Her husband, that was probably Wei Yang.

It couldn't be him.

After all, Jiang Yi probably never had any expectations of him.

In his impression, if he had to describe Jiang Yi, that woman, it would probably be cruel. She was cruel to others and even crueler to herself.

When he first met Jiang Yi, he had not yet reached Qi State, but was still in Northern Yan. Zhao Peng had been feeling unwell since he left Yandu, and was always drowsy along the way. He was afraid that Zhao Peng's condition would worsen, so he slowed down his journey and stopped frequently along the way.

That night, he wiped Zhao Peng's body clean and went out to pour water. As soon as he walked out of the yard, he saw a woman standing in the moonlight. She was wearing a black robe and her whole body was hidden in the darkness, so his appearance could not be seen clearly.

He frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Who are you?"

"Where the frost flowers bloom is my home."

Frost flowers are unique to Qiongzhou. When they are not in bloom, they are small green buds, like tender leaves, hidden among the green leaves. When they are in full bloom, they are palm-sized bright red flowers, gorgeous and domineering, comparable to peonies.

However, because frost flowers only grow in Qiongzhou and have a short flowering period, they cannot survive without the soil. Even the people of Northern Yan rarely know what frost flowers look like. It was only when Qin Shuhuai arrived in Qiongzhou that he learned what frost flowers really look like.

When this person mentioned Frost Flower, Qin Shuhuai immediately responded: "Jiang Family?"

"My name is Jiang Yi." The other party said coldly: "The eldest daughter of the Jiang family."

As she spoke, she took off her hat, revealing her pale face.

Qin Shuhuai couldn't quite remember what Jiang Yi looked like, but he remembered her eyes, which were gloomy and cold, hiding a hint of cruelty.

"I came here to discuss a business deal with His Highness."

When Jiang Yi came, Qin Shuhuai had already guessed what she was going to say. He frowned and immediately refused, "Miss Qin, there is no need to say more. I returned to Beiyan without the intention of becoming an emperor. I just wanted to return to my homeland and find a stable place."

After hearing what Qin Shuhuai said, Jiang Yi laughed sarcastically.

"Innocent."

Innocent.

Recalling Jiang Yi's evaluation, Qin Shuhuai felt that this was probably the only true sentence among all the words Jiang Yi had said to him.

He and Zhao Peng were suppressed by the Queen in Beiyan. He could not get freedom in Beiyan, but he actually fantasized that he could get freedom by going to Qi?

Does he think that if he doesn't fight or compete, and if he gives in, he can get stability?

How naive.

From the very beginning, Jiang Yi used her own marriage as a bargaining chip. Even on their wedding day, he did not hold a wedding ceremony but directly sent her to the backyard, and she had no objection.

It would be absurd to say that one had any expectations of such a person.

But if it's Wei Yang, then it's different.

Qin Shuhuai said calmly: "I'm afraid General Wei did not disappoint the princess."

"Not really." Qin Peng smiled. She knew he had misunderstood, but she didn't mind continuing to talk. In order to enrich the image of Qin Peng, a sentimental widow, she slowly said, "He died on the battlefield, which was a disappointment to my expectations."

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. After a moment, he nodded and praised, "It's rare to have deep love, but it's a pity that we are so destined."

Qin Peng didn't say anything. After sending Qin Shuhuai into the room, she turned around and looked at Qin Ming.

After Qin Shuhuai entered Qianchun Palace, a guard disguised as Liu Shuyan came out from the back hall. Qin Shuhuai got up from the wheelchair, quickly changed clothes and mask with the other party, and then hurried to Qin Ming's study.

When he arrived, Qin Peng had just changed into his casual clothes and came out. After seeing "Liu Shuyan", Qin Peng nodded to him and jokingly asked, "Does Master Liu have a headache when he goes back?"

"Not bad." Qin Shuhuai smiled, but said: "The princess's alcohol tolerance is surprisingly good."

