My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 96: Xiao Qibai x Xie Jinjia 2 - Will You Be My Husband?

　　After returning to the Palace, Xie Jinjia felt surprisingly better. 

　　Her mother, Yu Fei, heard that she had escaped from the guards and ran away alone today. Yu Fei was so worried. “My child, there are all kinds of people outside the Palace. If you are not careful, you will be in danger. If you get rid of the guards again next time, your mother will not let you go out.” 

　　Xie Jinjia instinctively thought, No way! Mother can't keep me from leaving the Palace! 

　　She pouted and acted cute. “I know, Mother. I won't do it again.” 

　　Yu Fei continued, “I heard that some people were disrespectful to you today. Those low-class commoners! To dare upset my daughter! It's outrageous!”

　　“I'll have someone teach those commoners a lesson and avenge you, my dear.” 

　　Xie Jinjia stopped her mother. “Forget it, Mother. They didn't really do anything to me. It was just a little money; let it go. I'm magnanimous; I don't want to bother with them.” 

　　Yu Fei raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear such words from her daughter. “Oh? You're not angry?” 

　　“Really,” Xie Jinjia nodded. “I've thought about it. They didn't know I was a Princess; it was unintentional. And, they're my people. I should be tolerant.” 

　　She herself handled hundreds or thousands of taels of silver with a flick of her wrist. Since birth, she'd enjoyed fine food and drink, living in a luxurious Palace. Those commoners might never see that much money in their entire lives. 

　　Why bother arguing with them? she thought. I'll just let it go.

　　After saying that, Xie Jinjia didn't want to talk anymore and ran back to her own Palace. 

　　After a day of playing outside the Palace, Xie Jinjia was covered in sweat. 

　　Her nanny poured water into a bathtub, adorned with freshly picked, expensive flower petals—each one carefully selected by the palace maids for its fullness and beauty. 

　　After washing, her whole body felt soft and fragrant, and all her unpleasantness washed away. 

　　She sat at her dressing table, her long, wet hair loose. Two maids gently helped her dry it, their movements delicate and skillful, causing her no discomfort. 

　　Xie Jinjia propped her chin in her hand, staring intently at the gold hairpin for a long time, her eyes seemingly glued to it.

　　It was obviously the hairpin she wore most often, and she didn't know what was so good about it, but she was fascinated by it. Qingzhu called her name twice before she snapped out of it. 

　　“Princess, your hair is dry,” Qingzhu said, puzzled by the hairpin in her hand. “Is there something special about this hairpin, Princess? You've been looking at it for a long time.” 

　　Xie Jinjia narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn't understand.” 

　　Qingzhu shook her head; she truly didn't understand. 

　　The little Princess often became interested in something on a whim, but her interests rarely lasted. Qingzhu didn't think much of it and helped her into bed. Just as she was about to draw the curtains, the princess spoke again. “Qingzhu, do you think I'll meet him again if I go back to that wonton stall?” 

　　“Who are you talking about, Princess?” Qingzhu asked, confused. 

　　“Forget it, you wouldn't know him anyway.” Xie Jinjia turned over, clutching the hairpin tightly to her chest, and fell asleep.

　　The next day, Xie Jinjia tried her best to leave the Palace, but her mother refused, saying that the Emperor's birthday was approaching and she couldn't go anywhere. She had to embroider a ‘hundred years of longevity’ picture for her father; he would be very happy to receive it. 

　　Xie Jinjia also cared about her father's birthday, but she thought she could spare some time to go outside the Palace. 

　　She hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye to him; she didn't even know his name. 

　　But this time, no matter how much she acted cute and begged, her mother wouldn't let her leave. Xie Jinjia had no choice but to stay in the Palace. 

　　Finally, half a month later, after the Emperor's birthday banquet, Xie Jinjia was allowed to leave the Palace. She immediately went to the wonton stall. 

　　Unfortunately, Xie Jinjia waited from daytime until the city gates were about to close, but she still didn't see him.

