Chapter Eighteen: I Do Not Want Charity, Only What I Deserve

Keyunbai was clearly still reeling from the sting of Xiao Chengze’s subtle boasting, pouting stubbornly in silence.

“Your Majesty, um… could we perhaps pack up these oranges, grapes, and bananas that we’ve eaten?” Since her son wouldn’t speak, Su Jingluo had to ask on his behalf. As for the meat, that could always be bought with money, but these fruits were another matter entirely—impossible to find just for the right price, especially in the dead of winter with such difficult transportation. These were true treasures.

“Pack up?” It was the first time the emperor had heard this phrase.

“I mean, if I can’t finish them, could I take the rest with me?” Su Jingluo explained hurriedly.

“Of course. Someone, prepare all the grapes, oranges, and bananas in the palace for King Jing to take with him when he leaves. See if there are any other fruits as well, and pack them all together.” The emperor was slightly bemused by Su Jingluo’s request—was that really all she wanted?

“Is that all?” Xiao Jingxuan asked Su Jingluo coldly. She nodded.

Xiao Jingxuan cupped his hands to the emperor and empress and said icily, “If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

“Yes, go ahead. We must gather more often in the future. We are all family, after all.” The emperor and empress offered the usual hollow courtesies, though they likely wanted Xiao Jingxuan and his party gone as quickly as possible—after all, things had grown rather awkward.

Before the words had even left his lips, Xiao Jingxuan was already pulling Keyunbai along, who in turn tugged Su Jingluo as they hurried out. As they left, the empress rushed after Su Jingluo, grasping her hand and squeezing out a few reluctant tears for show.

Xiao Jingxuan didn’t give them any chance for pleasantries, not slowing his stride for a moment. Su Jingluo actually wanted to linger a bit longer—what about the gold she’d been promised, and the pearls, those ten bushels of East Sea pearls? Where were they? The fruit she wasn’t worried about—it was supposed to be loaded onto the carriage already.

“Xiao Jingxuan, slow down, the gold! We haven’t collected the hundred taels of gold yet! And the pearls, the East Sea pearls—ten bushels of them!” Seeing that Xiao Jingxuan wouldn’t stop, Su Jingluo began to fret.

“You’re a princess consort—do you really care that much about such things?” Xiao Jingxuan suddenly stopped and shouted at her.

“What do you think?” Su Jingluo halted as well, staring at him in response.

“Don’t yell at my mother!” Keyunbai shook off Xiao Jingxuan’s hand and stood in front of Su Jingluo, shouting fiercely back at him.

Xiao Jingxuan was stunned. Yes, these two really did care about such things. Those who possess the world can never know that even three rooms beneath a tiled roof can be called home. Lin Feifei might not care, for she’d never lacked for food or clothing, but Su Jingluo and Keyunbai truly did.

“I will give them to you,” Xiao Jingxuan said, his tone much gentler.

Su Jingluo took Keyunbai’s hand and placed it back into Xiao Jingxuan’s palm, then took her son’s other hand and started toward the palace gates.

“Xiao Jingxuan, what I’m getting today is a doctor’s fee—something I earned. You have so much, but if you choose not to give, we have nothing. I understand that security is something you give yourself. So there’s no need for you to act this way—I never expected your approval anyway.”

She couldn’t care less whether he was angry; after all, he never seemed happy about anything. He should be called Xiao the Sullen, not Xiao Jingxuan.

Xiao Jingxuan didn’t argue, mechanically following mother and son outside, silently turning over Su Jingluo’s words in his mind. How broad was this woman’s heart, how great her ambition? When had she become this way? What had he missed over these five years?

“So when exactly will the hundred taels of gold and the ten bushels of pearls be given to me?” After a while, Su Jingluo couldn’t hold back; in her mind, practical gains far outweighed any show of bravado.

“The eunuchs have been waiting at the palace gates—they’ll load all your rewards onto your carriage. It’s best not to flaunt such things on your way out; they’re not easy to carry,” Xiao Jingxuan explained patiently, not raising his voice.

“Oh my, how thoughtful! Let’s hurry, I can hardly wait.” Su Jingluo immediately dragged Keyunbai forward at a brisk pace, and Keyunbai, as if by instinct, let go of Xiao Jingxuan’s hand and dashed after his mother.