Seeing her acting as if she was doing everything for your own good and for everyone's benefit, the old emperor couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm afraid there's a third benefit! It makes it easier for you to sell all the potatoes directly, haha! You're quite different from others, eloquent and concerned with such important national affairs! Good! As long as what you say is true, I can cooperate with you!"
The old emperor's easygoing manner brought a smile to Qin Qing's face, and the two chatted more and more enthusiastically, unknowingly talking for more than ten minutes.
"Your Majesty's magnanimity is truly a blessing to our Heavenly Dragon Kingdom! With such a wise ruler, what more could one ask for! Don't you agree!"
Once she achieved her goal, she didn't hesitate to flatter and fawn without feeling guilty at all!
Wang Yan, standing to the side, darkened his expression. Although he always wore this expression, Qin Qing could clearly sense his displeasure at this moment…
Qin Qing noticed this, and something flashed through her mind. Realizing that she might have talked too much, she shut her mouth.
"Your Majesty, since you have agreed, we will take our leave!"
As he spoke, he bowed and waited for the old emperor's approval.
Upon seeing this, the old emperor paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
"Indeed, I have other matters to attend to, so I will not keep you any longer. You may leave now!"
Wang Yan quickly expressed his gratitude, and Qin Qing hurriedly followed suit, bowing as the two walked out of the imperial study one after the other.
No one saw the old emperor's face darken instantly, his gaze sharp as he watched their retreating figures...
The two remained silent the entire way until they mounted their horses to leave the palace. A hurried eunuch spotted them, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. After a few seconds of hesitation, he turned back…
The moment Qin Qing and his companion's horses left the palace, a certain figure noticed their presence, his eyes filled with surprise.
Before he could even tell the people inside that there was no need to announce it, the eunuch who had just left returned.
"Eunuch Tan!"
Upon hearing this, the head eunuch also saw him and smiled.
"The Doctrine of the Mean... Look at my memory, I just forgot what you said again?"
Zhongyong wasn't stupid; upon hearing him say that, he quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, I was just about to tell you that my master recently acquired a fine white fox fur. Considering the weather is getting colder and His Majesty is working so hard for the country, he was thinking of sending it over in a few days."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Tan's face instantly broke into a wide smile.
"Oh my, it's rare for a young master to have such a thoughtful gesture! I'll go and inform His Majesty right away, and you can send it over in a few days."
After saying this, Eunuch Tan turned and left. Zhongyong glanced around calmly, then smiled and took out some silver to settle everything.
Not long after, he stood by the carriage again and said respectfully.
“Young master, the person has been released and is safe and sound. I have declined the invitation to enter the palace to avoid any misunderstanding. I have also made a promise to deliver the white fox fur to the palace in a few days. Please punish me, young master.”
The man in the carriage opened his eyes abruptly upon hearing this, and exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh? You're out so quickly? Never mind, you didn't do anything wrong! It's just a white fox pelt..."
After saying that, he changed the subject, sounding both amused and helpless.
"But she's really something! She slapped the princess in public and was taken to the palace, yet she's still unharmed! I was just worrying for nothing!"
"Alright! Let's go back."
Meanwhile, on horseback...
Qin Qing couldn't help but glance at the man with a solemn expression. Recalling her actions and words just now, she wondered if she had talked too much and he was afraid that she had angered the old emperor.
Or was there something wrong with what I just said, or did I go too far?
After thinking about it, she still felt something was off and couldn't help but look up at Wang Yan.
"Did I do something wrong? Just say what you have to say. This is also my first time meeting the old... emperor. If there's anything wrong, you can tell me, and I'll be more careful in the future."
Before she could finish speaking, Wang Yan suddenly looked up at her, his eyes filled with anger and indifference.
"Going forward? You still want to enter the palace?"
The obvious anger in his tone made Qin Qing feel a little guilty, and she could only say...
"Who wants to go to the palace? But we've already reached a cooperation agreement with His Majesty. Even if someone is handling the potato sales with me, His Majesty will inevitably ask about it. If he suddenly decides to see me one day, I'll have to be careful with my words."
That's true. She has more than just potatoes. What if she discovers something else she can sell to the old emperor? Who would turn down money?
When Wang Yan heard her say that, he clearly misunderstood her meaning and thought she was making excuses for herself, so his face turned even uglier.
A silence fell over the room. Qin Qing was too lazy to explain to him anymore; saying more would only make her seem guilty! Besides, they weren't in a close relationship, so why should she explain so much to this guy?
Wang Yan remained silent until, after a long while, he took a deep breath to calm himself down before finally speaking.
"That's not what I meant! Serving a ruler has always been like serving a tiger, and the current emperor is even more unpredictable. Today he may be all smiles at you, but tomorrow he might be executing your entire family. Even I... can't guess what His Majesty is thinking!"
Hearing this, Qin Qing calmed down. Thinking back to how Wang Yan had interacted with the old emperor not long ago, it didn't seem like how one should treat a favored minister. Instead, it gave her a feeling of wariness and hypocrisy...
Thinking about her recent lapse in concentration, she couldn't help but frown. Perhaps it was the old emperor's gentle and loving gaze that made her lower her guard, but that kind of loving gaze that only appears when facing a mentor... Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed!
Wang Yan is right! The old emperor and her mentor are not the same person, so he is definitely not a good person. She should keep her distance.
"I'm sorry... I went a bit too far just now! I understand what you mean! I will keep my distance from His Majesty!"
Seeing that she had realized what was happening and agreed, Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but the worry in his heart lingered for a long time!
The image of the emperor's admiration and ambiguous gaze towards Qin Qing flashed through his mind... that was what he was worried about!
Looking at Qin Qing's face again, his gaze gradually became serious.
Although she's almost forty, she looks like she's under thirty. Her skin, while not as youthful as a girl's, is fair and smooth. Her eyes aren't large, but they're full of gentleness and elegance. Her long, black hair, though tied up, would make her a stunning beauty with a little makeup...
He was quite puzzled. This woman, who was of grandmotherly age, was unusually young, beautiful, and energetic. She possessed not only feminine grace but also a bit of masculine courage and perseverance. Despite coming from a village, she had miraculous medical skills and knew how to grow potatoes and grains…
Not to mention her bizarre skills, seemingly chaotic yet each move aimed at a fatal point! Perhaps it was this mystery and wonder that made him unconsciously take her to heart, to the point that he couldn't control his reason at all, and today he even behaved strangely in front of the emperor.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com