　　Xie Jinjia was persistent and went back the next day. She waited for several days, until her mother forbade her from leaving the Palace again, but she still didn't see him. 

　　The same thing happened the second and third month. 

　　Xie Jinjia never saw him again. That feeling, which she herself didn't quite understand, was reluctantly buried in her heart. 

　　Spring turned to autumn, winter snow melted, and another summer arrived. 

　　Bored in the Palace, Xie Jinjia suddenly heard that her sixth brother had been confined to the Cold Palace. 

　　She was only shocked for a moment. She wasn't close to her sixth brother, and her third brother disliked him, so she didn't like him either. 

　　Besides, her sixth brother had a bad temper, and their father never favored him. No one would intercede for him now that he was in the Cold Palace.

　　Xie Jinjia didn't intend to intercede for him. However, hearing others speak ill of her sixth brother and deliberately withholding his food, leaving him hungry, made her unhappy. 

　　No matter how bad her sixth brother was, he was still her brother. Those servants had no right to gossip. 

　　So she found fault with a few obsequious eunuchs and had them slapped. She forbade them from gossiping again; otherwise, next time it wouldn't just be a slap. 

　　The eunuchs knelt and begged for forgiveness, promising they wouldn't do it again. 

　　Xie Jinjia let them go after seeing their remorse. She only meant to scare them and teach them a lesson; the nanny hadn't even used much force. 

　　She just wanted to make sure they wouldn't treat her sixth brother badly again. She remembered that when she was younger and less sensible, she had joined others in bullying him. Now, she felt that was wrong and decided to help him.

　　Today, the third brother was having a banquet in the Imperial Garden. After punishing those bad-mouthed eunuchs, Xie Jinjia went to the Imperial Garden happily to find the third brother. She received a rare and precious item from him. 

　　She held a silver bell, shaking it as she walked back to the Palace, her heart brimming with joy. 

　　The next day, Xie Jinjia took out the clothes she usually wore when she went out of the Palace and put them on. Seeing this, Qingzhu tried to stop her. “Princess, are you going out to find that person again? But Niangniang said you can't leave the Palace during this time.” 

　　Xie Jinjia was fourteen years old; she would be coming of age in a year. She couldn't be as carefree and undisciplined as before. Yu Fei was looking for a suitable husband for her among the sons of noble families, and she was being watched more closely. 

　　But she didn't like those young masters from noble families at all. They relied on their family background, bullied others, and some were already debauched before marriage, with numerous concubines and mistresses. Their education and accomplishments were also lacking; they lived entirely on their ancestors' reputations.

　　Although she, Xie Jinjia, wasn't a perfect person—a bit of a simpleton, actually—she disliked those outwardly refined but inwardly corrupt young masters. 

　　The kind of person she liked... 

　　Shaking her head to dismiss the thought, Xie Jinjia ignored Qingzhu's objections and insisted on going outside the Palace, even threatening the two maids not to tell anyone. 

　　She refused to believe she wouldn't find him after searching for so long. 

　　Qingping and Qingzhu had no choice but to follow her. 

　　The weather was pleasant. They encountered several groups of palace maids and eunuchs along the way, all unusually well-behaved; no one gossiped behind her back. 

　　No one dared to talk about her sixth brother either. 

　　Xie Jinjia was very pleased. 

　　It seemed her ‘kill one to warn a hundred’ tactic yesterday had worked. Let's see if they still dared to withhold her sixth brother's food.

　　“Qingzhu, don't you think the story of me teaching those eunuchs a lesson yesterday has spread everywhere?” Xie Jinjia said cheerfully. 

　　“Definitely,” Qingzhu said with a smile. “They must be afraid of you now and won't dare to be obsequious again.” 

　　“That's right,” Xie Jinjia was even more proud, tilting her chin in pride, feeling quite pleased with herself. 

　　They arrived at the usual exit from the Palace. After walking down a long, tall, and deep Palace path, there was a secluded small courtyard to the side. It had originally been used by officials, but it had been replaced and was now abandoned. 

