Emperor Zhaojing nodded. "That's good."
Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing remained silent.
Emperor Zhaojing paused, then remembered something and asked, "How much silver did you spend yesterday? I'll have Haifu fetch it for you."
Rong Qingqing shook her head, "I didn't spend any money, Father doesn't need to give me any."
Emperor Zhaojing was taken aback. "Then how did you manage to redeem her?" Although he had never been to such a place, he had heard that girls who entered such places would have their skin peeled off if they wanted to get out.
But now Rong Qingqing tells him that she redeemed the person without spending any money. He doesn't quite believe it, thinking it's just her being polite and that she doesn't want to ask him for money.
"Even though we're family, I can't let you suffer a loss."
Seeing that he really wanted to give her money, Rong Qingqing had no choice but to tell the truth: "I told the madam that Miss Guo was a criminal wanted by the court and threatened to shut down her Chunyan Pavilion. The madam was so frightened that she sent Miss Guo over without mentioning the money. So I really didn't spend a single penny."
Emperor Zhaojing was taken aback. "Really?"
“Absolutely true.” Rong Qingqing nodded.
Emperor Zhaojing laughed and said, "You're quite cunning."
Rong Qingqing blinked. "The Chunyan Pavilion doesn't run a legitimate business. If we followed their rules, they would have skinned us alive. But business people are most afraid of getting involved with the imperial court, so as soon as I said that, they immediately released the people."
Emperor Zhaojing praised, "Your method is excellent."
Rong Qingqing glanced at his expression and pretended not to understand, saying, "Actually, Miss Guo is not related to us at all. Why does Father Emperor take such good care of Miss Guo?"
Emperor Zhaojing was taken aback for a moment, then sighed, "Indeed, Guo Li is no stranger to us, and I shouldn't have interfered in this matter. However, Guo Li looks very much like Xingxiu's mother, so I felt a pang of pity and didn't want to see her fall into such a state."
Rong Qingqing was quite surprised that he would confess to her, but she had an expression of sudden realization on her face. "So that's how it is. No wonder Father Emperor treats Miss Guo so specially."
Emperor Zhaojing glanced at her and instructed, "Don't tell Xingxiu about this, lest he overthink it."
Rong Qingqing thought to herself: Xie Jingrun already knew, but she agreed aloud, "I know, Father, don't worry. Now that Miss Guo has escaped the fire pit, and I have already instructed Xie Jingxuan to take good care of her, as long as she is willing to behave herself, she can live a good life for the rest of her life, so Father doesn't need to worry about her."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaojing was taken aback; her words about being law-abiding had touched him.
After a long silence, he suddenly sighed, "Actually, I understand. It wasn't a coincidence that Prince Shou suddenly brought me this person; he did it intentionally. At first, I was indeed somewhat attracted to Guo Li's appearance, after all, she looks very much like Consort Li. Seeing her was like seeing Consort Li from back then. But in reality, she only has a face that looks somewhat like Consort Li; her personality is completely different..."
Rong Qingqing was surprised that he would bring up this matter on his own initiative. She was also somewhat astonished that he understood it so clearly.
Seeing her surprised expression, Emperor Zhaojing smiled helplessly and said, "Do you think I'm senile?"
Rong Qingqing was alarmed. "No, I didn't think that way." After a pause, she said sincerely, "But it's only natural for Father to act that way. Actually, I envy the relationship between Father and Consort Li. Even after so many years since Consort Li passed away, Father still remembers her with all his heart. I think she would be very happy if she knew this in the afterlife."
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