Chapter 16: Perception
Fu Zhengnan seemed to curl up the corners of his lips, looking at the little hill still hiding in the quilt:
"Jiang Qingqing, what are you doing with the quilt?"
Jiang Qingqing: “…”
She must be crying under the quilt.
But I can't say.
Jiang Qingqing said with a hint of uncertainty: "Wu... God, you came back to find me."
"Well, come out and let me see."
Fu Zhengnan's voice was lazy, low and faint.
Jiang Qingqing wiped the tears from her cheeks and obediently moved her head out of the quilt.
From Fu Zhengnan's perspective, all he could see on the big bed was Jiang Qingqing's round head and her red and swollen peach blossom eyes.
Fu Zhengnan chuckled lightly, which was rare for him. "What did you do? Why are you crying like this?"
Jiang Qingqing subconsciously wanted to answer his question.
But suddenly it occurred to me!
There are other people in this house, it's over!
Although people in the world do not fear ghosts and gods, it is still difficult to accept such incredible things happening to oneself.
Jiang Qingqing got up and glanced in the direction of the study.
Because of the fence, I can't see clearly.
But the lights in the study were off, leaving it dim. Jiang Yu must have gone to bed. Even a strong general couldn't stand hiding for so many days.
"Who's in the study?"
Fu Zhengnan saw Jiang Qingqing's little movements clearly.
Jiang Qingqing replied softly: "Be quiet, I'm afraid he might hear..."
The coquettish voice was deliberately lowered.
It seems like someone is whispering in your ear, very forgiving.
"That man is a major general stationed at the border. Half a month ago, he was falsely accused of treason by the Prime Minister's Office. He finally escaped to Kyoto, hoping to redress his family's innocence. He was then hunted down by the Prime Minister's Office and was seriously injured. He is now hiding here temporarily."
Since Fu Zhengnan asked, Jiang Qingqing briefly explained it.
This was the first time she mentioned something happening around her to Fu Zhengnan.
Fu Zhengnan's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled the scene when he first met Jiang Qingqing.
"What about you? Why are you in the hut?"
Jiang Qingqing was stunned.
I don’t know why Fu Zhengnan suddenly asked this.
But he answered truthfully, "I was sent here by the Imperial Grandmother. My mother disappeared not long ago, and my father fell ill from longing for her. There's no one in the palace who can protect me."
"disappear..."
Fu Zhengnan played with the pen in his hand, seeming to be lost in thought.
When talking about sad things, Jiang Qingqing's nose began to feel sore again.
He nodded. "She simply vanished suddenly. Father sent many people, but couldn't find any trace of her leaving the palace. The palace servants said that twenty years ago, Mother also suddenly appeared alone in Daliang."
When Jiang Qingqing finished speaking, the pen in Fu Zhengnan's hand fell from his hand, "bang bang——"
Hit the wooden floor.
"You mean your mother suddenly appeared in Daliang? No family, no past..."
Fu Zhengnan repeated Jiang Qingqing's words in a gentle tone.
Jiang Qingqing thought about it and did not deny it.
"Well, my maternal grandparents' home...is in Kyoto, China."
"Mother said it's a very far place."
"There are male models there... lots of them... order one a day..."
"You can touch it."
Jiang Qingqing thought of what Bai Wan had told her about her maternal grandparents' home, and she became more and more excited as she talked.
Fu Zhengnan's face darkened and his eyes became more angry.
He called out the name, "Jiang Qingqing, do you really know what a male model is?"
Jiang Qingqing shook her head meaninglessly: "It's fun."
Fu Zhengnan: “…”
Good.
That’s how you teach your children.
Fu Zhengnan didn't want to continue the conversation, so he changed the subject and said tentatively, "I received the ginger soup you made that night."
Jiang Qingqing: "Is it delicious?"
Fu Zhengnan said calmly: "It's okay."
But he didn't actually touch the bowl of ginger soup. He wasn't that greedy for the food that had inexplicably appeared in his home.
Jiang Qingqing thought he really thought it was good.
There was a hint of joy in his eyes.
"So, have you received the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix painting and the anklet?"
There was a prayer in his tone.
Fu Zhengnan narrowed his eyes slightly and said word by word: "Is that an anklet?"
Jiang Qingqing suddenly came back to her senses, her mind went blank, and she was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak.
She was so desperate at the time that the only thing she could find was something to exchange. All her gold and silver hairpins and ornaments had been removed by the Empress Dowager, leaving only an anklet hidden in her sock.
It's a bit too intimate.
Jiang Qingqing was a little speechless: "I..."
"Wait a minute."
Fu Zhengnan hurriedly hung up the game, stood up and walked towards Mr. Fu's room.
His steps were much bigger than usual.
Recently, Mr. Fu went out of town to reminisce with his comrades.
The room was empty.
An entire wall is filled with his collection of antiques, including bracelets, jade pendants, scrolls, and countless other small items.
Fu Zhengnan glanced around and his eyes were attracted by the chain in the lower left grid.
The chain with several small golden gourds hanging on it.
An anklet to be exact.
He reached out and took the chain away, placing it in his palm. The thin chain was held tightly by his bony hand.
The real thing is indeed more exquisite than the photo.
Suddenly there was no one to chat with, and Jiang Qingqing lying on the bed felt very bored for a moment.
I wonder if the gods still have things to deal with at this late hour?
What a busy man...
—
Prime Minister's Mansion
Mo Yunyue sat by the window. Her six-month-old belly could hardly hide its shape even with loose clothes.
The maidservant beside her stepped forward and said respectfully, "Madam, the eldest master has something important tonight, so he won't be here."
Mo Yunyue glared at him angrily.
This excuse again!
"What's the matter that you're not home at midnight?"
She was the daughter of the Minister of Justice and had married Liu Xubai a year ago. She thought she had married her ideal husband, but she had no idea that he already had someone else in his heart.
That person turned out to be Jiang Qingqing.
How could Mo Yunyue, who was used to being arrogant in the capital, bear this?
She claims that she is no worse than Jiang Qingqing, but why are all the men in Beijing bewitched by that little goblin?
"Send someone to find out why my husband hasn't returned home. If he's in the palace, I'll go in and keep him company."
Mo Yunyue ordered the maidservant sternly.
The Empress Dowager and her faction now had the final say in the imperial palace. The Ministry of Justice also gained power due to this incident, and entering the palace was just a matter of a word.
The maid nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Mo Yunyue thought of Liu Mei.
There was a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, and he called out to the maid who was about to leave.
"Come here, there's one more thing."
Whispered in his ear.
The maid turned pale with fear after hearing this: "Madam, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. The eldest master forbids anyone in the mansion from discussing this matter."
Mo Yunyue smiled and played with her bright red nails.
"What are you afraid of? I just want them to fight each other. If Liu Mei knew that her innocence was ruined, the whole capital would know about it. Do you think she would want to kill Jiang Qingqing..."
"Jiang Qingqing is now an orphan, how can she resist the crazy Liu Mei? Hahahahaha..."
Mo Yunyue covered her mouth and laughed so hard that tears were about to come out.
Liu Xubai wanted to protect Jiang Qingqing.
Then she would destroy her.
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