Zhao Zhi was somewhat surprised when he heard that Meng Yilan was requesting an audience.
He had been married to Meng Yilan for six years, but the two of them had hardly ever seen each other.
It was a complete exchange of interests; Zhao Zhi needed the Meng family's status among scholars, and the Meng family needed a powerful backer to continue their family's glory.
Zhao Zhi had no interest in Meng Yilan. He found the woman extremely boring, a typical woman who had been spoiled and had no personality.
When Meng Yilan first entered the room, he had someone observe her for a while. Later, he found that this woman was ridiculously naive, so he stopped paying attention to her.
As long as she doesn't cause any trouble, she can be empress for life.
For the time being, Zhao Zhi was quite satisfied with this empress who didn't cause any trouble.
"Your Majesty." Meng Yilan walked in and bowed respectfully. Then she had someone put down the food box and took out the pastries one by one, placing them on the table to the side.
"What is it?" Zhao Zhi looked at Meng Yilan, his attitude cold and not very friendly.
Meng Yilan didn't mind, and still had a proper and generous smile on her face: "Firstly, I came to see the Emperor, after all, it has been a long time since I have seen the Emperor. Secondly... I heard that the Emperor is angry with his sister, the Consort, so I want to plead for her."
Zhao Zhi looked up at Meng Yilan, and upon hearing the word "second," he couldn't help but frown: "Do you know what she did? You came here to plead for her?"
"Although I'm not entirely sure, I can guess a little. After all, Consort Gui's temper isn't exactly good. She even had a disagreement with Consort Cheng when they met, and they almost came to blows. I suppose it's for something similar. My sister is stubborn and doesn't know how to be gentle. Back in the army, she was always the one giving orders. It's normal that she can't adapt to her new role in the palace. I hope His Majesty can be more tolerant," Meng Yilan said with a gentle smile.
Zhao Zhi's expression was inscrutable as he looked at Meng Yilan.
Although it sounds like they are defending Song Qi, if you look closely, it's more like they are accusing him and putting a label on him.
There was another fight in the palace, which also implied that Song Qi wanted to issue orders from the palace, giving orders to the emperor.
If it were someone else, Song Qi would have been sent straight to the Cold Palace.
"Moreover, my sister has always been someone who rides horses across the open fields, so it's normal for her to feel unhappy now that she's in the palace."
This statement was practically a direct message to Zhao Zhi that Song Qi was dissatisfied with him.
Zhao Zhi glanced at Meng Yilan again, a hint of displeasure in his eyes: "Then you'd better try to comfort her. Now go down."
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave. I hope Your Majesty will not be angry with my sister any longer." Meng Yilan noticed Zhao Zhi's expression and knew that she had achieved her goal.
"If you care about her so much, why don't you stay home with her while she's under house arrest?" Zhao Zhi said coldly.
Meng Yilan's lips twitched, but she didn't say anything and quickly left.
Because Song Qi was confined to his quarters, he could only torment the two trees in his own courtyard. The palace servants watching around him were so frightened that they dared not move, for fear that the sword would stab them.
Her actions effectively confirmed the rumors of her discord with the emperor.
Song Qi wanted everyone to know that he was at odds with the emperor.
When Meng Yilan arrived, she saw a sky full of leaves, and Song Qi standing in the middle of the leaves, his sword gleaming coldly.
When she turned to look at herself, Meng Yilan felt her heart skip a beat for a few seconds.
A terrifying look in their eyes.
"Why are you here?" Song Qi asked, his voice still carrying a hint of murderous intent.
“You were grounded, and I was worried you’d be bored, so I came to talk to you,” Meng Yilan said with a gentle smile. “Now it seems you’re not bored at all.”
Song Qi sheathed his sword, looked at her, and asked in return, "Is there ever a day in the palace that isn't boring?"
Meng Yilan said helplessly, "Don't always say that. You'll get used to it. I can teach you how to play Pai Gow, and then we can invite two people to play together."
"Never mind, I'm not interested." Song Qi looked at Meng Yilan's cloak. "Are you cold? Let's go inside and talk."
"Mm." Meng Yilan nodded, and the two of them went into the house hand in hand. Yaofeng stood on a chair and howled at Meng Yilan.
Startled, Meng Yilan tightened her grip on Song Qi's hand and secretly glared at it.
The wind howled even louder.
