Return to Beijing

"Your Highness, what is this Jiangnan case about? Why don't you tell me about it?"

The atmosphere in the carriage became increasingly heated. Qi Qinghe cleared his throat a few times and changed the subject.

Xiao Junbai said nothing, but knocked on the table to signal her to look for herself. The arms that were holding the person tightened, making the person stick closer, and buried his head in the person's shoulder.

The woman's unique makeup seeped into my nose, with a faint scent of flowers.

Qi Qinghe was held by him, and even if she stretched out her arms, she couldn't reach the document, so she had to give up, twisting her fingers with anxiety.

Putting aside the night when the prince got drunk, the two of them hadn't been close for a long time, let alone in bed. Although it couldn't be said to be repulsive, it was a bit awkward.

After a long time, Qi Qinghe didn't see any movement from the prince, so she felt relieved and hugged him back with her slender hands.

In the end, she didn't get to hear about that case.

…

It was still the end of May before I returned to Beijing, and it was already the beginning of July when I returned to Beijing.

When she first came to the capital, she was an orphan and a widow with no one to rely on, so she went to live with her relatives. When she returned to the capital, she had become the Crown Princess and she and Qi Xu received a lot of care along the way.

When she first set out on her journey home, she was still thinking about how to make up for the fact that she had escaped during the autumn hunting last year.

However, no matter what she said or how she asked, the prince did not mention a word about it, and only said that there was no need to worry about it.

I asked several times and tried to come up with some solutions, but they were all rejected one by one, and I never mentioned them again.

Unexpectedly, the carriage and the prison car went in two different directions.

The prince's carriage stopped at the foot of Fengshan Mountain.

What comes into view is the well-arranged houses and palaces, a completely different scene from last year's autumn hunting.

The palace is hidden among the mountains, rocks, forests and springs, with lush branches and leaves, quiet and elegant.

Xiao Junbai got out of the car, turned around and supported Qi Qinghe steadily, his dark eyes dotted with a smile, "Do you still remember whose palace this is?"

As Qi Qinghe stepped out of the car, the hot wind blew against her face. She fanned herself constantly in her hand and, following the Crown Prince's words, thought of the people she knew one by one. "It's Her Royal Highness the Princess."

The eldest princess, Xiao Junmei, was not kept in the palace. She lived at the foot of Fengshan Mountain and rarely interacted with the royal family.

Xiao Junbai nodded almost inaudibly, "You'll stay here for the time being."

Qi Xu and Qi Qingyu got off the car one after another, looking around in confusion, their eyes full of doubts.

At this moment, a bright and bold voice slowly rang out, "Why, does the Crown Prince think my land is too small and is wronging the Crown Princess?"

Several people looked back.

The person who came was wearing a crimson gauze dress, her hair half draped over her shoulders was blown by the wind, the jade hairpin in her bun was emerald green and transparent in the sunlight, her eyes were bright and her teeth were white, her beauty was unparalleled, it was none other than the eldest princess Xiao Junmei.

Xiao Junmei quickly approached, holding the hem of her skirt. Without waiting for a response, she reached out and pinched Qi Qinghe's slightly round face. "I thought you and the Crown Prince were fine, so you might come sit with me and help me relieve my boredom. I never thought you, little girl, would come all the way here."

The princess's half-complaining words eased Qi Qinghe's tense heart. She smiled and said, "Since we're here today, princess, please don't think we're annoying."

The two chatted for a while and had a very pleasant conversation. The prince interrupted at the right time to say goodbye and had to return to the palace in time.

She secretly thought that the prince must have returned to the palace to deal with government affairs and her life experience. She touched her nose and said with a guilty conscience, "Your Highness, please be careful."

Xiao Junbai nodded, got on the carriage and drove away.

The three members of the Qi family followed the eldest princess to the temporary palace.

"The prince has already told me about the marriage substitution and the secret escape in his letter," Xiao Junmei asked curiously, "Why don't you tell me in detail what exactly happened?"

Qi Qinghe hesitated for a moment and only gave a general account of the matter.

"Then Qi Lin really doesn't..." Xiao Junmei listened carefully and cursed without thinking. Halfway through, he caught a glimpse of Qi Qingyu following behind him. He cleared his throat and changed the subject, "This is my only rule: to chat with me and relieve my boredom. Other than that, there's nothing special."

While they were chatting and laughing, they arrived at the palace.

"If you need anything, just call the maid." Xiao Junmei waved her hand, and the maid stepped forward and bowed slowly, looking among the people with a slightly curious look, leading them to the courtyard where something had been cleaned up.

The tidied courtyard is spacious and elegant, with occasional falling leaves and petals, and the fragrance is refreshing.

Qi Qingyu turned around, and the maid's figure disappeared from her sight. Then she stepped forward, took her sister's arm and asked hurriedly, "Sister, don't you think it's strange that if the eldest princess wanted to entertain people, why would she hide in the mountains and forests?"

"Could it be that they have some ulterior motive?" She had heard some rumors and thought that these princesses and princes were not easy to deal with.

Qi Qinghe laughed, "That's not the case."

I had met the eldest princess once in the palace. I knew that she seldom came into the palace often. She was a bright and outgoing woman, not someone who would do anything behind the scenes. Moreover, the prince was willing to write a letter to tell him the reason, which meant that he had some trust in her.

