Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Sister, don’t cry. I will be a wise ruler. …
Qiao Tang recalled Pei Chengjue's expression when he left, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly, probably in secret joy.
Qiao Tang's heart suddenly felt like a glacier that had melted in the spring, with spring water trickling out. This made her laugh out loud, with the corners of her lips curled up.
The whole hall was silent. The cousins looked at her in surprise. When they saw her smile, their eyes widened. Their elder sister was even more dazzling than when she was in Jizhou. Her every frown and smile could make people's hearts flutter.
Qiao Tang was still unaware of this, and Nanny Wang beside her was wondering what her daughter was so happy about.
Just as she was about to ask, a palace maid came to report that the Silver Bureau had sent some newly made jewelry. In addition to the headwear ordered by the Empress, there were also some other items for her cousins to choose from.
Qiao Tang asked his cousins to choose, and when he picked out a few, he ordered the palace servants to send them to Prince Xiang's Mansion and the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, and to give them to Princess Jingyi and Wei Ruomei.
The palace maid took the order and left. She glanced at the sparkling hairpins, told her cousins to play with them, and got up to go to the bedroom.
Nanny Wang followed her, but she didn't pay any attention. She sat down in front of the mirror in the bedroom, took out the plain hairpin that she had put in the box last year, held it in her hand for a while, raised her sleeve to take off the hairpin, and inserted the plain hairpin into her hair.
Nanny Wang was puzzled. "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"
Qiao Tang didn't say anything. He stood up and took two steps, then turned back to look at himself in the mirror. Then, for the first time ever, he asked, "Do I look good?"
Nanny Wang's eyes widened in surprise. Most people never care about what they have, and her daughter is the same. No matter how beautiful she is, she rarely pays attention to her face.
Today is a rare occasion. She smiled and said, "It's beautiful. The young lady has never been ugly. Even an ordinary hairpin on the young lady's head can shine with the face of our young lady."
Qiao Tang pursed her lips and said nothing. Before leaving the hall, she suddenly turned back to Nanny Wang and said, "Your Majesty bought this hairpin for me last summer."
Nanny Wang uttered a cry of surprise and laughed, "I am an old woman, and my eyesight is poor. This hairpin is not easy to see if you look closely."
Qiao Tang smiled and listened to Nanny Wang continue, "The Spring Examination will begin tomorrow. My cousin and my cousin are ready. Would you like to meet them, young lady?"
"No need." Qiao Tang didn't want to put too much pressure on them. "Everything depends on human effort. As long as they try their best, that's fine."
He caught a glimpse of the purse hanging around Nanny Wang's waist, and was moved. "Nanny, you really don't mind my craftsmanship. You wear it every day."
"The girl has good skills."
Nanny Wang feigned annoyance at her. She recalled Pei Chengjue's sarcastic remarks last year, and her heart sank. "But some people say my cooking skills are poor."
"That must be because he couldn't get it, and he's feeling sad."
Qiao Tang was so shocked that he stopped walking abruptly.
Yes, considering how much Pei Chengjue valued her, she sewed a belt for him, and he tied it around his arm with care. It was probably just as Nanny Wang said, he just wanted a purse that he sewed himself.
Qiao Tang immediately asked Nanny Wang to prepare a needle and thread basket, and sat under the window to make purses.
Nanny Wang understood what was going on as soon as she saw it, and stayed by her side, thinking that the young lady was increasingly valuing His Majesty.
Near lunchtime, Pei Chengjue returned to Taiji Palace. Nanny Wang saw him coming and stood up to take her leave.
Qiao Tang didn't even look up. Pei Chengjue stood outside the window, his eyes falling on the hairpin in her hair. He reached out and hooked the hairpin out of her hair. After looking at it for a few times, he confirmed that it was the same one from last year.
He looked at Qiao Tang, who was concentrating on sewing a purse with her eyes lowered, his Adam's apple rolling. He gently inserted the hairpin into her hair and stroked Qiao Tang's forehead.
Many times, he would hug Qiao Tang and kiss Qiao Tang to satisfy the emotions surging in his heart because of Qiao Tang.