Qin Peng waved his hands: "It's all learned through practice."

Qin Shuhuai smiled but said nothing.

How can a princess like Qin Peng practice it?

It's not Zhao Peng, so I'm prepared for a rainy day and specifically ask him to make wine.

The only possibility is that Jiang Yi trained in the military camp.

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. The two of them sat in their respective seats. Qin Shuhuai taught Qin Ming while Qin Peng lowered his head and did his own thing.

Several days passed in peace like this. Because Liu Shuyan had tried to test Qin Peng last time, Qin Peng was frightened by Liu Shuyan's "intentions" and became extra cautious. He planned to observe the situation.

How to observe?

Just let it be.

Qin Shuhuai was not a particularly proactive person, so the two of them only met in Qin Ming's class. After class, Qin Peng would invite him to have dinner. They were not too far away from each other, which made them feel very comfortable.

This distance made Qin Peng feel very comfortable, especially when he was looking at the memorials. Occasionally he would look up and see "Liu Shuyan" giving a lecture to Qin Ming. The afternoon sun was very warm, and "Liu Shuyan" had handsome and gentle features. Qin Peng would vaguely feel that such a life seemed to be extremely good.

This man brought her stability and peace. So after the court session every day, the hour when Qin Ming was lecturing became Qin Peng's exclusive rest time.

Qin Shuhuai was also a little surprised. He found that when he was giving a lecture to Qin Ming, he felt very calm with Qin Peng by his side.

Zhao Peng has been dead for six years. During these six years, he has been in only two states: either he was caught up in intrigues and had no time to think about Zhao Peng, or he was thinking about Zhao Peng all the time.

When Qin Peng was by his side, he finally had a third emotion.

He found that he did not seem to fall into endless despair. When he thought of Zhao Peng, he only felt peaceful and beautiful.

This made him somewhat reluctant to stay with Qin Peng, but he also felt that such a mood was very dangerous, so he taught in a very disciplined manner.

After some time, it was March 3rd. According to Qi's custom, this day was the day to tour the city and see the peach blossoms. That day, Qin Ming left school half an hour early. He came to Qin Peng with his back bent and whispered, "Sister, I want to ask you a favor."

Qin Peng put down his pen, looking at Qin Ming who was like a cat, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Qin Ming pursed his lips and said, "I want to go out and play."

Qin Peng was stunned for a moment, and then heard Qin Ming say, "I'm not in the palace, I want to leave the palace."

Qin Peng didn't dare to reply to him for a moment. After all, he was the emperor. If something happened when he went out...

However, looking at Qin Ming's expectant eyes, Qin Peng was a little at a loss for a moment. She was wild when she was young. Beiyan was not like Qi, where princesses and princes were strictly educated and kept in the palace. In Beiyan, any prince at the age of twelve could open his own house, and the princess could leave the palace under the pretext of visiting her brothers.

She often slipped out disguised as Qin Shuhuai or Zhao Yu's maid in those days. She knew very well that this child yearned for freedom. Looking at Qin Ming's eager eyes, Qin Peng could not say no. Qin Shuhuai, who was packing his books, looked up at Qin Peng's expression and said directly, "Go if you want to. It's okay."

Qin Peng came back to his senses and remembered that Liu Shuyan, as a general of the Southern City Army, must be quite skilled. He pursed his lips and said, "Then please ask Master Liu to come along."

Qin Shuhuai nodded, and after the three of them changed into their disguises, they boarded the guards and took Qin Ming out of the palace.

Qin Ming was not allowed to leave the palace at will. He needed to seek consent from Qin Peng, Qin Shuhuai, Li Shu and Zhang Ying. However, Qin Peng hid Qin Ming in the carriage, and "Liu Shuyan" sat outside the carriage driving, and the guards did not dare to stop him.

After leaving the palace, Qin Shuhuai drove the carriage to the market and listened to Qin Peng talking to Qin Ming inside.

