"Then we entered the palace in a hurry and didn't bring anything with us. How inconvenient that is."
"This is my mother-in-law's former residence, so naturally it has everything. Even if there's nothing, we can just ask those outside to ask for it."
"Empress Yi?" Siqin's face lit up with joy. She was originally angry about being inexplicably arranged to live in an unfamiliar palace, but now that she knew this was Concubine Yi's residence, her anger turned into joy. She really has the mind of a child.
"Yes, this palace is quiet and spacious, and they have specially assigned people to serve us for a short stay. What do you think, Queen Mother, is it good?"
"That's great, of course." Siqin tilted her head, put on the hairpin in her hand, took a step back respectfully, and began to study the palace.
Xu Yixing felt better when she saw that she wasn't bothered. She didn't want to ruin this innocent girl's good mood. If she told her that if someone outside wanted to kill them, they just had to stop delivering food, she would be terrified.
Although he hadn't said anything to Zuo just now, he had already given Ying Wu enough hints. If he was quick, he should be able to come to the palace tonight to report the news. Of course, this presupposes that he can find Yixiao Pavilion and avoid being discovered by the palace guards.
This first night was exceptionally peaceful. She could only hear Siqin's breathing and the chirping of insects outside the window. She silently counted the days in her heart. Lu Anyuan should have arrived in the northern border, right?
On the second day, when Siqin finally realized that she couldn't go out and had to stay in Yixiao Pavilion, the happiness she had felt from the novelty disappeared.
"Madam, why don't they let us out?"
"Well, maybe it's because the palace is in chaos, and they want to protect us?" Xu Yixing continued to do what he had to do. At least today's breakfast was delivered on time, proving that they didn't intend to starve him and his group to death.
Siqin used her small talk skills to chat with the four palace maids outside. Then she made the sad discovery that they were originally transferred from the laundry department, the flower room, and the imperial kitchen. They had no idea who the people in Yixiao Pavilion were and thought they were some newly appointed concubines of the emperor.
"Madam, I'm really too bored..." Siqin sat on the ground, holding her face in her hands. Until now, she still felt bored and hadn't thought about anything else. After all, in her opinion, this palace was half of our Madam's in-laws' home. Who would get into trouble there?
"Then let me tell you a joke. When I was at home, I heard that behind our house..." Just as she started, she heard the door outside open. Siqin stood up quickly and looked over with expectation.
"The Queen Mother has ordered Princess Xiaoyi to appear before her!"
"Your son obeys your command." Xu Yixing stood up and knelt to salute, but in his heart he silently despised me. Just one day? I thought you could keep me imprisoned for a long time.
When he walked to Yian Hall, he didn't see anyone else, not even the Empress Dowager's favorite concubines and princesses.
"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother."
"That's all." The Queen Mother's tone was very different from usual when she spoke today. She was full of strength, not at all kind or confused as before. "Princess Xiaoyi, do you know why I summoned you?"
This address... Xu Yixing's mind raced, and he immediately lowered himself. Instead of rising, he bowed even more deeply. "I don't know, but I heard that the Empress Dowager was ill. I was a little late yesterday. I think the Empress Dowager blamed me for this. I dare not be presumptuous."
"Hmph!" The Queen Mother slammed her reading glasses onto the tray beside her, her voice icy. "I always thought Yuan'er was the most polite person, but who could have known he'd become so foolish and imitate his good-for-nothing second brother!"
After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she stared at Xu Yixing, her chest heaving up and down, as if she was very angry.
Imitating the Second Prince? Xu Yixing's eyebrows jumped, and he fell to his knees with a thud, burying his head deep in his chest. Siqin was also shocked by this sudden change and hurriedly knelt down as well.
"Empress Dowager, I don't know what you mean. This Second Prince... the sinner Lu Chiyan died of his own actions. Why would I learn from him?"
"You're smart. Even if the Second Prince is accused of being a traitor and deserves death, he's still Yuan'er's brother. How can you address him by his first name like that?"
What did that old woman have to say? Lu Chiyan is a traitor designated by the Emperor, and everyone should be able to kill him. Why are you playing these word games with me today?
"Your son acknowledges his guilt, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
"Do you know where you're wrong? Yuan'er is such a good kid. If he hadn't married into your family and obtained some ridiculous Emperor's Sword in the northern border, how could he have thought he could be a mercenary rebel under the guise of rewarding the troops? How dare you say that your Xu family, Xu Yiyan, didn't instigate him!"
What?
Xu Yixing suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief at the Queen Mother. Was Lu Anyuan rebelling? Or was it because of the Emperor's Sword?
Ridiculous! The thing she was most worried about had happened. The last time she saw Lu Anyuan looking at the Emperor's Sword, she felt extremely fanatical. He also made an excuse that he would present the treasure when he arrived in the northern border. It turned out that he was lying to herself!
No wonder people say Lu Anyuan is learning from Lu Chiyan. Isn't this exactly the same as before? Leaving him alone in the capital, and then leading his own troops to rebel, what's the difference between him and the Second Prince who left his wife and children in Qibei and pretended nothing happened.
Xu Yixing felt a throbbing pain in his temples. He never expected that this was the reason why the Queen Mother summoned him to the palace.
"Empress Dowager! I dare not take the blame for this crime even if I die. I wonder if you have any evidence to prove that my husband is rebelling? Maybe there is a misunderstanding!" Even if Lu Anyuan really rebelled, he had to save his own life now so that he could point his finger at his face and ask him why later!
"Misunderstanding? Take a closer look. This is a secret report from the Northern Territory. Prince Xiaoyi found the long-lost Emperor's Sword in the Northern Territory, but he didn't report it to Your Majesty. Instead, he kept it for himself. What's the reason for this?"
Xu Yixing looked at the piece of paper in the Queen Mother's hand from afar. The Queen Mother did not bring it closer for her to take a closer look, so she could only believe that it was true.
Xu Yixing had already sorted out his thoughts as he spoke. The fact that the Queen Mother was questioning him today must mean that the matter had not yet been concluded. Otherwise, he would have come directly to the Emperor. Humph, you're trying to trick me, right? No way.
"Empress Dowager, my husband has been on his way to the northern border for only ten days. If you calculate, he should have just arrived in Miaozhou. Perhaps his memorial is still on the way, or perhaps he wants to wait until his return to present the treasure and surprise Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager scoffed at her words. "You said the secret report has arrived. How precious must his memorial be? Why hasn't it arrived yet? The Emperor's Sword is our dynasty's most precious treasure. How dare he wait all the way to hide this?"
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