Chapter 165: Barrier, Handwriting

Xi Qingtong was called back to the Xi family by Madam Zheng early in the morning, but even if Madam Zheng didn't call her, she would have gone back today.

Xiao Ji was restored to the title of Prince Zhao, and Qing Wu followed him back to the capital. The position of concubine was inevitable. Thinking that when they met again, the girl would have surpassed them, she was already panicked and upset, but more than one thing happened yesterday.

Song Yunhe favored Dong Ning behind her back, and Dong Ning became pregnant but had a miscarriage. This series of events made Xi Qingtong even more sad and anxious.

It is true that Xi Qingtong was cruel, but this was also the first time she caused someone to have a miscarriage. At that time, she was emotionally preoccupied and didn't think much of it. But when she fell asleep at night, she couldn't help but feel scared, as she always felt that she could faintly hear the cry of a baby.

He couldn't sleep all night, and when he returned to Xi's house the next day, his eyes were dark blue.

Seeing her daughter's haggard appearance, Madam Zheng hurried over and asked distressedly, "How could this happen..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Xi Qingtong threw herself into her arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Mom, what should I do in the future?"

Madam Zheng was also panicking at first, but when she saw her daughter, she calmed down. She patted Xi Qingtong on the back and said soothingly, "Why panic? Qingwu may have become a concubine, but she is still a daughter of the Xi family. What can she do to her mother and twin sisters?"

However, Xi Qingtong was sad about more than just this one thing. She raised her tearful eyes and choked up, "Mother, it's not just this, it's... Song Yunhe, he, he actually had an affair with the family's maid..."

Xi Qingtong covered her face and cried as she recounted what happened at the Song family last night.

After hearing this, Madam Zheng's face instantly darkened as she gritted her teeth and said, "Song Yunhe! He used to pretend to be so devoted to you, but now his true colors have been revealed after just a few days? I've known for a long time that he's not a good man... and now I see that it's true!"

"It's okay, mother will take care of it for you, don't be sad!" Mrs. Zheng wiped Xi Qingtong's tears and took her to sit down.

However, Xi Qingtong was still a little scared and didn't dare to let go of Madam Zheng's hand. "Mother... I'm afraid that if the child is really gone, will I be punished?"

Hearing this question, Madam Zheng was a little surprised. She glanced at her daughter and said disdainfully, "If there really is retribution, then how come I, your mother, am still alive and well?"

Understanding the implication of these words, Xi Qingtong instantly looked up at her mother. Madam Zheng patted the back of her daughter's hand, a hint of viciousness flashing in her eyes, "How do you think Qingfeng was raised under my wing..."

Xi Qingfeng's mother died of hemorrhage shortly after giving birth to him, and his biological mother was also Madam Zheng's personal maid, and it was she who promoted her to concubine.

Xi Qingtong had always believed that her half-brother's biological mother had died of a normal childbirth, but who knew...

Her body trembled slightly, and her heart felt cold at first, but soon she was filled with strength. Since her mother had killed an adult and was still living well and had even become the wife of a governor, then what did her little thing matter?

"That's good... Song Yunhe, mother, he treated me like that, mother must make the decision for me."

Xi Qingtong, who was relieved, immediately thought of Song Yunhe. Since Song Yunhe treated her like that, she would definitely not let him go.

"Of course," Mrs. Zheng sneered, "You can stay at home. When he comes to kowtow and admit his mistake, this matter will be settled."

"Otherwise... he'll just stay in that position for three to five years!"

After hearing these words, Xi Qingtong's heart finally settled down. Her mother protected her so much. She wanted to see how long Song Yunhe could hold on. She felt that in just three days, Song Yunhe would come to her house and apologize.

However, Song Yunhe had already developed a high fever at home and was bedridden. Zhegui wanted to go to the Xi family to ask his wife to come back but was stopped by Song Yunhe.

"If she still remembers that she is a wife of the Song family, she will come back on her own. If she doesn't come back, there is no need for her to come back."

Even though he had a fever, Song Yunhe still had a clear mind on major issues. He might have been afraid of the Xi family before, but now he and the Xi family were on the same boat. Even if the Xi family didn't help him, they couldn't harm him. If they wanted to harm him, he could just tell them about the husband-swapping and die together with the Xi family.

He is no longer afraid. The worst that can happen is that they will die together.

"Hahahaha, don't invite her. I want to see when she will come back."

According to her spoiled temper, she was probably still waiting at Xi's house for him to beg her, but he wouldn't beg her now, no.

Zhe Gui's lips moved a few times, and finally he lowered his head and changed the subject, "My dear...how should we deal with Dong Ning?"

Originally, Song Yunhe planned to send Dong Ning away quietly, but Dong Ning was pregnant with his child and had just had a miscarriage, and was also tortured by Xi Qingtong. Even Song Yunhe had no conscience.

