Chapter 365 I Want to Wear It for You
At this moment, steady footsteps were heard at the door.
Shen Qingtan looked up and saw Zhao Yi coming into the house in the wind and snow. He stood at the door, took off his cloak and handed it to Jiang Chao behind him.
Jiang Chao hung his cloak on the wooden plank, then tactfully retreated and closed the door.
"You're back." Shen Qingtan walked over, brushed off the snow on his hair with a handkerchief, and whispered softly, "The Lin family has fallen."
Zhao Yi waited until Shen Qingtan had tidied his hair before he went to the basin stand to wash his hands.
He spoke calmly, "With the connivance of the Northern Qi Emperor, the Lin family has become deeply entrenched in the court, occupying many important positions. Now that the Lin family has fallen, many official positions have been vacated. I'm afraid that the struggle for power between the Xian King and the Qi King will unleash another bloody storm."
Shen Qingtan pursed her lips and smiled. When she heard the news of the Lin family's downfall, she also paid attention to this point.
She rolled up his sleeves, her hand paused slightly, and she caught a glimpse of the undergarment he was wearing, which was the one she had made for him shortly after their marriage.
The material on the cuffs was slightly worn and had frayed edges, indicating that he wore this piece of clothing frequently.
Mother Liu once said that Zhao Yi was very particular about the things he used, especially clothes. The longest-wearing robe he wore was only one season.
Some robes are even only worn a few times and then never worn again.
She suppressed her thoughts and pretended not to notice: "Not to mention the other vacancies, just talking about Lin Yi's official position will cause the Xian King and the Qi King to fight each other to the bitter end."
The Chancellor was in charge of the Chancellery, Zuochunfang, Sijingju and other government affairs, and assisted the crown prince. He could be considered a member of the crown prince's party and was highly trusted by the emperor.
The Junior Chancellor assisted the Chancellor and served as the deputy chief of the Chancellery.
The Great Zhou did not have a crown prince, so Emperor Jing'an treated everyone equally. Both Prince Yu and Prince Rui had a junior secretary in their residences, who enjoyed the same educational treatment as the crown prince.
The Northern Qi Dynasty also did not have a crown prince, but the emperor did not arrange a junior secretary in the prince's palace.
He expressed his high regard for the King of Qi and his intention to make him the crown prince.
However, he demoted Lin Yi to the position of Shao Zhanshi, and his attitude was a little subtle, as if hinting at something.
Not only that, the Emperor of Northern Qi also let Lin Yi concurrently serve as the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
Now, in the eyes of the King of Qi and the King of Xian, whoever can sit in the position of Shao Zhanshi means who the Emperor of Northern Qi prefers to be the crown prince.
"The Northern Qi Emperor will not allow their people to hold the position of Junior Secretary," Zhao Yi said gently. "The Northern Qi Emperor is well aware that the Xian Prince and the Qi Prince are vying for the throne. As long as it's not made public, he will turn a blind eye."
"Now that the Prince of Qi has openly exposed the Lin family for violating Northern Qi laws, no matter what the reason, it will displease the Northern Qi Emperor. Because the Prince of Qi is impatient and wants to disrupt the previous balance, he is no longer satisfied with the status quo."
"The Emperor of Northern Qi fears that prematurely appointing Prince Qi as Crown Prince will jeopardize his position, so he wants to use Prince Xian to check and balance Prince Qi. Now that the Lin family has fallen, Prince Xian's power has been weakened, and he is at a disadvantage against Prince Qi."
"If the Northern Qi Emperor appoints one of the Prince of Qi's men as Junior Chancellor, it will signal to the outside world that he intends to establish the Prince of Qi as the Crown Prince. This may weaken some of the power of the Virtuous Prince, making him unable to compete with the Prince of Qi."
"The crimes committed by the Lin family have given the Northern Qi Emperor a sense of crisis beyond his control. If he continues to promote the virtuous prince, he fears he will one day force his way out of the palace."
At this point, Zhao Yi whispered, "The Northern Qi Emperor will appoint someone outside the Xianwang and Qiwang factions to the position of Junior Secretary."
"No matter how the Northern Qi Emperor reacts, it will be beneficial to us." Shen Qingtan curved his lips and said, "If we gain an advantage in this matter, it will pose a great threat to the Xian King and the Qi King."
"If they regard us as enemies and attack us, we can make this matter public and then ask for the Princess Protector to be brought back to the Great Zhou."
"If the Emperor of Northern Qi wants to stop us, he will have to punish the two princes and give us and the Great Zhou an explanation. To protect them, the Empress and Consort Shu will also help us return to the Great Zhou."
Seeing that he had washed his hands, Shen Qingtan handed him a handkerchief and said, "Besides, the Emperor of Northern Qi only has these two princes to rely on. He won't punish the Xian Prince and the Qi Prince for us. Will he let us return to the Great Zhou in the end?"
Zhao Yi looked into her clear eyes and whispered, "I hope so."
Shen Qingtan stopped talking and turned her eyes to the small table where the paper-cut window decorations she had cut were placed.
In a few days it will be New Year's Day.
She and her cousin agreed to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival together next year.
Then they will have to set off back to Da Zhou before June.
Half a year, there is still half a year left.
Zhao Yi followed Shen Qingtan's gaze and saw several window grilles with intricate patterns placed on the Arhat couch, which were both exquisite and festive.
Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a robe next to the thin blanket. A soft pillow was placed on it, with only half of the sky-blue fabric exposed.
His eyebrows moved slightly, he put the handkerchief on the edge of the basin, and walked towards the couch. He picked up the neatly folded robes as if nothing had happened, and only then realized that they were some new clothes.
A base garment, an outer robe, and a pair of silk stockings.
Zhao Yi looked at Shen Qingtan in surprise: "Did you do it for me?"
"The New Year is coming soon. I'll make you a new set of clothes." Shen Qingtan looked at the smile in his eyes and smiled unconsciously: "Go try it on later to see if it fits. If it doesn't fit, you can modify it."
Zhao Yi was in a cold room, but his heart was burning, as if even this cold winter day was filled with warmth.
Shen Qingtan only made a piece of undershirt for him and embroidered a sachet.
The undergarment is often worn, and the sachet is never taken off.
When the couple were separated, the sachets she embroidered became his comfort and homesickness.
Now that Shen Qingtan had made clothes for him, inside and out, it was a pleasant surprise to him, and the only thing that made him happy since he came to Northern Qi.
Zhao Yi gently stroked the cloud pattern embroidered on the fabric with her fingertips. Every stitch and thread contained her heart.
His eyes were filled with tenderness: "I know it fits me well without even trying it on."
After a pause, he added, "But I want to wear it for you to see."
Shen Qingtan was stunned, and then thought of what his fourth aunt said.
She said that no matter how calm and reserved a man may appear outwardly, when he receives a gift from someone he cares about, he will be as happy as a child inside and can't wait to try it out or even enjoy it.
After hearing this, Shen Qingtan couldn't help but recall Zhao Yi's reaction when he received gifts. His reaction was always indifferent, so he felt that he was an exception.
Now, seeing the warm smile on Zhao Yi's face and eyes, she felt that what Fourth Aunt said made sense.
After all, Zhao Yi is a reserved person, and his emotions would only show a little on his face.
"You go ahead." Shen Qingtan didn't expose him. Just as she was about to go to the inner room with Zhao Yi to change clothes, she heard Liu Yue's voice coming from outside the door: "Princess, Yan Yi from the Imperial Tutor's office is here."
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