Chapter 1237: 23 Things About the Fake Emperor and the Powerful Officials
The Xie Mansion was even more deserted than before.
After handling the funeral of Mr. Xie, Xie Qingyun dismissed the few servants in the mansion, leaving only an elderly nanny and a maid who had grown up with her.
Yuan Chizhi seemed to have expected this and brought two of his own guards with him.
Xie Qingyun was dressed in mourning, and seemed to have expected Yuan Chizhi's arrival. She calmly sent away the people around her and was alone with Yuan Chizhi.
The two stood in the corridor, and Xie Qingyun came straight to the point, "I won't marry you."
Shi Li didn't know that when Mr. Xie was dying, he pointed his finger at Yuan Chizhi and asked him to promise to take care of Xie Qingyun for the rest of her life, which meant that he should marry Xie Qingyun.
"Teacher, don't worry. I will definitely take good care of Miss Xie." Yuan Chizhi answered without hesitation. If Mr. Xie had not been in no mood to guess, she would have noticed that he did not mention marriage at all.
Hearing Xie Qingyun's words, Yuan Chizhi turned his head to look at her, "Do you want to go against what the teacher said before he died?"
"Will you marry me?"
Xie Qingyun looked at him without hesitation, her eyes reddened.
Mr. Xie had told her countless times before his death that she should marry Yuan Chizhi in the future and watch over him carefully to make sure he did not do anything wrong and let the people down.
Her parents died early, and she was brought up by Mr. Xie. Her talent was no less than that of ordinary men. But this time, she didn't want to listen to Mr. Xie's last words.
Mr. Xie was loved and respected all his life. He was so selfless and caring for the world that he even sacrificed his son and daughter-in-law.
Xie Qingyun's parents both died in floods in the south in their early years. Thinking of her parents, Xie Qingyun didn't want to sacrifice her whole life to Mr. Xie's heart.
Yuan Chizhi had anticipated Mr. Xie's plan and Xie Qingyun's attitude. He even knew that after a while, rumors would spread in the capital, announcing that he and Xie Qingyun had already been engaged.
Mr. Xie also knew their tempers and was sure that they had a backup plan.
"I have arranged a place for you to go. You might like it."
Yuan Chizhi curled his lips. Mr. Xie had passed away, and it was impossible for him to continue to follow the rules as before.
His original plan for Xie Qingyun was to ensure that she would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life. But now things have changed, and he has a better plan.
Xie Qingyun didn't like the arrangement that Old Xie had made for her, but she was also wary of Yuan Chizhi. Upon hearing this, she looked at him warily, "What arrangement?"
"I'll tell you in a few days."
The palace has also become much more frugal in recent days. Shi Li, out of respect for his teacher, decided to fast for a month.
The imperial capital followed suit and reduced many things that were costly and laborious.
Nothing major happened at the morning court session, as the ministers had been suppressed by Mr. Xie and Yuan Chizhi. Even if they had some small thoughts now, they would not dare to act rashly when they saw Yuan Chizhi standing at the head of the ministers like a mountain.
After the court session, Yuan Chizhi naturally stayed.
He also had the documents left by Mr. Xie, and he had to take Mr. Xie's place to complete the rest of Shi Li's emperor courses.
Shi Li had other ideas in her mind, but that didn't stop her from following him and finishing her homework seriously.
She completed her homework stroke by stroke in front of the window, while Yuan Chizhi stood beside her, watching her in silence.
Perhaps because time had passed, Shi Li felt that she was not that afraid of him anymore. Even though she was being watched, she was able to finish her homework calmly, blow dry the last stroke of ink, and then hand it over with both hands.
Yuan Chizhi reached out to take it, but intentionally or unintentionally, he gently placed two fingers on the inside of Shi Li's wrist.
Instantly separate.
Shi Li was stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked at the inside of her wrist.
Under the pale skin, the purple blood vessels and pulses are faintly visible.
Looking at Yuan Chizhi again, he was concentrating on reading her calligraphy, as if what happened just now was just a small accident that was not worth mentioning.
Shi Li didn't take it too seriously, but thought about what she was going to say later, and went over it over and over in her mind.
When Yuan Chizhi finally finished reading her homework, he made a few comments.
Shi Li finally got the chance to speak, "I have a few Duan inkstones in my private storehouse. My dear minister, you have worked hard all the time, so I will give them to you as a reward."
This was the first time she took the initiative to ask for a reward from Yuan Chizhi, but she did not dare to give him anything too expensive. She only picked out a few inkstones that looked familiar to her.
Yuan Chizhi looked at her, raised his eyebrows in surprise, and then said, "Your Majesty, no reward without merit."
"You taught me riding and archery, and now you are teaching me on behalf of Mr. Xie."
Shi Li expected that he would refuse, and had already thought of a way to respond, "I went to the teacher's house that day... I couldn't let those who carried firewood for everyone freeze to death in the snow."
After saying this, Shi Li found that Yuan Chizhi was looking at her quietly. He was not smiling. Instead, his pair of cold star-like eyes were extremely dark, like the distant starry sky or a deep abyss.
She doesn't understand.
"That's right." The next moment, Yuan Chizhi suddenly smiled, slowly took a step back, and saluted, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."