Chapter 152 That person is the Dowager Consort's grandson
Chen Hui was very surprised that someone would use the fur of a demon clan to make a fur coat and then just throw it away. She couldn't help but say, "This imperial concubine is really extravagant."
Not far away, the imperial concubine had already boarded the new carriage, still stepping on the young man's back to get on.
Chen Hui had overheard their conversation clearly. Not only was she not praised for killing the assassin, but she also received a slap simply because her clothes were dirty.
Looking at the young man kneeling respectfully on the ground, letting others trample on him, she frowned slightly.
She wasn't particularly interested in other people's affairs, but seeing this kind of scene still made her feel very uncomfortable.
Upon hearing Chen Hui's words, A Chan replied, "After all, she is the birth mother of the Northern Wilderness King and the daughter of the former imperial tutor, so naturally the things she uses are the best."
However, Ah Chan remembered that in earlier years, the Dowager Princess of the Northern Wilderness was not like this. Wearing a fur coat in this kind of weather, especially a fox fur coat, suggested that the Northern Wilderness must have been quite lively that year.
"She doesn't seem to have a good temper."
Ah Chan knew what Chen Hui was talking about. Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and a smile curved her lips: "Don't you think that person just now looked a little pitiful?"
"A little."
"What do you think their relationship is?" Achan's sudden question made Chen Hui even more curious.
She pressed further, "What's your relationship?"
The caravan had already begun its journey, and the Empress Dowager's carriage had entered the city gate, while the young man's figure had disappeared from sight.
Achan took Chen Hui's hand and walked back. The carriage was still parked in the same place. Achan got into the carriage and whispered to her, "In terms of blood relations, that person is the grandson of the Dowager Consort."
Chen Hui's eyes widened.
Ah Chan gave her a strange smile: "My dear grandson."
Her old friends finally arrived.
Once the Empress Dowager entered the city, the guards who had been blocking her way also withdrew.
The carriages and people blocking the way began to line up to enter the city. Soon it was their turn, and Chen Hui also drove her carriage into the city.
On the way home, Chen Hui couldn't contain her curiosity and asked about the past of the Northern Wilderness King's Dowager.
"I remember that after the Dowager Consort married the previous King of the Northern Wilderness, she only gave birth to one son who inherited the throne. She has not married since?" She searched her mind for information about the Dowager Consort, but that was all she could think of.
"Yes." The carriage curtain was lifted, and Achan leaned against the carriage door. The sun was shining brightly today, and the sunlight felt warm and cozy on her body.
"Where did that grandson come from?" Chen Hui never doubted that A Chan would talk nonsense.
"She only had one son with the previous Northern Wilderness King, but that doesn't mean she only had one son." Achan's lips curled up, her eyes sparkling when she talked about other people's gossip.
Having piqued Chen Hui's interest, Achan said with a smile, "Our Dowager Consort is quite remarkable. She married once in her early years, had a son who was then adopted out. Later, she remarried the Prince of the Northern Wilderness and had another son. Zhao Yin is the eldest son of her first son, and can be considered her eldest grandson."
Chen Hui was genuinely shocked. More than twenty years had passed since the Dowager Consort married into the Northern Wilderness, and she figured that not many people in the capital knew about this past. At least before this, she had never heard anyone mention it.
"Since he's her own grandson, why treat him like this? Doesn't she like him?" After saying that, Chen Hui felt something was off. "Since she keeps him by her side, she should value this grandson a lot, right?"
Her two statements seem to contradict each other.
Achan said in a low voice, "Perhaps it's because what the Dowager Princess of the Northern Wilderness wants is not an obedient grandson, but an obedient dog."
Chen Hui recalled what she had just seen and found A Chan's words to be surprisingly accurate; it wasn't about treating a person at all.
Achan turned to look at the streets on both sides and said to Chen Hui, "Hui Niang, let's go to Chongming Lane to find Lin Sui. I have something to ask her."
"good."
Chen Hui turned the car around, and they went to the General's Mansion first.
Lin Sui had homework today, so she didn't go out. When A Chan came to visit, she hadn't finished her homework yet.
However, the servants in the general's mansion all knew that Achan was a good friend of their young lady, so they brought them directly into the mansion.
When the two followed the servants of the Lin family to Lin Sui's courtyard, Lin Sui was practicing her martial arts in the courtyard. She was very surprised to see A Chan and Chen Hui appear in her home. She jumped off the plum blossom stakes in the courtyard and went to greet them.
"Didn't you go to Yongshan? Why did you suddenly come here?"
