Chapter 152: Shared interests, a good show the next day
After the celebration banquet, as soon as Xiao Qinggu walked out of the palace, several people came forward to congratulate him.
Although there were no more than ten people, Xiao Qinggu still had to pretend and exchanged pleasantries with them for a while.
"Your Highness, if you don't make a name for yourself, you'll be a resounding success. You are truly a talented person."
Qiu Boke chatted with Xiao Qinggu with a smile, pushing everyone else aside. Some people were unhappy, but they couldn't show it too obviously.
"No, no, Your Excellency Prime Minister, you are too kind." Xiao Qinggu responded with a smile.
How could someone who could climb to the position of prime minister be a simple person? Xiao Qingxu had discussed this person's character with her early on, but after all, he had helped her at the banquet, so Xiao Qinggu naturally had to greet him with a smile.
As soon as Baili Pu walked out of the palace gate, he saw Xiao Qinggu's posture. He snorted fiercely, flicked his sleeves and left without even looking at Yuan Ji who was following closely behind him.
Xiao Qinggu inexplicably had a bad feeling in his heart, and those who came to congratulate him said goodbye awkwardly and went home.
Qiu Bo Ke didn't want to be openly impeached by the old man Bailipu in the court, so he took the opportunity to say goodbye to Xiao Qinggu.
After Xiao Qinggu sent the person away, he shifted his gaze and looked at Yuan Ji.
When Yuan Ji saw Bailipu getting on the carriage, the servant kept winking at him. He turned to Xiao Qinggu and Shang Yuwan and smiled helplessly.
Yuan Ji was worried that there might be Emperor Chengming's spies hiding here, so after saying a few polite words, he quickly said goodbye and followed Baili Pu away.
Xiao Qinggu pouted and did not look at Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu for help. He simply thanked them and said goodbye, then got on the carriage and returned to the princess's mansion.
Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qingxu were sitting in the same carriage, facing each other.
Xiao Qingxu noticed a gloomy look between her eyebrows and asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything unusual tonight?"
Shang Yuwan shook his head.
"No."
The news of the princess being crowned king will spread throughout Kyoto tonight and throughout Dayu the next day.
Xiao Qinggu had the status and power to compete with Xiao Qingji and Xiao Tong, but at the same time it also put a lot of pressure on her.
But Shang Yuwan was more worried that Xiao Qinggu would eventually discover the relationship between him and Xiao Tong. Or perhaps Xiao Qinggu had already noticed something was amiss.
Xiao Qingxu saw through her thoughts at a glance, "Do you think she only knows how to read letters all this time?"
None of the royal children are stupid. Even Liu Mengyao, whose temper was deliberately cultivated by Luo Gui, is not someone who cannot see the situation clearly.
Shang Yuwan smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid she'll know it a long time ago."
She had truly witnessed the ruthlessness of the royal family, so how could she easily believe that Xiao Qinggu would not become the same person as Emperor Chengming? Xiao Man was dead, but Xiao Qinggu was a living person with a heart that could change at any time.
...But he is also a member of the royal family.
Does Shang Yuwan have the same concerns about him?
Xiao Qingxu was silent for a moment, but ultimately did not ask Shang Yuwan this question.
The world is full of changes, and the human heart is the most changeable. There are some things that you don't need to ask or say.
The two were silent for a moment, and Shang Yuwan opened his mouth to break the deadlock.
"Is there any news over there?"
Xiao Qingxu shook his head, "No."
The fake letter was destined for Kyoto, but their men had arrived early and searched the capital for a while. Apart from a few words about the Shang family, they found nothing, not even a trace of Shang Mingqi.
Shang Yuwan tightened her hands on her knees. Her head began to hurt, so she simply asked about other things to divert her attention.
"Qiu Bo Ke is the new Prime Minister. Isn't he afraid of that person being suspicious by showing up like this? What did you do?"
Although Shang Yuwan has some acquaintances in Kyoto, her current body is not hers, and she cannot admit her identity, otherwise it will only bring disaster to those people.
Xiao Qinggu is not in Kyoto all year round and doesn't even have one or two good friends, so everything in Kyoto is left to Xiao Qingxu to take care of.
Xiao Qingxu smiled and said, "We share the same interests and the same heart."
A light flashed in Shang Yuwan's eyes, and she understood what he meant in an instant.