　　However, there was a dog hole there, leading outside the Palace. 

　　Whenever her mother wouldn't let her leave the Palace, Xie Jinjia would use this route. 

　　As they entered, about to head straight for the dog hole, Qingzhu glanced and noticed something in the old well beside the large tree. She hurriedly alerted Xie Jinjia. “Princess, Princess, look at that!”

　　“What scared you so much?” Xie Jinjia walked towards the well, curiously. Getting closer, she saw a piece of torn clothing. 

　　The well had been dry for many years, so it wasn't deep. Xie Jinjia looked into the well, following the cloth... 

　　“Ah!!!” Qingzhu and Qingping screamed. “Someone's dead!!!” 

　　Qingzhu, with her sharper eyes, pointed at the corpse in the well, exclaiming, “This... isn't this Xiao Fuzi, the one we punished yesterday?” 

　　Xie Jinjia recognized him too. 

　　Xiao Fuzi was the ringleader who had mocked and insulted her sixth brother. That's why Xie Jinjia had made him an example, having the nanny hit him a few extra times, causing him to beg for mercy. There were still marks on his forehead from kowtowing. It was definitely him.

　　But he was dead! 

　　Xie Jinjia's face turned pale. A sudden gust of wind blew the piece of cloth hanging by the well to her feet. Looking down, she saw crimson writing on it, seemingly written in blood. 

　　Looking closely, it read: “The cruel and vicious Princess Chang Le forced me to my death.” 

　　“Ah!!!” Xie Jinjia's face drained of color. She kicked away the cloth, frantically shaking her head. “No, it wasn't me.” 

　　Tears welled up in her eyes. “I only disciplined him a little; I didn't kill him.” 

　　“I... I didn't want him to die…” 

　　Xie Jinjia, despite her arrogance and unreasonable behavior, had only ever scared servants; she had never killed anyone. 

　　This eunuch's blood letter implied she had driven him to suicide. 

　　Tears streamed down Xie Jinjia's face. Looking down at her trembling hands, she wondered... had she driven this little eunuch to his death?

　　“It wasn't me…” Xie Jinjia was distraught, her tears flowing uncontrollably. 

　　“What's wrong?” A calm, cool voice suddenly came from behind. 

　　Xie Jinjia immediately turned around, her eyes widening, her heart seeming to skip a beat. She stood there, stunned. 

　　Xiao Qibai, dressed in official robes, slowly walked over. 

　　He was leaving the Palace when he heard frantic voices and came to investigate. 

　　He found the usually arrogant Princess in tears, standing there in a daze. 

　　He patiently asked again, “What's wrong?” 

　　Xie Jinjia finally came to her senses, saw him, and her tears flowed even faster. She grabbed his sleeve, her trembling finger pointing at the well. “There, a eunuch is dead. He says I forced him to death.” 

　　“But I didn't kill him! I, I only scared him yesterday. I didn't kill him, I didn't kill him.”

　　Xie Jinjia's words were becoming incoherent. 

　　Xiao Qibai frowned, seeing the Princess's frightened and distraught state. He didn't pull away his sleeve but slowly walked to the well and picked up the cloth to examine it. 

　　“I really didn't force him to die. He was mistreating my sixth brother,” Xie Jinjia sobbed. “I just had someone discipline him. I didn't expect him to commit suicide by throwing himself down the well today.” 

　　Xiao Qibai was about to examine the body in the well, but seeing her red and swollen eyes, he let her stand behind him before leaning over to look at the corpse. 

　　The body was blue, with dark marks on the neck. 

　　This didn't look like suicide by falling into a well. 

　　Xiao Qibai sighed softly and offered her a clean handkerchief. “They say Princess Chang Le is spoiled and tyrannical. Why are you crying? You look like a child.” 

　　Xie Jinjia trembled as she cried, taking the handkerchief and wiping her tears fiercely. “I'm not a child!”

