Chapter 63 (Revised)

It's not just setting a trap; someone is using another person to do their dirty work.

Lu Qin was unaware of Hao Jingshi's thoughts; she was simply happy that he was willing to pull himself together.

Before going to sleep, the two snuggled together and chatted. She told Hao Jingshi that someone had spread the word that he had entered the palace to make clothes for the imperial concubine, and people were flocking to the shop, making it even more popular than before.

When he was recuperating, Chang Le came to the clothing shop once and said she would come to visit him again when she had time, but she never came again after that. I don't know if she was sick.

Later, she childishly poured out her grievances to him, lamenting, "Before, with my husband by my side, I only felt happy and never tired. Now, my husband doesn't want to go out, and I have to do so much work myself. I'm truly exhausted."

After muttering everything in one breath, Lu Qin didn't think about anything and immediately rolled over and snuggled into Hao Jingshi's arms, finding the most comfortable position to curl up in.

Hao Jingshi stroked her head and said a few words of comfort, but as he spoke, the person in his arms became unresponsive. He looked down and found that she had fallen into a deep sleep.

He paused, looking at her exhausted appearance, and felt a pang of heartache.

He had neglected her feelings. These days, she not only had to worry about the clothing store, but also about him, and she had lost a lot of weight.

Moreover, she is busy every day, but he avoids her. If this continues, the two will likely drift apart.

After much deliberation, Hao Jingshi made up his mind to go out.

The following evening, he arrived at the entrance of the clothing shop to wait for Lu Qin.

Lu Qin was tidying up her clothes when she heard Ling'er say that the young master had arrived. She didn't believe it at first, but the next second Hao Jingshi appeared behind her and took the clothes rack from her hands.

When he pulled her into his arms, Lu Qin almost lost her balance. She staggered and turned to look at the person behind her, exclaiming joyfully, "Husband, is it really you? I thought Ling'er was lying to me!"

Hao Jingshi smiled and said, "My wife complained a lot yesterday, so I couldn't sit still. That's why I came to pick you up right away."

“I didn’t complain about you.” Lu Qin glanced at him up and down, quickly seeing through him, and snorted, “Look at your leisurely pace, you don’t look like you came from the manor at all. You’ve obviously been wandering around outside for a long time. Maybe you’ve even secretly met someone behind my back.”

As she spoke, she turned her head away, as if she wouldn't listen to him until he confessed honestly, and continued to pack other clothes.

Seeing this, Hao Jingshi followed closely behind her, chanting as if reciting a mantra: "Good, good, good, Madam is wise, she can even see this."

"I did go somewhere else, not from the manor, but I really didn't go to see any other girls."

Lu Qin turned her head: "You've admitted it yourself, haven't you? I didn't even mention the word 'girl'."

"..."

Seeing that she had turned her back to him again, Hao Jingshi felt like he had swallowed a bitter pill.

He gave a helpless chuckle, stopped behind her, and stretched out his clenched left fist in front of her, then suddenly opened it.

A red string dangled from his palm and came into view. Lu Qin was stunned for a moment and subconsciously stared at it.

But before he could even get a good look at it, Hao Jingshi quickly withdrew it.

"Alas, good deeds go unrewarded; she's more wronged than Dou E." Hao Jingshi dangled the red string, shaking his head. "I just went to Guantao Temple to get a peace charm for my wife, but who knew she wouldn't appreciate my kindness—"

"Then hurry up and put it on!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Qin turned around like a tornado, gave him a big hug, and winked, "Husband, you're so good, I love you!"

"Hmph." Hao Jingshi turned his head away, intending to shout a few more words of grievance, but Lu Qin moved too quickly and then leaned in to kiss him twice.

His face flushed and he lost his temper, obediently extending one hand to cooperate with Lu Qin, tying the red string around her wrist.

Upon closer inspection, the red rope is made of eight strands of silk thread, which are very tightly woven, and its color matches the sunset outside the window.

Lu Qin raised her hand to admire it for a moment, her eyes sparkling, and she couldn't put it down.

“I will wear it carefully,” Lu Qin said sweetly. “By the way, why did you suddenly think of asking for this, my husband?”

"...It's nothing, I just feel like I've been busy lately, and I've been lazing around at home without considering your feelings..."

