The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 86

Chapter 086 Who Should I Give the Lottery to
“Sister Xiao, don’t misunderstand me. I, I just sprained my foot when I walked past here. That’s why I wasn’t careful …” Lin Yushi’s voice gradually lowered as her snow-white face was dyed with an inexplicable blush.

“Oh, then Miss Lin isn’t too’careful ‘, is she?” Xiao Xi’s lips curled into a mocking sneer.

“Xiao, big sister Xiao … I … I …” Lin Yushi’s eyes were red and her teeth were tightly clenched into her lower lips. Her wet eyes looked at Xiao Xiwei timidly, filled with grievances and sadness.

Seeing Lin Yushi’s weak and pitiful appearance, Xiao Xi Yang frowned slightly and couldn’t help but say, “Little sister, it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Xiao Xiwei coldly snorted and his gaze swept towards Xiao Xiyang sharply. “Since big brother said so, then treat me as meddling in other people’s affairs.” After saying that, he turned to look at Chu Xi, then ignored Xiao Xi Yang and left.

“Sister. Sister.” Xiao Xiyang hurriedly turned around and shouted at Xiao Xiwei’s back twice. However, Xiao Xiwei did not stop for a moment before disappearing. Xiao Xiyang sighed. Only then did he realize that Chu Xizhi was still standing behind him. He couldn’t help but frown and look at Chu Xizhi. “What did you say about Wei’er? Did I say anything wrong just now?”

The corner of Chu Xizhi’s lips hooked, “You don’t know what you said.” After saying that, he raised his eyes and looked at Lin Yushi with a faint smile.

When she touched Chu Xizhi’s gaze, Lin Yushi weakly lowered her eyes. Her hands hidden in her sleeves unconsciously tightened, and she hurriedly said, “This official daughter, this official daughter will leave first.” With that, he hurried away with the help of the girl.

“I always thought that Brother Xiao was an ignorant person. Since when did he know how to show mercy to others?” As soon as Lin Yushi left, Chu Xizhi looked at Xiao Xiyang and teased him.

“What nonsense?” Xiao Xiyang knitted his eyebrows and glared at Chu Xi, “Do you think I’m the same as you?” At this point, Xiao Xiyang rolled his eyes and said, “Could it be that you have angered my sister? She was so angry at you that she threw all her anger on me?”

“It’s true that I offended you. Your sister, I really don’t dare to offend you.” As Chu Xizhi spoke, a sweet smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Xiao Xiyang looked at Chu Xi suspiciously, “What method did you use? I didn’t see how my sister would respond to you on the way here!”

Chu Xizhi rolled his eyes at Xiao Xiyang, “You should stay away from that woman!”

“Woman? Which woman?” Xiao Xiyang was stunned.

“Which other woman? Naturally, she was the one who accidentally threw herself into your arms.” Chu Xizhi glanced at Xiao Xiyang and said.

Xiao Xiyang knitted his brows and thought for a long time before he realized, “Could it be that you’re talking about that Miss Lin just now?” When he saw the trace of contempt in Chu Xizhi’s eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed, “What kind of expression is that in your eyes! Am I not going to say anything else? That was just a misunderstanding!”

“It’s better if it’s a’misunderstanding ‘. Since you’re my future brother-in-law, I have to remind you that it’s not a good thing to send something to my house.”

“I already said it was just a misunderstanding!” Xiao Xiyang was a little angry.

Chu Xizhi sighed and walked to Xiao Xiyang’s side. He raised his hand and extended it towards the hem of his clothes. Not long after, a ruby earring lay on his palm.

“This … what is this? Where did you get it?” Seeing the ruby earring in Chu Xizhi’s palm, Xiao Xiyang was a little dumbfounded. “Could it be that this earring was the one from earlier … What did Miss Lin accidentally drop it on me?”

‘”It’s not’accidental’, ‘accidental ‘falling into your arms, and’accidental’ losing her earring to you? Do you think she’ll’accidentally ‘become your bride next time?” Chu Xizhi raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Xiao Xiyang’s face darkened. “Nonsense, how could there be so many carelessness” As soon as he finished speaking, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. “Don’t tell me you mean, who deliberately dropped this earring on me? Impossible, if that’s the case, how could I not notice it?”

“Big Young Master Xiao is carrying a beauty in his arms. His heart is surging. How could he notice this tiny earring? Perhaps you might not be able to detect it even if someone stabbed you in the chest.” Chu Xizhi laughed teasingly.

Xiao Xiyang’s expression grew darker and darker, but he did not say anything to refute Chu Xizhi’s words.

He did not defend against Lin Yu. Lin Yushi had a soft and weak look on her face, and he didn’t even think about it anywhere else.

“What, you still don’t believe me?” Chu Xizhi raised his eyebrows. “I always thought that the two of them didn’t listen to what was going on outside the window. They were talking about those pedantic bookworms. I didn’t expect that Eldest Young Master Xiao also had this hobby. Don’t tell me you don’t know who Miss Lin’s father is?” Chu Xizhi sighed and continued, “Her father is an assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry. However, this is not important. What is important is that her cousin, Eldest Young Master Xiao, also knows him. He is the current grand fourth prince.”

“What do they want to do?”

Chu Xizhi smiled. “Do you still remember what happened at the matriarch’s birthday banquet?”

The matriarch’s birthday banquet …

On the second day, the weather was exceptionally good. The bright sunlight was shaking above their heads, and everyone gathered at the hunting ground. Following the Emperor’s firing of the first arrow, countless arrows flew out from the silent sky. On the high platform, there were priests singing loudly in praise of the harvest year, As soon as his voice fell, the eight drums beside him rang out in unison. Soon after, dozens of birds of prey were released from their cages. The Crown Prince took the lead and rode his horse towards the birds of prey, followed by a few princes, followed by the young princes and princes of the various prefectures. The vast group of people quickly rushed into the dense woods.

