Pingyang

Gillian didn't sleep very well that night. She kept thinking about something. The next day was not Changqing's turn, so she had to put on a smile and prepare a meal for Changqing.

Wang Ling's face was so haggard that even powder couldn't cover it up. Gillian felt a little sick when she thought about what happened to them last night, but she kept a warm face and served chicken soup to Wang Ling and Chang Qing. Wang Ling took a sip and spilled the soup, which splashed onto Gillian's legs. She quickly stepped back, but Wang Ling had already cried out, "It's so hot!"

Chang Qing took a big step to Ah Jiao and wanted to lift her dress, but Ah Jiao pushed him away and said, "It's nothing serious. Let's go see how Aunt Wang is."

Seeing Ah Jiao's indifferent expression, Chang Qing turned around to check Wang Ling's injuries and said in a deep voice, "You are so clumsy, can't you even drink soup?"

Wang Ling said, "The soup tastes weird."

"That's your mistress's tonic. Drinking it is good for your health. It's something the Queen personally gave you, and no one else can even ask for it."

A young woman with towering hair, adorned with gold hairpins and jade ornaments, walked in. She glanced at the mess on the table. Chang Qing and Wang Ling hurriedly bowed to her, "Greetings, Princess."

Pingyang glanced at Gillian who was standing there in a daze, with displeasure in his eyes. It was only after Changqing pulled her that she reacted.

Pingyang snorted coldly, "After all, she is a girl from a small family, without a father or a mother. How can she be the mistress of your Wei family?"

Seeing that Ah Jiao was still stunned, Chang Qing explained, "The wedding was hastily held in the north, and Jiao Jiao hadn't had the chance to meet her aunt and uncle yet, so she couldn't recognize them at first."

Pingyang skipped the topic and sat down at the table. "I came here to see Ling'er. She's always been sensible. I was worried she'd be bullied and have nowhere to complain."

These words were suggestive. Ah Jiao lowered her head and said nothing. Chang Qing smiled and said, "How could that be? I will naturally take good care of the people that the princess sent to me."

"Secondly, Princess Guyang will return to the court in a few days. His Majesty will host a family banquet and ask you to bring your family along."

"I know that."

"You know what? I want to remind you not to ask any more questions about Princess Guyang. She was still young when His Majesty parted ways with her. His Majesty hated the Xiongnu, so don't mention following your uncle into the military camp at this time."

Chang Qing nodded, "Is uncle in good health?"

The princess recalled Wei Qing's return, covered in wounds, and sighed, "He'll be almost healed after a while of recuperation, but if things continue like this, I'm afraid he won't live long." She added earnestly, "That's why your aunt has been reluctant to let you join the army. The battlefield is ever-changing, and it's paramount to preserve a heir to the Wei family."

Chang Qing was silent for a moment. The Princess glanced at Wang Ling and A Jiao again and said to Chang Qing, "It's not that the Queen won't let you go, and your uncle isn't stingy with honors. As long as you can leave an heir before the coming-of-age ceremony, I will be the first to ask His Majesty to appoint you as the General of the Upper Army.

Because of your uncle's injuries from the battlefield, I am unable to leave him with an heir. The Wei family currently boasts a queen, a crown prince, and a great general, a glorious and glorious existence. But if the Wei family has no descendants, who will inherit the marquisate's wealth, gold, silver, and treasures a century from now? They will be nothing more than a handful of earth, vanishing into thin air. Do you intend to live out your life in solitude, like Dowager Dou, guarding a concubine?"

Chang Qing looked up and asked, "Chen Xu..."

"Chen Xu is dead. A few days ago, he said he dreamed of Empress Chen crying and wanted to go pay his respects. His Majesty allowed him to go to Changmen Palace. But he took the elixir and went into a trance, so he rode his horse at the palace gate, leaving the palace in a complete mess. The horse, in a frenzy, carried him straight into the inner chamber, where he crashed to his death against the wall where Empress Chen hanged herself. His Majesty was furious and shocked, but there was no way to investigate. People in the palace were all over the place, saying that something bad was going on at Changmen Palace, and your aunt hadn't slept well for days. His Majesty then ordered the palace to be closed, and no one was allowed to enter from then on."