Qin Ming asked a lot of silly questions, and Qin Peng patiently explained them, sometimes his explanations were confusing, like a child who had not grown up.

Qin Shuhuai was listening outside, with a smile on his face unconsciously, remembering when he and Zhao Peng took Zhao Yu out of the palace when they were young, and Zhao Yu did the same thing at that time, asking questions over and over again.

Zhao Peng was two years older than Zhao Yu, but had a much wilder temperament. Northern Yan was very casual about controlling men. After Qin Shuhuai was twelve years old, the Emperor of Northern Yan, in order to ease the relationship with Qi, granted him a separate courtyard outside the palace as a face-saving project. So Zhao Peng often disguised himself as his attendant and sneaked out of the palace.

At that time, Zhao Yu asked more incisive questions than Qin Ming, such as why those jugglers could do things that ordinary people could not do? How long were their lives? How was their health? Why could salt only be sold by that one spice shop on East Street and not by others? Why were things from other countries always more expensive...

Now that I think about it, Zhao Yu was born with the temperament to be an emperor. Zhao Peng was not able to answer these questions at the time, so he just made up nonsense for Zhao Yu.

Although Zhao Yu was smart, he always obeyed Zhao Peng. He believed whatever Zhao Peng said.

At that time he was young and pretended to be aloof and never spoke. Now when he thought about it, he felt that it was his fault. So this time, while listening to Qin Peng and Qin Ming's whispers, he drove the carriage and occasionally interrupted to answer Qin Ming's questions.

Qin Peng was sitting in the carriage, and she saw the curtain occasionally lifted, revealing the warm face of the person outside. She couldn't help but feel warm in her heart. She suddenly felt that it would be a happy thing to spend her life with this person.

The three of them went to the market together. Qin Shuhuai introduced several small shops to them along the way. The three of them ate and played along the way. Qin Ming had never seen a roadside stall before. When he saw the salted food, he was tempted by the smell and couldn't move his feet. Qin Peng didn't dare to let Qin Ming eat these roadside stalls, and advised him: "It's not good to eat these things. Let's go."

Qin Ming didn't force himself on Qin Peng. He just raised his head and looked at Qin Peng, like a little animal, looking extremely pitiful.

Qin Shuhuai glanced at him and said calmly, "Want to eat?"

Qin Ming nodded, and Qin Shuhuai continued, "You will have a stomachache after eating it. If you have a stomachache, your mother will scold your sister. Will you be responsible?"

Qin Ming hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Then I won't eat it."

After saying that, Qin Ming took Qin Peng's hand, raised his head, and said seriously: "Sister, wait until I grow up and I am as tall as you, I can protect you, and then I will eat this."

Qin Peng couldn't help but laugh. She touched Qin Ming's head and said gently, "Okay."

The two bought some things on the way, and Qin Peng and Qin Shuhuai sent Qin Ming back to the palace together.

After returning, Qin Shuhuai sent Qin Peng home. Qin Peng was thinking about something all the way. Qin Shuhuai was a little curious and asked with a smile: "What are you thinking about, Princess?"

"I'm thinking," Qin Peng frowned, looked up at Qin Shuhuai, and said calmly, "I'm thinking about Qin Shuhuai."

Qin Shuhuai was quite surprised: "What does the princess want him to do?"

"Master Liu, how long do you think he will keep me and His Majesty?"

Qin Shuhuai listened to this with a calm expression: "Princess, you are worrying too much. The Regent is not a person who only cares about power."

"Master Liu," Qin Peng said with a mocking expression, "You don't know him very well."

It is a joke for a man who killed his three wives in order to climb up the social ladder to say that he has no interest in power.

"You seem to know him well."

Qin Shuhuai tested him silently. Qin Peng smiled but did not reply. However, that slightly sarcastic expression clearly answered Qin Shuhuai's question.

Qin Shuhuai was not surprised. If she was Jiang Yi, she must understand him.

