Chapter 136 Summoning

Xiao Tao kept her head down, her eyes fixed on her knees on the floor tiles. Listening to the swallowing sounds above her head, her stomach churned.

Jiang Ruyi placed the empty bowl heavily on the tray, his eyes swept over Xiaotao's thin figure, and a sardonic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:

"Why, that bitch of the Bai family got whipped, and you, your little hoof, got distracted too, but you're so worried about your master that you don't even want to serve me?"

Xiao Tao shuddered all over and lowered her head even lower: "I dare not, I am just worried about Madam's health and afraid that this medicine is too bitter."

"Stop being so hypocritical!"

Jiang Ruyi interrupted harshly, his chest heaving violently with excitement, and his face turned even paler.

"Go back to your master and tell her to take good care of her foxy face. Wait until I give birth to a legitimate son and have time to dote on her!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Xiao Tao felt as if she had been pardoned, and she almost used both her hands and feet to crawl out.

The old lady of Anping plucked her Buddhist beads and listened to Mother Zhou's low voice reporting on the situation in Ningxiang Garden.

"Madam still found the medicine bitter and threw a tantrum, but she finally drank it."

Mother Zhou looked at the old lady's expression and chose her words carefully.

The old lady closed her eyes and twisted the smooth sandalwood beads one by one with her fingers. There was no expression on her face, and she only snorted through her nose:

"Let her make a fuss. She's pregnant with my Xun family's grandson. What's the big deal about her temper? As long as she takes the medicine, will Mrs. Bai still be obedient?"

"Mrs. Bai has been quiet, recuperating from her injuries. Xiao Tao looked terrified. When she came out of Ningxiang Garden, her face was as white as paper."

"Hmph, useless thing."

The old lady curled her lips downwards.

The sky outside the window was gloomy, with low clouds and a dull feeling of impending rain.

Xun Chen felt so choked up that he couldn't breathe.

The wind direction in the capital changed too quickly. In the past two days, not even a dog was spared in the Lin family. Households were confiscated, families were exterminated, and nine generations of the family were exiled. These news circulated in the circle of nobles every day.

“Bang!”

Xun Chen threw down his pen in annoyance, walked a few steps to the window, and pushed open the heavy carved wooden window with force.

The wind suddenly rushed in, making his robe rustle and blowing away the suffocating air in the study.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the uneasiness surging in his heart, and his knuckles turned white as he held on to the window frame.

Inside the hall, there are wisps of precious ambergris.

In front of the phoenix-peony screen, Concubine Qin leaned lazily on the chaise longue covered with snow-white fox fur.

She was wearing the latest crimson purple palace dress, the hem of her skirt was densely embroidered with bird patterns in gold thread, her hair was in a high bun, and a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin with red gold, kingfisher feathers and a pearl was inserted diagonally into her hair. The pearl tassels hanging from the phoenix's mouth swayed gently as she turned her head, reflecting the brilliance in her deep phoenix eyes.

The crimson nail polish on her fingertips lightly touched the thin Ding kiln white porcelain tea cup in her hand.

"Qingning,"

Concubine Qin's voice was filled with a familiar intimacy, and her eyes fell on Jiang Qingning who was sitting below.

"It's been a while since I've summoned you to the palace, and it's become a lot quieter here."

"My silly brother has been so busy lately that he even rushed to pay his respects to me. Do you know what he's been busy with?"

Jiang Qingning sat upright on the embroidered cushion with his back straight.

She was wearing a plain satin dress of azure blue, with only a few faint silver lotus patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and no other superfluous ornaments on her body.

Her black hair was simply tied into a bun and pinned with a plain silver hairpin, which was so simple that it was out of place in this magnificent palace.

When she heard the question, her eyelashes drooped slightly and her gaze fell on the teacup she was holding.

A few tender buds of Biluochun tea floated in the clear tea soup, just like her restless mood at the moment.

She was silent for a moment before she raised her eyes and met Concubine Qin's gaze. Her voice was clear and calm:

"Your Majesty, what Lord Qin did has its own profound meaning. I dare not speculate."

"Don't dare to speculate?" Concubine Qin chuckled.

"Then I'll tell you, my brother cleared this stumbling block for you without blinking an eye. His actions were lightning fast and efficient. Even His Majesty praised him for his kind father and kind son."

Jiang Qingning's fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly. Concubine Qin's words tore open the seemingly calm curtain, exposing in front of her what Qin Xiu had done for her.

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Concubine Qin looked at Jiang Qingning's face with satisfaction and spoke again, adding a hint of sincerity:

"Qingning, I'm very close to you and don't want to beat around the bush. Now that the thorn in the Lin family has been removed, your father's pressure in Lingnan will naturally be greatly reduced."

"I'm sure you have your own opinion on how my brother Qin Xiu treats you. He's done so much for you, and his heart is clear as day. I summoned you here today because I wanted to hear your opinion in person. What do you think?"

Jiang Qingning felt his throat tighten.

She couldn't deny that she had feelings for Qin Xiu.

However, she became an orphan, her parents and brothers were far away in the malaria-ridden area and could not be reached by the emperor. Her life and death and future depended on the emperor's whim.

She was alone, drifting like a floating duckweed.

The Duke's Mansion is one of the most powerful noble families in our dynasty, with great power and influence at its peak.

Concubine Qin is already the de facto supreme ruler of the harem, and the fourth prince Lu Yong is very fond of her.

The position of the Crown Prince's wife in the Duke of Qin's Mansion is the ladder to success that many noble ladies dream of.

Is this really something she can cling to?

Her fingertips were cold, and she slowly raised her eyes, trying to maintain a calm voice: "Your Majesty, your kindness is so great, and I am terrified."

"Prince Qin has the appearance of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, a rare talent among men. He treats me with all his heart. I am not a plant, how could I be ignorant and insensitive? But..."

She took a deep breath and said, "I am now alone, with no one to rely on. My family is in misfortune, and my parents and brother are stationed far away in Lingnan. My future is uncertain."

"I fear that my humble status and limited luck will only lead to criticism. I am even more afraid that I will bring disaster to the Crown Prince's reputation and tarnish the Duke's Mansion. I truly do not deserve the title of marrying above my station."

"I am alone and dare not reach out..."

Concubine Qin repeated these words in a low voice, carefully examining Jiang Qingning's expression, and suddenly chuckled.

"Forget it, you are a thoughtful girl with many concerns. I summoned you here today to reminisce about the past, but ended up putting you in such a difficult position."

She changed the subject, her tone casual and homely: "Speaking of which, the tribute lychees from Lingnan are almost here. In previous years, they were always too far away, and by the time they reached the capital, they had lost their freshness and sweetness."

"I was a greedy eater when I was young. I don't know if I can try something new this year."

Jiang Qingning was slightly startled, then smiled as Concubine Qin continued, "Your Majesty, Lingnan is hot and humid, so lychees do ripen earlier than in Beijing."

"However, the journey is long. Even if we rush the horses to the capital, the flavor will probably be reduced. Compared with the fresh fruits and vegetables tributed by other countries, it is just an ordinary thing."

It's not that she hasn't tried to send a caravan to Lingnan, but the journey is dangerous and bandits have been rampant for many years. The manpower and material resources consumed alone are beyond the capacity of ordinary caravans, and there is no caravan from Lingnan to pick them up.

Not to mention the lychees shipped from Lingnan. Even if they are ripe in the early season, they will mostly go bad when they are shipped.