Pingyang was talking when she suddenly saw Ah Jiao smile. She looked up and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Chang Qing also looked at Ah Jiao. Ah Jiao said, "I just remembered a puppet show in my hometown. There was a scene where a witch controlled Prince Wuhe to ride his horse and crash it into a tree. The prince seemed to be under a spell and could not move under the witch's control. He died in the tree. It sounds very similar to the person the princess mentioned."

The princess's expression suddenly changed when she heard this, and she slapped Gillian hard: "Shut up!"

Chang Qing was also startled and stood in front of Gillian, "What's wrong?"

The princess looked around, closed the doors and windows, and then stared at Ah Jiao coldly and said, "Don't mention the matter of witchcraft again, especially in front of His Majesty."

Chang Qing asked, "Why is that?"

The eldest princess said, "You were still young then. The witchcraft incident in the palace implicated hundreds of people, who were beheaded and displayed publicly. No one was spared. Don't say a word about it, or you will be killed and your entire clan will be exterminated."

Changqing was horrified when he heard this and made a solemn promise. Pingyang then reminded him to be diligent in raising his children before leaving.

After Pingyang left, A Jiao started preparing gifts. It was her first time to enter the palace to meet the emperor and the empress. Of course, with Pingyang's intervention, she had to bring Wang Ling along.

Watching Ah Jiao picking and choosing in the treasury, Chang Qing practiced his sword skills while chatting with her, "Just pick up two at random. Uncle and Aunt are both very easy to talk to."

Gillian said, "Of course anything you give me is good, but I'm different. I'd rather be serious."

Chang Qing pointed his sword at the crabapple tree, shaving off a piece of white snow. "You and I are one, husband and wife. Why should we separate you and me?"

Ah Jiao smiled and said, "Then tell me what your aunt likes. And Princess Guyang is your Majesty's sister, so we should be more respectful."

Chang Qing handed the sword to Wang Ling, wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief, and walked towards Ah Jiao, pointing to the red jade flute. "Let's give this as a gift. As for Princess Guyang, I'm not very familiar with her. I guess it's just some small things from my hometown. You can give whatever you like."

Wang Ling watched the two interacting, walked over with dissatisfaction, and said in a delicate voice: "Then my Lord, what should I give you?"

Lvliu rolled her eyes at her when she heard this. "You're just a concubine running along. What's the big deal about what I give you?"

Gillian glanced at Lvliu, who lowered her head. Gillian smiled and said, "Let the master help you choose. It's getting late, so I'll go back."

Wang Ling smiled with satisfaction, but then heard Chang Qing say, "It's just a red jade flute, a token of love between my aunt and His Majesty. There's nothing else to choose from."

Wang Ling's face instantly turned ugly, and then she said timidly: "There is only one... then I..."

Gillian then said, "Since Auntie wants it, then give it to her."

Before Wang Ling could say anything, Lvliu was already indignant, "Madam! Why do you give in to everything? It's too unreasonable for the master to look down on his concubine!"

Gillian laughed and said, "It's just a trivial thing, what's the big deal? How can we have peace in the mansion if we keep fighting over everything?"

Wang Ling seemed unaware and just smiled, "Madam, you are right. Thank you very much."

Gillian nodded and smiled at Changqing, but Changqing didn't appreciate it and left with a cold snort. Gillian and Wang Ling were both stunned for a moment, not understanding what was going on. It was Gillian who reminded them, "My lord might have caught a cold from practicing swordsmanship. Go and prepare some water for him to take a bath."

Wang Ling nodded and trotted after him.

Lvliu frowned and said, "This isn't a matter of giving it up or not. That gift is for the Queen and His Majesty. If a concubine like her gives something like this, wouldn't it show that the Madam doesn't value it and offend the Emperor?"

Gillian smiled and said, "She is Princess Pingyang's person, so it's not easy to offend her openly. But if she wants to be in the spotlight, be prepared to be shot down."

Gillian turned around and left, chatting with Luliu for a while. Only then did Luliu feel relieved and smiled.