Chapter 55 Chapter 55 She is actually His Majesty’s woman?! …
On the drum tower, Chu Yuanhe stood up.
At the critical moment, Zhao Qingyi put his arm around Zhang Wanyan's shoulders and dodged sideways.
Then there was a loud splash. The girl used too much force and her body swayed and rushed straight into the lotus pond, splashing huge water.
The owner of the black hand wanted to take advantage of the chaos to push Zhao Qingyi, and then let Zhao Qingyi hit Zhang Wanyan in front of her, so that Zhang Wanyan would fall into the water, so she almost used all her strength, but Zhao Qingyi actually dodged it.
Due to inertia, the young lady couldn't bear the force and ended up falling into it.
The moment she fell into the water, everyone was stunned. They stopped pushing each other and stood there trembling, not knowing what to do. Only Zhao Qingyi remained calm, looking at the struggling woman in the pool with an indifferent expression.
She had guessed it long before Wang Yingxue blocked her way. She probably wanted to provoke Zhang Wanyan, create chaos, and take advantage of the opportunity to attack. How could she not be on guard in advance?
Zhang Wanyan looked at the people struggling in the lotus pond and felt terrified. It wasn't that she was afraid of death, because the lotus pond was not deep and no one would drown. It was just embarrassing.
If it was herself who fell into the lotus pond at this moment, she would have no chance of becoming the queen.
"What are you standing there for? Help!"
Wang Yingxue secretly cursed the idiot for not gaining more than she gained. But after all, it was in the palace, so she didn't dare to cause any loss of life.
The ladies all stepped back, looking at each other, none of them could swim, and even if they could, who would dare to go down and make a fool of themselves?
"Go call the eunuchs and palace maids!" Wang Yingxue shouted, "The county lady and Zhang Wanyan pushed someone into the water. We can't just sit there and watch!"
Now that things have come to this, let that person contribute the last bit of value.
The palace servants arrived quickly. Fortunately, the lotus pond was not deep, and the person was only slightly startled when they rescued her, but was not seriously injured. The young lady hugged her body tightly and shrank, tears streaming down her face like pearls from a broken string. She felt extremely wronged and burst into tears, "It was the county lady! No... it was Miss Zhang! It was Miss Zhang who pushed me!"
Zhang Wanyan was struck by lightning, "You are slandering me!" If she wanted to push someone, she would push Wang Yingxue, why would she push a small follower?
"How shameless do you have to be worth my bother pushing you?"
Wang Yingxue ignored it and pointed at Zhang Wanyan's nose, "I saw it, it's you!"
"If your eyes are not working well, just dig them out!" Zhang Wanyan retorted without showing any weakness.
Wang Yingxue gritted her teeth, turned her finger, and suddenly pointed at Zhao Wenyi, "Zhao Wenyi, you weren't far away just now, so you must have seen it clearly. Was it Zhang Wanyan who pushed someone?"
After Zhao Wenyi entered the palace, she did intend to please Wang Yingxue. However, when the young ladies surrounded Zhao Qingyi, she chose to protect herself and retreated quietly. Just as she was about to successfully escape, she was caught off guard by Wang Yingxue.
Zhao Wenyi stood there in a daze, not knowing whether to leave or not.
"Tell me quickly, was it Zhang Wanyan who pushed her into the water?" Wang Yingxue walked over and grabbed her.
Zhao Wenyi met her elder sister's gaze and stammered, "I, I don't know..."
On the drum tower, Chu Yuanhe couldn't help but want to go down to rescue them, but Fugui stopped him, "Your Majesty, if you go there, you will definitely be recognized. It's better for me to go."
Unlike Eunuch Huang, he does not often appear in public, so not many people know him. It is better for him to go than for Chu Yuanhe to go in person.
Just as Fugui was halfway down the stairs, a cheerful male voice rang out from the other side, "I can testify for Miss Zhang and the county lady."
The man was in his early thirties, dressed in a scarlet robe and a golden crown, and walked towards the lotus pond surrounded by palace servants.
Wang Yingxue and the others looked solemn and bowed, "Your Highness Prince Qi."
Zhang Wanyan also recognized the other person, and bowed the moment King Qi's gaze swept over her.
Prince Qi nodded, "No need to be so formal. I just happened to be passing by and heard the ladies arguing. I took the liberty to step forward and testify on Miss Zhang's behalf. She certainly didn't push the man. From beginning to end, Miss Zhang did not initiate any action."
Wang Yingxue looked up suddenly, "Impossible!"
Prince Qi is giving false testimony! How could he side with Zhang Wanyan?
"I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false?" King Qi raised his eyebrows and asked back, leaving Wang Yingxue speechless.