"Does Grand Tutor Liu know how Qin Shuhuai married Princess Yuyang when he was in Northern Yan?"

Qin Shuhuai moved his eyes and said carefully: "I heard that he and Princess Yuyang love each other..."

"At that time, Princess Yuyang was going to marry Feng Zheng, but she was framed. Qin Shuhuai arrived and ruined Princess Yuyang's innocence. She had no choice but to marry him."

Speaking of this, Qin Peng said with a mocking expression: "Do you think that Qin Shuhuai's appearance at that time was too coincidental?"

After hearing this, Qin Shuhuai felt angry.

Qin Shuhuai was not surprised that someone could find out what happened back then, after all, truth cannot be hidden. However, he could not tolerate people talking about this relationship like this.

But he didn't show it, and just said: "Hearsay may not be true."

Qin Peng knew what Liu Shuyan meant, that he didn't want to say this anymore. She also felt that her talking about the past through Qin Peng's mouth was like a woman talking about the innocence of another woman who had died many years ago. It was really not nice. So she smiled and said gently, "It was just a casual remark. What I meant was that Qin Shuhuai could climb to this position as a hostage, so it's impossible for him not to be greedy for power."

"What if he has something to hide?"

"Is that so?" Qin Peng said perfunctorily, "I am judging others by my own standards."

As they were talking, the two arrived at Wei Mansion and Qin Peng jumped off the carriage.

Looking at Qin Peng's back as he walked away with his waist twisted, Qin Shuhuai leaned against the carriage and recalled the day when Zhao Peng married him.

Zhao Peng also asked this question.

"Shu Huai, what do you want?"

He didn't say anything. Zhao Peng's expression was gentle: "Shu Huai, I'm so lucky that you were the one who came over that day."

At that time, he thought she doubted him, and he wanted to explain, but she hugged him and said calmly: "No need to say too much, I believe you."

She believed him.

He believed this countless times, and he kept telling himself that Zhao Peng believed in him and that he was Zhao Peng's only support. But on this night, he began to doubt.

If Zhao Peng really believed him, why was her look full of despair when he cried and begged her to wait a moment and he would find a way to save her?

Does she really believe him?

Did she really believe it from the bottom of her heart, or was she just pretending to be magnanimous and making him think she believed it because she knew his words could not change her mind?

Qin Shuhuai didn't dare to delve into it further. He suddenly became very scared, especially afraid of touching the true darkness in that beautiful relationship.

After Qin Peng returned to his room, he put all these things behind him, finished his work, took a shower, and went to bed to rest.

I was lying in bed until midnight when Bai Zhi's voice suddenly came. She stood outside the door and said respectfully, "Princess, the Queen Mother wants you to go to the palace as soon as possible."

Qin Peng opened his eyes in the dark night, quickly lit the lights, and took people to the palace.

When they arrived at the palace, Qin Peng was led to the bedroom where Qin Ming was. When he entered, he was surrounded by doctors. Li Shu was kneeling beside the bed, crying and shouting "My son" desperately.

Qin Peng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked, "What's going on?"

"Reporting to the princess," Zhang Qian, the Imperial Physician, turned around and said calmly, "Your Majesty probably had an upset stomach and caught a cold, so he has a high fever."

After hearing this, Qin Peng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "That's good."

"Is this okay?!"

Li Shu suddenly jumped up, her face full of tears. Zhang Qian saw this and immediately said to Qin Peng: "Your Majesty is not seriously ill. We will go to other palaces to get medicine first, so as not to disturb Your Majesty's rest. What do you think?"

"Can."

Qin Peng nodded, and at this time Li Shu shouted angrily: "No one is allowed to leave! No one is allowed to leave!"

"Mother," Qin Peng frowned, "What are you doing?"

"Ming'er has a high fever! He can't even wake up now. What are these doctors doing? No one is allowed to leave until Ming'er is well! Don't you know how to give acupuncture? Give Ming'er acupuncture!"