"It's alright, it's just Jiaojiao." Song Qi patted Meng Yilan's hand and glanced at Yaofeng. "You go inside and sit down first, I'll go change my clothes."
"Okay." Meng Yilan watched Song Qi's retreating figure until he disappeared.
She looked around at the furnishings, turning the cup in her hand with some unease.
Song Qi changed his clothes and came out. The complex emotions in Meng Yilan's eyes were now hidden by a smile: "I just went to see the Emperor to plead for you."
Song Qi paused, looked up at Meng Yilan, and asked, "What did Zhao Zhi say?"
"He didn't say anything. I think his anger will subside in a few days. He probably doesn't really want to be angry with you or confine you. General, don't always provoke the Emperor."
Song Qi twitched the corners of his mouth, showing utter disgust: "Who would provoke him? If he hadn't come over here himself, who would have provoked him?"
“General, the Emperor has it tough too. He has no confidants and few people he trusts. The fact that he doesn’t come to the inner palace but only to you shows that he likes you very much. You should understand that,” Meng Yilan continued.
Song Qi glanced at Meng Yilan: "Let's not talk about him anymore. By the way, why did you suddenly think of pleading for me?"
"Isn't it because I was worried about you? Isn't it normal to plead for you?" Meng Yilan gave Song Qi a reproachful look, but her heart was pounding. "I hope everyone can be well. I've never liked seeing people argue since I was little."
"Sister, you are so kind-hearted." Song Qi smiled.
Meng Yilan was stunned for a moment. This was the first time Song Qi had called her "sister" like that. Although the other party's eyes were smiling and his expression was gentle, she had a bad feeling.
“There’s something I haven’t told you yet.” Song Qi looked at Meng Yilan’s expression. “Yesterday, my men found the person who came to assassinate us in the middle of the night.”
"Found it?" Meng Yilan was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, but he's already dead." Song Qi sighed. "He fell into the well and drowned. What a pity."
Meng Yilan frowned: "Hey, why didn't you say so sooner? I could have had someone help you look for it, maybe we could have made it in time."
"What if I implicate you?" Song Qi looked at Meng Yilan. "You're so timid and don't have any self-defense skills. What if someone targets you? Won't you be scared to tears?"
"Didn't His Majesty send people to protect me?" Meng Yilan took Song Qi's hand and looked into her eyes. "You can ask me for help with anything in the future, don't be shy."
“Okay.” Song Qi nodded. “Then please pass on a message to Fourteen and Seventeen for me. Tell them I’m under house arrest and that they shouldn’t come looking for me during this time.”
"Okay." Meng Yilan nodded. "Are you still in contact with them?"
Song Qi glanced at Meng Yilan: "I happened to run into them on the road yesterday. They wanted me to teach them martial arts, and I didn't know how to refuse."
"So, this is why you argued with the Emperor yesterday?"
Song Qi responded.
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't taken you there, you wouldn't have run into them," Meng Yilan said with a look of annoyance.
"What does this have to do with you? It's Zhao Zhi's own narrow-mindedness. They're just two children." Song Qi frowned, once again expressing his disdain for Zhao Zhi.
Meng Yilan frowned: "General, don't talk nonsense like that. What if others hear it?"
“I’m only telling you this, will you tell anyone else?” Song Qi stared into Meng Yilan’s eyes.
"Of course not." Meng Yilan suppressed her panic. "Trust me, okay?"
Song Qi smiled: "Okay, I believe you. If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't have told you so much."
Afterwards, Song Qi casually complained about life in the palace.
Meng Yilan listened to him, occasionally saying a few words.
When she left Jingde Palace, her back was soaked with cold sweat.
She sent someone to deliver a message to Thirteen and Fourteen.
Song Qi sat cross-legged on the soft couch, tapping the table intermittently.
"You suspect she has a problem?" the system asked, having just enjoyed watching the two women act out their scenes.
"Isn't she the villainous female supporting character in this book?" Song Qi asked back.
system:……
"If there's no problem, wouldn't that be strange?" Song Qi rubbed her shoulders. She relied on her intuition most of the time here, and this time, her intuition also told her that there was something wrong with this woman.
The system hadn't expected the reason to be so simple and blunt.
Furthermore, according to Song Qi's estimation, Meng Yilan chose this vicious female supporting character not because of her romantic relationship with the emperor, but because of other issues.