"As for her... go to the backyard and clean up a room for her to live in first, and then buy a little maid to serve her."

Zhe Gui was shocked when he heard this, "Master, are you going to make Dong Ning your concubine?"

Song Yunhe wanted to shake his head immediately, but he stopped just after he tilted his head a little. After thinking for a while, he waved his hand and said, "You go ahead and do it. We'll see whether it's my aunt or not..."

If Xi Qingtong really didn't come back, what would it matter if he promoted Dong Ning to be his concubine? She wouldn't let him feel comfortable, and he wouldn't let her feel comfortable either.

But putting these things aside for now, his head was aching and he felt dizzy, he really needed to rest... Song Yunhe's illness came on suddenly and was serious, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.

The separation of the young couple was a sign of a breakup, while another couple in the palace was very sweet.

Xiao Yuanben wanted to take Xiao Ji to attend the morning court, but Xiao Ji refused. He said to the eunuch beside the emperor in a dejected tone: "It's not like you ministers haven't seen me before. There's no need to see me again. My legs are...not so convenient."

The young eunuch nodded in understanding, his eyes filled with pity, but Xiao Ji took Qingwu to visit the Imperial Garden right after. Fortunately, he did not forget to pretend to arrange a sedan chair to conceal their whereabouts.

Xiao Ji first took Qingwu to the palace where the empress dowager once lived. Qingwu thought that he would take her in to kneel down and pay homage to the empress dowager, but unexpectedly, he just took her to kowtow outside the palace and then came out.

Facing Qing Wu's doubtful gaze, Xiao Ji turned his eyes towards the direction of Zichen Palace. He stared at it for a few breaths before whispering, "It's not the right time yet. I'm too embarrassed to see my mother..."

Qing Wu understood what he meant and couldn't help but feel a little worried. She was afraid that Xiao Ji would be immersed in hatred and change his mind. However, in her eyes, the young man quickly regained his smile, and his peach blossom eyes became clear again, like a pool of clear water.

This change was too great, and Qing Wu felt a little uneasy. Seeing the worry in her eyes, Xiao Ji squeezed Qing Wu's palm and said, "I'm fine. I want to go in, but if I go in... I won't be able to hold it back..."

Without asking, Qingwu knew what was behind the unfinished words. A glimmer of light had already appeared in the clear eyes of the young man in front of him. His reaction finally made Qingwu feel relieved.

He was sensitive and had cried in front of her so many times. How could he not react when he came to the palace where his mother once lived?

Xiao Ji didn't want to talk about sad things with Qing Wu when he should have been happy just after returning to Beijing, but since he had already talked about it, he couldn't help but say a few more words. He looked up at the sky, forced back the tears in his eyes, "I don't want my mother to see me sad, and my mother doesn't want to see me sad..."

"So, come back later, come back next time..."

He lowered his head and looked at the girl beside him. He didn't say the second half of the sentence, but the emotion in his eyes had already given the answer.

I hope that next time I come back, the world will have changed.

"Let's go. We should be happy today. I'll take you to see some interesting places in this palace."

This is where Xiao Ji grew up. Even though he later developed resentment towards this place, the palace is still the palace. It is a gathering of thousands of exquisitely crafted buildings that are worth seeing.

Xiao Ji and Qing Wu rode in a sedan chair and strolled slowly in the palace, deliberately avoiding the place where the concubines gathered. This place was close to the East Palace, a place he was familiar with.

He pointed to a lush green forest beyond the palace walls in the distance. "That's a plum forest. In winter, the red plum blossoms reflect against the snow, which is very beautiful."

Xiao Ji's voice was filled with nostalgia, "When my mother was alive, she would go with me to appreciate the flowers every winter..."

Qingwu looked in the direction of his finger and saw layers of green leaves trembling in the wind. Green and red plums were faintly visible, and they seemed to be quite large.

"These plums look good. They should be good for making greengage jam."

These words made Xiao Ji stunned. Most people only care about the plum blossoms, but how many care about the plum trees bearing fruit? But looking at the lady beside him who was staring at the green plums with burning eyes, a warm feeling slowly welled up in his heart.

She has always been like this, not caring about those flashy things. And this does not mean that she does not understand romance, she just focuses on the present.

The chariot passed slowly through the plum forest. Looking at the tempting green and red fruits, Qingwu's mouth naturally overflowed with saliva, as if the tip of his tongue had tasted the sour taste. Even after passing the plum forest, Qingwu still looked back reluctantly.

Xiao Ji's previous sadness was swept away by her series of actions. She straightened Qing Wu's cheeks herself and said gently, "Don't look at it. Let's ask someone to pick some for us when we go back." Only then did Qing Wu look forward.

