GBP Chapter 184 Qingciyuan
Chapter 184 Qingciyuan
The Qingciyuan today is no longer what it was when it was first opened. It now occupies an entire street. Although it is located in a slum street, it has been continuously renovated over the years and has all the necessary facilities like ordinary people's houses.
At this time, Mrs. Qian was in Qingci Temple. This year, she did not go to Miaoling Palace to escape the summer heat with others, but lived in Qingci Temple with her little daughter Xiaoguai.
Thanks to Qian Hui who realized that something was wrong and rushed from Miaoling Palace to Qingciyuan with a group of people, he was able to stop the official who held the search warrant outside the gate in time.
Yu Piaolan also didn't go to Miaoling Palace this year. She was now indignant and said, "It's really unfair. Fortunately, General Qian arrived in time, otherwise those of us who really do good things would have to be searched and sent to prison!"
Madam Qian advised, "The search is fake. I'm afraid Xiang Zhuang is just dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong! Piao Lan, you need to control your temper. Don't confront those people head-on, or you'll end up suffering."
Yu Piaolan knew that Madam Qian was doing this for her own good, so she nodded and said, "I'll listen to Sister Hui."
The two were chatting when someone from the concierge came to announce, "Madam, General Qian has arrived."
Yu Piaolan glanced at the sky and said, "It seems that General Qian rushed here as fast as he could after attending court. Sister Hui, do you want me to step aside?"
Madam Qian rolled her eyes at her and said, "I'm afraid the Qingciyuan incident has come to a conclusion. If you don't want to hear it, then leave."
Yu Piaolan cleared her throat and said, "Just pretend I didn't say anything."
Qian Hui entered the room. Madam Qian sat still. Yu Piaolan stood up and saluted: "General Qian, you have worked so hard."
Qian Hui automatically sat aside: "Please stand up!"
Qian Hui then recounted everything that had happened in the Qinzheng Palace today. In the end, both of them listened with admiration. Yu Piaolan thought of her own and her sisters' experiences, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Empress Yi, you are the person I, Yu Piaolan, admire and respect the most in my life!"
Qian Hui couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Empress Yi is indeed a person worthy of admiration!"
Madam Qian sighed softly, "I only regret that I met Concubine Yi so many years late."
Qian Hui looked at Madam Qian: "Madam..."
Yu Piaolan quickly stood up: "Sister Hui, General Qian, I will take my leave first."
Yu Piaolan left the room, and Madam Qian said directly, "It's late today, General, just stay in the side room for one night!"
Qian Hui hurriedly said, "No grievance, no grievance!"
The next morning, when Qian Hui opened the door, he saw Madam Qian leading her little daughter, Xiaoguai, combing her hair on a stone bench in the courtyard. Madam Qian had a gentle smile on her face as she combed her hair, humming an unknown folk song. Such a heartwarming scene left Qian Hui stunned. How long had it been since he had seen Madam Qian smile so relaxedly? It seemed like ages.
Mrs. Qian combed her daughter's hair and stood up with Xiaoguai by her hand. "Wear this simple dress today. After we help those little brothers and sisters, we can change into something prettier, okay?"
The little one nodded obediently: "Okay, let's go quickly, mother!"
Madam Qian tapped Xiaoguai's pretty nose and said, "Turn around for mother to see."
Xiaoguai spun gently, her skirt blooming like a flower. Mrs. Qian also spun around: "Okay, let's go! Let's go have breakfast first!"
Qian Hui watched the scene quietly. Since Madam Qian moved into Qingci Courtyard, he never stepped into the concubine's room again. No matter how Chu Ji cried and acted like a spoiled child, Qian Hui still confined her to the side courtyard and became cold towards her.
After finishing breakfast and leaving Qingciyuan, Qian Hui couldn't help but ask, "Madam, I have already confined Chu Ji to the side courtyard. Can you... return home?"
Qian Hui's mother, Mrs. Qian, did not know Madam Qian's intention at first, but so much time had passed that Mrs. Qian came to her senses. During this period, she came to Qingci Hospital to find Madam Qian and advised her to be more magnanimous. She also said a lot of words in a neither-good-nor-bad way, implying that Madam Qian was ungrateful and did not know how to cherish her good days. All her words were rejected by Madam Qian in person.
