Chapter 358 Flying to the Branch and Becoming a Phoenix
When Qiao Jibai arrived, he saw Aunt Xu, who was beside the Queen, personally helping someone to the side hall at the gate of Kunning Palace.
His attitude was respectful, and he didn't look like he was being punished.
Qiao Jibai watched Qiao Wanyan's back as she entered the side hall, then withdrew his gaze and walked towards the palace gate without hesitation.
Jiang Ying asked, "Didn't Eunuch Su say that the Second Miss was punished by the Queen to kneel outside the palace? Why is Aunt Xu so polite and respectful to the Second Miss?"
Qiao Jibai said calmly, "Sister Wanyan is worthy of being the daughter carefully taught by my uncle. Why does she need others to save her? She never relies on others to save herself."
Jiang Ying smiled and said, "Sir, are you praising the Second Miss?"
Qiao Jibai glanced at him and said, "Who knows? The palace gates are locked, let's go to the wing of the government office."
"Yes, sir."
It was just right to open the windows on an early summer night. After taking a bath, Qiao Wanyan stood by the window and drank tea, and saw that the lights in Kunning Palace had dimmed a lot.
Zi Yuan poked her head out to take a look, and someone in the corridor whispered, "Young lady is really amazing. As long as you want, the Queen will not be reluctant to punish you!"
Qiao Wanyan rubbed the cup wall with her fingertips, "It's not that I'm awesome, it's that I gave the queen a way out and also gave myself a way out."
The Queen intended to bring herself together with the Crown Prince and wanted to become the Crown Princess. She had her eyes on the Qiao family's status as the head of an aristocratic family and the fact that more than half of the officials in the court came from the Qiao family's school.
I am the legitimate daughter of the Qiao family and I am loved by my father. The prince married me, and the Qiao family cannot sever ties with the prince even if they want to.
With the support of civil officials, there will be only benefits and no harm to the prince.
Therefore, she said that the prince was just jealous and petty and that was the reason why he committed the crime. For the sake of long-term interests, the queen would never continue to punish herself.
After all, the reason why she punished herself was because she had offended her and politely refused to marry into the Eastern Palace.
Pretending to be young and ignorant and acting a little childishly will make the queen feel that she can better control a weak woman like herself.
The Queen has been sitting firmly on the throne in the cannibalistic harem for so many years. How could she like me and treat me like her own daughter with just a few words?
"Make the bed. Rest early today because there will be a good show tomorrow."
In the dim morning light, the flowers in full bloom in Kunning Palace were still covered with dew.
The Queen was having breakfast, and Aunt Xu was serving the dishes while reporting, "According to the Queen's instructions, someone sent a new palace dress to the Second Miss early in the morning. The meal has been delivered, and I will take the Second Miss back home later."
As he was speaking, Qiao Wanyan walked in wearing a bright red palace dress.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
The Queen smiled and said, "No need to be polite. Have you had breakfast yet? Are you used to the food?"
Qiao Wanyan raised a harmless smile on her face, "The chefs in the palace's imperial kitchen are all skilled in cooking. The meals are exquisite and delicious. I am lucky enough to have the chance to taste them because of the grace and blessing of Your Majesty."
The queen nodded in satisfaction, "You are really good at talking."
Qiao Wanyan walked to Aunt Xu's side and took over the chopsticks for serving dishes. "I've heard that before your majesty got married, she was a model of noble ladies in the capital, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, knitting, and needlework. Especially her chess skills, even the emperor praised her highly."
She paused after she finished speaking, "I finally got to the palace once, I wonder if I have the blessing to watch your chess skills? I am dull and always have many loopholes in the chess game. When I play chess, it is like holding a hot potato. If I can get your guidance, it will be a great honor for me."
Qiao Wanyan's words praised the queen to the sky. Anyone who heard her words and looked at her earnest and sincere smile would be unable to say no.
The Queen smiled and said, "Have someone place a chessboard under the Chang'an Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. After I have finished my meal, I will go play chess with the daughter of the Qiao family."
"Yes, madam."
"Aunt Xu, go to the Shangshu Mansion in person to inform Madam Qiao, and wait until the second young lady has lunch before returning. By the way, bring Qiao Yihuan here."
Aunt Xu bowed and agreed, then turned and left.
Inside the Ci'en Hall of the Minister of Revenue's residence, Qiao Yihuan was eating porridge with two side dishes. There were not many grains of rice in the porridge, and the side dishes were just radishes and vegetables that servants eat. The food really didn't look like the meal expenses of a young lady from the Minister's residence.
Qiao Yihuan lost her appetite when she saw these things. "Take them away. I don't have an appetite today."
Cui Er pursed her lips in annoyance, "Young Miss is so precious. Even poor families can't afford to eat this kind of porridge and side dishes. Young Miss said she had no appetite and asked them to take it away. It's a waste."
Qiao Yihuan could sense the sarcasm in his words but was not angry. "I really have no appetite. It's the same if I take it away without even touching my chopsticks."
Cui Er chuckled, "The master of Yongning Pavilion rewards the servants with gold and silver jewelry, but the eldest lady rewards us with porridge and side dishes."
Qiao Yihuan let out a long sigh, "Cui'er, I am also a lady of the Shangshu Mansion after all. Why do you always speak so harshly? There is a difference between the superior and the inferior. I am still a lady even if I have a quarrel with my family. No matter how hard you try, you are still a servant after all."
Cui Er frowned, "Yes, I am not as noble as the eldest lady. The master likes you so much that he has sent people to Qinzhou to choose a husband for you. It won't be long before I will no longer have the blessing to serve a noble lady like you."
Landu?
Landu is thousands of miles away from the capital and is where the ancestors of the Qiao family lived.
But the Qiao family has moved to the capital for five generations. Even though Landu was the place where the Qiao family's ancestors lived, now there is no one from the Qiao family there.
My father actually wants to send me to Landu? !
Suddenly, a maid walked in from outside the door. "Miss, the Queen wants you to come into the palace. The carriage is waiting at the door."
When these words were spoken, both people in the room were very surprised.
Cui Er didn't believe it and asked again, "Are you sure it was the Queen who summoned the young lady to the palace?"
"Of course, it was the Empress's personal maid who came to pick her up personally. How could it be false?"
I heard that the Queen never liked the eldest daughter, so the Crown Prince had asked for marriage many times before but the Queen never agreed. Why did she suddenly summon the eldest daughter to the palace? Could it be that she was willing to let the eldest daughter marry into the East Palace?
I can't defeat the child at this moment, I'm afraid the Queen has really given in!
Qiao Yihuan glanced at Cui'er, stood up and walked to her, "The Queen Mother appreciated me and summoned me to the palace, so I may not be able to come back soon. I don't have a good appetite today, so please prepare a bowl of hawthorn soup for me when you come back."
Cui Er looked a little embarrassed, "Yes... yes, Miss."
After the people left, Cui'er grumbled, "Damn it, he really let her fly to the branch!"
Judging from the situation, he is coming back today to take revenge on me for not serving him wholeheartedly all these days, right?
It’s over, it’s over, I’m so unlucky!
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