Hao Jingshi said a couple of things seriously, but couldn't help but stop himself. He was still not good at expressing his heartfelt thoughts, and finally mumbled something in a hurry: "Anyway, I hope you live a peaceful life. You must not lose me."

Lu Qin couldn't help but chuckle at his arguing and bickering.

“I will cherish the things my husband gives me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Then my husband is not allowed to be lazy anymore. You must come to pick me up every day from now on.”

Hao Jingshi nodded and agreed. Just then, he saw several servants slinking by. He quickly picked up Lu Qin, turned around, and hid behind a row of clothes.

...

Hao Jingshi's handwriting has become increasingly better, and it can now rival his right hand. To celebrate his progress, Lu Qin had the servants prepare many delicious dishes, saying that she would have a drink with him when she returned in the evening.

"My dear husband, please come pick me up early today. After we have dinner, let's go for a walk. It's been a long time since you've taken me for a walk."

Before leaving, Lu Qin left these words, and then turned back to add, "It's dark, no one will see the gauze on your hand, it won't make anyone uncomfortable, don't worry."

"..." Hao Jingshi hadn't intended to refuse, and watching her happy departure, he smiled faintly.

She's in a good mood today, and coincidentally, so is he.

If she can live a peaceful life, he will be at ease and ask for nothing more.

After Lu Qin left the mansion, Hao Jingshi strolled around the courtyard and basked in the warm sun.

Wildflowers are in full bloom in spring, and you can smell the fresh scent of earth from afar.

Knowing that the calligraphy teacher wouldn't arrive for another quarter of an hour, Hao Jingshi asked Xuan Lan to get a small hoe and quietly loosened the soil around the flowers.

After a while, Xuan Lan jumped down from the tree again and said that she saw a carriage parked at the gate. Just as she finished speaking, the gatekeeper came in to tell her that an eunuch from the palace had come to see her.

Hao Jingshi instructed his servants to take the person to the main hall, while he went ahead to wait.

Upon meeting, the eunuch bowed and introduced himself as someone from the Emperor's side, saying in a high-pitched voice, "This servant greets Young Master Hao."

"No need for such formalities, sir." Hao Jingshi glanced at him. "May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

"This servant is here to convey His Majesty's decree," the eunuch said unhurriedly. "His Majesty is overjoyed that the Consort has given birth to a prince. Now that the prince is a month old, His Majesty, mindful of the contributions of the Hao family, has specially sent this servant to invite the heads of the Hao family to a banquet in the palace."

Attending a banquet? How sudden.

Hao Jingshi paused for a moment: "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty, but as you have seen, I have an unhealed wound on my hand, and I may very well be disrespectful in front of the Emperor. I am afraid it is not appropriate for me to meet with the Emperor..."

“There’s nothing inconvenient about it.” Unexpectedly, the eunuch interrupted with a smile, “You are the new head of the household, your clothing shop is thriving, and you were doing work for the Consort a few days ago. The Emperor values ​​you highly. If you don’t go, the Emperor will be disappointed.”

Hao Jingshi hadn't thought much of it at first, but when he heard the eunuch's tone suddenly become strange, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

The eunuch threatened him again, using the charge of disobeying the imperial decree with a hint of warning: "Young Master Hao, I have delivered this message. The date is set for two days from now. All of Hao's relatives and nobles will be attending. Have you thought it through? Don't let your actions displease the Emperor."

Hao Jingshi looked up at the eunuch, who was still smiling, with a strange sense of superiority about him.

Knowing he couldn't refuse, he tactfully replied, "I understand, Father-in-law, don't worry, I will go as promised."

The eunuch was clearly very satisfied with the answer, and immediately bowed and took his leave without saying another word.

Watching his departing figure, Hao Jingshi fell into deep thought, feeling that the matter was too hasty and seemed to have another purpose.

He was pondering the eunuch's words when, unexpectedly, Xuan Lan came to tell him that someone from the palace was requesting an audience.

Two people came to the palace at once, which was unprecedented.

Hao Jingshi invited the person in with suspicion. This time, the person who came was a palace maid, whose face was completely covered.

Upon seeing him, the palace maid immediately pulled off her veil, revealing a very flustered expression: "This servant greets Young Master Hao."

Hao Jingshi recognized her: "You are someone from Princess Chang Le's side, aren't you?"