Li Shu was crying and making a fuss, but all the imperial doctors stood aside with calm expressions, waiting for Qin Peng to speak. Qin Peng was a little annoyed, but there were many people here, and Li Shu was the empress dowager after all, so she had to give Li Shu face no matter what.

She took a breath and forced a smile, "Mother, calm down. It's common for children to have a high fever. You don't have to..."

Before she could finish her words, there was a "pa" sound and Li Shu slapped Qin Peng in the face.

Qin Peng didn't react at all. Li Shu acted extremely quickly. No one could have imagined that the Queen Mother could actually tie up a princess in front of so many people!

This was not just a matter of slapping someone in the face; it was a complete humiliation to the princess who was the head of the town.

Qin Peng's face turned cold, and she slowly turned her head. After Li Shu slapped her, she seemed to be full of blood, and cried and cursed: "What do you mean it's okay?! Your brother has a high fever, are you blind?! I asked around, it was you who took him out of the palace, it was you who caused it! You jinx, do you want to kill him?! What on earth are you thinking..."

Li Shu came forward and pulled Qin Peng's clothes while crying. Qin Peng's face became colder and colder. She was slightly taller than Li Shu. She lowered her head and looked down at the crying woman. She couldn't tell what emotions were in her heart.

Her mother had also quarreled with her in the same way. After she designed a plan for her mother to meet her father by chance, and then use a poem to win his favor and welcome her out of the palace, her mother became more sensitive and told her that the only hope for them was Zhao Yu.

That year, Zhao Yu waited in the snow for her to return to the palace, and finally caught a cold and a high fever. Her mother also suffered from the same condition, crying and making a fuss, and made her kneel in the snow. As long as Zhao Yu didn't wake up, she couldn't get up.

She looked quietly at the woman in front of her who was pushing her, as if she saw her mother in her youth. The people around her had already knelt down, watching the mother and daughter crying and trembling.

Li Shu scolded Qin Peng: "You are such a troublemaker! You just don't want Ming'er to be well. Now that you are the eldest princess of Zhenguo, I'm afraid you will fall in love with some wild man, find a backer, and conspire to kill Ming'er and me! You are such a scoundrel..."

As she spoke, Li Shu raised her hand and wanted to hit him again. Qin Peng grabbed her hand and shouted angrily: "Have you made enough noise?!"

Li Shu was shocked by Qin Peng's shouting. After a moment, she reacted and cried, "What do you want? I'm your mother, the queen mother, and I can't beat you?!"

Qin Peng squeezed her hand tightly and said to the others, "Back off."

"No one is allowed to leave!"

Li Shu was a little scared when she saw Qin Peng's unfriendly look.

Qin Peng smiled, but her eyes were filled with ice and snow. She turned to look at Zhang Feng and said gently, "The Queen Mother is in an unstable mood. I will stay to comfort her. I trouble the imperial doctors to leave first."

Zhang Feng was a man who knew how to read the situation. He had already thought that Li Shu was crazy. Qin Peng spoke up and immediately said, "I will take my leave."

After saying this, he left with the imperial physician without paying any attention to Li Shu's scolding behind him.

After the imperial physician left, Qin Peng turned around and glanced at the guards and palace maids around him. Now, except for a few personal maids, all the people around Li Shu had been replaced by her people. When Qin Peng looked over, the hall was empty in an instant, except for the four maids around Li Shu, who refused to leave no matter what.

Qin Peng held Li Shu's hand. Li Shu hit and kicked him, but couldn't get away. Qin Peng looked at the maids with a smile, his mouth curled up, and his smile was full of blood: "The four maids are all old people in the palace. Are you sure you won't leave?"