　　Xiao Qibai, seeing her slightly calmer, said, “The eunuch in the well didn't commit suicide; he was strangled and thrown in.” 

　　“He didn't commit suicide?” Xie Jinjia stopped crying immediately. “But he left a blood letter.” 

　　“It was a staged suicide, placed in a place you frequent, with a blood letter to make you suspicious and afraid,” Xiao Qibai mused. “I'm afraid it was aimed at you.” 

　　“Aimed at me?” Xie Jinjia sniffed. “But who would dare to frame me? If I find out, I'll have Father punish them!” 

　　Xiao Qibai recalled what she had said earlier. 

　　She had punished the eunuch because of the Sixth Prince, and the next day, the eunuch was found dead on her usual route, deliberately placed for her to find, with a blood letter claiming she had forced him to his death. 

　　This was clearly... a warning, or perhaps intimidation, to prevent her from interfering further. 

　　The people in the palace capable of this... Xiao Qibai's thoughts raced. He turned to look at the little Princess, whose eyes and nose were red from crying. She had become an unwitting victim.

　　And she shouldn't interfere anymore. 

　　“We'll have to investigate to find out who did it,” Xiao Qibai said. “But you didn't kill him, Princess. So, don't cry.” 

　　Xie Jinjia met his gentle gaze and nodded vigorously. 

　　“I—” 

　　Before she could finish, a group of Imperial Guards arrived. Seeing them, the leader, Gao Chang, respectfully saluted. “Your servant greets the Princess.” 

　　His gaze shifted, and his tone turned questioning. “Lord Xiao, what are you doing here?” 

　　Xiao Qibai said calmly, “Just passing by. Since you're here, Commander Gao, I'll trouble you to take care of the body in the dry well.” 

　　“It is my duty.” 

　　Lord Xiao? Xie Jinjia only heard these three words. 

　　So his surname is Xiao... and he's a government official.

　　Xie Jinjia came to her senses and realized he had left sometime ago. 

　　But it didn't matter; she had found him.

    ——

　　Under the bright candlelight, Xie Jinjia lay on the table, staring intently at the handkerchief in her hand. It had no elaborate designs, only a single, upright bamboo stalk embroidered on it. 

　　He had used it to wipe her tears and forgotten to take it back. Xie Jinjia secretly put it away, unnoticed by anyone. 

　　Qingzhu lifted the curtain and entered. Xie Jinjia quickly hid the handkerchief. 

　　Clearing her throat, she asked, “Qingzhu, do you think there are many officials with the surname Xiao in the court?” 

　　She would find him, one by one, if she had to. 

　　Qingzhu thought for a moment. “To my knowledge, besides the Grand Tutor Xiao, only Lord Xiao Qibai has that surname in the court.” 

　　“Ah, so the person who saved us today was Lord Xiao Qibai!” 

　　Xie Jinjia raised the corners of her mouth in triumph.

　　Xiao, Qi, Bai. So he was Xiao Qibai. 

　　Seeing the Princess so happy, Qingzhu asked, puzzled, “Princess, why would you ask about Lord Xiao?” 

　　And that look in her eyes... 

　　“Qingzhu, you know Mother has been choosing a husband for me lately, right?” 

　　“Yes, I know.” 

　　“But I don't like any of those frivolous young masters. Tell me…” Xie Jinjia slowly looked at Qingzhu, “What do you think of me choosing Lord Xiao Qibai as my husband?” 

　　Qingzhu was startled. She hadn't expected the Princess to have taken a liking to Lord Xiao. 

　　She shook her head. “I dare not say.” 

　　“Princess, you really like Lord Xiao?” When did this happen? 

　　Xie Jinjia turned her head, looking out the window, her eyes bright and determined. “Yes.”

　　She had been looking for him for a year.

    ——

　　The next day, Xie Jinjia changed into different clothes and waited outside the Palace for him after the court session. 

　　After a long wait, she finally saw him coming out, about to get into his carriage. Xie Jinjia quickly ran over. “Lord Xiao, could you give me a ride?” 