On the way back to Beijing, they read the pile of letters, receiving new news and reviewing them constantly. Among them was information about Emperor Chengming punishing Zhao Zhouxing and the Zhao family.
When Zhao Zhouxing was directly sentenced to tongue-cutting by Emperor Chengming, it was not because Emperor Chengming directly skipped the Censorate and the Dali Temple, but because Yuan Ji and the Dali Temple had received orders from Emperor Chengming early on and secretly searched for evidence of Zhao Zhouxing's corruption, waiting for Xiao Qingji to reveal his true colors so that they could deal a heavy blow to them.
Emperor Chengming suffered a severe injury while leading a campaign in his youth, and even after recovering, his health was worn down by years of working by the lamplight at night. He may appear unharmed now, but in reality, he is already half empty inside.
Qiu Boke had originally been the Vice Prime Minister, but only ascended to the position of Prime Minister after Zhao Zhouxing dismounted. He had only recently taken the position and had witnessed the methods of Emperor Chengming. The Crown Prince was useless, and the only remaining royal children were Xiao Qingxu and Xiao Qinggu. After comparing them several times, he naturally wanted to find a more reliable ally.
Shang Yuwan chuckled, "It seems like he wants to use us to create a puppet emperor?"
Qiu Boke had been able to sit firmly in the position of Deputy Prime Minister for so many years, and now that he has ascended to the throne, he has shown no signs of arrogance. He openly supported Xiao Qinggu at the banquet tonight, so he might not be a man of few desires.
Xiao Qingxu sneered, "He's daydreaming and sleeping soundly, so we shouldn't disturb him, right?"
After his disfigurement, he rarely left the Prince Qi's mansion, once spreading rumors that he was growing weaker and couldn't leave the house. Later, when Shang Yuwan died, he vomited blood on the spot, and "Xiao Qingxu" was never seen again.
It was not until the real Xiao Qingxu transformed himself and reappeared in everyone's sight as the owner of Baijia Tower that everyone remembered that he was the one who was supposed to become the prince.
Qiu Bo Ke received a handwritten letter from Xiao Qingxu the day before he arrived in Beijing. He did not refuse it at the time, but he did not write back to Xiao Qingxu either. Tonight, Qiu Bo Ke must have seen Xiao Qingxu's appearance at the banquet with his own eyes and decided to lend a helping hand to Xiao Qingxu.
Emperor Chengming had only two sons and one daughter. The eldest son seemed to be dying, the second son was useless, and although the only daughter had some outstanding qualities, she was still a young girl who had just come to the fore. Qiu Boke believed that she would not be a problem.
As for Shang Yuwan? Isn't she still a little girl?
Shang Yuwan leaned back and let out a long sigh.
"There will be a good show tomorrow."
Xiao Qingxu's brows softened, "Yes."
Even though those people didn't have much contact with Xiao Qinggu when they were in the palace, tomorrow morning, those gifts that were secretly sent to the princess's mansion would probably pile up into a mountain.
The next day, Xiao Qinggu stared in amazement at the gifts piled higher than her, and tucked her hair behind her ears that was blocking her view.
Her head was a little dizzy, thinking she was still asleep, so she rubbed her eyes and blinked.
It's exactly as Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law expected... so many?!
"Your Highness! Comb your hair before you come out, Your Highness!"
The maid hurriedly pulled Xiao Qinggu back to dress up. If someone saw her with disheveled hair, it would be a disaster!
Xiao Qinggu was at the peak of his career, so he lived a much more refined life than before he returned to Beijing.
But - when the last piece of jewelry was inserted into Xiao Qinggu's head, she fell forward with a snap.
With a "bang", the maids screamed one after another, and a pile of gold and silver jewelry fell to the ground with a crackling sound.
Xiao Qinggu struggled to get up, but because she hadn't had breakfast yet, she had no energy and slumped on the dressing table like a crab being held down.
...It's really too heavy...
Xiao Qinggu was helped up by the maid, and there was a swelling on his forehead.
"Hurry, hurry! Get some ice!"
"How do you do things? Can't you even help someone?!"
"Get out, get out, don't get in the way here!"
Listening to all kinds of random sounds in his ears, Xiao Qinggu was too lazy to keep his eyelids open.
She wants to eat pancakes, she wants to go back to the countryside to grow vegetables...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