At this time, Madam Qian replied calmly, "General Qian, you should return to the palace as soon as possible to serve. My life here is very peaceful. I still think this place is suitable for Xiaoguai and me. Or is the general ready to keep our promise?"
Qian Hui was speechless, then he rode back to Miaoling Palace at full speed.
In the Jingyou Pavilion of the Miaoling Palace, Lan Qingwu stared at the Shenwu Emperor with wide eyes: "Brother Heng, I didn't expect that the anonymous person who donates every year is actually you!"
Emperor Shenwu chuckled and said, "What? Are you surprised? What should I do? My last secret has been known to a weakling just like that!"
Lan Qingwu leaned into the arms of the Shenwu Emperor: "Brother Heng, you are so kind! Thank you!"
Respecting, understanding and supporting yourself in this way is so precious.
Empress Dowager Li wanted to see Emperor Shenwu, so she asked Nanny Li to go to Qingliang Palace to deliver some snacks. At noon, Emperor Shenwu went to Quanhe Pavilion to have lunch with Empress Dowager Li.
After lunch, Empress Dowager Li finally got back to the point: "Your Majesty, I wonder how this Concubine Li has incurred Your Majesty's wrath and has been confined to your palace again? Your uncle came to me to apologize, saying that he sent his daughter to the palace to serve the Emperor and relieve his worries. Who could have known that she would repeatedly anger Your Majesty and make your uncle so anxious and uneasy? Your Majesty, after all, this is your mother's family. You cannot help but be considerate!"
Emperor Shenwu frowned slightly and put down his digestive tea. "Mother, what if I say that Concubine Li is plotting to harm the heir to the throne?"
Empress Dowager Li was shocked. "How could this be? This is impossible! How would this benefit her? She is in the emperor's favor. There is absolutely no need for her to do this!"
"What if I say that even though she has the Emperor's favor, she cannot bear a dragon?"
Emperor Shenwu looked at Empress Dowager Li's almost shocked expression and suddenly felt very bored. "Mother, have you ever truly understood your brother—Duke Cheng'en? Do you know why Crown Princess Li Wanhui fell seriously ill and died after giving birth to Mingzhu?"
"Isn't it because..."
"Isn't it because of my neglect? Yes, I didn't treat Li with affection back then, but I didn't overly favor other women, let alone humiliate Li in public. I even visited her from time to time when she was pregnant with Mingzhu. Li didn't do this because her biological father, Cheng'en Gong, your biological brother, Cheng'en Gong, secretly told Li Wanhui that after she gave birth to the crown prince, she would no longer need me as the emperor! Mother, Li Wanhui is kind-hearted and honest. She has been depressed ever since. Until one day, Li confessed her fears in her sleep, and I discovered it. Then she lost her pregnancy and Mingzhu was born prematurely. Her health has been getting worse since then! Mother, if I had been more cruel, Mingzhu would not have been born! Before she died, Li specifically begged me to ensure Mingzhu's lifelong happiness, and I agreed!"
Empress Dowager Li was shocked beyond words. She had never known her brother to have such ambitions, or even rebellious intentions.
Emperor Shenwu said coldly, "Duke Cheng'en harbors evil intentions. I have always been reluctant to argue with him for the sake of my mother, but he is still ruthless and has always been dissatisfied with my unwillingness to promote the people in Duke Cheng'en's mansion. During the imperial selection three years ago, he sent both his legitimate daughter and his concubine's daughter into the palace! Mother, what else should I do? Can you teach me, or tell me whether you want your mother's family or continue to be the empress dowager?"
"This is... true!" Empress Dowager Li looked at the cold expression of Emperor Shenwu and understood that her son would not lie about such a thing. With Emperor Shenwu's temperament, he would not bother to do so.
This incident really hit Empress Dowager Li hard. What she had always believed was not what she imagined. Her brother from her mother's family, whom she had always trusted, actually had such a rebellious idea. Empress Dowager Li felt as if something in her heart had collapsed.