he was young; perhaps because of this, he felt a natural affinity for Cheng Xi when he saw her saving someone.

The Empress Dowager looked at King Jing and said in a deep voice, "Cheng Xi has no backing; the Cheng Family fell long ago. Marrying her will be of little help to you."

King Jing raised his head to look at the Empress Dowager and said with a firm tone, "Mother, your son only wishes to marry someone with whom I can speak heart-to-heart. Besides, if not for her back then, your son would not even know I am your son. I always feel there is a bond between her and me."

If put that way, it was not unreasonable. The Empress Dowager smiled, "Let Mother think about this matter; marriage is no child's play."

"Yes," King Jing replied obediently, without the slightest hint of displeasure on his face.

After King Jing left, the smile on the Empress Dowager's face vanished instantly. She turned to look at Lingxiang and asked, "Has King Jing been in contact with anyone recently?"

Lingxiang shook her head, "Everything at the Wangfu is as usual; I have heard of nothing unusual."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, the ease on her face swept away, and her eyes instantly turned sharp.

Cheng Xi is naturally quite good, but it is a pity that she is the only one left of the Cheng Family, so she is of little use to King Jing.

However, since King Jing likes her, taking her as a secondary consort to make her son happy is not impossible.

Although the Empress Dowager values Cheng Xi, this valuation lies only in Cheng Xi's worth. If it were to make Cheng Xi her daughter-in-law, the Empress Dowager feels she is not qualified enough.

As for whether Cheng Xi is willing, the Empress Dowager had not even considered it. With her current status, being able to be a secondary consort to King Jing is already climbing high; how could she not be willing?

Cheng Xi did not yet know that she had already been arranged by the Empress Dowager to be a secondary consort for King Jing. She had just received an invitation; it was a post from the Regent's wife, inviting her for tea.

Cheng Xi's expression was very subtle.

The Regent's status in the imperial court is second only to one, above ten thousand, not to mention he also has an extremely outstanding son, Li Zhi'an.

Regarding the Regent's wife, the court knows very little about her, only that the wife is in poor health and rarely sees outsiders; those in Jindu who have seen the Regent's wife can be counted on one's fingers.

The Regent's wife is a mysterious existence in Jindu; many people know of her, but very few have seen her.

Moreover, besides his wife, the Regent has not a single concubine or maid by his side, which is something that makes many people envious.

Upon receiving the invitation, Cheng Xi could not help but recall the jest between her and Li Zhi'an.

After a moment of silence, she decided to attend the appointment; it would be better to clarify things.

The place the two agreed upon was not the Regent's Mansion, but a garden with beautiful scenery, slightly remote. When Cheng Xi arrived, someone was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing her, they stepped forward to salute and led her inside.

In the garden were exotic flowers and rare trees, competing in beauty, never fading in the four seasons, evergreen throughout the eight solar terms. There were artificial hills and strange rocks, exquisite and translucent, with pavilions and towers arranged in a well-proportioned manner.

In the distance, there was the sound of murmuring water; clear springs flowed over stones, fish swam in the shallow bottom, and the air was filled with the fragrance of birds and flowers, making one feel relaxed and happy.

Before even getting close, one could see from afar a woman sitting by the railing. As she approached, one could see her dark hair like clouds, temples like cicada wings, eyes like the ripples of autumn water, and brows like the distant mountains' ink—like a startled swan reflecting in the water, truly breathtaking.

"My Lady, Eldest Miss Cheng has arrived," the maid reported.

Cheng Xi strode into the pavilion and bowed to the Regent's wife, "This commoner greets the Regent's wife."

The Regent's wife smiled faintly and said softly, "Sit down, please. I should have met you sooner, but unfortunately, I fell ill these past two days. Zhi'an has already told me everything about the matter between you and him. Please do not blame me for neglecting you."

Cheng Xi was very surprised; she had not expected the Regent's wife to have such a gentle and pleasant temperament, which was completely different from the image Li Zhi'an usually projected outside.

Such a gentle mother, yet she gave birth to a son with such a strong personality as Li Zhi'an.

"My Lady, you are too kind; that day was merely a joke," Cheng Xi said straightforwardly. Facing such a gentle, water-like beauty, it was truly difficult to deceive her.

A flash of surprise crossed the Regent's wife's eyes. She looked at Cheng Xi with her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Zhi'an values this marriage very much. He has never asked me, his mother, for anything since he grew up, but this time he begged me to preside over the wedding for him. Cheng Xi, you tell me now that it was a joke—is it because you don't like Zhi'an, or because you don't like me?"

Huh?

Hearing this, Cheng Xi thought to herself that no one could say they didn't like such a gentle and beautiful woman as the Regent's wife.

She was silent for a moment, watching the expression on the Regent's wife's face shift from hope to sadness, thinking to herself that if she didn't answer, would the woman cry for her to see?

"No."

As soon as these two words left Cheng Xi's lips, the Regent's wife was instantly all smiles, her voice becoming even gentler as she said to Cheng Xi, "That brat Zhi'an has been imitating his father since he was small, with a bitter face. Don't be afraid; he is actually a very gentle and attentive person. You will know once you marry into the family."

Cheng Xi:...

"Wait a moment..." Cheng Xi felt this wouldn't do; not disliking someone didn't mean this marriage was truly settled.

The Regent's wife looked at Cheng Xi with a smile, "Xixi, may I call you that?"

Could Cheng Xi say no?

So she nodded.

"Do you know why I chose to see you today? It is not just because of my health, but because another matter has arisen in the palace that concerns you."

"Concerns me?" Cheng Xi frowned; she truly did not know what matter in the palace could have anything to do with her.

"The Empress Dowager intends to settle the marriages for the Emperor and King Jing. King Jing told the Empress Dowager that he wishes to take you as his consort."

The gentler the Regent's wife's voice became, the more horrified Cheng Xi's expression grew.

What?

King Jing wants to marry her?

What kind of joke is this? She is older than him!

"The Empress Dowager has always felt she owes King Jing, but with your status, I fear you are not qualified to be his primary consort. You cannot be the primary consort, so the Empress Dowager will likely bestow you upon King Jing as a secondary consort."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xi's expression turned ugly instantly.

"Xixi, if you do not wish to be with King Jing, there are only two paths: either get close to the Four Great Academies, or become betrothed to someone."

Cheng Xi's gaze was cold as she said to the Regent's wife, "I have worried you, but please rest assured, even if the Empress Dowager bestows the marriage, I will refuse it. As for the matter between Li Zhi'an and me, it was indeed my improper speech back then. However, please also rest assured that although there is no fate between the Division Head and me, if the Tongtian Division encounters any trouble and needs my help, I will certainly help."

The Regent's wife coughed lightly. Her son had been so insistent that she thought he had truly secured the young lady, but it turned out he was just bragging!