Prince Qi is not the county lord with an empty title like Zhao Qingyi. He is a legitimate prince and the last prince born to the late emperor. When Your Majesty sees him, he has to call him the emperor's uncle.
Given her status, Wang Yingxue didn't dare to act rashly and could only swallow her loss. After going around in circles and working hard, she didn't get any benefits.
Zhao Wenyi also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, His Royal Highness Prince Qi arrived in time, otherwise she would really be caught in the middle. On one side was her elder sister, and on the other was Wang Yingxue. She couldn't afford to offend either side. She hoped that her elder sister would not blame her.
Zhao Wenyi thought about it and looked at Zhao Qingyi timidly.
Zhao Qingyi didn't look at her, as if she didn't exist. Instead, he glanced at King Qi with a thoughtful expression.
In the previous life, it was His Royal Highness Prince Qi who was rumored to have had an affair with Zhang Wanyan. Coincidentally, he had come forward today to testify on Zhang Wanyan's behalf...
Zhao Qingyi couldn't help but look at Zhang Wanyan again. She lowered her eyes and looked normal, obviously not familiar with King Qi.
Zhao Qingyi suddenly felt her scalp tingling. It seemed that the person she really had to be wary of was King Qi, not Wang Yingxue and the like.
King Qi was relieved of the predicament, but he did not intend to leave immediately. He asked Zhang Wanyan a few questions in a random manner. They sounded like insignificant greetings of concern, and there was nothing wrong with them.
But Zhao Qingyi felt uneasy. King Qi was being too deliberate.
The identity of Prince Qi was also extraordinary. He was the youngest and most favored prince of the late emperor. He was granted the title of Duke of Hangzhou in Zhejiang as soon as he was born. Zhejiang was a prosperous place and he did not have to guard the border and fight wars. It can be seen how much the late emperor loved Prince Qi. Even after the retired emperor ascended the throne, he did not dare to touch his younger brother easily.
It wasn't until the current emperor came to power that he began to reduce the power of the feudal lords and imposed many restrictions on the feudal lords in the Central Plains and Jiangnan. For example, they were not allowed to return to the capital without being summoned, their fiefs were reduced, and the court directly took over the taxation of the rich areas...
Under so many restrictions, the interests of the vassal kings suffered great losses, and King Qi was the first to suffer and was the one who was cut the hardest.
King Qi sensed the young emperor's determination and stayed away from the court for many years to avoid his attention. He never got involved in state affairs, but he would pay tribute on time every year to protect himself.
After enduring for many years, at this year's Flower God Banquet, Prince Qi finally sought grace from the Empress Dowager and entered the palace to attend the banquet and ask for a new Princess Qi.
Coincidentally, his first princess died of illness last winter.
Zhao Qingyi's intuition was not simple. What was he asking to marry the princess? It was obvious that he was here for Zhang Wanyan.
Thinking of this, she stood in front of Zhang Wanyan without leaving a trace. The other party's gaze was really uncomfortable.
King Qi also noticed the subtle hostility emanating from Zhao Qingyi, and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, his eyes falling on the phoenix hairpin on her temples.
Quite interesting.
King Qi withdrew his gaze, turned around and left. When he was far away, he whispered to his confidant, "Go and find out who that county lady is."
Wang Yingxue stamped her feet angrily and walked in another direction. It seemed that she was going to find the Empress Dowager. The other young ladies hurriedly followed her, coaxing and comforting her.
Zhao Qingyi's tense nerves relaxed as she reminded Zhang Wanyan, "You have to be careful of that King Qi. I feel... he has other intentions towards you."
Zhang Wanyan was bewildered. "But I've never met him before."
"Maybe he's attracted by your father's power and wants to win you over." Zhao Qingyi tried to guess the worst. Since it involved family, Zhang Wanyan had to take it seriously. "I understand. I will avoid him."
"That's good." He also reminded Zhang Wanyan not to be alone today, and began to tidy up each other's dirty skirts. Someone had previously taken advantage of the chaos to dirty their clothes.
Fugui hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and bowing, "County Lady, Miss Zhang, would you like to go to the side hall to change clothes first?"
Seeing that it was him, Zhao Qingyi was overwhelmed with happiness. It was probably Chu Yuanhe's intention. "Then I wish you more happiness, eunuch."
"You're welcome, County Lady." Fugui bowed and motioned the two to follow.
It just so happened that Zhao Qingyi was also tired from walking, so the two of them went to the side hall to rest first. Fugui said he would go downstairs to get new clothes and asked the two of them to wait for a moment.
