Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 9: Confront Your Feelings Honestly (4)

Bai Fen patted her son's shoulder again and gave a smile. "Well, maybe there's more to him than we've given him credit for so far. Just keep an eye on it and see how things go. You know you have time to decide on your spouse. And since Longjun has stuck around for a year already, I'm sure that he will do so for much longer. Don't feel forced to decide."

Jing He nodded. "I'll do that, mother. Thank you for your advice."

"Alright, that was everything I wanted to know. I should leave you to yourself now." She patted his hand and then turned around, leaving his palace and returning to her own. She sat down in front of the window facing her own garden and waved at a servant. "Go to the dragon realm. I'd like to invite Longjun to a cup of tea whenever he has time."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The servant hurried away and Bai Fen continued to look out of the window, waiting. Considering how that guy had behaved before, he should come over soon, using the opportunity to display his charm in front of her in the hope of her putting in a good word for him with Jing He. So most likely, she wouldn't need to wait long.

Bai Fen was right about that. Even though the servant that had hurried over wasn't able to find him immediately, Qiu Ling rushed to the Nine Heavens as soon as Xiang Yong was able to locate him and tell him what had happened. Hearing that his mother-in-law wanted to see him, Qiu Ling threw the flowers aside that he had picked and wanted to rush over, but stopped after a few steps. He went back to pick the flowers up again and then rushed to the Nine Heavens, landing right in front of Bai Fen's palace.

Hearing the commotion outside of her palace when the guard started to yell at him, Bai Fen sighed. Whatever had happened at the festival, this Longjun was obviously back to acting as he had before. Well, maybe this had really just been Jing He's misconception somehow. She couldn't imagine that though. After all, her son had always been good at judging people. With how much he cared about his reputation, he had learned to observe everything about them. What they said or how they behaved, he wouldn't miss out on any details. So if he felt that Longjun was behaving completely different from before, then there had to be something to that claim. This might really be Longjun acting in front of her son.

Bai Fen once again waved at one of her servants. "Go and let him in. I've invited Longjun so it would be in bad taste to have the guards try and fight him."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The servant went outside, calling out to Qiu Ling. "Welcome, Longjun. The Heavenly Empress is inviting you inside."

Qiu Ling perked up and gave the guards a triumphant grin. See that? Hadn't he said so? But no, they had felt as if they shouldn't listen to him. This was completely their own fault! He hurried after the servant girl, smiling brightly at Bai Fen. "Mother-in-law! I hope you didn't have to wait too long."

Bai Fen smiled wryly. "I think I told the servant to tell Longjun that he could come by whenever he wanted and had time. I never said you had to come over immediately."

Qiu Ling smiled happily and approached her, pushing the flowers toward her. "Ah, but if it's my mother-in-law calling, then naturally, I'll come over as soon as possible."

Bai Fen nodded and motioned at the servant to take the flowers before she got up and nodded outside. "Longjun, why don't you take a walk with me?"

Qiu Ling nodded and followed her into the garden.

Bai Fen looked at the person next to her, trying to see the mysterious maturity her son had mentioned. Needless to say, she failed miserably. This person ... Where was he mature? That silly smile, the way he excitedly looked at her with bright eyes, waiting for what she had to say, how he had beaten up the guards before ... Wasn't he just as childish as ever?