Chapter 178: Long Live the Pepper Flower
After Xiao Qingxu returned to Prince Qi's Mansion, he handed the Nine Revolutions Pill to Yao Lao, and then went to find Shang Yuwan and Twelve.
"Someone's chasing you? How are you?"
Xiao Qingxu saw Shang Yuwan standing in the corridor at a glance. Hearing that someone in the palace dared to attack them, he grabbed Shang Yuwan's arm and looked him up and down.
Shang Yuwan forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, it's Twelve who's in trouble."
Although the palace maid was alone, she was twice as strong as any enemy they had encountered before. Judging from her actions, she did not seem to be concerned about Xiao Qinggu. If Shang Yuwan and Twelve had not reacted in time, Xiao Qinggu would not have been able to return to Luanyang Palace safely.
Shang Yuwan wanted to protect Xiao Qinggu, and Twelve wanted to protect them both. Twelve was probably provoked by the silver jade feather hairpin, so no matter how powerful the palace maid was, she would not let her touch a corner of Shang Yuwan's clothes. Although she only had a knife hairpin in her hand, her momentum was stronger than when she usually held a knife.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingxu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he asked, "Is Twelve okay? Have you found him?"
Shang Yuwan's expression darkened and he shook his head.
"Twelve is fine. He can get out of bed after a few days of rest. He... is not in the palace."
There is still no trace of Shang Mingqi.
Xiao Qingxu could only comfort her: "It's okay, we'll finish searching those places in a few days, we'll always find it."
Shang Yuwan smiled bitterly.
Seeing that she was not in a good mood, Xiao Qingxu suggested, "Why don't you go and rest first? Twelve has my younger sister to take care of her here."
Ji Suxian poked his head out of the door and waved at them.
Shang Yuwan turned her head and smiled at Ji Suxian, then looked at Xiao Qingxu.
The flickering lights outlined Xiao Qingxu's soft facial features.
"You should have a good rest too."
Shang Yuwan did not ignore the faint dark blue in his eyes.
Ever since Mingshu fell into the trap, they haven't had a few days of rest in these days. They are just on guard against Xiao Tong and Xiao Qingji's sudden attack to avoid being caught off guard.
She and Xiao Qingxu both understood what kind of person Xiao Tong was. How could he and Xiao Qingji only use Mingshu as a card? There must be some sinister tricks waiting for them behind the scenes.
Xiao Qingxu smiled and nodded, "I know. You go first, I'll go see Deputy General Yang."
Shang Yuwan was stunned when he heard this, "You, brought back the Nine Revolutions Pill?"
Xiao Qingxu's smile faded.
"Yes, it's consistent with what you think. He did it on purpose. The Empress probably also..."
Shang Yuwan pursed her lips and said, "It's okay. In this case, he won't attack us. After all, we are now the knife in his hand, the knife to deal with Xiao Tong and Xiao Qingji."
It also belongs to Xiao Qinggu, a whetstone.
What Emperor Chengming cared about most was always the country and people of Dayu.
Shang Yuwan thought for a moment, could it be that Emperor Chengming told the Empress something about Xiao Tong or Xiao Qingji that they didn't know, so he sent the Nine Revolutions Pill so readily?
——
At this time in the Langjiang Palace, the empress was lazily leaning on Gao Yunting's beauty chair.
She wore a moon-white gown, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall. From time to time, she would reach out her fingertips to play with the carp in the pond. The moonlight cast a rare softness on her bright and dazzling face.
"Your Majesty, they got it."
Zhao Qinglian stood in the pavilion and saluted respectfully to the empress.
The empress withdrew her hand, supported herself on the beauty chair with both hands, rested her chin on the back of her hands, and chuckled, "Lianlian, there are no outsiders here, why bother to abide by those rules."
Zhao Qinglian was silent for a moment, then said, "Wei Sangjiao."
The empress curled her lips in dissatisfaction, "Call me Pepper."
Zhao Qinglian said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, I don't like chili peppers."
"It's Pepper. Long live the Pepper in the Pepper Flower Ode."
Zhao Qinglian said expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, I don't like peppercorns either."
Empress: “…”
What a fusty old-fashioned guy! Not even as interesting as Xuxu! Not even half as lovable as Xuxu's daughter!
The empress grabbed a handful of fish food beside her, turned her head, stretched out her arm and scattered it into the pond water, causing the fish in the pond to scramble for it.
"How is Emperor Chengming?"
Seeing that the man before her had returned to business, Zhao Qinglian stopped being perfunctory. "He's very protective of Prince Qi and the princess. He's also not as treating Shang... as he used to be."