On the other hand, King Qi learned about Zhao Qingyi's identity and background as quickly as possible. He had not been in the capital for a long time, and among the important ministers in the cabinet, he only knew Zhang Shoufu and Wang Ci Fu, and did not know that there was a new minister named Zhao Huaiyi.
After hearing the confidant's report, King Qi fell into deep thought. After a while, he asked about the phoenix hairpin, "As the daughter of a mere official, even if she is granted the title of county lady, how can she afford to wear the phoenix hairpins worn by the ladies in the palace?"
"I heard it was a reward from the eldest princess." The confidant reported all the information he had obtained.
"Oh?" King Qi felt relieved. Fortunately, it was just a reward from the eldest princess.
He thought it was a gift from the current emperor - his good nephew. If it was a woman that his nephew liked, it would be difficult for him to take action.
"Then in your opinion, who is more suitable for the position of Princess Qi, Miss Zhang or Princess Chenhua?"
The confidant hesitated for a moment, not understanding why His Highness would consider Princess Chenhua, who was a divorced woman.
"In my humble opinion, Miss Zhang is more suitable." After all, Miss Zhang is still an unmarried girl and the only jewel in the eye of Prime Minister Zhang.
King Qi, however, had a different opinion. "The Zhang family is indeed powerful, but they are loyal to my nephew. It will be difficult to get this old man to surrender and marry his daughter to me. Even if I could marry my daughter, it would be difficult to change his position."
But Zhao Huaiyi was different. He was well-known for loving his daughter. For the sake of his daughter, he was willing to help Li Che, a insignificant person. If his daughter married him, Zhao Huaiyi would probably do his best to help Prince Qi's Mansion.
Zhao Huaiyi's qualifications are not as good as the other two elders, but he has a bright future and the support of the Meng family, an imperial merchant. He is powerful and wealthy.
Since the reduction of the feudal system, King Qi has been facing increasingly tight financial constraints.
The confidant keenly grasped his meaning and pondered for a moment, "Perhaps... Your Highness can choose not to make a choice."
If you want both, then have both.
King Qi smiled knowingly, as this was exactly what he meant.
Zhao Qingyi was divorced, so she wasn't qualified to be his princess, but she was more than qualified to be his concubine. "Let's proceed as planned and change our target to Chenhua County Lady."
No matter what, the matter was done first. Giving the divorced woman a position as a concubine afterwards was enough to appease the Zhao family. In a sense, Zhao Qingyi married into a wealthy family.
—
Zhao Qingyi sneezed without warning in the side hall, complaining in her heart why Fugui had not come yet. She was afraid of catching a cold, so she could only put on her dirty coat.
Zhang Wanyan was also getting impatient and wanted to go out and urge them to come.
Zhao Qingyi held her back and said, "Don't wander around. I'm worried about you being alone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fugui came late with only one dress in his hand. "I'm really sorry, there are few women in the palace. I have searched all over the clothing department, but this is the only one I can find." After saying this, he winked at Zhao Qingyi subtly.
Zhao Qingyi immediately understood that it was not that there were fewer clothes, but that she was intentionally asked to meet Chu Yuanhe.
But right now, Zhang Wanyan was the most important thing. "I won't change. It's just a little dirty. It's not a big deal. You change first."
Fugui's face wrinkled, Zhao Qingyi shook her head silently. The situation was special, and she would explain it to Chu Yuanhe another day.
Fugui had no choice but to retreat in disappointment.
Chu Yuanhe was not angry when he learned that he was rejected. After a little thought, he guessed Zhao Qingyi's concerns. She must be worried about leaving Zhang Wanyan alone.
That's right. She couldn't just go and find a man to have some romantic affair and leave her best friend behind. Why not just send someone to invite the eldest princess and have her take Zhang Wanyan with her?
In the side hall, after Zhang Wanyan changed her clothes and washed up, the eldest princess sent someone to summon Zhang Wanyan.
Zhang Wanyan was surprised. Why was she the only one summoned? And why not bring Sister Qingyi along?
Zhao Qingyi pursed her lips. She thought of Chu Yuanhe. He must have deliberately asked the eldest princess to come and send Zhang Wanyan away. However, it would always be safer to be with the eldest princess. King Liangqi did not dare to reach out to the eldest princess.
"Go ahead, go ahead. Don't keep the princess waiting for too long."
"Okay." Zhang Wanyan had no choice but to give up.
After she left, Zhao Qingyi waited quietly in the side hall. But the one who came wasn't Fugui, but a young palace maid she didn't know. She was holding a set of silver-red palace clothes in her hands. "County Lady, this is what Eunuch Fugui sent me to bring you. I'll help you change your clothes."
