Chapter 83 - Being Favored Only for a Period (1/2)

Shi Junhe patted Qingxue’s head and said helplessly, “Well, you can tell me now.”

Shi Qingxue smiled sweetly and got to the point. “Father, tell Chi to marry Baoning.”

Shi Junhe was shocked and suddenly raised his head, meeting Qingxue’s bright eyes. Then he found Baoning’s shy and joyful expression. He realized what was going on.

He had known that Qingxue didn’t have feelings for Wenren Chi and didn’t plan to get them married, but Shi Baoning…

“Ning, do you want to marry Chi?”

Shi Baoning’s face was redder and she lowered her head. After quite a while, she responded in a low voice, “I will listen to you.”

That was not an answer.

Shi Junhe had noticed Baoning’s secret thoughts long ago, but then they were still young, and he often went out to the battlefields everywhere with Wenren Chi, so he didn’t consider this matter.

Now that they mentioned it, Shi Junhe thought about it seriously but didn’t answer. He said, “I will discuss it with Chi. Ning, you go back first.”

Shi Baoning nodded and ignored her little sister, running away.

Shi Qingxue stared openmouthed and was about to call Baoning when she found that Shi Junhe was looking at her with a complex expression.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

Shi Junhe sighed deeply. “Qingxue, do you really not like Chi?”

“Father, aren’t you going to arrange marriage for Baoning and Chi? Why do you ask me?” Shi Qingxue thought there was something wrong with her father.

Shi Junhe was unable to reply. Under Qingxue’s pure eyes, he couldn’t explain to his daughter, “With Baoning’s current position, she would live a good life even if she marries some man randomly, but you are different. You won’t be favored forever. If you can’t marry a good man, you would probably be miserable for a lifetime. And in my opinion, Wenren Chi can be depended on for the rest of your life.”

The ups and downs were difficult to explain. Shi Junhe tried to argue the matter off and said the same words, “You go back first, too. I will ask Chi.”

Shi Qingxue refused to go. “Just ask him. I won’t interrupt.”

Shi Junhe had no choice. After pondering for a while, he told Wenren Chi to come to the study but didn’t ask directly. He said, “I hear that many people want to make a match for you recently. Chi, do you have someone you like?”

Wenren Chi was surprised and subconsciously looked at Shi Qingxue. But he looked away after he met her bright eyes. “Father, why do you ask such a question suddenly?”

“Father will make a match for you.” Shi Qingxue ended Junhe’s euphemistic expression.

Junhe knocked at Qingxue’s head and pretended to be angry. “Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t interrupt?”

Qingxue hurriedly covered her mouth and stepped aside, showing that she wouldn’t say anything, but she stared at Wenren Chi and expected his answer.

Wenren Chi hesitated and clenched his fists in the sleeves. But soon he calmed down and said in a hoarse and bitter voice, “Qingxue, stop joking.”

Anyone could hear the disappointment and helplessness in his words.

Shi Qingxue was more confused. “I wasn’t joking. Don’t you like Baoning? Are you unwilling to marry her?”

Wenren Chi was stunned again and then realized that Shi Qingxue didn’t bring up the old story but wanted to pair him off with Baoning.

For a moment, he was relieved, frustrated and desperate…

He didn’t know which emotion got the upper hand. At last, he could neither laugh nor cry. “Don’t talk nonsense. Ning is my younger sister.”

He said with equanimity and had never thought of this possibility.

Shi Qingxue and Junhe looked at each other and thought it was lucky that he had told Shi Baoning to leave earlier.

But at this time, there was a voice from outside the door.

“My Lord, King Rui’s eldest son came to see Lady Qingxue. Madam asked me to bring her to meet the guest.”

The three in the room were all astonished. Shi Qingxue came back to her senses first and showed a smile automatically. She responded, “Okay, I am coming.”

Then she met two men’s inquiring eyes. She felt guilty for no reason and explained in a hurry, “I didn’t ask him to come.”

Suddenly Shi Qingxue felt it rather baffling. Why would she have explained?

Fortunately, Shi Junhe was not in the mood to think about it. He waved his hand, gesturing for Qingxue to go out and then looked at Wenren Chi, asking seriously, “Chi, what do you think about the matter we mentioned just now?”

Wenren Chi looked away from the closing door and was asked again. He had to repeat awkwardly, “Ning is my younger sister.”

Shi Junhe didn’t deny it and nodded, but he then asked, “Do you want to marry her?”

Wenren Chi was speechless.

He wanted to refuse as the fist reaction, but all of a sudden, he remembered Mo Junjiu had told him that he had too few bargaining chips.

Wenren Chi had no idea what answer was right, so he had to be frank. “I have never thought about it.”

Shi Junhe nodded and had guessed this answer. He didn’t push Wenren Chi but said sincerely, “Chi, I won’t say something useless to you. Although you and Ning as well as her sisters are close, like siblings, you are not blood-related. I have brought you up and always want you to marry one of my daughters, but it depends on you whether you are willing.