Chapter 8
Finally, Wei Zifu stepped in to end the eye-to-eye battle between the siblings, quickly changing the subject and letting the issue go. Meanwhile, the central figure, Liu Ling, had not yet left the palace. Coming out of the Pepper Room, she headed for the Yulan Pavilion in the Ye Ting.
Lady Wang was only a concubine, and even if she was favored, she was not comparable to the empress. When chatting with Wei Zifu, Liu Ling sat below her. Although her words were not humble, her attitude could not be too casual, and she could not show any contempt.
When chatting with Mrs. Wang, Liu Ling felt much more at ease. The two of them sat side by side like friends, and even Liu Ling's every move seemed more noble.
After teasing Liu Hong, Liu Ling's eyes fell on the small plates on the table next to her. The food there was very novel, and she had just seen it in the Pepper Room.
"Your Highness even sent this to you?"
Mrs. Wang shook her head. "It wasn't given to me. It was given in Hong'er's name. Li Ji also has it."
Liu Ling was not familiar with Li Ji, but he had seen her before and knew a thing or two about her.
She was beautiful, otherwise she would not have caught the eye of Emperor Liu Che. But good looks were only the beginning; to retain the emperor's favor, one also needed to have a good heart and means.
Li Ji was a little lacking in this aspect. After the initial excitement wore off, Liu Che lost interest in her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have conceived a princess and still not been given the title of a wife, let alone a beautiful woman or a good husband.
Although her daughter was granted the title of Princess Eyi, her fief was not good, which was a far cry from the three daughters born to Wei Zifu.
Liu Ling even felt that if Liu Che had not had so few children and Wei Zifu was not such a virtuous and generous woman who spoke up for his daughter when she was given a title, Liu Che might not have remembered it and would have given it only after she got married.
Marrying out was a rule, but before that it was a sign of the emperor's favor and honor. The two are completely different.
Liu Ling calmed down and thought: "Second Prince is only a little old, how can he eat all this?"
"The Queen has always been cautious in her actions, and Your Highness should follow her example. Since the other sisters have already had some, it would be a shame to leave Hong'er behind. He is still young, so how could he have imagined that Hong'er would not be able to eat."
Liu Ling nodded, not wanting to continue this meaningless conversation. She glanced around, seeing no one else around. She took Madam Wang's hand and asked with concern, "How has His Majesty been treating you lately? I heard that Ah Yu was targeting you. Has His Majesty taken his anger out on you?"
No matter how much she loved her, she was no match for the heir to the throne. This was true for Wei Zifu and Lady Wang.
Madam Wang shook her head. "No. Fortunately, we are all safe and sound, and His Majesty's anger has subsided a bit."
"Besides, Ah Yu's sister Ah Lan was careless and spilled hot soup on my face. She was at fault first, so she deserved to be punished. I only ordered a few slaps to serve as a warning to her, and didn't intend to execute her. Who knew she was so weak?
"After all, I have served Your Majesty for several years, so I have some affection for him. I explained it to Your Majesty, and he was understanding. Moreover, Hong'er is here.
"Your Majesty was indeed a little annoyed when he first learned the truth, but I comforted him and that was enough. Your Majesty treats me the same as before now, and because of Hong'er, he comes to visit me more often than before."
Although she said so, Mrs. Wang still had doubts in her heart.
She always felt that if it was really because of her that A Yu caused such a disaster, which almost cost the lives of two royal heirs, Liu Che would not be so easily appeased.
She had prepared herself to put in a lot of effort, and was even prepared to be rejected and angered, but Liu Che just brushed it off so lightly.
She suspected there was something else going on, but she didn't know what it was, and it was inconvenient for her to tell Liu Ling. After all, even if she and Liu Ling were close, they were still outsiders, and it was far from possible for them to confide in each other.
"If that's the case, I'm relieved." Liu Ling's eyes rolled around, and his gaze fell on Liu Hong again. "You and I both know that while being favored in the palace is important, an heir is even more important. Especially since Your Majesty has few children, each one is even more important. Now that you have a prince by your side, you won't have to worry about your future."
Later... Mrs. Wang's eyes flickered for a moment and then immediately returned to normal.
Liu Ling saw it, his eyes curved, and he didn't continue the topic anymore, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Instead, he talked about the interesting things that happened when the two of them accompanied the Queen Mother in Changle Palace.
When Queen Mother Wang was alive, she liked Liu Ling's eloquence very much and often summoned her to the palace to chat and cheer her up.
Mrs. Wang was also a calculating woman. She knew that there were many beauties in the harem and that she would not get far relying on this alone.
So he took the opportunity to visit the Queen Mother every few days to please her. He also took advantage of the fact that they had the same surname, Wang, to become relatives with the Wang family. He also took care of her wholeheartedly for several months when she was seriously ill, and sent her on her final journey.
Because of this, she really caught the eye of Emperor Liu Che, and he treated her differently from other beauties.