Zhao Qingyi did not refuse. The palace dress was complicated in style, with three layers inside and three layers outside. Each layer was made of shimmering moon-shadow gauze. The skirt was also fumigated with fragrance, which smelled refreshing.
that is……
Zhao Qingyi lowered her head as the palace maid was tying her belt. She tightened it so hard that she almost couldn't breathe. Her towering breasts trembled with her breathing.
She was self-aware. She had been born with a plumper figure than others, but she still maintained her dignity. Normally, she would hide her curves under a loose long gown, but today she could no longer hide them.
What a shabby outfit, so unreserved. I shouldn't have changed it if I had known.
But it was Chu Yuanhe's idea after all, maybe... he likes it?
Zhao Qingyi's exposed snow-white skin was quickly covered with rouge.
She compromised, but couldn't help but complain in her heart that Chu Yuanhe was so shameless that he deliberately changed her clothes into this kind of clothes. No wonder he didn't dare to let her change clothes in front of Zhang Wanyan before. It turned out that he himself knew that this dress was not suitable for public viewing.
The maid tied her belt and motioned her to follow her.
Before leaving, Zhao Qingyi looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a few seconds, and then, with a reluctant expression of propriety, she followed the palace maid's footsteps and walked towards the attic on the east side.
As soon as Zhao Qingyi left the side hall, Fugui rushed in and found that there was no one in the hall except the county lady's changed court dress. He was immediately startled.
This is terrible. Who pretended to be him to deliver clothes to the county lady and even took her away?!
Zhao Qingyi was still immersed in the joy of meeting Chu Yuanhe. She couldn't explain why she was so happy, but just thinking of him, the corners of her mouth would unconsciously curl up, and she couldn't wait to see him.
She didn't notice that she was walking further and further away from the destination as she followed the palace maid. Only after turning a corner into a long corridor did she gradually realize that she was unusually hot.
Zhao Qingyi looked around, her face slightly frowned. "Isn't it the eldest princess who wants to see me? Where are we going?"
The palace maid leading the way paused, "Oh, it's...it's the eldest princess. The eldest princess is not far ahead."
She was not sent by Chu Yuanhe!
Zhao Qingyi was shocked. If it was Chu Yuanhe's people, they would definitely be able to see through his lies.
Zhao Qingyi slowed down his pace, but his body became hotter and hotter, so hot that he felt dizzy. This situation was exactly the same as when he was drugged by Luo in his previous life.
She inexplicably thought of Zhang Wanyan's experience, and suddenly realized that something had changed because of her appearance. The person who originally wanted to plot against Zhang Wanyan turned around and plotted against her.
It turns out that Zhang Wanyan’s scandal at the Flower God Banquet in her previous life was caused by someone drugging her. After being drugged, she met King Qi.
I was careless. I never expected that King Qi would change his target and set his sights on me.
If she doesn't save herself, what awaits her will be an abyss.
Zhao Qingyi made a prompt decision, changed direction and quickened his pace.
The maid walked for a while and heard footsteps coming from the opposite direction. She quickly chased after them, "County Lady? Where are you going? You're going the wrong way!"
The palace maid's cries were getting closer and closer, but Zhao Qingyi's feet were getting heavier and heavier, and every step was painful.
What should she do? What should she do?
The heat surging from her body was about to engulf her consciousness. Zhao Qingyi bit her lips hard and tasted the sweet and fishy smell of blood.
This place is some distance away from the Imperial Garden. Given her physical condition, she might not be able to hold on. The most urgent thing is to find a safe place to hide first. She must not fall into the hands of King Qi.
What you fear will come true. The palace maid who was chasing her relentlessly stopped, and a man's cold voice replaced her, "Where is the county master?"
The palace maid trembled, "Run, run away..."
The man snorted coldly and followed the direction the palace maid pointed.
A man's pace cannot be compared with a woman's, it is much faster than a woman's.
King Qi saw her, right in front of him, a hundred steps away, with a graceful figure, stumbling. Just the sight of her back was enough to make his heart sway.
If she was not a second-time bride, King Qi would really be willing to marry her as his concubine. Her figure and beauty alone are incomparable to that of an ordinary lady. He has had women before, so of course he knows better what kind of woman is more wonderful.
The anger caused by her escape was suppressed, and King Qi smiled evilly, chasing her with sometimes fast and sometimes slow steps, as if he was deliberately teasing her.
Zhao Qingyi staggered, and every time she left the other party behind for a distance, King Qi would catch up in the blink of an eye. Every time he caught up, she felt a chill on the back of her neck.
It feels like the tongue of a poisonous snake licking you, which is creepy and disgusting.