　　Xiao Qibai paused getting into the carriage and turned around to see a girl in a veiled hat skipping towards him. 

　　He wondered who it was, then Xie Jinjia lifted the white veil, revealing a bright and radiant face. “Lord Xiao, it's me.” 

　　A Princess, disguised in public, trying to stop his carriage. 

　　Xiao Qibai frowned disapprovingly. “This is improper.” 

　　“Men and women should maintain a proper distance; I'm afraid I can't give you a ride, Princess. Besides, it's getting late; you shouldn't be out of the Palace at this hour.”

　　“Alright,” she readily agreed when he said that. “Then I won't go out.” 

　　“Thank you for yesterday, Lord Xiao. I want to thank you,” Xie Jinjia took out an exquisite jade hairpin from her hand. “I chose this for a long time. Would you accept it, Lord Xiao?” 

　　Even as a thank you, it's inappropriate for a woman to give a man a jade hairpin as a gift. She's still a child, so naive. 

　　“No need. It was nothing.” Not wanting to stay longer, Xiao Qibai got into his carriage, leaving only a sentence behind. “Princess, don't worry about it. Please return to the Palace quickly. I have things to do and must leave.” 

　　Watching the carriage drive away, Xie Jinjia pursed her lips in disappointment. 

　　He didn't accept her kindness at all. 

　　After a while, a smile bloomed on her face again. It's okay; she would keep trying. 

　　Since he didn't accept the hairpin, Xie Jinjia had other gifts prepared, along with a thank-you letter she had written all night, sent to Xiao's residence. 

　　The next day, and the day after that, she disguised herself again and waited outside the Palace to intercept him. Even his carriage driver recognized her.

　　After being intercepted for three consecutive days, Xiao Qibai finally had no choice but to accept the hairpin. “In that case, I thank the Princess for her kindness.” 

　　“I've accepted the gift, I hope the Princess won't—” 

　　“Xiao Qi Bai,” Xie Jinjia suddenly called his name, her eyes sparkling. “My mother is choosing a husband for me, but I don't like anyone else. Will you be my husband?” 

　　“After all, you've already accepted my betrothal gift.” 

　　Betrothal...gift. 

　　Xiao Qibai froze, looking at the jade hairpin in his hand, and sighed helplessly. 

　　He had thought the little Princess was just being playful. He accepted the hairpin to end this farce, but he hadn't expected her intentions. 

　　Returning the hairpin, Xiao Qibai shook his head, laughing wryly. “This is absurd.” 

　　He rejected her proposal and left without looking back. 

　　But Xie Jinjia didn't give up. 

　　Whenever she had time, she chased after Xiao Qibai, although she was rejected again and again.

　　Soon, the matter spread. Many people in the Capital knew that the supposedly foolish Princess had feelings for Xiao Qibai, but he had rejected her. Because of this, many people secretly laughed at her behind her back. 

　　But Xie Jinjia didn't mind at all. 

　　No matter how they ridiculed her, she liked Xiao Qibai, and she absolutely would not give up.

    ——

　　Xie Jinjia painstakingly obtained a cool jade stone. She had heard that Xiao Qibai suffered from an old ailment, and this jade stone was beneficial for it. She planned to give it to him. Then he wouldn't be troubled by the ailment anymore. 

　　But for some reason, it rained heavily today. Qingzhu worriedly said, “Princess, perhaps we shouldn't leave the Palace today?” 

　　“No, I have to give it to him today.” The sooner he got it, the sooner his pain would be relieved. A little rain was nothing. 

　　The rain intensified, the dark sky as if a large hole had been dug in it, pouring down rain. 

　　The vendors on both sides hurriedly packed up their things and went home. The streets were full of people running for shelter from the rain. 

　　Xiao Qibai walked slowly towards his residence under an umbrella. He suddenly stopped in a secluded alley in front of his residence. 

　　“Come out.”

　　Xie Jinjia peeked out from behind the wall, sticking out her tongue mischievously. “You found me.” 