The attendant received the bow and arrow in the Emperor’s hand. The Emperor smiled and sat down. A trace of envy inadvertently flashed through his dark eyes.

Now that he was old and his body was deteriorating, he felt that he was a little overwhelmed. It would be great if he could be ten years younger.

“Your Majesty, have a drink of tea.” At this moment, a soft voice sounded.

The Emperor lowered his eyes and looked at the woman in front of him who was serving him tea. She was dressed in a green palace dress. Her eyebrows were as exquisite as ink, and her phoenix eyes were floating with a faint glow of water. She looked at him quietly like this.

How many years had passed, and she still looked the same as when he first saw her. Time did not seem to have left any traces on her body, but he was already old …

If that person was still alive, I wonder what he would look like now …

After a long time, the person on the dragon chair did not move.

Imperial Concubine Yan was still smiling as she held the cup of tea and quietly looked at the Emperor.

Shen Guifei’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Are you tired?” The Emperor smiled. He reached out and gently shook Consort Yan’s hand. He took the tea from her hand, but he didn’t drink it and placed it on the table in front of him.

Xiao Xiwei frowned slightly.

It was said that the Emperor doted on Imperial Concubine Yan to the extreme, regardless of whether she was the concubine of the previous Emperor, he forcefully took her back from the temple and even sealed her as Imperial Concubine. Some imperial concubines often discussed in private, saying that if it wasn’t for the fact that imperial concubine Shen and the descendants had stopped her, I’m afraid imperial concubine Yan would have been conferred the title long ago.

She used to think so, but seeing this scene today, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart. It was as if a heartless thread was beating in her heart, but she could not catch it.

“Royal Father, Imperial Concubine Mother, it’s boring for us to wait here. Why don’t we guess who will be the one hunting the most today?” The Crown Princess suddenly smiled and stepped forward.

The Emperor pursed the corners of his mouth, “Then you can guess!”

“Since Imperial Father has agreed, how about this? Let’s write down all our names and put them on the tray. Everyone can give us something as a lottery prize.” The Crown Princess smiled.

“The dignified Crown Princess, why are you messing around with me?” Imperial Concubine Shen glared at Imperial Concubine Crown Prince, then turned to look at the Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, look …”

“Just let her do it.” The Emperor waved his hand slightly, his deep eyes showing no signs of fluctuation.

Imperial Concubine Shen gave the Emperor a good look and finally withdrew her gaze, “Then don’t go too far.”

The Emperor and Consort Shen had already spoken, so naturally, someone quickly prepared the items and brought them up.

“Everyone, I have already said that you can only choose one person. Therefore, you must carefully consider who you want to vote for!” The Crown Princess blinked her eyes and smiled.

The young ladies in the stands couldn’t hide their excitement, and they all took off their jewelry and ran forward to put on their colors.

“I bet on the Seventh Prince.” Suddenly, a clear voice sounded from the crowd.

Xiao Xiwei raised his eyes, but that person turned around and looked at her provocatively. It was Uncle Ping An’s young daughter, Zhu Rubi. Xiao Xiwei looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh. Looks like Miss Zhu really loves Chu Xizhi very much! Everyone else knew that she was Chu Xizhi’s fiance. Although she liked it in her heart, she secretly put it on when betting on the lottery. Only this Miss Zhu brazenly ran over to provoke her.

“Sister Xiao, are you angry?” Zhu Rubi raised her eyebrows and looked at Xiao Xiwei.

Xiao Xiwei raised her eyebrows and smiled faintly. “Angry? Why are you angry? Did Miss Zhu think that I would be angry because Miss Zhu betted on His Highness the seventh prince’s lottery?”

“I’m just afraid …”

“Miss Zhu, what are you afraid of? There are a lot of ladies here who voted for His Highness the Seventh Prince’s lottery. No one else is afraid of me getting angry. Why is Miss Zhu the only one who is afraid?”

Xiao Xiwei’s words almost made it clear that Zhu Rubi had some shameful thoughts towards the Seventh Prince.

Zhu Rubi’s chest froze, her face flushed red.

“Rubi, don’t be rude.” Uncle Ping An hurriedly pulled Zhu Rubi back.

“Second Miss Xiao, it’s your turn. Remember, you can only choose one.” At this time, the Crown Princess interrupted at the right time.

Xiao Xi smiled.

She knew that the Crown Princess would not suddenly ask the Emperor for a lottery. So, she was waiting for her here. Among the hunters were her fianc é and her brother-in-law. If she chose Chu Xizhi, others would definitely say that she had not even crossed the door when she turned her arm outwards, and if it spread out, it would be frivolous and unstable. If they chose their own brother, they would say that she was clearly an unmarried daughter-in-law of the royal family, but she only cared about her mother’s family. Actually, there were quite a few elder brothers hunting here today. However, if they didn’t vote for their elder brother, they would have their own mother to help them. Others wouldn’t say anything, but she, Xiao Xiwei, didn’t have a mother. She was alone … However, other than the two of them, she couldn’t vote for anyone else.

“Second Miss Xiao, have you thought it over?” The crown princess looked at Xiao Xiwei, and the smile on her lips became even more seductive.

Last night, she had caused her to lose all face in front of everyone. Today, let’s see how she can find it again!

Xiao Xi smiled and took out a jade pendant from his clothes. He calmly walked to the row of colorful plates held by the eunuch, then closed his eyes. Finally, he casually raised his hand and threw the jade pendant upwards.