The two reminisced about the past, and through the little bits and pieces of the past, their relationship became closer.
Madam Wang invited Liu Ling to have lunch before escorting her out of the palace. Once she was gone, she summoned her trusted maid, Xueqing. Since the incident, not only had the Feixiang Palace staff changed, but many of the old staff from the Yulan Pavilion had also passed away. Fortunately, half of them remained, and Xueqing was one of them.
"Have you chosen the return gift I asked you to prepare?"
Xue Qing replied, "I've chosen."
She turned around and took out the items one by one and presented them to Madam Wang for review, feeling somewhat puzzled. "His Highness merely sent some food. If Madam Wang wants to return the gift, she could simply give some small items or a few exquisite snacks. Why is there such a formality?"
Mrs. Wang looked through the gifts without saying a word.
Xue Qing's heart moved. "Is it because of Ah Yu? Didn't Madam say that His Majesty never took out his anger on me, and that there might be another hidden reason? If that's the case, then His Highness can't be said to be suffering because of you. Why bother, Madam?"
Madam Wang shook her head. "It's not certain what's going on. Even if there is, it's hidden. On the surface, it's still me who caused the trouble. Do you think that when Fubao was the one who hurt me, no one thought there was a hidden story?"
"But what did the Queen do? She apologized repeatedly and made generous apologies. After the High Prince was well again, she even allowed him to come in person again."
Xue Qing paused. Compared with this, what they were doing now was indeed not enough, and it was far from the Queen's original "sincerity".
Madam Wang lowered her eyes and said, "From now on, regarding matters concerning the Pepper Chamber, the three princesses born to the Queen, and the Grand Prince, gifts should be twice as generous and your attitude should be more respectful."
"Always?"
Mrs. Wang nodded: "Yes, always."
Xue Qing was puzzled. Being respectful was understandable, given the difference in status. But if the purpose was to demonstrate sincerity in the apology, to impress His Majesty, a thicker list of gifts two or three times would have been sufficient. Why would it have to be this way all the time?
"Madam, you didn't have to be so cautious before. Now that you have the Second Prince, why are you still..."
Madam Wang raised her hand to interrupt her. "It's precisely because of Hong'er that I have to be more cautious. I must reassure His Majesty and the Empress, and let them know that I am sensible and content."
Xue Qing's eyes flashed and she lowered her head: "I understand."
She left, and only Lady Wang and Liu Hong were left in the room. Liu Hong happened to be awake, and his dark eyes looked at Lady Wang.
Madam Wang reached out and stroked his delicate face. "They are all princes. If Liu Ju could sit on that throne someday, why can't my Hong'er be the one to do so?"
Oh--
The baby seemed to understand and responded with a sound, dancing and waving his hands. Mrs. Wang was even happier, her face full of love: "Hong'er thinks so too, don't you?"
There was a faint light in her eyes, and her voice became a little softer, as if she was whispering to herself in her throat: "But Hong'er, remember, we can't be impatient. The more we want something, the more we must not let others see it.
"The Empress is at the peak of her powers, and her favor remains undiminished. Liu Ju has been your father's only child for several years, and is deeply loved by him. This love has become a habit, and it won't be easily reduced just because of your birth. Furthermore, General Wei..."
Madam Wang took a deep breath and said, "We must not show up too early and become targets for no reason. We are weak and cannot compete with the Wei family. We must bide our time and accumulate strength for a decisive victory."
There are three ways to accumulate wealth.
First, Hong'er grew up safely, was smart and clever, and was loved by the emperor, and the father and son had a deep affection.
Secondly, she enjoys the emperor's everlasting favor and can always occupy a place in the emperor's heart, preferably the highest, largest and softest piece of land.
The third guard had brothers to rely on, but they also needed help. One cannot accomplish anything alone. If you want to accomplish great things, you must have helpers, and they must be capable and talented.
Mrs. Wang knew that none of these three steps would be easy, but she would proceed cautiously, step by step. If she could succeed, that would be great. If something unexpected happened, she would have the illusion of caution, giving her room to maneuver, to advance or retreat, and not to push herself into a desperate situation.
The first two points aside, the last one required some attention. It had taken Wei Qing years to catch the emperor's eye and become a powerful general, so she had to prepare early.
Mrs. Wang mentally reviewed her brothers and all her relatives and friends, trying to figure out who could be of great use.
On the other side. Inside the carriage.
The maid asked, "How was your conversation with the Queen and Madam Wang today? Did you find anything amiss?"
Liu Ling shook his head: "No. It seems that the incident has indeed passed."
The maid breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
Liu Ling was not as optimistic as she was. "Even so, we still need to be careful. Any clues about Lei Bei's situation?"
“Following the current, we found a cave downstream with some discarded blood-stained gauze inside.
"It seems that Lei Bei is indeed still alive and has treated his wounds here, but he was gone when we arrived.
"But judging by the gauze and the bloodstains in the hole, Lei's injuries may be more serious than we thought."