　　Then she trotted over, holding up the box containing the jade stone in front of him. The hair on her forehead was already wet from the rain, making her look a little disheveled, but her fair little face was radiant, and her wet eyes were full of smiles. “I had someone look for this for a long time. It can ease the pain of your old arm ailment.” 

　　She held up the box, her eyes full of expectation. She didn't even notice the rain splashing on her face. 

　　Although spoiled, she was still childish. She couldn't wait to show off anything she got. 

　　“Take it back,” Xiao Qibai directly refused. “I don't need it.” 

　　“Why? I found this with so much difficulty!” 

　　“There's no why,” Xiao Qibai said. “Princess, I've told you before, we're not suitable. Don't do this anymore.”

　　“What's unsuitable? Is it because I like you, so everything I do is wrong?” Xie Jinjia bit her lip. She had kindly braved the heavy rain to bring him the jade, and he wasn't even grateful. Her Princess temper flared up. “I don't care; you have to accept it.”  

　　“I'm afraid I can't.” Xiao Qibai shook his head and turned to leave. 

　　He didn't give her any leeway. 

　　Xie Jinjia stood there, watching his figure, letting the rain soak her skirt, and angrily called his name, “Xiao Qibai!” 

　　She pulled out a green bamboo handkerchief from her sleeve. “If you don't accept me, tomorrow I'll show this handkerchief to everyone and say you and I have a secret relationship!” 

　　Xiao Qibai paused, slowly turning around. He saw the handkerchief in her hand, his handkerchief. 

　　He had been in a hurry that day and forgot to take it back. He thought she was still young and that she must have thrown it away long ago, but she still had it.

　　With his handkerchief in her hand, he couldn't explain himself even if he had a thousand mouths. 

　　Now, she was using this handkerchief to threaten him. 

　　The rain continued to fall, the torrential downpour obscuring her stubborn and willful face. 

　　Xiao Qibai's expression was calm; he closed his eyes. 

　　“If the Princess intends to do so, then go ahead.” 

　　His voice was cold and tinged with disappointment. “Tomorrow, I will submit a letter of self-accusation, explaining this matter and resigning from my post to plead guilty. The Princess' threat will be useless.” 

　　He would rather resign than yield to her threat. 

　　This was the first time he had spoken to her so harshly. Before, he had always been gentle with her, even when rejecting her, he wouldn't be so harsh. Xie Jinjia panicked immediately, dropping her umbrella and quickly running in front of him. “Don't.”

　　“I was wrong, I'm sorry…” Tears welled up instantly, and she hurriedly stuffed the handkerchief into his hand. “Xiao Qibai, I'm sorry, I was just speaking angrily. Don't resign, I won't threaten you again.” 

　　She was truly scared; tears kept falling, her voice choked with sobs. 

　　She had dropped her umbrella, and large raindrops fell on her, soaking her hair, her eyes red from crying, looking both pathetic and helpless. 

　　Xiao Qibai looked down at her for a moment, sighed, and slowly raised his umbrella over her head. 

　　She was still just a girl, easily frightened. 

　　Xie Jinjia's rain-soaked clothes made her shiver, her wet eyelashes almost sticking together. Xiao Qibai's compromise made her feel more wronged, and she asked him with tear-filled eyes, “I really worked so hard to find this jade, and I really do like you. Xiao Qibai, you…” 

　　She choked, “Why don't you like me?” 

　　Tears rolled down her cheeks; she tilted her fair little face, stubbornly asking him why he didn't like her.

　　She was like a little cat that had been abandoned, crying in a way that softened one's heart. 

　　Xiao Qibai felt a little helpless, his voice softening. “You're still young; do you understand what love is?” 

　　“I'm not young anymore! I'll be of marriageable age and can get married next year,” Xie Jinjia retorted anxiously. 

　　With a crying voice, she looked at Xiao Qibai earnestly and pleadingly, 

　　“I will grow up. Can you wait for me?”

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter