Xue Qingchang felt a dull pain in her heart when she thought of her elder sister's emaciated, weak and haggard appearance during the several visits to the palace. Her elder sister, who was so beautiful and charming in her lifetime, now looked old and had half a head of white hair. She was so thin that it seemed like she would not live long.
But in just a few months, how could it become like this?
"My sister is thinking of you in her heart too. Whenever she loses consciousness, she always says she's sorry and that you're the only one she's let down in her life." Xue Qingshang came back to her senses and suddenly realized that Prime Minister Shen's temples had also turned gray, and the frown between his brows was as deep as a ravine. He was not as energetic as before.
Shen Tian's heart was filled with all kinds of emotions, and the heat climbed up from his nose to his eyes. He rubbed his eyebrows and said in a gentle voice: "There is nothing to be sorry about. She has helped me a lot over the years. At most, it can be regarded as mutual assistance."
Shen Tian didn't want to say much in front of the younger generation. Although Xue Qingshang was Xue Rong's sister, her age was almost the same as Shen Rong.
The relationship between him and Xue Rong was just voluntary, and it was hard to say who owed whom. He had watched it with his own eyes over the years and knew how difficult it was for Xue Rong in the palace. She was just strong-willed and wanted to be the superior person.
Without waiting for Xue Qingshang to speak again, Shen Tian acted weary and said, "It's late, the county lady should go home quickly."
Xue Qingshang always listened to him and said, "You should also rest early."
When the housekeeper was sending Xue Qingshang out, Xue Qingshang said, "Uncle Guan, is Ji Wudao going to work for Zhu Hui?" Although Zhu Hui is still the deposed prince, Emperor Mingzheng had asked Zhu Hui to be regent before leaving Beijing. These days, she went to the palace to visit her elder sister, but Zhu Hui's people obstructed her again and again, and now he is very proud of himself.
The old housekeeper had watched Xue Rong grow up. He revealed, "It's hard to say right now, but people under his command have found out that the Second Prince and Ji Wudao did have correspondence. Ji Wudao brought troops with him to the capital this time, hiding in Huaishuling. People under his command have not found out that he brought tens of thousands of troops. This man has evil ambitions, and now that he has a large army and is powerful, he is no longer constrained by the elder."
Xue Qingshang was surprised when she heard this: "Mobilizing troops without permission is tantamount to treason! What is he trying to do? Could it be that he wants to take advantage of the emperor's absence in the capital to support Zhu Yu to ascend the throne?"
The old housekeeper shook his head, escorted Xue Qingshang out of the Shen Mansion, and reminded her: "The county lady must take care of herself."
Xue Qingshang nodded: "You and the elder should do the same."
After the gate of Shen Mansion closed, Xue Qingshang looked at the endless night, took a deep breath, clenched his fist, made a decision, and told the driver: "Go to the posthouse."
Ji Wudao once wanted to marry her as his second wife, but was stopped by his elder sister. She must have been unwilling to accept him as her sworn brother, so now she had no choice but to try her best to tie Ji Wudao onto the Xue family's boat.
Xue Qingshang bit her handkerchief and cried silently in the carriage. She was raised to be proud by her elder sister. She had always been obedient in the past and never had to bow her head to please anyone. But now, she had to be humiliated by others.
But this was her own decision. The Xue family was about to collapse, and someone had to carry it up. Now that her elder sister had fallen, it would be her turn.
It was impossible that her elder sister had protected her for all these years and she would just watch coldly as her elder sister was devoured by the nine-layered palace.
Although it was midnight, the sound of orchestral music and cheerful laughter could be heard in the inn before one even entered. A young lady dressed in red and green, with her breasts half exposed, was holding a pipa and reciting erotic songs, with the fragrance of her perfume filling the air.
A group of military officers were drinking happily with beautiful ladies in their arms. Ji Wudao was sitting at the top, with two beautiful maids kneeling on his left and right.
Xue Qingshang pushed the door open and saw this scene.
The drunken men looked over when they heard the voice. The general who came from Xuanfu did not recognize Xue Qingshang, but seeing how bright and beautiful she was, he smiled and said, "Where did this beauty come from? The banquet has been going on for so long, why did you just come?" As he said that, he stood up and tried to grab Xue Qingshang to serve him.
An official from the Ministry of War recognized Xue Qingshang at a glance, grabbed her and whispered, "This is the Princess of Changle County."
The room suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked up at Ji Wudao.
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