Not only did she arrive, but Achan was also carrying a large bunch of plum blossom branches.
Achan gave all the plum blossom branches to Lin Sui, saying, "These were brought down from Yongshan Mountain, so you can share in the blessings of the Flower Goddess."
Lin Sui smiled as she accepted the flower branch. Although she didn't believe in the Flower Goddess, she was certain that the flowers A Chan had given her would bring her good fortune.
After welcoming the person into his room, Lin Sui dismissed the servants and then asked A Chan, "Did you come to see me today for something?"
"Just now when we entered the city, Hui Niang and I happened to run into the Dowager Princess of the Northern Wilderness who was coming to the capital."
Lin Sui had heard about this from her older brother.
"You've come to the capital so early. My elder brother said it's for the Imperial Tutor's birthday, right?"
The former imperial tutor Zhao Qi is now in his eighties. Because of the friendship between this tutor and the late emperor, the Zhao family has gained the favor of the current emperor and holds a high position in the capital, especially among scholars.
"Um."
"The favor you want me to do is related to that imperial concubine?"
“There’s a young man named Zhao Yin by the Empress Dowager’s side. I want you to find someone to keep an eye on the Zhao family for me. If Zhao Yin goes out alone, tell me his whereabouts.” Achan didn’t mince words with Lin Sui and stated her request directly.
"No problem." Lin Sui agreed without hesitation.
"Tell your men to be careful; he should be at the third realm now."
"Don't worry, you won't be found out."
At this moment, Zhao Yin, who was being targeted by A Chan, had already arrived at the gate of the Zhao residence in the carriage of the Northern Wilderness King's Consort.
Today, the usually low-key Zhao residence was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. The vermilion gates were wide open early, and the ground had been cleaned.
Apart from the Imperial Tutor, whom no one dared to disturb, the two patriarchs of the Zhao family and their descendants were all waiting at the gate to welcome the Dowager Consort, who was their younger sister.
The carriage pulled by the mythical beasts stopped, and the Empress Dowager stepped out.
Zhao Hongliang, the eldest son of the Zhao family, was helped down the steps by his second son, Zhao Xun, to greet the Dowager Consort.
"Little sister, you're finally back." Zhao Hongliang was a little excited. He hadn't seen this sister for ten years.
The last time my sister came back to Beijing was for her father's 70th birthday.
"Elder brother." The Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly when facing her family.
Her gaze shifted from Zhao Hongliang to Zhao Xun, and a flicker of emotion appeared in her usually calm eyes.
Zhao Xun looked even more excited than Zhao Hongliang beside him. He opened his mouth, but swallowed the address he was about to say, and finally choked out, "Aunt."
“You’ve grown up.” The Dowager Princess raised her hand and patted him on the shoulder.
Now over forty, Zhao Xun's eyes instantly welled up with tears after being patted twice like that.
After a moment, he turned around and called out to a slightly chubby young man behind him, "Zeqian, why don't you come and pay your respects to your great-aunt?"
As soon as Zhao Xun finished speaking, Zhao Zeqian hurriedly ran over, knelt down in front of the Dowager Consort, kowtowed three times, and said loudly, "Grandson greets Great-Grandmother."
Seeing this, the Dowager Princess couldn't help but laugh and personally bent down to help Zhao Zeqian up: "Good child, there's no need to be so polite with your great-aunt."
Zhao Zeqian grinned, his chubby face looking rather endearing.
“Aunt, Grandfather is still waiting for you. Let’s go inside.” Zhao Xun said from the side.
"good."
The family escorted the Dowager into the mansion, and from beginning to end, the Zhao family did not give Zhao Yin a second glance.
Zhao Yin watched their retreating figures, then lowered his eyes and followed them.
The first thing the Dowager Consort did upon entering the residence was to pay her respects to her father, Zhao Qi. When she arrived at Zhao Qi's courtyard, the younger members of the Zhao family were all stopped, and only the Dowager Consort, her two older brothers, and Zhao Xun and his son followed her in.
Just as the courtyard gate was about to close, Zhao Yin, who had followed from behind, stepped into the courtyard.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Zhao Yin but said nothing.
Zhao Xun, however, finally turned his gaze to Zhao Yin. His eyes were somewhat complicated, showing both scrutiny and a subtle wariness and disgust.
The only thing missing was the father-son relationship that should exist.
Zhao Yin was originally his first son, but this son was nothing like him and had been taken away by his aunt when he was a child. He simply couldn't feel any affection for this son.
