Chapter 459 A Grand Opera Performance in Front of the Prince Qi's Mansion
After leaving the Dali Temple and getting into the carriage, Madam Min Qiao said to the coachman, "Inform the Emperor and ask him to send someone to secretly monitor Min Rong. Perhaps Min Ji will come back to see him too."
After a moment of silence, the coachman slowly replied, "Yes."
Perhaps sensing the coachman's surprise, Madam Min Qiao smiled wryly and said, "I used to have a little bodyguard too. She always appeared and disappeared without a trace, making it impossible for me to find her."
"But one thing will never change: when she goes out, she will always pretend to be a coachman."
"I suppose you're the same way."
"When we're traveling, you can't just lie on the roof of the carriage. If you don't pretend to be the coachman, how can you protect me closely?"
The coachman's lips twitched, but he didn't reply.
Madam Min Qiao's smile faded. "You must be the bodyguard His Majesty assigned to me, right? What's your name? How old are you? Are you... a man or a woman?"
There was nothing she could do; this person had only said one word to her so far, and even that was said in a low voice.
She genuinely couldn't tell whether the person was male or female.
As for height, around 1.68 meters is a normal height for men nowadays, but there are tall women too. So it's not easy to determine gender from this alone.
Another silence followed.
Just when Min Qiao thought the other party wouldn't answer, the other party finally spoke.
“My name is Yi San. I am twenty-three years old and a woman. I am the personal bodyguard that His Majesty assigned to the old lady.”
"Please, Madam, bestow a name upon me."
Madam Min smiled. "Giving a name is good. It means that Yi San can follow her openly and legitimately from now on."
After pondering for a long time, Madam Min Qiao said, "Anyone will pursue the light."
"Light is the radiance of the sun."
“Zhu Xi, Zhu Xi… From now on, you shall be called Zhu Xi. The green bamboos by the stream are lush and verdant, which is also quite nice.”
Yi San fell silent again.
As a bodyguard, having a heart that yearns for the light is fine. But if you were to change your name to Zhu Xi, wouldn't that be like having a death wish?
It seems that the old lady had thought of this as well, which is why she used the homophone "Zhuxi" as a substitute.
Yi San unconsciously curled the corners of her lips; she really was a gentle old lady.
"Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Madam. From now on, I will be called Zhuxi."
Madam Min smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it."
"Madam, where are we going now? Should we go straight back to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence, or...?"
Now that she has a name, Zhuxi no longer deliberately lowers her voice when she speaks.
To Min Qiao's surprise, Zhu Xi had a gentle and beautiful voice that was so tender it seemed like you could squeeze water out of it.
This is in stark contrast to her tall figure and her identity as a bodyguard.
No wonder she spoke in a low voice. Who could believe she was a bodyguard after hearing that voice?
Madam Min smiled and instructed, "Go to the Prince of Qi's residence."
"Yes, ma'am." As if sensing the amusement in Min Qiao's words, Zhu Xi's voice returned to its previous tone.
Min Qiao did not force her.
Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Prince Qi's mansion.
"Please go in and inform them that Madam Qinghe has come to visit Princess Qi."
Zhu Xi went up to contact the gatekeeper.
Upon hearing that the person had come to see Princess Qi, the gatekeeper immediately replied that the King of Qi had ordered that Princess Qi was unwell and would not see anyone.
Madam Min Qiao waited in the carriage for a long time, but Zhu Xi did not come to call her. So she lifted the carriage curtain and waved to Zhu Xi.
Zhuxi quickly turned back.
"Are the people from Prince Qi's residence preventing us from seeing Princess Qi?"
Zhu Xi nodded quickly: "That's right. This servant is arguing with them."
Madam Min scoffed, "What's the point of reasoning? Aren't you the Emperor's secret guards? Shouldn't you have special badges or something?"
“Take it out and throw it in their faces. Then tell them that we have come to see Princess Qi on the Emperor’s orders.”
"Anyone who dares to obstruct this will be guilty of the same crime as disobeying an imperial decree."
Zhu Xi's lips twitched. "This... isn't this inappropriate?"
Madam Min snorted coldly, "Tell me, are you His Majesty's secret guard? Within a single day, I can see any member of the Min family, no matter who they are or where they are. Did His Majesty say this himself?"
Zhu Xi nodded silently.
"Since His Majesty's decree has not reached the Prince Qi's residence, as His Majesty's secret guard, would you be willing to convey it for him? Is there a problem?"
Zhu Xi shook her head, "But, shouldn't my identity be kept secret?"
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Min Qiao reached out, signaling Zhu Xi to help her out of the car.
Just then, the gates of the Qi Prince's mansion were suddenly flung open.
King Qi, Li Chengrui, led his men out in large strides.
Upon seeing Madam Min, Li Chengrui quickly stepped forward and greeted her warmly and politely, "Grandma, you've arrived! The Princess and I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Min Qiao frowned slightly.
At this moment, a middle-aged man who looked like a manager stepped forward and knelt down with a thud. "Just now, the new gatekeeper was unaware of Her Highness the Princess's situation, so he spoke nonsense and offended the old lady."
"It's all because this old servant failed to discipline them properly, which is why the servants offended the old lady. Please punish them, old lady."
Prince Qi kicked the middle-aged steward to the ground before explaining to Madam Min Qiao, "Old Madam, you may not know this, but the Princess Consort was found to be pregnant a little over a month ago. However, due to her weakened health in the past, the imperial physician said that the pregnancy is not going well, especially in the first three months, and she needs to be extra careful."
"Therefore, I ordered the princess to rest in the palace during her pregnancy. I also forbade outsiders from visiting her, for fear that something unexpected might happen."
"Alas, this is my first time being a father. I was so nervous that the servants in the manor were nervous with me, which backfired."
Lady Min Qiao watched King Qi's performance quietly.
She could guess that the King of Qi must have received news from the palace that she was safe and sound, and that his status was even higher than before.
That's why this whole thing was staged.
Don't forget, after she left the palace, she also took a trip to the Dali Temple.
That's enough time; her news should have spread throughout the capital.
Therefore, she knew without even thinking that the doorman had probably deliberately blocked them from entering.
She was waiting for King Qi to come out in person, to show him his respect for her.
At the same time, this matter should also be used to allow King Qi to personally explain the rumors circulating outside about his wife being confined to her quarters.
At the same time, it also allows the public to announce that Princess Qi is pregnant.
This can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
Lady Min Qiao saw through the King of Qi's scheme at a glance, but she had no intention of exposing it.
She suppressed her disdain and smiled as she echoed, "After all, it's the first child of Prince Qi and Princess Qi. It might very well be the eldest son of the Prince Qi's mansion. No matter how careful Your Highness is, it's not too much."
Then, changing the subject, she continued in a sarcastic tone, "Those petty people outside spreading rumors and slandering the King of Qi and his consort as being at odds are truly hateful!"
"If I hadn't come to your door in person, I would have thought that the Prince of Qi had confined the Princess Qi to her quarters because he truly intended to cause her death!"
King Qi's smile froze for a moment, then became even more sincere. "Grandma, you jest. The Princess Consort is carrying my eldest son! Even tigers don't eat their cubs. No matter how despicable I am, I wouldn't abandon my own child!"
“That makes sense, that makes sense.” Madam Min Qiao nodded with a smile, then blamed herself, “Look at me, I’m getting old, and I’m easily swayed. I believe everything people say.”
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