Zhao Qingyi didn't know how long she could struggle. With the last bit of her sanity, she barely supported her body and staggered forward.
She was unwilling to fall like this.
She had tried so hard, she had gotten rid of Li Che and the Li family, and she had finally seen a glimmer of light ahead, but in the blink of an eye, she was dragged into the abyss again.
If King Qi succeeded, she would probably end up committing suicide.
Zhao Qingyi ran forward with her head down and turned the corner of the corridor again. A big hand came out from behind the door, covered her mouth and nose, and quickly pulled her inside. The door closed instantly, tightly.
King Qi caught up and found that the person was gone. His sinister eyes swept over the closed doors.
Hiding?
But how long can he hide? Sooner or later he will catch him.
King Qi raised his hand to push the door, and a series of clattering sounds quickly surrounded the entire side hall.
Lin Feng, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, stepped out from the crowd and said expressionlessly, "Your Highness, Prince Qi, an assassin has appeared in the palace. I have been ordered to surround this place. Your Highness, Prince Qi, please leave immediately!"
Assassin? How could there be an assassin in broad daylight?
Do you think he is a fool?
King Qi slowly turned around and stood with his hands behind his back. "I have been staying here the entire time and have never seen any assassins. Deputy Commander Lin, please search elsewhere."
"Your Highness Prince Qi, please leave immediately!" Lin Feng still had that wooden face.
King Qi was furious. Okay, a mere deputy commander of the Imperial Guards dared to challenge him. "I've already said, there are no assassins here. If you neglect your duty and let the real assassin escape, you will be committing a heinous crime!"
"I only follow your Majesty's orders. If your Majesty says there are assassins here, then there are assassins." Lin Feng remained calm and even drew his sword, as if he would kill him without mercy if he didn't leave.
King Qi was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe. If he hadn't been stripped of his power and his authority was not dwindling, he would have definitely taught this ignorant Lin Feng a lesson!
"In that case, I will leave." King Qi flicked his sleeves and snorted coldly, then left reluctantly.
He was almost certain that Zhao Qingyi was hiding behind the door, and the imperial guards appeared at this moment, which could only mean that His Majesty's people had been keeping an eye on Zhao Qingyi's whereabouts.
That divorced woman turned out to be your Majesty's woman.
After realizing this, King Qi felt a little scared. He was afraid that he almost touched the emperor's woman, but on the other hand, he hated Chu Yuanhe, the little emperor, for not having any respect for his uncle, and hated himself for having to live in poverty under his control.
Now he wanted a woman, but she was snatched away by the little emperor.
After King Qi left, Lin Feng coldly scolded the imperial guards to surround the place from a distance and expel all the outsiders nearby. The palace maid who had deceived Zhao Qingyi before was also caught by the imperial guards and executed on the spot.
The side hall faced west and was built with its back to the sun. It should be the residence of the concubines at the end of the harem. After Zhao Qingyi was brought in with her mouth and nose covered, she was instantly plunged into a gloomy atmosphere.
"It's me." Chu Yuanhe whispered behind her ear, revealing his identity.
Zhao Qingyi paused in her twisting and struggling, and tears instantly poured out like a flood. Her slender fingers, like green onions, covered the man's eyebrows and eyes, tracing his facial features with her fingertips.
It was indeed him, it really was him.
"Why did you come just now?" As soon as she opened her mouth, she couldn't help crying.
During the escape, countless thoughts flashed through Zhao Qingyi's mind. She even made plans for the worst. At worst, she would fight to the death with King Qi and die together.
Until this moment, Chu Yuanhe appeared, and the hard shell she had tried so hard to maintain suddenly shattered, revealing her deep-seated weakness and anxiety.
Chu Yuanhe had never seen her break down and cry, so he held her in his arms to comfort her. Soon, Lin Feng brought the imperial guards to surround the side hall.
Zhao Qingyi heard the imperial guards say they wanted to catch the assassin, and believed it to be true. She dragged Chu Yuanhe to the window and said, "Hurry, run... There's an assassin..."
Chu Yuanhe leaned against the closed window, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Why are you panicking? I'm not an assassin."
That wasn't what Zhao Qingyi meant. Rather, assassins meant danger. She was already overwhelmed by her own difficulties. What if an assassin broke in and attacked them?
"Let's...go quickly..."
Her condition was not good. Her face was flushed, she was panting, and she felt drowsy. All that was left was instinct. Her every move filled the room with a faint fragrance.
Chu Yuanhe smelled something unusual from her. The fragrance that invaded his nose also made his stomach feel warm.
Oops.
A drop of sweat slid down his forehead, and he held his breath, "This dress is wrong, there's something wrong with the incense, take it off quickly!"
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