Chapter 49 Emperor Jing'an interrogates Shen Qingtan
"Mother, you misunderstood me." The Second Madam said aggrievedly, "I was thinking that Tan'er and Mingzhu were sisters, and sisters-in-law. Since the Emperor wanted to meet his niece-in-law, I wanted Tan'er to take Mingzhu out to see the world so they could look after each other."
Having said this, she sighed and said, "Mingzhu grew up in the countryside and has never been to other people's houses to attend banquets, let alone to palace banquets.
Now that she's married into our family, she'll have to be independent in some areas. If she goes to the palace first to build up her courage, she won't be too petty when dealing with officials' wives in the future, and she'll be able to hold her own."
"Then she shouldn't have gone to the palace to see the saint." The old lady said coldly, "She associates with officials' wives and doesn't know the rules. At most, she will be laughed at. If she goes to the palace and offends the nobles, she will be seriously injured."
The Second Lady was annoyed and said with a fake smile, "Mother is right. I didn't think this through."
No longer mention the matter of letting Shen Mingzhu enter the palace.
Shen Mingzhu kept her head down and said nothing, as if what they were talking about had nothing to do with her.
Only her hands, clenched into fists, hanging at her sides, revealed that her heart was not as calm as she appeared.
Shen Mingzhu raised her head slightly and looked at Shen Qingtan who was sitting next to the old lady. She smiled at her slightly, and her smile seemed to have some other meaning.
She interpreted it as, "Look, you gave me honor by abandoning the man you didn't want."
——
Early the next morning, Shen Qingtan got up early and dressed up, waiting for Zhao Yi to finish the morning court session before taking her into the palace.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate, and a young eunuch was already waiting there.
As the couple got off the carriage, the young eunuch came forward and said, "Master Zhao, Madam Zhao, I have prepared the sedan chair. Please get in."
Shen Qingtan couldn't help but glance at the calm man next to her. It seemed that Emperor Jing'an's favoritism towards him was even deeper than she had imagined.
Zhao Yi said gently, "Thank you, Eunuch Deng."
The young eunuch was flattered to see that Zhao Yi remembered him, and his attitude became even more attentive.
Shen Qingtan was not used to it. When she entered the palace in the past, the eunuchs and maids were not very enthusiastic.
Zhao Yi saw Shen Qingtan looking around, "Nervous?"
Shen Qingtan shook his head.
The next moment, she stopped shaking her head and turned stiffly to look at her hands resting on her knees.
The man gently pinched the palm of her hand with two slender fingers.
An itch in the heart.
All her thoughts seemed to be grasped by his two fingers.
The man smiled faintly: "My hands are cold."
In Shen Qingtan's ears, it automatically translated into: You are lying.
Her cheeks were hot, and she knew her face was red without looking in the mirror.
Shen Qingtan was a little angry and embarrassed.
Doesn't he dislike interacting with people?
Why did you suddenly start touching me?
She pulled her hand back and secretly rubbed the itchy palm with the back of her other hand, as if trying to rub away the uncomfortable feeling left by the man.
Zhao Yi watched her movements calmly, pursing his lips.
She should be rejecting his touch.
Zhao Yi lowered his eyes and looked at his fingers in confusion, as if he couldn't figure out why he touched her hand just now.
A natural move.
"Master Zhao, Madam Zhao, we have arrived at Taiji Hall."
The young eunuch outside gave a reminder, and then the sedan chair stopped.
The atmosphere in the sedan chair was a little quiet at this moment.
Shen Qingtan chose to marry Zhao Yi and accepted everything about him in her heart, including the relationship between husband and wife.
But he was very resistant to her approach and they had never had any intimate contact. She was prepared for the two of them to live together and there would be no intimate actions.
He suddenly acted out of character today and actually touched her hand.
Besides being shocked, Shen Qingtan felt even more uncomfortable and at a loss as to what to do.
She was the first to get off the sedan chair.
