Chapter 364 Waiting
Qi Yuxuan froze on the spot.
A soft touch came from her cheek, and the other person's face was so close that she could clearly see Qi Jun's thick eyelashes.
She instinctively raised her hand and pushed the person away.
"Cousin, are you crazy?"
Even if someone sees them... even if someone sees them, it doesn't seem like a big deal. The marriage of the Crown Prince and Princess Chang Le is something that everyone is happy to see and expected.
Qi Jun stroked her hair: "Have you forgotten? Once I return to the capital and resolve these matters, we can get married."
"Don't worry, I won't keep you waiting too long."
Three members of the Zheng family held official positions in the capital. After being demoted by the fourth prince Qi Huan, they are now respectively a sixth-rank official, a seventh-rank official in the Inner Palace Bureau, and a ninth-rank official in the Imperial Inner Palace Bureau.
These three positions were leisurely and offered no hope of promotion. They were usually reserved for older officials without family connections. However, these three members of the Zheng family were all in their forties and in the prime of their lives, yet they were placed in such positions, which inevitably made others sigh. Qi Huan's purpose of making an example of them was thus achieved.
When the three Lord Zhengs returned home after their shift, they heard that distinguished guests had arrived at their residence. Covered in dust from their journey, they did not bother to tidy themselves up and hurriedly went to the guest room to pay their respects.
Qi Jun and Qi Yuxuan had already packed up. They had shed their previous disheveled appearance while traveling and, dressed in new clothes, looked much more composed and mature than when they were in the capital.
The two now stand together, receiving the greetings of the three Lord Zhengs.
Zheng Xuan was the eldest son of Prime Minister Zheng. He previously held the official position of a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works. However, after refusing to lead the Zheng family to submit to Duke Huan of Qi, he was directly stripped of his position from the Six Ministries and demoted to a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel.
He knelt down with his two younger brothers, their voices trembling:
"Your Highness, Princess, you have both suffered!"
Qi Jun personally stepped forward to help the person up and said very calmly, "There are treacherous officials in power in the court. I have already heard from Madam Zheng that the Zheng family has suffered a lot of injustices. You gentlemen have also worked hard."
"The situation in the capital is currently unclear. Those who used to be by my side have either chosen to protect themselves or switched allegiance. The Zheng family has been known for its integrity for generations, and Princess Pingyin is my elder. Therefore, I have come to ask the Zheng family for their assistance today..."
Zheng Xuan and the others naturally agreed, but when they glanced up and saw Princess Chang Le standing to the side, they were in a dilemma.
Zheng Xuan tentatively suggested, "Your Highness's return to court is of great importance. Why don't you rest for a while in the guest room prepared by my wife, Princess? We can escort you back to the Princess's residence after we have finished our discussion."
The reason for the fear of Princess Chang Le is that such matters are closely related to the fate of the nation, and it is not up to a little girl to get involved. She has neither power nor troops, so what help can she be?
Qi Jun slightly raised his hand, "Chang Le is my future Crown Princess, and should know everything. You gentlemen need not take offense."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the several grown men instantly turned pale and then ashen.
The future Crown Princess? What kind of news is this?
They were filled with doubt and suspicion, but dared not refute it, and could only honestly tell the story of the current situation in the capital.
Besides what Madam Zheng mentioned, where the Fourth Prince and the Empress Dowager's factions were divided, there was actually another group in the court, namely the ministers who were waiting for the Emperor to wake up and the Crown Prince to return to court.
But now, most of them are under the heavy guard and control of Qi Huan, and anyone who approaches them will be immediately arrested.
The Zheng family had lowered their guard because their official positions were too low and were mostly peripheral, so they only set up defenses at the main gate. When Qi Jun and his companion came, they entered through a side gate and did not notice them.
However, the longer the situation drags on, the more likely it is that those who were originally firmly neutral will turn against the government for various reasons.
The fourth prince now has more than ten concubines, noble concubines, and maids in his harem. He has even promised these concubines' families what rank they will be given after he ascends the throne, and how many princes they will be allowed to give birth to...
Treating the selection of an heir as a business transaction is something only Duke Huan of Qi would do.
After much discussion, the five decided to wait and find a way to break the deadlock.
Three days later, General Xiahou and his troops returned to the capital.
The Xiao family.
When Xiao Jue returned home, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.
The house had always been quiet, but never so quiet. The gatekeepers and servants were all listless. When they saw his carriage return, they just bowed and greeted him slowly, looking like they hadn't woken up at all.
He was detained in the palace by Qi Huan for half a month, interrogated repeatedly about the border war and the marriage alliance. Every day when he opened his eyes, he was told that the crown prince and his sister were dead, and that he should take the Xiao family to find a wise ruler.
Who is the enlightened ruler? How could he not know?
The Xiao family has declined, but even a lean camel is bigger than a horse. Compared to some minor families, the Xiao family still has some foundation. At least when Xiao Su was the Minister of Personnel for nearly ten years, which of the minor officials who needed to be evaluated hadn't been indebted to Xiao Su in the past?
Qi Huan genuinely hoped that Xiao Jue would abandon his evil ways and embrace the light, but he miscalculated.
He assumed that the Xiao family must hate Qi Yuxuan to the core, despising her for climbing the social ladder by attaching herself to the eldest princess, and by extension, also deeply resenting the crown prince who was close to the eldest princess.
However, the Xiao family now has a completely different attitude towards Qi Yuxuan.
Xiao Jue frowned as he watched the gatekeeper lead the horse away before asking the steward what had happened at home in the past two weeks.
The butler had long been replaced; the current one appeared very humble and peaceful. As he followed Xiao Jue inside, he said:
"Young Master, do you still remember the Miss Wei you brought back back back then?"
Xiao Jue relaxed, realizing he had forgotten about the matter.
When he left the Xiao family, he said not to give him food or water. Could he be dead by now?
"How is she?"
The butler looked troubled: "That Miss Wei, she told Madam that she had already been intimate with you, that she had ruined her chastity, and that she might even be pregnant. She asked Madam to make her your concubine..."
Xiao Jue paused, his brow furrowed in absurdity. "So what?!"
The butler's voice trailed off: "Madam agreed. She just had Miss Wei's wedding ceremony a few days ago, allowing her to move into your courtyard..."
Xiao Jue stormed into his courtyard in a fit of rage. As soon as he entered, he saw Wei Qingqing acting like the mistress of the house, reprimanding his servants in the courtyard.
A sharp-faced maid with upturned eyebrows supported Wei Qingqing, and, feigning superiority, said:
“You all better watch yourselves. The young lady might already be carrying our young master’s eldest son, but it’s too early to tell. If you don’t take good care of Miss Wei and she miscarries, even killing you all wouldn’t be enough to atone for it, understand?!”
Xiao Jue felt a throbbing sensation on his forehead. He strode in and roared:
"Wei Qingqing, what are you doing?!"
Upon seeing Xiao Jue return, Wei Qingqing's expression instantly changed, and she said sweetly, "Husband, you're finally back!"
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