She's now just waiting for Meng Yilan to let those who need to know her attitude know.
It's such a pity that Zhao Zhi was so easily slandered by her.
A few days later, news came from Zhao Zhi's side that they were going to the Hot Spring Palace for a vacation.
Song Qi's confinement lasted only five days.
Zhao Zhi is here again.
"Will something happen at the hot spring palace this time?"
"I suspect so, but it's not certain yet." Zhao Zhi glanced at Song Qi.
"So what brings you here today?"
Zhao Zhi paused for a few seconds: "Are you and Meng Yilan very close?"
"It's alright." Song Qi became more serious when Zhao Zhi mentioned Meng Yilan.
Zhao Zhi continued, "Don't trust others too easily in the palace. I don't need to teach you that, do I?"
Song Qi laughed: "Do I look like someone who easily trusts others? By the way, if possible, investigate her relationship with Prince Rui."
Zhao Zhi frowned and looked at Song Qi: "Is there a problem?"
"I suspect so, but it's not certain yet." Song Qi looked at Zhao Zhi with a half-smile. "Is she close to Prince Rui?"
"I'll have someone investigate." In some respects, Zhao Zhi still wanted to trust Song Qi. Moreover, since he ascended the throne, the Meng family had indeed become restless and their ambitions had gradually emerged. It was not impossible for them to contact Prince Rui.
Zhao Zhi glanced at Song Qi again: "You women are really scary."
Song Qi looked at Zhao Zhi and raised an eyebrow: This sounds familiar.
“They play so well, yet they can turn around and stab each other in the back,” Zhao Zhi continued.
Song Qi laughed: "Those of you with blood ties can stab each other eight hundred times, so for us with only a superficial relationship, isn't it normal to stab each other once? Your Majesty, you are far more terrifying than us."
Zhao Zhi: ...
As expected, Zhao Zhi left in anger again, but he didn't confine Song Qi to his quarters.
Yang Gonggong was unclear about what had happened. Looking at Zhao Zhi's angry back, and then at Song Qi, he sighed, "Your Majesty, the Emperor still cares about you. He's even thinking about what you like to eat and wants the Imperial Kitchen to make it for you. Please don't always upset him."
“Tell him to stay away from me, or he’ll get sick from anger.” Song Qi chuckled. “Eunuch Yang should head back soon. If the Emperor can’t find you, he’ll probably get angry again.”
Eunuch Yang looked at Song Qi with some heartache. He just couldn't understand how things had turned out this way, when they used to get along so well.
There were more people going to the hot spring palace this time than before, and the number of guards was twice as many as before, because it was not safe.
Song Qi also brought her sword and Yaofeng. The palace maids packed up everything else, and she didn't ask about it.
This time I'm going to stay at the Onsen Palace for a month.
When Song Qi saw Yata, she noticed that the other woman had lost even more weight. She was already thin, but just right. Now she was frighteningly thin, and her eyes had lost their former sparkle.
"What's wrong with you?" Song Qi looked Yata up and down.
Yata twitched the corners of her mouth, her smile laced with sarcasm and a hint of bitterness: "Your Highness, don't pretend with me. Everyone knows you'd love for me to die sooner."
"You were bullied?" Song Qi looked at Yata, ignoring her words, somewhat surprised. With her shrewish temper, who could possibly bully her?
Yata remained silent.
"You were bullied, why didn't you tell on it?"
"Who did you complain to? You?" Yata looked up at Song Qi, her fists clenched tightly.
"Why not?" Song Qi rubbed Yao Feng's neck. "You can go to the Empress."
"Looking for her?" Yata scoffed.
Meng Yilan happened to walk over and looked at Yata: "Hmm? What's up, Consort Cheng?"
She looked at Yata with a smile: "If there is anything you are not used to in the palace, just tell me. There is no need to trouble the Noble Consort."
Yata glanced at Meng Yilan again: "Don't worry, I won't bother anyone."
After saying that, he turned and left.
"What happened?" Song Qi asked Meng Yilan.
Meng Yilan looked innocent and somewhat helpless: "Last time she came to me again with Consort Fang. When I asked her, she wouldn't say anything, so I could only go by Consort Fang's words. I don't know what upset her. What can I do?"
"Yes, you've worked hard." Song Qi clearly sensed Meng Yilan's hostility towards Yata this time.
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