The four maids were used to following Li Shu. When they saw Li Shu hitting Qin Peng, they couldn't help but get a little bolder. One of the older maids stepped forward and advised, "The Queen Mother is the princess' mother. In terms of rank and seniority, it should be the Queen Mother who speaks first. The Queen Mother didn't tell us to leave, so we dare not leave. The princess should also pay attention to our behavior. The Queen Mother gave birth to the princess, and the princess's flesh and blood belong to the Queen Mother. However, the princess got so angry over a mere beating and scolding. If outsiders knew about it, they would probably think that the princess didn't understand filial piety, righteousness, and shame."

"Filial piety, righteousness, integrity and shame?" Qin Peng smiled even more: "Tell me, how come I have no sense of integrity and shame?"

"It is inappropriate for a princess to be in the court with a group of men, and she also has many interactions with Master Liu and the Regent Prince. I am afraid it is not right."

"He is a man who knows the rules."

Qin Peng nodded, but looked at Dong You who had been standing there without saying anything. Dong You was the eunuch who had sent Qin Ming to the Huguo Temple. Qin Peng looked at him and said with a smile, "Eunuch Dong, what is the name of this nanny?"

Qin Peng asked this question to see Dong You's attitude. Dong You was a shrewd man and immediately said, "This nanny's surname is Wu. She is an old lady in the palace. She broke the Queen Mother's jade bracelet a few days ago and refused to report it. She is a cunning slave!"

As soon as Dong You said this, Aunt Wu's face immediately changed. She rushed towards Dong You and shouted angrily: "Old thief Dong, you are talking nonsense!"

"Bai Zhi."

Qin Peng gave a wink, and Bai Zhi immediately stepped forward, grabbed Nanny Wu, and then took the guards to capture the four palace maids and made them kneel on the ground.

"Qin Peng!"

Li Shu saw that all her men were arrested. She was shocked and frightened, and her voice became much sharper: "What do you mean?"

"Of course, it's to help the queen mother deal with the stubborn slaves around her."

Qin Peng grabbed Li Shu and walked towards the high seat. Li Shu struggled desperately, but Qin Peng was very strong. Li Shu scratched Qin Peng's skin with her nails, but Qin Peng kept smiling until Li Shu bit his hand and kicked him. Qin Peng finally lost his patience and slapped Li Shu in the face, causing Li Shu to fall beside his golden seat.

Qin Peng pulled out his hand from his arms, pressed it against the wound, and asked coldly, "Are you awake?"

"Qin Peng, I'm your mother!"

Li Shu suddenly raised her voice, looked up, and cried, "How could you do this to me?!"

"Then how can you do this to me?!"

Qin Peng suddenly raised his voice: "Because I'm your daughter, you can beat me and scold me as you like, without any reason, right?"

"Because Qin Ming is the emperor and I'm just a princess, you can do whatever you want, right?!"

"Ask yourself," Qin Peng approached her suddenly, pinched her chin, and said coldly, "Are you worthy of being a mother?!"

Li Shu stared at Qin Peng blankly, her eyes full of fear.

She never thought that her daughter would be so rebellious and treat her like this? !

The moment he met Li Shu's eyes, Qin Peng suddenly felt a little sad.

How could she have said these words to Li Shu?

She couldn't help laughing sarcastically.

She had been enduring these words for many years, and she refused to tell them to her biological mother. She could only burst out as Qin Peng when Li Shu did something similar.

She closed her eyes and said nothing. After a long time, she finally opened her eyes again and opened her hand that was pinching Li Shu's chin. She turned to help Li Shu up and said gently, "Mother, please get up. Don't worry. I will definitely deal with these slaves who are deceiving their superiors and trying to sow discord between you and me."

"This is the only way to show my filial piety, mother said, but?"

Li Shu was completely frightened by Qin Peng. She was helped up by Qin Peng in a daze. When she heard Qin Peng's words, she turned her head and saw Qin Peng's cold eyes and gorgeous smile. She couldn't help but shiver.

Qin Peng watched her sit down, then sat on the golden throne with her, staring at Li Shu's face, and suddenly raised his voice: "Kill all these deceitful slaves who deceive their superiors and deceive their subordinates!"