Xiao Ji gently held Qing Wu's hand and pointed to the towering palaces in the distance.

"See that palace with those flying eaves and pointed corners? That's the library. I loved hiding there when I was little. There, the teacher wouldn't nag me..."

But now, he still didn't know where his teacher was. A trace of despair flashed across the boy's eyes. Qing Wu caught a glimpse of it and pointed casually, asking, "Where's that palace? What is it used for?"

Xiao Ji looked in the direction of his finger and saw the magnificent golden roof of the palace sparkling in the sun, and the wind chimes on the eaves rang softly in the wind, crisp and pleasant.

"This... is Minghua Palace. It's the palace where my great-aunt, who just returned to Beijing, lived when she was young."

Qing Wu was stunned when he heard this. "Is that the great-aunt who interceded for you? Princess Mingyi, the guardian of the country?"

Everyone in the palace knew that Grand Princess Mingyi had offered to help Xiao Ji regain his throne. They also learned about this last night and had planned to pay a visit to the Grand Princess after leaving the palace.

"Yeah, come on, I'll take you in to have a look."

Xiao Ji took Qing Wu's hand and got off the sedan chair, slowly walking towards Minghua Palace. Zhao Tong and others consciously stayed outside the palace.

The stone steps in front of the hall were swept spotlessly clean. Instead of rare flowers and plants, there were two vigorous and tall ancient cypresses on both sides. The cypresses were as thick as human legs, silently telling the story of time and showing the extraordinary nature of this princess.

"She is truly an extraordinary woman..."

Thinking of what Xiao Ji had once told her about her great-aunt's deeds, Qing Wu couldn't help but admire her.

Xiao Ji chuckled when he heard this. He pushed open the door of Minghua Palace with his own hands. "When I was a child, besides the library, this was where I hid most often. There's an inconspicuous warm room behind it."

With a creaking sound, the heavy hall door slowly opened. Sunlight shone obliquely into the hall, casting a golden streak on the bluestone floor. Xiao Ji held Qing Wu's hand and walked calmly through the main hall.

Qingwu followed him, only to see him stop before a seemingly ordinary carved wooden wall. It was identical to any other palace wall, its vermilion-lacquered wood carved with intricate twined floral patterns, gleaming warmly in the dim light of the hall.

"Could this be the place?" Qing Wu had just opened his mouth when Xiao Ji pushed his hand forward. With a "creak", a vermilion-painted carved wooden wall opened, revealing a square warm room inside. There was a low couch by the window and a half-person-high mahogany bookshelf next to it.

"Is it difficult to be discovered?" Xiao Ji turned around with a smug smile on his lips. At this moment, Qing Wu seemed to see his younger self. He couldn't help but smile and nodded, "Indeed, if we hadn't told them in advance, most people wouldn't have discovered that there was something else behind this wall."

"I even fell asleep here once. That day, my mother sent people to search the entire palace. No one expected that I would hide in this palace that had been empty for many years."

Xiao Ji pressed Qing Wu to sit on the soft couch. "Later, when we were discovered, my mother was so angry that she hit my palm with a ruler. Then she came to the palace to check, worried that I had damaged my great-aunt's things."

"But I've been a steady kid, how could I be so naughty?"

Xiao Ji said this seriously, without any shame, but his true nature was already exposed in those few words he said before.

He may not have done anything bad, but he is definitely not very honest.

When he was young, he was loved by his parents and should have been so innocent and playful. But it's a pity that now...

Xiao Ji didn't notice Qing Wu's change of mood. He walked towards the bookcase and said, "When the emperor decides on a palace for us, we'll leave the palace and go visit my great-aunt. What do you think? Should we take all these books with her? She might have forgotten them after all these years..."

The young man casually pulled out a book, flipped through it casually, and was suddenly stunned when he saw it.

This is a military book. The military book itself is not important. What is important is the detailed annotations next to the book. The handwriting looks very familiar. The last time I saw something similar was by Qingwu’s grandmother.

Xiao Ji paused, and he suddenly remembered where the sense of familiarity came from when he first saw the handwriting. It was because the handwriting of his great-aunt, Grandma Qingwu, was somewhat similar to that of his great-aunt... Was it really just similar?

Seeing him staring blankly for a long time, Qing Wu also stood up and walked over, "What are you looking at?"

Qing Wu's gaze followed Xiao Ji and fell on the book. Her breathing suddenly stagnated, and after a few breaths, she seemed to have found her voice again.

"This word..."

Qing Wu was much more familiar with Xiao Yuluan than Xiao Ji, and was also more familiar with her grandmother's handwriting than he was. In just a moment, she recognized that the handwriting was 80% similar to her grandmother's.

“…similar to grandma’s.”

After the words fell, the two looked at each other in surprise.