Zhao Yin seemed oblivious to Zhao Xun's gaze. He followed behind the Dowager Consort, as quiet as a puppet.
The door opened, and the three Zhao siblings entered the room. Zhao Qi was already sitting in the main seat.
Zhao Qi is already eighty years old, but he looks no more than fifty or sixty years old and does not appear old.
He wore a blue cloth robe, his hair was neatly combed, and he looked like a typical impoverished scholar from the streets.
However, that's only what it appears to be.
The teacup he held in his hand was carved from a single piece of extremely rare and precious Beishan red jade, and the teapot next to him was made of the same material.
This tea set alone is priceless; it could be exchanged for a two-courtyard house in the capital.
"Daughter greets Father." The Dowager Princess of the Northern Wilderness curtsied to Zhao Qi.
"Come and sit down." Zhao Qi beckoned to his daughter with a gentle expression. After the Dowager Consort sat down next to him, he picked up the red jade teapot and poured a cup of tea for his daughter.
When the teapot is tilted, you can see the intricate square print on the bottom.
The Dowager Consort glanced at the conspicuous tea set, frowned slightly, but ultimately said nothing.
"How has Your Highness been lately?" Zhao Qi asked.
The prince he was referring to was naturally Bai Zhanhuang, the Prince of the Northern Wilderness.
"Your Highness is doing well and is thinking of your father."
Zhao Qi hummed in agreement and then said, "Your Highness is twenty-two this year, isn't he? I heard that the marriage is not yet settled. As his mother, you are not taking it seriously enough."
“Father is right. My return to the capital this time is also for the sake of the Prince’s marriage.” The Dowager Princess of the Northern Wilderness seemed to have thought of something, and a fierce glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. She said softly, “The Prince is not young, but he has never been interested in getting married. He looks down on the women of the Northern Wilderness. So I thought of coming to the capital to find a noble lady for him to marry. Then I will ask His Majesty to grant us a marriage. It would be a beautiful story.”
"Which noble lady have you taken a fancy to?" Zhao Qi asked.
"My daughter isn't very familiar with the capital, so I'll need her father's help with this."
Zhao Qi pondered for a moment before saying, "This matter is not urgent. I heard that your relationship with the Prince has been quite cold these past two years?"
The Empress Dowager's expression stiffened slightly: "Where did Father hear these rumors? They are all nonsense."
"Really?" Zhao Qi clearly didn't believe it, but in front of his two sons and grandson, he ultimately didn't press the matter further.
After this topic was discussed, the atmosphere in the room gradually warmed up. The two Zhao brothers and Zhao Xun chatted with the Dowager Princess about everyday matters. At first, they were a little unfamiliar with each other, but after a while, they became much more familiar with each other. Zhao Qi, as the patriarch, felt very comforted when he saw this scene.
Zhao Zeqian, the youngest among them, couldn't get a word in edgewise. He sat quietly at the very end, his eyes darting around restlessly.
My great-grandfather's room was filled with many fine things. Not to mention the red jade teacup that my great-grandfather used recently, even the green jade teacup that I am using now is quite valuable.
Unfortunately, these things are too conspicuous, and if even one is missing, it will be easily noticed.
Zhao Zeqian reluctantly stroked the teacup in his hand, still pondering whether he could find an inconspicuous item that could fetch a good price, just like last time.
He was really short of money lately, and his parents only told him to behave himself and didn't help him at all. He still owed more than a thousand taels of silver, so he had no choice but to find another way.
The family chatted for a while longer before the Dowager Consort said she wanted to go back to rest, and Zhao Qi did not stop her.
After her two elder brothers left, the Dowager Princess stopped and said to Zhao Qi, "I know that Father loves antiques. Some things look exquisite, but they may also be tainted with bad luck. Father should be careful when handling them."
Zhao Qi naturally understood his daughter's meaning. She was unhappy that he had taken out these treasures hidden in the secret vault to use, saying it was bad luck, but in reality, she was just afraid of being discovered.
Zhao Qi toyed with the teacup in his hand, glanced at her, and then said, "You're being far too cautious and timid as a concubine."
The Empress Dowager pursed her lips: "His Majesty has just taken action against the Prince of Xiling's residence. He must be cautious to ensure peace and stability, lest the prince be implicated."
Hearing his daughter mention the prince, Zhao Qi's tone softened a bit: "Outsiders can't see the things in this room. Since you're worried, then have someone take inventory of them tomorrow and put them away."
The Empress Dowager was pleased and immediately smiled and said, "I will follow Father's arrangements."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
