The Chancellor's well-intentioned reminder
At the Prince of Pingshou's residence, servants were reporting on the events of the morning court session. Qi Hui sat in a chair listening, slowly swirling the tea in his hand.
After finishing his report, Qi Hui tilted his head back and drank his tea in one gulp, saying lightly, "Hu Cun is still so impatient. He doesn't seem to be able to shake off his habit of arguing with Li Fengtan whenever he sees him. But at least he didn't ruin my plans. It's good that he copied some books."
The servant knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head. Seeing this, Qi Hui dismissed him.
Then a man in black suddenly appeared, and Qi Hui said unhurriedly, "Sui Feng, have you found out anything?"
Sui Feng knelt down and bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty went straight to the Imperial Hospital after court, and the Empress also went. Later, the two of them, along with their servants, helped prepare medicine at the Imperial Hospital."
Qi Hui listened with great interest and said, "Oh? My elder brother actually condescended to help? That's rather unusual. But he probably went to the Imperial Hospital to find Qi Wenzhe. Did you find out anything else?"
After thinking for a moment, Sui Feng said, "Shi Hui is going to make a move against the Empress."
Qi Hui said with a calm expression, "Is that so? So you've finally made your move. I thought she would be more patient, but I didn't expect her to be so... stupid!"
Sui Feng raised his head slightly and said, "Your Highness, would you like to..."
Qi Hui interrupted, "No need. The Empress is not worth my help, and besides, I have more important things to do."
After hearing this, Sui Feng lowered his head again and said, "Yes."
At noon, Qi Dou and Li Xingyi had lunch together before Qi Dou went to the Xuanzheng Hall to handle government affairs, while Li Xingyi went to the Imperial Hospital to help out.
On her way to the Imperial Hospital, Li Xingyi was greeted with smiles by many palace servants who asked her if she needed any help.
Li Xingyi looked at them calmly, understanding the reason for their attitude.
The news spread quickly, but I wonder if she will be satisfied with the outcome?
Li Xingyi walked towards the Imperial Hospital without changing her expression. Seeing that everyone there was as usual, she was inwardly impressed.
Qi Wenzhe truly deserves to be called a gentleman; his people are just like gentlemen.
Upon seeing Li Xingyi, a young apprentice immediately approached and said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Qi requests your assistance in preparing the medicine."
After hearing this, Li Xingyi looked at Qingyi and the others and said, "Then you all go and get busy."
Qingyi exchanged a glance with her and then left.
Li Xingyi looked at the young apprentice and said calmly, "Let's go."
After the young apprentice brought Li Xingyi to Qi Wenzhe, he went about his business. Qi Wenzhe smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your trouble."
Li Xingyi calmly replied, "It's alright."
After a while, Qi Wenzhe still smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please come with me to the storeroom to get some medicinal herbs. Since everyone is busy, we have to trouble you."
Li Xingyi glanced at him and said, "It's alright, Imperial Academy Master Qi, lead the way."
Upon arriving at the storeroom, Qi Wenzhe examined the medicinal herbs and said, "Your Majesty, please make plans as soon as possible."
Li Xingyi was very clever and understood what he meant; he was reminding him of the rumors.
Li Xingyi looked at him and deliberately asked, "What do you mean?"
Qi Wenzhe said unhurriedly, "Your Majesty must have noticed the strange behavior of the palace servants when you arrived. Although you are the Empress, it is impossible for all the palace servants to change their attitude towards you all at once."
Li Xingyi sized him up and asked, "Then how did you, the Palace Attendant Qi, come to your senses? Logically speaking, the attitudes of the palace servants should only change in front of me. How did you know and perceive this?"
After hearing this, Qi Wenzhe understood that she suspected him of spying on her.
Qi Wenzhe turned to Li Xingyi and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry. I will not harm you, nor have I sent anyone to your side. I just happened to overhear the conversation of the palace servants when I came to the Imperial Hospital, which is why I reminded you to be careful. After all, you are the Empress appointed by His Majesty."
The last sentence was to tell Li Xingyi that Qi Wenzhe himself was Qi Dou's man, and that Li Xingyi was the empress and wife that Qi Dou had personally chosen, so he would never harm her no matter what.
After listening, Li Xingyi remained silent for a while, then tentatively asked, "I have some doubts about you just now, please forgive me. I will be careful. But I don't know why the palace servants changed their attitude in just half a day?"
Qi Wenzhe breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to get more medicinal herbs. He said, "Because of Her Majesty's words."
As Li Xingyi sized him up, he deliberately asked, "What?"
She harbored doubts, and her suspicions about Qi Dou deepened.
Why are his people also showing me goodwill? Is it all a scheme, or does he... genuinely have designs on me?
Li Xingyi wasn't stupid; after spending so much time together, he could guess some things from what he saw. However, Li Xingyi didn't believe that an emperor could be so infatuated, let alone fall in love at first sight!
Qi Wenzhe slowly said, "You are the Empress, and every word and action represents the royal family. You may have said it from your own heart or just casually, but it means something different to the people in the palace. This is the royal palace, and these kinds of things happen all the time. You should know that."