Soon, Zhao Yi got out of the sedan chair.
He came to her and said, "Let's go."
Shen Qingtan nodded, followed him a step behind, and entered the Tai Chi Hall.
She looked straight ahead, only at the ground beneath her feet.
The people around him stopped, and Shen Qingtan stopped as well. The two of them greeted in unison: "Your Majesty, your humble servant and your wife respectfully wish you the best of health."
Emperor Jing'an had been waiting for a long time. Since the couple entered the palace, he noticed that Zhao Yi deliberately slowed down his pace, as if to accommodate Shen Qingtan. Such thoughtful and considerate behavior showed that he really held her in his heart.
He then looked at Shen Qingtan. She had a good demeanor and manners, especially according to the information the Embroidered Uniform Guard had heard. She was known as a talented woman and was also known as the most beautiful woman in the capital. She was a good match for Zhao Yi.
The two people standing together have beautiful looks, like a perfect couple.
"No need to be so polite." Emperor Jing'an offered Shen Qingtan a seat and said to him gently, "You don't have to be so reserved. Treat me as an elder from an ordinary family. Today, as an uncle, I am here to meet my niece's wife."
After Shen Qingtan figured out Emperor Jing'an's thoughts, he readily replied, "Tan'er is in awe of the royal family. When I came to see you just now, I was very nervous, and my hands and feet were cold. Now that I see that my uncle is so kind and benevolent, I am not afraid anymore."
When Emperor Jing'an heard Shen Qingtan call him "uncle", he became more and more satisfied with her.
He laughed heartily and said, "That's how it should be. Why should I be so nervous? I'm not a superhero. I'm just like you, with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth."
Shen Qingtan pursed her lips and smiled, seeming a little embarrassed.
Emperor Jing'an took a sip of tea and looked at Zhao Yi beside him. "Yier, yesterday I ordered the posting of an imperial edict to search for Zhongyuan, and secretly sent the Jinyiwei to investigate his whereabouts. We will definitely find him within six months."
Zhao Yi nodded slightly but did not respond, as if he was unwilling to mention this topic in front of Shen Qingtan.
Emperor Jing'an's move was not aimed at Zhao Yi, but to test Shen Qingtan's attitude.
Shen Qingtan and Zhao Jue were childhood sweethearts and had been engaged since they were young. It was rumored in the capital that the two were deeply in love.
He was worried that Prince Xiang was interested but the goddess was not.
Zhao Yi's sincerity was misplaced.
Shen Qingtan was very sensitive to the word "half a year" and quickly asked, "Who is Zhongyuan?"
Emperor Jing'an said solemnly, "Yesterday, Envoy Chen took Yi'er's pulse. His health is getting worse day by day. Only by finding the Medical Saint Zhongyuan can there be a glimmer of hope."
Shen Qingtan's face changed. In his previous life, Zhao Yi returned to his hometown when he was seriously ill, which showed that he did not find Zhong Yuan.
Emperor Jing'an posted an imperial edict in the Great Zhou to search for Zhong Yuan, and also dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but they still couldn't find him. He must have either passed away or was not in the Great Zhou.
"Do you have a portrait of Zhong Yuan?" Shen Qingtan explained, "I know a businessman who has connections all over the world. Let's look for him together."
Emperor Jing'an has been observing Shen Qingtan. Seeing the genuine worry in her eyes, it seems like she cares about Zhao Yi?
"Zhongyuan's whereabouts are erratic, and I don't have his portrait." Emperor Jing'an sighed, then asked suddenly, "I heard that Zhao Jue is recuperating at home, and Duke Zhao has taken two months' leave for him and has appointed someone else to replace him. What's going on?"
Shen Qingtan's scalp tensed up, and countless thoughts flashed through her mind, finally stopping at one thought: Did Emperor Jing'an know all the inside story of Longhua Temple and was specifically interrogating her?
Or is it that Emperor Jing'an wants to make the decision for Zhao Jue?
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