But her younger sister's words woke her up.

She had never believed that the Third Prince would rebel, but the fact was that she should be careful in everything.

"Madam... Madam, then I..." Li Niang did not speak to the girl from the landlord on the way back to Beijing. She was silent alone in the corner. She could not change her name for the time being. She had never met such an important person in her life, so she spoke hesitantly and could not express herself clearly.

Qi Qinghe looked over and saw that it was Li Niang. She raised her long and slender eyebrows and smiled to comfort her, "Don't worry, Li Niang. There is no shortage of places for you in such a large palace. Don't worry."

Li Niang originally thought that she could just find a cloth shop or embroidery workshop and have something to eat. She never thought of staying in this prosperous place and being with these important people. She was afraid that she would be nervous and clumsy and annoy the nobles. She also stumbled and couldn't speak clearly, so she had to hang her head dejectedly and dared not say more.

The sun was already high in the sky, the sunlight was getting brighter, and it was almost noon.

Xiao Junbai's carriage stopped in front of the palace gate, and a palace attendant was already waiting there. "Your Highness, His Majesty has been waiting for a long time."

The prince looked normal. He asked about his father and mother's recent situation, lowered his eyes to listen to the palace servants' answers, and walked all the way to Xuanming Palace.

Inside the Xuanming Hall, the court officials had just finished their meeting. The emperor was sitting behind the desk, writing something when he suddenly heard a palace maid report that the prince had arrived.

The emperor was in a daze for a moment, then he realized that the prince had been inspecting Jiangnan for more than a month. He was happy, but then he remembered what the spy had reported about the prince and the princess. He couldn't help but sigh and called someone in.

Xiao Junbai entered the hall, bowed, his expression calm and composed, as usual, his voice smooth and even, as he slowly recounted his trip to the south of the Yangtze River, the investigation of the case, his conspiracy with Xiao Junqi, and the assassin's kidnapping of prisoners.

"Third brother..." The emperor pondered for a moment, "Where are the assassins who kidnapped the prisoners now?"

Xiao Junbai said, "Imprison him in the dungeon and interrogate him strictly."

There are people to handle the rough and dirty work of interrogation, so the prince and the emperor don't need to worry about it.

The emperor sighed and turned to ask about the case in Yangzhou.

The case was not difficult. It started as an ordinary family where a family member died suddenly for no apparent reason, and several people died in succession.

The prefect sent people to investigate thoroughly, and even dug up the ancestral origins of these people. Because of the epidemic, all the people in the city were searched, but still nothing was found.

The prince had been in Yangzhou for a few days. He was first assassinated and then suffered from an epidemic. There were many complicated things going on. After he hurriedly listened to a few words from the Yangzhou prefect, he finally figured out what was going on.

Since ancient times, there has been a saying that food and medicinal herbs conflict with each other. It is often recorded in medical books, but ordinary people have never paid attention to it. These people happened to go to the same clinic and died as a result.

In that clinic, there was only an old man with white hair and beard, who claimed to be a doctor. The Yangzhou prefect searched the clinic twice but found nothing.

Xiao Junbai simply pretended to forget about this matter and went out of the city to hunt for the assassins. The old doctor thought the time had come and took action, but was caught red-handed.

This case is not difficult, it's just a bit coincidental.

Xiao Junbai was made the crown prince when he was ten years old, and he had just been the victim of such a plot, so he was particularly careful.

Perhaps remembering this incident, the emperor was silent for a moment. "Let's investigate and close the case."

Xiao Junbai answered yes and was about to take his leave when suddenly a voice came from above his head.

"Prince, have you forgotten something?" the emperor said quietly. "After a tour of inspection in Jiangnan, why are you involved with that woman again? Do you think that if you hide her, I won't be able to find her?"

Xiao Junbai stood up straight and met the emperor's deep and unexpected gaze without changing his expression.

Ice was placed in the four corners of the hall to mitigate the heat of the sun, but now it was as cold and silent as a heavy snow.

The palace servants around knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

After a while, Xiao Junbai said calmly, "She is the wife that my son and I have formally married."

"But she deceived the emperor." The emperor sneered and slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table. "This matter has spread all over the streets and has become a laughing stock."

The royal family has lost all face.

After a while, the emperor glanced at the prince. This son had never given him any worries since he was young. He studied hard and was extremely diligent. He never asked for anything when he made achievements. He was aloof and kept to himself. Even after being made the prince, he never acted arrogantly and willfully, and he always restrained himself and observed etiquette.

This is the first time I've said what I want directly.

Thinking of this, the emperor's voice softened slightly. "With the whole court watching, I can't be partial. How about you hand the man over, and I'll punish him slightly, and this matter will be over. What do you think, Prince?"

This was the emperor's biggest concession. Otherwise, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor and should be executed according to the law.

The palace maids around him lowered their heads even lower, wishing they could crawl into the cracks in the ground.

Xiao Junbai was silent for a moment, neither humble nor arrogant, "She is pregnant and cannot bear punishment."

The prince's plain words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in one's ears and making them buzz.

The emperor froze for a moment, then suddenly stood up and slammed the table, "What did you say?"