Li Xingyi lowered his eyes and said, "If everyone's words were restricted, would things be as they are now? Besides, even if I hadn't said those words, could you guarantee that nothing would have happened? It's just a case of finding fault where none exists. I will deal with it one by one, so Imperial Censor Qi doesn't need to worry."
Li Xingyi did not think that kindness was a sin. As someone in a high position, entrusted by the people, he should put the people first. His words were not wrong, and kindness was not wrong; it was only the people's hearts that were wrong.
Qi Wenzhe paused for a moment, then said, "Then I hope that when I return, you will be able to resolve this matter."
Li Xingyi calmly said, "I also hope that when you return, there will be no plague in Sichuan and no infighting in the palace. I will naturally solve the problems here, and Imperial Censor Qi must also solve the problems in Sichuan."
Qi Wenzhe turned to look at her and smiled gently, "Alright, it's a deal, Your Majesty, let's go."
Li Xingyi glanced at the things in his hands and then remembered that she hadn't helped earlier. She said, "Let me take them."
Qi Wenzhe shook his head and said, "No need. Your Highness, please remember not to trust others too easily, just like today, lest someone find a handle against you."
If it weren't Qi Wenzhe today, but someone else, they might say that Li Xingyi had an affair with him.
After hearing this, Li Xingyi looked at him and said, "I trust the character of Imperial Physician Qi. Also, thank you for the reminder, Imperial Physician Qi."
Qi Wenzhe was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It is my honor to have Your Majesty's trust."
While Qi Dou was handling state affairs, his bodyguard suddenly appeared. The bodyguard knelt on one knee and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, Shi Hui has had people spread what the Empress said to you at the Imperial Hospital."
Upon hearing this, Qi Dou slammed the brush down on the brush holder and said angrily, "How dare she lay a hand on Xingyi!"
Upon seeing this, Zhao Hongxing immediately asked the guards, "Where has it spread to now? Why didn't you send anyone to intercept it? Has Her Majesty the Empress been harmed?"
The guard lowered his head even further and spoke quickly: "It has already spread to the common people. Aunt Shunhua sent many people to spread it among the people. I don't know who is spreading it, but Her Majesty the Empress has not been harmed yet, but she has already sensed that something is wrong."
Qi Dou said, "It spread so quickly! It hasn't been long, how could it be so fast? And you, with so many of your secret guards, how could you not have stopped it!"
The guard said solemnly, "The guards are loyal to you. You ordered us to protect the Empress, and we dared not disobey. One of us was ordered to protect the Empress and has already intercepted one person. The rest of the guards are only loyal to Your Majesty!"
Qi Dou gritted his teeth and said, "I just hope she can be safe and sound. I asked you to protect her so that she can carry out her plan smoothly. Her people cannot be exposed. I hope to reduce the chances of her people appearing, otherwise others will harm her."
In fact, Qi Dou always knew what Li Xingyi wanted to do: she wanted revenge, and he was willing to help her.
She couldn't reveal her identity, and he was willing to help her.
Even though she doesn't love him, he's willing to wait for her.
The guard said, "Your Majesty, you only think about protecting the Empress, but your situation may not be much better than hers. I understand what you mean, but the Empress may not be unable to handle everything."
At this moment, the other guards suddenly appeared and said, "Your Majesty, we are loyal to you and would never disobey you."
Upon seeing this, Zhao Hongxing immediately said, "Your Majesty, they will not disobey you. The Empress wants to bring down the Shi family. We do not know the whole plan, only her purpose. You should be able to understand what is really going on if you think about it."
Qi Dou immediately understood that Li Xingyi had deliberately spread this rumor.
He said, "Yes, how could Xingyi do anything that would be detrimental to himself? I was confused."
Zhao Hongxing said, "Your Majesty is overly worried and did not think of this matter. Your Majesty need not worry about it."
Qi Dou sighed and said, "Never mind, I will consider this carefully later. Let's think about how to help Xingyi."
The guards thought speechlessly, "Your Majesty, your attitude changes way too fast!"
Qi Dou suddenly asked Zhao Hongxing, "Hongxing, do you think I should go and check on Xingyi?"
Zhao Hongxing understood this in his heart.
Your Majesty, you clearly want to see the Empress!
Zhao Hongxing said, "Your Majesty, you haven't finished reviewing the memorials yet! Please finish your official duties before going to see the Empress! The Empress should be helping out at the Imperial Hospital right now. What if she gets angry if she finds out you went to see her before finishing your official duties?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Dou hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, I should deal with state affairs first, lest Xingyi get angry and we won't be able to go to Fengyi Palace tonight."
After saying that, he hurriedly picked up a brush and began to review the memorials.
The guards were all surprised to see this.
No? Your Majesty! What you're thinking is that you've angered the Empress, and we won't be able to go to Fengyi Palace tonight! Shouldn't state affairs be the most important thing?!
Zhao Hongxing could only smile awkwardly and wave to the guards, indicating that they could leave.
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