The palace maid curtsied and said, "Yes, young master has a good eye."

"Why didn't the princess come with you?"

"The princess is unable to leave the palace, so she has specially sent me here. I have something urgent to tell you."

As the palace maid spoke, she glanced at Xuan Lan, who, seeing this, tactfully left.

Hao Jingshi asked in confusion, "What is it?"

The palace maid then hurriedly said, "The princess asked me to convey that Consort Fang took Lady Qian to see the Emperor a few days ago. I don't know why, but I heard that after Lady Qian left, the Emperor summoned Consort Hao and yesterday suddenly ordered a retrial of the governor's case."

"The princess was worried that Qian's father would turn against her, so she went to the palace under the pretext of visiting the Consort to inquire. However, she learned that the Consort was under house arrest. After leaving the palace, the princess found that the Prince's mansion was also being watched by many secret guards. She then deduced that someone had set a trap to frame the Consort, the Prince, and the Hao family."

"The Hao family?" Hao Jingshi keenly realized something. "The Imperial Concubine's confinement is related to me?"

"Yes." The palace maid looked worried. "Afterwards, the princess bribed a eunuch to interrogate her. The eunuch said that on that day, Consort Fang accompanied the Emperor to the embroidery workshop to check the congratulatory gifts for the Empress Dowager. The Emperor saw the people in the embroidery workshop making the Imperial Concubine's new clothes, so he took a curious look and found that the clothes were embroidered with peonies that could only be used by the Empress..."

"After Consort Fang stirred things up with a few words, the Emperor began to investigate. Upon questioning, the people in the embroidery workshop confessed that you had designed the garment pattern..."

"Nonsense." Hearing the seriousness of the matter, Hao Jingshi frowned deeply and blurted out, "The design on the garment clearly shows roses, how could it have turned into peonies? Are they blind?"

“The princess also suspects this,” the palace maid said, bowing her head. “If the design was wrong, why didn’t these people notice it earlier, but waited until the embroidery was finished so the Emperor could see it? This is clearly something someone did on purpose, setting you up…”

Setting a trap... Peony...

Hao Jingshi's mind went blank for a moment, then he lost all interest in what the palace maid said next.

Finally, she said sadly, "Young Master Hao, I risked my life to come here, but I'm afraid I won't have the chance to see you again. I don't know what's going on in the palace. If something happens to you, I hope you can find a way to protect yourself, so that my trip won't be in vain."

After explaining everything, the palace maid bid him farewell and left, her footsteps suddenly becoming louder.

Not just footsteps, Hao Jingshi felt that all the sounds around him had suddenly become amplified. Sparrows, returning from who-knows-where, chirped merrily from the eaves.

He stood there stunned, facing the golden sunlight, feeling utterly cold.

A vast wasteland spread across my heart, like an acre of flower field burned down, leaving only a patch of dry, dead ashes.

The emperor was suspicious of the Hao family, but it was only because my grandfather withdrew from the court that a bloody storm was averted.

Now that his cousin has given birth to a prince, there is a possibility that he will compete for the throne. The emperor will definitely be on guard again. At this critical juncture, his clothing design has also run into trouble, raising suspicions that he helped the imperial concubine usurp the throne...

The Imperial Concubine and the Princess of Pingfan were once close friends. The Emperor probably thought that the three of them were colluding, which is why he confined the Imperial Concubine and also monitored the Prince of Pingfan's residence.

So what about the Hao family...?

Was the so-called banquet actually a trap?

What a well-thought-out plan.

He was too complacent and careless, so much so that he didn't even realize he was being set up...

No, it's more than just setting a trap.

The person behind this is truly insidious.

This is clearly a case of using someone else to do one's dirty work; it's a long-planned revenge against him, aimed at wiping out his entire family...

Hao Jingshi numbly raised his right hand, and suddenly felt a stinging pain in it again. He was a little unsteady on his feet and reached out to hold onto the lampstand.

Xuan Lan strode in at that moment, and seeing his pale face, quickly helped him up.

"Young Master, what's wrong?"

"Your calligraphy tutor is waiting in the study. If you are not feeling well, I will escort him back."

"...No need." Hao Jingshi snapped out of his daze, pushed him away, and said blankly, "I'll go right now."