"Oh, are you truly regretting or feeling guilty?" The Empress sneered, "He's not protecting Prince Qi or Gu'er at all."
Putting aside the question of whether Xiao Qingji had let Shang Junhu discover the clues intentionally or unintentionally, just talking about the Shang family matter, Emperor Chengming had put in a lot of effort, and now he wants to make amends?
When the truth was revealed, Xiao Tong was the first to send someone to arrest Shang Junhu, who was about to expose their secret collusion. The Empress saw that Xiao Qingji's misfortune was not pure and wanted to kick him out of the cooperation, but Xiao Tong insisted on protecting the child, saying that the prince's identity was an excellent cover, and if it was lost, it would be difficult to find a shield.
The empress watched the fish in the pond fighting for food, her eyes flickering.
Xiao Tong didn't need Xiao Qingji as a shield at all. He clearly treated Xiao Qingji as his own child - although Xiao Qingji's status in Xiao Tong's heart was still far less important than Xiao Qinggu.
The empress slowly exhaled.
That's right. That child had worked tirelessly day and night for Xiao Tong's goals, disregarding her own safety. How could Xiao Tong not be moved and partial? Even cats and dogs you see every day can develop feelings. If Xiao Tong were a heartless person, the Empress wouldn't be willing to take such a huge risk to cooperate with her.
Zhao Qinglian asked, "Your Majesty, is the relationship with the Princess...really going to end?"
The head sent by Emperor Chengming could not enter the Langjiang Palace, so it was sent directly to Zhao Qinglian's general's mansion.
However, Shang Yuwan was only half right about the heads being sent. In fact, in addition to the heads of Cui Xing and others, Emperor Chengming also sent a letter and a living person.
The content of the letter is nothing more than the reasons why Bai Ying, Miao Gu and others acted as they did.
The only woman who survived was the witness.
The Empress didn't respond to Zhao Qinglian's question. Instead, she asked, "How are your investigations into the girls' schools in Jincheng and Jingdu going?"
Zhao Qinglian was silent for a moment, then said, "Everything is fine at the academy."
The empress sneered.
Is everything okay?
Is everything really fine, or has the news been blocked to prevent them from finding out anything?
Zhao Qinglian silently looked at the empress's back and did not ask what to do if Xiao Tong took revenge on them.
Even if Xiao Tong was furious, what could she do? Once something became public, Xiao Qingji would only die faster, and even Xiao Qinggu wouldn't be able to escape. She could only swallow her anger.
The empress raised her head and looked at the bright moon hanging high in the sky.
Xiao Tong must be very sad at this time.
Zhao Qinglian suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, what if Emperor Chengming is trying to sow discord?"
"Of course there are some attempts to sow discord. But do you really think Xiao Tong doesn't know what that kid has been doing behind her back?" Without even turning back, the Empress reached out her hand to touch the surface of the pond. A spotted carp suddenly jumped up with its mouth open. The Empress reacted quickly and withdrew her hand.
The empress remained calm and looked at her fingers. She had withdrawn her hand quickly, and the carp's mouth had only touched them, not breaking the skin at all.
But this fish had never bit her before.
"Lianlian, you never wanted to call me Jiaojiao or get closer to me. Isn't it because of that reason?"
Zhao Qinglian closed her mouth and stopped talking.
Even fish that are well-kept in a pond will change, let alone humans.
The Empress felt a gradual pain on the left side of her head, realizing it was a migraine. She expressionlessly shook her fishy-smelling hand and said, "General Zhao, get someone to replace these fish, so they don't bite the red lotus in the pond."
She stood up and walked out of the pavilion, brushing past Zhao Qinglian, who was bowing and saying, "Yes."
Kyoto, Princess's Mansion.
"Your Empress is so quick to turn against me."
Xiao Tong's mouth twitched, and veins popped on his forehead. Just as the Empress and Zhao Qinglian had imagined, he felt both angry and sad.
She was angry that the empress disregarded their past friendship, but she was also sad that even the empress had abandoned her.
During the years she was held hostage in Langjiang, she and the Empress had endured it together. She had thought they were like sisters, but...was she overthinking it?
The Langjiang envoy was dressed in black and saluted Xiao Tong respectfully.
"I have delivered my message. Farewell."
The Langjiang envoy was about to leave when Xiao Tong stopped her: "Wait."
The messenger turned around and said, "Does Her Royal Highness have any further instructions? I am not a killer drawn from the zodiac for Your Highness to use. Your Highness, please do not embarrass me."
Xiao Tong was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is her migraine okay?"
The messenger looked at Xiao Tong deeply.
"There are doctors in the palace, Your Highness, there is no need to worry."
Xiao Tong's eyes dimmed for a moment.
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