Liu Ling's face darkened. "Search again. If he's alive, I want to see him. If he's dead, I want to see his body."
"yes."
"Have you been able to contact our people in the palace today?"
Liu Ling was responsible for chatting with the ladies in the harem to attract their attention, so that the maids around him could do some small movements without being noticed. There was no need to have a detailed face-to-face conversation with the spies; sometimes a glance was enough.
The maid lowered her eyebrows: "I have contacted them, but there is no new information."
Liu Ling sighed softly: "No news at this time is good news. At least it means that she is safe and reliable for the time being. No one suspects her, and we are not exposed."
Suddenly the carriage braked suddenly, and Liu Ling almost bumped into the carriage. He looked unhappy and asked the driver in a stern voice: "What's going on?"
"My lady, there's someone on horseback coming from the front. Everyone is getting out of the way."
When a horse is galloping in the city, will everyone give way?
Liu Ling lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked, and saw a man and a horse coming towards them. They passed by them and then quickly moved forward, heading towards the Weiyang Palace.
The maid understood immediately: "It's a scout."
Although he had taken off his armor, he had a leather belt used in the army tied around his waist, a long sword hung on one side, and military boots on his feet. The speed and strength of the horse under him were quite good, not comparable to ordinary post horses. He was undoubtedly a scout reporting news from the front line.
Only scouts like these dared to gallop at the foot of the Imperial City, and still command others to make way. After all, who would dare to block the delivery of military reports? If I delayed the delivery of military reports and missed a crucial military event, I would be chopped off several heads.
Since it is a military newspaper, is it a win or a loss?
Everyone started discussing the current situation on the front line, the outcome of the battle, and the impact on the emperor's future mood and the attitude they should take in the near future.
There were many different opinions, but Liu Ling was the only one who said, "Yes, it's a victory."
Although the voice was soft, the tone was firm.
Maid: "How did the princess know?"
"If we were defeated, the scout would be extremely anxious, but there was no panic or fear on his face, not even a hint of nervousness. Instead, the corners of his mouth were raised, and his eyes were bright."
This is a state of joy, and such an expression can only lead to good news.
********
Weiyang Palace, Pepper Room.
Princess Pingyang had already left. Liu Che, having finished his government affairs, came over and had a meal with Wei Zifu and the children. The family chatted warmly and the palace was filled with laughter and joy.
Wu Changshi hurried in: "Your Majesty, the scouts have an urgent report!"
The sounds of playfulness stopped abruptly, and Liu Che's face suddenly became serious. Everyone present, whether Wei Zifu or the four children, held their breath and dared not speak. They stared at Wu Changshi handing over the bamboo slips, and then stared at Liu Che unfolding them.
The next moment, a smile crept onto Liu Che's face again, and he slapped the table: "Good! Very good!"
Wei Zifu felt relieved, and Liu Ju hurriedly asked, "Father, did my uncle win?"
"Hahaha." Liu Che laughed. "Yes, your uncle did win. I have always had confidence in him. But the one who surprised me the most this time was your cousin Huo Qubing!"
Then he turned and told Wei Zifu in detail: "This boy is as fearless as a newborn calf. He led 800 light cavalry and galloped hundreds of miles straight into the heart of the Xiongnu.
"On his first command, he captured countless people, including the Xiongnu Prime Minister and the head of the household. He killed the grandfathers of Chanyu Yizhixie and even captured his uncle!"
Liu Ju jumped up and said, "Good job, cousin!"
"As expected, heroes emerge young!" Liu Che held Wei Zifu's hand. "Zifu, you are truly my lucky star, having given me two gifted geniuses. With Wei Qing and Huo Qubing here, there's no need to worry about the Xiongnu's demise!"
Liu Ju blinked and found that the barrage appeared again.
——That's right, the strongest dowry in history is not just talk. I dare to ask, throughout history, who has a dowry as impressive as Wei Zifu's!
Liu Che was also incredibly lucky. While other emperors struggled to obtain even one SR card, he drew two, all SSR. Unrivaled in bravery, he conquered the Wolf's Lair; he defeated the Xiongnu three times, leaving no royal court south of the desert. He was truly awe-inspiring.
——Just a quick question, what battle is going on now?
—Didn't you hear Liu Che say that Huo Qubing was leading an army for the first time? It was clearly his "debut," and also the battle that made him a marquis—the Battle of Dingxiang North. Being a marquis in his first battle, and even a champion marquis, is that something to behold?
——Champion Hou, who is less than 18 years old, is worthy of being my male god!
—Ahhh, they're my idols too! Wei Qing and Huo Qubing are both. If we were to rank all the famous war gods and generals in history by their achievements and abilities, these two would definitely be at the top! Their status is incredible.
It was rare to hear comments praising someone, and Liu Ju was stunned for a while before he reacted: Hey, so you guys can speak human language, I thought you could only bark like dogs.
Barrage: ...Are you polite?
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