Chapter 84 Suspicious Points

When Xiao Qing returned to Chengde Palace, the emotions she had felt about the "Grand Tutor's misfortune" had been largely worn away by the conversation between Wang Xiang and Yu Zaiting at the palace banquet.

This is like getting a vaccine; once you've had a reaction, you're immune to it next time.

Xiao Qing touched his chin, feeling that the scene at the palace banquet just now was different from the last time.

Just then, Mingxiu strode in and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Did you drink too much?"

Ma Hong followed behind, his steps steady and powerful.

Xiao Qing knew at a glance that Ma Hong must have gone to find Mingxiu.

She waved her hand, "It's nothing, I just wanted to avoid people."

Mingxiu wasn't present, so she didn't quite understand what he was saying, but Ma Hong seemed somewhat relieved.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, everything will be alright once the Grand Tutor returns."

Mingxiu stepped forward to check Xiao Qing's pulse, then looked at her complexion and eyes. Seeing that there was nothing seriously wrong, she stepped back a little.

"You heard it too, they also said that the Grand Tutor has met with misfortune." Xiao Qing pouted.

Mingxiu was startled. "Another accident?"

Xiao Qing laughed when he saw her wide-eyed expression.

Mingxiu realized that she had probably said something wrong, her face flushed slightly, and she said, "Your Majesty, please don't be offended. Mingxiu made a slip of the tongue."

Xiao Qing waved her hand, "To be honest, that's what I thought at the time too."

Ma Hong then smiled. "Your Majesty need not worry, the Grand Tutor will surely be alright."

Xiao Qing asked curiously, "Does Attendant Ma also trust the Grand Tutor so much?"

Ma Hong smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.

Xiao Qing thought for a moment, then said, "You are the people the Grand Tutor chose for me. The Grand Tutor trusts you, and I trust you too. But what does Attendant Ma think of Mei Shu?"

Ma Hong was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I am speaking the truth. May Your Majesty not take offense?"

Xiao Qing nodded.

Ma Hong thought for a moment and said, "In this matter, I believe that while Attendant Mei is certainly at fault, and quite seriously so, it seems inappropriate for him to be in the palace prison."

What's wrong with it?

Ma Hong lowered his body, lowered his voice, and slowly said, "Does Your Majesty know where Grand Tutor Mei was taken from and placed by Your Majesty's side?"

"In the palace?"

"Naturally, it's in the palace. However, the specific location is the palace prison."

"The palace prison?" Xiao Qing and Ming Xiu exclaimed at the same time, which was quite interesting.

Ma Hong nodded, "When I went to visit the palace prison with Liu Yi last time, we found some old records, but it was inconvenient to take them out. Later, we deliberately inquired about some other information and confirmed it."

"Confirm what?"

“Mei Changshi had been to the palace prison before, and the person who tried the case back then was Chief Steward Huang, Huang Rui.”

"Why?" This was the first time Xiao Qing had ever heard of this.

"No one knows the specifics now. It's just that back then, Attendant Mei was tortured in the palace prison; I heard he was almost beaten to death..."

Xiao Qing was startled.

Mingxiu quickly said, "There are indeed many crisscrossing whip marks on Consort Mei's back, and they look quite old. The reason Consort Mei fell ill in prison this time is because the old wounds on his back became unbearable in the cold and damp environment of the palace prison."

"But I think the two of them don't seem to be in an adversarial relationship."

Ma Hong quickly said, "Your Majesty, these are all just speculations now. Everything will become clear once the Grand Tutor returns."

It's the Grand Tutor again.

Xiao Qing thought for a moment, "How about we bring Attendant Mei back?"

Ma Hong lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate."

Okay, that seems a bit too casual.

Just then, Zhao Youchen arrived.

Xiao Qingxuan summoned Zhao Youchen, who then strode in.

"Your Majesty, there is news of the Grand Tutor!"

Xiao Qing sighed, "I understand."

Did Zhao Youchen also know that the Grand Tutor had met with misfortune?

But why does he look so surprised?

After Zhao Youchen finished speaking, he saw that Ma Hong and Mingxiu were present, so he did not say anything more.

Xiao Qing waited for a while, and seeing that Zhao Youchen didn't speak for a long time, she understood.

"You can go down first." She wondered if Zhao Youchen also knew some of the details and was here to explain them to her.

When only she and Zhao Youchen remained in the hall, and he wore an undisguised look of joy, a strange, indescribable feeling rose in her heart.

"Your Majesty, news has come from Li Qinghe that the Grand Tutor is currently at the border between Yingzhou and Dingzhou, and has probably already entered Dingzhou."

Xiao Qing was a little confused.

"They say the Grand Tutor has met with misfortune."

"Li Qinghe did not mention this matter."

In comparison, they all trusted Li Qinghe more.

Xiao Qing felt her heart starting to beat faster.

Are you sure?

"The news about Li Qinghe should be confirmed. Li Qinghe took the initiative to find me and revealed the Grand Tutor's whereabouts. After saying that, Li Qinghe left."

Where did he go?

"Li Qinghe did not elaborate, but I guess he was probably going to meet the Grand Tutor."

Upon hearing this, Xiao was basically certain.

The Grand Tutor is coming back.

The Grand Tutor is finally coming back.

She was no longer troubled by the matter of the Sacrifice Martial Soul and Mei Shu's betrayal; she no longer had to deal with these difficult issues alone.

Grand Tutor, the Grand Tutor is finally coming back.

Xiao Qing felt her heart begin to relax from an inconspicuous corner, and then her whole heart changed its beating rhythm and frequency.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Zhao Youchen was worried when he saw that his young emperor's expression was almost blank.

"Hmm..." Xiao Qing finally controlled the movement of her mouth and her gaze gradually fell on Zhao Youchen.

"General Zhao, I am so happy," she said suddenly in a serious tone.

Zhao Youchen smiled. "Your Majesty, once the Grand Tutor returns, Your Majesty won't have to work so hard."

The days of child labor are finally coming to an end.

Xiao Qing nodded in agreement, then suddenly stood up, looking somewhat uneasy. "Will the Grand Tutor forbid me from keeping cats? But Yingying has so many things to do now, and I'm worried about these little guys."

She paced back and forth, saying, "Once we get to Dingzhou, it will be quick to get to Nanding City."

She thought for a moment, "Maybe we should hide it?"

Zhao Youchen's eyes followed her as she walked back and forth, and influenced by her, his mood also became somewhat carefree.

He actually had a very hard time maintaining things during the days when the Grand Tutor was not around.

Not only were many of Wang Xiang's people planted in the Imperial Guard, but the palace servants were also often disobedient.

Not to mention anything far away, there's Mei Shu, who's by the young emperor's side—he didn't even know what to say.

"His Majesty……"

"Oh, right, General Zhao, shouldn't we let Mingxiu and Physician He hide together for a while?" She clapped her hands, remembering that it was the Grand Tutor who made the decision to lock the two of them up. Mingxiu was by her side now because she had begged and pleaded.

It's like when parents are about to come home, they quickly put away the toys and TV and bring out the homework.