He leaned over through the window, resting one arm on the windowsill and supporting the back of Qiao Tang's neck with the other hand, closing the distance between them.
He kissed Qiao Tang's cheek with his thin lips, then let Qiao Tang sit back on the chair. His eyes swept over the sewing basket, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"I see that Nanny Wang is not short of money, so don't bother yourself."
Qiao Tang's hands kept moving as he said casually, "This is for His Majesty."
She raised her head, a faint smile on her cheek, "But my skills are not as good as those in the palace. If Your Majesty dislikes it, I will not do it."
She pretended to put the things away, but her fingers were suddenly held down by a hand that extended from her. She heard Pei Chengjue's regretful voice, "It's me who can't speak. Sister's cooking skills are very good."
She held Pei Chengjue's hand with her backhand and said, "Your Majesty, please tell me what you want in the future."
She paused for a moment, looked at Pei Chengjue, and smiled, "As your majesty's wife, I will do my best to satisfy your majesty."
Pei Chengjue's eyes were shaken, his thin lips trembled, and he was unable to speak.
For him, time had frozen at this moment, forever etched in his heart. It turned out that all the pain he had experienced before would be repaid with double the joy as long as Qiao Tang was willing to love him.
When you are in extreme pain and then receive love, you will feel like you have reached bliss.
After a long time, his voice rang out from the window, "I ordered someone to make a new zither for my sister."
A palace maid holding a zither came over and presented the new zither to him. He took it and held it in his arms as he walked in.
Qiao Tang watched in surprise as he placed the zither on the long table and listened as he slowly said, "I will summon the Duke of Zhenguo and Wei Qingyan this afternoon."
"I will inform Wei Qingyan that his marriage with Pei Jingyi will be postponed."
Postponement is just a euphemism. After two or three years, this arranged marriage will be gone with the wind.
"The Duke of Zhenguo is going back to the border. I will return the tiger talisman and the golden mace."
Qiao Tang blinked, and tears fell, dripping onto the new piano.
Pei Chengjue hugged her and wiped her tears. "Don't cry, sister. I won't be confused again. I will do better than before and be a wise ruler that will satisfy you."
"Before... it's not entirely Your Majesty's fault."
Qiao Tang choked with a sob, stretched out her hands, and hugged Pei Chengjue back, gently stroking his shoulders with her palms and speaking softly.
"It's my fault, too."
Everything that happened last year, all the words and actions when the two of them were resentful of each other, have died with last year.
It just implicated the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Qiao Tangsi was determined to see Wei Qingyan. No matter what, Wei Qingyan lost a hand because of this. She felt guilty every time she thought about it.
A broken hand cannot be repaired, so she had to apologize to Wei Qingyan. Suddenly, a finger came over and gently smoothed her frown.
"Wei Qingyan's birthday is in two days. Do you want to meet him?"
Qiao Tang's eyes fell on the zither, and she raised her red eyes in an instant. Before she could say anything, Pei Chengjue stared at her face and understood, "I asked Wei Qingyan for a zither last year. Sister, please return it for me."
The zither can be returned, but my sister is already his wife.
"Before you return it, could you please play a song for me?"
He let go of Qiao Tang, took a step back, and let Qiao Tang sit back. Qiao Tang raised his sleeves and his fingers fell on the piano.
A burst of clear piano music flowed out.
Pei Chengjue stood behind the chair with his arms folded. Slowly, he loosened his arms and hugged Qiao Tang from behind, plucking the strings of the zither with his fingers in a chaotic manner.
As soon as the noise came out, Qiao Tang retracted her sleeves, turned around and kissed Pei Chengjue. Pei Chengjue smiled with satisfaction, picked her up and went to eat.
In the afternoon, Qiao Tang went to the Qinzheng Palace with Pei Chengjue, and Pei Chengjue sent someone to pick up the Duke of Zhenguo and Wei Qingyan.
When the two arrived, Qiao Tang carried the zither into the warm room, sat on the armrest, and stroked the strings with his fingers.
After a while, she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw that it was Wei Qingyan. She smiled slightly, stood up, and placed the new zither on the table.
Wei Qingyan wanted to bow, but she excused him. Wei Qingyan said, "Your Majesty is pregnant now and should not be tired. I ask Your Majesty to sit down."
"It's okay. You know my body. I've always been healthy. I won't feel tired even if I stand for a while."
Qiao Tang glanced at his palm, and when she looked at him, she found that he had a faint smile on his face, and the smile grew wider. "I thought you would return to the capital and celebrate your birthday according to the capital, but I didn't expect you to celebrate according to Jizhou."
After saying this, she felt something in her heart. Wei Qingyan had no feelings for the Wen family and insisted on coming to Jizhou. Perhaps...
She bit her lip, secretly sighing that she had spoken out of turn. Wei Qingyan's gentle voice came to her ears, "It's only for this year. From now on, you can come to the capital."
Her tense mood suddenly relaxed, and a smile appeared on her lips again, which fell into Wei Qingyan's eyes.
Wei Qingyan only took one more look, then turned his eyes away and lowered his gaze to see Xinqin.
Qiao Tang turned around and said, "Last year, His Majesty asked for a zither for you. This year, on your birthday, His Majesty specially ordered one to be made for you."
She picked it up and handed it to Wei Qingyan, her voice lowered and soft, "Wei Qingyan, this is a birthday gift from His Majesty and I to you."
The meaning of returning the piano is self-evident.
Qiao Tang didn't want Wei Qingyan to dwell on the past. Her young marriage with Wei Qingyan was over, and it was time for Wei Qingyan to move on.
Wei Qingyan looked at her.
She was gentle and charming, dazzling and radiant, exuding elegance and grace, a thousand times better than when she was his wife.
Pei Chengjue is a better husband than him.
There was no reason for him to refuse. He took a step closer and raised his sleeve hastily, but used the wrong hand.
The severed hand that was reconnected didn't have enough strength, and when he was reconnecting the zither, the body of the zither pressed down on him, causing his entire arm to shake.
Qiao Tang's expression changed, and he came over to hold that arm. His whole body stiffened, and he hurriedly used his other arm to hold the piano tightly in his arms.
The two of them were getting close to each other. Qiao Tang lowered her head under his gaze, the corners of her lips moved, and a choked sob sounded in the warm room.
"sorry."
Pei Chengjue stood at the partition, looking at the two people huddled together. When he heard this, he pursed his thin lips tightly and slowly turned his gaze away.
He heard Wei Qingyan's voice, and with a smile, "Your Majesty, don't feel guilty, and don't be sad. It's just a hand, it won't affect anything."
"It's time for me to go back."
Wei Qingyan took the zither and walked out, and together with the Duke of Zhenguo, he bowed to Pei Chengjue and took his leave.
Pei Chengjue walked into the warm room. Qiao Tang was sitting at the desk with his neck drooped and silent. He opened his mouth and found that his throat was blocked and uncomfortable.
He should have known this long ago. With his sister's personality, she would feel sad and guilty if she hurt anyone.
However, he sat on the throne with the power of life and death, and it was only a matter of thought for him to deprive others of everything.
He was used to acting recklessly and had never fallen before he met Qiao Tang. It was Qiao Tang who made him suffer and taste the bitter taste of regret.
In silence, Qiao Tang suddenly looked up, as if he had just realized that he had come in. The depression in his eyes and brows dissipated in an instant like clouds and mist meeting the wind, and he shouted with a smile.
"His Majesty."
She really had a soft heart. She spared no effort in loving Wei Qingyan, and the same was true for Pei Chengjue.
Pei Chengjue felt a mixture of emotions. When he couldn't get it, he hated it; when he got it, he hated himself for not being good enough.
"I will issue an order to summon famous doctors for Wei Qingyan. No matter what, I will cure Wei Qingyan's hand."
He stood a few steps away from Qiao Tang and did not bother her as usual. Qiao Tang understood and walked over to her, stroking the drooping corners of his mouth with her fingers.
He looked really gloomy when he lowered his mouth.
Qiao Tang didn't like him like this.
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